Haystack Dryer

Just saw this on Screamscape. (photo 1) (Photo 2)

The idea is that parks place these outside of their water attractions and this works as a giant dryer where (for a fee) you step inside and are dried off.

Universal is charging $3 and Dollywood supposedly used these this season as well.

Anyone see this thing in action? Anyone try it? Does it work well? Did Dolly charge to use it?

So many questions. :)

^Looks like I'll have to try and check that out tomorrow (and maybe get a last shot at the ultra-cool water tunnel on Poseidon's Fury - can't *Believe* that's going away). I'll let ya know what I think about the Haystack, looks like an interesting innovation, but doubt I'll get wet to try them out myself....far too cold for water rides.

Wow, talk about a blow-(fill in blank).

;)

great idea though.

Let the jokes begin.

They should add a curtain. And let people in two at a time.

Looks like that time machine I've been building...

This is a really interesting concept and also interested to hear if it really works. I really enjoy water rides but hate walking around all soggy after some of them. Log Flumes are generally ok but avoid rapids rides and chute the chutes because of this. I'd gladly drop $3 if it works well.

So I have to walk around the park wet all day unless I either don't ride water rides or shell out 3 bucks for this thing? That's blackmail.

Looks interesting, but I'll continue to do the cheap thing and just wear a poncho (2 for $1.00 at the dollar store) on rapids rides if I am not at a park with an attached water park.

^^ Geez Vater not everything in a park is free with admission. They sell hot dogs there too for $4. So you have to walk around the park all day hungry unless you shell out the $4 for a dog. Seems like blackmail.!! ??

Apparently I needed to add a winky...

OUCH Vater. It's not the first time something has pretended to be funny at my expense. :)

LOL kpjb!!! I thought the same thing when I saw it. One of my friends was over the other day and was joking that I was building a time machine in my spare time. I think I may have to photoshop this into a picture of my garage and send it to him for a laugh!

Now if this thing could dry out your shoes completely it would be well worth the money spent. I hate walking around in soggy shoes all day, and I don't like wearing flip flops all day either.

rollergator said:
(and maybe get a last shot at the ultra-cool water tunnel on Poseidon's Fury - can't *Believe* that's going away)

When was this decided? That's the high point of the entire show!

I think they got the idea from Lost In Space. I like the idea. Too bad they're not American-made, or it would be a no brainer.

So if parks install these, what happens to the demand for those overpriced rectangles of burlap parks call souvenir towels? $3 to use a dryer vs. $15 for a towel.

Now if this thing could dry out your shoes completely it would be well worth the money spent. I hate walking around in soggy shoes all day, and I don't like wearing flip flops all day either.

Well, you can try these and have the be of both words.

http://chacousa.com/Portal.aspx?CN=002E64D83AF3&MN=0BB282DB738F

Trust me, i bought a pair, and they are so wicked comforable to wear around a park all day.

^^^ Yeah, according to "scapescream" this weekend is the last time they'll be operating the vortex at Poseidon's Fury. Now it will just be a lame show in a spectacularly themed building.

^^ And those Chacos are "sock-friendly" too! I still don't think they'll make over the calf black socks and plaid bermuda shorts look good.

NO sandals are sock friendly! Honestly! ;-)

Naw. I just wear my Chaco's barefoot. As for the sock & sandle thing: NO BLEEPIN' WAY! U-G-L-Y!

I think it might be cool if Chaco had a coaster track design for the straps.

They are the second most comftable pair of shose I own (next to my day-in, day-out Red Wings).

2 things, and a stoopid question-

I saw the haystack dryer at IAAPA and tried it out. I wasn't soaking wet, of course, but the air circulated very powerfully and was very warm. I think it would do the trick. Apparantly they've been all over Europe for quite some time and are very popular.

I tried Poseidon's Fury for the first time that week also, (I'd been to IOA only one other time and it was closed for it's rehab) and I thought it was a great attraction. I went in there not knowing the 1st thing about it, so it all came as a surprise. The guy we had was really funny, the water tunnel was cool as hell, (I guess with this week's news I'm glad I got to see it), and I was completely mystified by the special effects.

So here's my question... How dey do dat? There was blinding flash of light, the room went dark, and when the lights came up the little room we were in had become a huge soundstage for the finale of the show. My friend Jeff (who knows everything) sez the little room is like a cake dome on a stand and during that brief dark spell it raises up into the ceiling of the big room. Ok, I can buy that, but I looked at the ceiling and it's way up there and had accoustic panels with lights or speakers or something in each one. I saw no evidence of a room hiding up there, and there didn't seem to be that kind of time for a transition like that. The little room also "returns" at the end and theres a hallway to exit through and everything. The floor seemed seamless so i ruled out the possibility of a revolving platform. I wanted to go through again to see if I could figure it out, but didn't want to spend the 45- hour just to get through.

So can someone here help me out with this? I'm embarrased to say they fooled me completely!

Incidentally, that week before Thanksgiving was the perfect time to go to the parks down there, the parks were dead empty and the rides were walk-on everywhere. (It was mainly locals and they were bundled up for that 62 deg weather like they were going skiing!) If I rode Spiderman once I rode it 15 times.

Bummer- I missed Cypress Gardens by 1 day. :(