[FamousAmos]

What forested area?

[BelowThePeak]

Isn't there one? I see a sizable patch of trees on Google Maps, although the pathway doesn't really go through it.

EDIT: I watched a walkthrough (I haven't been inside Dinosaurs Alive in a while), and I guess the pathway does go through the area I mentioned a little bit. It's not as forested as I thought, although it's certainly more forested than any other coaster in the park.

[Edwardo]

When they started rebuilding Thunder Road they must have intended on running the ride long enough to get a good ROI otherwise they would haven't started the rebuild to begin...

Yes...And when GCI gave them the total amount it would cost to finish the job once they found out what all was wrong...They realized they'd no longer get a return if they kept pumping money in to it. It's...not that hard of a concept to grasp.

But Wormy says we have to stop, and obviously you don't understand basic business concepts.

As far as RMC, I'll be happy with a GCI coaster when it gets built. Especially if its like Thunderhead or the one at St. Louis.

[coasterbruh]

Adding a new GCI (or any other manufacturer) back there would also open up an opportunity to finally connect the dead-end path of planet snoopy around woodstock express and the gliders. Thus making more room for a planet snoopy expansion. Killing two birds with one stone. New coaster, and kiddie land expansion.

Actually, it was always connected until dinos.

[BelowThePeak]

I will say, though, even though a lot of us rag on it, I'm going to sort of miss Dinosaurs Alive when it's finally time to put something else in its place. It's a cool attraction but just has way too big of a footprint that I think could be utilized better (i.e. something that I would like more ).

Still, I'd love to potentially see a coaster in that spot be themed to prehistoric times. That way, some of the dinosaurs could stay.

[Kineticmind]

I seriously doubt Dinos will be removed anytime soon. You have to remember that they are used to market and cater to school groups that come in the spring on Fridays as the schools can pass them off as semi-educational.

The spring time school trips are a huge attendance driver for the park on Fridays before school lets out for the summer.

Unfortunately, we must always remember, money talks. And while it might not always seem that way, Dinos does have a strategic marketing advantage that the Cedar Fair parks still view as a valuable ROI.

[arby]

I didn't feel anything at the valley of the first hill when I was there Veteran's Day weekend. Like Jarsh said, it was fixed.

[BelowThePeak]

I seriously doubt Dinos will be removed anytime soon. You have to remember that they are used to market and cater to school groups that come in the spring on Fridays as the schools can pass them off as semi-educational.

The spring time school trips are a huge attendance driver for the park on Fridays before school lets out for the summer.

Unfortunately, we must always remember, money talks. And while it might not always seem that way, Dinos does have a strategic marketing advantage that the Cedar Fair parks still view as a valuable ROI.

Is it really that big a draw for schools? I could see elementary school teachers taking students through it, but I can't imagine teachers would take anyone middle school-age or over through it. Granted, when I was in middle school, Dinosaurs Alive was still a few years away from being built, but when I took my middle school trip to Carowinds, we were at the age where we wanted to split up into groups and explore the park on our own. I see the same when I come to Carowinds in the spring - very few students are actually with faculty, much less being forced to walk through attractions.

For all I know, Dinosaurs Alive could be drawing in a lot of revenue, but it never seems to have crowds when I'm at the park. I could see the park keeping it for another five years, perhaps, but I'm not sure how much longer than that (although that could be wishful thinking on my part). Eventually, they'll want to revitalize the old County Fair area, and the best way to do that (in my opinion) would be to add another coaster, and that's really the only area in County Fair that it could fit without a ton of rearranging.

[FamousAmos]

They could always use the Dino's in Rip Roarin' Rapids

[Tosu97]

Gotta say... I rode Storm Chaser this summer, most people said that one looked small and like the weakest RMC, but it was really good. I think if RMC got their hands on Hurler they could make it comparable to Storm Chaser. And if that were the case we'd be getting what I think would be the 2nd best ride in the park. Either way it looks like Hurler will indeed be converted.... wrong hurler though.

[coasterbruh]

Have you been on other RMC's?

[Jay]

Late to the party as usual, but I voted for "no RMC, please."

And at the risk of this becoming yet another wishlist thread, the old "Wayne's World" area still kinda looks like crap. We have a nice new shiny awesome coaster, Fury 325, and the Coke Marketplace which looks nice, but not sure how useful/popular it is.

Hurler and Juke Box Diner both look terrible. RMC'ing Hurler won't make it look any better, even if the ride is great. Ideally, they could rip out both of these, replace Hurler with a mid-size GCI. Have the lift point off towards Drop Tower and then the drop right towards Fury. You could kind of have a twisty double out and back thing with a good layout. GCI coasters are gorgeous too, and would complement Fury nicely.

Replace or expand Juke Box Diner with something with lots of indoor seating and an expanded menu. Kind of like how they turned Outer Hanks into Chickie and Pete's. No one wants to sit outside on a hot summer day (why are half the umbrellas always missing?), and why would anyone eat there when you can have better food at Harmony Hall?

As for the Dino's area, I've said this plenty of times before, but that should remain a kiddie/family area. Expand Planet Snoopy with a decent number of new rides from Zamperla like KD did a few years back. There's enough room to also have a decently sized family coaster there too. Think like Firechaser Express or Cobra's Curse sized or a bit smaller. Also add a few more paths so there aren't so many dead ends anymore, like before the Dinos.

[uscbandfan]

I don't know the particulars. I just know he told me that she got the concussion and it was on that ride. I don't know what hill or whatever. It was a diagnosed concussion by a doctor. That's all I know.

As to Hurler, I broke a rib on it on the turn under the lift hill (that's turn 3, right?) It threw me against the left side of the car so hard. That was in 1994. Painful rest of that day.

Speaking of which, I was twisted so hard on Batman at SFOG back in the late 90s that I broke a rib there too.

I've ridden both rides many times since with no issues. I guess holding on the bars and handles like the instructions say would help (especially in Hurler's case) but where's the fun in that? I hold my hands up the entire ride if I can.

I've never touched the handles on Fury after the last 10 feet of the lift hill. The way it's designed, if the bar came loose and you were holding onto the handle, it would throw you out anyway if the seat belt didn't hold. So, why hold on?

(As an edit, I have found my seat belt undone more times than once on Fury when the ride ended. Not sure if the restraining bar is pushing against the button or what.)

[Axel]

^

[FamousAmos]

Have you reported the seat belt issue before? If not you should email that to the park so they can look into it while everything is being taken apart. I'm not sure if they put new seat belts on or not. I'm sure that they check them, but you never know. May still want to report it.