originally posted on 10/19/2020
A Central Florida Coaster Update
Photo: Courtesy Bioreconstruct. View full-sized image.
Florida theme parks have taken a severe revenue hit during this unprecedented time of the global pandemic. With the parks being forced to temporarily close during the spring and summer months of 2020, income virtually disappeared. However, construction of future attractions seemed to be continuing throughout the closures. On September 28, a few days after accidentally leaking the name of their conspicuous new ride, Universal Orlando Resort announced its newest species of roller coaster, VelociCoaster. This Jurassic World-themed coaster, manufactured by Intamin Amusement Rides, is set to open in the summer of 2021 at Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park in Orlando, Florida.
Photo: Christian Tomas. View full-sized image.
Photo: Scott Shaffer. View full-sized image.
Construction on this massive addition began in early 2019, and by mid-spring 2020, it was clearly visible to guests that a black-colored, Intamin roller coaster was being built behind the Jurassic Park Discovery Center. With no official announcement being made, the park completed the track installation and started a train pull-through test in early September 2020. Once the pull-through test was completed, the park announced the details of its stunning and breathtaking ride. VelociCoaster will feature intense elements that include multiple launches and speeds up to 70 mph. An iconic zero-gravity stall will suspend riders upside down for more than 100 feet along the track. The coaster will also feature a top hat element at a height of 155 feet and an 80-degree drop.
Photo: Scott Shaffer. View full-sized image.
Jurassic World VelociCoaster will feature four inversions.
Photo: Scott Shaffer. View full-sized image.
Universal Orlando Resort states that its new Jurassic World VelociCoaster will be the first coaster based on the “Jurassic World” franchise. The resort has also stated that movie characters Owen Grady (played by Chris Pratt) and Claire Dearing (played by Bryce Dallas Howard) will make appearances in the ride. Even though a pull-through test has been completed, a lot of theming is still under construction. This includes rockwork and other themed elements that will immerse riders into the iconic story of Jurassic World.
The new coaster will sport 4,700 feet of track.
Photo: Scott Shaffer. View full-sized image.
Pull through testing of the vehicles has begun.
Photo: Scott Shaffer. View full-sized image.
With the track complete, theming of the coaster is one of its final stages.
Photo: Scott Shaffer. View full-sized image.
In other Florida news, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment has announced that both roller coasters slated to open in 2020 have now been postponed until 2021. The delays are the result of construction liens being placed on their attractions, possibly caused by the loss of revenue and attendance from COVID-19-related closures and precautions. Iron Gwazi (Rocky Mountain Construction) located at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has been seen randomly testing, but construction appears to be complete. Ice Breaker (Premier Rides) located at SeaWorld Orlando has not been seen testing but appears to be in the same state of construction for a few months now.
Iron Gwazi
Photo: Scott Shaffer. View full-sized image.
Photo: Scott Shaffer. View full-sized image.
Ice Breaker
Photo: Keith Kastelic. View full-sized image.
Photo: Courtesy Bioreconstruct. View full-sized image.
Fun Spot America, located in Orlando, has also completed a track upgrade on its incredible wooden roller coaster, White Lightning (Great Coasters International, Inc.). During the IAAPA Expo in 2019, Great Coasters International unveiled a new prototype track that would replace wooden track with steel to increase smoothness and reliability. While the announcement did not include when or where this new track would be installed, the announcement took place at the Fun Spot park in Orlando. In September 2020, Fun Spot announced that White Lightning would be closed for a long weekend for track updates and maintenance. A small section of the ride, located near the final 90-degree turn towards the station, was then replaced with the prototype track. On September 22, the park reopened White Lightning to the public but has reclosed the ride on several occasions for added maintenance.
GCII’s Clair Hain (left) oversees the track construction.
Photo: Marlon Scott. View full-sized image.
Photo: Scott Shaffer. View full-sized image.
Walt Disney World also has two roller coasters under construction; both are currently set for a 2022 opening. At Disney’s Magic Kingdom, TRON Lightcycle Run (Vekoma) is moving along very nicely with the main show building and track almost complete. At Disney’s Epcot, it is a little more difficult to judge how far along the construction is of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (Vekoma). This is because Disney completed the exterior show building in 2019, preceding the actual ride construction, thus keeping most of the track and ride construction under wraps.
Track outside of the main building is already evident on TRON Lightcycle Run.
Photo: Keith Kastelic. View full-sized image.
From above, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind shows the size of the project.
Photo: Courtesy Bioreconstruct. View full-sized image.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has shut down a lot of operations in the Florida parks, it appears that construction on certain rides has not taken a major hit. Both 2021 and 2022 are going to be great years for new attractions in Florida.
— Michael Christopher, ACE Florida Regional Representative
Photo: Courtesy Bioreconstruct. View full-sized image.
Photo: Courtesy Bioreconstruct. View full-sized image.
These three aerial photos show the progress made within the last year.
Photo: Courtesy Bioreconstruct. View full-sized image.
@#$%&!
#ACENews