originally posted on 4/29/2024
All Renderings: Courtesy of Vekoma. View full-sized image.
ACE members have experienced plenty of themed coasters. Often, the theming is elaborate (think VelociCoaster or Hagrid's Magic Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida). Sometimes theming is based on established intellectual property, sometimes it is created by the park, such as F.L.Y. at Phantasialand (Brühl, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany) or Dr. Diabolical's Cliffhanger at Six Flags Fiesta Texas (San Antonio).
When a park's stories are based on intellectual property (IP), such as Warner Bros. Movie World (Queensland, Gold Coast, Australia), then snagging one of the most well-known IPs is the Holy Grail. The movie-themed park has announced a new land based on the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz." Could there possibly be a more famous movie?
The park's major coasters are already based on DC movies and comics characters. Superman Escape is an Intamin hypercoaster, DC Rivals HyperCoaster is a renowned installation from Mack Rides and Green Lantern Coaster is an exceptionally large El Loco model from S&S. This spring, an Intamin Surf Rider launched shuttle will debut as Flash: Speed Force.
The only other coaster at the park is Road Runner Roller Coaster, a junior offering from Vekoma. But later this year, once the new attractions are completed, Warner Bros. Movie World will virtually double its coasters in 2024, starting with Flash: Speed Force.
Flight of the Wicked Witch.
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The new Wizard of Oz area, complete with an Emerald City, will feature two new Vekoma coasters — actually three, in a way.
Flight of the Wicked Witch’s loading area.
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Flight of the Wicked Witch will be a family suspended coaster that looks to be elaborately themed with the Wicked Witch's castle making for a fun fly-through. Passengers will soar overhead, which will result in great spectator appeal. Meanwhile, Kansas Twister will comprise two intertwining family boomerang coasters. They will twist and turn, interacting with ranch-style props and a barn. Depending on how one counts their personal track record, Movie World had four coasters before the 2024 season, and by the end of the year will have eight. (Australia is in the southern hemisphere, so summer comes in December.)
Kansas Twister.
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With the high-profile stats of the larger rides, a move to add more family attractions is a good one. Even hardcore thrill seekers can enjoy a spin on less daunting rides. The theming should make both of these new attractions quite notable.
— Tim Baldwin, ACE News
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