"Out of Fashion" Ride Styles

[Gmaster562]

^That second half is like one long, intense helix

[A.J.]

Anaconda is cool but it's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about essentially an Arrow suspended coaster with fixed trains. That means that your arms and legs can't extend out of the confines of the car. Because of that, you can design the coaster with super-tight clearances for very close calls with terrain on all sides.

 

In that photo of Anaconda, the riders still have enough room to safely extend their arms out on either side.

[GigaG]

^Flying coaster with a 90° drop would add something different.

I don't know if that's possible since all the the riders' weight is on their chest.

 

Well if it was short and pulled out quick, it could be possible. Think about a pretzel loop, you are pinned back-down as you go in. Imagine a rapid, somewhat smooth transition out facing the ground (vertical drop) That is kinda bad though, maybe a half-loop down (raven turn) instead, I don't think any flyers have those.

[disneyfan1313]

The one type that I am not sure could be saved is stand-up's. Without a better "crotch solution" they just are too painful!

[Midgetman82]

It's not just the bicycle seats that people are complaining about, either. The fact that you're taking g forces while standing up can take a toll on your ankles, somewhat, too.

[JRice92]

I never understood why flying coasters never really took off. My only flyer is X-Flight/Firehawk but I think the first drop and first turn make an excellent flying sensation. After watching the POV for Sky Scrapper I feel this coaster shows the potential of how good flying coasters can be.

[mike541x]

^Manta is an excellent flying coaster as well. Sure the theming has a lot to do with it, but I think the layout itself is pretty fun. Standups I could care less for. I'd like to see old fashion carnival rides be remade into amusement park flats like a newly made Zipper or Skydiver.

[coasterbill]

I never understood why flying coasters never really took off.

 

... I see what you did there

[goatdan]

I'd love to see suspended rides make a comeback of some sort. Even a bad suspended ride is still a unique, fun, and generally very smooth experience.

 

I also think more parks should get mine trains. They are a trifecta - reliable, good for all ages, and capacity monsters. And shoot, I'll add in pretty cheap too. I know that there still have been some built, but the last established park that I can think of that added one was probably King's Island in 91. Put a little theming on it, and you can really market it as a family ride.

[yay101]

I think rides that are old such Suspended Coasters or standup coaster can be new if their authenticity is promoted. Like it is meant to be old and appear old, then people may like it! I don't mean like the "old" old, I mean like a "retro" or "antique" old.

[tribar]

I don't think we will see any more standups. It would be nice to see more Suspended coasters or Flying Coasters like Sky Scrapper

[goatdan]

I don't think we will see any more standups.

 

I think we will. Remember, the most recent 'new' one was just last year with Apocalypse. And yeah, I know it was Iron Wolf before, but they could have converted it to a sitting ride if they didn't find the standing worth it. Before that, we had Chang's move.

 

There is a limited market for them, but the fact that neither of these were converted means I think the concept still has legs.

[gerstlaueringvar]

I know that there still have been some built, but the last established park that I can think of that added one was probably King's Island in 91.

Really? I think a couple of Chinese parks just added their mine train like yesterday

[_koppen]

^ I think it's possible, but they may have to lower the rate of acceleration since there will be no headrest to stop riders' heads from ending up in their laps'.

 

That's not possible, as the launch track would not be long enough if you lowered the acceleration rate.

 

Starry Sky Ripper is one of the best flying coasters. Even I like it, and I'm not a big fan of flyers.

 

On of the best, or the best? (I'm wondering because one of the best dosen't say much when speaking of flyers, since there are so few of them).

 

With that being said I'd love to see a company like Rocky Mountain or even Gerstlauer or Mack take a swing at an old school mine train concept. Seems like there is a niche there for something more exciting than an old school mine train but less thrilling than Outlaw Run or a Euro Fighter that could really work for a lot of parks.

 

Something I have been thinking about would be a mine train from Mack (with GREAT theming of rock and mines) with spinning vehicles and multiple lifts (think Vekoma mine trains, but with spinning cars). Not single cars like most spinning coasters, but more like Mack's spinning rides with full trains. They should still be fully themed to mine cars.

 

It would also be really cool to see Intamin try and build what I wrote above, and also incorporate the free fall like thirteen. Would seem very well fitting to have a blast inside a mine mountain and then fall down, add to this multiple lifts as well as spinning trains.

[cfc]

I think the three best (as in flyers that I like) are in this order: Starry Sky Ripper, Manta, and Tatsu.

[Garet]

The last (and only) Aqua-trax was built over 10 years ago, can we count that as out of fashion? I'm always surprised that there was never another one built anywhere, it really is such a fun little ride. Although while on the subject of Korea how long has it been since the last pre-fab intamin woody? considering how high they place in peoples top tens i'm always surprised there wasn't more of them too.

Edited February 7, 2014 by Garet

[Mr Stratosphere]

I feel the same thing about Vekoma Tilt Coasters (Gravity Max), I would love to see more of them get built, and after TPR's amazing video of it, just makes me want to ride it even more!

[RandallDuell]

Agreed about the tilt coaster - and since the thread title says "ride" not "rollercoaster", I'd like to nominate the double/triple wheels. I know Vegas is getting ready to open that gigantic wheel, and maybe those are the "new" Ferris wheels of today, but I always thought that the double/triple wheels were cool - pretty efficient use of land - and a skyline trademark.

[alilstronger]

I did not go through and read every response. I apologize if I restate what has been said.

 

Out of style coaster types:

 

Stand up - This was a fun concept but in my opinion they take way to long to load and unload. Especially something like Shockwave. People who have never ridden it always look at the seat and have no idea how to get into it.

 

Flying/Laying Down - For starters on most of them you are not literally laying down. Its a seat that has been titled. I think what got in the way of these is mechanics. These are expensive to maintain. However, they are really fun. Tatsu is the best one I have ever ridden.

 

4th Dimension - I think this was a great concept. Now I have never ridden one so I can only go on what I hear/see. When I went to Magic Mountain X2 was closed the whole day. Again I feel its mechanics that got in the way of many more being built. There is a lot of moving parts that I am sure are pricey. These needs to be in parks that have the financial backing and the wanting to keep them up and moving.

 

Wing Coaster - These are the new rage for now. Now these are beautiful coasters. When I first walked up to Cedar Point and saw Gatekeeper I thought "wow, this is a genuinely beautiful coaster". After ridding it twice I think its boring and slow. It kinda just moves along the track. For me there was no real rush and that is what I hear a lot from the roller coaster community. However, I did love the first turn to go down the first drop - best part of the ride in my opinion.

 

 

Out of Style Ride Types:

 

Funnel Water Slides (Tornado) - So many parks have these now. They are not special anymore.

 

Sky Screamers - These are fun rides but I feel like they are losing their touch because so many are popping up. Not just at amusement/theme parks but also many many many local carnivals are getting traveling versions.

 

Drop Towers - i am glad we are seeing different variations pop up every now then A) Busch Gardens versions that shake and tilt B) Stand up one SFOG C) Bouncing one from S&S D) Extremely tall (Six Flags). I would love to some very different variations. Maybe one where you face the inside. Maybe more completely pitch black ones the entire time. Maybe one where you lay down on your stomach and face the ground or vice versa and face the sky. Not saying these are all probable but they are ideas at least.