House Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 Yes. HTCO, just doing what terpy does best. Nice! I leave for Florida on the 16th so hopefully that week they will. Where would I look to find out if there is one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coaster_junky Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 Yes. HTCO, just doing what terpy does best. Nice! I leave for Florida on the 16th so hopefully that week they will. Where would I look to find out if there is one? they usually don't announce soft openings, your best place to look would be the ride itself the days you're there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSnapper Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 There should be a soft opening in early may I will def be down there for it... The ride could open at any point of the day and close at any point but if you are lucky you will get a shot at riding it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdawg1998 Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 I would love to see a POV of this, before it opens! Just wanna see it from a first person point of view before I start judging it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
House Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 There should be a soft opening in early may I will def be down there for it... The ride could open at any point of the day and close at any point but if you are lucky you will get a shot at riding it! wow sounds like I will really need luck on my side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 It also can help if you know someone in park operations...though sometimes that doesn't help either. It all depends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delirium_Guy Posted April 5, 2011 Author Share Posted April 5, 2011 wow sounds like I will really need luck on my side. Other than the initial pull through, no other testing has taken place as they are still finishing up some of the electrical work....getting closer though, as they have moved a full train from the transfer track to the station area. Add to the fact that there is still a pretty substantial amount of work left to be completed on the Cheetah Run area, I wouldn't get my hopes up for any type of soft opening this month....even early May could be pushing it at this moment. I do know that there was no soft opening for Sheikra, so there is no guarantee that they will do one for Cheetah Hunt either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delirium_Guy Posted April 17, 2011 Author Share Posted April 17, 2011 Update from today has been posted to RCPro. Initial testing has started on Cheetah Hunt at last Perhaps the best thing about the update are the pictures of the absolutely adorable new baby cheetah that was acquired by the Park last month from the Jacksonville Zoo. Today was his first day in Jambo Junction for guest viewing. Too cute! Cheetah Hunt Update and Baby Cheetah Regarding Cheetah Hunt testing, the Park sent this to one of the local papers plus several BGT fan sites..... This weekend, Busch Gardens’ Design & Engineering team will officially launch Florida’s first triple-launch coaster for the first time. But, the park warns, guests hoping to catch a glimpse of the testing in progress shouldn’t expect Cheetah Hunt to be up to full speed quite yet. The process, which kicks off Saturday morning, begins by testing each launch point over and over again at partial power with both empty trains and cars loaded with “water dummies” that simulate the weight of human passengers. After each launch, the train will be pulled back into position and launched again. Crews will start with the first launch point, which propels the train out of the station house; by weekend’s end, they plan to have moved on to the second launch point. At full power, launch point No. 2 will send trains up the 102-foot Windcatcher Tower. Trains testing at partial power, however, will not make it to the top of the tower. Early next week, this phase of testing will wrap up with the third launch point – located just past the canyon in the northern end Cheetah Hunt’s footprint. Soon after, trains will start making complete circuits around the track’s 4429-foot run. But how soon will actual people replace the water dummies? “We will run more than 3,000 cycles of the ride before we put humans on it,” says Mark Rose, Busch Gardens’ Vice President of Design & Engineering. When the time comes, Rose will be one of the first people to ride. Not much longer now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted April 17, 2011 Share Posted April 17, 2011 I know someone who will be making the much shorter trip to that place sooner than later.... Terp, who adores Kumba... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheikra_rocks Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Testing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delirium_Guy Posted April 19, 2011 Author Share Posted April 19, 2011 Another video showing the train launched to just barely crest the first turn and make its first dive down into trench #1 RCPro has posted another photo update from today showing more detail work going into the station area.....really happy to see the bamboo fencing going in along the part of the first launch that was exposed. Guest will no longer be able to see any of the physical components of the launch, the track or the yellow hand rails. Cheetah Hunt Photo Update http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX_YWY7uo9E&feature=player_embedded Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheikra_rocks Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 New video update! So graceful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
74Gibson Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 It looks so smooth and fun going through that crazy figure 8. Just another reason to make that Disney World trip happen this year:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coaster_junky Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 haha, at first i thought those water dummies were storm troopers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
House Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 We went to Busch Gardens last Tuesday while I was in Florida, and I must say this coaster looks amazing! I was very surprised at how long this ride is, it takes up a more room than I realized it did from just looking at pictures. They still have a lot of finishing up to do on the theming so I was not surprised to see it not open for a soft opening. Maybe next year I will get to ride it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frisbeefan Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 Pictures and video of Cheetah Hunt completing full circuit testing ( Not 100% speed though) : Update Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
74Gibson Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 Why can't CF put theming like that on their water dummies:lol:? That weird html after dummies ia an LOL icon <- tried again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delirium_Guy Posted May 5, 2011 Author Share Posted May 5, 2011 Construction continues on Cheetah Run and Cheetah Hunt as the May 27th Grand Opening quickly nears. BGT Nation has posted a new update showing the latest, with most of the focus now shifted to Cheetah Run. I was at the Park on Sunday, none of the glass paneling, banners, wooden posts or anything of the such was in place....so the pace is definitely picking up. Cheetah Hunt & Cheetah Run Update The parks blog has also been updated with some closer shots....looking great! BGT Blog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delirium_Guy Posted May 24, 2011 Author Share Posted May 24, 2011 Cheetah Hunt offically opens this Friday, May 27th! Reports have been trickling in from employee preview rides and all have been very positive. As expected, it isn't the most intense coaster in the park. With that said, everyone has been talking about how much fun the ride really is. I'll be at the park at opening on Friday to check it out and it can't come soon enough! In the mean time, Behind The Thrills has posted several updates showing off the finishing touches that are being added to the area. This entire project is really turning out quite beautifully.. Cheetah Hunt Update Local 10 news also went out to the park for a ride.... http://www.wtsp.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=950965915001 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flightoffear1996 Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 I watched what claimed to be a full speed testing video and well the ride seemed very very slow to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkroz Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 I watched what claimed to be a full speed testing video and well the ride seemed very very slow to me. Agreed. I think the general consensus on that video was a sense of "... that's it?" if you read through the comments. In all fairness, it's supposed to be a family ride, and perhaps like Maverick, the second or third launch is where the real power is. But even the Backlot Stunt Coaster has more oomph than the Cheetah Hunt video I think we both saw... Let's hope it feels faster in person, or that they'll crank it up a little. From Theme Park Review. EDIT: I guess it looks like some of the dives pick up speed, but it just doesn't seem to last long. But I guess these things can't always be judged as an onlooker... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delirium_Guy Posted May 25, 2011 Author Share Posted May 25, 2011 EDIT: I guess it looks like some of the dives pick up speed, but it just doesn't seem to last long. But I guess these things can't always be judged as an onlooker... Very true, but sometimes it is easy for us to judge before riding based on what we see. I have done it in the past, had low expectations and ended up being pleasantly surprised. I don't think Cheetah Hunt was ever intended to be the "thrill" ride that some of us would have liked to have seen. The 48" height requirement versus the 52" height requirement found on Maverick is a testament to that, I believe. The ride reports have stated just as all have noticed in the videos....the ride has some slow parts. With that said, they still say that the ride is incredibly fun. I think anyone who expected more from the initial launch had their expectations too high, as the initial launch is only 30mph out of the station. The second and third launches do look fun, in particular the air time hill after launch 3 looks very promising. The testing that I witnessed with employees on it was slightly faster than the video that surfaced on TPR. I believe the Park is still tweaking things a bit, but I believe we are pretty much seeing the final speeds. I'm still looking forward to the ride, I think it will be a great addition to the Park and a great step up coaster for those not quite ready to climb aboard Sheikra, Kumba or Montu....a niche that definitely needed filled in the park. No doubt, the coaster at Williamsburg next year will fill the same niche in that park as well. Also, not to be forgotten, Cheetah Run. The area looks fantastic and has completely turned that corner of the park around....not to mention the animals are just beautiful! I'll be there Friday at park opening to get my first rides and most likely returning Saturday or Sunday night to get some night rides since the Park has extended their hours this weekend for Memorial Day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheikra_rocks Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 POV!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkroz Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 Looks fun! But check out the front of the train at :34... That looks to be the worst of it, but I'm not getting that butter-smooth feeling from this video... Again, we'll see I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avatar Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 I knew I was going to enjoy Manta at Sea World for its thrill of the ride but more because of the theme. I love theme and I prefer it over the super thrills of some coasters but after riding Manta I was blown away as how they successfully combined the two. Manta is the coaster I crave to ride. So now with Cheetah Run I have high expectations for it and will wildly enjoy it if it measures up by half to Manta. I love theme and already I have seen so much going into Cheetah Run that I declare that Cheetah Run is my must do coaster for this year. It looks like a coaster that I can convince my daughter to ride. I hope the trend of these type coasters continue and that others parks will incorporate some more them into their coasters, it really makes the difference to me. Delirium_Guy thanks for all the great updates and I am looking forward to your review of Cheetah Run. I love the fact you get to be there on day one, enjoy the ride!. I also want to tell you that I enjoy your reviews of various attractions as it seems you are very detailed about all aspects of the attraction and do not just focus on the thrill of the attraction. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delirium_Guy Posted May 27, 2011 Author Share Posted May 27, 2011 OK! Took my first ride on Cheetah Hunt this afternoon. Bit of a rough start, as the ride didn't open until around 1:30PM. Seems as though they were having an issue out on the block brake, the same issue that grounded the ride for almost 7 hours yesterday during the media preview. The park handled the situation very well today, though, handing out complimentary bottles of water to those guests who chose to wait it out for the ride to open. To begin with, the entire area is beautiful. I am so very impressed with Cheetah Run, as it has completely transformed that area of the Park..As you enter the Crossroads of Culture, Cheetah Run is on your right side as you walk, with the second and fastest launch on Cheetah Hunt to your left side. Cheetah Run is very well done, with a long narrow strip designated for the animal ambassadors to get the cheetahs to do sprints. The cheetahs were very curious about guests and spent most of their time up close by the viewing windows. The exhibit itself features several interactive displays for guests to read and learn more about the animals. They are absolutely beautiful to watch. The theming of the area does a great job of merging together the Egypt, Edge of Africa and Morocco sections of the park. Now, as for Cheetah Hunt. Enthusiasts need to understand that this is absolutely 100% geared as something that the entire family can ride. With that said, its SUPER fun. They advance two trains at once, just like Maverick, with the first train launching immediately. The launch is short, but it gets to the point quickly. The first turn above the former Clydesdale barn burns the speed off, but gives you a chance to peer down into the trench at what lies ahead. Diving down in, you can feel the train accelerate but it isn't until almost the very end that the train gets another sudden and powerful boost of speed to get it up the windcatcher tower. In the front seat, a nice pop of ejector air is given at the top of the tower. The figure 8 itself I enjoyed more than I anticipated. Its smooth, graceful and provides an awesome view of the park. It also sets the anticipation as you can see the drop approaching. Very good drop, even in the front seat, down into the deepest trench. From here, the ride takes off across the veldt. The hop over the Sky Ride burns off quite a bit of speed, but still has a nice swift direction change at the top of it. The inversion reminds me of Volcano....sorta drawn out with some hang time which was quite fun. Hitting the block brake, the train is slowed some before diving down to the river. This was probably my favorite part. Whizzing through the canyon, the train felt like it was going a lot faster than it actually was. Its very close to the surface of the water, probably a foot or so above it. If you are riding on the right side of the train, during the sharp right turns, you can nearly stick your hand out and touch the water. Its very effective and the quick direction changes were incredibly fun! Zipping around the backside of the canyon, you enter the third launch area. Just like the first two, it isn't until near the end that you get the sudden boost of speed before flying over the air hill. The air isn't quite as strong as what is found on Maverick, but its very close and was quite surprising. From there, the ride actually feels like its carrying decent speed as it dives through the final curves and trenches before hitting the brakes. I tremendously enjoyed the ride! Certainly not a thrill machine by any stretch of the imagination, but its fun and has some punch in a few spots. Its impressive just how much real estate the ride covers ( 7 acres ) and its quite a lengthy ride time (nearly 2 minutes of actual ride time, not including load and unload!). If you go expecting Maverick, I'm sorry but you'll end up being sorely disappointed. If you go expecting just to enjoy and have fun on the ride, then you will be able to appreciate what a great attraction it has turned out to be. I'm looking forward to going back on Sunday for some night rides as there is very little lighting the course other than the tower lights....so should be fun. BGT did a wonderful job repurposing the old monorail building. It looks great. The ride exits into the gift shop, of course, where you'll fun the ride supports jutting down through the gift shop ceiling which I thought was fun. Also, they have a wall that is dedicated to the construction of the ride. It features a lot of concept art for the ride, diagrams for the windcatcher tower, even an example of how the supports are anchored to the footings and how deep the footings are. Opposite of this wall is dedicated to the cheetahs, with many photos including some new ones of Kasi and Mtani. Despite the rocky morning, BGT management did a wonderful job handling the situation. I felt bad, as their excitement for this attraction was evident as they were engaging with guests today. The Park president, Jim Dean, was out the entire day in the station and surrounding area speaking one on one with guests about their experience. Sandor Kernancs from Intamin was also present to help deal with the technical issues that were occurring. Hoping to go back and get some pictures later, but in the mean time....Cheetah Hunt was a blast! - Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avatar Posted May 27, 2011 Share Posted May 27, 2011 First of all thanks Delirium_Guy for sticking it out and riding Cheetah Run for us so you could give us a great review of the coaster and thanks for taking the time to write a review on a Friday evening Second I must admit I got a bit worried when I seen you post elsewhere that said "Cheetah Run was Fun!", see you left key words like awesome, Supper Fun and more than I anticipated. I like your reviews as it leaves out little speculation if I will like an attraction or not and from your description of Cheetah Run I know it is a coaster I look forward to riding. I know need to figure a way to get down there for a weekend before I go down with family in the Fall. Well all I can say at this point is the world s a better place now with Cheetah Run in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 Awesome review, Todd! Very well written. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterGeek101 Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 I never got to ride this, I hear it is awesome, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delirium_Guy Posted May 31, 2011 Author Share Posted May 31, 2011 I was able to go back to Tampa on Sunday night for a spin on Cheetah Hunt after dark. One ride was all there was time for, as the ride had a 120 minute wait posted. To say the least, the entire weekend was incredibly busy with the ride reaching 210 minutes at its longest point. Anyway, the ride rocks at night time. The ruins surrounding the first launch are dimly lit, as is the first trench. The tower is lit very brightly and the banners look very vibrant at night. Other than those lights....that's it. The rest of the course is in the dark. The canyon portion was outstanding as the train barreled through. You could barely make out the silhouettes of the canyon walls, which helped enhance the speed perception. A few other things from the weekend: * My second ride was definitely better than my first ride on Friday, the train felt like it was carrying a bit more speed and the airtime was even more pronounced on the hill after launch 3. * Ride is unbelievably quiet, even when standing directly under it while viewing Cheetah Run * Cheetah Run has 4 presentations scheduled daily. During these presentations, the animal ambassadors are out and encouraging sprints from the animals. They will also bring out Kasi, the baby cheetah cub, and his companion Mtani, the laborador retriever, into the exhibit. * Kasi is currently a whopping 14lbs at 4 months old, meanwhile Mtani is weighing in at 35lbs at 5 months old. Ultimately roles will be reversed, with Kasi expected to reach around 120lbs and Mtani close to 70lbs. * Cheetah Hunt is still currently running 4 trains, although train 5 is in the transfer shed. Ride ran very reliable during my time at the Park on Sunday with minimal to no downtime. I understand that today was also a good day for operations. * The public is definitely loving the ride if the comments on Facebook and Twitter are any indication. Windcatch Tower at night Entrance Cheetah Rock is housed within the queue line and carries the story of Crossroads of Culture into Cheetah Hunt During the cheetah presentations, the other cats were removed to another holding area while Mtani came out to play. Kasi, the 4 month old cheetah cub, was off exploring his new digs and wasn't in a good spot to grab a picture. These two will live out their entire lives together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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