[Jay]

1) Millennium Force - Cedar Point
2) Intimidator 305 - Kings Dominion


????

The only coasters taller than these in North America are Top Thrill Dragster, Kingda Ka, and Superman: The Escape. None of which fit the definition of giga.

[Jarsh]

From what I'm reading elsewhere, the restraints sound to be like those on Pilgrim's Plunge and not an OTSR.

I was talking with a friend today who spoke face to face with Richard Zimmerman today about the new coaster. He specifically asked him about the OTSR and he told me Zimmerman said they were back & forth with the idea of what type of restraint they would use on this coaster. He said for a time there, they had decided against the overhead lap restraint in favor of the conventional lap restraint, but at the last minute decided to add the overhead type.

Now, as to exactly the type of OSTR, I didn't get into that with him, but KD did struggle with this decision according to Zimmerman.

Agreed. I have it on good word that Sandor said himself the renderings ARE correct.

~jarsh

[MarkD]

WOW! The KD gang just don't get it I guess. I am truly looking forward to riding the Intimidator305 next year along with our NEW ride. Why is it that most people seem to put it down? Did they expect 1 mile of just going up and down? I like the layout. It has both air time and g force turns. Hmmm, kind of like the Beast of old, just in metal form. I do hope for everyones sake though that the over the shoulder lap bar has some extra room for head sways.

[KDCOASTERFAN]

reading this, http://www.intimidator305.com/public/latest/ it says this is only the 2nd giga coaster buiilt in North America? no way thats accurate.

Umm that is an accurate statement as KK is not classified by intamin as a giga but as a strata coaster so,while KK may be taller for it's type this ride will be the tallest of it's type.

The only reason we got cheated out of the B&M & it went to you guys is allegedly due to BGE's marketing contract with B&M,which I don't really believe because otherwise KD never would've recieved Dominator despite the fact that it was a used coaster.

[Chris]

reading this, http://www.intimidator305.com/public/latest/ it says this is only the 2nd giga coaster buiilt in North America? no way thats accurate.

Umm that is an accurate statement as KK is not classified by intamin as a giga but as a strata coaster so,while KK may be taller for it's type this ride will be the tallest of it's type.

The only reason we got cheated out of the B&M & it went to you guys is allegedly due to BGE's marketing contract with B&M,which I don't really believe because otherwise KD never would've recieved Dominator despite the fact that it was a used coaster.

When did Intimidator grow 6 feet to surpass Millennium Force?

[carowindsman6654]

Well, we can now confirm this coaster will have OTSR's. The description of the vehicles has been changed: http://www.intimidator305.com/public/ri ... istics.cfm

[lily the walrus]

I am very excited about it. I think the height and speed, in and of themselves, justify the hype. I have ridden Kingda Ka once, and have never been on any other 'gigas' or 'stratas' (YET). KK was a huge, thrilling, exhilarating rush for me. It didn't matter-- to me-- that the ride was over in 30 seconds....the whole point was the burst of speed and the incredible height. I wasn't expecting it to be anything else. So personally, I feel really lucky to have this very, very tall and very,very fast machine moving in relatively close to home, and it surely has a lot more to offer than 30 seconds up & back down again. As for you jaded folks.... seriously, in spite of the various complaints voiced about the layout, do you not get just a wee bit excited imagining yourself plummeting 300 ft. at an 85 degree angle, approaching 90 mph?! Also, while I understand and support the general protest against OTSRs, to me they look fairly unobtrusive as pictured.

Mostly, I feel lucky to have two new additions of this magnitude at both parks. Looks like it's going to be a "Cedar Fair Platinum Pass" kinda year...better start saving up now. And all of you living in the triangle area are going to HAVE to do that because it's almost the exact same distance to either park for you guys!

P.S. full disclosure: though I am indeed excited about Intimidator 305, I wouldn't trade it for our new B&M hyper for anything!!!

[RacerAlex]

Let me first say I think Intimidator 305 will be a nice addition to the region's coasters. But I think I understand why there's controversy around the unvieling of the design. Mainly, when word got out that this was going to be a Giga coaster, there's a certain amount of expectation - and rightfully so. This being the third giga in the world, one could clearly expect it to surpass SD2000's 318' height. Some people commented after the fact that its a minor difference from a rider's POV and that's true enough. But from a budget versus promotional POV, not going that extra 15' was a bad decision. Some KD fansite members attach a price tag of 2 million for that extra 15'. No way. With I305's integrated lift trussing, it would have been a fraction of that estimate. Pennies on the dollar in the big picture.

And also the precedence for a giga based on MF and SD2000 is that it's simply a huge coaster. Huge height, huge elements, and huge length. But I305 clearly has broken the trend. That said, I expect I305 will be it's own experience and be a good one. But in all honesty, Cedar Fair must have seen this coming.

[lily the walrus]

But in all honesty, Cedar Fair must have seen this coming.

I agree. I am sure they also know a few feet, give or take, won't make one bit of difference to the vast majority of paying park visitors. Along the same lines, I get the sense that the only people who tend to vociferously oppose OTSRs are coaster enthusiasts (count me in). I know several folks who like coasters well enough, but they are much more scared of ones that lack OTSRs, because they don't seem as "safe"--even to the point that some won't ride a coaster with lap restraints only. So, in the long run, I wonder if this feature that can be a real detractor for enthusiasts might actually help get more riders on the thing, especially considering the -ahem- intimidating height/speed/descent angle.

[Davidtmp]

I'm kinda wondering if an aspect of this coaster people seem to forget: Could going around these turns at high speeds give you a sense of what the Nascar drivers feel? I mean, they are going around a 33degree banked turn at 140. This ride could give that sense, but not sure how smooth it would be with OTS. Take a helmet with you if you are scared, just adds to the experience.
I'm going to get up there next season and get a feel for this 85degree plunge from 305'. I think the expectations weren't what people up that way were wanting, and they now feel jaded or something. I haven't been home enough the last few days to get to the KD fansite and see what they are saying, maybe at some point tonight I can get by there. Maybe it's a few bad apples. Next year is going to be fun!

[chknwing]

I don't recall seeing many left turns on that coaster

[Davidtmp]

I don't recall seeing many left turns on that coaster

HaHa. Technicalities.
oh, and thanks for changing your avatar. The other one kept making me hungry!

[derek_lentz]

Take a helmet with you if you are scared, just adds to the experience.

It would be interesting to see if they would let someone do that.

[Jonathan]

John Pagel, marketing manager at Kings Dominion, claims the restraints will be cloth straps and not like on the other Intamin coasters.

At this point with so many conflicting statements it seems like we won't know for sure until the trains arrive on site.

[derek_lentz]

Probably like this:
http://rcdb.com/4309.htm?p=23290