Dorney Park: Hydra Website Goes Live

Yeah, if you read the legend section, it appears as though some people in their marketing department made an addendum to traditional Greek mythology.

I thought it had been a while since we had "heard" from Keith and one of his masterpieces. Seriously...how can you get any better? It's mind-blowing how incredible each one of his animations are. Keep it up!

The ride looks awesome too, very RCT-ish. I like their new non-B&M-like design--they even threw in a touch of old school B&M with Raptor colors. :) I wonder if this has more to do with their customers as of late wanting something different, or if the company itself wants to get away from the cookie-cutter image it has retained over the past few years.

*** Edited 9/15/2004 6:10:34 AM UTC by CPgenius***

Michael...if you go back and search through the Forums for Hydra entries, you will find a few posts containing stories/legends in the Dorney employee newsletter...yes Herc did defeat Hydra, but if you follow the story (including on the website), Hydra has risen up from the ground, killed Herc, and has taken over. Henceforth, Hydra: The Revenge...c'mon, don't you know anything? ;)

Wow, I hate to be a contrarian, but I was thinking that the layout, while unique, wasn't all that spectacular in terms of elements. I'm sure it'll be very fun, though.

Also, I'm not sure why the JoJo Roll (great name, LOL) is even necessary! You'll go through it so slowly, I'm guessing it'll simply press you into your OTSR and will be uncomfortable on the shoulders or hips.

But I digress...

I'm very sketpical about the jojo roll. The one thing I really don't like are inversions that are taken way too slowly where you end up riding on the restraint. The prime example is the first corkscrew on PKI's Vortex. Granted there's a HUGE technological difference between the two rides and I would guess that B&M have designed it so you don't fall into the harness. We'll see when it starts to roll.

The rest of the ride looks extraordinary. Hooray for bunny hops on a floorless!!!

Scott, who is thinking about a spring eastern PA trip next year:)

I guess the new design direction could also be to counter act Medusa and provide a new experience for their guests.

I really like this direction, its more a combo hyper/looper, something I have been wishing for. Oh! And no mcbr again, although their rides only run two trains without the mcbr. *** Edited 9/15/2004 2:32:37 PM UTC by eightdotthree***

This ride looks great! The large flat spins look awesome, I like the transition into it from the bunny hill. The site does say that it enters a "tight Cobraroll". Could it be more flared because it might not be able to go as high due to speed concerns, and this might reduce the g's on the rider? just a thought, but if it is flared, aren't some of the positives converted to laterals? I am not a physics guy in any way, but this sounds somewhat logical to me.

I really like how there is no vertical loop. It is really unique and allows for a whole new type of ride. B&M has really come up with some great new layouts, which makes me regret my old topic :)

This is one of the best layouts I have seen for a looping coaster since Kumba. Next year is going to be offdahizzle4shizzle

I think this design of a Cobra Roll reduces headbanging as the train doesn't have to turn as violently in between the two inversions.
I wonder how this strange first valley is going to feel -
Looks like it's * way too banked * in the model - maybe it will feel just fine.

I adore this layout - 7 inversions and not a single vertical loop!
And a giant flatspin!
COOL

but I'll never get to Dorney Park anyway, so I'll just have to look at the videos

:(

Don't see the slow speed through the roll as a problem, we've been doing it for years now on SFMW's V2, not at all uncomfortable.

I also have to question if this is actually a Stengel design, extrememly different (in a good way!) from anything we've seen from him before.

The animation is excellent Keith. I'm stoked that you are starting to make money with this. I love the rocks.

Question, do you get feedback from their landscape architects? If not, I wonder if they'd get ideas from you? ;)

As for B&M, bravo. I SO much prefer their corkscrews over their vert loops. Nice looking ride! *** Edited 9/15/2004 6:24:28 PM UTC by janfrederick***

^^ Did someone say that it was Stengel? Just curious.

Haha, I believe so. To answer the question about the cobra roll...........I think what most people are forgetting is that after the large flatspin the train careens down a 50ft hillside (the same hillside hercules dropped down right after the exit from the station) gaining speed which in turn will allow it to enter the cobra roll. It will not be a small cobra roll nor will the train enter it slowly. However, the style of the cobra roll is different; it is flared.

I don't know. I have mixed feelings. I really like the trenches with rocks and all, very cool touch, but I'm not a huge fan of the design. I mean, essentially it's just a double out and back and the majority of the inversions "climb and curve" inversions. What I mean by that, is the most all of the inversions have a lot of movement in the x, y, and z direction instead of just the x and z directions like a loop or dive loop. Also, all the inversions are basically seen twice throughout te ride be it if the inversion is mirrored or just taken at a slower speed. If I were to alter the ride, I'd start by removing the JoJo Roll. It's an interesting inversion, but it will be too distant from the rest of the action. I think a helix or tunnel or combination of the two would have made for a much better prelift elliment. Next, I'd make the inclined dive loop either a regular dive loop or make the banking on the dive loop much steeper. Finally, I would have either added a loop or a flat helix somewhere in the ride. Possible the loop instead of the first flat spin. I don't know, just being too critical before the ride is even open. It still looks like it's going to be a lot of fun, and most importantly, it's going to be very unique...something that we haven't really seen from B&M in a while.

HOW do you get the Hydra vidoes to play?

Give 'em a lollypop. ;)

Sorry. Do you have Quicktime installed?

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Coaster Lover said:
I don't know. I have mixed feelings. I really like the trenches with rocks and all, very cool touch, but I'm not a huge fan of the design. I mean, essentially it's just a double out and back and the majority of the inversions "climb and curve" inversions. What I mean by that, is the most all of the inversions have a lot of movement in the x, y, and z direction instead of just the x and z directions like a loop or dive loop. Also, all the inversions are basically seen twice throughout te ride be it if the inversion is mirrored or just taken at a slower speed. If I were to alter the ride, I'd start by removing the JoJo Roll. It's an interesting inversion, but it will be too distant from the rest of the action. I think a helix or tunnel or combination of the two would have made for a much better prelift elliment. Next, I'd make the inclined dive loop either a regular dive loop or make the banking on the dive loop much steeper. Finally, I would have either added a loop or a flat helix somewhere in the ride. Possible the loop instead of the first flat spin. I don't know, just being too critical before the ride is even open. It still looks like it's going to be a lot of fun, and most importantly, it's going to be very unique...something that we haven't really seen from B&M in a while.

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Ooook Mr. Overly-analytical CoasterLover. Dorney should just "TAER THE RIDE DOWN NOW!" Ok, maybe not but I felt like saying that. So basically what your saying is that you want it to be a design similar to what B+M has been designing for the past 10 years? Ok, count yourself as part of the minority in that category bud. What puzzles me even more is that you closed your comment saying you like that it is going to be unique. However, everything you just said you disliked about the ride IS what makes it unique. Anyone else catch that? I dunno about you but my feet will sure be dangling above some bright green track in May of 2005 :) *** Edited 9/15/2004 10:54:31 PM UTC by DorneyDante***

Speaking of tunnels, I thought the original idea for this ride had some. Or am I mistaken?

About the only thing missing I think. Pretty cool layout, especially the start. Nice to see B&M do some new things. Guess you really can teach an old dog new tricks. :)

You're mistaken ;) The park never, ever said it would have tunnels. The verbiage used was "below grade 5 times." Many people chose to interpret that as meaning "tunnel."

Ah! Okay...Thanks Moosh. I thought someone had mentioned seeing tunnels being constructed when the site was being cleared/prepared. Guess not. Oh well...still looks like a great ride and addition to the park.

My pleasure...and agreed! ;)