Photo TR: Robb & Elissa go to Dubai!

Sorry you had such a bad time there...but it was definitely a blast to read!

And I actually loved Hammerhead at Knotts (I hate its replacement, Riptide). I remember being so happy when I finally got the guts to go on it as a kid. I think I was 11. Those run-down pictures make me sad.

EDIT: and I laughed hard at "Please let this only go around once....aaaaaand were going around more than once."

Sorry you had such a bad time there...but it was definitely a blast to read!

I'll second that.

I'm having flashbacks of that Fantasy Land report!!

Nice TR, I sadistically enjoyed your efforts to actually make something of the day!

Dave

Actually, the Rotoshake hasn't been dormant for as long as we'd think...

^ That was probably the ONE time it ran!

If you read the description on that video, it would imply that the guy who posted it worked on the ride. He has a bunch of videos of new Italian rides test running etc. Does anyone know who this "M. Savegnago" is?

^ Apparently this guy.

It just goes to show that a ride is only as good as the park that maintains it.

Unless it's made by Top Fun. Then, you're kind of screwed either way.

Top Fun gives the dangerzone new meaning.

Awesome videos! Why is it only the coasters that you would pay money to get OFF of, end up going around twice!

Awesome videos! Why is it only the coasters that you would pay money to get OFF of, end up going around twice!

Maybe they don't know how to operate the rides, hence the "deserted" nature of the park.

-approaching the station in lap 1-

Rider: This is a bad ride! Get me off!

Op: Let's see here...lever? Duh...nope, nope, nope. Button...nope, nope, nope.

Rider: Just stop the...

Op: No, no, no, duh...don't tell me!

-approaching the station in lap 2-

Rider: Help me! Stop the ride! The track ahead is broken!

Op: Yup, yup, yup, I stopped the ride for ya.

Rider: Oh, thank heavens! I don't want to have to do it again!

Op: Again? Duh...you got it!

Rider: What the [censored] are you doing?

Op: Enjoy your ride!

Rider: YOU BAS...

-crash-

-death-

-got better-

-death again-

The end.

Wow! Those parks are both awesome and eerie at the same time! I don't know how you all had the guts to ride those coasters..

Great TR! I look forward to seeing pictures of the Burj Dubai!

By chance did you take note of the menus at the 'American' businesses (KFC, Starbucks, etc.)? I was just wondering how the offerings differ because of the cultural dissimilarities..

It's been awhile since I posted. Talk about a rather sad looking park. It makes Conneaut Lake Park look more alive than this park could ever be.

I love this picture of you Elissa. You look happy yet confused to see Mickey there.

I've been to the UAE 4 times in the last year and every time the shark coaster at fun city has been closed.... Does anyone know (Dubai Dave?) if its SBNO or I am just really unlucky?

We asked that question after missing it a second time. Apparently a new train has been ordered for it.

^ Because sharks ate the first one?

Looks like you had a crazy time. Top Fun sounds like an absolutely abysmal company. From RCDB:

Whether Top Fun is a ride broker, manufacturer or combination of both is a bit of mystery.

 

According to NAFLIC (National Association For Leisure Industry Certification) technical bulletin 146, their "Blizzard" roller coaster appears to be manufactured by another Italian firm: "…a Blizzard roller coaster manufactured by Cavazza Diego. The Blizzard is still manufactured, nowadays under the company name Italian Amusement Products s.r.l. (IAP), and sold by Top Fun s.a.s."

 

There does seem to be some sort of tie back to Cavazza Diego as on IAAPA's 2002 exhibitor's list, Federico Cavazza is listed as the contact person for Top Fun.

And the descriptions of their new rides on their website is equally terrifying:

After 40 years of uncontested success a German classic, the Wild Mouse enters a new era through the technological advancements of Top Fun. The state of the art Wild Mouse by Top Fun features an advanced pneumatically controlled "block system" which virtually eliminates the chance of operator error.

 

The 40x20 mt Wild Mouse model is exceptionally compact with track lenghts varying between 8 and 13 mt and only 16 self-standings columns allowing for convenient set up and requiring minimal technical assistance.

Oh great, a block system. What a modern convenience, 'virtually eliminating' operator error. Their rides sound like hot death on wheels.

Arabic Hersheypark!

It looked like there was a drop tower at the first park. I'm going to assume that was closed too.

And the descriptions of their new rides on their website is equally terrifying:

After 40 years of uncontested success a German classic, the Wild Mouse enters a new era through the technological advancements of Top Fun. The state of the art Wild Mouse by Top Fun features an advanced pneumatically controlled "block system" which virtually eliminates the chance of operator error.

 

The 40x20 mt Wild Mouse model is exceptionally compact with track lenghts varying between 8 and 13 mt and only 16 self-standings columns allowing for convenient set up and requiring minimal technical assistance.

Oh great, a block system. What a modern convenience, 'virtually eliminating' operator error. Their rides sound like hot death on wheels.

If a block system is what they're calling "advanced", I don't even want to know what they're prototyping right now.

What do they use to control the block system? MS-DOS?

^ No, I'm going with one of these lol

I've been thinking about this thread and your trip to Dubai. I've always wondered what it's like there. Thanks again for another great report and great photos.

Just wondering about how much it cost to get into Wonderland and if you guys got to ride anything while you there.? Was there anything open like, shops or food courts??

I'm also curios as to how packed Farrari World was.?

Thanks for the laughs!!

It was time to get the last credit of the trip. Awww...

However, today's credit would actually end up being the best coaster we rode in all of the UAE! (Although that is not saying much!)

Read on...

The highlight of today would be visiting the Burj Khalifa!

But first, a quick stop at EPCOT Center!

For those of you that may not know, Burj Khalifa if the tallest building in the world standing at 2,717 feet! Over 1,000 feet TALLER than the 2nd tallest building in the world. It's freakin' HUGE!

The Burj Khalifa is part of a huge downtown complex that includes the Dubai Mall, which also happens to be the largest mall in the world! The mall is a strange place as it houses some of the most "upscale" sections of a mall I've ever seen, as well as your typical average Joe stores. Overall, though, walking into the place, it does scream "high class."

The Dubai Mall is actually home to TWO theme parks! The first being a "kids only" park called KidZania...

And the 2nd is, of course, Sega Republic!

Sega Republic is a lot...and I mean a LOT like Joypolis in Tokyo.

While it was much smaller than Joypolis, it had some pretty interesting attractions.

Spingear was easily the best coaster we rode on this trip. While that's not saying too much, it was actually really decent!

Hooray for Gerstlauer spinner! Finally a REAL coaster in the UAE!

Like most of the other indoor parks in the UAE, this one was also very well themed.

And it actually spun pretty good too!

One of the more popular attractions from Joypolis was also found at Sega Republic.

Not sure who makes this flat ride, but it's certainly one of the more unique rides I've seen.

And because it's in a Sega park, and everything here is like a video game, you DO actually control it a bit as you can make it spin when it gets to the top of the spike.

Oooh! Little did we know when we took this photo we would be in training for The Santa Claw!

I really, really want to win a Yoshi!

...and I GOT one!!!

Of course, being a Sega park there are game everywhere.

All the games and attractions are on two different levels.

Sonic says THANK YOU for visiting my park!

Check out the size of this place! And you thought Mall of America was big!

We were actually amazed at the amount of western and "American" stuff they had here.

Hershey's Chocolate World...sans the dark ride!

Santa Claus REPRESENT in the Middle East!

Like the world needs more Cinnabon.

Daniel Snyder must be proud.

Arabic Taco Bell was actually kind of cool!

For some reason Baja Fresh was the last place I expected to see in Dubai!

This stuff is always awesome!

Even the fast food had a slightly more upscale presentation.

Most of these around us have closed down!

Would you like to add a fried egg to your double cheese bacon burger?

The more upscale sections of the mall also had more upscale eateries...

Even the famous Magnolia Bakery had a shop here! (in the more upscale section, of course...)

For the price we paid, that better be the best damn cup cake you've ever had!

And now it was time to do it all the way to the top!

Just in case you didn't know what the tallest building in the world looked like that you just spent $40 per person to go up, here's a model of it.

I also get winds of 198 kph after eating Taco Bell and Baja Fresh!

There is even a pre-show on the way to the elevators!

Noted!

Even the elevator was insanely themed! Video screens all around you, lights, sound FX, the entire thing was actually really awesome!

From the observation deck, Dubai looks like a model!

And that is one GIANT ASS SHOPPING MALL!!!

"We are currently 1,483 ft high up...the highest outdoor observation deck in the world!"

And there is the rest of the building!

You can point this awesome gun and stuff and it tells you random things.

Hello Dubai...how's it going?

It's hard to see, but that is "The World" out there in the distance.

And speaking about the world, did you know that the world is a carousel of color?

And if you are impressed with the size of the building, you can take home the scale model Burj Khalifa vibrator for all your nighttime pleasures!

More Dubai coming soon!

^Nice pics of the Burj Khalifa.

Did you get to see the fountain show?

I've seen a lot of pictures of the Burj Khalifa but I would love to see it in person one day, that must have been an amazing experience. I have a question though, not that 1,483 ft isn't extremely impressive, but is there any way to get to the top of the building (obviously without having an office there). I know with the Empire State Building, you can pay a ridiculous fee to go up to the 102nd floor observatory from the 86th. Is it the same way with the Burj?

I'm still kicking myself for not stopping by Sega Republic when I was in Dubai back in July, 2009. We strolled in the mall, but didn't pass by the place . Oh well, maybe next time.

The view from the top looks amazing! This made me really want to go back there! But the price for the ride up is what would make my dad think twice!

It's insane that you were up that high and there was still (almost) an Empire State Building above you. I need to see that thing in person before I die.