bobkmertz 1mo ago • 100%
In the case of the impulse coasters with the holding brake that's an example of the thrill but I think the distinguishing factor is that your adrenaline is already going by time you hit that point..... With a tilt coaster you're going to mix the suspense of a dive coaster with the 90 degree hold of the brake on the 2 impulse coasters that have/had them.
bobkmertz 1mo ago • 100%
I've never been on a full 90 degree tilt coaster but even the slightly sloped one I've been on actually gave me more of a thrill than any holding brake on a B&M dive coaster (like Valravn). Being held at 90 degrees and then suddenly being dropped is going to be something unlike anything you've experienced on a coaster..... This will be on the level of a drop tower. One of these has existed overseas for decades and I've been dreaming of riding it.... I seriously can't wait.
Out of nowhere Cedar Point has announced that a new coaster will open next year, named "Sirens Curse"
This video came up in a conversation on our podcast and I had forgot about it but after watching it again I thought it was well worth sharing. This is an outside firm that is performing in depth maintenance on coasters and accessing the bolts that you can't just walk to by ropes. It's truly fascinating to watch. It's also clearly an old video with Volcano making an appearance.
bobkmertz 1mo ago • 100%
Here's the point that I was done with any passes from SeaWorld/United Parks:
Prior to 2020 everyone with a Platinum pass had their own parking lot and could use the employee entrance to access it (and avoid the line at the main gates). When Covid arrived they told us they had to remove that benefit temporarily because the alternate access impeded screening.... That was reasonable. Two weeks later that lot reopened as the premium parking option at the main gate and all of us pass holders were welcomed to purchase parking tickets to use that lot... The same lot that our current membership gave us free access to. It also confirmed that they used Covid as a false excuse to take this benefit away and by giving the same thing to purchasing customers they clearly showed there was NO legitimate reason for them to remove that benefit from us.
Following that they later changed tiers in the middle of pass ownership taking many other benefits away and then they kept enticing us to renew our passes so we could ride Pantheon when it opens in 2021.... 2022.....
And I was done. They did send me the free ticket so I could ride Pantheon when it opened.... I paid my $40 parking fee and went straight to pantheon which was down and not declared as being down on the board at the entrance to the park. That day every single coaster was down at some point with many being down all day. I talked to guest services who took my information and said they would send me another ticket.... That never happened.
They have a really long walk to get me to even consider a pass again. The truth is, I just don't have much interest in going there at all. I've had so many horrible experiences in the last 5 years that being in the park has just been associated with misery.
I hope they can turn it around though.... The parks have so much potential.
bobkmertz 1mo ago • 100%
BGW really just stopped maintaining stuff. The theming in that park was just a little below Disney but after the holdings company took over they just stopped fixing things when it broke and that has led to a subtle but yet very noticeable difference. Then you look at rides like Verbolten which has degraded a ton solely because they didn't maintain the theme elements in the building leaving the dark forest not so dark.
bobkmertz 1mo ago • 100%
I'm really hoping they actually follow through with theming this thing.... It's going to make or break it. They dropped the ball with Pantheon but at least it is a fun coaster but DarKoaster is just a complete failure without the full theming.
bobkmertz 2mo ago • 100%
Honestly pretty much everything looks that good
bobkmertz 2mo ago • 100%
Oh that's a good answer. Epic Universe has existed in a "coming in the future" state for so long I didn't even comprehend that those are 2025 coasters. Stardust racers also looks like it could be insanely good.
With all the recent announcements for coasters coming in 2025 I'm curious what everyone is looking forward to the most? Personally I think AlpenFury looks amazing and may be the biggest hit of the year.
Built by B&M the coaster will be called "Rakshasa" and have a 171ft drop with a beyond vertical 96 degree slope and reach speeds of 67mph
Being built by Premier Rides this launch coaster will reach 115km/h (71mph) and blast you through the mountain (is this sounding familiar yet). It will take you through 9 inversions that seem to be mostly rolls (sounding more familiar) and all flow together. Clearly the real Volcano replacement went to another country 😂
bobkmertz 3mo ago • 100%
Couldn't agree more
Kings Dominion has announced their new coaster for 2025
bobkmertz 3mo ago • 83%
This entire story made me laugh. In a lot of ways this is the same way that many old houses are supported with the main difference being the house takes up less square footage. Racer has been like this for years (probably it's whole life) and was just waiting for the right person to come along and make a big deal out of it.
Now wait until they learn how much coasters start leaning and flexing 😂
Morey served as the executive vice president and chief creative officer of the company, which has been family owned and operated since 1969.
This doesn't mean a strike will happen but it does mean that employees are willing to strike if negotiations don't go well.
This is honestly one of the most upsetting stories I've read in a while. I've really been losing more and more respect for United Parks (Sea World and Busch Gardens) but this may be one of their shadiest stunts yet. In short they've started prompting you to tip at counter service transactions which isn't ideal but something we're seeing at a lot of places anymore but, in this case, the money you tip actually first offsets Sea World's payroll before giving some to the employees (if there is enough). The way this works is they are functionally reducing their employees pay rate to minimum wage but continuing to pay whatever their existing pay was as a guaranteed rate. This is creating a loophole where they can take the tip money and use it to pay part of the employee's wages. The only point where extra money would be given to any employees is if the tips exceed the amount of difference between everyone's minimum wage rate and their guaranteed rate.
bobkmertz 4mo ago • 100%
I rode all 3 of the Paramount stand ups (all Togo's) and loved them all. I only was on SkyRider once or twice in a single visit but the other 2 (King Cobra and Shockwave) I rode numerous times. They all were great and put B&M's stand ups to shame (save possibly Pipeline) mainly because of the restraints.
bobkmertz 4mo ago • 100%
I've got quite a few but here's my top 20:
#1 - Volcano - King's Dominion
#2 - Riverside Cyclone (Pre-2001) - Riverside Park
#3 - Top Thrill Dragster - Cedar Point
#4 - Blue Streak - Conneaut Lake Park
#5 - Son of Beast - King's Island
#6 - Big Dipper - Geauga Lake
#7 - Batman and Robin: The Chiller - Six Flags Great Adventure
#8 - Rolling Thunder - Six Flags Great Adventure
#9 - The Villain - Geauga Lake
#10 - Disaster Transport - Cedar Point
#11 - Raging Wolf Bobs - Geauga Lake
#12 - Laser Loop - Kennywood
#13 - Wildcat - Hersheypark
#14 - T3 - Kentucky Kingdom
#15 - Mad Mouse - Lakemont Park
#16 - Vortex - King's Island
#17 - King Cobra - King's Island
#18 - Firehawk - King's Island
#19 - Skyrider - Canada's Wonderland
#20 - Mean Streak - Cedar Point
bobkmertz 4mo ago • 100%
Agreed. I thought it was important to add the entering the restricted area when I made the post. Their headline isn't as egregious as most media coverage but certainly leaves out important context.
bobkmertz 4mo ago • 100%
Scare headline?
The guest ignored the direction of staff and various restricted area signs and entered the ride area to retrieve items he lost and was struck by either the train or a rider on the train. Entering this area likely required climbing over an 8ft tall fence.
They have been trying but it just doesn't seem to stick. Hyperia broke down again today.
Universal isn't commenting on what they are planning to do with the additional land and the zoning will adapt as Universal's plans change. Sunrail will be expanding into the area as well.
bobkmertz 4mo ago • 100%
Oh wow I never even realized that book existed
Anyone that's been to Cedar Point knows the hell that mayflies bring but this last weekend they seemed to step up their game
bobkmertz 5mo ago • 100%
Yes the low quality wood is a point of contention and I don't think we have a clear picture of who did it. Paramount paid for higher quality wood and it seems like the lumber company gave RCCA the low quality wood. Rumor was that RCCA tried to sue the lumber company but the lumber company had gone out of business before the lawsuit was filed. Paramount then sued RCCA over the ride but regardless the bottom line was the coaster was just not going to survive without essentially a rebuild and after the accidents that happened cedar fair (who inherited the mess) just had to cut their losses. There is a really good Defunctland about SoB that is well worth the watch. I don't think it goes too deep into the lumber issue but it covers A LOT.
bobkmertz 5mo ago • 100%
By 2006 I could certainly see it being a disaster. It wasn't built well and I think that was around the time that they replaced the trains because it was tearing it's self apart especially since someone (lumber company, RCCA, etc) slipped in low quality wood instead of what it was supposed to be.
As for beast, yea, I agree.... it feels a lot slower but it's a mental thing. The exit speed from the brakes is the same but since the magnetic brakes shave the speed off of the train so abruptly your mind translates it into slowing down.... the old friction brakes shaved the speed slowly so you didn't really notice it. It's basically the same as riding in a car and the driver is gently applying the brakes and you don't even realize that you're slowing down vs hitting the brakes harder because someone pulled out in front of them. I do think there may have been some reprofiling that went on with the helix that probably also took away some of the lateral G force so that would also contribute to the slower feeling if that's the case.
Looks like another new park really is coming to the US. The track looks like it could be Vekoma but the supports in the pictures are confusing (maybe they are for another ride).
bobkmertz 5mo ago • 100%
I agree that those magnetic trims ruin the flow. It actually doesn't go any slower than it did before but it really does feel like it because of how abrupt those brakes hit. I know magnetic trims save a lot of maintenance but I would love it if they went back to the friction trim brakes.
I'm curious what year you rode SoB. I rode it opening year (possibly 2nd year) and I absolutely loved every moment of it. I know that it tore it's self apart quickly which was the biggest reason why they got the new lighter trains (which led to the removal of the loop since they couldn't make it through it). I don't doubt it was getting bad.
bobkmertz 5mo ago • 100%
It should be the park that calls 911 if it's required though. Often times the PLC will refuse to open without an override which is something that maintenance is usually required to do (to keep normal ride ops from making critical mistakes).
Apparently a rider's seat belt wouldn't unlatch on a ride a Beech Bend and the rider's mother called 911. Fire department responded to find that -- no one was trapped because the issue was already resolved.
Cedar Point has announced that they still have no new information or reopening date for Top Thrill 2
Hyperia at Thorpe Park only operated for a single day before being closed and will remain that way for at least a couple of weeks.
bobkmertz 6mo ago • 100%
This was meant to be a reply to another comment..... still learning a new Android app.
bobkmertz 6mo ago • 100%
It does feel like we've known about it forever 😂
Few details are accessible without deeper searches but it looks like Vekoma is filing a lawsuit against B&M regarding the Pipeline coaster at Sea World Orlando.
SC Holdings purchased the park today and is promising a $10 million investment. The former CEO of Tivoli Gardens also is joining the advisory board.