Originally Posted By dshyates I think the general disappointment comes from 1. The Motorbike coaster was cut, 2. A Soarin' type attraction with a boat ride to look at plants is very similar to The Land Pavilion at EPCOT. That said, I am pretty interested in this new Soarin' type ride system.
Originally Posted By leemac <<1. The Motorbike coaster was cut>> People want a motocoaster? Has anyone actually experienced one? They aren't the most comfortable ride and the track layouts have all been pretty pedestrian. Can't imagine why anyone would get excited over a motocoaster.
Originally Posted By leemac <<That said, I am pretty interested in this new Soarin' type ride system.>> Vekoma and Brogent have installed a couple I think - the one in Taiwan (E-DA World) is the only one I can think of to date. There is definitely supposed to be one in Holland too. FlyOver Canada is due to open in the old IMAX dome on the ugly Canada Place pier in Vancouver next April. I think it will use the Vekoma/Brogent technology. I know that Rick Rothschild has been contracted to help out (he was at WDI and worked on a host of projects including Soarin').
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper I figured we were getting the Vekoma system when I saw the descriptions and drawings.
Originally Posted By TMI "People want a motocoaster?" I never even heard of one 'til this thread. A quick google search shows some not-too-surprising pics, but where can these be found anyway? Any well known parks?
Originally Posted By dshyates <a href="http://www.vekoma.com/index.php/specialities-and-attractions/panoramic-flight-simulator" target="_blank">http://www.vekoma.com/index.ph...imulator</a>
Originally Posted By leemac ^^ Depends on your definition of well-known parks. Vekoma have 4 operating with none in the US. There is one at a small park in the UK called Flamingo Land (I think the coaster is called Velocity?). The Vekoma model has a horrifically uncomfortable back brace that locks you into position - it is a nasty contraption. Intamin has a version at Dreamworld (Australia) - it is equally uninspiring. Then there is the Zamperla version that operates as Knotts Berry Farm as the Pony Express. I Think Darien Lake operates the bike version.
Originally Posted By leemac Intamin: <a href="http://www.intaminworldwide.com/amusement/RollerCoasters/MotorBike+Coaster/tabid/138/ProductNumber/MotorBike+Coaster/language/en-US/Default.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.intaminworldwide.co...ult.aspx</a> Vekoma: <a href="http://www.vekoma.com/index.php/family-coasters/motorbike-launch-coaster" target="_blank">http://www.vekoma.com/index.ph...-coaster</a> <a href="http://www.zamperla.com/en/zamperla-details-moto%20coaster" target="_blank">http://www.zamperla.com/en/zam...0coaster</a> All the rage from manufacturers - no idea why as theme parks don't seem to be buying them up.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Just looked up the system in Taiwan. Here is a pic. <a href="http://www.parkworld-online.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/1558/E-DA_World.html" target="_blank">http://www.parkworld-online.co...rld.html</a> Just scroll down to the bottom of the page. Intresting concept. I like the idea of more "Soarin" like attractions at WDW. In my heart of hearts I just wish it was something Star Wars related.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom The motorbike roller coast looks fun enough. I would think the 7 Dwarfs coaster ride system would be more thrilling, since each "car" has the ability to "sway back and forth".
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper "Thrilling" won't be a word to describe the 7 Dwarfs Mine Train haha.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Sorry, HS. That probably was the wrong word to use in that context, with 7 Dwarfs Mine Train being a "kiddie coaster" and all. LOL I kinda like the idea of a motorbike coaster. Never rode one, but it looks fun enough. I guess my question at this point is; Is this the end of omnimover rides? Is the future of theme parks attractions to be theater simulators? Just how many "theater" attractions do you want that, poke, move, shake, lift, blare noise, mist, stink, scare, and fog at you? Might as well be a 30 screen AMC Megaplex theater.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<I guess my question at this point is; Is this the end of omnimover rides? >> Well, they just built one, so I'd say no. But not every ride can be an omni mover. Gotta push the boundaries sometime. << Is the future of theme parks attractions to be theater simulators? Just how many "theater" attractions do you want that, poke, move, shake, lift, blare noise, mist, stink, scare, and fog at you?>> I'd say we've seen the future in the past few years. Forbidden Journey seamlessly mixes simulator and dark ride technology, taking what Spider-Man started a decade ago and pushing it forward. Radiator Springs Racers is a perfect mix of dark ride and racing attraction, and shows WDI is still capable of putting out a winner. And in 2014, Gringotts and Hogwarts Express will move the medium forward again.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Valid point! But, I have not been on either Forbidden Journey or Spider-Man. WDW seems to trend toward theater type attractions in my opinion. Perhaps because they move massive crowds? I do think WDW is due for additional roller coasters ( not counting kiddie coasters ). Can't imagine why they don't add more. Why don't they add an Indiana Jones Adventure type ride in the Avatar Land area? I would think that would ben a great addition. Just as long as it was more like IJA in Disneyland and less like Dinosaur.
Originally Posted By leemac <<And in 2014, Gringotts and Hogwarts Express will move the medium forward again.>> It is an interesting debate - how many coaster-based attractions is too many for a theme park. IoA has 4 coasters in operation I think - Gringotts will make it 5 - is that too many for one park? USF has 3 I believe so that would be 8 across two parks. I do have a problem with using coasters for storytelling i.e. using it as a conveyance for dark ride-type experiences. It isn't just the locked positioning of guests that limits field of vision but also the length of the carriages which makes it very difficult. I'm sure Thierry's crew will pull it off (I've no idea if they have selected their coaster manufacturer as they have traditionally used all of the big guys like B&M, Vekoma, Premier Rides and Maurer Sohne) but I don't find that coaster rides - even family coasters - are good vehicles for telling stories. Crush's Coaster is a Maurer Sohne Classic Maus and it was virtually impossible to control the dark ride portions at the start.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<IoA has 4 coasters in operation I think - Gringotts will make it 5 - is that too many for one park?>> Gringotts will be/is in Universal Studios Florida.
Originally Posted By leemac ^^ Isn't the point of HP2.0 or whatever folks are calling it to blend the two parks into one? I don't keep track of Uni's US park developments at all.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<^^ Isn't the point of HP2.0 or whatever folks are calling it to blend the two parks into one?>> The two parks will be connected by the train, but as of now there's no solid evidence to prove they'll become one mega park.
Originally Posted By leemac ^^ Gotcha - someone said that to me over lunch one day and I thought it sounded odd. Almost as odd as slamming DL and DCA together and selling it as one park. Ah those were the heady days of '03......
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<^^ Gotcha - someone said that to me over lunch one day and I thought it sounded odd.>> Yea, it never made much sense to me either when people were speculating that. But both stations have ticketing booths. So we're assuming that everyone can ride the train, but only parkhoppers can go into the other park. <<Almost as odd as slamming DL and DCA together and selling it as one park. Ah those were the heady days of '03......>> That would have been unfortunate.