Variety - the key to success?

So, then is the Frog Hopper a drop ride?

Intamin Fan said: You won't find any drop towers at flatrides.com.

Is that so? What's this? And this? And this? And this? And this? And this? And this? And this? And this?

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Intamin Fan said:
All I'm saying is that a drop tower doesn't meet the criteria for being a flat ride by current definition. You won't find any drop towers at flatrides.com. It's missing the one key component to being a flat ride, and that's the spinning element.

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First of all, thanks to Moosh for pointing out the multitude of drop towers on flatrides.com (I was about to do the same). Now...where do you find the 'current definition' of flat ride? Who ever said they have to spin? Where would swinging ships fit if that were the case? Like gator, I've always considered non-coaster/flume rides as flats, and wouldn't contest anyone who considered flumes or STCs flats, either. Or dark rides, even.

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I know it's splitting hairs, but no one ever came up with a definition for rides like MaxAir or Iron Eagle that are clearly not flat, and are very tall during their ride cycle.

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Again, has anyone truly defined this term? This is comparable to the whole 'S:TE - coaster or not a coaster' debate. Does it really matter?

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To me it's sort of like people who win SUV's on reality shows and fawn over their brand new car. I'm sitting at home going "It's not a car".

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Wow. Really? I call my SUV a 'car' quite often, because it's a hell of a lot easier to say 'car' than 'SUV'. I don't think I've furrowed anyone's brow when doing this. I'd be concerned if I did.

Now, I ask...if S:TE isn't a coaster, could it be considered a flat ride? ;)

*** Edited 6/17/2005 8:17:14 PM UTC by Vater***

Top Spins don't *spin*, they FLIP...and even though they may go high, they clearly don't have cars, or trains, or rails, or anything that qualifies as a coaster. They CAN be wet, but not a water ride by any stretch...you can even ride them after sundown, that doesn't make them a dark ride (although I *do* consider dark rides as flats, LOL)...

SheiKra, BTW, was not a flat...but the *verticality* has little to do with that, IMO...;)

Yup, Moosh got me good. Guess which rides I've never looked at on flatrides.com? The drop-tower rides. I was too lazy to check either before I made that claim. And usually I fact check first. You see, I can admit my failings:) And I do consider the Frog Hopper and its Zamperla and Moser-like rides mini drop-towers. They go up, and then they fall and bounce.

Vater, all I'm saying is that if my friend were to call his Hummer H2 a car, I'd be a little bit worried. It's a truck. If you were to win an Escalade or a Suburban, would you call it a car? No, and neither would the insurance companies.

So then you asked the question "Does it matter?" I fully admitted I was splitting hairs meaning that I like separation, and that many people won't care a bit. You see I live in a world where every thing I listen to is in some sub-category or another, and we've done that to the nth degree when it comes to coasters and their elements. I'm just saying I wouldn't mind that when it comes to flat rides.

I think someone should submit an application for a federal grant of several million dollars to do a study to determine the proper definition of a "flat ride."

I'd include something to the effect of regular, periodic movement about a fixed point or axis, but then I guess that would exclude anything that travels along a track, and you'd have to fudge that to include dodgems as well.

Anyway, it looks like most parks are choosing just to define rides by a given "thrill" or intensity factor, and trying to achieve variety in that way.

I-Fan - good to see you can laugh about it. I meant to include a smiley in my post as well to show I wasn't trying to be mean.

Sounds like an idea for a T-shirt.

"Moosh got me good." (:

I'm sure they'll go flying off the racks.

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Intamin Fan said:Vater, all I'm saying is that if my friend were to call his Hummer H2 a car, I'd be a little bit worried. It's a truck. If you were to win an Escalade or a Suburban, would you call it a car? No, and neither would the insurance companies

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I'd love to see you come here and find at least 5 people that wouldn't look at you like you were crazy if you said "I got a new truck" and then led them to one of the above mentioned vehicles. *** Edited 6/22/2005 3:22:24 PM UTC by Houston Thrills***

Moosh, I like the tilted tower. Looks crazy.

Back on topic, I have to go with the majority as I and other coaster "geeks" I know refer to every non-coaster ride as flats, drop towers included. Of course, some of them I just refer to as "spin & puke" rides. ;)

Whoops, guess I was never on topic since it's about water parks! :) *** Edited 6/22/2005 5:30:57 PM UTC by Coasterbuzzer***

Why "spin & puke"? That has no poetry, no rhythm, no ... feeling. It's just harsh, vulgar even. I much prefer:

Whirl 'n Hurl
Spin 'n Spew
Twirl 'n Earl

you get the picture. ;)

lata, jeremy