Kings Island 2012 Update

The main page has been updated once again, showing a new background (where the "Something Big Is Coming" is): a shipping container.
















And... a goose (maybe it is random XD):


















I also did some more research on what is going on. It seems that people are thinking that this may have a connection with the removal of the old Lazer Trek building (as of February 26, 2009) adjacent to the WindSeeker site. And check out this video:



Pay attention at 0:44-0:46 behind Racer (March 8, 2011). It looks like some kind of crane in the Action Theater area... which to me looks like something is indeed going on here.

Also, in some WindSeeker construction photos, it seems to not show the old Lazer Trek lawn (as pointed out by TOPGUN1993):

http://www.kicentral.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=23493&view=findpost&p=418352

However, a little glimpse is seen in the land adjacent to it, the abandoned "Coney Potato works food stand along with the abandon Flight Commander queue line", and it seems that the fencing is removed.

I also remember reading when they announced WindSeeker in August, that it was part of bringing some life into the Coney Mall section of the park, which is where the Lazer Trek lawn is. Hmmm...

Anyways, I'll keep ya'll updated. Again, this could be for anything. Why?

Because I'm CRAA-! Ahem... my apologies.

Park Updates #9

Despicable Me Update:

From Screamscape:

2012 - Despicable Me & Kong 360 - Rumor - (3/11/11) I’m hearing rumors that either Universal will not lose the rights to use Jimmy Neutron until the end of the year, or that they may have struck an extension deal to allow the ride to continue to operate a little longer. Either way, the rumors about a 2012 replacement attraction, still thought to be themed to Despicable Me, is going strong.
(2/18/11) In case anyone was wondering how much Universal may really want to have a Despicable Me attraction in their theme parks, consider this little tidbit. Sales of the Despicable Me DVD’s allowed Universal’s to show a 38% increase in their Q4 report.
(2/17/11) While I still don’t have any more solid info on the opening of a Despicable Me attraction for 2012, I did uncover that Despicable Me 2 was in production for a 2013 release. Adding a theme park attraction for 2012 would make perfect sense to see the characters alive and in the public focus for the year ahead of the new film’s premier. After all, Universal did the same thing with Shrek 4D, by opening it a year in advance of Shrek 2 hitting the theaters, and hyping it as the official story to bridge the gap between the two films.

I've come to the conclusion that I will just wait and see what Universal does. I trust them, and I'm ready for something new.

Don't get me wrong viewers, JNNB is a great ride at USF, but if it goes for a better attraction (Despicable Me), you got a deal! But if the rumor gets cheapened (Disaster), horrible (Fear Factor), or something bad (Miss Congeniality comes to mind), then just forget it: SAVE JIMMY NEUTRON!!!

So I will just wait and see what Universal does.

Cheetah Hunt:

Well, recently there was a fuss about the Skyride cable clearance and the airtime hill over the Skyride. It seems that the solution is to lower the towers around the coaster area:

(3/3/11) After yesterday’s big fuss over a possible miscalculation on Cheetah Hunt, I’m happy to report that I was able to get in touch with the park for a statement on the issue, which they report to be false. False as in there was no miscalculation… they have known all along that the they were going to lower the Skyride towers in that area to allow for Cheetah Hunt to jump over it. Here is the statement from the park below…
“…part of what makes Cheetah Hunt such an amazing addition is its use of an interaction with existing park elements. To make that happen, of course it has been necessary to make major changes to several park landmarks like Rhino Rally, the Clydesdale Hamlet, the Crown Colony and the Monorail Station.
Some of the more subtle changes include raising the floor in the Monorail Station, cutting back the waterfall outcropping in Rhino Rally canyon and moving some of the Serengeti Express’ train tracks. Some of the more major changes – many of which are immediately noticeable to guests in the area – that are taking place include building new guest bridges and pathways between Nairobi and Edge of Africa, building a seating terrace in front of the Crown Colony, replacing the Clydesdale Hamlet’s wooden stalls with secure “bedrooms” for the cheetahs, and, indeed, lowering certain Skyride towers near the area where the track “jumps” the cable.”
While we’re on the subject of Cheetah Hunt, check out the latest construction update over at BGT Nation and RCPro this week.
(3/2/11) The big rumor coming in from several contacts and sources over the past 24 hours is that a couple of big issues have come up with Cheetah Hunt. First of all, several people are saying that the work in “Trench 2” has hit a snag as the digging down there may be having a problem with water seeping into the trench that has to be addressed. (It’s hard to dig too deep in Florida before you hit the water table you know…)
The second and larger issue of note has to do with that “leap” over the Skyride. The big rumor going around this week is that a serious miscalculation was made here and that there is going to be clearance issues between Cheetah Hunt and the SkyRide. I attempted to get a statement about this rumor from Busch Gardens Tampa today, but as of this writing, they have not gotten back in touch with me with a comment.
Having said that, one has to wonder where the error was made. Did the surveyors make the mistake long before the construction started, or did an error come from Stengle’s layout calculations, the track fabricators or even Intamin itself? We can’t just point the finger at Intamin here and say, “Look, another Maverick” as there really are simply too many piece of the puzzle right now to know where the fault came from.
In the end, it sounds like either the coaster is going to have to be altered or the SkyRide itself. Don’t think that it would be simply to try and “shorten” the SkyRide towers however, as there is a lot more involved than that. They would have to get a new shorter cable for the ride, and then likely have to adjust the whole counter-weight system that maintains the tension on the cable at all times. If they used the same old counter-weight, it would likely put too much tension on the cable and could damage or even snap it.
Of course manufacturing new track for a higher jump over the SkyRide may not be a viable solution either if the coaster’s layout does not allow for the train to have enough velocity to achieve the higher jump at that point in the ride. In this case, they could be forced to return to the original idea, as seen in the animation, where the track simply goes under the SkyRide once again.
In the end, I’m really hoping the rumors are wrong here and that we’ll see Cheetah Hunt open as promised for Memorial Day Weekend. More as I find out…

Vertical construction has restarted today with the 130 ft. drop into the second trench going up.

http://www.bgtnation.net/2011/03/cheetah-hunt-tower-drop-started.html

And it seems that the trains are on site (they have been painted recently):

http://www.bgtnation.net/2011/03/cheetah-hunt-train-on-track-station.html

They look very cool... perfect for hunting with cheetahs! =D

Invertigo On the Move:

Looks like Dragon Coaster, one of the rides by the old Laser site getting removed, is going up at Valleyfair for Planet Snoopy (it has been reported on February 18). Meanwhile, more evidence of Invertigo going up at Dorney Park is appearing in the form of deliveries (this also includes recent Invertigo deconstruction updates):

February 14, 2011 - A crane has appeared by Invertigo.

February 18, 2011 - Some track from the spike is gone.

February 22, 2011 - Invertigo's cars arrive at Dorney Park.

February 25, 2011 - The spike supports/track are gone

March 8, 2011 - Invertigo track pieces have been discovered in the Dorney Park parking lot.

And from Screamscape:

2012 - Invertigo - Semi-Confirmed - (3/7/11) A local area reader snapped a great picture of a piece of Invertgo track leaving CGA on it's way to Dorney Park this week. This has been followed by two more pictures sent in showing off two entirely different trucks carrying different Invertigo track pieces crossing the country, which is kind of amazing coverage to have all in one short weekend. Way to go to the Screamscape readers for keeping their eyes open and camera phones at the ready!

This information pretty much confirms Invertigo's final destination.

Kings Island 2012:

From Screamscape:

2012 - New Attraction - Rumor - (2/22/11) Kings Island has been teasing their facebook fans for a couple of weeks now with strange drawings of a twisted red-line. At first I was thinking it was some kind of walk-around path, created by a GPS style tracking system, but now others also believe it may be a topography map that could show off a possible expansion to the X-Base area of the park. In any case, this seems to be the start of hints for what’s to come in 2012 to Kings Island. You can catch the latest image and some comments posted over at KICentral.

Recently there has been crazy rumors spreading that Kings Island will get something big for 2012 (their 40th season). I remember posting a rumor that Flight Deck (Arrow Suspended) was getting removed in 2011. The rumor then was the 2012 ride. As of November, however, the ride is getting repainted, so it seems it could be staying for a few more years.

Now the 2012 rumor (as seen on Screamscape) seems to involve a forest behind Racer (as seen on the "Planning" from February 14, 2011):


















Other teases from the park include:

January 28, 2011 - A picture of a dinosaur footprint in the snow.

February 4, 2011 - A strange picture of a red outline is posted on KI's Facebook page.

March 7, 2011 - A picture of Don Helbig (president of Kings Island) doing some work on the 2011 park map and covering the Son of Beast area and the stated area (I'm not sure if this is a teaser or not).

March 9, 2011 - Something weird appears on Kings Island's main page, showing the words "Something big is coming. You're history. 3-18-11" (hinting an announcement six days from now). It returns to normal later.

March 11, 2011 - The weird tagline appears again as: "Turn Back The Clock On Thrill. SOMETHING BIG IS COMING TO KINGS ISLAND." "3.18.11"

http://www.visitkingsisland.com/public/park/mud/index.cfm

And today, a little more of the page is revealed, showing a hilarious teaser video of the "announcement" (which is censored):



XD And other goodies include some pics:

















^A marked out tree.

















^Some really muddy water.

















^Some dirt with tracks on it (probably from construction equipment).

What could this be? Rumors seem to be out of control from a new section of the park (probably themed to prehistory), a new section of the park with a new coaster, or a new coaster. I doubt this has anything to do with Son of Beast, so we can rule that out for now, though some rumors state that the coaster will be getting a Texas Giant-type makeover (all depends on if the new Texas Giant is successful or not, which it seems so).

Anyways, I think the 2nd choice seems the most logical. As for the type of coaster, I think we could be dealing with one of the following options:

1. B&M Inverted Coaster
2. Intamin Blitz
3. Intamin Giga
4. B&M Dive Machine
5. B&M Wing Coaster

Any one of these sounds good, but I sense that this could be America's first B&M Wing Coaster, like Raptor at Gardaland and LC12 at Thorpe Park.

Either way, this looks like an interesting project to look, though this can be for anything (I still have a wild guess this is a B&M Wing Coaster). Why would I say something like that... well...

Because I'm CRAAAZY!!!!! Haha, just had to put it there somehow (I'm not just a coaster fanatic... Plants Vs. Zombies = HEAVEN TOO!!)...

Is California's Great America DOOMED?!

Sorry for not posting much lately (it's been very busy at school), but recently, people have been speculating a possible sale or closure of California's Great America (the park that removed Invertigo, which BTW has trains at Dorney Park, it's destination). Now, this article seems to nearly show the writing that is on the wall:

http://www.wksu.org/news/story/27583

Attendance at Cedar Fair’s amusement parks hit a record last year, and that meant record revenues of nearly a billion dollars. But investors still took a per-share loss of 57 cents, and the Sandusky-based company is still trying to finish the refinancing of its massive debt. WKSU’s M.L. Schultze has more on the release today of the company’s annual results.

Cedar Fair says nearly 23 million people visited its two-dozen amusement and water parks and hotels last year, a boost of nearly 8 percent over the year before. Cedar Fair credits aggressive marketing of season-passes, especially at its parks in the South and West.

And, it says, the good weather didn’t hurt.

Cedar Fair grew over the last decade a series of acquisitions that added to its original holding – Cedar Point – and to its debt.

But outgoing CEO Richard Kinzel says the company is stable now. And with the exception of a parkin Santa Clara, California, that it hopes to sell to the San Francisco 49ers, it anticipate no major deals.

“Other than that, we have no parks on the market and we’re not talking to any one about divesting any of our parks. We’re very pleased with all of them. They all contribute very handsomely to our bottom line.”

Whether Cedar Fair’s major investor agrees remains to be seen. The hedge fund – Q Investments – successfully pushed to oust Kinzel and is pushing for another special board meeting to get its own representatives on Cedar Fair’s board.

Great America is the Santa Clara park. After reading that, I'm now thinking... could this park be the next Kentucky Kingdom or Geauga Lake (I really hope not, but it seems inevitable!!)?

This post is to state what will probably happen to the rides in the park. Of course, with Invertigo all but confirmed for Dorney Park, that park can be ruled out of all options (unless it is a small flat ride, but still).

So, with that said, here is my post:

Flight Deck (B&M Invert): Options (unless you count Kings Dominion with Volcano): Valleyfair, Kings Island, and Kings Dominion. Kings Dominion just got I305, so that can be ruled out. Recently, Kings Island is rumored for something behind Racer for 2012 (teasers have been going on recently), but I don't think they would hype it up only to disappoint fans with a used coaster for 2012. Valleyfair seems like the most likely choice, as it has been rumored to get an Invert for a while now. Flight Deck could make a great fit there. My best guess is that it will go up by Thunder Canyon (river rapids) and Excalibur (and the entrance can squeeze by the Thunder Canyon).

Vortex (B&M Stand-Up): Options: Dorney Park, Kings Island, Knott's Berry Farm, Michigan's Adventure, Valleyfair, and Worlds of Fun. Dorney Park can automatically be ruled out (like I said, Invertigo is all but confirmed) so that leaves you with 5. Like I said, Kings Island is rumored for an expansion, and I doubt it will include a used coaster. Valleyfair seems possible, but I'm leaning towards Flight Deck for this park. The remainder seems really likely, but Knott's Berry Farm is in the same competing area as SFMM, which has a much better stand-up, Riddler's Revenge (I love this ride). The two most likely options are Michigan's Adventure and Worlds of Fun. MIA could use a stand-up, though there is one very similar in SFGAm: Iron Wolf. So I'm not really sure. Now, Worlds of Fun might have had a Stand-Up already, but so did SFGAdv, and we all know what they are getting (Chang/Green Lantern). That said, Worlds of Fun looks to be the winner on this one, as Vortex can make a great fit there, as the only stand-up in that state, and new trains and refurbishment can work too (I always heard it was very rough, especially for a B&M). Maybe they can put it between Tivoli Music Hall and Worlds of Fun Ave.

Psycho Mouse (Arrow Mad Mouse): Options: Cedar Point, Kings Island, Knott's Berry Farm, and Worlds of Fun. Any of these seem likely, but I'd honestly say Knott's Berry Farm. Knott's tried getting rid of Screamin' Swing for Demon Drop (funny, Screamin' Swing was to be sent to Great America... ironic). For some reason, I still sense that they are thinking of getting rid of it (I hope not, because those look fun)... or at least moving it to a different space (I would hope for this. Maybe by Sky Cabin). That space seems perfect for Psycho Mouse, and the park (along with an awesome Intimidator 305-type ride or B&M Hypercoaster) needs a Wild Mouse.

Xtreme Skyflier: Options: Dorney Park and Knott's Berry Farm. Knott's Berry Farm seems most likely for this one, as Dorney Park is getting Invertigo (yeah, I said it). They can build it adjacent to Pony Express, Screamin' Swing (which should be moved by Sky Cabin to make room for Psycho Mouse), and Ghost Town.

Planet Snoopy/Kidzville rides with Taxi Jam: Let's think for a moment: which Cedar Fair park is the only park without a Planet Snoopy or anything Snoopy-related, kiddie area wise (yes, I'm looking at you Knott's Berry Farm and Camp Snoopy)? Yep, that's Michigan's Adventure. Maybe behind Grand Rapids with an entrance between Grand Rapids and Adventure Falls, across from Thunderhawk.

Carousel Columbia: Initially, I thought they would sell it, but after looking at Worlds of Fun getting Geauga Lake's carousel, I can see Kings Island getting it, putting it in part of the old King Kobra site.

Tiki Twirl: Say, this looks to be a perfect gift for Worlds of Fun, putting it in the Africa section, by Boomerang or Prowler's entrance.

Firefall: This can go to Carowinds in the field by Intimidator.

Drop Tower: Michigan's Adventure is the only Cedar Fair park without a drop tower, but I hear there is a 200 ft. height restriction, so IDK. You never know though.

Delirium: My gut tells me this will end up at Kings Dominion taking up some of Hypersonic's old space, or replacing Beserker (they tried removing it once).

Now for some doomed rides:

Grizzly (wooden coaster): Woodies are hard to relocate (other than Starliner), and this ride receives some bad reputation, so I can't see anyone wanting it (ugh, it looks fun).

Demon (Arrow Corkscrew): It is very old, and old Arrows just don't seem relocatable these days (Big Bad Wolf, Great American Scream Machine, Double Loop, Python, etc.). =(

Woodstock's Express: (Intamin Family Coaster) Now I thought this could be relocated (it was once, according to RCDB), but after watching a POV, it looks like a terrain coaster. Since terrain rides are hard to relocate, I can't see this surviving.

Logger's Run: Cedar Fair is starting to remove log flumes (though some better ones (*cough*Shoot the Rapids*cough*) are being made). A few examples are Cedar Point's log flume (removed in 2005 for Maverick in 2007), Valleyfair's log flume (removed in 2008 for the Breaker's Bay wave pool in 2009), and Carowinds's log flume (obviously removed in 2008 for Intimidator in 2010). I can't see CF saving this ride.

Whitewater Falls: Okay, maybe this ride has a chance of being sold to someone else (like Geauga Lake's), but I can't see CF saving this either.

So these are my thoughts. Again, I would prefer if Cedar Fair keeps the park, but with the nearby neighbors and the 49ers stadium, I can't see it.

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.