Top Thrill Dragster 2022 Status

Purple please! The park is completely devoid of purple track and these coasters:

Dragster

Magnum

Iron Dragon

Maverick

Rougarou

Valravn

Steel Vengeance

*edit- Wild Mouse 🤣😂😅

all currently sport a track color on the red/orange spectrum. Basically everything in the park is red/orange or blue other than Raptor. It’s honestly a little silly.

Due to the language of the announcement, I am expecting still a name change, Theme change, and possible color change. Tony is pretty intentional with his language, he has been in this game for a long time, and he knows that his words are going to be picked through.

As per the color, the tricky thing is picking a color that's not to "Out there". Its the biggest structure in the park, so picking something like purple might make it look a little weirder. Im going to guess that they stick with primary colors. My prediction is Orange and Blue.

Further predictions: height 420 feet, speed 120 MPH, Duration: 12-16 Seconds. I know, I'm basically a prophet.

Orange and blue, also known as the New York Knicks. Or Islanders. Or 80's Cavaliers.

Kevinj:

I'm excited about the design of the new trains.

I'm kicking myself for not actually sitting in the Zamperla train at IAAPA, because I'm curious about the fit of the restraint. While I didn't have time to get a good look at the Velocicoaster trains, I finally got a lap last weekend. Intamin finally got the seats right. The overhead lap bars are snug but comfortable despite the serious airtime. It's also possibly the best coaster I've been on.

^^ Those lightning trains (Zamperla) certainly looked comfortable, and non-invasive with regards to the restraint. Not ashamed to say I'm jealous of the Velocicoaster credit.

On one hand, there's the possibility that the re-do is all Intamin. OK. Newer train designs and a recently announced new LSM tech. Makes sense. But then there's Intamin and Cedar Point's relationship.

On the other hand, there's the possibility that Zamperla (with their not so subtle hint that they are about to get involved in several projects) is involved. Wild Mouse was years in planning, and it makes sense that after the Dragster incident happened they were like..."well hey, CP...look what else we're working on".

Technology and product aside, I can tell you that Zamperla is really good at building relationships. Developing a coaster division didn't start last month, and they wouldn't have made the investment without some commitments.

Jeff:

around the sunken purple Millennium Force train

*sigh*

It was green. DUH!!! There's even pictures somewhere around here from the body panels that were spotted during a Winter Chill Out tour.

Anyone more familiar with the manufacturing process have insight on the track pieces shipped to Italy? Would Zamperla use these to basically model the new track pieces?

They wouldn't ship them to measure them. They can do that here.

Got it - any idea on why ship the pieces at all?

Presumably to do some manufacturing rework to them, with the assumption that they are being reworked for a new launch mechanism.

Jeff:

underwater, around the sunken purple Millennium Force train

If Halloweekends had anything remotely approaching a Universal HHN budget, this would be an amazing haunted house or fright zone theme. Something with Lovecraftian or John Carpenter's The Fog vibes, with barnacle-encrusted coaster train wreckage and maybe some tangential references to Oceana and the old aquarium. Could totally see a promotional poster of some tentacled Lake Erie monster pulling Wicked Twister into the lake.

I think it's fair to assume name, color and layout changes with the specific way they worded the press release. They are not stupid, and do things for a reason. Because at this point, I think people would be disappointed with all this buildup and secrecy to just reopen with a different type of launch that non enthusiasts wouldn't even notice the change.

I think beyond speculating on what is going to be changed with the ride, I now wonder WHEN we will find out. During the holiday video?

Nah, based upon my skim of this thread before joining, I agree with other folks that say they want all focus on the boardwalk for 2023.

MrJohnJLewis:

Because at this point, I think people would be disappointed with all this buildup and secrecy to just reopen with a different type of launch that non enthusiasts wouldn't even notice the change.

From what I've observed, non-enthusiasts almost universally believe that Dragster is being torn down. Just the fact that it's reopening will be major news for them.

Jeff:

While I didn't have time to get a good look at the Velocicoaster trains, I finally got a lap last weekend. Intamin finally got the seats right. The overhead lap bars are snug but comfortable despite the serious airtime. It's also possibly the best coaster I've been on.

Completely agree re: Velocicoaster. Easily the best seats and restraints out there. And while I would give Steel Vengeance a (very) slight edge, I would argue that the Mosasaurus roll at the end of Velocicoaster is the best element on any coaster out there. It genuinely feels like you're being flung into the lagoon.

I think that's accurate. I'm also not sure how much of the general public was aware of the incident last season.

MrJohnLewis, based on years past, we're immensely more likely to see some red herrings pointing to a 500' coaster in the holiday video than anything pertaining to actual plans.

People keep talking about the "press release." There was no press release, just an unremarkable image post on Twitter, the essence of which had less than 50 words. Y'all hang on every word as extraordinarily intentional, and you probably have taken issue with the marketing superlatives used in the past for various attractions.

I agree if the video has anything, it'll be a joke. How about winter chill out though? Now that we're getting closer, what are the chances they release any info at or near the event? I'm sure people will bring their selfie sticks to get pics over the wall (assuming it's still up). Think anything will have changed between the season end and February? Will that area get any webcam time before then? I hope they can say more than 'no questions about dragster'.

I'm still hanging on the repeated 18th coaster line, even with the high chance of disappointment.

For more completely unfounded speculation, if they have better LSMs now, what about a faster than 120 launch with the existing layout? Get some airtime at the top of the tower, give CP a way to hype the changes.