MBP's Rainbow is INSANE! Quick update on MBP.

I just got back from a short trip to the Myrtle Beach Pavilion, and I felt I should share with you guys some of the things I noticed so you can take advantage of them. I don't think this qualifies as a Trip Report as I am just trying to get the word out that there are some good things happening here.

With the Hurricane and Top Spin (my two favorite rides in the park) closed for maintenence, I had plenty of time to ride the other flat rides. Here is what I noticed...

HOLY CRAP THEY ARE RUNNING THEIR FLAT RIDES FAST THIS YEAR!

I have been coming to the Pavilion every year for probably 10 years now, and I have NEVER felt anything like I did on a few of the rides last night.

First off... all of you who can need to get on the Rainbow before they change the program. It was the most insane experience I have ever had in all my years of riding rides. In years past, this ride has run a fun program, but nothing crazy. This year... that has changed.

I noticed upon getting in line that they were only filling half the seats for each load, and that the ride was running noticeably faster, and the motor much louder as a result. I'm guessing that the half-loaded ride allowed it to run in this "insane" mode.

After the first 2 rotations, this baby picks up some massive speed. I personally am extremely glad they added seatbelts to this ride last year because it allows a more intense experience and single-riders. At the top of each swing, not only was I experiencing airtime, I was experiencing EJECTOR air that was throwing me into the metal bar. Probably 10 rotations in a row, this thing was absolutely kicking my arse (a very very long cycle). I had to buckle the seatbelts in the rows beside me because they were flying up and hitting me in the head! The grating on the front of the ride was being thrown up and over with each rotation, and seeing all of my fellow riders being launched into the air was an intense experience. You guys need to come ride this thing NOW, it will change your opinion of a ride that is normally run at boring speeds in the large theme park chains. The rediculous air combined with the perfect view of the MB strip and Atlantic Ocean make this an AMAZING ride. This program probably won't be in place very long, because even with a half-loaded car I'm sure this thing is going to cause a problem for maintenence (which unfortunately isn't very good at MBP).

Wipeout (with newly added seatbelts that painfully cut into your side) and Calypso were also both running at crazy speeds, with lateral forces to match. Once again, this is the first time in 10 years that either one of these rides has been this great.

The new interactive dark ride (ala Scooby Doo at Carowinds) is also very nice. I'm pretty sure it was bought from Broadway by the Beach, but it looks very nice in its new home.

Sadly, Starship 2000 was removed from the park this year, but that's not too surprising after the incident in Florida.

While the park is looking a little run-down, and maintenence is lacking (Hurricane AND Top Spin down on my last 2 visits), they are running their rides on awesome programs this year, and the employees were very nice. Hopefully MBP can remain in operation for many years to come, because it truly is a part of the beach's history.

Depending on the time of year, if the park is in a less busy time, they will run that Rainbow in INSANE mode. I experienced that in Sept. of last year. It was really running well, we did at least 6 or more rotations each way.

Where is the new dark ride? They didn't do anything to the Haunted Hotel, did they? Is it where the Gravitron was?

Can't wait to get back down there this year for Swampy and the Rainbow.

Tek - IIRC the new Sally dark ride is on the south side of the park across from the Arrow Mouse and top Spin and up against the Hurricane.

Cool. So was it Pirate themed? Then it most likely was the one from Broadway, also owned by B&C.

With a new ride in the park, I'd say they're planning on being open for at least another year, I hope...

That's cool. I had no idea that B&C moved the former Treasure Hunt to the Pavillion. So I take it that Pirates of Carolinas is no longer over at Broadway? I find it interesting that not many Sally rides exist anymore (at least in North America) outside of a park as a stand alone attraction. I believe that the Den of Lost Thieves recently closed at Wildwood. Now Treasure Hunt has been closed and moved. I think that Ghostblasters up in Niagara Falls and the new Davy Crockett's Tall Tales Interactive Outpost in San Antonio are the only two left. We recently checked out the Davy Crockett ride and with how much they were charging ($15 for a ride) I don't know how much longer that will be open.

Most insane Rainbow I've ever ridden too! It was just like you said about the EJECTOR air when I went during Memorial Day weekend. I really enjoyed myself at MBP...reminded me a bit of MSAP before we lost it forever.

I have fond memories of riding that Rainbow at the Pavillion, as well as some of the other rides such as the Corkscrew coaster. Unfortunately, I haven't been down that direction since my parents took us on vacations there. They still go, but without the kids. I'm still kicking myself for never having ridden Swamp Fox.

Anyways, the first Rainbow I can remember seeing was at Hersheypark in 1984 on my eight-grade class trip. We were watching it cycle and when it came to the end of the ride, a young woman puked all over the place. It was then that I knew I just had to ride it! Of course they rinsed it off and spin-dryed it first. I don't know what year they did it, but at some point they converted it into the facing inwards Conestoga which had some amazing airtime and strong g-forces. Sadly, that ride has left the park for another home:(

I don't know of another park locally that has a Rainbow. There are the knock-offs like the Joker that used to be at Dorney Park until Hydra was put in (does anyone know where Joker was sent to, if at all?), and the Chance-made Falling Star which can be found at SFA and other parks.

The only rainbow I have ever seen operate was the one at Great Escape. And be cautious, because the three years I live in upstate NY it never operated, it was not until the 4 1/2 hour drive up last summer that we got got to ride it. Nice ride, but not too impressive of a cycle, not at all what I expected from a Huss ride.

I had this experience a while ago when PNE kept their rainbow. It was early June, so the park was half empty, and on the rainbow, there was wicked, wicked ejector air. There were no seatbelts, so every rotation i would float way out of my seat and smash into the side of the seat (or my friend, which was also very fun) on the way down. Those things are insane!

The one at MBP did used to run this way, but I noticed it last year. Some older gent was running the ride, the park was empty (Sept. after Labor Day), and he was letting people stay on if they wanted too. It was an amazing exp. and I only hope I get to do it again this year. The Rainbow has always been one of my favorite flats, I remember when they got it.

Even my mom will ride it.

Yea, they didn't run their Rainbow like this until this year. This is one ride where the seatbelts were added for a GOOD reason, as I can stand up and easily get out of the bar restraints and I'm 17 years old, 145 pounds, and 6'2." I saw many children just standing up after the ride had ended, but the bars hadn't been opened yet.

The ride experience was insane, slamming back and forth between the two seats and flying into the bar, legs flailing in the air. It was only running in one direction, which gave it an extremely long cycle of nothing but insanity!

I just wish the maintenence staff could keep all of the rides running reliably. The Hurricane and Top Spin (which had no seats in sight) didn't run all week, and the Mad Mouse only ran for short parts of each day. *** Edited 6/10/2005 9:09:50 PM UTC by RollrCoastrCrazy***

Actually, they were running it insane at the end of last year, which was when I was last on it (Sept.). I mentioned it in the TR I wrote. Whether it is just during the outta season times, or if it is the way they run it all the time now, I dunno. But I can't wait till next time I get a chance. I'll marathon this year for sure.

Recently been on Bumper Cars at GL and a Wave Swinger at V-Land that were run in INSANE mode....it's always nice to get on a Top Spin that's run well,if only King Kahuna weren't SO darned soak-y...;)

Would be nice if parks were more willing to *kick it up a notch* and really give good cycles on "thrill" flats, nothing more disappointing than getting off a ride with all promise and no delivery...

Isn't someone picking up one of those yummy Huss Jump2 thingies? That immediately joined the KMG Afterburner and Hexentanz on top of my list of "most favored flats"...:) PCW is the park to get to for unique flats - Mondial RULZ!!1!

But back to MBP and the Rainbow, almost ANY flat has the *potential* to be great...it's generally up to the parks as to how they're operated.

I went to MBP last year and did the rainbow and was less than amused, it was like most Rainbows I've done. I did ride the Hurricane about 20+ times, I forget the exact number. Yeah, it was definitely a back breaking experience, but there was no line!

The best Rainbow I've ever rode was at Clementon Park in Southern NJ, it was AWESOME. Definitely came out of my seat many times. My dad isn't a big ride person and I put him on it. He thought it was crazy. I didn't know it did that until we both got on it, otherwise I wouldn't have made him go on. Come to think of it, they also had the best Chaos I've ever been on. Go Clementon!

All I can say is that this thing was a religious experience. Sitting in the back row, and watching everyone and thing (seatbelts) in the front rows launch upward and fly over to the left at the top of each rotation was amazing.

I love a good flat that will show you who's boss.

Esp. with those views of the Atlantic right in front of you, and Ripley's Museum looking like it is just about ready to smack you like a red headed step child? I love that thing when it is running full blast.