Paramount's Great America announces Survivor The Ride

Survivor the Ride? They must really be out of ideas, so whats going to happen every 5s are people going to need to vote to decide who gets thrown from the ride, while its still running to their death?

The themeing is not too bad, a bit unimaginative, but o.k.

I guess it would be easy to de-brand if necessary.

I just wonder: if people were offended by the name "Banshee" what would they say about a ride called "Survivor"? Or am I looking to deep into this?

I don't get it. Am I the only one?

For as much market research as the Paramount Parks do, you'd think they would come up with a name that wasn't so stupid.

Well, the highly themed "Tomb Raider: The Ride" encouraged thousands of people to experience an aweful Zamperla Volare. I rode it once for the credit. Never again.

I wonder if they're afraid that without a catchy (and cheesy) name, thousands of people won't be attracted to ride the amazing Zamperla Disk'O.

The first time I rode a Disk'O was at Cypress Gardens (see http://cypressgardens.com/rides.asp?load=15), and this little ride thrills beyond expectations. The roller coaster version will rock!

This would have been cooler in Santa Cruz....nya! ;)

OK a few things here:

1) Isn't Paramount ditching all their parks? Why tie in a Paramount theme if they're about to ditch it, which leads to...

2) Couldn't we have just a jungle-themed ride? I know it's a Six Flags ride, but Kingda Ka was, surprisingly, not named a Superman ride!

Boy, I can't wait until "The Real World Ride" and "Fear Factor: The Ride" come out!

Well, USF already has the "Fear Factor Live" audience participation show... So, I guess a ride isn't that big of a leap.

I read about this ride two issues ago in Amusement Today. So how is this an annousement ?

Wouldn't a fan of the Survivor show who is looking to experience a Survivor attraction actually want to re-live part of the show? The least they could have done was to build a Survivor style obstacle course like they do for the reward/immunity challenges. It's quite a stretch to just lay down some grass and bamboo and call a disk-o coaster a Survivor attraction. Much like the Tomb Raider Zamperla Volare, which has nothing to do with either the games or tombs, and has an very tenous connection to a sequence in TR2.

Guests will be expected to engage in tribal chants and ritual dance movements? Will they plot against one another behind the other's backs too?

The world's "first reality coaster!" So the other several thousand mentioned on RCDB are just figments of someone's imagination? Does this mean come November Mitch Hawker will add a third poll... Wood, steel and reality coasters?

I did like the disclaimer at the bottom... "Paramount Parks, a unit of the CBS Corporation, is a leading developer and operator of world-class theme parks and location-based attractions..." Small print... "but we're looking to unload them. Anybody interested?"

I was at Eastcoaster when the guy from Paramount was explaining how the theming works. No offense to their efforts or anything (I'm sure someone in the corporate ranks wanted a Survivor-themed ride for some reason) but it was one of the dumbest things I have ever heard.

It's this kind of "forced" theming that starts to turn me off to theme parks. I can see theming Disneyland's Submarine Voyage to Finding Nemo because it makes sense, but a Disk-O themed to Survivor is really pushing it.

Maybe it's just me, but I think the *Survivor theme*, based solely on the artwork and press releases and such, will be a little bit downplayed in favor of the more "beachy" atmosphere with the "survivor" element really being the interactivity between the riders and non-riders, and of course the Survivor logo/artwork being all around the place.

I think it'll work well considering that PGA is becoming more waterpark than thrill park anyway...

*** This post was edited by rollergator 2/23/2006 2:57:22 PM ***

A match made in heaven... Survivor & A Disk-O

just like E.T. and the Atari 2600........

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Wouldn't a fan of the Survivor show who is looking to experience a Survivor attraction actually want to re-live part of the show?

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Part of the theming is that you have to get naked while waiting in line (this ride is based upon the first season). As an upcharge attraction they will give you the option of cheating the taxes.

Wow I didn't know this 80's band was still that popular. "It's the eye of the tiger..."

;-)

"Project Runway the Ride"

But seriously, and I hate to go there, but hasn't anyone questioned the notion of considering this over grown flat a coaster to begin with? I rode a Disk-O at IAAPA and it seemed to be totally powered- just because this extended version has a coaster-type hill doesn't make it so. Anyone?...

"Project Runway the Ride"

As long as I can *launch* Santino into the fiery mouth of the volcano, all will be well... ;)

P.S. As long as some portion of the ride is unpowered and travels downhill by gravity (and I *believe* that is the case), then it really becomes a matter of personal choice in terms of "Is it a coaster"?

Regardless, since it has more "trackage" than the regular-style Disk'O, I'm hopeful for a considerably less nauseating ride....unless Santino is on, then it's hopeless... :)

*** This post was edited by rollergator 2/23/2006 5:35:29 PM ***