silver2005

^T-Rex just uses 2 per seat seating over single file seating.

All RMC Raptors are when you get down to basics are standard sit down steel looping coasters that use tighter angles for stronger forces and reinforced track for less use of supports. Also, I would consider a height or speed record to be somewhat groundbreaking- its the way they design a coaster to do it that fits in a realistic ROI scenario, and so far, the 3 recent examples are TTD and KK (clones with a hill added in KK) and Formula Rossa which is just a bunch of wide turns and stretched out hills.

^Those elements would still have to have very wide curvatures to accommodate those speeds at low altitudes plus a long pull out for the first drop. Also, been done before- I-305. Not groundbreaking.

^I would add to that line of conversation that the only ways to change the game in terms of coaster technology is going for overall height (above 456 ft) and speed records (above 150 mph) and making the seating mechanisms move in ways that haven't been thought of yet, which, we know Intamin has been the only one that went for the records and companies that produce the later are looked down upon here (though personally, I wouldn't mind a S&S 4D or a spinner of some sort). RMC has only really just adjusted a few curvatures in elements to produce stronger forces, not that much of a game changer. Adding LIMs/LSM's to a type that hasn't had them before isn't all that groundbreaking either. Wood coasters have already been pushed to their limits which have produced mixed results. Traditional woodies can only do so much comfortably and there are track maintenance issues with the Intamin pre-fabs. Also going for the height and speed records would pretty much come in the form of TTD/Kingda Ka clones or Formula Rossa clones unless a park is willing to fork some serious cash for a MF/Fury 325 on steroids. There's also space issues in making a coaster go faster and higher takes up massive amounts of space. I honestly think we've reached the plateau of new coaster technology.

I would also point out that even the old school B&M's like Raptor, Rougarou, Talon and Great Bear have a rattle to them.

And for those who state Spirit Song- a portable stage would be a better venue with how outdated and unkempt Timberwolf has devolved into.

^^Didn't know KI was giving out free sunglasses with meals now.

Pink survey marker flags are temporary. They don't tell anything. There's this thing called grey area.

Crossing my fingers they're widening the road there for the return of the trams.

This might be one of the biggest dice rolls in amusement park history.

^Cedar Fair already owns Kings Dominion.

For a spinner, I'd prefer a Maurer similar to Laff Trak at HP over a Reverchon like Exterminator. Much easier on the spinning, more interesting layouts, and comfier cars.

Kings Island monitors the conditions of their rides all the time and have reports and studies from their manufactures as to their shelf life, so they probably knew within the last 5 years it wasn't going to last. It was only surprising to everyone else who doesn't follow the industry that in depth.

^I'd argue its this. silver2005, crossthreading.

^Said chair lift would have to be a mile long going 1 way and would have to go across I-71 and above several restaurants and hotels, and I imagine a lot of headaches getting it approved.

BTW, this is coming as CF has pretty much cancelled the seasons on a huge chunk of their parks including Valleyfair, WoF, KD, Carowinds, CGA, and DP to name a few.

^I think TR is a tad bit more compact due to that as well as having tighter turns. And I've rode both TR and the former KD Hurler to know the difference. silver2005, who hopes to get to the Hartland on the way to HWN next summer.

^TR's hills have smaller radius' at the top which produce more airtime. Hurler takes that and draws everything out. To me, TR's first bunny hill after the first drop is one of the best out there.

I'm in support of a launch coaster mostly if it actually has some decent speed to it, like 70+ mph and actually has a layout to accommodate said speed. Mack has hit the upper 60s, so 70+ should be doable.

The thing is, though, that the GP (the more centered demographics parks are trying to get) are fine with these additions and innovation isn't that big a deal as long as parks are meeting their ROI. I think many here have their visions of the park and the industry at large clouded by not seeing that. The GP is more easily impressed than we are.

Its not just that KK has the height restrictions, but there are specific areas in the park where they can only build higher as well due to said airport.

@SonofBaconator Don't you know? Enjoying things is just silly.

^Except that isn't the only context parks have to work with. I'm sure many parks have said yes to that question. Also- case and point- Alton Towers.

^If the parks sees a good potential ROI for building something in a certain spot regardless of the issues, than it really doesn't matter that much, right? I mean, that pretty much explains every ride ever made in the history of amusement parks. A little soil problem won't stop them from building in Action Zone again.

^You mean like that longest inverted coaster in the world that they 'just built' in Action Zone?