silver2005 Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Here's a picture of Premier's over head restraints for reference. Notice the proximity of their heads to the black areas on the restraints. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BB1 Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 If Adventure Express were to be taken out, I wouldn't know what to say. AE is a classic, of course it will be worn and a bumpy ride. But that's the ride! It has the nostalgic 1900's prop theme style and the adventurous feel reminiscent of the Indiana Jones films (if you watch the series the day before you ride the coaster that is.). I usually sit in the back right seat, it whips you around, it will rattle you, but it's so fun at the same time. In fact, I would love to see a major update similar to the ones with the Knott's Berry Farms attractions. With modern technology, and retro themes, Adventure Express could be the golden Arrow we all love. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zacc1993 Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 Adventure Express shouldn't be leaving us anytime soon. To me, it fills a niche in the park. It's a great stepping stone attraction and honestly still gives a fantastic ride to anyone who rides it. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterOhio Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 To push a honest opinion... Adventure Express isn't really all that interesting anymore to me... Of course, It should be interesting to younger kids within the 5 to 12 range, As Adventure Express is that threshold between Kiddie rides, and fast adrenaline pumping rides like Diamondback, Banshee, and Vortex. Although I shouldn't be comparing AE to those high end rides, but It's true. Adventure Express was the ONLY coaster I could get one without fearing anything because of the the theme, the tree lines scattering the idea on how high you are, and all the fast paced turns that allowed you to have a fun time while not being afraid of being on a roller coaster.Many time I went to Kings Island when I was way younger, I only rode Adventure Express, mainly because it was the only ride I wasn't afraid of... It too me to get a Gold Pass at the age of 11 to finally ride The Beast for the first time, Then Vortex, then Backlot Stunt Coaster, FOF, Flight Deck (As it was known when I rode it first) Invertigo, and Finally Diamondback, and then I was so used to these fun rides, that I was afraid of riding new ones again, When Banshee came out? I was so nervous, for the reason of not riding a new coaster in a while...This year, Since I am now working at Kings Island (I am not stating where I am working, or my name for the sake of Identity now at the park) I plan on using the free-time I have off of working there, to take a trip or two up to Cedar Point to try out there rides, I would love to do that, I just have to pick a time now...But you see, Adventure Express should be revamped.... But not removed. Maybe they should take the ride out for a year, send it to a plant to get the track kinks bent out or something to allow a smoother VEKOMA, Mine-train ride. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Smoother VEKOMA? Pardon me while I wipe all the Canada Dry Diet Ginger Ale off my screen. Hoo-eee! That WAS a good one. Snort. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterOhio Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Hehe, yeah. lol Vekoma is getting 'better' but they're still pretty bad at it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bansheeback Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Now, how many parks have a mine train? How many parks have a FUN mine train? My point is, it's unique in its own way, and we should be thankful for it. Oh, and heres a picture of FOF with the over the shoulder restraints. From Kings Island 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark6495 Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 ^They are not screaming in joy, its pain from having the restraints go Mike Tyson on their cranium.... As for revamping/removing AE, it is for a certain group of riders. Some times that group moves on and goes for different rides but there are new riders being born every day for that ride... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterfanatic83 Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 And sometimes that group doesn't move on at all. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DontWantToWait42mar0 Posted March 8, 2015 Author Share Posted March 8, 2015 I had my first night right on Adventure Express last season when I was with a KIC group. It was a whole new experience for me on that ride, as some of the tunnels were pitch black, and you couldn't really see the quick and snappy transitions coming up. It was a blast, shoutout to MDMC01 for suggesting it ! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonofbeast2.0 Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Some seem to be! (i.e. I'd rather ride Magnum XL 200 than Diamondback) Completely off topic but how wide the track is on Magnum XL 200 is unexpected for a coaster that size! My mind is like boggled on that still... Its about as wide as those "wild mouse" coasters but it is a crazier ride than DB! (in a good way). Back on topic, I think AE just needs a nice overhaul on theming possibly even trying to change the back story to it and everything else... But keeping the Tiki heads pounding there arms at the end and what not there. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homestar92 Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Adventure Express never has been, and never tried to be "smooth". It's a mine train coaster. It is supposed to emulate the experience of an out-of-control minecart. The "roughness" comes not from any flaws in the ride, but from the very design of the ride itself. A lot of what I've seen people refer to as "rough" on that ride pertains to things like sudden transitions and underbanked turns. It's not that the track has warped over time and become less smooth - that happens to a degree with wood, but not so much with steel. No, the ride runs exactly as it was designed to run: wild, crazy, and seemingly out-of-control. To change it and make it smoother by altering these elements may or may not make for a more enjoyable ride. I would personally find it less enjoyable, but I can't speak for everybody. But it wouldn't come without cost. It would fundamentally change the identity of the ride. I'd compare it to the old and new Texas Giants. Same footprint, same name, and a lot of the same structure, but completely and undeniably a different ride. Or for a better example, Steel Phantom to Phantom's Revenge. You have an old Arrow that a lot of people see as rough, so another company (D.H. Morgan) was called in to modify the elements of the ride that people found to be unenjoyable. The end result was a ride that shared some of the most recognizable elements of its former self, but was almost entirely a new experience. Now that I've brought up that example, I've realized that it is very possible to modify an Arrow and end up with something I like, as Phantom is my favorite Hypercoaster (a classification which is itself debated for that ride... I consider it to be one due to its having a 200+ foot drop). So MAYBE a modification to AE wouldn't be THE WORST thing, but I'd certainly be reluctant to welcome the idea, and if Vekoma were involved, I would almost CERTAINLY not like the idea. But being that it's in Ohio, I assume that S&S would have to give the OK for any such modifications to occur regardless. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DontWantToWait42mar0 Posted March 8, 2015 Author Share Posted March 8, 2015 Adventure Express never has been, and never tried to be "smooth". It's a mine train coaster. It is supposed to emulate the experience of an out-of-control minecart. The "roughness" comes not from any flaws in the ride, but from the very design of the ride itself. A lot of what I've seen people refer to as "rough" on that ride pertains to things like sudden transitions and underbanked turns. I get what you're saying as for the mine theme. But if I were to play devil's advocate here, how is the transitions on Adventure Express any different than the ones people find as "rough" on The Vortex? (Another Arrow coaster from the same time period.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTD-120-420 Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 There is nothing wrong with Vortex if you are asking homestar. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDMC01 Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 I had my first night right on Adventure Express last season when I was with a KIC group. It was a whole new experience for me on that ride, as some of the tunnels were pitch black, and you couldn't really see the quick and snappy transitions coming up. It was a blast, shoutout to MDMC01 for suggesting it ! Not a problem! AE is one of my faves at night; especially when most of the tunnels go dark! EDIT: Plus, seeing Banshee's lights during the ride has added a cool effect to AE's night ride experience! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 There is nothing wrong with Vortex if you are asking homestar. Or Terp... These are not glass smooth B&M's. They were not meant to be. If made so now, they'd be different....beasts. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver2005 Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 For all of those wanting Vekoma of all companies to come in, they're kind of looked down upon anymore. They have around the same workload as Intamin right now, being around nothing. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homestar92 Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Adventure Express never has been, and never tried to be "smooth". It's a mine train coaster. It is supposed to emulate the experience of an out-of-control minecart. The "roughness" comes not from any flaws in the ride, but from the very design of the ride itself. A lot of what I've seen people refer to as "rough" on that ride pertains to things like sudden transitions and underbanked turns. I get what you're saying as for the mine theme. But if I were to play devil's advocate here, how is the transitions on Adventure Express any different than the ones people find as "rough" on The Vortex? (Another Arrow coaster from the same time period.) I think the difference, as the general public would see it, is that Vortex appears to be (rather ironically) a more "modern" coaster. Someone sees a giant steel beast with lots of loops and in their mind, it fits right in with the new coasters they see on TV or the internet being built today. Then they ride it, expecting an experience on par with a newer B&M looper, and they get something totally different. They have no idea what "Arrow Dynamics" means or who Ron Toomer is, nor do they know that they are riding a nearly 30-year-old machine. They just know that they've ridden other loopers, and that they felt smoother than this one. Despite actually being newer, Adventure Express doesn't feel as modern. It has wooden supports. The track is painted a color similar to that of rust. The trains look very boxy, almost like your traditional PTC coaster train (something that a lot of people would recognize as familiar even if they couldn't give a name to it). They see all these things, and their first thought is that it's older, and because the human mind is a funny thing, they become a bit more forgiving on it. Or turn away immediately. Now don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying the "older=rougher" argument is correct at all. Compare the Kennywood Jackrabbit to Mean Streak (which I'm told is apparently supposed to be rough...). But, Adventure Express looks old, run down, and rickety (largely because it was designed to look that way, I'm not at all claiming that it is any of those things). And I think people see that, and they go in with lower, more realistic expectations. Plus, Vortex has OTSRs. It isn't an issue for me because I'm tall enough that my head is above them. While I don't agree with the claims that it is unenjoyably rough, I do get why someone would feel that way. I can imagine that if I were 6 inches shorter, my opinions on Vortex might be entirely different. Now as for Vekoma... No. Just no. I don't see them refurbishing an old Arrow any time soon, and I don't want them to. I LIKE rough coasters, but the ONE coaster I've ever ridden that was so unenjoyably rough that I refuse to ride it again happened to be a Vekoma... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magenta Lizard Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 I love Adventure Express for many reasons. Not least of which because it is the only coaster at Kings Island enjoyed by my first real boyfriend and my husband (not the same person, even though there are other similarities, including the unfortunate reason neither of them really got into coasters). As a coaster enthusiast myself, I understand the tendency to focus on the big thrills. I hope the park, however, never forgets that most of us don't begin as enthusiasts, and some never become big thrill-seekers. There is a definite place for fun, mid-level thrills. Fingers still crossed for a little love on the theming. It adds that extra something for those who don't feel it is thrilling enough to bother with. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marth555 Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Intamin has been working on the Orlando Eye among other things http://www.intaminworldwide.com/amusement/Home/News/2014Review/tabid/223/language/en-US/Default.aspx 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 ...whose opening has been delayed and delayed and delayed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tr0y Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 For all of those wanting Vekoma of all companies to come in, they're kind of looked down upon anymore. They have around the same workload as Intamin right now, being around nothing. Looked down upon? majority of Disney's coasters are Vekoma's including their newest addition Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver2005 Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 ^True, they also have a few projects in China, but elsewhere in the US they've pretty much have no work. EDIT: The projects they have in China are mostly Boomerangs and kid coasters. Hardly anything innovative. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tr0y Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 ^True, they also have a few projects in China, but elsewhere in the US they've pretty much have no work. EDIT: The projects they have in China are mostly Boomerangs and kid coasters. Hardly anything innovative. your point is? B&M builds a lot of coasters and hasn't done anything innovative since the 90's everything we have seen of recent has already been done successfully by another manufacture decade ago. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver2005 Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 At least B&M is still building rides in the major chains, in the US and in Europe. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcwizard13 Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 ^True, they also have a few projects in China, but elsewhere in the US they've pretty much have no work. EDIT: The projects they have in China are mostly Boomerangs and kid coasters. Hardly anything innovative. your point is? B&M builds a lot of coasters and hasn't done anything innovative since the 90's everything we have seen of recent has already been done successfully by another manufacture decade ago.You're looking at innovative the wrong way. He doesn't mean innovative towards the whole industry, but rather among themselves. The rides Vekoma are building are the same ones they've been building for decades, whereas B&M is soon opening their first launched coaster and just their second giga coaster. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver2005 Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 ^That and building rides in China is hardly a litmus test of how a company is doing. Parks are popping up like flies over there. In the States and Europe, even the GP has tastes as to which rides from what companies are good and bad. Keeping good business relations with those parks speaks a lot about the different designers. Vekoma's recent innovative endeavor, Battlestar Galactica in Universal Studios Singapore has had major delays. They've only build their bread and butter rides as of late. Their Flying Dutchman coaster never took off like it did thanks to Stealth. Their SLC's are uncomfortable compared to similar models, and nearly every park already has a Boomerang or kids coaster from them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tr0y Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 At least B&M is still building rides in the major chains, in the US and in Europe. I didn't know Disney wasn't a major chain in and outside the U.S. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tr0y Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 <blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' data-author="rcwizard13" data-cid="669979" data-time="1425870776"><cite class="ipb" contenteditable="false">rcwizard13, on 08 Mar 2015 - 11:12 PM, said:</cite><p><blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' data-author="Tr0y" data-cid="669955" data-time="1425865474"><cite class="ipb" contenteditable="false">Tr0y, on 08 Mar 2015 - 9:44 PM, said:</cite><p><blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' data-author="silver2005" data-cid="669936" data-time="1425856754"><cite class="ipb" contenteditable="false">silver2005, on 08 Mar 2015 - 7:19 PM, said:</cite><p>^True, they also have a few projects in China, but elsewhere in the US they've pretty much have no work. EDIT: The projects they have in China are mostly Boomerangs and kid coasters. Hardly anything innovative.</p></blockquote> your point is? B&M builds a lot of coasters and hasn't done anything innovative since the 90's everything we have seen of recent has already been done successfully by another manufacture decade ago.</p></blockquote>You're looking at innovative the wrong way. He doesn't mean innovative towards the whole industry, but rather among themselves. The rides Vekoma are building are the same ones they've been building for decades, whereas B&M is soon opening their first launched coaster and just their second giga coaster.</p></blockquote> I bet the Seven Dwarfs would have something to say about that... <a href="http://s362.photobucket.com/user/x241/media/image.jpg1_3.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i362.photobucket.com/albums/oo63/x241/image.jpg1_3.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo image.jpg1_3.jpg"/></a> 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DontWantToWait42mar0 Posted March 9, 2015 Author Share Posted March 9, 2015 The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is innovative no doubt about it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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