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Theme Parks & Roller Coasters |OT| The Happiest Place on GAF

zeemumu

Member
The DCA Guardians Tower will be announced at 5:30 at SDCC today.

No word on whether or not the new GotG Epcot plans surface however.

How does this even fit the land that it's in? Just a random Superhero tower wedged in between Hollywood and A Bug's Land?

Note to self: get fastpass to Tower of Terror and store it forever with my Hyperspace Mountain one.
 

Xun

Member
The DLC ride has my favorite queue-line and waiting area :(

I'm really hoping the massive revolt when they announce this will convince them otherwise, I can't even imagine the imagineers would be happy to work on something like this.
Nothing will stop it from happening, unfortunately.

Disney will make a killing from it.

How does this even fit the land that it's in? Just a random Superhero tower wedged in between Hollywood and A Bug's Land?

Note to self: get fastpass to Tower of Terror and store it forever with my Hyperspace Mountain one.
It doesn't fit at all, but they simply don't care anymore.

They'll continue to shoehorn IP into their parks.
 
Link to some pictures from Kentucky Kingdom, Kings Island, and Holiday World.

Thoughts from my most recent trip:

Kentucky Kingdom:
-Ed Hart's worked magic getting this place rolling again. I eagerly await to see what else gets dropped into here.

-A 125 foot trap door body slide exists as one of the most terrifying experiences I have ever took part in. Wow....amazing.

-Lightning Run, despite the tiny height of it, packs gratuitous amounts of airtime. Absolutely brutal, but wonderful in the last row.

-Storm Chaser blows New Texas Giant out of the water. Rocky Mountain Coasters dropped a true gem in Louisville.

-The water park features one of the best wave pools still around.

Kings Island:
-They need a Maverick style launch coaster, a Giga (in the vein of Fury 325), a floorless, and a GCI woodie (which most likely arrives next season).

-Beast still runs fast through the woods. Always better at night.

Holiday World:
-I visited nine years ago, and I love how the park has grown.

-They could use a better wave pool. The waves aren't intense.

-I love the added bunny hill to the Legend. Finally a perfect mix of lateral and negative Gs on the ride. Got to stick around for a night ride, in pitch black, and I truly lacked any idea of the layout. What a blast!

-Voyage sits at #1 out of the 125+ different coasters I've been on. The night ride solidified that even more. Fury 325 in Charlotte sits at #2.

-Mammoth and Wildebeast blew me away. Didn't expect that much airtime, ride time, or fun from a water coaster. More parks should add these type of rides.

-Thunderbird is tied with Wild Eagle for me with favorite wing coasters. Cedar Point could've got soo much more out of Gatekeeper :(

Fun trip! I recommend all three parks. Y'all need to venture out, and go visit other places besides the Disneys and Universals.
 
You know, going to so many sub par areas and cities make me appreciate how much thought and care Disney puts into their parks in terms of infrastructure, landscape architecture, urban design, and aesthetics. They don't skimp in that regard.
 

Zackat

Member
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9L9ZAdtNZc0&feature=youtu.be

latest
 

Looks like shit, the idea is boring as hell even if I LOVE GotG, the exterior is vomiting enducing and feels totally out of place from the are (lol at leaving the ToT plants and garden on a sci fi building, seems imagineers dont have any imagination anymore).

And I never liked Joe since I saw all those animal kindgdom documentaries, and I like him less now.
And his ear flapping will always disgusts me

Really, really hoping Orlando's ToT at least stays forever. This is a disgrace.
 

Linkified

Member
Looks like shit, the idea is boring as hell even if I LOVE GotG, the exterior is vomiting enducing and feels totally out of place from the are (lol at leaving the ToT plants and garden on a sci fi building, seems imagineers dont have any imagination anymore).

And I never liked Joe since I saw all those animal kindgdom documentaries, and I like him less now.
And his ear flapping will always disgusts me

Really, really hoping Orlando's ToT at least stays forever. This is a disgrace.

To be fair that is why they chose The Collector as the villain. He likes to collect stuff so he just has a collection of plants outside.

Also expect to see Joe more he is head of Marvel Imagineering Portfolio. Joe is great its just this coming from Chapek to get Marvel in the parks ASAP.
 
To be fair that is why they chose The Collector as the villain. He likes to collect stuff so he just has a collection of plants outside.

Also expect to see Joe more he is head of Marvel Imagineering Portfolio. Joe is great its just this coming from Chapek to get Marvel in the parks ASAP.

Never was a big fan of Animal Kingdom really. And Expedition Everest, his best ride, is broken from a building conception standpoint which will never be fixed. Him also making Avatar land, the franchise I hate most being there.
Chapek is also responsible, but Im in serious doubt there were not better ideas out there to put GotG at DCA, and that Joe couldn't push them.

Im still waiting someone guts innovations down to bring back Carrousel of Progress sponsored by Stark Industries.
It makes so much sense it hurts.
 

Linkified

Member
Never was a big fan of Animal Kingdom really. And Expedition Everest, his best ride, is broken from a building conception standpoint which will never be fixed. Him also making Avatar land, the franchise I hate most being there.
Chapek is also responsible, but Im in serious doubt there were not better ideas out there to put GotG at DCA, and that Joe couldn't push them.

Im still waiting someone guts innovations down to bring back Carrousel of Progress sponsored by Stark Industries.
It makes so much sense it hurts.

DAK out of the American parks I adore because of the visual quality with the details. The Adventures Club was amazing, as well. Avatar he was told he had to do.

Chapek wants Marvel in the parks as quick as possible, a retheme is always quicker than building from scratch. They needed a franchise that could be used in both World and Land the only one is GOTG, Orlandos ToT survived because of Ops and the drawn out construction they couldn't close another attraction. Hence why they moved brand to Epcot.

CoP will never come back to Disneyland, even in World it has survived but for how much longer is yet unclear.
 
DAK out of the American parks I adore because of the visual quality with the details. The Adventures Club was amazing, as well. Avatar he was told he had to do.

Chapek wants Marvel in the parks as quick as possible, a retheme is always quicker than building from scratch. They needed a franchise that could be used in both World and Land the only one is GOTG, Orlandos ToT survived because of Ops and the drawn out construction they couldn't close another attraction. Hence why they moved brand to Epcot.

CoP will never come back to Disneyland, even in World it has survived but for how much longer is yet unclear.

What do you mean with CoP?
Also didnt they say they cant use Marvel characters on the east coast becuase of Universal?
I really really hope ToT never changes at Orlando. Stopping the Anaheim change will never happen, but maybe the bakclash make them rethink any funny ideas and think its better building a new ride there if they want to add GotG in the future.

And I visited too many real safaris to appreciate what Animal Kingdom tries to do.
 

Xun

Member
What do you mean with CoP?
Also didnt they say they cant use Marvel characters on the east coast becuase of Universal?
I really really hope ToT never changes at Orlando. Stopping the Los Angeles change will never happen, but maybe the bakclash make them rethink any funny ideas and think its better building a new ride there if they want to add GotG in the future.

And I visited too many real safaris to appreciate what Animal Kingdom tries to do.
It's rumoured that the ToT will drop the Twilight Zone brand.
 
Disney doesn't want to pay CBS royalty fees for a theme that most people do not really know or have a fond memory of. IMO, the only reason GoTG is not coming to DHS in Orlando is because of the ambiguous legality of where the guardians will be (Avengers or not) after IW is released.

Thank god for Universal "helping" Disney not make more stupid decissions.
Original ToT needs to stay how it is.
 

nicoga3000

Saint Nic
This October, my wife and I are going to Disney with some friends. We're taking a day to go to Universal to see both parts of Harry Potter. That's the only thing we're really there to see (largely due to time constraints). Can anyone give me some good info on how to best tackle those two attractions across parks?

Also, for my brother (non-GAF member but lurking this thread) - do you have any good theme park specific podcasts?
 

brerwolfe

Member
This October, my wife and I are going to Disney with some friends. We're taking a day to go to Universal to see both parts of Harry Potter. That's the only thing we're really there to see (largely due to time constraints). Can anyone give me some good info on how to best tackle those two attractions across parks?

Also, for my brother (non-GAF member but lurking this thread) - do you have any good theme park specific podcasts?

My wife, as a massive Potter fan, would say to start at Diagon Alley then jump on the train to Hogsmeade in order to experience the areas the way Hogwarts students would.

MY suggestion, however, is to start at Hogsmeade and then take the train to Diagon Alley, and the reason is simple-- Hogsmeade will blow you away, but Diagon Alley is done SO much better that if you do them in "story order" you'll feel a bit let down when you get over to Hogsmeade.

If starting at Hogsmeade, the simplest way to get there is to go around the right side of the lake, through Seuss Landing and the Lost Continent. That takes you to the main entrance of Hogsmeade and you can explore from there.

The train takes you to Kings Cross and the London facade, then you can make your way through the magic wall and into Diagon Alley.

It's so much fun and you can easily spend an entire day exploring all the shops and little nooks in both Potter lands. Enjoy!
 

TAJ

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
My wife, as a massive Potter fan, would say to start at Diagon Alley then jump on the train to Hogsmeade in order to experience the areas the way Hogwarts students would.

MY suggestion, however, is to start at Hogsmeade and then take the train to Diagon Alley, and the reason is simple-- Hogsmeade will blow you away, but Diagon Alley is done SO much better that if you do them in "story order" you'll feel a bit let down when you get over to Hogsmeade.

If starting at Hogsmeade, the simplest way to get there is to go around the right side of the lake, through Seuss Landing and the Lost Continent. That takes you to the main entrance of Hogsmeade and you can explore from there.

The train takes you to Kings Cross and the London facade, then you can make your way through the magic wall and into Diagon Alley.

It's so much fun and you can easily spend an entire day exploring all the shops and little nooks in both Potter lands. Enjoy!

Is that because of the crowds? I ask because we studied every bit of Hogsmeade and rode Forbidden Journey multiple times in under a quarter of a day at Hollywood.
 

Linkified

Member
Thank god for Universal "helping" Disney not make more stupid decissions.
Original ToT needs to stay how it is.

Apart from a GOTG ride heading to Epcot the whole Jim Hill after IW BS, so anything would only be temporary in World.

There is the master licensing document in their of sub licenses apparently GOTG weren't included as well as potentially Inhumans.
 

brerwolfe

Member
Is that because of the crowds? I ask because we studied every bit of Hogsmeade and rode Forbidden Journey multiple times in under a quarter of a day at Hollywood.
No, I just mean in terms of awe. After seeing Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade doesn't feel as magical as it once did.
 

TAJ

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
No, I just mean in terms of awe. After seeing Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade doesn't feel as magical as it once did.

I got that part. I was just wondering if Florida Hogsmeade was a lot bigger than California Hogsmeade.
 

choco-fish

Member
Any notable parks or coasters on the East Coast of Canada, were doing a fly-drive across the Rockies from Vancouver to Calgary. I haven't really researched the trip much yet, I had a quick google but nothing much came up.
 

brerwolfe

Member
I got that part. I was just wondering if Florida Hogsmeade was a lot bigger than California Hogsmeade.
Oh, sorry.

My understanding is that they're generally the same layout. The transition from the park (in Orlando) to Hogsmeade has more of a buffer due to the implementation of the Hogwarts Express, so it feels more natural. And Orlando also has the Dragon Challenge coasters that some people may complain ruins the immersion, but whatever. So I guess in that regard Orlando is slightly larger.
 

aparisi2274

Member
Kings island has announced a new wooden coaster "Mystic Timbers".

legit didnt even know they were building one. theres apparently a showroom at the end, they have yet to release details on what goes on in there.

POVs and everything else here
http://mystictimbers.visitkingsisland.com/nature-rises/ride-videos

ki_mt-layout_micrositerendering.jpg

Nothing really jumps out at me with that design... seems like your classic out and back, with some decent camel backs toward the end. I think the coolest aspect of the ride is that it seems to cross over the roaring rapids ride...
 
The POV makes it out to be a fun ride. It'll be nice roaring through the trees, actually changing direcitons, and going up and down hills. The constant straight, and flat track of The Beast is sort of a bummer.
 
The POV makes it out to be a fun ride. It'll be nice roaring through the trees, actually changing direcitons, and going up and down hills. The constant straight, and flat track of The Beast is sort of a bummer.

One thing it will have going for it is they're building it deep in the woods. It's the one thing kings island does better than cedar point is their use of the land
 

ultron87

Member
Interesting that they are going with something that seems pretty similar to The Beast in terms of style and the way it runs over the landscape. It does look like it should be a good time and the dark room at the end that presumably takes up some time while the car ahead is unloading/loading could be neat.

As long as it doesn't destroy your body like Son of Beast did I'm all for it.
 

zeemumu

Member
Is the GotG ride gonna run similarly to the Orlando Tower of Terror? From what I can tell, they've decided to make it randomized, and the California Adventure one had the same drop pattern every single time. It also doesn't do that thing where the elevator starts moving forward with the ghosts on the sides. The only time it moves forward and back is at the beginning to move away from the door into the shaft.
 

gsrjedi

Member
I guess they could randomize the drop patterns, but they built the DCA & Paris versions of ToT different than WDW for a reason. Easier maintenance & if one shaft is down the whole ride doesn't need to shut down. I don't normally ride it, but I'm pretty sure the DCA version never actually leaves the shaft. You get on on one level & off on another.
 

zeemumu

Member
I guess they could randomize the drop patterns, but they built the DCA & Paris versions of ToT different than WDW for a reason. Easier maintenance & if one shaft is down the whole ride doesn't need to shut down. I don't normally ride it, but I'm pretty sure the DCA version never actually leaves the shaft. You get on on one level & off on another.

Yeah. It technically moves out of the shaft when it's pulling into the door but it never moves into a different shaft like the WDW one with its weird hallway thing.
 
One thing it will have going for it is they're building it deep in the woods. It's the one thing kings island does better than cedar point is their use of the land


Holiday World outclasses practically everyone in use of land. Legend and The Voyage exist as a masterclass on wooden coaster design.

Here's the obligatory "less Uni/Disney talk....more other parks" comment :p
 
Holiday World outclasses practically everyone in use of land. Legend and The Voyage exist as a masterclass on wooden coaster design.

Here's the obligatory "less Uni/Disney talk....more other parks" comment :p

I still need to make the drive out there at somepoint, its only a 4 hour drive from here in Columbus
 
I still need to make the drive out there at somepoint, its only a 4 hour drive from here in Columbus

Try and go while it's still hot; their water park is absolutely incredible. It features two water roller coasters (both rated #1 and #2), tons of slides, a fantastic lazy river, and lots of other fun stuff.

Most shuffle out at 7, and you can ride the coasters to your heart's intent. Legend and The Voyage transform into ridiculous experiences in the pitch black dark after 8:30 pm.
 

gsrjedi

Member
Yeah. It technically moves out of the shaft when it's pulling into the door but it never moves into a different shaft like the WDW one with its weird hallway thing.

I didn't recall, I've only ridden ToT like twice. Don't normally go for the "thrill" rides and that's about the top for me. The only reason I ever rode the DCA version is to build up the nerve to ride the superior WDW version the first time I went there
 

zeemumu

Member
I didn't recall, I've only ridden ToT like twice. Don't normally go for the "thrill" rides and that's about the top for me. The only reason I ever rode the DCA version is to build up the nerve to ride the superior WDW version the first time I went there

I'm hoping I'm remembering the WDW correctly. Don't you go forward and all the ghosts are on either side of you?
 
You go through the 5th dimension. I don't remember if there are ghosts or Twilight Zone type imagery as you move through.

I think it Twilight Zone imagery. Things from the opening, etc...
That is changed in the Anaheim and Paris ones for you dissapearing from a mirror with electricity surrounding you at the top of the tower before you fall. Its a neat effect but not as cool as going through a corridor.
 

zeemumu

Member
I think it Twilight Zone imagery. Things from the opening, etc...
That is changed in the Anaheim and Paris ones for you dissapearing from a mirror with electricity surrounding you at the top of the tower before you fall. Its a neat effect but not as cool as going through a corridor.

I remember liking the WDW a little bit more. The DCA one goes up once and stops in front of the mirror, then lightning hits it and everyone in the mirror disappears, then it goes up one more time to a hallway with another elevator on the other side, but you never move through it. The ghosts start showing up in the hallway, then disappear as the hallway turns into a starfield with the elevator on the other end now carrying the ghosts. Then it drops and yours drops right after it.
 
I remember liking the WDW a little bit more. The DCA one goes up once and stops in front of the mirror, then lightning hits it and everyone in the mirror disappears, then it goes up one more time to a hallway with another elevator on the other side, but you never move through it. The ghosts start showing up in the hallway, then disappear as the hallway turns into a starfield with the elevator on the other end now carrying the ghosts. Then it drops and yours drops right after it.

Yup.
I have a t-shirt (that I love) with Mickey, Donald and Goofy in the elevator, shouting while already falling, and with the mirror having their reflections hit by electricity, so I always misremember if you watch the corridor with the ghost elevator efore or after the mirror scene.
This shirt BTW
disney-tower-of-terror-t-shirt-size-m-the-twilight-zone-blue-ships-free-0977030f0fe53596ce2c93312a94af9c.jpg
 
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