"The Flying Coaster" (Volare) - next Wild Mouse?

We're all aware of the recent infestation of rodents at amusement parks, and it makes sense- they're compact and take up very little valuable real estate, they're tame enough for kids but not too lame for adults, and they're most likely a lot less costly than larger roller coasters. I'd say they're a sound investment for pretty much any park, which is obvious since you can find them in small parks (Lake Winnie) and large themers (Animal Kingdom).

If you take a look at the new Zamperla flying coaster (Volare) going up at SFEG, it looks a lot like a Wild Mouse- small, compact, mildly thrilling, and relatively inexpensive. Heck, it even has individual four-seater (well, something like seating) cars!

Provided that the ride is a success, I have a feeling that we'll see these things pop up all over them place. Six Flags parks. Paramount parks. Perhaps Kennywood will get one. Or Lake Compounce, or Wild Adventures. Not only Zamperla models, but versions by other companies that see the sales potential. What do you think? Will these small creations be the next coasters that appear so quickly, we won't even be able to keep track of them all?

I had the same thought, Rob. Some ECC members road the Volare prototype earlier this year [the very same one that is now at SFEG] and they said it was very good.

-----------------
2002 - the year of IB's LoCoSuMo!!

It seems like such a logical move for a lot of parks- cost-effective and highly marketable. A small park like Americana (or whatever they're calling it) or Lake Compounce could look very good in the eyes of the public with a brand-new, state-of-the-art flying coaster like only a handful of big theme parks have. Chances are that most of the general public won't notice the vast differences between the Zamperla and Vekoma/B&M versions as long as they're "flying".

I *expect* PKI to get a flying mouse, er, flying bat....LOVE that name colin...:). I'm thinking in KC's spot. PURE conjecture BTW, I have no inside info....

That really would be fitting, for PKI to get a "Flying Bat"...

-----------------
You can't spell S:UF without UF....Go Gators! Let the pretzel loop tie you in knots...

I agree gang. It can't be as expensive as B&M or Vekoma, but is probably just as good of a marketing tool. Could be a real winner for smaller parks. I don't see parks like CP, PKI, SFMM getting one because the lines would be way too long. The parks I just named don't even have a Wild Mouse.

I don't know, we're still waiting for wild mice here in Ohio. ;)

Seriously though, if it's a comfortable ride, I'm all for it. We've had a whole mess of new flat rides in the last ten years, where are the new compact coaster types? In all fairness, it could in part depend on what the parks want to buy, seeing as how Arrow has been offering the Arrowbatic now for years and no takers.

-----------------
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

Rob Ascough said:
Chances are that most of the general public won't notice the vast differences between the Zamperla and Vekoma/B&M versions as long as they're "flying".

Yeah, just like they dont know the difference between Drachen Fire and Wild Maus cause they're sitting ;)

*** This post was edited by Antuan on 4/30/2002. ***

If someone can't tell the difference between Drachen Fire and Wild Maus, I feel sorry for them!

All I'm saying is that the general public will probably label rides like X-Flight, Superman Ultimate Escape and "The Flying Coaster" all flying coasters, even though they are greatly different from each other. Its like Blue Streak and Mean Streak are so different from each other (and have obvious differences to us enthusiasts) but are both labeled simply as wooden coasters by most.

And Jeff, that's a pretty interesting fact that I never thought about... Ohio, one of the most coaster-populated places in the world, has yet to see a Wild Mouse!

All I can say is if the restraints are ANYTHING like Zamperla's Kite Flyer then we are going to see another Wild Wonder mishap. I could have climb out of the restraints on the Kite Flyer in a second. They were VERY VERY loose. Like a foot or more of space between my back and the top of the restraint. It doesn't look that much different so I hope no one falls out.

Geauga Lake had a wild mouse way back when...so Ohio *did* at least one at one time.

-----------------
2002 - the year of IB's LoCoSuMo!!

I think it will Look Great at Morey's Pier! :)

-----------------
-Greg
Touch The Sky

I know Wild Cat at CP isn't a wild mouse but its still the same concept

Kinda disagreee there....Wild Mice feature lots of laterals on the "top shelf", then some bunnies at the end. WildCat features twisting drops, etc. If anyone wants to trade, we've got three(!) spinning mice here in FL, and I'll take WildCat in a deal....Meanwhile, we have only one Anton, BGT's Scorpion.

I'm just saying that Wild Cat is very tight together like a wild mouse

Beast_Rocks - yes, a Wildcat is compact, but a mouse coaster is [more often than not] specifically designed for high laterals on the upper turns and abrupt airtime on the lower bunnies. Wildcats, which I happen to LOVE, offer a totally different experience and would never be catagorized as a mouse. But I get what you're saying none-the-less.

-----------------
2002 - the year of IB's LoCoSuMo!!

I think he mean that their going to pop up everywhere like the wild mouse has in the last 5 years

I think this is better than a wild mouse. After all it has two inversions. And it is a flying. I do however think that this will be as popular as wild mouses.

Everybody keeps on saying this ride is a crappy ride, but I think you guys are under estimating Zamperla. There is almost no park in the US wihtout some sort of ride from Zamperla. They know how to build rides and are very good at it. Just because they are normally a kiddie coaster making company doesn't mean they can;t do "big" coasters. This is there first big coaster, it is their "baby" so to speak and they have spent a lot of time on it.

-----------------
http://tycoonkingdom.rct-central.com
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
RCT Downloads, Forums, and More!

Cedar Point also had the Scamper, a wooden wild mouse removed in the 70's. It's very odd how there's little to prove on the Internet that the ride ever existed. No photos or anything.

-----------------
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

By any chance is Zamperla's "Volare" anything like Arrow's Arrowbatic concept?

Not really. The Arrowbatic would be more akin to an inverted wild mouse. They have two layouts that they offer with one for the family and one that is more extreme. They are able to perform extremely tight turns (like a mouse) and can even do 90 degree drops. I really want one of these things to get built, they look like a great little ride.