Gemini's Long Lost Cousin?

I was looking through some pictures, and I realized that Excalibur at Valleyfair! and Gemini are similar coasters. Both share wooden structure, tubular steel track, and the same trains (different colors obviously). Anyone been on this ride? Looks like a truly awesome first drop! :D
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"Enjoy your record-breaking ride on Millennium Force"

They are both Arrow minetrains so their structures look alike. I love Gemini and could ride it all day, but I found Excalibur to be very painful and hard to enjoy. This was a few years ago; is it any better lately?

Excaliber was a interesting ride that really surprised me with one particular moment. It had a point of GREAT airtime with laterals similar to the "non inverting corkscrew" found on SFA's and SFDL's Supermen. Here's some pics: http://www.coastergallery.com/2000T/valleyfair.html
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Excalibur is one of the wildest, most intense coasters I have ever ridden. The first drop has been ruined with thrims the whole way down, but the rest of the ride is full of great forces and two spots of *insane* airtime. It can definitely be a painful ride if you don't know how (and when) to brace yourself, but I could ride it all day; it's my favorite Arrow coaster. Too bad it's so darned short!

-Nate

I'd actually count Excalibur as more of a close brother and say the Arrow Mine trains are the cousins though they all are very closely related designs.
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* The Legend @ HW
* Superman: Ride of Steel @ SFNE
* Mondial Top Scan

In the front seat, you are literally within several feet of the bottom of the first drop before the brakes finally let go, ruining the whole drop. However, you still generate quite a bit of speed through the rest of the ride.

The ride is almost unbearable rough if you ride in the last row of any car (3 rows), but it is much smoother in the front row of each car. The best seat by far is the first row of the last car, which is where you get some good air and good laterals. The ride is short but intense and is quite fun. It is also located in the back of the park which is out of the way and hard to get to, so the ride is often a walk-on. Even on weekends, you can usually get 10 rerides an hour if you so desired.

Skittlebrau hit the nail on the head.

My biggest complaint about it, however, is that it's too short.

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Current favorite coasters:
Wooden: 1) Beast 2) Raven 3) Son of Beast 4) The Boss 5) Timber Wolf
Steel: 1) Raging Bull 2) Millennium Force 3) V2 4) Wild Thing 5) Mr. Freeze
Visit: http://www.dynamicgroove.com

Thanks for the tips guys. I hear a bunch of Whining about VF but I am going to hit it the week of Timbersfest and judge for myself.

Chuck, who also is hitting Fun Spot, Dells, SFGAM, VF and IB that week :)

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Charles Nungester
Park Jockey :)

As far as I know, Excaliber and Gemini are the only two coasters of their type built by Arrow- steel on wood but with normal coaster elements instead of mine train elements. I believe the trains are of the same design.

I believe Rob is correct. I love Excalibur's "toothpick" look. Charles, you have a fun-filled week ahead of you! Enjoy the Hoosier state. :)
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Don't.....look.....back! The Headless Horseman awaits you in 2002!
Model coasters and rides

Was Excalibur the ride that was partially under water earlier last season because of flooding?

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Mayday - Memorial Day Weekend - Nonpoint, Nickelback, Oleander, Staind
Ozzfest - June 8 - Drowning Pool, Papa Roach, Linkin Park, Disturbed, Black Sabbath
Awake Tour- June 15 - Darwin's Waiting Room, Puddle of Mudd, Deftones, Godsmack

Yes it was.

Yeah, I went to look at the news item, but the picture isn't there any more. It was a very odd site to behold...

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Mayday - Memorial Day Weekend - Nonpoint, Nickelback, Oleander, Staind
Ozzfest - June 8 - Drowning Pool, Papa Roach, Linkin Park, Disturbed, Black Sabbath
Awake Tour- June 15 - Darwin's Waiting Room, Puddle of Mudd, Deftones, Godsmack

I was like, "That is one really weird looking log flume"...
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Jes
Jes's Roller Coasters DJ Jes MCS
"Thank You Jeff Putz" "My Fellow Americans, Lets Roll!"

Personally, I find the ride horrible, I've been on it many times... and would rather go on A head banging SLC all day, than that. Its basically A Steep Figure Eight with an 210º Helix. then the brakes

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It Should have stayed under the water...

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"Past this point of no return your only choice is freeze or burn." -Merlin

Excalibur is probably the most intense coaster I've ever riddden, but it is way too short. XFlighter hit the nail right on the head.

Call me nuts, but I actually found Excalibur very enjoyable, in the back seat offering nice airtime, and an intense fantastic feeling through the helixes. I actually feel as if its a better coaster then Gemini and Rock and Roller Coaster. Its a great coaster and I hope to be working on this beautiful coaster come this summer.
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Just wait till next year!

It was an early experiment for Buzzsaw Falls!
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Don't.....look.....back! The Headless Horseman awaits you in 2002!
Model coasters and rides