Hulk's launch a surprise?

Does Hulk give away its launch before you get launched or can you actually not know until you're out the accelerator? I ask because I'm taking some friends who have no idea about the coaster and have never been launched, and I'm wondering if it'll spoil a surprise to tell them about the launch.

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The legend lives!

Rent "The House on Haunted Hill". :) Your friends will think you are going up the lift (in a tunnel) because that's what it does for a second...then it just launches you all of the sudden, so yes, it is a surprise. You see it flying out of the tunnel from ground level, of course...but if you aren't familiar with it's design, they may just think it's in the middle of the ride or something.

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-Eric
LoCoSuMo! originated by Mamoosh.

Even though I have not been there, I can almost guarantee that at least half of Hulk's riders are surprised by the launch. People (the GP, if you will) tent to not pay attention to things... like seeing a coaster shoot out of an inclined tunnel from the outside, and remember that by the time they have gotten on the ride.

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Nothing... NOTHING... can prepare you for... the Fourth Dimension!

When I first rode it I knew it was coming and was suprised by it.

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Bob Hansen

Marquette a five seed? They were robbed!!!

I was surprised it went up the lift slowly for quite a while until it launched.

Oh and I forgot, sit in back. You get more launch time that way and a nice pop of air in several places.

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Bob Hansen

Marquette a five seed? They were robbed!!!

Yep, it's a surprise. No where do you see it being launched. Except, if you are riding it, of course.

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Bolt Yourself In

It kind of isn't a suprise when the guy says "oh no" then you launch

I rode it back in 2000 and It caught everyone by suprise, in fact its the reason I surf coasterbuzz, when I got back I tried finding info on coaster and I came across this site and Ive been stuck here ever since so thanks Hulk.

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Army Rangers lead the way

...nice to see some love for the Big Green Guy. I will readily admit his "back-end" is kinda lacking, but from launch tunnel to MCBR, he really rocks! I was caught *off-guard* (actually, I'm a natural point, but I won't go too deep into hoops here..) the first time not by the launch itself, but more by the power. Since then, I have enjoyed Hulk many times, moreso when he's nice and smoooooth. Hulk is a coaster that actually proves B&M can, and WILL build an "intense" ride. The angry swarm of bees contrasts 100% with the "library" that is the line under Talon - but both are cool. More recently, I believe strongly that the launch was "tweaked" to launch a bit earlier in the tunnel, perhaps with a bit more power. Of course, noone is able to verify/disprove these "charges"...

Back to your question...NO WAY! If they don't notice the launch on their own, let Hulk *Smash* their expectations....

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It must be March, the Madness is setting in (taking vacation time to watch NCAAs instead of coasting)!
We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams...

*** This post was edited by rollergator on 3/12/2002. ***

I was really surprised at just how good the ride was. I had even seen full POV video of it and never knew that the first inversion was a 0g roll. I just thought it was a corkscrew or a kind of a dive loop but wow, Weightlessness :)

I found the second half to be a little tame compared to the first half but the unique inversions and layout make this one of my highly ranked B&M's, Im not a big Beemer fan but the Flordia Beemers are great IMHO.

Chuck, who may take that trip every week after new years :)

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Charles Nungester
167 coasters and hopes to be over 200 by the end of 2002 :)

If you are surprised about Hulk's launch, one (or more) of the following must be true:

1. You have been living in a cave for four years.

2. You are a non-enthusiast.

3. You have bilateral cataracts.

4. You are a moron.

5. See #4.

In an effort to remain as non-sarcastic as possible (Me? Not sarcastic? No! [aww, damn it!] ), the surprise of the Hulk launch will remain intact so long as your friends don't notice that the train is coming out of the tunnel at a pretty high speed.

Now, when you're actually ON the ride, you start going up the lift slowly, so you really don't tell that the launch is coming. Of course, as pointed out before, the background soundtrack does feature Bruce Banner screaming, "No! No!! No!!!" so that's kind of a giveaway.

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The Luv Monkey has spoken...
Track Record: 29 and counting...
"F*** this f***ing world. I love everybody."

When I rode back in 2000 it (unfortunately) wasn't a surprise for me, but was to everybody else in my family (mom, dad, little brother). I found it absolutely hilarious. Also while waiting line I could tell most of the peeps there had no idea. It was great..