Should Disney build a state of the art Hypercoaster????

[BrianL]

The very existence of PW in AK and California Screamin' in DCA is proof that Disney is not adverse to adding barely themed coasters to its parks that look first and foremost like coasters. The only real issue is where to draw the line. Sort of like the joke that ends: "We've already established what you are. Now we're just negotiating the price."

THe thing is that PW and CS are themed, it's just that the theme is "travelling carnival" or "amusement boardwalk" for those areas of the park. It seems a little weird, but they fit right where they are (the dubious choice of the theming of Dino-Land as a parking-lot carnival not withstanding). Disney can certainly put in a mega-coaster, if they do it where it fits and theme it to be appropriate.

 

[Brian Noble]

It's important to remember that taller does not equal better, and there is nothing magical about 200ft. Of the current top 10 steel coasters (as rated by coaster nuts) six are sub-200, and three are right around the 100 mark.

Interestingly, two of the ten (NTG and IR) are steel retrofits of formerly-horrible wood coasters. I rode Rattler in its wood form; it was awful.

Expedition GeForce (174ft)
New Texas Giant (153ft)
Intimidator 305 (305ft)
Bizarro (208ft tall, but drops below grade: 221ft drop)
Skyrush (200ft)
Maverick (105ft)
Kawasemi (102ft)
Shambhala (250ft)
Nemesis (43ft tall, but drops below grade: 104ft drop)
Iron Rattler (179ft)

 

[LBIJim]

THe thing is that PW and CS are themed, it's just that the theme is "travelling carnival" or "amusement boardwalk" for those areas of the park. It seems a little weird, but they fit right where they are (the dubious choice of the theming of Dino-Land as a parking-lot carnival not withstanding). Disney can certainly put in a mega-coaster, if they do it where it fits and theme it to be appropriate.

Most visitors don't understand or are unable to appreciate the themes of Primeval Whirl and California Screamin'.

 

[sonofanarchy]

Hyper coasters are indeed big ugly looking things that would ruin the view from many parts of WDW.

Disney is just not the place for them. Magic and pixie dust, family attractions and history and the future is what Disney is all about.

This is one of the biggest problems with Disney. Families consist of more than just parents and little kids. Families consist of teenagers, young adults in their 20's who like to come along on family trips.

People seem to forget this.

 

[BrianL]

Most visitors don't understand or are unable to appreciate the themes of Primeval Whirl and California Screamin'.

I think that's a fair assessment for Primevil Whirl, but Screamin' I think gets the message across better. Paradise Pier is a well-themed area and CS is a great coaster. It feels like it belongs in an ammusement park. Add to that it's prominent position during World of Color and I think it works.

The "Dino-Rama," while I appreciate what they tried to do there, comes off as cheap and un-Disney like. PW is still a decent ride. I rode it for the first time on my last trip, and I liked it better than I thought I would.

 

[LBIJim]

Interestingly, two of the ten (NTG and IR) are steel retrofits of formerly-horrible wood coasters. I rode Rattler in its wood form; it was awful.
)

Did you get to ride Rattler during its first season or two, before they shortened the drop?

Many of those massive wooden coasters age horribly. But Old Texas Giant, Rattler, and even Mean Streak were pretty awesome in their first few years. But not Son of Beast.

 

[hallie]

Yes!!!I would love for Disney to build a trill ride for those of us with older kids/roller coaster lovers to enjoy! But luckily Universal is around for that.

 

[wareagle57]

People keep calling coasters "ugly" and "eye-sores". I don't understand this opinion. When i go to Cedar Point I look at them in awe. I think they are beautiful. Now granted they might not be themed or "fit" in Disney, but they aren't ugly.

One idea I had that could possibly work for theming is at Epcot. It's futureworld, so why not make a futuristic looking roller coaster. it could at certain points follow the monorail track.

 

[JoshuaShaw]

Interestingly, two of the ten (NTG and IR) are steel retrofits of formerly-horrible wood coasters. I rode Rattler in its wood form; it was awful.

The Texas Giant was anything but horrible. It was a consistently high-ranked, world-class wooden coaster.

 

[wareagle57]

The best themed coaster I have ever ridden was a top 10 in the country coaster when it opened, and it sure as heck wasn't Disney. Frankly, I can't believe it hasn't been mentioned yet or that I didn't think of it sooner. Volcano: The Blast Coaster at King's Dominion was/is an amazing ride. It definitely would fit in Disney World.

 

[FLchick415]

The best themed coaster I have ever ridden was a top 10 in the country coaster when it opened, and it sure as heck wasn't Disney. Frankly, I can't believe it hasn't been mentioned yet or that I didn't think of it sooner. Volcano: The Blast Coaster at King's Dominion was/is an amazing ride. It definitely would fit in Disney World.

I LOVE that coaster!

 

[Brian Noble]

The Texas Giant was anything but horrible. It was a consistently high-ranked, world-class wooden coaster.

It had the same problem the others did, but not quite as pronounced: it aged poorly. By its last few years of operation, it was down in the bottom half of all wood coasters. Admittedly not as bad as Rattler, but still.

http://www.ushsho.com/woodpoll19yeartable2012.htm

 

[Bullseye]

This is one of the biggest problems with Disney. Families consist of more than just parents and little kids. Families consist of teenagers, young adults in their 20's who like to come along on family trips.

People seem to forget this.

This is what irks me as well. People keep saying that Disney wants rides that the WHOLE family can enjoy. Yes the whole family can all ride it, but teens to young 20's aren't necessarily enjoying it time after time after time. They wan't some bigger thrills! WDW rides are so tame. Outside of EE, SM, TOT, RNR, and Test Track, there aren't many big thrills to be had.

 

[JimmyV]

I think that's a fair assessment for Primevil Whirl, but Screamin' I think gets the message across better. Paradise Pier is a well-themed area and CS is a great coaster. It feels like it belongs in an ammusement park. Add to that it's prominent position during World of Color and I think it works.

I think we are agreeing, but just coming at it from different angles. One could say that CS isn't themed--it is just a wooden (looking) coaster. Others could say that it is themed, but that the theme is a shorefront amusement park like Coney Island (or the California equivalent). Either way, it is a coaster that looks like a coaster, nothing more but nothing less. So the idea that Disney would never build a coaster that isn't hidden or disguised is just wrong. That ship has sailed. If people don't think that the desert landscape and Route 66 backdrop with a "Cars" overlay wouldn't work with a coaster like Cheetah, think again. Radiator Springs Racers is too much like Test Track to bring it to WDW. But turn the Radiator Springs backdrop into a coaster overlay with the cars weaving in and out of the stone monuments and you would have a winner with 120 minute wait times. And that is just one example.

 

[BrianL]

I think we are agreeing, but just coming at it from different angles. One could say that CS isn't themed--it is just a wooden (looking) coaster. Others could say that it is themed, but that the theme is a shorefront amusement park like Coney Island (or the California equivalent). Either way, it is a coaster that looks like a coaster, nothing more but nothing less. So the idea that Disney would never build a coaster that isn't hidden or disguised is just wrong. That ship has sailed. If people don't think that the desert landscape and Route 66 backdrop with a "Cars" overlay wouldn't work with a coaster like Cheetah, think again. Radiator Springs Racers is too much like Test Track to bring it to WDW. But turn the Radiator Springs backdrop into a coaster overlay with the cars weaving in and out of the stone monuments and you would have a winner with 120 minute wait times. And that is just one example.

I can agree with that. Themed doesn't necessarily mean hidden completely from view. I do think a coaster like that could work, but placement is key. It would not work in MK with the possible exception of Tomorrowland. I think DHS is the prime location for such. They do still need to theme it of course, but it it's mostly queue (like most coasters at Uni), that's still potentially ok.

 

[WINTER]

No! That type of coaster is not a 'family oriented' attraction which is what Walt was all about.

 

[Planogirl]

Most visitors don't understand or are unable to appreciate the themes of Primeval Whirl and California Screamin'.

One argument was that an "ugly" coaster couldn't be built because it couldn't be themed to fit. People might disagree as to whether PW fits or not but it does exist for better or worse and does have a theme.

 

[Planogirl]

This is what irks me as well. People keep saying that Disney wants rides that the WHOLE family can enjoy. Yes the whole family can all ride it, but teens to young 20's aren't necessarily enjoying it time after time after time. They wan't some bigger thrills! WDW rides are so tame. Outside of EE, SM, TOT, RNR, and Test Track, there aren't many big thrills to be had.

People are seeing the stereotypical family when they make those comments. There are plenty of families that don't even include children and I would imagine that some of those like coasters too.

I still maintain that one can have thrills AND theming.

 

[EMode]

I was just in a discussion about the with someone who said he doesn't like disneyn because there are no real thrill rides. Honetly, this guy is not one disney wants there. I say no mega coasters and keep out the thrill seekers!

Yeah because all thrill ride seekers are dregs of society

I agree with those who are a little annoyed when people keep saying "but Disney is for families". They clearly aren't for my family and my kids are 10-16, and apparently to some because they are thrill seekers not welcome anyway.

 

[LilyWDW]

No! That type of coaster is not a 'family oriented' attraction which is what Walt was all about.

How so? Many families would love it. Walt wanted the parks to be for ALL families. Not just the families with little kids. I really wish people would stop thinking "families" only means a select definition. It gets annoying.