originally posted on 4/2/2021 2:26:16 PM
Adventureland’s new Dragon Slayer has a slightly more compact layout than its other North American brethren.
Photo: Tom Nickerson. View full-sized image.
In 2015, S&S Worldwide debuted its latest concept, the 4D Free Spin Coaster. The first appeared as Batman The Ride at Six Flags Fiesta Texas (San Antonio). Capitalizing on the strength of the much more expensive 4D coaster (such as the original X at Six Flags Magic Mountain developed by Arrow), S&S engineers took the cantilevered approach in innovative directions. The massive vehicles — which made quite the show when unveiled at the 2014 IAAPA Attractions Expo — had inverted flips initiated by a newly applied magnetic technology. It was a fresh concept.
Until.
Much like the trajectory of the Vekoma Boomerang, the 4D Free Spin spoke to potential customers with its selling points, particularly big thrills in a compact space. And like the Boomerang, these coasters started dotting the national theme park map. While certainly fun, it was all soon “cloned” for those who savored the more signature rides in a park.
Three more are being installed this year, but what is interesting is that each one is different from the other. As reported previously in ACE News, the coaster going into Motiongate (Dubai, United Arab Emerates) is adopting a thematic makeover involving the “John Wick” movie franchise. The indoor queue will allow guests to choose which storyline they wish to pursue, making the decision of which side they wish to ride. John Wick: Open Contract will join five other roller coasters at Motiongate. Of note, this ride was originally manufactured for the Six Flags Dubai park that never came to fruition.
When John Wick: Open Contract opens, the enclosed queue line will prompt riders to make a storyline decision.
Photo: Courtesy S&S. View full-sized image.
Closer to home, Adventureland (Des Moines, Iowa) is already testing Dragon Slayer, but sharp-eyed enthusiasts will note that it is different from all others in North America. While it still stands 110 feet as the others do, this one has a shorter track length and a tighter footprint. For coaster fans who have ridden several of these type rides now, it should make them pause and say, “Wait, that felt different.”
Chinese regulations make Ocean Flower Island Fairyland’s layout less extreme.
Photo: Courtesy S&S. View full-sized image.
The third new-for-2021 installation is at Ocean Flower Island Fairyland (Danzhou, China). Even more noticeable are the changes to the track design on this model. S&S has shared that China has different G-force requirements, and to meet those qualifications, the track layout has been modified. It should be interesting to well-traveled enthusiasts to see how they can discern the difference in ride experiences.
When all three open in 2021, there will then be 11 4D Free Spin Coasters around the globe.
— Tim Baldwin, ACE News Editor
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