Lightning Rod Officially Getting the Chain Lift Treament

PhantomTails:

Remember that this was the first (and only) coaster to have a launch manufactured by Velocity Magnetics.

Yeah, I feel like this is the real root cause here.

In the video, the guy states the chain lift will be 13mph. For reference, that is the same speed as Millennium Force’s elevator lift system.

I can't believe it has been 5 years since I rode it. I watched a POV to refresh my memory of the lift hill. I can't believe how fast it flies up the hill. My first thought was that is much faster than 13 mph and there is no way a chain is going to be able to match that. Then I noticed how much it slows down prior to cresting the hill. I do think a chain will be able to match the speed at which the train previously went over the hill.

Same speed at the top, but slower up the lift overall.

Which increases ride time and reduces capacity.

Sucks.

(just trying to get in on the ground floor for once)

Lord Gonchar:

Which increases ride time and reduces capacity.

I'll see your increased ride time, but raise you reduced downtime. Capacity up. Mic dropped.

(It will be funny if the thing still ends up being unreliable.)

Lightning Rod with less capacity > RRR

Lord Gonchar:

(just trying to get in on the ground floor for once)

I think the fact that this isn't a new ride successfully distracted everyone's attention to complain about the ride experience instead of CAPACITY. Good call, thanks for getting our focus back to the real issue.

Good thing the ride was only 60 seconds long to begin with...

Brian Noble:
I'll see your increased ride time, but raise you reduced downtime. Capacity up. Mic dropped.

One better. Longer ride. Less time waiting stacked to re-enter the station afterwards.

Capacity of Lightning Rod right now is terrible- single train operations with 24 riders per train. A slightly shorter ride cycle will not matter with two train operation. My guess is that when the ride reopens in 2024, capacity will be increased.

They did try to run two trains when I was last there in May--not particularly successfully but they tried.

LostKause:

My guess is that when the ride reopens in 2024, capacity will be increased.

And there was much rejoicing.

But then along came the Gonch that stole capacity with his Premium Dollywood Timesaver pass and he skipped the line repeatedly causing great sadness among the denizens of the stand-by line.

I'm going to need a milk carton and blankie to finish this story.

I almost mentioned that, but I deleted that part of my previous post. I have no doubt that some of you think that promoting cutting in line would be a much profitable option than spending all that money trying to improve capacity and the rides reliability.

If some of you ran an amusement park, it would be a terrible experience.

LostKause:

promoting cutting in line would be a much profitable option than spending all that money trying to improve capacity and the rides reliability.

But what if the earnings from Gonch's scourging of the standby line peasants are the reason you afford the upgrades to the ride?

Also, that's how Dolly runs her park. Take it up with her.

If I ran a park, it'd be an amazing experience that was priced as such at the gate.

Therefore, enthusiasts would bitch constantly about the cost and post online about how the pricing would put me out of business and I was terrible.

Then they'd show up and pay the price because they want the credits...and my park is awesome.

Mr. Gonch Disney.

Freeze my head when I die.

"How the Gonch Stole Coastermas."

Maybe he will install an impulse and call it the slider.

At least we won’t have to worry about seatbelts. That should help capacity a bit.

Not until there is a peer reviewed study showing that is the proper course of action for Gonch World. Gonchland? Gonch Point? Gonch Gardens?