Park Updates #5

Green Lantern:

http://coasterfusion.com/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?9492.210

So it seems that green track (aka Chang track with a new look) is on site (and has been for a 2-3 weeks). It seems to be in a fenced off portion of the parking lot by Kingda Ka. They also seem to have closed off some of the premium parking lot for work on the area soon to hold Green Lantern's lift hill to begin (it will be parallel to Superman Ultimate Flight). In fact, from the looks of those pics, they seem to have already begun tearing out some of the concrete on the parking lot.

Cheetaka:

It seems that the 4th teaser video has been released (October 4th), showing the part of the ride entering the old wet portion of Rhino Rally. It includes an inversion (a heartline roll over the railroad), two straight-aways, a near-miss with a waterfall, and some trick tracks. It also seems that after the 3rd launch, you go up a massive (literally massive) airtime hill as you head back to the station. And here's this neat theory from Shellemonster at Orlando United:

Interesting indeed, Busch is really trying something new here. It's like a terrain coaster with launches. I love how this takes us in and around the veldt because what isn't shown in these videos is the fact that we will be flying close by through animal exhibits.

Like at SeaWorld where you become the manta ray on Manta, it seems like we will become a cheetah on Cheetaka. You prowl out of the station, jump up to get a good vantage point to select your prey (figure8 tower), launch off chasing the prey, circle it, and wrestle it to death in the valley, then return from the kill. Maybe I'm reading too much into this...

And as for construction, it seems that some bars were installed in the second trench (currently being excavated), and it seems that work has begun on tearing out the old wet portion of Rhino Rally.

Meanwhile, check this out:

Next week, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Discovery Cove in Orlando will both announce major new attractions coming to the parks in 2011.

But this message will be shared in a different way than many of the parks’ previous new attraction announcements. In an effort to grow and support its eager online Fan base, Busch Gardens and Discovery Cove will announce the new attractions on their Facebook pages FIRST via video messages from the parks’ executives the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 13.

Stay tuned to these Facebook pages (make sure you "Like" them!) and you will be amongst the first to receive the big news:

www.Facebook.com/BuschGardensTampaBay

www.Facebook.com/DiscoveryCove

http://www.seaworldparksblog.com/busch-gardens-and-discovery-cove-make-major-announcements-next-week

Hmmm... isn't BGT rumored for a new addition in 2011...? Yep, it's pretty much safe to say that this announcement will be for Cheetaka. BTW, as for Discovery Cove, they are building an expansion, but I'm more excited for Cheetaka. =D

X-Raptor:

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=56021&start=190

Vertical construction has begun on X-Raptor. It seems that station track is up, as well as some of the break run and final turn. Now I'm just wondering when the trains will be revealed and what the layout is. =D

Heide Park:

From Screamscape:

2011 - B&M Coaster - Rumor - (10/8/10) Now this may be an odd shot in the dark here, but I’m starting to really think we may be seeing something new and unique about this Heide Park B&M coaster. In addition to this being listed as a Dive Machine style coaster, but using what appears to be standard sized coaster track, something else seems to be sticking out as being different. Take a look again at the picture of the track found on site previously and take a good look at those two straight track pieces… with what looks like fins sticking up on them.
A few others have pointed this out before, but these seem to be magnetic brake fins, not unlike the style of brake fins we’ve seen Intamin using for the past few years. Others have pointed this out as well, that this is new for B&M as every other B&M coaster with magnetic brakes uses a very different system that has a horizonal fin run through the magnetic braking channels mounted close to the center of the tracks. (See Here)
B&M doesn’t experiment or change things lightly so there has to be a reason for switching to this new narrow-profile system, putting the fins on the tracks instead. I wouldn’t think adding the mag-brake units to the trains was a benefit, as they have to be heavier than the fins, so the real purpose here must have been to open up some space under the center of the train for something new perhaps. About the only thing I can think of that would go there would be hardware for either a new style lift system (cable lift?) or could we be seeing brand new B&M launch system technology put to use here?

So could we be seeing the first launched B&M Dive Machine???? *drops jaw* If that's the case, I might just have to visit this place soon... =D