Tomb Raider the Ride at KI, no music now?

Jeff, Shaggy and others who got to experience the ride early on via either media events or TV shoots know the whole setup was quite well done.

All Thats being said is the ride is a shadow of what it was as far as overal experience.

All I was trying to say is there have been mass problems, Not only with the theming but the ride itself. Such as one arm being almost 35,000 pounds heavier than the other. The didn't load the center. They loaded the far end most of the time.

Chuck, who says there are also brake issues with the ride among other things. None of which are dangerous to a rider but ride issues nontheless.

And my post was in response to Rob about moving the ride. I don't know how that translates to being OK with the situation. I think it sucks. I get nostalgic knowing that I crawled around in the tunnels under the ride!

Jeff - Editor - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog

Did I just read that correctly? You get nostalgic, Jeff? ;)

I have a question about CF themeing a ride. I hear that CF does not like to theme like TR:TR but what about Disaster Transport? It is somewhat 'themed'. But it too is hopefully on the way out. So is it that CF just does not want to theme a ride?

I wouldn't say that Disaster Transport is themed. It's a dark building with some day-glo paint in the queing area.

Then would this mean they might let Adventure Express, IJ:ST, and TR:TR effects fade away?

As far as IJ is concerned, I wouldn't mind. The theme is lame (feels like a Disney MGM Studios ride done on a strict budget)- I'd much rather the area get landscaped so the coaster travels through trees and lakes... that sort of thing.

Adventure Express has deteriorated some already (lighting, sound effects, spear movement, etc.) it just isn't as noticeable since it is an Arrow mine train and therefore is more importantly a coaster than a special effects show. Not so with Tomb Raider.

I've heard reports that IJ doesn't function as it did in '05. I wouldn't be surprised if in a few years, moments like the helicopter sequence no longer had splashing water or fire explosions.

Better planning is what needs to happen. Granted, new rides mean possible new maintenance scenarios, but really how much planning goes into the long term life of a ride? It would seem that the focus is much more on the immediate marketability of the ride. Once that is gone, nobody cares about the details anymore.

*** Edited 6/27/2007 7:31:15 PM UTC by Pagoda Gift Shop***

IJ's helicopter isn't really performing, but other than that, there wasn't much of a dynamic theme anyway. The in-car audio never got worked out (or the sweet headlights), which is kind of a bummer, but that was under Paramount rule. Couldn't get the batteries to recharge fast enough while in the station.

Jeff - Editor - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog

Rob Ascough said:
I wouldn't say that Disaster Transport is themed. It's a dark building with some day-glo paint in the queing area.

And the fake icicles near the brake run. ;)

*** Edited 6/27/2007 8:22:20 PM UTC by Neuski***

It's a shame that some theme parks embark on such ambitious projects but then more or less forget about them in subsequent years, after the initial appeal has worn off.

When B:TR debuted at Great Adventure, it was unlike anything anyone had seen at the park before. It wasn't comparable to something Disney would build but it was light years ahead of the theming that we were used to. When the ride was new, the line was patrolled and anyone caught destroying anything was ejected without question. Only a few years later, the thing was a complete disaster, and not only were vandals ignored but damage was never repaired. I would have rathered the ride not been themed at all instead of seeing it themed so well only to be so neglected years later. If a theme park can't maintain what they build, they shouldn't build it at all.

Paramount was good at theming stuff to their cheesy, short-lived movies, then letting the theming detoriate and rot. And like mentioned about, this ride and Italian Job went a long way in destorying the immersive atmosphere of the park. King's Island used to have a great feel of another world when you got into it. Now there is a giant warehouse in what was the woodsy frontier section and Italian Job is basically themed to the nastiness of every city in American..............right in the middle of the park. I guess they thought people enjoy being surrounded by gravel and shipping containers much more than trees and streams and landscaping.........

As crappy as the Taft parks got theming-wise under Paramount, I look for a further decline to absolute nothing under Cedar Fair. Their philosphy seems to be cut down as many trees as you can, pave everthing and plop down generic rides with big stats. But they do keep things clean and ride moving. But as far as giving an immersive experience, you are not going to get that anymore. Shame. The Taft parks were once up on a time very well done.

I guess we all should get used to just riding rides, and not having immersive experiences. It costs too much and the execs can't get their bonuses lol. *** Edited 6/29/2007 7:03:20 PM UTC by super7****

super7* said:
I guess we all should get used to just riding rides, and not having immersive experiences.

That is exactly what happens at my RCT3 parks! See, I start putting in trees and gardens, but then the game lags and gets slower, and slower, and SLOWER. So then I have to remove all the pretty scenery and I'm left with some stupid slow rides! Then I take the RCT3 disk out and repeatedly throw it against the wall. Sadly, the game is still not faster....................

I received an email from Kings Island today stating that my concerns have been forwarded to the vp of maintenance, and that it is Kings Island's position to operate as many of the rides effects as possible. If anyone rides TR:TR I would be interested to hear if they have repaired the ride's audio.