4D not all good

I'm a fan of dark rides and love many of the 4D cinemas such as Hoeny I Shrunk the Audience and Muppet Vision. But the term 4D doesn't always float my boat.

After watching several documentaries about X at Magic Mountain I couldn't wait to ride it. Finally in 2005 the chance came during a tour of the West coast of the USA. But boy was I in for a shock, X turned out to be one of the most hideous rides ever created. It has uncomfortable restraints, it was incredibly rough and the ride itself was just like climbing in a box and rolling down the stairs.
I was some what surprised when I heard that Fuji Q Highland ordered Eejanaika a 4D coaster from S&S Power. Did the park owners ride X. I've not yet had the chance to ride Eejanaika, although I will do, so can't say if S&S improved on Arrows doomsday device.
But now more manufacturers have jumped on the 4D band wagon. Last year Intamin announced a product called a ball coaster.

Individual 4D cars would be launced around a short vertical circuit track. However at the present time Intamin are still working on the launch system so they have been busy selling a version with a standard lift hill. In fact they've sold 2, 1 to Linnanmaki in Finland and the other to Terra Mitica in Spain.
I've just spotted courtest of Theme Park Insight 2 videos showing off Kirnu the Ball coaster at Linnanmaki in Finland.

The ride appears to have an advantage and a disadvantage in being such a very short ride cycle. The disadvantage is appears to havea very low throughput and is bound to attract massive queues. The advantage is if it's anywhere near as bad as X you don't have to suffer as long.
I'm obviously getting old because inversions don't excite me any more, I'd far rather ride an AIRtime filled non looping coaster. But that won't stop me from riding Kirnu or any other new 4D coasters, my coaster count isn't prejudice.

Premier Rides researching Negative G

Now I could be putting 2 and 2 together and making 5 but could Premier Rides be conducting reasearch into negative G to build a roller coaster with the most AIRtime?
It's been well publicised that Professor Stephen Hawking recently made a trip with Zero Gravity Corp in Florida where he had the chance to experience weightlessness. But what didn't receive as much publicity was the fact that Jim Seay President and owner of Premier Rides also made the flights with Hawking.

Photo Courtesy of Zero Gravity Corp

Jim Seay joined Stephen Hawking on board the plane that simulates the weightlessness experienced in Space. The plane takes off from the Kennedy Space Centre Cape Canavarel where it climbs to an altitude of 24,000 ft before the plane hikes steeply up and then arches over into a downward dive. The parabolic manoeuvre creates 25 seconds of weightlessness. The experience costs a mere $3500.

Seay was not only inspired by Professor Hawking’s willingness to take part in this experience but was also inspired by the great work Easter Seals is doing in providing services to children and adults with autism and other disabilities. As someone who has enjoyed Astronomy since childhood and someone who now focuses on manipulating G forces to develop cutting edge roller coasters, “it is an honor to participate with Professor Hawking on this momentous flight,” said Jim Seay.

It's interesting to note that the g-loads encountered during the parabolic flight are less stressful than those felt on an average roller coaster ride.

Could we see Premier Rides making a park version of this experience? I certainly hope so although if parks struggle to get planning permission for 200 foot rides they will find it near impossible to get permission for a 24,000 foot ride.

Wetter the Better?

I've never been a huge fan of water rides, I hate walking round a park with your clothes chaffing and just feeling unpleasant. Even on hot days I don't enjoy it. So many rapids rides and log flumes offer pretty much the same thing just a slightly different layout. However if a water ride is unusual I will give it a try, River Quest at Phantasialand, Valhalla at Pleasure Beach Blackpool, Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom are among the few I ride and enjoy but ride wearing vast amounts of water proofs.



River Quest is quite possibly one of the best rapids ride around, it features a vertical lift which pushes you into a large chute that guarantees a soaking for those going backwards, it also features a whirlpool that goes in to a double down drop that has a pop of AIRtime and yes more wetness. The other unusual thing about these rapids is that it has a small footprint and is in effect in a tall building rather than covering acres of space.



When fully working Valhalla has some amazing effects that makes it not only a superb water ride but an amazing Dark Ride too.



Splash Mountain has wonderful whimsical themeing and a great story too. I always think it's a shame that you can't enjoy the indoor dark ride portion without having to do the drop. I'm sure there are lots of kids who are below the height restriction that would love the animatronics, not to mention thsoe of us adults that don't want to get wet. Perhaps Disney could add a train track above the water for a non wet ride through.
For more talk about water rides, and other theme park chat, check out another great blog at Play and Stay

Oktoberfest - Another Worlds First

Not content with showing off the Worlds first steel roller coaster, Oktoberfest was home to the first true suspended coaster. In 1975 Germand aircraft manufacturer Messerschmidt Bolkow Blohm supplied showman Max Zierer Jnr. with Alpenflug a 2706 foot long suspended coaster. Alpenflug had a top speed of 39mph and 5 six car trains.


Although there had been crude suspended coasters at the beginning of the last century their basic designs involved a lift hill and a long downward spiral. For many these aren't regarded as true suspended coasters.


Alpenflug is the first true contemporary suspended coaster. Sadly it only lasted for the 16 days of the Oktoberfest before it was scrapped. Due to the lack of banking on the turns the track and train wheel assemblies were subjected to high levels of wear and tear. The trains could swing out to over 80degrees. It would seem nothing was learnt from this suspended coaster because Arrow made the same mistake with the illfated Bat that was built at Paramount Kings Island in 1981 as the first non travelling suspended coaster. Like Alpenflug, The Bat suffered from excessive wear and tear due to the lack of banked turns and was removed in 1983.

I wonder what the next Worlds firsts will appear at Oktoberfest?

For more on this story check out Amusement Today

Disheartened

When organising a touring holiday it's so easy to become disheartened. There are so many variables that can and do go wrong. Over the past 3 years of organsising trips I've faced flights booked no the wrong day, flight times being brought forward by several hours, wrong car being available and theme parks changing their opening times/days.

Fortunately for me the group I go on tour with are understanding and are always happy to change plans. If things change never panic, although I still do, as there is always a plan B even if you haven't come up with that plan at that point.

Sometimes these changes work out for the best. One example was a flight was brought forward by 3 hours but our schedule meant we wouldn't get there in time. As a result we would have to fly the following day giving us less time in Virginia Beach. But this meant we had a full day sight seeing in Chicago and we still did everything we wanted in Virginia Beach. We got to see a part of the USA we wouldn't have been able to.

When you face these problems don't give up, it's worth persevering and when you're on holiday all alternatives are fun.