PKI April 3rd IJST Testing

I just came back from PKI today and I got to see the IJST layout for the first time. Also I got to see a few test runs until I got bored with it. To be frank, it doesn't look all that exciting. I realize it is supposed to be a "family" ride but with all the hype and build up I expected much more. On some parts of the ride it actually looked as though the train may fall backwards and not be able to finish the circuit. The whole course of the ride can be seen from the pathway surrounding it and really can't leave any places to put some "surprises" in. (unless they are going to put in some shrubs to cover things up . . . i hope.)

Anyways, when I first saw the track I thought it looked kind of cool and fun and thought there may be even more to it than I could see but after they started to test it (around 3 o'clock) you could count the lengh of the ride on your hands and feet. Maybe not literlly but it was definately under one min. from launch to splash down.

They didn't have to effects like the helicopter scene working but they can't last more than 15 secs so I think the total ride length can't be more than a min or a min and a half. The majority of the ride is slow going except the launch. (In fact the launch into the "parking garage" actually looks "intense" to be considered a family ride)

On the park map, it rate the IJST a 3 for intensity which would put it up there with The Beastie and Adventure Express. Just don't be expecting to much more than that.

Although the theming is really cool, especially for a roller coaster, it just doesn't really have the thills to back it up for me personally. Plus, the location is bad in my opinion, the WHOLE track is visible from many locations. I hate knocking on this ride even before riding it but I'm just trying to not get my hopes to high just to get disappointed like with TR:TR. I guess I'll have to wait until late May to decide for sure.

That is what i was afraid to hear.

Hi, I'm new to the boards but I've been reading them a while. Just to comment on the first post at the tour it was said that Italian Job will be 2 minutes long. Also, supposedely they are supposed to add some landscaping to the ride but we'll have to see if that happens. And finally, no the ride isn't fast but it does have tight turns and simulated fish tailing so it should feel more intense although there isn't much speed.

Lol at rating the coaster for intensity without riding it. I am all for not getting your hopes up, but lets not knock the ride until you get on it.

I didn't rate it a 3 for intensity, the park did. That is what is said on the park map. Good point heart, it does have the simulated fishtailing so that might help make it a little more thrilling but I can't see it being 2 mins.

Wow, pretty stunning analysis for someone that hasn't been on the ride with the finished show implemented. Get back to us when it has opened.

Jeff - Editor - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog

By watching the ride I think that it will be quite cool. The ride looked a little slow at some points but as the testing went on it seemed to get faster. There are going to be some great elements in that ride that will make it very unique and exciting. There is not a straight piece of track anywhere on that coaster except for the launches. I am very excited to ride this ride and I am sure once all the special effects come together it is going to be spectacular. I have posted a low quality video of it running on my site www.exscreamthrills.com and I will be adding some pictures as the night goes on.

With all this stuff about the ride going slow and what not, this ride is in testing. Anything you can see now can't really be taken into consideration on rating the ride as its still workign out kinks...once the ride itself is worked out then the themeing will be worked out to be timed with the ride.

Everyone knows this isnt the fastest tallets or most thrilling ride in the world...but it is an 'experience'...its supposed to suck you into the world of the Italian Job movie..

Trust me, i'd love a fast tall thrilling ride, but at the same time, i think both PKI and PCW are getting the best ride of the year...Sure kingda-ka is cool and all, but really, one trick pony.

So ya it may be slower the most, and it may be a bit short, but if you're on it, and smile at least one then its done its job.

PCW FOR LIFE

Did they do any testing with water dummies?
Maybe the trains will track much faster with people in them.

Even if the ride ends up being just an unraveled, strung-out launched "WildCat(CP)", then it will still be a good cheap thrill.

Definitely looking forward to my first visit to PKI this summer.

Thanks for the video, good stuff. I can see what coasternut33 is saying about it moving slow at points, but a lot of outstanding coasters move slow at points and even look slow but feel much faster. Cant wait to ride it.

I did not see any water dummies in the cars while I was watching it. They may of added some later on though.

Of course it is going to run slow... it was probably what, 50-60 degrees down there this weekend? And not to mention most LIM/LSM testing is done starting with minimal thrust at first... fine tuning and more testing allows for maintenance to turn up the juice after a while.

I agree that it is very possible that the power wasn't turned all the way up but on one of the other boards, someone who said they had a reliable souce said they had done over 100 test runs already. Also, the weather may have something to do with it but it shouldn't effect a coaster so much so that it almost doesn't clear a hill.

Would you believe Millennium Force, of all coasters, has rolled back in unfavorably cold weather? At the park I work at, we operate in the cold months of October, and quiete literally, we have to test run the coasters with a train load of employees, lest we want a rollback.

I love how people know a ride is going to be bad before it opens! Just like those that know a movie is going to suck by a tralier and books by their covers!

Some of the most fun coasters are the ones that don't look like they will deliver!

Real Cbuzz quote of the day - "The classes i take in collage are so mor adcanced then u could imagen. Dont talk about my emglihs" - Adamforce

Peabody said:
I love how people know a ride is going to be bad before it opens! Just like those that know a movie is going to suck by a tralier and books by their covers!
Some of the most fun coasters are the ones that don't look like they will deliver!

Like what coaster?

Beast Tamer said:

Like what coaster?

How about Excalibur at Valleyfair? I did not expect a fast and wild ride out of that!

Watched Trick Track's short video. Looks like a great ride to me.

No idea, but maybe it's really slow at the top of that one hill after the helix for timing/theme purposes. I don't know the layout or the proposed themes, but it could work really well as (in theme) a donut, slight pausing sensation to present some theme element that you'd logically bail from, then the drop representing speeding away.

Maybe I'm reading too much into it and it is just going slow, but my impressions of the ride were that it's more than just flying quickly through different themed areas.

coasterimage - lordgonchar

Beast Tamer said:
Peabody said:
I love how people know a ride is going to be bad before it opens! Just like those that know a movie is going to suck by a tralier and books by their covers!
Some of the most fun coasters are the ones that don't look like they will deliver!
Like what coaster?

I could name 50. The king is probably the tiny, stupid looking "HIgh Speed Thrill Coaster" at Knoebels. That thing is WILD.

On the flip side I could name 50 coasters that look killer that suck royally or are just boring. Several hypers come to mind, giant looping woodies that most people hate, etc.

Real Cbuzz quote of the day - "The classes i take in collage are so mor adcanced then u could imagen. Dont talk about my emglihs" - Adamforce

Peabody said:
...Several hypers come to mind, giant looping woodies that most people hate, etc.

Nicely done. ;)

coasterimage - lordgonchar