Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>><<(Mission 2 might still have it, I am always too busy to avoid brain damage to really notice what is going on and last time the audio was broken anyway...)>> I wonder if that ride will ever be smooth again?<<< I would be really surprised. Vekoma are notoriously rough coasters after a fe years, and with the limited spending DLP does on maintanence, I seriously doubt it. Still, it is better than the Space Mountains in the other parks.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb It can't possibly be better than our Space Mountain here in California. Since it's opened after the major refurb it's been smoooooooth. Just a great fun coaster that deserves the long lines in generates.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo In terms of story, theming and thrill, Paris still wins (though it is no longer the masterpiece it once was). Smoothness, DL wins. But I would still queue happier for the PAris mountain than the dull DL one. Though my kids can ride the one in DL and the MK (they are not all enough for DLP's yet).
Originally Posted By dagobert >>In terms of story, theming and thrill, Paris still wins (though it is no longer the masterpiece it once was). Smoothness, DL wins.<< There is a fantastic podcast from The Season Pass in which Tim Delaney is interviewed. It's a three part series about his involvement in EPCOT, Creating Disneyland Paris including SM and the last part is about Hong Kong Disneyland. In this interview he is so enthusiastic about SM and I wonder what he thinks of today's DLRP, especially about his Discoveryland and his SM. Would it help to replace the vehicles to make it smooth again? Or do they have to replace the track as well?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I am not sure. I have ridden Vekomas where new trains have made a difference, but the track is impacted to (like Gouderaux in Parc Asterix, ouch, or I think Windjammer at Knott's Berry Farm was one of their's?). B&M don't seem to suffer from the same problem, nor Mack. I think this is why Mullholland Madness is a Mack.
Originally Posted By ChiMike MM is a Mack^ Vekoma's outside of Disney tend to age poorly. Some of B&M's earlier models are now starting to as well. I like semi-rough coaster rides so I doesn't bother me. Some B&Ms put me to sleep.
Originally Posted By Bolna <<I like semi-rough coaster rides so I doesn't bother me. Some B&Ms put me to sleep.>> Well, I am no coaster expert, but DLPs Space Mountain was not semi-rough in March. I had a headache for one hour afterwards. Why do coasters age differently? Different quality of steel?
Originally Posted By dagobert Last year in February we had different experiences with SM. Once it was really rough and my girlfriend didn't want to ride again, but another time it was smoother. Maybe it also depends where you sit. I had the feeling that it is better in the back. Does WDI only use Vekoma products? I know BTM, SM and RNRC in Paris are from Vekoma. I assume RNRC at DHS is also from that company. What about Expedition Everest? Is that ride also from Vekoma? California Screamin' at DCA is from Intamin, or am I wrong? Does someone know what company builds the Grizzly Gulch coaster at HKDL?
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Does WDI only use Vekoma products? I know BTM, SM and RNRC in Paris are from Vekoma. I assume RNRC at DHS is also from that company. What about Expedition Everest? Is that ride also from Vekoma?>> Yup, WDI basically only uses Vekhoma. And yea, Everest is a Vekhoma, and I believe Grizzly will be as well.
Originally Posted By ChiMike I haven't ridden DLP's SM, but from what I hear, I agree Bolna I would not consider it anywhere near semi-rough. It sounds really bad, and that is unforntunate considering it's overall appeal. In my limited knowledge, there are way too many variables to answer your question, and often, problems are tied to the specific installation or maintenance regiment. I was a HUGE fan of Arrow coasters and for the most part they aged together and became an issue about around the same time. A few B&M's from the early 90's are now starting to show the same signs. Ground settles, trains age, tracks endure stress all year round, year after year.... I would suggest the newer the coaster the greater chances the advanced engineering behind it allows for less problems in the long run.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>Last year in February we had different experiences with SM. Once it was really rough and my girlfriend didn't want to ride again, but another time it was smoother. Maybe it also depends where you sit. I had the feeling that it is better in the back.<< -Time of day -Weight of train -Position in train relative to time of day and weight of train Back typically takes on more stress and force, but on SM it can be an easier ride rather than riding in the front of a light train. >>Does WDI only use Vekoma products?<< WDW SM is an Arrow design. >>California Screamin' at DCA is from Intamin, or am I wrong?<< Yes. Google it, lots of fun stories. The Indiana Jones coaster at DLP and Raging Spirits are both Intamin as well.
Originally Posted By Bolna Thanks for the input. I wish I could come up with a formula for how to get the smoothest possible ride on Space Mountain! I really want to enjoy it again! But it would already help if it had functioning audio... Indiana Jones at DLP is much less rough - of course it is over before you can notice anything.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip One of my very favorite coasters is manufactured by B&M... Wildfire at Silver Dollar City. <<WildFire will offer high thrills with a vertical drop of 15 stories, into a half-loop/half-roll, then a full loop, followed by a cobra roll with two back-to-back inversions, a corkscrew and a high-speed spiral, traveling at speeds up to 66 miles per hour. WildFire is a high-flying, multi-looping, cobra-rolling speed machine.>> It is one helluva ride, but it is a very comfortable ride. SDC's Thunderation is manufactured by Arrow. Even though it is non-looping and considerably slower, I find it very difficult to ride in comparison to Wildfire.
Originally Posted By dagobert >>Indiana Jones at DLP is much less rough - of course it is over before you can notice anything<< Since the attraction isn't backwards anymore, I'm less interested in ridig Indy. At least when it's dark and the flames are working, there is a wonderful atmosphere.
Originally Posted By ChiMike RT, I agree that Wildfire is a good B&M. Not for it's smooth v. rough nature, but for it's layout of elements. I typically like Arrow coasters with inversions.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer WDW's SM is horrific. Rode it in December, hurt my back. I can wait another decade to get back on it...
Originally Posted By dagobert >>WDW's SM is horrific. Rode it in December, hurt my back. I can wait another decade to get back on it...<< I wasn't impressed with WDW's SM, too. I'm sorry for saying that, but it is a very lame coaster and I don't understand why it is still so popular. Despite being rough, I prefer DLP's SM.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Although SDC's Thunderation is a pretty rough ride, I still enjoy it. The large helix ending in a tunnel is one of the best I've found.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip And to bring the thread back on topic... the helix on Big Thunder Mountain is pretty fine also. It makes a rather slow coaster a lot of fun to ride.
Originally Posted By Bolna <<And to bring the thread back on topic... the helix on Big Thunder Mountain is pretty fine also. It makes a rather slow coaster a lot of fun to ride.>> I just looked at your top 10 after you sounded like a real coaster fan, but noticed only EE on there - and at 10th place... BTMRR very nearly made it on my list and if I hadn't just been to DLP it most likely would have been among my top 10. But as you said it is a rather slow coaster at WDW - while DLP has the perfect speed. But if that memory wasn't so fresh I guess it would have been on there. There are so many fun scenes along the way as well. I still notice new things nearly every time.
