originally posted on 5/27/2024
Photo: Courtesy of Legoland Windsor. View full-sized image.
The Legoland parks are commonly known as being for kids. However, the chain, operated by Merlin Entertainments, has invested in some nifty roller coasters.
Last year, Legoland Deutschland (Günzburg, Bavaria, Germany) acquired the chain’s first roller coaster by Bolliger & Mabillard: Maximus — Der Flug des Wachters. A wing coaster with inversions? In a Legoland park? Merlin was upping its game as far as Legolands were concerned.
This year, Legoland Windsor (England) introduced Minifigure Speedway. While this attraction isn’t necessarily a must-do for thrill-seeking enthusiasts, it is notable for being the park’s fastest ride.
Minifigure Speedway features parallel tracks allowing riders to race one another.
Photo: Justin Garvanovic. View full-sized image.
As seen throughout the world, a big trend in parks is offering family coasters. Those that go forward and backward have marketable thrills as well. Vekoma has found its family boomerang coaster to be a big seller. But other manufacturers offer the product as well. In Windsor, it’s Zierer.
Zierer markets a line of family coasters under a Force lineup, ranging from small- to moderate-sized family thrills. The Dueling Reverse Coaster mimics that of the Vekoma concept, in which riders are pulled up backward before being released into the coaster’s layout, only to do it all again in reverse. Here, two parallel tracks race alongside and duel along the way.
Legoland Windsor’s new coaster represents one of Zierer’s entries in the red-hot family coaster market.
Photo: Justin Garvanovic. View full-sized image.
On Minifigure Speedway, passengers rush up to 35 mph, twisting and turning and zipping through a billboard. Before reversing directions, the trains catch a second tire-driven lift to reach full height again (unlike Vekoma’s).
Roxie — a 30-foot-tall “minifigure” — watches over racers from the middle of the coaster’s layout.
Photo: Courtesy of Legoland Windsor. View full-sized image.
One side is called Legends, the other side Allstars. Roxie, a minifigure in a racing helmet, is anything but “mini” as she stands 30 feet tall in the middle of the course.
Online reports state that the curves have some notable positive-G forces, particularly felt when in reverse.
Minifigure Speedway provides Legoland Windsor guests a speedy but family-friendly roller coaster experience.
Photo: Justin Garvanovic. View full-sized image.
In 2020, DUPLO Dino Coaster was a kiddie offering added to the park. Up to that time, the only other coasters (Dragon and Dragon’s Apprentice) were built in the late 1990s. Thus, even if this is a “family” coaster, a new larger coaster — and the fastest ride in the park — is certainly welcome news for the park’s audience.
— Tim Baldwin, ACE News
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