How does Volcano Blast compare to B&M inverts?

Volcano Blast is the only Intamin Invert in the USA. I was wondering (haven't rode it myself) how it compares to B&M inverts?

Other than the launch and 1st hill, the ride is rather mediocre. The launch is insane, I love the boost after the huge turnaround. The 1st element is very unique and pulls loads of g's. But after that it gets kinda boring. Not to mention, it's got the most horrid capacity on any coaster I've ever seen! The barrel rolls are alright, but it gets repetitive. Then theres the biggest dissapointment of all, a 70+ foot dive into the BRAKES!

I remember when I rode it the year it opened, I thought it was somewhat rough through the barrel rolls. This year it didn't seem as bad, but that might have something to do with the fact that I had dropped about 45 pounds at the time (75 to date!).

The launch is definately the best part, but the most disappointing thing is the length of the ride. The capacity is absolutely rediculous, but I don't think it is the ride's fault as much as it is the fault of the crew. PKD has some of the most unenthusiastic ride ops I've ever seen.

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http://www.eastcoaster.com

I think that Volcano is somewhat boring. Obviously, the best place to sit is the front. After the boost straight up, it's just nothing. Being a fan of hills, I find that Volcano just isn't worth waiting very long for.

Volcano is by far a very unique ride, but i dont think it compares to B&M inverts. The launch is by far the best part, and the heartline spins are fun. The only reason i like it is for its maintained speed after the launch. But basicaly, to break the ride down, its quite boring and not worth more than a 45 min wait. If you havent ridden, i dont suggest waiting any longer, since its quite likely you will be dissapointed.

And, compared to B&M inverts, its really not a comparison because both are very different.

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#1-MF #2-Apollo's Chariot #3-S:RoS

Coasters Ridden: 42

Compared to a B&M Invert - it doesn't even come close. The launch is awesome, like everyone else had already said but the wait is horrid. Not much else to say.

They don't even compare IMO. Volcano is an excellent ride. The first and especially the 2nd launch are awesome, and the rolls are not bad. I actually like Volcano's barrel rolls because it's feels like you are going in slow motion, they are not as quick as most B&M's.

B&M's and Intamin's have different feels to them, both with excellent elements that makes each one unique, so I love them both.

Volcano happens to be one of my favorites. :-)

-Tina

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Feel The Adrenaline....
www.intenserides.com

I think it's easier to compare the european Intamin SLC as they are more normal inverters. I have ridden booth Tornadoes and Nemesis but I can't really compare them anyway. They're all unique in their own way.

Nemesis has it's intensity and theming close to the ride. Tornado (Fi) has the two zero-g-roll which are great but the ride is pretty short. But it has some intense elements and also very very smooth. Tornado in Spain was more rough but not so you got any headbanging if you are holding on the restraints. The coaster was pretty good with some footchooper, great ending, and nice loops.

I also really liked Volcano...(those re-rides on the last trip didn't hurt my opinion at all). The *shortcomings* IMO were that all the inversions were the same (i.e., not enough variety) and that the theming could have been AWESOME with a little extra work. V:TBC is one of *those* rides....GD&T would have turned that sucker into a world-class ride at very little additional cost...;). Those who say you'd speed past the theming without noticing apparently failed to ride (or notice) how well it worked on those *other coasters* down the road at BGW (namely, BBW and Alpie). But I do love that hang-time in the barrel rolls...:)

The B&M inverts obviously don't have the LAUNCH power, and the four-across seating means half the riders don't get a good view, but DO sport a nice variety of elements. As far as smoothness, I'd say they're about equal. But, the uniqueness of Volcano (launch and layout) DOES give it a slight advantage over *most* B&M inverts, at least in my book....

I'd take a B&M invert by far. Volcano was perhaps the most disappointing coaster I've rode. Not that it was bad it is just that I expected so much. The ride was great until you left the Volcano, and then it was so boring. It is just the same thing over and over. My wife loved the slow barrell rolls, and I thought the first one was OK, but why does Intamin use them so extensively. Their new sit-down Collosus uses 5 rolls out of its ten inversions. The only twist I have found to be an exhilarating inversion are the camelback twists.

Why do you use the same drops over and over on out and back layouts, it seems so boooring,,,, seriously that's what you're saying about using some kind of an element over and over again. Still rides like Shivering Timbers or simular rides are rated high on many peoples lists. I think we should quit the bashing of Intamin using zero-g-rolls as they're one of the best elements I've ridden.

If I had to chose between Volcano and Alpengeist, I would go with Volcano. The launch, turn-around, 2nd launch, and blast out the top is just amazing! I must admit that after that it's boring.

Boring my ass. Sorry but you get some great visuals as you fly above the volcano doing zero-g rolls that you literally float through. The launch is great along with the turn. The vertical shot out the vocano is indescribable.

Why havn't any more of these been built in the U.S.?

They definetly should. The fact that the volcano was already there helped alot though ;)

Let's just say this. I've been on nearly 50 coasters and I have yet to find anything that compares to Volcano. Nothing has ever blown me away as much as that first launch, second launch into the mountain, incredible Sidewinder through the mountain and out the top, powerful last dive... Without a doubt, Volcano ranks #1 on my list.

B&Ms, on the other hand, are too much of the same for me. The forces are pretty much completely consistant throughout the rides, not enough variation, and you don't really even feel the track. I love the feeling of the track under the wheels when you're riding a coaster, and Intamins provide that along with powerful blasts of forces.

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~ Blast Coaster | www.COASTER-net.com | BlastCoaster@coaster-net.com

I found Volcano really an enjoyable ride. The launch is incredible. In the back seat you are just coming out of the station, and Wham 45mph! The 2nd launch is a nice added feature, and the inversion out of the top is the icing (or should I say lava.) :) The heartline rolls are just like Wicked Twister only horizontal, and the hangtime in them are absolutely fabulous. The only thing is after the drop back in the Volcano I was left with the feeling that the ride could have been more. It could have been longer, and maybe a few more inversions. Still a good ride. The front is way to go on that ride.

A lot different from a B&M, so I wouldn't even bother comparing the two except for your feet hanging. Both are great for different experiences. I'd like to see a park build a longer Intamin model.

Volcano really seems to get shot down by a fair many folk here on CBuzz. Admittedly, it isn't as good as any B&M invert I've been on, but I can say that the two experiences are so different I've never even thought to compare them. Volcano's lengthened barrel rolls (or "heartline rolls") have much more hang time than B&M's zero-G rolls, and as a result of which, feel totally different. Also, Volcano's barrel rolls are pretty much approached at a level "angle," unlike B&M's, which are situated at the top of a parabolic curve. The movement on the Intamin coaster feels much more programmed and artificial; on a B&M, the barrel roll feels like it was just meant to be there.

Not to say, of course, that the Intamin coaster sucks, which it doesn't - by far, it's vertical launch into an inverted loop is one of the more impressive coaster elements I've ever experienced. This intriguing element is just one more unique coaster manipulation to add to their already impressive arsenal. Can you say the same thing about B&M? Maybe not: Many have argued that their elements have been cookie-cutted, pasted, and rearranged in just about every order known to man and computer, with only the buyer (i.e., the park) giving these coasters their own personal "stamp" with interesting themes, paint jobs, and names.

So, go ride Volcano. It alone is worth the trip to the Dominion.

*** This post was edited by ophthodoc on 1/4/2003. ***

Volcano is one of my favourite coasters. I love the crawl round the corner out of the station followed by the first set of LIMS. And of course the second burst of speed back into the volcano and vertical launch out into the first inversion. Then there's the great hangtime in all the inversions. In some seats, there's a sublime momentary pause of hangtime upside down in the first inversion, way up in the air. I also didn't find the ride too short, only the really short rides leave me wanting them to have done more.

I like the fact it does something different and is unique and the fact that Intamin seemingly took a few risks and pushed the boundaries by building it. I also love the way it looks and sounds! For me, it's an underrated one.

*** This post was edited by Mr Rush on 1/4/2003. ***

Aren't the impulses inverted. Anyway, I like it more than Batman and a couple others. Coming out of teh volcano, the launch, the second launch and the twists are amazing.