originally posted on 7/30/2021 1:44:13 AM
The journey begins with a slow inline roll out of the station.
All photos courtesy Plopsaland De Panne. View full-sized image.
“Magical people of tomorrow, the wisdom of nature has brought you here. And you may rest assured, it will not desert you on your ride to happiness. After this point, your minds will never be the same.” So says a cosmic being projected on a screen above the roller coaster trains on The Ride To Happiness by Tomorrowland at Plopsaland De Panne (Adinkerke-De Panne, West Flanders, Belgium).
The new roller coaster opened in early July. The Ride To Happiness by Tomorrowland is admittedly a unique name, if not a bit quirky. The mouthful of a moniker is just one component of this new signature attraction.
So what does it mean: “By Tomorrowland”? Those in the know of European pop culture will be familiar with the techno music festivals called Tomorrowland that have risen to prominence over the past few years. The fantastical sets and theatrical magic have created a legendary wonderland that aims to top itself year after year. Based in Belgium, the Tomorrowland electronic music festival is a fitting complement to this new roller coaster, giving it a thematic overlay of cosmic and cool. The buildings and theming are otherworldly.
The partnership with Tomorrowland adds a fanciful layer to the new coaster. View full-sized image.
But what about the coaster? It is only the second Xtreme Spinning Coaster model from Mack Rides. Many ACEers are familiar with the first installation — Time Traveler at Silver Dollar City (Branson, Missouri). In the three years since that coaster wowed the United States, a Mack Rides official stated that the layout on this new European version has “taken it one big step further.”
Maximilian Roeser, marketing, Mack Rides, enthusiastically said, “The most impressive element is the one after the second launch where you go up to full speed and then head into a one-and-a-half heartline roll just to be sent down again. This would be a great element on any launch coaster — but with the spinning gondolas we go [to the] next level.”
ACEers will recognize the similarities between the trains on The Ride To Happiness and Time Traveler. View full-sized image.
The trains look very similar when comparing the two rides, steampunk meets tomorrow fits both. The big difference is the ride experience. Silver Dollar City was adamant that “you won’t spin like a teacup.” Plopsaland wanted more spin, so Belgium riders get more rotation. The Ride To Happiness is also a bit faster and features five inversions compared with Time Traveler’s three.
On a ride such as this, stats don’t tell the true picture. A slow heartline roll (which Mack did on Carowinds’ Copperhead Strike in Charlotte, North Carolina) creeps riders slowly from the station. The two launches create a continuously fluid ride experience (also like Copperhead Strike), reaching 56 mph. A height of 108 feet and length of 3,018 feet seem somewhat modest, but bear in mind that it is all action — none of that is lift hill.
In addition to the heartline roll, the other inversions have enough weirdness to them that describing them is a challenge. To get a better picture, one can watch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzOWS6zHZQE.
The setting of the new ride with themed buildings and water areas only adds to this one-of-a-kind experience. The Ride To Happiness will surely be a major drawing card on ACE’s international trip in 2022.
— Tim Baldwin, ACE News Editor
Five inversions twist riders in all directions — while spinning! — making for a different experience each time. View full-sized image.
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