Missing supports on Kraken?

Look under the drop in this pic; http://americacoasters.com/Photos/SWO/05.htm Maybe it's for stairs, why would that be? Had another look, the turnaround after the C.Roll has them as well. Sure would hate for new coasters to get a full walkaway next to them like in Japan.

Any others the same?

The netting under the Z.G Roll looks recent. Oh come on, it's not as if someone will fall out. Are they really that scared of a coin hitting a worker or truck? Ok, a camera is more serious, but it doesn't get any bigger than that right? :)

Btw, awesome pics Jeff! Kraken looks brilliant, wish I got to ride it when I was in Orlando, January 2000. Only the lift hill had been built at the time :(. Sure took them a long time to finish it if it opened in June that year.

They should have named it 'Chemical Plant.' ;)

You missed out. It's easily the best coaster in Florida. I rank it right behind MF at #2. It's awesome. They always run at least 2 trains, also(unlike BGT). The net does look recent. I went in June and don't remember seeing it.

Maybe next time.

While it is a pretty good ride, I don't think it's the best in Florida. And "always" isn't how I'd describe two-train operation, as I had an unnecessarily long wait (20 minutes) because of single-train operation. I do think the crazy supports over the road are pretty interesting though.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"Let's stop saying 'don't quote me,' because if no one quotes you, you probably haven't said a thing worth saying." - Dogma, KMFDM

Add my vote to the "best in Florida" column. Heck it may be my overall favorite and I certainly rank it up there with MF and S:ROS (two of my other favorites).

Yes, the netting is fairly recent, I believe. The last time I was at Sea World was last Halloween and I don't seem to remember it being there then.

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www.coasterimage.com
Dorney Park visits in 2002: 17

I dunno, Kumba is my all-time favourite coaster. It is more settled in - landscaping, track etc than Kraken. Some people said Kraken is too smooth & quiet. Yeah, will have to ride it next time & compare the two.

Ugh...Kraken felt like a watered-down version of Kumba to me. Give me Kumba or Fire Dragon any day and I'll leave Kraken and Hulk for the masses to wait for.

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James Draeger
-Proud co-founder of the Coasterbuzz street team

One train op when I was at Sea World back in February. What should have been a near walk on was about 20 minutes.

(Complain. Complain. Don't you know the best part of a park is waiting in line. If a park had a line ride, that's all I'd do all day. You're not a true enthusiast.)

I'm with Draegs on this one, guys. Kraken is cool, and looks simply BEAUTIFUL...esp. on a day right after our "daily t-storms"...sun glistening on the steel...awesome to behold...

But then again, I like to RIDE...so I'll say once again that the "spread layout" means less of the amazing B&M twisting, turning, positive g-force track that I personally find so enjoyable...Fire Dragon, IMO has the most interesting layout of any coaster in FL....not the same tired layout I see on so many other Beemers.....one of the things I loved about Great Bear, too....Kumba's zero-g roll, back row, is simply the most intense moment on any Beemer built pre-Pretzel....

Back to the topic at hand - I don't know what those protruding things are under the track but I can comment on the netting: its not to catch people falling out, its to catch items dropped from riders from hitting a person or vehicle on the roadway below.

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"Mmmmm....forbidden donut!" - Homer Simpson

While we are on the subject of Kraken, here is a question thats been bugging me for ages - Am I right in saying that Kraken's Original Layout was changed at the last minute, I was positive that Sea World wanted the layout to go over the lake, but B&M Refused to do it because of safety fears or something, and so they redesigned it to go to the side of the Lake instead, Now I've heard this from a few people, but there are others who seem to say this is not true, so who is telling the truth, Was the Layout changed or not???

Anyway, the supports for the turnaround are pretty interesting, I also believe that Silverstar has a few supports like this because the Coaster travels over a main road that leads into the Car Park.

Also, I think I agree with others that even though Kraken is a good coaster, I dont consider it the best coaster in Florida, I probably put it at Number 2 just behind Fire Dragon at IOA, thats my Opinion anyway

I noticed similar "extenstions" on the final helix of Batman Knight Flight, which is right over the lake. My best guess would be that it has something to do with how the track was installed, or an underside catwalk... one of the two. Here are two pictures of BKF for you to examine:

BKF Helix BKF Helix (Again)

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Jes
Jes's Roller Coasters DJ Jes
Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure 2002 Ride-Ops Crew (Have Fun Trying To Find Me!)

Taipan -

That netting under the 0-G roll isn't because they are afraid people will be thrown out of the ride at that part.

That netting is to prevent any loose articles that the riders may carry from dropping into the pavement below which would/could cause injury/damage to anybody or to a vehicle.

I think he knows that...

Though, having been hit in the face by coins on both Raging Bull and Magnum (though, on the ride both times), I can tell you it hurts A LOT, especially if it gets you in the wrong place. I couldn't (and wouldn't want to) imagine getting hit from a coin falling from 80 feet up there.

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"Well, I'm sure I'd feel much worse if I weren't under such heavy sedation." - David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
http://www.loopscrew.com

the thrill said:

You missed out. It's easily the best coaster in Florida. I rank it right behind MF at #2.

Anyone that says Kraken ranks better than the Incredible Hulk needs to make a trip to IOA and ride the Hulk again.

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Current Top 4 Coasters:
1)Incredible Hulk
2)Millenium Force
3)Nitro
4)Kraken

Wow that is a really cool pic of Kraken!! I love the sure sleekness of how a B&M coaster flows in pics!

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If practice makes perfect but noone is perfect, then why practice.

There are like 7 support connectors under Mantis' last turn towards the station that have no purpose and wondered what they are there for. I don't have a picture though.

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LocoBazooka--Sevendust, Nonpoint, Stereo Vent, Mushroomhead
Korn Tour (With no name)--Korn, Puddle of Mudd, Deadsy

To: the thrill, you've been on DBH....was it recently....I'll give *props* to all the steelies mentioned in this thread (well, 'cept RB and the most recent spins on "Preying Mantis", LOL)...but the "BEST coaster in FL" isn't even made of steel, it's the way that "thing" at Boomers has run on the few more recent trips down South (after the rains, hot and humid and the tracks a little wet).....10 bucks, all I can ride, NO lines! Sure....sign me up....

Rollegator,

Yes, I think DBH is the best wood in Florida by far and I have ridden it recently. It has shaved off many seconds since it opened and it is very noticeable. A great coaster! I'm always up for some rides on that baby. Let me know next time you go up there.

Although Kumba has the positive g's Kraken doesn't, the floorless effect and the 0g roll give the edge to Kraken. If Kraken wasn't floorless and I wasn't able to get that front seat experience, Kumba would be my favorite looper.

Hulk doesn't even compare, IMO. The second half is very boring. If it had a second half with a more interesting layout it would easily climb very high in my personal rankings.

I have been to SW about 30 times since Kraken opened and have never seen less than a 2 train operation. Go figure! Maybe I'm lucky. Everytime I have been to BGT in the slow season they have always run 1 train on Montu and Kumba, though.

rollergator said:
To: the thrill, you've been on DBH....was it recently....I'll give *props* to all the steelies mentioned in this thread (well, 'cept RB and the most recent spins on "Preying Mantis", LOL)...but the "BEST coaster in FL" isn't even made of steel, it's the way that "thing" at Boomers has run on the few more recent trips down South (after the rains, hot and humid and the tracks a little wet).....10 bucks, all I can ride, NO lines! Sure....sign me up....

I'll have to agree with you there. I love that ride, it completely amazed me. The fact that there were no lines was awesome, too. The only thing that I didn't like about it was the fact that its such a LONG walk around, and you have to walk it everytime, even when you're the only people there. Has this changed at all?

--Josh

the thrill 2, we'll be down there in about 3 weeks, I'm sure we'll get an evening over at Boomer's...watch that meeting calendar...;)

Josh, last time I was there they were still enforcing that....but then again, it's not like some of the walks at SFGam (Viper, Shockwave) or PKI (thought we'd never FIND the Rapids ride...lol)...

bill, who figures if there's good wood around, it takes Intamin steel to compare...and we don't have any of that....YET....