Is the Feel of a Floorless.....
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From my limited experience I would say the floorless gives basically the same ride as a regular B&M sitdown. The effect is lost anyway (except the front thanks to the absence of a zero car) since your feet don't really touch the floor on the pedestal seats. Don't get me wrong, I love B&M sitdowns, but the experiences just weren't that different from each other.
Here are my opinions about these Floorless Coasters
Now I was very lucky enough to get to ride one of these last year, That One being Kraken at Sea World,Florida. Now talking about the floorless effect, it really dosnt add that much to the ride, I personally think its one BIG GIMMICK, you really only get to experience it fully at the front, but I still think the effect is quite clever, You get some marvolous Foot choppers especially around the loops. And I dont know if it was just Kraken, but I found this floorless coaster to be amazingly smooth, I didnt get bumped around at all, even at the turn before the corkscrew.
They also have intensity, Sit in the back row,far left seat of Kraken, and you will experience one Amazing Ride, I actually almost blacked out coming out that Cobra Roll. Not sure if its just on Kraken though.
All in All, Floorless Coasters are Good, but Not Amazing, Just a shame you really have to sit in the front to really appreciate this effect to the ride.
Now I was very lucky enough to get to ride one of these last year, That One being Kraken at Sea World,Florida. Now talking about the floorless effect, it really dosnt add that much to the ride, I personally think its one BIG GIMMICK, you really only get to experience it fully at the front, but I still think the effect is quite clever, You get some marvolous Foot choppers especially around the loops. And I dont know if it was just Kraken, but I found this floorless coaster to be amazingly smooth, I didnt get bumped around at all, even at the turn before the corkscrew.
They also have intensity, Sit in the back row,far left seat of Kraken, and you will experience one Amazing Ride, I actually almost blacked out coming out that Cobra Roll. Not sure if its just on Kraken though.
All in All, Floorless Coasters are Good, but Not Amazing, Just a shame you really have to sit in the front to really appreciate this effect to the ride.
Even if you don't think the Floorless design was a startling innovation, at least it is not actually *inferior* to a standard sitdown, is it? And as for the front rows having the best visual effect, that's the same with Inverted coasters. In fact, I'd say you get a terrible view on a B&M Inverted unless you are in the front row. For this reason (and others), I believe that above-the-track loopers are still extremely valid.
By the way, yes, the world's sixth Floorless is under construction in Madrid. Let's hope there are many more!
By the way, yes, the world's sixth Floorless is under construction in Madrid. Let's hope there are many more!
DirtyVern, he was comparing the visuals and the effectiveness of the front row of Inverteds versus Floorless. I agree that front row is ALWAYS the best seat on all of the B&M's that I have been on, for visuals.
If I was a park owner (dream on, right? ;)) and had a choice between a standard sitdown, like Kumba and a floorless, I would choose a floorless. Why not add the floorless aspect? They feel like the same ride, so why not have the added factor?
BTW, I was quite surprised when Wildfire was announced as a standard sitdown, none have been made in the USA since 1993. (Kumba)
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"X" marks the spot in 2001!
If I was a park owner (dream on, right? ;)) and had a choice between a standard sitdown, like Kumba and a floorless, I would choose a floorless. Why not add the floorless aspect? They feel like the same ride, so why not have the added factor?
BTW, I was quite surprised when Wildfire was announced as a standard sitdown, none have been made in the USA since 1993. (Kumba)
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"X" marks the spot in 2001!
Soggy said:
"If I was a park owner (dream on, right? ;)) and had a choice between a standard sitdown, like Kumba and a floorless, I would choose a floorless. Why not add the floorless aspect? They feel like the same ride, so why not have the added factor?"
Two reasons:
1. Increased maintenace: There are so many moving parts associated with the retracting floor. All those parts will need regular servicing. Also that's one other thing that can put your ride down for the count.
2. Increased Liability: I'm sure that the insurance companies will tack on a few extra points for the moving floor aspect; especially in view of the SFO op last year who fell through the floor on B:KF. Sure it was likely a freak occurance, but *you* tel that to the insurance company.
Now maybe in the grand sense of things, these costs are negligible. But if your business goal is to maximize (long term) profits, then any savings is a good thing.
lata,
jeremy
--A penny saved is a penny earned: Ben Franklin
I think the floorless concept was a good idea, but until they start putting floorless trains on better coasters, it won't be a big deal to me. Kumba is still the best sit down looper B&M has built, and once B&m puts a floorless train on a ride of that caliber, i will take notice.
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WARNING: THIS POST MAY ACTUALLY INCLUDE SARCASM AND OR HUMOR. PLEASE CONSIDER BEFORE RESPONDING.
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WARNING: THIS POST MAY ACTUALLY INCLUDE SARCASM AND OR HUMOR. PLEASE CONSIDER BEFORE RESPONDING.
Soggy said:
BTW, I was quite surprised when Wildfire was announced as a standard sitdown, none have been made in the USA since 1993. (Kumba)
Let's not forget that Hulk opened at IOA in '99. Granted it's not 100% standard with the launch, but it's a sitdown.
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Scott W. Short
scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com
This year the 6th floorless is opening at Jancifun Fancyworld. (SP?) Don't know if it's a clone or not, but you know, B&M sure do have a popular idea.
Since I first heard of the Floorless train design, I thought, why not do that to a Speedcoaster train? You're barely touching the floor anyhow, and with only a lap bar, that would be quite the exposure. Better yet, and I wish this didn't have to be wishful thinking, that kind of train would be amazing on a ride like Medusa (west). Come on B&M, show the industry how amazing a looper can be! Revolution USED to be an amazing ride for a very, very simple reason.
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Musician, snowboarder, member of ACE and the ECC
Since I first heard of the Floorless train design, I thought, why not do that to a Speedcoaster train? You're barely touching the floor anyhow, and with only a lap bar, that would be quite the exposure. Better yet, and I wish this didn't have to be wishful thinking, that kind of train would be amazing on a ride like Medusa (west). Come on B&M, show the industry how amazing a looper can be! Revolution USED to be an amazing ride for a very, very simple reason.
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Musician, snowboarder, member of ACE and the ECC
I had a feeling someone would call me on that. You are right Scott, it is a sitdown. But I consider it a non-standard sitdown, and in the seperate "launched" category. Either way, The U.S. has not seen much in the way of B&M sitdown loopers until the Floorless came along. Plenty of Stand-Ups and Inverts, but very few sitdown loopers.
Jeremy, as for the extra cost of maintainance involved in a floorless, I highly doubt that it would affect the overall operation cost. At least not considering an entire park's budget for repairs & maintainance. And the BKF accident was due to ride operator error, not the park's fault. (try telling that to a lawyer, right?)
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"X" marks the spot in 2001!
Jeremy, as for the extra cost of maintainance involved in a floorless, I highly doubt that it would affect the overall operation cost. At least not considering an entire park's budget for repairs & maintainance. And the BKF accident was due to ride operator error, not the park's fault. (try telling that to a lawyer, right?)
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"X" marks the spot in 2001!
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