Kings Island new Coaster 2014

I might be persuaded that the B&M flyers are *an extension of the inverts* just because of the way the seats incline....but that argument REALLY stretches credibility with the Vekoma flyers...IMO.

I look at it this way. At some points of the ride, you are hanging below the track, thus Firehawk is a kind of inverted coaster. It's just my opinion, of course.

3 rides where the track is above, 9 circuits where the track is below, and 1 that is half and half. I guess they could use another invert, can't hurt.

I don't get it, RCMAC. Did you "invert" the two different kinds of coasters in your last post?

Track above, not riders.

Thanks Andy. I don't know why I "inverted" the meaning of the post. Duu...

You gave me a start for a second there, Travis. I mean, I wouldn't have put it past me...

And I think now it's 10 with track below. I wasn't counting something. And I don't count Surf Dog.

Surf Dog confuses me. Zamperla calls it a coaster, and Kings Island officially counts it as their 14th coaster. But, I see Coasterbuzz and RCDB don't recognize it as one.

Wicked Twister is a coaster, so why not Surf Dog?

Jeph said:

Kings Island officially counts it as their 14th coaster.

Do they really? Wow.

Wicked Twister is a coaster, so why not Surf Dog?

Been a while since we had a good "What is a coaster?" discussion. (and I was kind enough to spare the link to some decade-old thread)

I had a new thread typed up with basically that question a couple days ago. Don Helbig stated that Kings Island counts Surf Dog as one of their 14 coasters, and it surprised me.

But, right as I was about to submit the thread, I lost power in one of the storms, and my work was lost. I assumed you didn't like the thread. ;-)

"Coasting" typically implies that gravity is the source of acceleration for at least some portion of trackage. Surf Dog never does that.

Although, I must say that I've found the ride highly enjoyable under multiple themes over the years...

Avatar: The Last Airbender was the best theme. That cartoon was amazing! There is a sequel to that show called The Legend of Kora which is equally amazing, and book two (season two) comes out on Nickelodeon this fall. I am very excited!

About the ride, I've always been under the impression that Surf Dog coasts for most of the ride, and it is propelled only at the spot on the track in which the ride vehicle rests during load and unloading.

Then again, if that is correct, I wonder if the ride has ever become stuck at the bottom of the other side of the hill?

I never counted it as a coaster, but thinking about it now, I could consider counting it, if that stuff were important to me. Like Jeph said, Wicked Twister is a coaster, so why not Surf Dog?

And I am with Gator about this being a great ride. It's a can't miss any time I am at Kings Island. It is just plain fun.

Surf Dog is an extended Zamperla Disk-O that they've (mistakenly, IMO) marketed as Disk-O Coaster. The ride is no different than any standard Disk-O which powers up one side of the track and switches direction at the top of the arc. The speed of the disk coming down is sometimes greater than the motor's speed, but technically it's powered all the way. The extended version has a longer track with a hump in it, but (once again IMO) a hump in the track does not a coaster make. It still powers the whole way until enough momentum is gained to send it thru the cycle.
In their order Kings Island replaced the standard disk with a boat with inward facing seats to lower the minimum height requirement so more kids could ride. I think they took the misguided cue from Zamperla and labeled it a coaster, when actually what they have is a really nice family flat.

I just checked quickly to make sure I hadn't included the ride in my list (that would be embarrassing) and I hadn't. Our friends at CoasterBuzz apparently don't count it either, as it's not even listed here. I'll have to look to see how parks like CaGA classify theirs.

Now, I see where an actual Disk-O coaster with a complete circuit would be a great concept. Put a standard round carriage on a track, send it up a small lift then let it coast back to the station thru a series of small hills and wide spirals, spinning all the while. The power source under the carriage could be replaced with a chassis that is articulated to make wide turns. It wouldn't have to be long or fast, and the spinning would make it a different experience from ride to ride.

Travis, I did see once from the top of the Eiffel Tower that Surf Dog had valleyed at the other end. I never walked over there to check it out or ask. I would think it hadn't actually gotten stuck as it can power its way back anyway, right? Maybe they just stopped it there to work on the station platform or something. Or maybe the power was out.

It's not a coaster. Not even close.

Yeah, many people don't even count powered kiddie coasters. Though of all the people I know who do count powered kiddie coasters, none of them count disc-o rides of any type.

As I recall, the park was claiming it was a coaster when it was announced and then changed their mind after getting some razzing from enthusiasts. It's similar to when Six Flags Over Texas was claiming The New Texas Giant was still a wooden coaster and was breaking all kinds of records.

After that they stared calling it the first ever hybrid. That's still inaccurate. But, at least they've acknowledged it's a steel coaster.

Funny that most DO count the Intamin half-pipe...which does in fact coast, but by outward appearances looks eerily similar to a Mega-Disk'O.

Not sure you can define it.

You see a ride and you know it's a coaster.

Anybody know how far out the footers have gone for the 2014 attraction?

A friend of mine posted a few photos on her Facebook from a visit a few days ago. I'll ask her if I can repost them here...

Okay, I got permission to post my friend Kristina's photo. I was taken last Monday, July 1. She and her awesome sons are big fans of coasters, and Kings Island. I appreciate her allowing me to post it.

It looks like there are a few extra footers in place and the work is expanding out behind Adventure Express.