Who has ridden Tomb Raider ?

I waited for more than 5 hours for it total, between thursday night and Friday morning, and I loved it. However, I won't wiat for anything more than 2 hours for it now.

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I`ve ridden Son of Beast 67 times!

You know, after hearing all of the comments about how it's "just a Top Spin in a box" both during the winter, and hearing the comments now that the ride has finally opened, I've again come to the realization that some people will NEVER give PKI credit where credit is due. I mean, people were blasting the PKI marketing division (which is definitely one of the best in the industry) for not having the ride open on Thursday night? I don't see the logic in that.

Also, perhaps it's just me, but there's more to amusement parks than just coasters. People for years were complaining about PKI taking out good flat rides, and now that they put in a (quite awesome on it's own, without the theming) flat ride, people are complaining because it's not another coaster. PKI have already announced that they are done with trying to keep up with the coaster wars, and they instead are focusing on a UNIQUE experience, and I think that that's awesome. Sure, it's not everyone's cup of tea, but so are coasters to some people. PKI is trying to attract more than just the coaster crowd.

I was there on Friday night, and I overheard many of the GP commenting on how nice the ride looked, and it sounded from all of the screams on the ride that the ride is definitely working. I have NEVER been as scared as when we did the ending thing with the stalactites (sp?). Sure, it may not be the most intense ride I've been on, but when I think about how much effort went into sychronizing the effects on the ride and the scenery, I remember how great the ride actually is. One of the neat things about a Top Spin is that it allows you to swing very closely to objects, and the ride takes advantage of that "up-closeness."

So, I recommend at least riding the ride at least once, and if you don't like it, then it's understandable. But if you don't like it, then don't bash PKI for it. I hope that this may fuel other parks to think about creating more immersive and unique experiences. Everyone's against cookie-cutters, right? I think Tomb Raider: The Ride is a step in the right direction to overcoming the "cookie-cutter mentality."

People are starting to hate on PKI like it's Cedar Point or something. And that's a good thing for the park! When you are among the best, you're under a microscope.

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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"

HAAAAAALLELUJAH!

Jeff, if only others could see the light! For goodness sake, that is what I find most comical about enthusiasts. It is like reverse phychology.

There is no such thing as bad press.

Shaggy

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Shaggy
A.K.A. John K.

I`ve riden the ride three times now. Are they`re different ride programs? I rode it Friday morning and then again twice yesterday and it felt like the rides yesterday were a little more intense than on Friday and that the special effects were slightly different. Maybe they`re still fine tuning the effects. I absolutly l0ove the ride, which is bad when I`m with my cousin who is 50" tall. In the pictures of the queue line on this site, it shows tarps over it to block the sun. Why did the park take these down?

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I`ve ridden Son of Beast 67 times!

I've not heard about them being taken down. If they were, I'm betting that it's because of the high winds today.

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http://www.PKIGuide.com

Hey! I like rides in boxes! No point in using different terminology!

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"I'll bet that thing hits 5 Gs going through that loop.....faaar ooouut!"

Jeff,

Good point! Very well spoken!

Incidentallist,

I heard at least three comments from folks at media day that were expecting a coaster of some sort in that building. When they were looking at the test seats, they asked me if I knew who made this new coaster. I simply told them it wasn't a coaster. They seemed to blow off my words and continued to guess who made the coaster.

As soon as our first ride was over, those same folks looked up at me, soaking wet, and said, "Your right, it isn't a coaster!' Did they like the ride? Yes they did. Will there be others that don't? You can bet on it.

I think I predicted a few months ago that the majority of those folks that are bashing the park for adding such a great new ride are probably the same people that were expecting a coaster, simulator, or something like that. From the sounds of a few people, that is what happend. They wanted a coaster, but when they didn't get it, they became negative. Why on earth would someone want to get ticked off at the park for adding something like Tomb Raider. Perhaps they simply can't see the whole picture or something? Who knows?

Robbie,

I am not sure about different ride programs at this time, but out of the 7 times Shaggy and I rode it, things did feel a bit different. It also depends on where you sit. The front row is a lot more intense than the other two rows.

PKI_for_life,

Nice way to look at it. Not everyone is going to like this ride. Those that don't like it have to realize that there will be those that will love it.

-Sean

I waited an hour and a half just for the two pre-shows and I was not disappointed in the least. And I would gladly do it again... without even riding the ride! It really should be called Tomb Raider:The Experience(even though we love those TRTRTRs), because there really is so much build up to it than just riding it. When the lights when out in Pre-show room 2, my heart was pumping sooo fast and I even knew I was going out the "Last chance" door and not riding.

My friend and I even stood at the exit to see people's reactions for about a half hour and to me, that was as much fun as I think the ride would have been( I almost brought paper to write down quotes and talk to people about their exact feelings for the ride, lol). Yeah, I'm weird, but that's just me.

I have a feeling that over the next few years, CP and PKI will be in a pretty fierce yet quiet competition overall with each other for both attendence and being one of the best parks in the World. These things will be very helpful to both the parks and the visitors and we'll be getting more rides and they'll be getting more money. I can't believe that we have three parks in Ohio that almost completely fill the void of anything a park or coaster enthusiast could ever want.

I don't think some people know how big of a leap forward Tomb Raider is for the entire seasonal theme park industry! People coming off the ride aren't thinking, "I can't believe they put one of those top spins in a box!" Most will probably never be able to even closely draw what they think the system looks like! All they will know is that it was fun, that it was unlike anything they're ever seen outside of Florida and California, and that there's another reason to come back(which not only helps the park, but the people going, the thrill park industry, and the economy).

I hope I haven't gone too far off the edge or made anything up in my little rambling, but, yeah,... it's all... it's all good. :)

Danny,

I don't think you went too far off the edge but you did make one great point. The majority of folks that ride Tomb Raider aren't going to really care about what type of ride it actually is. They just want to be amused and from the looks of it, it's working.

Another thing that should be noted is while there may be some folks that have been to Florida or California to check out the highly themed attractions at their parks, most people that go to PKI probably haven't seen theming like this before so they really are amazed by the eye candy. Shaggy and I both rode twice on Wednesday night with some of the GP that had no idea what the attraction was. It was great hearing and seeing their reactions.

I have a feeling that this won't be the last time we see something this detailed at PKI. =:^)

-Sean

Giant Top Spin?
Sounds cool, well I don't think im gonna be making the trip to PKI.