Neutron Crisis Returns

From Screamscape:

2012 - Despicable Me & Kong 360 - Rumor - (2/14/11) Screamscape sources tell us that the license rights for Universal Studios Florida to use the Jimmy Neutron character will quickly run out. As such, we may see the Neutron ride close down sometime in Spring or early Summer, as the last hold-over from the old Nickelodeon days. A new attraction great animated family attraction is reported to be in the works to replace it based on Universal’s own Despicable Me film, which I’m sure will be full of those crazy Minions. (I just gotta love the Minions. I think they may be a distant relative of sorts to Screamie…)
On another note, there is another small rumor floating around the Net today claiming that a version of King Kong 360 – 3D is rumored to possibly replace Disaster. While I know this is something I’ve talked to a few people about myself over the past few months, my sources had pretty much confirmed that the powers that be had other fish to fry at the moment (Neutron, Terminator 2, etc) and any plans for Kong were off the table until those issues were handled first.
Still… Kong was quite popular in Hollywood, where the only complaint I’ve heard was that it was much too short of an experience. As part of the whole Backlot Tour experience however, they could get away with Kong being only a 90 second experience. Somehow I think the Orlando crowd is going to want something a little longer if they were to do it.

Ouch... guess this means I'm going to restart "SAVE JIMMY NEUTRON!!" again. =( But I wouldn't mind Despicable Me. If Neutron goes for the better, than so be it. I still rather they keep Jimmy and update it than remove it.

Disaster however can go, because it just lost its touch. I'd take Kong over that any day.

Skyrush Timeline

Well, I've decided to make a timeline for Attraction 2012 at Hersheypark:

June 1, 2010 - Hersheypark is said to be getting a B&M coaster in the next two years. The station may be placed in Comet Hollow and Tilt-a-whirl could be removed for it. Survey markings have appeared between the Comet (wooden coaster) and Founders Circle.

June 2, 2010 - More survey markings have been reported by Great Bear's (B&M Invert) immelmann, near Wave Swinger's entrance, and around Comet Hollow, with even some by the old paddleboats.

June 10, 2010 - The Sooperdooperlooper could be removed for this new coaster. B&M may at last be ready for another coaster at Hersheypark. If this is from B&M, it could be a B&M Flying Coaster or a B&M Hypercoaster.

June 11, 2010 - Now it looks like the ride will be from Premier Rides or Intamin, with B&M seeming less likely. It also seems that the new coaster will not be until 2012.

June 14, 2010 - It looks like the markings seen in Comet Hollow are not for this new coaster, but are control points where surveyors work from. Once all the control points are discovered, "we should have a large loop surrounding the overall location of the new project area." (Screamscape quote)

June 21, 2010 - A map of the survey markings is being made. A short line of markers have been discovered between the back of Traffic Jam and Helicopters, and the Comet that said "lift." This could mean the lift hill for this new coaster.

July 6, 2010 - Looks like this coaster will be made by Intamin once again.

July 7, 2010 - Some have taken the old Turbulence project as an inspiration for Hersheypark to build an Intamin ZacSpin. This could be a project that has not been built in the USA, possibly an Intamin Mega Lite. A rumor from a person states that the coaster will be an Intamin for 2012, and will interact with Comet, Great Bear, and Sooperdooperlooper.

July 11, 2010 - Some more markings have been reported around Tilt-a-whirl.

July 20, 2010 - More markings have been discovered by Creekside Catering.

July 22, 2010 - The ride may actually punch through the Comet, which may have its structure modified in the offseason.

July 26, 2010 - Comet may close in September for some restructuring to allow the coaster to punch through.

July 28, 2010 - Some pink markers have been discovered in Comet's queue, even by the station, and by Tilt-a-whirl.

August 1, 2010 - It looks like the station is being laid out, as markings have appeared from Tilt-a-whirl through the adjacent bathrooms all the way to a mysterious white shack that appeared in the restricted area.

August 2, 2010 - Apparently some stakes have appeared by SDL's helix. More markers have also been found around Comet Hollow and along the creek.

August 5, 2010 - More stakes have been found in Tilt-a-whirl's queue, saying "STA" (possibly meaning station), and more markings in Comet Hollow, meaning the border of the station building. Another stake was found between the Comet Hollow midway games and Comet. A big wooden fence is also going up behind Comet where the train used to run, and some trees are being taken down too. This could mean a new path by Comet and the creek. It also looks like there will be a meeting on August 19th with the township for something big enough to need a height limit waver for something bigger than 200 feet tall, but no taller than 350 ft. Currently this is known as "Attraction 2012."

August 6, 2010 - The Comet is open for HP in the Dark, thus killing the rumors of a September closure for a restructure.

August 7, 2010 - The new wooden fence by Comet is almost complete and is being painted white.

August 9, 2010 - Some stakes have been discovered on the other side of the creek.

August 17, 2010 - The meeting took place and stated that the new coaster will be 212.6 ft. tall, and this ride will include water, and part of it will span on the creek near the Comet.

August 19, 2010 - The coaster will most likely be for 2012. The park will remove Creekside Catering for this new coaster.

August 26, 2010 - It seems that Park Blvd may be rerouted in the near future, which has many speculate that this coaster will go into the old golf course.

September 11, 2010 - The fence next to Comet is complete. There was a bulldozer parked next to Comet's first drop and a new low fence has been built next to the abandoned pathway. Some piles of decorate cinderblock (used to decorate hillsides) has shown up in Lightning Racer's field, which hints that a new path may be coming with this new project.

September 24, 2010 - The new ride will not go into the golf course, and there will be 32 support columns in the pond. A tree-lined buffer will be put in place between the edge of the park and Park Boulevard.

October 17, 2010 - Marketing begins, as some people in lab coats from the "Ride Institute of Technology" surveyed some people about Airtime, water elements in rides and questions about freefall / drop rides. Some interesting hints have been found including "12 years" hinting that it could be a B&M coaster. More markers have shown up in Comet Hollow and now there seems to be more surrounding the Hollow Games building.

October 20, 2010 - The station may be built in the old Skyway station (though that seems unlikely), and this could be a Dive Machine.

November 19, 2010 - The station will be in Tilt-a-whirl's place, the restrooms will become the queue, and it may go down past the Comet’s entrance and follow the creek up to the existing dam area by the picnic pavilion near the Comet’s turnaround.

November 27, 2010 - Some stake markers have been reported all the way to Creekside Catering.

January 21, 2011 - Construction begins, with the creek drained and a mysterious gate has gone up by Park Blvd and the Creekside Catering. Picnic tables in the catering area have been taken out. The mysterious white shack seen last summer is still there.

February 6, 2011 - Two of the Creekside Catering buildings have been demolished. Over at the Park Blvd. bridge, many utility markers have shown up marking gas lines, electric lines and water lines.

EDITED 8/12/2011: Skyrush is the official name for this ride, so I changed the title. Updated timeline will come shortly! ;)

More Hersheypark Construction

February 6, 2011

http://keystonethrills.webs.com/attraction2012updates.htm

Looks like construction has officially begun on Attraction 2012, with two of the Creekside Catering pavilions demolished. An old ticket booth has also appeared by the construction gate added in January, when site preparation was in progress, and it seems that more utility markers have appeared in the south side of the creek by Comet and Park Blvd (some of the coaster is said to go up there). This is starting to look pretty big.

As for rumors, it keeps getting spread from an Intamin hyper version of the Mega Lite (*cough*Intimidator 305's layout of Giga Lite*cough*), a B&M Dive Machine, a B&M Hypercoaster, to a B&M Wing Coaster (I'm assuming this is what Raptor at Gardaland will be called). Any one of these would be cool, so I guess I'll have to wait and see.

Park Updates #8

Manta Confirmed for SeaWorld San Diego:

From SeaWorld Blog:

The new 2012 attraction will blend the exhilaration of a coaster with the grace and beauty of marine life.

Manta is coming to SeaWorld San Diego. The new mega-attraction, which will open in 2012, will combine the thrill of a launch coaster with an amazing marine-life exhibit.

“We are very excited to unveil Manta,” said SeaWorld park president, John Reilly. “This new launch coaster, the first of its kind for SeaWorld San Diego, will take riders on twists, turns and drops, while also immersing them into the world of the bat ray and other incredible marine creatures.”

Swooping, diving and twisting, Manta will not only inspire visitors with its 100,000-gallon underwater animal habitat, but take them on an unforgettable ride on a coaster shaped like a giant manta ray.

Manta also will feature a unique “launch station” where the passengers will start the ride enclosed in a launch tunnel with larger-than-life images of rays projected on a 270-degree enveloping screen. This stunning introduction to the world of the rays also will visually enhance the physical acceleration as the ride launches down the track. This state-of-the-art projection system will be the first of its kind in the United States.

“We are delighted to bring energizing new attractions to our guests year after year, and Manta does just that and more,” said Reilly. “It combines the thrilling excitement of a coaster, with the wonderful educational experience of an incredible marine-life exhibit. Our visitors are going to love Manta.”

Riders and non-riders alike will be able to immerse themselves the graceful beauty of bat rays and fishes. Forbidden Reef, an existing SeaWorld attraction where guests can feed and touch bat rays, will be incorporated and enhanced as part of Manta.

“With Manta, our guests will be able to see and interact with 65 bat rays, 10 guitar fish, and hundreds of fishes,” said SeaWorld San Diego curator of fishes, Thad Dirksen. “The below-water viewing area will include eight acrylic windows and a reef design. The above-water interaction area will allow our guests more opportunities to touch and feed the rays.”

http://www.insideseaworld.com/seaworld-san-diego-announces-new-manta-coaster

This link also shows some concept art and an on-ride video.

Manta SoCal looks like fun. I've enjoyed the one in Florida and Blue Fire at Europa Park, and this one will look very enjoyable.

Thorpe Park 2012:

Recently, Thorpe Park has been teasing about their 2012 coaster project. Now it looks like this will be the next B&M Wing Coaster:

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=53056&start=60#p999885

Now before you say something... check out the pics of the side elevation... where it looks like the ride will flip ON TOP OF THE LIFT HILL! =O B&M has never done that before! And it looks like there will be four inversions:

1. The half loop on top of the lift hill (used as a drop)
2. Zero-G-Roll
3. Corkscrew
4. In-line twist

Those sound GREAT to me! Now I'm REALLY praying for one of these to come to America! =D

And it looks like there will be a post-apocalyptic theme (there are some ruined vehicles that act as theming, like a helicopter, airplane, and some ruined trucks(for shopping purposes)). The track will be painted light military green and dark green (according to a post on Page 9 of the above link).

Just in case there is any doubt this is B&M, check this out (Screamscape):

2012 - LC12 - In Development - (2/10/11) According to a posting at UK Park News, Thorpe Park has confirmed through a planning application that their 2012 coaster project is from B&M to be located on a new development island “adjacent to Stealth” and will be just under 40 meters tall. One item though that I have to question… why does this statement say refer to B&M as being a “German manufacturer”?
The error aside… If I were a betting man, I’d be placing all my chips on this being one of the new B&M 4th Dimension / WingWalker style designs (like Raptor at Gardaland) with some all new more progressive design elements.

From UK Park News:

That’s right! In a recent press release, it has been confirmed that renowned Roller Coaster manufacturers, Bolliger & Mabillard, have been commissioned to build a unique, 40m high Roller Coaster for the 2012 season!

The full press release can be read below

“In line with THORPE PARK’s Medium Term Development Plan, application for full planning permission for a new rollercoaster in 2012 has been submitted to Runnymede Borough Council. This can be viewed on the Runnymede Borough Council website, www.runnymede.gov.uk (ref: RU.11/0101).

The German manufacturer Bolliger and Mabillard have been commissioned to build the unique new rollercoaster due to their consistent record of delivering extreme rides of the highest quality. Subject to planning permission, the ride will open in Spring 2012 and will be located on one of the new development islands adjacent to Stealth, measuring just under 40 metres in height.

Mike Vallis, Divisional Director, comments:

“THORPE PARK has developed significantly over the last decade to create the ‘must do’ destination for thrill seekers in the UK. We have focussed our investment on delivering exciting new rides and attractions including SAW – The Ride: the world’s first horror movie themed rollercoaster, Stealth: one of Europe’s fastest rollercoasters, Colossus: the world’s first 10 looping rollercoaster and Nemesis Inferno the 4.5 G-force experience.

This new development for 2012 will further add to the Park’s impressive ride portfolio and firmly establish the THORPE PARK as the nation’s Thrill Capital with a wide range of adrenaline pumping rides.”

http://www.ukparknews.co.uk/entry/cms/?p=3016

Yep, it will be the next B&M Wing Coaster. =)

Invertigo Dorney Park:

Last week, Dorney Park sent plans to the local township for a new coaster to replace the old Laser site:

Mum's the word on a new ride slated to join Dorney Park's lineup of belly-dropping, giggle-inducing thrillers, and park representatives say enthusiasts will have to wait until summer 2012 to try it out.

Dorney Park's parent corporation, Cedar Fair L.P., submitted a plan to South Whitehall Township for a new 138-foot-high amusement ride. But the plan doesn't mention what kind of a ride it is, and the park's general manager, Jason McClure, said his lips are sealed.

"We are keeping our focus on 2011 and all the new things we have in store with Planet Snoopy," McClure said.

The park's opening day will reveal the results of an $8 million top-to-bottom makeover of 10-year-old Camp Snoopy, the 3.5-acre children's area named after the too-cool beagle from Charles Schulz's "Peanuts" comic strip. The renovation will bring six new rides, an amphitheater, a souvenir store and a "soda pop shop" featuring root beer floats.

Dorney representatives will take questions about the proposed 2012 addition from the South Whitehall Planning Commission on Feb. 17, but even that won't demystify the new ride.

"The Planning Commission can ask us a variety of questions… but it's premature to get into a lot of detail," McClure said.

That hasn't stopped people from speculating that the incoming ride will be a coaster from California's Great America called Invertigo. The coaster happens to be 138 feet tall and is being relocated to another park within Cedar Fair's amusement park empire, according to a Great America news release issued last week.

Invertigo takes riders sitting face to face up a 138-foot-tall tower, then on several loops and twists both forward and backward through three inversions.

The rumor of the swap surfaced last week on a theme-park fan site called Screamscape.com, but Dorney spokesman Chuck Hutchison said the rumors are just that — rumors.

Invertigo reopened in July almost a year after a mechanical failure left two dozen people trapped 80 feet in the air for at least three hours, according to CNN. All of the trapped riders were rescued and no one was injured.

Under Dorney's proposal for a new ride, several kiddie rides would be removed, as well as a basketball game, concrete midways and a portion of a paved service drive, affecting about 1.7 acres of the 187-acre property zoned as commercial recreation.

Three Dorney rides are listed for sale on Ital International LLC, which dubs itself as the amusement industry's most comprehensive new and used ride brokerage source. The Antique Cars and Dune Buggy rides are both listed for $18,000, and the Kiddie Merry-Go-Round is listed for $25,000.

The ride is slated for the western portion of the park, just north of Lincoln Avenue and Dorney Park Road and south of the mammoth Steel Force coaster, where the old Laser coaster used to be.

The Laser was removed in 2008 after 22 years of double-loop thrills. The portable coaster, anchored by tanks of water, was originally named Colossus.

The site of the new ride, where Laser stood, is on the edge of a 100-year flood plain. The location caused heated debate at the township level when Dorney sought approval for Laser. It was eventually approved with a host of conditions attached.

If Invertigo greets fans in 2012, it would be the park's third inverted coaster, making Dorney Park the only amusement park in the country to have three true inverted coasters, according to a post on Screamscape.com.

McClure said the park will release more information on the ride this summer.

It looks quite similar to Invertigo at CGA:

2012 - Invertigo - Rumor - (2/3/11) Dorney Park has now submitted plans to the local township for a 138 foot tall ride for the 2012 season. Funny how that proposed attraction height matches up almost perfectly with the Invertigo coaster being removed from California’s Great America. The proposed site will take up the former site of the removed Laser coaster, as well as some surrounding area, removing a few kiddie rides in the process.

Hmmm...

Cheetah Hunt Construction:

Looks like track is nearly complete, as the only bit of track left is the drop, second trench, and the first half of the first s-bend (which according to pics looks to be going OVER the Skyride =O). It's looking really good.

Raptor Begins Testing:

You heard that right, testing has begun on Raptor at Gardaland recently (from paolobrescio):



http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=56021&start=530#p996406

Oh my, those trains look so awesome! =D And also...

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=56021&start=600#p999878

They've added some theme elements to one of the turns. Looks good! =)

Harry Potter Phase 2:

From Teebin at Orlando United:

Hmm... about two weeks ago, two baby sand hill cranes that were born on the property next door almost a year ago were sent packing by their parents. One of them was sent west to meet with a very well known theme park design group on the west coast regarding a more distant pacific new project. The other, so it was hinted to me took an eastern flight of 6 hours or so... to propose/present a whole lot/small lot (I do not know) of somethings re: a non-sPACIFIC project. Said crane is hesitant about a breakfast of neeps and tatties for several days. The parent cranes maintain a constant presence in the area since I have lived here and appear to breed "industry" cranes. Have a nice day.

It looks to me like the first crane he mentioned went for Universal Singapore or Dubai (or even South Korea) and the other could be for London, England, to meet with JK Rowling for Harry Potter Phase II. And to prove my point about that last one, from Disneyhead at Orlando United:

OK, Teebin beat me to it, but what I am hearing is that the plans are drawn up and have been presented to JK. They are waiting for her approval. The expansion plan presented includes one major attraction and at least one minor attraction. And that is all I know about it. I have no clue what the area will be or what any of the attractions concepts are.

Yep... definitely starting to reach the grips of reality. =D

Let me just say that the Lost Continent, unfortunately, has become a shell of its former self. Poseidon's Fury was my least favorite attraction at IOA (though last time it was a little bit better, but still lame), and I'd take a Gringotts indoor coaster over this attraction anyday. While I haven't tried Mythos, I wouldn't mind seeing Leaky Cauldron going up (though they can keep it to, like Screamscape says) in its place. And while Sinbad is a fun show, it unfortunately can't save this poor island. And a Triwizard show would be awesome! =D

Well, next time I'm at Universal (assuming I won't be there for a long time after that), I'm going to have to experience the Lost Continent and Terminator one last time.