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.
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2002 - the year of IB's LoCoSuMo!!
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"...
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You can't spell S:UF without UF....Go Gators! Let the pretzel loop tie you in knots...
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.
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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!
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2002 - the year of IB's LoCoSuMo!!
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2002 - the year of IB's LoCoSuMo!!
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.
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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.
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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"
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