Any word or thought on a ride for 2006???

Wouldn't it be possible to use a setup similar to that of TTD for a 500+ footer? I mean, the launch and incline could be almost identical. Once you're at the top, you crest the hill and decend into the rest of the ride, in a layout fashion.

This would solve the problem of lift-hill footprint and also it would seem to save money (smaller footprint = less support structure = less $$).

Any thoughts?

Thats what I was kind of thinking.....

That would be worst than six flags. At least six flags has the decency to put their clones in different parks.

While a launch would certainly eliminate the footprint problems, we don't need another one, and certainly not an intamin trash heap with more problems than Robert Kelly at World Youth Day.

I can understand the "clone" issue part of it, but it gets real difficult (see: exponential) to build a coaster higher and higher... it wouldn't be JUST a launch coaster... it would be (at worst) a hybrid...

Absolutely not, regarding a higher/faster TTD model. This gets back to what I was saying about people not reading things all the way through on this thread or other ones. As it has been addressed by several people, this is probably the least likely of options.

1) It would make TTD relatively obsolete, which is a no-no in marketing. It'd be like building Power Tower only a little larger, what's the point? You never make your own product(s) look inferior on comparison, EVERYTHING must have a point to it. They topped Magnum with a ride that did not have bunny hills at the end, but was a sheer height and speed overload. It was great because it was a different experience.

2) TTD has had it's share of problems, and I'm being generous in that label. ESPECIALLY after seeing KK's recent downtime, a park would have to be out of their mind to make something even bigger and faster after seeing how the last two failed with consistency.

3) MONEY. It's not cheap. If they were going to build a taller/faster TTD model, the price would be astronomical. Even if it was a L:TH:B, like TTD, it would be in excess of $25 million, and they other rides that can be developed and used to bring people in for that kinda money far outweigh the risk of building a ride like that. TTD was $25 and it's labeled a 'one-trick pony.'

To differentiate this type of ride and want to make one bigger, the most simple elements (turns, etc..) would have to be HUGE to accomodate the forces, immediately racking up the costs. Even if it only had one large turn you'd be talking an extra million or two just in track and supports, not to mention land.

It just doesn't make sense.

Okay, I suppose you have a couple of (pseudo)valid points there, but not really...

1) I'll concede this to you... sort of.

2) EVERY new technology has lots of problems... look at WT compared to TTD... WT has a lot more problems than TTD, and its microscopic in comparison. That is in fact the main purpose behind a ride like WT - to test, evaluate and perfect the new tech. Sure, a 500+ launch might have its share of problems, but c'mon - its a 500'+ coaster!

3) Money? You're argument just doesn't make sense. If you were to build a 500+ coaster, then you would need a lift hill, correct? Well, lets say that for every foot of track (lift hill), it costs $1. Now, if you made the track straight up, you'd only have a hill that costs $500. Now, if you made the hill at a 45-degree angle, you'd have a hill that costs $707. Now, I realize that a lift hill like MF costs less than a magnetically driven system, but the sheer savings in steel would be substantial.

As for differentiation... Yeah, it would be tricky to make it seem different than TTD. However, with enough creativity (i.e. maybe make the "lift" hill at like 75-degrees or something) it can be done.

I second what Grovite said, that's exactly how I feel.

Further, I'm not debating the rest of the ride - just how to get you up to a height of 500'. The rest (G-forces, etc.) is irrevelant to my previous statement.

Yeah, you would need a TON of room and HUGE turns and all that to accomodate a 500' coaster, but those factors are completely independent of the lift hill... those factors are dependent on HEIGHT.

MF was also a $25 million ride...

But spending $25 million on Millennium Force was much more worthwhile.

The only difference (besides the obvious height difference) between MF and the 500' would be the lift hill.... so why wouldn't the extra cost be worth it also?

djDaemon said:

WT has a lot more problems than TTD, and its microscopic in comparison.

LMFAO! Are you freaking kidding me? You just proved to the rest of us that you have no idea what you are talking about.

The amount of money it costs to build a conventional lift and means to launch it up the same height are very different. You talk about the cost of track footage, yet you forget to include the whole launch track, pneumatic pistons, copper fins, launch sled, launch motor, engine room in order to get it to launch that high. Why did Dragster cost the same as MF when it has no layout? Sure the extra 110 feet had a little to do with it, but a big piece of it was the whole launch system.

If they were to build a conventional lift that was close to or at 90 degrees, the lift would cost less than Dragster's whole price tag. Then there would be more money left over to add onto the layout. I'm not saying that the whole ride would be less expensive--I would venture to guess it would cost in the range of 45-50 million for a decent layout--but they wouldn't be wasting money on the launch system or recreating Dragster's launch experience.

*** Edited 8/2/2005 9:23:22 PM UTC by CP_bound***

Why couldn't there be a new way to get the coaster train to the top of a lift hill? Not a chain, not an elevator lift like on MF, and not a launch.

What I was thinking of would be more like a traditional elevator, where the train would move out of the station one coaster train length into an elevator, the train could be held there with the magnetic brakes so popular today. Once locked in the elevator would take the train up to the top of the hill and once there release the brakes and the train rolls down the hill. After releasing the train the elevator would return down to the station to await the next train. It would work much like Demon Drop gets the car to the top of the drop shaft. The possibilities on height are endless here. *** Edited 8/2/2005 8:39:56 PM UTC by MichiganWolverines*** *** Edited 8/2/2005 8:43:11 PM UTC by MichiganWolverines***

That could be a possibility. That is used on LoCoSuMo at Indiana Beach in a much smaller form than what would be needed for a big Intamin train. The two main requirements they would need for this system is the ability for a high speed elevator lift (see: Sears Tower) with a weight capacity of several tons. Both would be a big challenge for an elevator system of that magnitude.

Intamin could probably come up with a way of doing it, but they would do it the most complex way possible...that's their M.O.

The elavator lift sounds good for me, hopefully they put that idea to use one day. Who knows, maybe it's already in the works.

How about this. A 500ft coaster with a elevator tower lift. When it reaches the top a car would drop down about 450ft. Then it would go up about 350ft and underneath that hill is a recreation of the great wall of china. So it will be like that guy that jumped over the great wall of china on his skateboard.

I believe his name was Danny Way. But i could be wrong. And probably am.

Either way... I found this over at thepointol.com just a little bit ago...

http://www.thepointol.com/mikesmessage3.html

Sounds good to me. Might me a little cramped and the queue will probably end up being buried under CCMR or what not. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

That was posted like 2-3 weeks ago, either in this thread or the construction thread, or both. He still has it lised as The Patriot, and we all know that is the name for the Worlds of Fun coaster.

TTD 120mph said:
Thats what I was kind of thinking.....

Wait! That’s not what I meant. I read djDaemon's post too fast. I thought he was referring to the supports for a 500 footer, not a TTD clone. But anyway, my idea would be to have support structures similar to Millennium's, just on a bigger scale.(seeing that Grovite18 said those type of supports could be used for a 700 footer!)

And I think I found an area that could be used for the lift. Although I'm not sure what the layout of the coaster would be or where it would go. But I know for a fact that it would (or would have to) interact with Millennium.

I'll mark it using the aerial map that bholcomb posted a couple pages back.

Has anyone seen one of the Rumored Lay outs of Top thrill Dragster that was floated around during the construction phase before the offical annoucement? At one time top thrill was suppose to have several hills that intertwined with the MF. Wouldnt it be wild if they decided to bring back the concept and add to the top thrill and make not also an awesome launch but a hell of a airtime machine as well?