The Giga Speculation Thread

[Kenban]

California's Great America was under extreme height restrictions for a very long time.  Cedar Fair was able to get them modified recently but even building a hyper is likely to be very difficult.  The parks tallest coaster is 108 ft and they just received permission to build one 110 ft tall.  The closest Six Flags park Discovery Kingdom famously had to build their Intamin Impluse with a sideways spike to keep it 150 feet tall.

[KIBeast]

I had forgotten about the height restriction. 

[SonofBaconator]

Let's add to the topic. If KI were to get a giga, what would you like to see? What elements do you think would be incorporated? What's would be the colors and the theme? Height, length, etc. 

[silver2005]

It'd probably have a longer drop than the height with the kind of terrain available, at least where I think it'll go (behind Banshee/AE/FoF, the rest of the SOB area not in use by Banshee).  Probably a drop approaching 90 degrees, I'd like to see a non-inverting loop on a hyper/giga at some point (see Hollywood Rip Ride and Rockit) or some element with a high banked curve on the way up, an elevated s-curve at 200+ ft, and a sharp and highly banked drop.  5-7 camelbacks, probably a helix, an over-banked hill thrown in, some low high speed elements to make use of the train going 75-90 mph, no MCBR.  Maybe some interaction with Banshee (like threading the inversions or something). Absolutely no messing with anything around Adventure Express in respect for the 11th Commandment. 

Also not red or anything resembling red. Specifically, colors similar to Talon or Behemoth, something bright. 

I'd like to see it start in X-Base behind Firehawk/Flight of Fear, maybe in the DA! area if they are on their way out, so something of a theme resembling that area.  Also an excuse to put restrooms in X-Base (kind of an ulterior motive for its location if you will ).  With that inclusion to X-Base, I would get the paths to loop around from what is now X-Base to the Dinosaurs Alive entrance and make that a continuous path back there.   The location would be also good to make the park's skyline look a bit more symmetric what with the giga on one side of the Eiffel Tower and Diamondback on the other.  

[SonODiamondback]

I been doing a lit of thinking on this. And I think they should go for some more like ferrari rossa. Make it a launch coaster with some elements like intimidater 305 make it about 7000 ft long with a top speed of about 100 mph and theme it after the Bell X 1 the plane the broke the sound barrier. And place it in Xbase and have it go out through the woods.

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[SonofBaconator]

To all the people who think Cedar Fair will not allow for a KI giga because Cedar Point-look at the monster CP just unveiled to the world... I think we're go for a giga

[TombRaiderFTW]

Except... doesn't Cedar Fair's Kings Island have a history of unambiguously teasing their new coasters? Not to mention starting visible work (as in preparing ground, cutting down trees, etc.)? Has that happened this year?

Unless you're not talking about a giga in 2018 specifically--in which case, I agree.

[SonofBaconator]

1 hour ago, TombRaiderFTW said:

Except... doesn't Cedar Fair's Kings Island have a history of unambiguously teasing their new coasters? Not to mention starting visible work (as in preparing ground, cutting down trees, etc.)? Has that happened this year?

Unless you're not talking about a giga in 2018 specifically--in which case, I agree.

Nope just anytime in the future

[King Ding Dong]

Dear God,

Please give us a sign we are getting a Giga.   Something like blocking out the Sun anytime in the next week would work.

Thanks.  

[kirbias1]

On 8/15/2017 at 7:08 PM, SonODiamondback said:

I been doing a lit of thinking on this. And I think they should go for some more like ferrari rossa. Make it a launch coaster with some elements like intimidater 305 make it about 7000 ft long with a top speed of about 100 mph and theme it after the Bell X 1 the plane the broke the sound barrier. And place it in Xbase and have it go out through the woods.

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I'd prefer an Intamin, but I'll take a B&M. An Intamin Giga like Intimidator 305, but with a launch would be awesome. That would give us something unique and help to continue in giving each park it's own identity. If it's a B&M though, I just want it to break some records.

[SonofBaconator]

Quote

"When the end of the world comes, I want to be in Cincinnati because it's always twenty years behind the times."- Mark Twain

If you look closely at Kings Island, they tend to be behind on the times. When Ouimet came along, and maybe even before that, I started to see a trend in coasters. The invert craze was in the late 90s/early 2000s and there wasn't a ton of huge installations of B&M invert until 2014 with Banshee. Three years later we get a GCI woodie in the form of Mystic Timbers, again a little behind the trend of GCI installs where it was in the mid to late 2000s with Prowler, Thunderhead, Renegade, etc. And look more recently as Cedar Fair has pumped out 3 gigas in the early 2010s and we haven't seen even plans for one since 2015. 

Maybe I'm just being a conspiracy theorist but I like to believe that KI goes behind the curve and makes world class rides that dominate the others. I believe Banshee and Mystic Timbers are arguably the superior rides of their classes currently and you can argue with me if you want.

What am I saying? I feel like Kings Island chose to wait on a giga for when the craze dies down to set itself apart, so if and when it does get a giga, it'll be one of a kind and incomparable from other rides similar to what Banshee and Mystic Timbers have done.

[IndyGuy4KI]

I had not thought about it that way Baconator. Interesting hypothesis!

[Shaggy]

My perception of the park these days is that installs are simply based on the best way to satiate most guest interests.  

There's an obvious concentrated effort to increase capacities, and to focus on things for the entire family that are dependable and marketable.  I would suspect - based on things like food offerings, meal plans, etc that a lot of the survey results are indicating that people want to take their entire family there for the overall experience - and want a deal - rather than to simply ride a huge coaster.

I would suspect Cedar Fair views CP as their Ohio "thrill" park, and Kings Island their "experience" park - a precedent that was set independently by those parks many years before Cedar Fair took the helm. Most every install at KI is based on guest feedback through surveys - so if guests say they want a 300' coaster, then they'll probably install one.  If guests are saying they want more kids rides, then that takes priority.  KI has to straddle the middle in most cases - since it's a very family oriented park.  They could have very easily built Mystic Timbers 100 feet taller, or twice as long and fast - but they installed a highly enjoyable, non-intimidating ride that many people can enjoy.  MT actually, IMO, filled a need that I didn't even know existed.  It's a mid-sized ride that pulls two audiences... it's a "graduating" coaster for kids moving up a thrill level... and it's a satisfyingly fun ride for those already used to bigger thrills.

I also think that for many, many, years, KI execs have been trying to completely correct the "ills" of the former owner.  There's a focus on bringing back a lot of the quality to the park, while reducing it's previous blatant commercialism.  In addition, they've steered away from gimmicks... special effects, complicated theming that is expensive to maintain etc.  I see a lot of infrastructure changes to the dated buildings and facilities, that frankly, cost a LOT of money (but often go unrecognized by guests.)  The Paramount installs - as fun and over-the-top as they were, weren't (as a whole) dependable and high volume enough - and are to blame for many of the confusing compromises to the themes of the park.   

Bottom line, I do have my fingers crossed that KI will get their own version of 'Leviathan" or "Fury."  (I would kill to see one of those at KI.)  Chances are, it will come... in due time... and only if most guests want it.  But frankly, my biggest dream for KI, especially the older I get, is that the park adds things that will keep it around for another 50, 100, 200 years.

[SonODiamondback]

Being a big behind is not entirely a bad thing. Look at it this way would you rather have the first invert like Batman or would you rather have Banshee.

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[King Ding Dong]

1 hour ago, SonODiamondback said:

Being a big behind is not entirely a bad thing. Look at it this way would you rather have the first invert like Batman or would you rather have Banshee.

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Maybe I misunderstand your post but there is a 22 year span between the first Batman and Banshee.   Are suggesting it is best to wait some 20 odd more years for a Giga?

[DiamondBanshee]

^I believe what was meant was that it may be better to get a coaster type (Invert in this case) after the company has mastered the design of it a bit more. The newer Banshee is better than the older Batman the Ride. So, going off this, since Kings Island is waiting on a giga, that giga should be better than the previous gigas, much like how most people believe Fury is better than Levi.

 

This is just my interpretation on what was said

 

 

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[SonODiamondback]

^I believe what was meant was that it may be better to get a coaster type (Invert in this case) after the company has mastered the design of it a bit more. The newer Banshee is better than the older Batman the Ride. So, going off this, since Kings Island is waiting on a giga, that giga should be better than the previous gigas, much like how most people believe Fury is better than Levi.  

This is just my interpretation on what was said

 

 

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Yes that is what I was trying to say

 

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[Maverick44]

I just want another Intamin!

[Hmrapp]

Pray for that giga. I would love either a Fury 325 or Intimidator 305esc ride.

[Hmrapp]

On 8/19/2017 at 0:14 PM, King Ding Dong said:

Dear God,

Please give us a sign we are getting a Giga.   Something like blocking out the Sun anytime in the next week would work.

Thanks.  

AMEN!

[homestar92]

On 8/23/2017 at 3:31 PM, SonODiamondback said:

Being a big behind is not entirely a bad thing. Look at it this way would you rather have the first invert like Batman or would you rather have Banshee.

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I'd rather have Batman, personally.

Banshee is fun and all, but honestly, I think it's one of the weaker Inverts I've ridden. The only one that comes to mind that I'd put below it is Patriot. FWIW, though, both Banshee and Patriot kill it aesthetically. Both are extremely beautiful coasters.

[DiamondBanshee]

^I'm the opposite. I love how whippy old inverts are, such as Afterburn, but Banshee is just... better. I think it's a mixture between how much bigger and longer Banshee is and how awesome the inversions are. Don't get me wrong, the batwing is phenomenal and all the inversions are forceful, but Banshee has a better mix imo and one of the best inversions in the world with that final inline twist


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[rhyano]

Old school inverts are fun, I love them! But here comes an extremely unpopular opinion, maybe I caught it on the wrong day or something... Montu was pretty overhyped, it's still my 2nd favorite invert (behind Banshee)

[Hmrapp]

On 8/13/2017 at 6:36 PM, SonofBaconator said:

Let's add to the topic. If KI were to get a giga, what would you like to see? What elements do you think would be incorporated? What's would be the colors and the theme? Height, length, etc. 

A non-inverted dive loop would very very cool. I would also love to see Fury esq turns and airtime pops.

 

Quote

Old school inverts are fun, I love them! But here comes an extremely unpopular opinion, maybe I caught it on the wrong day or something... Montu was pretty overhyped, it's still my 2nd favorite invert (behind Banshee)

I agree. The B&M vest restraints do press down on your collar bone and pelvis a bit too hard which can make sitting on the brake run very uncomfortable but, other then that I think Banshee is superior in EVERY (maybe not theming).

[DiamondBanshee]

On the giga topic, I would love for a treble clef like element because that thing is insane. In addition, some small ejector hills would be great with a large float-jector hill in there as well. The coolest thing though would be if a triple or quadruple down were in the lineup of elements. If you've been on Lightning Rod or Voyage (or any coaster with this element I'd assume. I've only been on these two) you know how crazy these elements are. You get thrown up and slammed down. Just imagining this with the comfortable clamshells of B&M hypers/gigas I get all giddy inside lol


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[SonODiamondback]

On the giga topic, I would love for a treble clef like element because that thing is insane. In addition, some small ejector hills would be great with a large float-jector hill in there as well. The coolest thing though would be if a triple or quadruple down were in the lineup of elements. If you've been on Lightning Rod or Voyage (or any coaster with this element I'd assume. I've only been on these two) you know how crazy these elements are. You get thrown up and slammed down. Just imagining this with the comfortable clamshells of B&M hypers/gigas I get all giddy inside lol


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Would love this along with some low to the ground turns like intimidater 305

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[Hmrapp]

Kings Island has to be the second best Cedar Fair park (behind Cedar Point of course) but oddly lacks a coaster that all the other major five Cedar Fair parks have(Cedar Point, Kings Island, Carowinds, Kings Dominion, and Canada's Wonderland). The coaster is categorized as a giga coaster. Giga's are between 300-399 feet tall and known to please the general public and enthusiasts very well. Fury 325 at Carowinds is an amazing B&M giga with immense airtime. Millennium Force at Cedar Point is a classic Intamin giga. Leviathan at Canada's Wonderland is the shortest of all the gigas but very enjoyable and finally Intimidator 305 is the most intense giga (and roller coaster) in the world. Intimidator 305 frequently causes riders to grey out due to the extreme amount of g-forces pulled on the first overbank. The giga's are all stupendous coasters which place in the top 25 of most enthusiasts lists.

See Kings Island is an already amazing park with coasters such as Diamondback, Banshee, Beast and now Mystic Timbers but the park lacks a huge coaster delivering spurts of great ejector airtime with high intensity overbank elements (such as the Treble clef element on Fury or the first overbank on Millennium). This coaster would be a Kings Island's fanboy dream and make any enthusiast be wanting to travel to Kings Island. The coaster would be a B&M giga like Leviathan and Fury 325 due to Cedar Fair's love for B&M (Swiss coaster manufacturer) and recent inactivity with Intamin (coaster manufacturer). I predict the coaster would be named Centurion (Roman soldier) due to Cedar Fair already trademarking the name. Carowinds also was going to name Fury 325 Centurion but backed out at the last minute changing the name to Fury 325 making me believe Cedar Fair wanted to save Centurion for the other chains future giga coaster.

The ride I predict would use the classical 8 by 4 trains found on all old school B&M hypers, Mako, Leviathan and Fury 325 as the trains seem to create a freee falling effect. The 16 by 2 trains found on all new B&M hypers except Mako are great for airtime and the "whip" over the first drop (especially in the back of the train) but lack the intensity factor found on the 4 by 8's. The trains would be painted green and white with a cool lead car similar to Fury's. The train would also feature classic and amazing B&M clamshell restraints hopefully with no additional seat belt (Very Unlikely). I predict the ride would start near the back end of Racer and go behind X-base and even go behind Banshee as there is a lot of land cleared back there from Son of Beast. This would make the ride about 7,000 feet long which would make it one of the longest coasters in the world. I predict it will be around 350 feet which is 40 feet taller then Millennium Force and 120 feet taller then King's Islands tallest coaster (Diamondback).

The coaster would reach speeds of 97 mph and would go straight into a 200 feet overbanked turn. The ride will feature 5 airtime moments, a treble clef, a non-inverting dive loop, a few helixes and NO mid-course brake run. Sadly there will probably be a trim brake (Friction or Magnetic) located on one of the ladder airtime hills. Hopefully the ride will end lower to the ground then the other B&M giga's as they end near the 30-40 foot mark and slowly descend back into the station. The coaster will cost around 30 million US dollars making it the largest investment in King's Island history. This summer I prayed for a giga and even went to watch the announcement on July 28th but was slightly disappointed to hear we would have to wait another few years for the giga to come. From Drop Tower and the Banshee webcam located atop the Eiffel Tower you can notice clearing behind Banshee making me believe this coaster will arrive in 2019 or 2020. I hopefully attend media day to ride the coaster but if not I will wait in the 5+ hour lines on opening day.The coaster similar to Fury will probably be glossy smooth in it's first year but may develop a slight B&M (an unexplained phenom where the train gently vibrates against the track... Very evident on older B&M's towards the back of the train) rattle as years pass similar to Banshee and Diamondback. The ride nevertheless will undoubtedly change Kings Isand history and may even spark another generation of coasters. Please Please Please Cedar Fair bring joy to all the Kings Island fanboys and just give the park the giga it's so longingly thirst for.

PS: The giga will most likely have a darker green track with glossy white supports...

Also this was not copied and pasted as I feel passionate about anything in the industry especially regarding my two home parks (Cedar Point and Kings Island)

[flightoffear1996]

That land clearing behind Banshee has been there for as long as I can remember and I doubt it has anything to with any expansion.  I think we would be looking at the Dinosaurs Alive area for the giga.

[SonofBaconator]

@Hmrapp where exactly is your source that Carowinds backed out last minute on Centurion? It could have been a teaser. The name is still live on Cedar Fair's trademarks. It's a possibility that the name might go to another park, however it could also go to the possible conversion of Carowinds' Vortex. 

[BlondyRidesOn]

When I think of a Centurion, I usually think of a guard at the gate of a palace, which makes it sound like a front gate coaster, which Matt Ouimet already said that Kings Island wouldn't be getting a front gate coaster because the main gate plaza is already good. I think a name like Samurai would work because of the swift and quick movements and transitions throughout the ride.