The violence is one thing. I think anyone here for the most part would be willing to endure a little (or even quite a bit) for a good to great ride. But i found the Son to be thouroughly underwhelming. Slow over every hill, no pacing, little lats, zero air. The loop is ok, but on a woody it's merely a gimick. More specifically i've been on dozens of loops, what's another one? For me it was all speed (and pain) or boredom at the top of a hill. Why would i ever want to ride that again? Besides, i'm an air whore so i have no reason to be in that park.
ErinGoBraugh said:
Would I be near to correct in thinking that there needs to be some ground-breaking revolutionary advances in wooden coaster engineering and construction for woodies over 120 feet to really be successful? This talk of the taller ones shaking themselves apart, becoming lame, providing uncomfortable rides, not being worth the time, hills being boring. Does something fundamental need to change? And what of Shivering Timbers? Is that over 120 feet tall?------------------
"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." e.e.cummings
I think what Intamin has done with the plug and play is pretty much what your describing. I haven't ridden one yet (is there more than one?), but those trains need to change for sure! ug. Shivering Timbers is over 120' yeah... it's like 125 I think. I rode it the day it opened and it was good fast smooth and some air. I went back last summer and it was bumpy in the valleys, not much air, and the return trip was pretty much (I can hear the slaps coming)... "boring."
Some of the best woodies out there aren't even over 100 feet. I can't believe the VIPER at SFGAm isn't rated higher. It's one of the most perfect coasters I've ever been on. It's got it's probs.. away by itself, big confusing station. But the ride runs perfect, fast, air on most hills. Not rough in the least. Could use a couple tunnels.
I just don't know why parks are still pushing the heights up. It just seems kinda rediculous, but it brings in money, they know peeps are very easily brainwashed.
meangene said:
The loop is ok, but on a woody it's merely a gimick.
thank you,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,thats what I always say. It should put on a hat and dance for us too its such a gimmick.
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"You know its a good ride when you come into the final break run wiping tears from your eyes"-me
-Danny
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Coaster Insomniacs
We are not talking about the quality of the ride or if the ride would be better w/o the loop, all we are saying is that its a gimmick, point, period, blank, don't mince words. When you have a loop on a wooden coaster that is a gimmick to me. When you lye down in a flying position on a rollercoaster *coughscreamburpsupermanultimateflightsneezemeow* that is also a gimmick to me, when you launch 0-70 in 4 seconds that's a gimmick to me, any questions? When you go too far outside the boundries of a traditional woodie or steel, it is a gimmick to me, not that its bad, but its a gimmick.
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"You know its a good ride when you come into the final break run wiping tears from your eyes"-me
*** This post was edited by DorneyDante 6/13/2003 11:48:07 AM ***
-Danny, not mincing words, just asking and siliti
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Coaster Insomniacs
*** This post was edited by Koaster King 6/13/2003 2:43:23 PM ***
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"You know its a good ride when you come into the final break run wiping tears from your eyes"-me
-Danny
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Coaster Insomniacs
In the future however, if the ride needs a retracking on some points, they will be better off with a full retracking...
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Roarrrr...
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"You know its a good ride when you come into the final break run wiping tears from your eyes"-me
Anyway, i DON'T think that the loop should come out. It was the only part of the ride besides the lift where i wasn't bored or getting the stuffing knocked out of me.
The Beast can also be quite rough. On this last trip i rode in the second overall seat and was beaten not quite as hard as on the Son, but that hadn't happened to me before. I think it was a combination of the seat and my less than perfect state after getting beaten on the Son and FOF (freak accident, i actually found the ride to be much better without the OTSRs) I didn't even bother with the Arrow looper... do i really have to explain that one??
-Danny
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Coaster Insomniacs
Son of Beast was originally designed to be the best wooden coaster in the world. I’m not the one to say if it is or not, that’s your job. But I will talk about the things that could be improved upon and the things that make the ride unique. This ride can be down right confusing. Some rides having half the train yelling for more while the other half begging for mercy. Different people have different opinions. We’re gonna look at both.
The loop is the first thing that stands out on this ride. Many people say it’s made out of steel and therefore Son of Beast should not get the record for "The Only Looping Wooden Coaster." Well in fact it’s made out of wood. The thing that makes a wooden coaster classified as wooden is not what holds it up, it is how the train runs on the track. A coaster must have steel wheels rolling along a flat steel rail in order for it to be wooden. A wooden coaster can be supported by all steel. Some of Custom Coasters International’s coasters prove this to be true. Although people believe what they believe Son of Beast in no way violates the category of a wooden coaster.
The loop is said by many to be the best on any coaster. The fact that there are no over the shoulder harnesses gives you more room and allows you to feel more free. This also provides a scare factor like none other for even the seasoned coaster rider. Another factor to add to the fear is the way that the loop was placed right in front of the station, to give you a long glare at it and try to make you change you mind before you strap yourself in. One thing that everyone loves is strong positive g’s. This loop is full of them no matter where you sit. Although it may not be the most enjoyable experience, on some encounters with Sonny the loop makes your head feel like it is going to explode from g-forces. You do not feel that everyday do you?
When Son of Beast opened it destroyed every wooden coaster record in existence, except it fell short of it’s father in length. The shear height, speed, and intensity of the ride is like no other. Son of Beast surely throws you around. If you don’t like getting beat up on a coaster, Son of Beast sure isn’t for you. Many seats provide different roughness. To many people the best seat is 6-2, the second to the back. It provides intensity and the smoothest ride. Another very popular seat is the very front (this seat can be a little rougher though). There’s nothing like looking down the 214 foot first drop and staring at what’s to come, the loop.
One thing that many people say that is terrible about the ride are the trains. They certainly aren’t made for the larger folks and people with long legs. The are tight, very compacted and can provide bruises to unprepared riders. Personally I believe the ride would become twice as good with new trains. Many people are disappointed when they’ve waited to ride Sonny and then find out they can’t fit in the trains. This then causes a late dispatch time and stacking of the following train. I know I don’t want to sit in the trains for any longer than I have to!
Along with Son of Beast there came a lot of controversy over the building of it. A part of the second hill fell over in construction due to high winds in a storm. The reason turned out to be that premature lumber was sold to Kings Island to use on their ride. Kings Island did not know about this at the time and quickly fixed the problem. Many other rumors were spread through the public including my favorite, "they couldn’t get the loop to stand up right. It fell down 7 times and they still can’t get it right." I surely hope you didn’t believe these kind because they were not true at all. It seems to seems to me that every record breaking coaster has had false rumors spread about the construction. Don’t believe them and stop spreading them.
Son of Beast has had it’s ups and down. But the staff at Kings Island continues to make it better year after year. In my opinion, Son of Beast doesn’t out do or fall short of it’s father. It has it’s own special characteristics that set it a part from any other wooden coaster I’ve ridden. Although the old Papa has more loyal enthusiasts to it, Son of Beast has quite a few of its own. It’s a great ride. One everyone should enjoy once. If you like it, ride it again and cherish it for all it’s worth. If you don’t, it’s a shame. It really is a gem. But that’s for you to decide on your own. So go take a few laps on Son of Beast, enjoy or hate, you gotta do it!
My Opinion: I LIKE Son of Beast. I was actually on the first train at Media Day, and if you think it was bad now, you should have ridden it then. Yeah, Son of Beast may be rough, but I don't understand the point in making wooden coaster extremely smooth. It takes the point out of them being wooden! Why not just build all steels? There are some down sides about Sonny, but all coasters do. I would get COMPLETELY new trains (ones that track better); add tunnels; get rid of the second helix and add one or two more airtime hills; and fill in some lost trees. Do I ride Sonny everytime I go to PKI? You bet, multiple times! I know that continuously works to make it better, and I know that won't stop. They've got the best wooden coaster maintenance department anywhere. If they didn't, all the 20,000 or so feet of track would have already rottened.
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ALL NEW COASTER SITE!
www.coasterinsomniacs.com
Closed topic.