Universal Orlando Resort (USF, IOA, Epic) Discussion Thread

StealthFan · April 10, 2015

Hulk, much like its namesake, can be a bit temperamental. I've had great rides and lousy rides on that coaster (Kumba is more consistently good).

When I rode I had a really rough ride but I could tell the ride had the ability to kick arse on a good day. I imagine when it first opened it was a really great ride. Orlando just has a ridiculous amount of seriously good B&M coasters! I just hope the parks don't decide to buy a new crappy one.

BlahBlahson · April 10, 2015

I've never had a remotely rough ride on any B&M I've ever ridden, including 200+ laps on hulk and another 50-100 on Kumba. I'm out of this loop.

I will say, Hulk has been running every day (minus rehabs) since 1999, with constant 3 train operation. It has a ridiculous amount of wear on it for a coaster of the type I'm sure. There are strong rumors that the entire ride is getting a re-track very very soon.

ScreaminNewEngland · April 11, 2015

^Where did you hear that?

jarmor · April 11, 2015

Re-track=/=re-themed

KBrylczyk · April 11, 2015

There are strong rumors that the entire ride is getting a re-track very very soon.

You're saying Uni is going to spend $10-$20 million on a 16 year old ride? Do you know how wear on wood vs. wear on steel works?

Jew · April 11, 2015

I could see the queue/theme being refreshed to ensure they don't lose the license to the Marvel comic book properties...but uhh...a re-track...

adeuce02 · April 15, 2015

Umm hulk does rehab its trains in the offseason. Literally tearing them down and building them back up. Anyway I wonder what J.K is thinking about metal detectors now in her land in front of dragons challenge? Can't be happy

ajfelice · April 15, 2015

Ummmm unless something has seriously gone wrong in the fabrication way back when or the steel/welds are that badly cracked to compromise the integrity of the ride, I HIGHLY doubt a re-track would eliminate the vibrating or slightly bumpy undertone of Hulk. An entire re-track of a steel coaster would be so astronomically expensive that it would simply make more financial sense in the long run to start at square one again. I would love to know the exact source and credibility of that rumor.

Those metal detectors are the worst idea in my opinion. I still love USO/IOA, but that new policy is just asinine.

EastCoastn07 · April 15, 2015

There are strong rumors that the entire ride is getting a re-track very very soon.

You're saying Uni is going to spend $10-$20 million on a 16 year old ride? Do you know how wear on wood vs. wear on steel works?

Do you know or understand what fatigue is?

A.J. · April 15, 2015

Yeah, I've never had a rough ride on Hulk either. It's really great.

coasterbill · April 15, 2015

Yeah, I've never had a rough ride on Hulk either. It's really great.

Same.

HTF · April 15, 2015

Hulk

Five Year Paint Intervals

Being brought into 21st century in terms of ride operating and safety systems in the future.

Any track work would not be necessary unless they found a hairline crack in the coasters track or supports. But if that was the case the ride would be shut down immediately and not reopened until fixed and several thousand hours of testing to ensure it doesn't happen again.

Jew · April 15, 2015

There are strong rumors that the entire ride is getting a re-track very very soon.

You're saying Uni is going to spend $10-$20 million on a 16 year old ride? Do you know how wear on wood vs. wear on steel works?

Do you know or understand what fatigue is?

You don't re-track a steel coaster. If there is fatigue, they simply weld...

Bag_O_Laughs · April 21, 2015

I agree, in any park throughout the world has there ever been a steel coaster re-tracked?

I don't think so.

StealthFan · April 21, 2015

I agree, in any park throughout the world has there ever been a steel coaster re-tracked?

I don't think so.

The Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach recently had a few sections of track replaced but I don't think a steel coaster has ever been entirely re tracked as it would most likely be more cost effective in the long run to just buy a new ride.

Bag_O_Laughs · April 21, 2015

^ makes sense to me.

Garet · April 21, 2015

I agree, in any park throughout the world has there ever been a steel coaster re-tracked?

I don't think so.

Wouldn't Raging Spirits at Tokyo DisneySea be one?

cfc · April 21, 2015

^Yes--new track was fabricated for Raging Spirits and was installed in two phases over two years. But this is hardly a "standard" practice.

In a sense, as Craig said, TDS did "buy a new ride."

Edited April 21, 2015 by cfc

Guy T. Koepp · April 22, 2015

Wasn't the Matterhorn recently retracked? For that matter, didn't both Space Mountain and Big Thunder get retracked in the last few years as well?

cfc · April 22, 2015

^Yes, I think that's correct.

And what's the common denomionator? Disney.

Edited April 22, 2015 by cfc

Garet · April 22, 2015

^Yes--new track was fabricated for Raging Spirits and was installed in two phases over two years. But this is hardly a "standard" practice.

In a sense, as Craig said, TDS did "buy a new ride."

Sorry if my post was mis-understood, I was more pointing out that it had happened before when the other poster was asking if there had ever been a steel coaster re-tracked. I didn't mean to imply that it was common practice or that I think the Hulk will get a complete re-track, because I really don't think that.

Bag_O_Laughs · April 22, 2015

^Yes, I think that's correct.

And what's the common denomionator? Disney.

haha, yes Disney does seem to be the only park that replaces entire tracks but as it was said they're basically buying a new ride. Also some of Disney's rides are pushing 40+ years of operation. The Hulk 16 years of operation, it doesn't quite make sense to replace the track just yet.

Diamondbacker27 · April 29, 2015

I know this probably doesn't mean anything. But, Frank Marshall (Producer for Jurassic World) told a group touring the set of Jurassic World that Universal was in early planning for a Gyrosphere type ride. Mimicking the ride in the movie.

Source- Www.Slashfilm.com