Anyone ride Chiller this year?

I was wondering if the effects were back into place like the rumor reported.

I dunno...I know they are running both sides now, which is an awesome thing indeed, I can't wait to go back!

From what I hear, no they're not...but then again I haven't been to the park to see if that is the case or not. As for a reason why...well, nobody seems to be saying...

The last time I saw them run both sides was years ago... It was pretty sweet too, I got to see the Batman side go foward thru the 0-g roll as the Robin side went backward thru it. I would have loved to have seen that from the front seat. intense.

i was there on saturday, may 1st, they were running both sides, but not at the same time (ie. batman loads while robin launches) and there were no effects. they may be installed, i dont know, but they certainly werent on.

im just so glad batman is open again. the tophat just rocks my world. *** Edited 5/6/2004 2:55:00 AM UTC by ZNitroMan***

Glad both sides are running since I will be there in june. Last time I was there only the Batman side was open. Is Viper (SFGAdv) open for the season? Also is both sides of Rolling Thunder open too? Last time Viper and one side of RT was close I was there.

I'm not sure about RT but Viper has been closed all season.

just curious, what kind of effects does it have?

I don't care about Viper being open, I'll never go on that damn painful coaster again. I made the mistake of going on it twice when it was really rough (one time about 6 years ago, it was ok)...Rolling Thunder, also really rough, so I don't care too much for that either.

Been there 7 times (yes, I'm a loser).

Aside from opening weekend, both chiller sides have been running pretty consistently and quite fast. I've heard they'll never duel because the power drain to run both of them at exactly the same time greatly increases the chances of the tower LIM's not firing and the ride valleying. No fog or strobe effects at all, but the sounds were on (I don't remember them from any time after three or four years ago, but maybe I wasn't paying attention.

RT was racing last weekend, though only every other dispatch (two trains on one side, one on the other). Viper was running and actually had a line.

Makes sense...but is there any way to get more power? A new power system of some sort? Or maybe thats a stupid question...

In theory, the energy equation to lauch as opposed to a cain lift should be about equal - but I guess the launch is transferring the energy less efficiently to the vehicle, and of course, the launch creates a "peak" in the amount of energy required every time the ride launches as opposed to the constantly running chain lift.

The other issue is how the parks are billed for electricity. Most businesses are billed based on maximum daily possible usage at any one instant. This is determined by the highest spike in usage during the 24 hour period.

Therefore the daily rate they are paying is much cheaper if there is no spike from launching both sides at the same time. So while yes power availability is the main factor, so is the expense.

Don't forget one other thing when using a chain lift as opposed to a LIM launch.

In the case of most vekoma coasters the chain lift is shut down after each run so as to conserve electricity....at least we've got one good thing to say about the way vekoma engineers their rides.

...yeah, as if the folks at Vekoma are the only people who ever thought of that idea.

Yeah, but lifts also spend a bit of energy cycling when there's no train, plus they have a lot more friction generating moving parts. The motor on the chain lift isn't cool either.

I was at SFGAdv Sunday 5/2. Both sides of Chiller were running, no effects (I was unaware it was supposed to have effects - what are they supposed to be?). Although they didn't launch at the same time, I did see both trains out on the course at the same time on a couple of different occasions. Batman was doing the top hat backwards when Robin came shooting out.

Viper was running and I got my credit on it. Thank God. Now I never have to go on it again. I found the ride to be less tolerable than my previous least-favorite coaster, Son of Beast. A friend thought the worst ride she'd ever been on was Mind Eraser at SFA. I told her I'd rather ride that 10 times than Viper once. What I think of that ride contains words that once upon a time would have resulted in me getting my mouth washed out with soap.

RT was running both trains, but the green one was running empty.

Medusa was running but had some mechanical issues when we went over to ride it.

Kitty

LOL....so you got the GOOD rides on Viper, eh? After the BAD rides, you'd have been unable to remember how truly AWFUL the ride is....ain't that right, Danny? ;)

edit: Chilla is the most fun shuttle coaster that wasn't made by Anton...although, if Freeze had a zero-g roll....:)
*** Edited 5/7/2004 5:19:44 PM UTC by rollergator***

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Coaster Kikky said:
What I think of that ride contains words that once upon a time would have resulted in me getting my mouth washed out with soap.

Kitty

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See, I feel the same way...welcome to the Anti-Viper club...thousands of members and growing strong! ;) :)