Next big thing on the horizon for IoA

I went last summer to IoA, and was blown away by everything there, but they don't need to stop now!

Has anyone heard what the next big project is as far as coasters?

I'd recommend either a giga, or a great woodie.
Seagram's, owner of IOA, is supposedly in negotiations with Cedar Fair, potentially investigating the sale of the property in Orlando. How great would that be, the #1 rollercoaster park owning the #1 theme park. Maybe we'd (finally) get a nice new Out-N-Back woodie in Florida?
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rollergator - intent on improving the "guest experience" - coming soon to a park near you
We haven't heard anything yet.

There is a message board where the IOA Techs hang out and post messages. For example, when Ice was down a few months ago, they told us exactly what was going on. It's a very serious (no rumors) message board. Anyway, they say the 6th floor of the new hotel is done and they're making good progress on it. Go here and "lurk".
Also, we believe there is a 200 foot height restriction in Orlando, but then how did they build that sky coaster? Yeah, I wish they'd get a giga, believe me. I think they might not get anything because they're going to finish the hotel. There have been no spy reports of land clearing in the park, so go figure. If they we're going to build something for next year, they'd have to start now.

http://64.225.125.24/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=30


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Robin Fox - "I see Stars, Can You See Them Too?"
It just seems to me that they are missing their window to make/keep IoA on the cutting edge. Let's not get it twisted, I was super impressed with the City Walk etc., and I'm sure bookoo (great Southern word) buck were sunk into making it a feature attraction in it's own right, but they desperately need another world class coaster to warrant serious return business from those of us in excess of 8 hours away.
Ah... but with Florida (the Orlando area in particular) being such a tourist destination (from the US and abroad), do they really have to worry about getting "return business from those of us in excess of 8 hours away?"

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"I wasn't always this cynical, but then I started kindergarden..."
I agree that the entire central FL region is a tourist trap itself, but I think the return business is a bit different on this scale: many people will not return to central FL for several years, rather than returning the next season, if they are further away. And if they do return to the area, there is no reason to go to the same attractions when so many choices are present. I think that IOA is still a viable park and has plenty of time for further additions before it is considered "passe." When competing against Disney, it would be better to take the extra time to plan very carefully for every detail, than whip something off that may not be so well considered.

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Po!nt of View: A different look at Roller Coasters.
http://www.crosswinds.net/~justmayntz/thrills/index.html
That's a good point SLFake.

It just seems that if a park puts so much $$ into theming then it's easy to be lulled into thinking that they really care about your pending return to the park.

But when IoA opened, they were immediately thrust up there with the big boys as far as quality of their 2 coasters (Dueling Dragons IS one coaster). It seemed like they were on a collision course with coaster superstardom, but I guess priorities were really elsewhere.

IoA isn't, and to me probably will never be considered, passe'. But, when they had the opportunity to grab the theme park world by the throats (note I didn't say rollercoaster world) and become the end all/be all park, it just seems like they dropped the ball a bit.
You know, on second thought, I do agree with what CrystalKat said.

My wife has family who lives in central FL. We were down there in March and hit IOA, SW, and BGT. She likes to get down there every two years to visit her family, so we will probably be heading back down in 2003. I told her that, given the chance, I would like to return to SW and BGT, but, unless they get something new, I have no real desire to get backt IOA. (next trip down I hope to make the "detour" south to Dania Beach for the Hurricane).

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"I wasn't always this cynical, but then I started kindergarden..."
Let me get this out of the way. There is a 200ft height limit in Orlando. It's not cause of the airport, but it's just to keep from all the parks polluting the skyline. Kissimee, where the sky coaster is doesn't have a height limit.

Now about IOA's new rides. I know for a fact that Hulk was suppose to be a hyper, but they ran into that height limit, and the rest is history. Now they could go back to that idea and fight the city for it, but I think a hyper would ruin IOA becuase it stand high up about everything.

Anyways, I think that there new ride will be a Setpoint Seizmic. Universal is on extremly good terms with Setpoint because of how they saved the Petradon Flyers project and did it for cheaper. I think the Seizmic will go in JP between the thunder falls terrace dudley do right, it will fly through trees, dinos, water falls, and all thoose other cool theming elements IOA is know for. It will be based around the flying dinos from JP3, and the elements of construction are already there. The path in that area brakes off a little bit and rounds out into the trees, and the continous bench built around that area also breaks off there. I wouldn't be surprised if the footers already in place and verticle costruction start fairly soon. There is also a green wrapped chain link fence back through the trees there. The ride will have a silent opening around spring break time, and the major advertised opening in the summer of 2002.

The Jeep ride rumor is probobly dead. Considering theres already 2 jeep rides in FL, and they already have 2 dino tour rides at IOA.



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"This time I think ... I think it's ... it's going to work!" - Dr.Bruce Banner
If there is a 200ft limit, how can you explain Sea Worlds Sky Tower ride? That is 400ft tall. IOArules, do you have proof they have started this Setpoint project? I just have a hard time believing that without any solid proof.
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Favorite car B&MW *** This post was edited by hockeyman on 7/16/2001. ***
I read somewhere that IOA is going to get a Giga, in the Jurassic Park area. But, its probably just a rumor. Be nice though! IOA is a great park as it is. I Think it needs a woodie. I think a woodie would be great back in JP area.
I wish that IOA would get a giga. We need another one in the US
Hey, Robvia-nice to know others frequent that other message board besides myself!

Other things from that board I've heard from the techs(usually their right on the money)is the next big attraction for IOA is a Spiderman type ride going in around Jurassic Park or a coaster. Remember, IOA and Citywalk cost $2 billion to construct. That's a lot of cash so they're going to be careful. Right now, Universal is very happy that on site hotels are 90 percent full, so getting the Royal Pacific(or whatever it's called) open is their top priority. Don't worry- as soon as management knows what they're doing, Earl, IOA Tech or CoasterFEV will leak out details.

CrystalKat said:
"When competing against Disney, it would be better to take the extra time to plan very carefully for every detail, than whip something off that may not be so well considered."


Yeah, especially not just adding in some random tea cups ride or junior coas...wait, that already happened.
Dave OBrian- I dont know, those three people you mentioned are usually tight lipped when it comes to new rides. Im sure managment knows what there doing now, but they wont discuss it until its official. Sometimes they give some hints but those hints can go in 10 different directions.

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Favorite car B&MW
I only look to "the Big 3" because they've given out info like Front of the Line access for hotel guests and other little tidbits like that. They also dispensed info on Men in Black before it was officially announced. Yes, they are tight lipped and don't want to start any rumors, but they will give out confirmed, real info before it's officially announced. The choice of a new coaster or Spiderman type thing came from Earl, someone pretty high up in the food chain. When they say something will happen, I'd put my money on it.
Hockeyman, I heard the whole height limit thing on my America's Greatest Rollercoaster Thrills DVD. It has special interview features, and one is with two main design guys from Universal Creative and they talk about the height restriction and the launch to make up for it..

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"This time I think ... I think it's ... it's going to work!" - Dr.Bruce Banner
IOArules...I was just about to comment on that. On the DVD of AGRCT:TNG (guess the acronym), one of the creators of IOA said they had to work with a 200 ft. ceiling. This is the main reason The Hulk had the accelerator...they needed to add excitement in the very beginning of the ride to make up for the lack of a taller ride.

Unless this ceiling has been raised, or IOA gets permission, I don't see a giga anytime soon. DOn't get me wrong, I'd love to see a giga down in Florida, but I just wouldn't get my hopes up.


*** This post was edited by CPgenius on 7/16/2001. ***
Jeff's avatar

IOArules said:
"Let me get this out of the way. There is a 200ft height limit in Orlando."
Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

Why does everyone "know" there's a height limit for [your park here]? Most every city has zoning restrictions, yes. However, if you've ever been to Orlando, you can see that clearly they can build large buildings. That's because they grant zoning variances. Seeing as how tourism is one of their primary industries, you can be they'll be happy to grant such a variance to an amusement park.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"From the global village... in the age of communication!"

Jeff said:
Seeing as how tourism is one of their primary industries, you can be they'll be happy to grant such a variance to an amusement park.


Yea, like Orlando needs any more tourism.

Jeff, it's not like I'm making it up. The designers from UC have said this on numerous coaster shows and have stated it on AGRCT. Plus, did it ever accur to you that Dr. Doom's Fear Fall is exactly 200ft, TOT at MGM is 199ft, and Katanga at Congo River is 200ft.

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"This time I think ... I think it's ... it's going to work!" - Dr.Bruce Banner

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