[Capler]

They'll just think, oh, just like Intimidator because it's big and tall.

No, they won't. Why does everyone on here seem to think this?

You guys are all so into coasters that you have lost all comprehension of the perspective of the average park visitor. Not to mention if that was an actual problem Cedar Fair would already know it having done the exact same thing at Canada's Wonderland.

That is what gets me about these type of forums. People assume park companies don't know what they are doing. They have years of experience at this and put millions of dollars of their money into the decision. Yet we think we know what is best for a park, and most of this is based on our personal preference. I guarantee if you polled the general public as to which Intimidator is best, ours would be the hands down winner. Why? It's big, tall, fast, smooth, the seats are comfortable with great views and the line moves fast. There is nothing wrong with I-305, but that is more of an enthusiast coaster, -not very family friendly. On our Intimidator you see lots of parents with kids, and older people, they love it.

[Jay]

I don't think the park NEEDS a giga to even bring in that many guests.

Guests don't care about breaking records, they care about a new coaster and one that looks fun or interesting.

I have yet to hear anyone complain that Banshee only broke one record. I keep hearing how great the ride it is.

All that being said, the park does need something even bigger than Intimidator to make it a destination park of sorts. With 3 world class coasters and 11 other average coasters, they will be well on their way.

Thanks for steering us back on topic Wes. It's also nice to hear a dissenting opinion from the rest of the thread. This was my primary question. Build something giant and expensive to grab the headlines, or build something cheaper, smaller and that's a lot of fun and has good word of mouth buzz, in addition to an ad campaign that promotes it correctly. Could the attendence figures be comparable?

Also I maybe should retitle this thread to say "next year." I would have liked to see the giga come after they build the park up some (to equip the extra people properly, not the rides so much). But again I have no idea what all they have planned for the offseason, so I could be eating my words next year.

Anyway good thread for the most part guys, keep it up.

[arby]

I don't think the park needs a giga to bring in the projected guests. Most of the real people I talk to really don't care about world records or the tallest record. If you talk to most of them, they ask, 'Is Intimidator the tallest roller coaster in the U.S?'

A giga will certainly bring in more people. But I also think that two properly marketed coasters around 10 - 15 mil each would bring in even more people. Tallest dive coaster in the south means just as much to the average guest as Tallest roller coaster in the world. Remember, they're not trying to draw the extra few thousand enthusiast guests but the hundreds of thousands in the outlying areas of their market.

On the flip side, if they don't do something about incoming and outgoing traffic flow with this many more people coming in and the addition of a huge Cabelas attraction using the same light, the traffic is really going to hurt them. I don't think they need some multimillion dollar interchange, etc., but they need to come up with a good traffic flow solution. If not, people aren't going to want to come.

There are multiple decent lower cost solutions since it is acceptable to most of us whether we go left or right at the main light. While left is more convenient, I'm just as happy if I could get to that right turn lane. Usually it's nearly impossible to get over to the right because cars are going in all directions.

[Jay]

Holy crap I never even considered the Cabelas. That's a great point, and hopefully the park and Cabelas work together to provide a good solution for exiting the area. Maybe even split the cost.

[arby]

Maybe I'm looking at it too simplistically, but it seems really simple to me. Stop allowing traffic where the 2 red X's are, bring traffic into the side of the parking lot near the park, and have it exit on the side near the road. That way you have that whole exit road to get to the lane you want. With this approach, you'd probably have to add a light along that exit road for traffic to exit Cabelas. Additionally they could let traffic out only by Thunder Road for right turns only.

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[theintimidator]

I mean, they probably will... At least most of my friends and family did. When I show people all these POVS of cool coasters. You want to know what they tell me? "OMG, it's just like Intimidator." And just because I'm into roller coasters, doesn't mean I don't think like a visitor. But, let me say this respectfully... Canada's wonderland did not really need a giga coaster, but I'm glad they did get one. But look guys, itdoesn't matter, I just hope the giga will have some ejector air like Goliath. It doesn't matter how big or how tall it is, the main purpose is to provide that adrenaline rush and thrill at the end of the ride.

[swampfox43]

Maybe I'm looking at it too simplistically, but it seems really simple to me. Stop allowing traffic where the 2 red X's are, bring traffic into the side of the parking lot near the park, and have it exit on the side near the road. That way you have that whole exit road to get to the lane you want. With this approach, you'd probably have to add a light along that exit road for traffic to exit Cabelas. Additionally they could let traffic out only by Thunder Road for right turns only.

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In the early years of Carowinds, there was an exit further up where your blue arrows are in the upper right side of your drawing. It makes total sense to bring back an exit there if you think about it. This would be one of the cheaper ways Carowinds could help the exiting traffic rather than have everyone file out near the entrance sign.