Ferrari World Discussion Thread

[SKULLY]

^I still don't think you'd come out without being severly injured. Fighter pilots where special suits and have special harnesses. With a lapbar and belt like that there's a good chance you could have some severe injuries!

 

Given just a lap bar or even an OTSH, I understand that your thighs would nearly bleed and your body would probably suffer from whiplash in all directions. Come to think of it, a 4 point harness would have to be a minimum requirement for anybody riding and that's nearly impossible to implement on an attraction due to capacity, cost, complexity, adjustments per rider, etc. However the g tolerances would probably still be well within limits of a human who wants to or has had previous experience enduring such forces. Not to mention, G suits are nice but there are many pilots out there such as the Blue Angel naval demonstration team who perform without them. I am in no way saying it would be the most practical idea out there, I'm just saying I would give it a go. But after thinking about it, I wouldn't touch it without some sort of proper harness installed. After all, -2G's would feel like 320+ pounds forcing my thighs into a lap bar. Once again, this will never happen so dreaming will have to suffice.

 

Also, the turns would hurt but the extreme aerodynamic drag created at 150 mph. would probably cause the train to lose half of that speed much more quickly than other coasters. That doesn't mean the first turn wouldn't be a bruiser.

[coasterlover420]

Not to mention the train would probably breeze right through the brakes and probably crash into a train in the station which would kill you, assuming taking the turns after the brake run up to speed doesn't kill you first (assuming you're not already dead).

[SKULLY]

I didn't think about the ride's stopping ability. Perhaps that would cause an issue or two. Well, since it's attempting to recreate a Formula One experience, why not have it stop like one too? I have heard that the real cars do 124 mph. to zero in 1.9 seconds! The real drivers experience the stopping power around a thousand times each race so we know somebody could handle it. Why stop there, replace the goggles with full face helmets and give riders racing suits! And yes, I understand the stupidity of subjecting the average Joe to that so please don't take any of this seriously.

[Six Flags Enthuseast]

^Same here, I didn't think about it too much either. If you look at the length of the brake run and imagine the train going into it at 120+ MPH (assuming the drag slowed it down that much), it certainly wouldn't have enough room to come to a complete stop. If the ride entered the brake run at a *SLIGHTLY* higher speed it would probably be able to stop, but looking at it now I guess the whole final bunny hop would have to be removed to install enough brakes to slow it down.

 

Now that I consider the points brought up, I understand the ride can't quite go full speed ahead into the 1st hill. But I still think a few trims could be removed; just enough to give the ride a faster pace.

[TXman308]

Though the one thing we do have to admit, is that the ride is looking faster and faster with every new offride video. The final bunny hills look like they'll give a good amount of airtime.

[Skycoastin Steve]

^Imagine that, it's not running exactly the way it did during empty train testing prior to opening (which is when 99% of official POVs are shot).

[coasterlover420]

Something I just realized about this coaster...weight would actually make a huge difference in the speed of the ride. Not because of the launch, but because of the brakes. With magnetic brakes, it naturally takes a longer amount of time to stop a loaded train, but the launch is always consistent. No matter the weight in the train, Intamin rockets always launch the train at a consistent speed. So in FR's case, it always gets to 150mph, but doesn't always slow down to 90mph (or however fast it is going over the first hill). A fully loaded train could create quite a variance in speed from an empty one, changing the way videos would appear to portray the ride. Just a thought...

[larrygator]

Wow, less than 3 months after opening, the owners of Ferrari World need to sell the park to the government due to debt.

 

Ferrari World to be sold

 

Aldar to sell Ferrari World to pay down debts

 

Aldar Properties is to sell Ferrari World, its car-themed amusement park, to the government less than three months after it opened as it seeks to pay down its debts.

 

The commercial and residential property firm is to sell the theme park on Yas Island as well as the related roads, bridges and marine infrastructure for around AED 10.9 billion, along with around AED 5.5 billion in residential units. Mubadala Development Company, a state-owned investment company, will buy an AED 2.8 billion convertible bond from the company, according to the statement, originally highlighted last week.

 

The size of Aldar’s debts has become a growing issue for creditors and equity holders on the back of a fall in property values in the UAE capital and elsewhere. A report by Bank of America Merrill Lynch said the company would need around AED 10 billion just to “survive” the year.

 

Abu Dhabi’s biggest developer posted its biggest net loss for one quarter between July and September of AED 731.2 million against a net profit of just over AED270 million for the same period last year. The losses are part of an AED1.52 billion loss for the first nine months of 2010, against an AED1.4 billion gain last year. Nine month revenue fell 45% to AED932.4 million from the AED1.412 billion in 2009.

 

The company decided the measures in a board meeting last Thursday.

 

“The measures are focused on addressing current market conditions and on boosting the company’s capital structure,” said a statement to the Abu Dhabi stock exchange.

 

Ahmed Al Sayegh, chairman of Aldar, said: “The financial framework approved by the board today, including the convertible bond issue, will strengthen our capital structure and provide us with a stable and sustainable platform from which we can continue to capture commercial opportunities to deliver value to shareholders.

 

“The impairment recognition reflects the adverse conditions that have affected the real estate market, but is an important step in allowing Aldar to achieve long-term sustainable growth.”

 

The company added that the sale was in line with the usual policy of transferring strategic assets to the government upon completion of construction. The company's shares fell 3% opn Thursday to close at AED 2.27 per share.

Edited January 18, 2011 by ernierocker

[SharkTums]

^Not surprising at all. That whole Yas Island seemed mostly under construction but without a lot of work going on.

[GLund]

LOL!!! Way to go Ferrari World!

 

Seriously, what are some of these businessmen thinking sometimes??!

[Joe Cool]

Yikes well that lasted long.

[CCI]

Well that's another thing to put in the big book of fails. It's a shame though I really think given a better economy, location, and price it could have succeed.

[Jds03]

Lets get ready for Freestyle Racing Park!!!

[the wolverine]

This news means that the F1 event is the only thing going for Yas Island now...

[robbalvey]

Um...the park isn't closed. It has just changed owners. It's my understanding that this wouldn't be the first time the govt has stepped in to help bail out a company in need with a project. Didn't the burj khalifa have a similar story?

[let1gre]

^Yes, it did. For all of the development the UAE has going on, it sure doesn't have the money available to put where its mouth is... in other words, this is not an anomaly in the slightest in the Emirates, just in the theme park industry.

[A.J.]

Can't say I didn't see this coming.

 

IMO, this is a worse situation than the Hard Rock Park fiasco. What's going to happen to Ferrari World? PennDOT lets Pennsylvania's roads get dreadfully bad before they even think about repaving them. I hope a similar situation doesn't befall the park.

 

I also hope that this isn't a sign of things to come for the UAE's cities as a whole...

[jamesdillaman]

^ The park's still open...

[Ed Farmer]

/\ So is Conneaut Lake Park.

[CCG2]

Well, if Ferrari World goes under, we can all hope for Formula Rossa to come to the U.S. sometime soon

[Noxegon]

I was there last week. Here is my trip report:

 

http://www.bannister.org/coasters/trips/2011/0113.htm

[larrygator]

A lot of people need to think or do a little research before they respond.

 

LOL!!! Way to go Ferrari World!

Seriously, what are some of these businessmen thinking sometimes??!

 

Let's see. They were trying to make money and overleveraged themselves. It happens quite often, ever hear of Donald Trump? How about Six Flags?

 

 

Yikes well that lasted long.

 

As Robb and others have said, the park did not close.

 

 

Well that's another thing to put in the big book of fails. It's a shame though I really think given a better economy, location, and price it could have succeed.

 

It hasn't failed yet, the government has just stepped in to help. Even in a country like the US (where government debt is a bigger issue) this can happen as it recently did with Citigroup and GM.

 

 

Lets get ready for Freestyle Racing Park!!!

 

A little premature to make this statement, the government has a strong vested interest in making this park work as Abu Dhabi's future is directly tied into increasing tourism.

 

 

Can't say I didn't see this coming.

 

IMO, this is a worse situation than the Hard Rock Park fiasco. What's going to happen to Ferrari World? PennDOT lets Pennsylvania's roads get dreadfully bad before they even think about repaving them. I hope a similar situation doesn't befall the park.

 

I also hope that this isn't a sign of things to come for the UAE's cities as a whole...

 

Let me know when you finish that thesis comparing and contrasting the governments of Abu Dhabi and Pennsylvania.

[robbalvey]

^ All true. Seriously, I think some of the dumbest stuff I've ever read by our members at TPR was posted in the last page and a half.

 

Seriously guys, if you've haven't got a clue what the f*ck you are talking about, please don't post. It's embarrassing.

 

--Robb

[BeemerBoy]

Let me know when you finish that thesis comparing and contrasting the governments of Abu Dhabi and Pennsylvania.

[RoCo]

Hey, let's give these guys credit for actually getting their park constructed and open. How many parks were announced for that part of the world in the last few years?

 

BTW, really like the new site banner! The tag line is great.