Do-Dodonpa will not reopen at Fuji-Q Highlands

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

The Do-Dodonpa ride at the Fuji-Q Highland theme park in Yamanashi prefecture had been suspended since August 2021 as officials from the transport ministry investigated reports from the local government of a series of injuries, including bone fractures in riders’ neck and chests. The operator of the park had been looking for solutions to Do-Dodonpa’s problems, but on March 13 announced that safety concerns outweighed calls for the resumption of the ride.

Read more from South China Morning Post.

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Jeff's avatar

I'll never forget riding Hypersonic at Kings Dominion, because it was the single worst ride on any coaster I've ever had, and that's not even counting the three hours in line as it broke down repeatedly. The ride over the top hat hurt so much that I could barely walk the next day. I wonder what the reason for that was. Was it hard to precisely control the speed so that it made a gentle pass over the top? Was the top just too "sharp?" Regardless, it's telling that the model never caught on. Stan Checketts, may he rest in peace, sometimes built stuff without really doing all of the work to make sure he had a reliable and comfortable ride.


Jeff - Editor - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog

He would also stand on top of his rides and wave his arms, so…

Vater's avatar

The only thing I didn't like about Hypersonic was the fact that it was over in less than 20 seconds. I loved the extreme air over the top of the hill, and the launch is still the most intense I've ever experienced.

Tommytheduck's avatar

I don't remember having any problems with it.

(Other than it broke and never opened the day we went and the park giving everyone in line a free ticket for later in the year. I feel that would never happen today.)

We did return and ride it and I remember it being very intense, but yeah, also very short.

Haven't got on Max Force yet, it was closed the day I went.

I liked both Hypersonic and the original Dodonpa. They were not the most comfortable of rides, but those launches were something else entirely.


HeyIsntThatRob?'s avatar

My one front seat ride on Hypersonic resulted in a nice thwack on the back of the head when we crested the hill. The launch was sweet! The rest? Meh...

ApolloAndy's avatar

I loved Hypersonic. I think I got two rides on it waiting 60 and 30 minute’s respectively. The launch into the top hat is probably the most intense 5 seconds I’ve experienced on any ride in any context.


Hobbes: "What's the point of attaching a number to everything you do?"
Calvin: "If your numbers go up, it means you're having more fun."

^Same here. 2 laps. The launch and tophat were intense. Best part of the ride.

Vater's avatar

Well, in fairness, they're pretty much the only part of the ride.

Stan Checketts, may he rest in peace, sometimes built stuff without really doing all of the work to make sure he had a reliable and comfortable ride.

It's nice that the company is respecting his standards to this day.

Raven-Phile's avatar

ApolloAndy:

is probably the most intense 5 seconds I’ve experienced

LostKause's avatar

I didn't get the chance to ride Hypersonic. I did ride Max Force in Chicago last year, and the launch was really intense. I wonder how similar the two are/were.

Max Force didn't have the insane over-the-top element that Dononpa and Hypersonic had, which made it a comfortable ride after the awesome launch.


Those S&S thrust air models were not a success!

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