Walibi Belgium Discussion Thread

[Belgiumcoasterfreak]

It seems like the park is going to open Psyké Underground the 12th of July finally for the public. I'm going tomorrow, knowing the ride is still not officially open yet. I hope they are doing soft-openings because the whole ride is finished and TÜV gave the ride green light to open up. But I think that isn't going to happen. Never the less, I shall take pictures of my day and post them here . Updates follow soon!

 

By the way, Walibi Connect is something 'new' from 2012, but not that many guest are using it. Nobody is really interested in the concept I think. This year, with the introduction of the new 'fast-pas system', it seems like nobody really cares about this concept anymore...

[RCT3Bross]

^ I read somewhere that they apparently want to test the ride for durability the upcoming days. So I don't suspect a soft opening for the ride.

I'm happy to hear the ride has a openings date (although it's still not 100% sure it does), I can finally start to plan my trip to ride my first Schwarzkopf.

[Belgiumcoasterfreak]

^ I read somewhere that they apparently want to test the ride for durability the upcoming days. So I don't suspect a soft opening for the ride.

 

Yes, i know where you read that, and I think it is rubbish. Tüv already checked the ride and Psyké is test-riding for a couple of months now. Just closing for more 'test rides' is just so dull. I think they are just waiting for the TMF action (a tv-show here who started a competition a few weeks ago. You could win an hour ERT before park opening on Psyké the 12th of July with it), what I think is stupid when the ride can be used already .

[Dragon Khan]

PUBLIC opening though, is not going to happen until next Saturday (13). Anyone on the forum going there that day ? We might meet up ?

[Belgiumcoasterfreak]

PUBLIC opening though, is not going to happen until next Saturday (13). Anyone on the forum going there that day ? We might meet up ?

 

Can't go Saturday. I'm going for the pres-meeting on Friday for pretparken.be (I'm one of the team-members). I will post some photo's that evening and write my experience of Psyké Underground .

 

Btw, I was in the park yesterday, and I was amazed! Very good operations of the rides (full capacity on each ride, although the park was near empty), all the effects worked on each ride, Radja River is amazing this year and absolutely soaking wet,...

[Dragon Khan]

^Yes, I keep on hearing good things about Wavre these days. It looks as if Compagnie des Alpes is doing well with its parks: Huracan for Bellewaerde, Psyké underground here, Oz'Iris last year... Can we expect more soon ? Anyway I cannot wait to read your report, especially on the launch, which has me antsy...

[RCT3Bross]

^ I don't know if you consider this soon but it seems Walibi Holland gets a ride in 2016.

 

I hate the fact that I'm not in control of going to Walibi Belgium since my parents will join me. I really would have enjoyed going to the opening instead of this endless waiting. But I will enjoy reading the reports as well.

[Belgiumcoasterfreak]

^Yes, I keep on hearing good things about Wavre these days. It looks as if Compagnie des Alpes is doing well with its parks: Huracan for Bellewaerde, Psyké underground here, Oz'Iris last year... Can we expect more soon ? Anyway I cannot wait to read your report, especially on the launch, which has me antsy...

 

Compagnie des Alpes is really (and finally) improving the park this year, the way this park deserves it. The improvement on Radja River was a blast for me, and this wasn't the only thing that amazed me Tuesday. From what I know is that next year, the improvements go on and extent to Lucky Luke City. When this is finished, the whole park is 're-branded' to the new style of the world of Walibi. I think we can expect new rides from their on. If I'm right, the park celebrates his 40 year anniversary in 2015, I'm not hoping on a new ride then, but it would be very very nice to finally see something new in the park.

 

Tomorrow evening I shall try to write my report about Psyké. I'm really curious about the launch also, but I'm looking forward to the classic looping . Stay tuned!

[Dragon Khan]

^ Employees had a one hour "ERT" on it tonight.I don't want to spoil anything unveiling détails here, so I'll let you find and read the short report on the French centralpark forum. Hope you get to ride the front. It was the best seat back then... As for 2015, I would also target THIS specific anniversary year to introduce something massive. I secretely hope Gerstlauer accepted to refurbish Turbine Under the condition Walibi would order a coaster from them too

[Belgiumcoasterfreak]

^ Employees had a one hour "ERT" on it tonight.I don't want to spoil anything unveiling détails here, so I'll let you find and read the short report on the French centralpark forum. Hope you get to ride the front. It was the best seat back then... As for 2015, I would also target THIS specific anniversary year to introduce something massive. I secretely hope Gerstlauer accepted to refurbish Turbine Under the condition Walibi would order a coaster from them too

 

Do you have a link? I know it's a spoiler, but I know to much of the ride now so I can't really spoil more for myself now .

 

If their is one thing I will do tomorrow, is riding it front seat! I rode Turbine back in 2006 and I loved it at the front! So yes, I'm going to do that of course .

[Dragon Khan]

^If you were "old like me" (lol) you would have ridden its first version, Sirocco. Back then in the eighties, they used to launch it quite high (I know one or 2 meters won't do that big of a difference but it was noticeable) and especially, it was not braked to death on the return run... meaning you could go quite high backwards too. To have an idea of what I mean, compare all the shuttle loop videos on youtube. you definitely see différences. Now, I saw the first testing videos and it seems, despite the launch won't be as "forceful", it will nonetheless launch the train a wee bit higher than in its last months of operation. Whatever: Enjoy your day at walibi and I cannot wait to read your impressions !

[Belgiumcoasterfreak]

^If you were "old like me" (lol) you would have ridden its first version, Sirocco. Back then in the eighties, they used to launch it quite high (I know one or 2 meters won't do that big of a difference but it was noticeable) and especially, it was not braked to death on the return run... meaning you could go quite high backwards too. To have an idea of what I mean, compare all the shuttle loop videos on youtube. you definitely see différences. Now, I saw the first testing videos and it seems, despite the launch won't be as "forceful", it will nonetheless launch the train a wee bit higher than in its last months of operation. Whatever: Enjoy your day at walibi and I cannot wait to read your impressions !

 

I haven't ridden Sirocco back then because I was like 6 - 5 years old when I first saw him. I then only ridden him back in 2003, the first time i returned to the park after Six Flags owned it.

 

I know already that the train will go high on the second spike because it will not brake on his way back, just like in the old times! I'm really looking forward to his grand opening in about a couple of hours. I'm almost ready to go to the park now for it's grand opening. See you guys in a few hours, I will give a full report on the ride and I'm going to try to take pictures !

[Belgiumcoasterfreak]

Psyké Underground opened up!

 

I've tested the coaster today, and I had a blast! The theming inside the ride is good (the tunnels are now dark, they get light-effects in the near future), the loop stays amazing, the launch isn't powerful (but when you sit backseat, i thought it was more forceful then front-seat). I enjoyed it. It isn't a shuttle loop like we know it, isn't that forceful at all (although the loop was still powerful, very disorient in the dark!), but still is a fun ride. Don't expect anything superb, like the more smooth and force less launch, but just enjoy the atmosphere around the coaster! Btw, the second ride was amazingly better then the first one, so give this baby more then one ride when you visit the park (I preferred backseat).

 

After the pré-opening, the park surprisingly opened it up for public, and nobody expected that! My team waited for the reactions of the crowd, and they all loved it! I think that's a good thing?

 

Some photos:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos made by Kris, another member of the pretparken.be crew.

 

Photo when the ride opened up for the public, queue wasn't empty anymore (photo thanks to pretparkkriebels.be)

 

 

We didn't made an onride of the ride, but Walibiband.be, the parks official fansite, had the permission to do so. Here you have a little montage:

 

 

Tomorrow, it's official open for the public!

 

Note: can somebody fix the youtube-link, It doesn't work...

Edited July 13, 2013 by Belgiumcoasterfreak

[RCT3Bross]

Here you go:

 

Love the preview video. Was surprised that it was in Dutch, to be honest I suspected English. Had a good laugh in the video. Good to hear we get extra lights in the future because it looks boring based on the video.

I'm looking forward to ride this later this year. Looks really fun.

[Dragon Khan]

Partial reverse POV.(or it's the first shuttle loop that bypasses the backward loop) As expected, it will never be the good old school flywheel, but even if the acceleration is more "progressive", it is achieved on a shorter distance... so I still keep my fingers crossed for some kind of "kick" to it. For those who have already ridden it, howdo you think the public will receive the launch compared to Belgian Anubis's ?

 

[Belgiumcoasterfreak]

For those who have already ridden it, howdo you think the public will receive the launch compared to Belgian Anubis's ?

 

I really don't know... The launch of Anubis is a bit rougher and faster then the one on Psyké Underground, ore it felt that way yesterday. But I think the loop still gives a massive punch and kick, because it's still after all this years, the most intense looping in Belgium. I reviewed some locals (not-coaster enthusiast), and they all liked it very much!

 

Although, the local coaster fans aren't really 'happy' with the transformation. The most of them say it's force-less as hell and it shall never be a good transformed Turbine/Sirocco. I don't understand why some fans react like that. Okay, the launch isn't powerful, but the looping is still insane and Walibi did effort to secure an old lady from scrap metal...

Edited July 13, 2013 by Belgiumcoasterfreak

[Dragon Khan]

^agreed. Moreover, They regain the title of Belgium's tallest coaster ! LOL. I Wonder, technically speaking, if they could launch the train twice (like an intamin impulse)

[A.J.]

Although, the local coaster fans aren't really 'happy' with the transformation. The most of them say it's force-less as hell and it shall never be a good transformed Turbine/Sirocco. I don't understand why some fans react like that. Okay, the launch isn't powerful, but the looping is still insane and Walibi did effort to secure an old lady from scrap metal...

Some people are never satisfied. Would they rather have had Turbine not be running at all? Would they rather have had it be replaced with that Gerstlauer spinning coaster?

 

When you tear down an old shuttle loop because it's in too poor condition to run, you get backlash. When you restore an old shuttle loop with a smoother and more-efficient launch system that isn't as forceful, you get backlash.

[Dragon Khan]

FULL POV found on a local newspaper's webpage:

http://www.lavenir.net/article/detail.aspx?articleid=DMF20130712_00335321. I cannot embed it since there is no "youtube" link or anything of that kind.

[SoCalCoasters]

^Frankly, I'd rather see a completely restored and enclosed fully operation Schwarzkopf gem than a half-done "quicke" fix.

 

If we have to wait a year, so be it. Rushing is never a good thing.

 

And it was honestly worth the wait!

 

The re-do looks absolutely fantastic. This really was a great way to bring the coaster into the modern age and now it looks to be one of the best indoor coasters out there! I actually like the way the launch works now, and it actually fits in with the storyline which is kind of fun.

[Dragon Khan]

The complete POV I talked about in my previous post has now appeared on youtube:

Enjoy

[MayTheGForceBeWithYou]

^Fixed

[Dragon Khan]

^Thank you very much. For obscure reasons, now and then, it doesn't work when I try to embed youtube videos.

[A.J.]

When you use tags, only include the video I.D. (watch?v=XXXXXXXXX) and nothing after that. The forum gets confused.

[Dragon Khan]

Something funny: of all the feedback I have about the coaster, a common point seems to emerge: OF COURSE the launch is less intense than before, but everyone agrees to say that once full speed is achieved, the good old forces are present ! And it seems LOTS of people are disorriented and don't know exactly if they're facing downwards or forwards on the "return" (so basically on the launch) and are surprised when reaching the light of the station. If it were not for Texas / Midwest coming, I'd go and try it, but I'll do that after the massive US trip