PKI's Drop Zone - CoasterBuzz

I've seen pics of this thing and one word comes to mind: WHOA! How long does it take to get to the top of the tower? How long does it stall at the top before dropping? Last but not least, what in the world does it feel like dropping from 300+ feet?!

I would like to hear your overall thoughts and reviews of the ride!

I love drop zone at pki. I really feel that it is a better ride than power tower at cedar point. Going up is slow and unnerving. The slow rotating of the gondola gives you a great view of the park and surrounding area. When you get to the top if you look over you can see that your are pretty much even with the observation decks on the eiffle tower. When you drop you have to hold your arms and legs straight out from you. BIG BIG BIG RUSH!!!

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For those about to ROCK, WE SALUTE YOU!!!!!

The entire tower may be 315' tall, but the actual portion of the tower that the vehicle rides on is 264'. And the drop portion of that 264' is 241'.

It easily blows away any S&S ride. Oddly enough, even after having a season pass at PKI for years now, I never got a ride until this year. I love it. Hands down the best drop ride. You actually have some time to think about the fall.

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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

If you enjoy it at PKI, you should take a road trip to PKD next year. It's only supposed to be a few feet higher (320 with a 270 drop), but i heard they're debating whether or not to make the drop bigger.

Isn't the one at 6Flags over Georgia a standup version of this ride? It tips you forward I believe.

Haven't ridden the SFOG version, but I think DropZone is very scary and exciting. The fact that the ring holds so many people, it feels so big and completely different than the S&S and similar models. The thrusts of wind you feel while you wait in line is intense.

Acrophobia (SFoG's Intamin drop ride) is terrifying...not to mention uncomfortable. When the ride is over, you will be very glad, for two reasons ;)

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http://www.rockandrollconfidential.com

I have to tell you, that although Acrophobia was fun, it was not nearly as thrilling or exciting as I had expected. I rode for the first time in July and had several different reactions:

- It was much shorter than I had anticipated.

- The tilt out was waaaaay less dramatic than I thought.

- The "standing" aspect was obsolete. It really would have made no difference, except for testicular comfort, if it had full seats rather than the half "bicycle" seats you sit on.

- The tilt and standing aspect really does not add enough to the ride to account for the lower capactity that a full ring of standard seats would have provided.

I like the ride, but having been used to Drop Zone at PKI, which I consider the end-all-be-all tower rides in existance, it did not thrill me at all. It is terrific for those not used to larger drop towers and it works perfectly at SFOG. However I was a bit spoiled going into it and got off thinking only "it's ok."

I am anxious to see and ride Dominion's next season.

Shaggy

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Shaggy

R.I.P. Maestro
Phantom Theater 1992-2002

I have never been so scared and so thrilled as when I rode Drop Zone for the first time. And I don't think I've ever screamed on a ride before (except for RipCord). An amazing ride, one of my favorites.

I went for CBuzzCon and had I known the stats, I would have thought twice before jumping on line. :) I'm scared of heights (but feel safe on these rides, so go figure...)

The ride is *THE* most intense ride I've been on, and going up gives you a lot of time to think. just when you think you've got to be near the top, it speeds *UP* as it gets past the braking system (which is probably even more unnerving). At the top, I think you're up for a few seconds, then the drop is just a huge rush.

Personally, I give the Twilight Zone Tower Of Terror the edge as my favorite drop ride *ONLY* because the theming and triple drop program add to the experience, but just cannot compare for intensity.

I love riding it with my arms and legs straight out. Big Time AIR! I loved this ride from the get-go. Too bad CF:LP parks think they have to add S&S towers instead.

Coreo81, It feels like total euphoria. For 6 seconds the whole world just slows down as you plummet in blissful abandon. In other words, this rides kix azz!!

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I, am nobody, and nobody is pefect!

I find that Drop Zone at PKI still gets my heart pumping as much as it did the first time I rode it back in `99. You never know, once you reach the top, when you`re going to plunge back to earth.

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Coney Island (Cincinnati) ride operator

I hate the S&S towers. Not even Big Shot thrilled me. I even prefer the first-gen Intamins over them.

Anyway, Drop Zone is da bomb. (suddenly has 'Drop The Bomb' from DDR stuck in head) The only drop ride that comes close is Kennywood's Pittfall... shorter, but better scenery.

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He let the contents of the bottle do the thinking; can't shake the devil's hand and say you're only kidding.

Drop Zone is the *best* thrill ride at PKI, and I really like most of their coasters. What a rush.

The announcement of the one at PKD made that park a "must do" for me next season.

I can't believe it's been almost a year since my last ride.

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'Let's fly close to the sun. Let's do it just 'cause it's fun.' - The Wedding Present '2,3, Go'

Thrillfan, all Intamin 2nd Gen. and Gyro Drops speed up after they climb past the brakes. On the subject of DZ, I honestly didn't think the drop was that great...going up was great the first time, but I just didn't think the drop offered anything that amazing. I still much prefer the smaller Intamin 2nd Generation freefalls over anything else...Hellevator comes to mind. It seems like the higher drop rides get, the less of a "stomach in your throat" type feeling I get on the fall...Pittfall and Giant Drop at GAm really illustrated this.

DropZone @ PKI was my first drop tower and it litteraly took my breath away. The moment the restraints lifted I knelt down and slapped the ground I was laughing so hard. I said something to the effect.. "Oh so that's what it feels like!". *LOL*

Anyway that same week I also rode PowerTower @ CP and it paled by comparison. DropZone was a short but intense thrill, highly recomended!

Den said:
"I hate the S&S towers. Not even Big Shot thrilled me. I even prefer the first-gen Intamins over them."

Can I ask why? They all feel pretty much the same to me.
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TOGO!

I really enjoy the Power Tower (both shoot-up and shoot-down), but Drop Zone is just an entirely different level of intensity, imho. I kinda wish CP would get one of those too. I know it's "similar" to the S&S towers, but I think there's room for both.

Raven_Rider, I know that, but I was describing how it seems the first time you're on it. You don't necessarily realize the thing speeds up once it gets past the magnets, but unless you know where on the ride you are at any given time, you assume you must be getting near the top at any moment after the rotation stops.

I should also note that I didn't watch the ride along the entire path on its way up, so it took me completely by surprise when we sped up and kept going up. :)