Do-Dodonpa is ordered closed due to injuries

When I first saw the headline, I thought it was Dragster. Looks like Do-Dodonpa has been shuttered, but no word of whether it’s temporary or not.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/worlds-fastest-accelerating-ro...ar-AANEdI7

I didn't even know that thing was still running. Hypersonic hurt me for days, to the point I could barely walk the next day. I've never had any ride hurt me like that.

Do-Dodonpa is ordered closed due to stupid name.

Fixed the headline for you.

RCDB: "Dodonpa, is named for musical sounds, (similar to Do Re Mi, but percussive)" - what is stupid about that?

(If you want to complain about something, "Each train on the Dodonpa has a different face ... Cheetah, Snake, Zebra and Strawberry." One of these things is not like the others....)

Jeff said:

I didn't even know that thing was still running.

Not only is it still running, but it went through a major remodel awhile back that replaced the top hat element with a loop and lengthened the track.

^ And made the launch EVEN FASTER… Previously 0-107mph in 1.8 seconds, now 0-112mph in 1.55 seconds. That is stupid fast. I can’t even imagine accelerating to triple digit speed twice as fast as Top Thrill Dragster.

It has the newer trains with better restraints. I can’t imagine how people got hurt on the ride unless they were riding in a way they weren’t meant to. The launch is great, but unlike HXLC, there’s a lot of track and swoopy turn before the loop. I don’t get it.

ShaneDenmark said:

^ And made the launch EVEN FASTER… Previously 0-107mph in 1.8 seconds, now 0-112mph in 1.55 seconds. That is stupid fast. I can’t even imagine accelerating to triple digit speed twice as fast as Top Thrill Dragster.

It’s the best launch I’ve ever been on. In fact you can read about it right here on Coasterbuzz. https://coasterbuzz.com/Forums/Topic/fuji-q-highlands

Tekwardo said:

I can’t imagine how people got hurt on the ride unless they were riding in a way they weren’t meant to.

Playing devil's advocate here, is a coaster safe if it requires riders to be sitting in a certain position for them not to be injured?

I get that people should ideally sit straight up on all rides, but I could think of a million reasons why someone would not. What if they reach down to check if their pockets are secured? What if they turn around to talk to their friend? What if they are scared and pass out? I'd expect someone to perhaps get a neck strain or other owie if they don't adhere to the rules of a ride (such as how TTD doesn't let you put your arms up at launch), but a broken back seems like a severe outcome for a rider doing something that they perhaps aren't even thinking about at the time.

Does TTD actually not launch if arms are up? I remember there used to be a whole lot more ARMS DOWN ARMS DOWN ARMS DOWN but I assumed it was just an operator pushing a button to play the sound bite.

I have been there where they come over the PA and say "we can't launch the train until you put your hands down"

hambone said:

RCDB: "Dodonpa, is named for musical sounds, (similar to Do Re Mi, but percussive)" - what is stupid about that?

Huh...I play drums and never knew it was a percussive thing. I always thought it was some Japanese word that sounds odd when translated to English (Thunder Dolphin, anyone?), but knowing this, yeah, I kind of agree, it's a little stupid. I assume now it's supposed to sound phonetically like a rimshot after a bad joke. Bizarre theme for a scary fast coaster, no?

(If you want to complain about something, "Each train on the Dodonpa has a different face ... Cheetah, Snake, Zebra and Strawberry." One of these things is not like the others....)

Have you not seen those Nat Geo documentaries on herds of predatory African strawberries?

It’s supposed to sound like a big Japanese drum, not a rimshot.

Ok. Doesn't change the fact that all I hear in my head is this.

Or that it's a weird theme for a coaster.

Definitely a weird theme. Have you ever seen the original scheme of the original trains?

Having said that, it’s very Japanese. I wished we embraced weirdness like they do.