First Look at The Making of Jurassic World VelociCoaster

Man. Everyone is just throwing Maverick under the bus.

That Maverick is a great ride (and I truly believe it is) doesn't mean Velocicoaster can't be better. Ditto for the inevitable comparisons likely to come when Iron Gwazi is compared to Steel Vengeance. I'm just thrilled beyond belief that these rides are in Florida!

Velocicoaster is incredibly strong, and definitely more varied than Maverick, but count me as someone who isn’t sure which one is actually better. I’ve only ridden the former twice, though, and neither lap was close to the front (my usual favorite spot). I rode in the back row and the 8th row, with the 8th row the better of the two in most points on the ride. Up front, I can’t imagine how epic Velocicoaster is.

Maverick >>> Rip Ride Rockit.

Know what I like about this group? Y’all understand that coaster greatness isn’t a zero sum game. One coaster doesn’t have to suck for a new coaster to be great. That ain’t the case in a lot of groups. You could toss them the keys to a 2005 Corvette Z06 and tell them to have fun, they would turn their nose up and say that car sucks because it’s not the new Corvette C8. Maverick can still be an awesome coaster even if Velociraptor is awesomer.

They're good coasters, Brent.

(I am clearly not qualified to weigh in on this debate, seeing as (1) I haven't ridden Velocicoaster and (2) I think Maverick >>> Steel Vengeance.)

Ha ha. All three are 12/10.

I’ve ridden both this year and I honestly can’t say which I would ride if were in front of me right now. I think the complete out of control feeling I get on Maverick’s second half edges it above VC for me.

They both leave you speechless at the brake run.

I didn't really mean one was better or worse; just different... Maverick is paced so "in your face" and VC is more controlled. Way different rides; hench the term different catagory.

But that's just me... where a coaster lands on the top 100 means very little to me. I love Skyrush and would ride Magnum over Millennium Force any day.

I think Maverick >>> Steel Vengeance.)

My daughter and I felt the same when we were there a couple years back. I kept asking if she wanted to do SV again...she kept hopping back in line for Maverick. Those night rides with the smoke effect (spillover from one of those Halloween mazes we skipped I think) are etched in my long term memory as possibly (probably?) the most fun I have ever had marothoning a coaster.

Sadly, that was the only day/time I got to ride it since we’re out west... It is by far my favorite steel.

As a Maverick > VC rebel, I will say this about VC. If you're riding during the day, the front seat is the place to be for the visuals and to get a bit of a better view of the theming.

But now that we're getting dark early and night rides are a thing, even with Jeff's beloved 7pm closes, the back row at night is the money ride on VC.

I like the commentary ShaneDenmark made about how one ride doesn’t need to suck for another to be great. It’s tough to avoid making my own comparisons, though, especially on rides where there’s an awful lot of hype. I finally rode Velocicoaster Friday night and while I can say that it’s absolutely exceptional, I think I had too high of an expectation built up in my mind. I encountered a similar issue with Steel Vengeance, and even my own experiences on Fury 325 cast a shadow over it the last time I was up at Carowinds riding it. All three ended up underwhelming me slightly compared to my expectations (save for a later-in-the-day front row ride on Fury that reminded me why I rank it where I do, haha).

That said, Velocicoaster is still beyond exceptional and easily the best ride in the state on top of being one of the best coasters I’ve ever ridden in general. It really is quite something. I don’t think I even paid too much attention to the theming, haha. I like how it stays on the gas until the very end, too. I was expecting the sustained inversion to be the highlight one, but that last barrel roll is absolutely nuts.

I share that sentiment about everything you mentioned above except Steel Vengeance. Maybe because I went up and rode it right when it opened, but that was the first ride in I couldn't even remember how long that absolutely blew me away and had me back in the station going "what the **** just happened?", which is rare for us enthusiasts.

I love Fury, but when I first rode it I experienced the "meh, that was fun". Same with VC. Same with pretty much anything. Then with more rides and often with those rides being with friends where you make personal memories, certain rides rise to the top of the personal favorite list.

On a Disney centric note, I had anticipointment with Flight of Passage, but was absolutely blown away by Rise of the Resistance, despite it being hyped up so much.

Ha ha. I was really impressed by Flight of Passage first time. Then I rode it again without the pixie dust and realized it was just Soarin’ Around Pandora.

^ Soarin' Around Pandora - without a bent Eiffel Tower.

I haven't been on VC yet, and thanks to flight delays coming to IAAPA, missed it a few weeks ago. Everyone seems to be raving about the 2nd half of the ride, which would include the heartline roll. Hearing the discussion and comparison with Maverick, I find myself wondering about the "what if" of Maverick's roll, and what was different then, and now.

I know none of us got to experience the Maverick roll, but can anyone explain why it failed and what Intamin learned to make it work on VC?

Chaindog said:

^ Soarin' Around Pandora - without a bent Eiffel Tower.

B1 or nothing.

This discussion reminds me of why I don’t make lists. When people say “What’s your favorite?”, or when enthusiasts ask about my top ten I don’t have an answer, and I don’t feel like I need one.
When credits start to number in the hundreds the easy thing to see is that coasters are something like golf courses or grocery stores. No two can possibly be alike. (Even clones vary in experience). If pressed, my list would have surely have to include a couple of dozen top tens and several/many dead-lasts.
The better question for me sounds like “What's your must-do at Kings Island?, or “Do you like the rides at Dollywood?” Something like that prompts an easier response. Otherwise, no one should give a crap what my favorites are. My opinion doesn’t matter, and publication of such is far from necessary.
I haven’t been on Velociraptor yet, but I have ridden Maverick and Taron and Cheetah, all fine rides. So when I do, I expect to make comparisons. But my mental health will improve when I spare myself the anguish of having to pick a ride from my top ten, relegate it to a lower position, then argue with someone about it. Everyone’s welcome on Mac’s list of best-evers.

SVLFever said:

I know none of us got to experience the Maverick roll, but can anyone explain why it failed and what Intamin learned to make it work on VC?

Not an expert but I'd say speed and restraints?

FWIW it's my least favorite element of the ride. In the back it's a real thigh crusher.

My understanding is that it had to do with the wear and tear on the wheel bearings and the axels. I'm just making a guess, but I think it hit that roll on Maverick pretty hard and fast, and it wasn't very long. Just eyeballing it, but the one on Velocicoaster looks much longer. And who knows, maybe Intamin just has a more robust wheel assembly now.

Or they just got lucky. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
😜🤣🤪