Second Half of GateKeeper

What do you guys think of how it has the "mid-course" block break *after* all of the inversions?

At first I didn't like it, because I thought it would make for a disappointing, anti-climactic ending to the ride.

But then I started thinking... Having all six inversions without a break will probably mean a more thrilling, intense experience. And then, we can think of the second part as sort-of an encore, an added bonus.

Also relevant is the intensity of the helix. How man Gs do you guys think it will pull? I'm assuming they made sure it would be relatively strong, precisely to make sure the ending isn't disappointing. (The airtime hill seems like it will be pretty strong, too, which would be a great ending!)

Mark

PS Sorry of this was discussed before. I look for a thread about it, and couldn't find anything, so hopefully I'm not duplicating anything.

I like that its a straight drop out of the MCBR and not an angled drop. I think it'll be a better experience.

That last little bunny hill after the helix might prove to be a wonderful surprise. :)

The block brake is there just to ensure capacity. It will probably be like Raptor's, where you just slide through it just so the computer knows. Honestly, the helix probably won't be crazy intense, but this IS A WING COASTER. They aren't meant to be intense like the inverts. The helix will provide a very unique experience on either side, It looks to be a great ending.

Maverick00 said:
I like that its a straight drop out of the MCBR and not an angled drop. I think it'll be a better experience.

After having experienced the drop out of the MCBR on Montu, I can say for sure that I enjoy angled drops out of them. Granted, Montu is just a fantastic ride in general.

Going by the bank angle of the helix, I think the train will carry a good amount of speed through there.I also expect a nice pop of air over the final little hill.

Dvo said:

Maverick00 said:
I like that its a straight drop out of the MCBR and not an angled drop. I think it'll be a better experience.

After having experienced the drop out of the MCBR on Montu, I can say for sure that I enjoy angled drops out of them. Granted, Montu is just a fantastic ride in general.

Angled drops are great for inverts. However, the straight drops on Sit-down coasters are more enjoyable overall. To each his own...

What do you guys think of how it has the "mid-course" block break *after* all of the inversions?

When I saw the design for this "Raptor" coaster with the block brake in the middle. I thought to myself, what a lame ride that will be. You have all the momentum and inversions and them to brake it??? What was B&M thinking. I can not wait to try Raptor when it opens in the Spring.

I hope I have the response right

Have you seen the raptor clone in France... with no mid course brake....

It's at an amusement park that used to be based on the smurfs.

The track left after the mid-course is not half, or even a fourth of the ride, I would guess. Regardless, coaster enthusiasts bitching about mid-course blocks and the trimming that often happens there is annoying.

No one complains about the left over track after Magnum's blocks out of the last tunnel.

liebevision said:
Have you seen the raptor clone in France... with no mid course brake....

It's at an amusement park that used to be based on the smurfs.

Hows this?
http://www.youtubedoubler.com/?video1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%...orName=FAV

Wow, I thought it was a bit quicker than Raptor.. but that video comparison really shows it's much quicker. I wonder why.. it's even faster before the mid-course so you can't blame it on the brakes.

liebevision said:
Wow, I thought it was a bit quicker than Raptor.. but that video comparison really shows it's much quicker. I wonder why.. it's even faster before the mid-course so you can't blame it on the brakes.

Its helix must be AMAZING!

You're new here, so welcome, but you don't need to quote me when my post is directly above you. There are a couple of threads stickied at the top of the "General" topic for new users, you should go read them.

But seriously, if you sync up their drops by the time Raptor hits the end of the MCBR, Monster is going into the corkscrew. Maybe they have different wheels...

Maybe the part where it leaves the lift before raptor has something to do with the supposed "speed". I don't know, just a lucky guess? ;)

That's the "sync up their drops" part comes in. I know, confusing. Let me explain: you pause one at the drop, and let the other video run, from further back on the lift. Wait for the other video to hit the exact same spot, and hit play.

It really is faster than Raptor. Maybe they run different wheels? Maybe one had a train with a heavier load? Perhaps Cedar Point took the video with the train unloaded. Maybe Raptors rails generate more friction. For whatever reason, Monster is quite a bit faster by the evidence of these two on-ride videos.

But it makes you wonder, is there always this difference between them, or is it just from these two ride cycles in particular?

Your mom is to fat to ride TTD. said:
No one complains about the left over track after Magnum's blocks out of the last tunnel.

This.

What more discussion is needed?

^But on Magnum, that's clearly not part of the "ride" - meaning, it's clearly for the purpose of transporting people back to the station as directly as possible, and it's not *expected* to provide any "thrill" element. On GateKeeper, the section after the block breaks is clearly *not* for the sole purpose of transporting people back to the station as directly as possible (it has a helix!), and it clearly *is* intended to provide a "thrill" element (helix and bunny hop).

Imagine if Magnum had a helix after the blocks, and *then* went to the station. That would be *really* weird. I think that would be really cool, too, just like I think GateKeeper's helix looks like it will be cool. But it's still very unusual, and so I think it will add a very usual dynamic to the whole ride experience.

Mark

I'd rather the MCBR be where it is instead of before or right after the Keyholes.