Spinball Whizzer? - CoasterBuzz

I don't speak French, but this site mentions Alton Towers' desire to build a custom Maurer-Sohne spinning mouse -- presumably in place of that wooden atrocity they'd planned.

Does Alton Towers have a haunted swing?

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--Maddie--
What do I Listen-To?
May the Schwarz be with you.

Yes, I think it's called Hex, and it's in the castle. I wonder if any parks in the US have one?

mOOSH [mmmm....coookies]

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A random Mooshter's Dawntionary listing: Willy Nilly [n.] - impotent.

Isn't that what Lagoon just installed (Spider)?

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

It seems similar. Same make and model, I'd guess, but different layout. Who knows?

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--Maddie--
What do I Listen-To?
May the Schwarz be with you.

I'm pretty sure the site got their information messed up. It's not Alton the spinning mouse is planned for, it's Chessington. It's already listed on RCDB: http://www.rcdb.com/installationdetail2410.htm

-Nate

However, if we look at Alton Towers page on RCDB, Spinball Whizzer, another Maurer-Sohne spinning mouse is listed as being built for next year.

http://www.rcdb.com/quicksearch.htm?quicksearch=alton+towers

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The Trip: CP, SFWoA, PKI, KW, HW, IB, SFGAm, MiA and LeSourdsville too.
8 Days- 10 parks. May 2003

Oh, wow - I take that back then. This is the first I've heard of anything new for Alton this year, though I do admit I haven't been paying much attention to Europe lately. Thanks for the heads up!

-Nate

Looks mediocre, though I don't suppose it's supposed to be a replacement for the 05/06 woodie. Anyone know if Alton's still persuing permission to build a similar coaster?

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Mike Anderson

At ************, they confirmed that Alton Towers would be getting Spinball Whizzer back on July 11th. They also stated that thsi coaster is not a replacement for the woodie they want. The plans for this coaster were submitted a long time ago.
*** This post was edited by bad32 7/16/2003 11:15:49 PM ***
*** This post was edited by bad32 7/16/2003 11:16:36 PM ***

I don't suppose the naughty word censored began in "Coaster" and ended in "Force"? Crap site, anyway. Has Alton or Tussauds confirmed any of this?

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Mike Anderson

Indeed it was.

Not doubting you, but out of curiosity, could you point me towards a press release?

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Mike Anderson

It does not mention one. It only says that it was confirmed in a staff newsletter.From the Staff Newsletter:

"2004 will see the addition of a brand new family ride in Adventureland.
Spinball Whizzer" will be the name of the new Maurer, custom-designed spinning coaster.
The specially developed four-person cars will spin guests around depending on the weight and the number of people. Passengers will have no idea when or in which direction they will spin, as they pass through drops and high banked turns.

Every ride will be a unique experience.
The ride will be themed around being part of a giant pinball machine. All the cars will be finished in metallic silver.
Construction of the ride will begin in early July.

Ride Facts
8 Cars
4 people per car; 2 facing front and 2 back.
17m height
470m track length."-Dan
*** This post was edited by bad32 7/16/2003 11:21:56 PM ***

Thanks a lot for the information. Sounds underwhelming, albeit interesting.

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Mike Anderson

A few questions...

Is there a plunger that pulls back, and then launches the car?

At certain points on the track, does a flipper hit the car into a different direction?

Are they playing music by The Who?

Do you get a special front-of-the-line pass if you are actually deaf, dumb, and blind?

Just wonderin'.... :)

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My signature is broked.
CoasterBuzz Glossary (beta version) and Humor Depository

As I said before, the ride looks underwhelming. However, theming it after Tommy would easily make it ten times better. Heheh.

On a side note, anyone ever notice that the Tommy Overture has been butchered for a Propecia (I think) commercial?

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Mike Anderson

It was Clarinex, actually. You can even play a pinball game (albeit pretty lame) on their website - though I think they use the B-52s "Roam" now in their spots.

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My signature is broked.
CoasterBuzz Glossary (beta version) and Humor Depository

Does anyone know exactly where this would be built? And if anything would be removed to make way for it? Just curious.

Though I have to say.....I like the theming idea since I love pinball, but no matter how hard I try, I can't picture a pinball theme for anything in that park. :)

The new coaster is supposed to be going into Adventureland, which is basically the kiddie area. No real reason to go there if you dont have kids. Apparently according to english websites, the kiddie coaster "beastie" has been closed down and most of the area boarded up already, for prep work.

It does seem a bit odd that when finally chessington go and get a coaster, Alton towers goes and steals their thunder by getting a very similar ride. Oh well any coaster is better than none, and i think it could be a fun ride and fits a niche that is missing at Alton towers, the fun familly coaster that everyone can ride.

Now the propsed woodie monster has been delayed by the locals complaining so much and it now looks like 2007 will be the year that it opens. Fingers crossed. Apparently they have gone back to the drawing boards to change the ride and appease the locals enough to get it built. That is not a bad thing as the last time the locals rejected an idea the park came up with Nemesis, and we were all pretty happy with that!!

jimmybob said:
A few questions...
Is there a plunger that pulls back, and then launches the car?

As silly as it seems, I like the idea of having a short, lame launch - not even really a launch, just a kind of Arrow Shuttle Loop-style shunt along straight track into the first elements. I think this would set off the pinball theme nicely. Of course Alton won't do this though.