SFOT New Dive Coaster Could Be World's First Giga Dive!

Jeff, Its not that I hate dive coasters. I rather enjoy them. I rode Yukon Striker 4 times on my last visit to CW. But Im of this mindset. There is already a dive coaster in Texas. Why wouldnt SFOT want to build something you cant find 3.5 hours away ? Just would like to see the Directors of Ride Operations to be a bit more creative in their decision making.

This is another take clouded by enthusiast glasses. The average person that actually goes to both parks isn’t going to realize that that the coasters are similar and the ones that do aren’t going to care. Virtually no one from Dallas is going to say, “well, we were gonna make the drive south, but we already have a B&M dive machine in Arlington so I think we’ll pass.”

What he said. Not only that, but I suspect most people don't drive significant distance to go to parks if they have one near by. Heck, as an enthusiast and someone who deeply understands similarities, I stopped traveling to parks a long time ago because they're not different enough to warrant all of the travel.

I drove by Cedar Point to get to Six Flags Worlds of Adventure.

I didn’t realize Dive coasters were the new boomerang coaster.

Of the 3 dive coasters I’ve ridden, Emperor was the only one without an MCBR and was the worst of the bunch. (The other two being the Busches).

I don't know why anyone would care, enthusiast or not. They're not the same ride. It's like having an invert or wooden coaster at both parks. So what?

Also, I like dive coasters. It's like a mix of a coaster and a drop tower.

Honestly…I’d rather ride most boomerangs than most dive coasters. That said, I’m also a bit on the masochistic side!

SLC has entered the chat.

RRR > this thread

Perhaps my glasses are clouded in that regard. Ill give you a prime example. I was at Six Flags Great American in 2021, home of the ORIGINAL Batman The Ride. I was at the park all day long. Not ONCE did I step near that line. Why? Because not only have I ridden every single installation of BTR that Six Flags built between 1992-1999, Ive ridden a few exact clones of it too. So I figured why not stick to rides that I dont have a chance to enjoy at my home park (SF Fiesta Texas) like X-Flight and Raging Bull. Thats why Im not overly excited about SFOT constructing another dive machine. And as Orient Express quipped, they seem to be taking on the role "the boomerang boom" for a new century. Im sure SFOT will build their installation bigger than Wrath of Rakshasha(still not a fan of that name), Im just saying something new and innovative would have been a bit more eye opening. Again - just my opinion.

Rip, Ride, Rakshasa

bigboy:

The average person that actually goes to both parks isn’t going to realize that that the coasters are similar

I think this could be another other take clouded by enthusiast glasses. I agree that non-enthusiasts probably won't care that one coaster in Park A is similar to another coaster in Park B, but I think they can still see the similarities, especially with something as distinct as a dive coaster.

Coasterhound36:

Not ONCE did I step near that line. Why? Because not only have I ridden every single installation of BTR that Six Flags built between 1992-1999, Ive ridden a few exact clones of it too.

But you are a subset of a subset of the general public. Based on my few visits to SFOT, they could use another popular, reliable, high capacity ride to soak up the crowds. A B&M dive coaster would fit the bill.

That's the two main things for me. The rider capacity and likelihood the ride will be a hit with the general public. There's also the possibility that other new attractions will be added in the years to come. I'm sure Cedar Fair has some sort of a plan here. Only time will tell.

I have Griffon as my #12 on my ranked CoasterBuzz Track Record. I haven't messed around with the order in some time, but I did put it there intentionally. I think highly of that ride. I love the drop under the bridge. My favorite seat is in the front on either far side, so there is no track below my feet at the brake before the drop. So much fun!

Valravn is at #42. That's weird.

I don't recall off the top of my head if I have been on any other dive coasters. I don't think so.

A giga dive coaster sounds amazing, but I'm not going to drive to Texas just to ride one.

TheMillenniumRider:

Jeff:

OMFG Oblivion! I wish there was one in the US!!1!!"

That drop into the hole though. 🤤

LostKause:

I have Griffon as my #12....
I love the drop under the bridge.
Valravn is at #42. That's weird.

Tunnels/near-misses off the first drop really do matter.

They are the main reason I agree that Griffon/Shiekra/Yukon Striker/Oblivion are more fun than Valravn/Iron Menace.

Later,
EV

When Sheikra first opened it was my favorite coaster at BGT. That was, in no small part, because as much as I love Montu and Kumba, they are often one and done for me when they are riding rough. Even with the addition of Iron Gwazi it's still probably my second favorite ride in the park.

Meanwhile if I go to BGW or Cedar Point I rarely take more than a courtesy ride on Griffon or Valravn. Those rides aren't any better or worse than Sheikra. But when compared to the rest of the collection at their respective park they are very much middle of the road as far as my personal ranking of the rides in those parks.

They're amazing coasters for the average park goer because they are big and intimidating but also comfortable and not actually all that intense. And the tall vertical drop will always be great for non-rider spectating. Adding one is a win for any park that gets one. But they are also a "that was fun, what's next?" for me when there are other more unique or intense rides in the park.

I feel the same that dive coasters are one-and-done for me every visit (granted, the only one I've done is Griffon), but to be fair, just about every coaster is a one-and-done for me at my age. That said, I think dive coasters are probably a little more exciting to me than wing coasters, which I see as a gimmick that doesn't really add much more to the experience of a sit-down coaster with a similar layout.

Weirdly, when we went to BGW last summer, my kids wanted to ride Griffon over and over (their first dive coaster) and not Pantheon or Apollo's (blasphemy!) or Alpengeist. I took one lap and rode the bench, but was happy to get 5 trips on Pantheon. I think it's a pretty unique ride experience compared to many other coasters, but dive coasters are pretty much the same as each other with very little variety among them. "If you've ridden one, you've ridden them all."