Kraken: Little known?

As I've been reading all the posts here for a while, I have noticed that nobody ever seems to mention Kraken, a great ride that is one of my favorites. I wondered if this is because it is at Sea World Orlando and thus flies under the radar; or if it's just not liked by many people? I would find the latter hard to believe, since I found it to be one of the most enjoyable rides I've ever been on, and better than anything at Cedar Point other than MF and possibly TTD (and I love Cedar Point!). I wore my Kraken shirt to CP last year and a ride op at the MF even saw my shirt and made a big point of saying how awesome a ride it was. It was my first floorless coaster, and since then I have now rode Medusa at SFGAdv, and also Superman: Krypton Coaster at SF Fiesta Texas. While both of those were great coasters, neither my wife nor I felt they were better than Kraken. So I was just wondering how many people here even knew about it, or if they've rode it, what they thought about the ride. If you haven't rode it, it's worth the trip to Sea World Orlando. It's one of the best!

nah i think it's crap

i was joking by the way

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Colossus [1]
Nemesis: Inferno [6]

actually when anybody mentions Kraken they rank it as one of the best floorless' around.

Probablt since it is at Sea World there are not a lot of peole going there. It looks like great ride though. There is a lot known though.

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-Sean Newman
*** This post was edited by SFgadvMAN 5/18/2003 4:03:12 PM ***

Most people who go to Sea World aren't going for just 1 coaster. They go for mainly the other stuff. Most of the people that are there are kids (that dont seem to ride coasters).

As for the ride itself, it looks like a great ride and it is probably a great florrless coaster especialy cause of the first drop. Most others have twisting drops but Kraken has a normal that I think is more intense and fun.

*** This post was edited by SFGAMan 5/18/2003 4:27:52 PM ***

It is true that most people who go there aren't going for just one ride. I happened to be down there for a week on my honeymoon, and purchased a package deal that included both Universal Studios parks, and Busch Gardens Tampa, as well as Sea World. If it were not for that package deal, I doubt I would have gone to Sea World at all. As it was, we were just there for a few hours in the evening, and didn't do much other than ride Kraken 4 times and also Journey to Atlantis. But I was very glad to have gone, as that was an awesome coaster. I agree that the first drop is probably what helps to make it so great. It is really intense down that and through the first loop, and that great start just contributes to the rest of the ride being so good. Plus, it seems smoother than Medusa. It's too bad that it's not at a better theme park where more people can enjoy it. BTW, Journey to Atlantis was a pretty good water ride too. It was definitely better than Escape from Pompeii at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
*** This post was edited by DILinator 5/18/2003 4:45:16 PM ***

I have been wondering.... Can anyone who has ridden on Batman: The Dark Knight at SF:NE and any of these other floorless coasters tell me how BtDK compares to the others? Also, how S:RoS rates compared to other coasters like it. I'm trying to decide if I should figure out how to make a trip over to SF:NE this year. Thanks!
*** This post was edited by DILinator 5/18/2003 4:52:38 PM ***

Definitely go to SFNE. Not for B: TDK but for S: RoS. B:TDK is short and nothing that special but it is just a bonus with S:RoS. S:RoS for me is behind Millennium and TTD. It is great though!

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-Sean Newman

Definitely sounds like a place I should go! Thanks!

I think Kraken is pretty well known. If I had to guess why it doesn't get much 'buzz', it would be because there isn't much else (ride-wise) at the park. However, whenever there is a topic about coasters in Florida, Kraken always gets its far mention. I mean, I think most people agree that it has one of, if not the best, zero-g roll out there.

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The Other Siebert

Yes - there was a topic, around here, I think - "What coaster element would you want to do backwards?"

Kraken's 0g Roll got lots of mention - and for a good reason. That thing rules, as does Kraken.

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« adix@nedesigns.com »

I wasn't saying it was never mentioned, just that it seemed to never get mentioned, at least not much. But obviously I just hadn't seen all the times that you have mentioned here. Regardless, it's good to see that it is well known, and that it does get high marks from other coaster enthusiasts. That is basicaly what I was getting at with this post, trying to see what others thought and if they agreed that it was indeed one of the best coasters out there. That 0 g roll is indeed, along with the straight first drop and loop, what probably sets this coaster apart from so many others. It is a very awesome ride!

Isn't the first half of Kraken (up to the Cobra Roll) identical to Medusa West? If so what makes the first drop, loop and zero g-roll better?

Anyway, I actually think Kraken is the best floorless, but more for the 2nd half than the first (I love the subterranean dives). S:KC has the best first drop and loop.

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Coaster Grotto - Save your Top 20 Coasters and Track Record Online!

I was just wondering, does anyone have an overview photo of Kraken? I'd really like to see the layout after the midcourse.

I bet rcdb.com has some.

Also, as long as we're talkin about a coaster that doesnt get much recognition, all i can say is: KATUN

Now there's a great ride that not many people know about

RCDB.com just has some parts of it, not a general overview.

Just checked out KATUN at rcdb, and that thing looks cool!

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Mike T.
RCT2 Wizards-Medusa99
I support our troops!

Hey guys, being an employee of the best rollercoaster in orlando (or should I say Florida) it's nice to see that someone finally brings up the fact that Kraken is not mentioned very little as a great coaster. The thing is amazing in almost everyone even though some of the elements are exact to every other B&M sit down looper/floorless....what makes Kraken unique is the fact of where it is located and just how it seems to fit at the park. The ride is silent so as not to disturb the animals and even when the ride is in full cycle you can still hear the sea lions next door. I have been on the SF Medussa's, and also on Batman Knight Flight and even though the drop on BKF is amazing Kraken takes the cake in my book as the best floorless ever kreated.

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If you don't know a thing about rollercoasters, don't stand in line in front of me and act like you do!

Jamin

-Kraken Krew '03
-Dueling Dragons '02
-Millennium Force '01
-Bluestreak '00

Awww. I've been dropping Kraken props for ages. I seriously rank it up there with S:ROS, Millennium Force and Boulder Dash. It's easily the best B&M creation.

As for pics of the back half, you really can't get a decent pic as most is underground or below ground level. After the midcourse, you take a great floaty drop, do a vertical loop that is about 50% below ground level, back up and right back down again under the Kraken, turn 180 degrees, pop back out from the ground into a flat spin then hit the end brakes.

I got some nice Kraken pics at my site if you're interested.

With each passing year, I see more and more people discovering the best coaster in Florida. The zero-g roll alone is worth the Sea World admission price.

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www.coasterimage.com
Dorney Park Visits in 2003: 4