Fans intrigued by coaster activity
Ride under construction at Universal park
Florida’s theme parks are preparing to unleash a pack of roller coasters. Visitors currently can spot five works in progress, including construction for one that hasn’t been announced yet for Universal’s Islands of Adventure.
After months of rumors and heavy machinery in action, it’s clear to passers-by that what’s going up behind the construction wall is a coaster. Looking across the central lagoon, a brown steel track can be seen from every “land” at Islands. A giant loop — perhaps taller than nearby Hogwarts Castle — recently was set into place as well as a ceremonial topping-off flag that sports a dinosaur logo.
Dan Leavelle, owner of Midway Mayhem website, has been following the project for a couple of years, he said, from the early rumors through surveying markers, anonymously sent photos, government permits and giant cranes.
“Early on, we knew something big was coming,” Leavelle said. “Piece by piece, we get some more information. And soon enough, we’ve got a layout that we know roughly what’s going to happen now throughout the entire process.”
He estimates that the coaster’s layout is about 90 percent complete.
The construction runs on the waterfront along the park’s Jurassic Park area, but it stretches from a section of Toon Lagoon over to Wizarding World of Harry Potter, where the trail curves within feet of the back of Three Broomsticks restaurant.
There’s been no announcement from Universal Orlando, so there’s neither official name nor opening date.
Other roller coasters under construction are Iron Gwazi at Busch Gardens Tampa, Icebreaker at SeaWorld Orlando, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot and Tron Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom. There are no specific opening dates for any of those attractions either, and their launches are now complicated by the coronavirus pandemic and other factors.
These are significant thrill rides, said Chris Kraftchick, region director of the American Coaster Enthusiasts fan club.
“We’re talking five major coasters, so the excitement level, as a Florida-based member, was through the roof,” he said. “We always welcome any new coaster, big or small, whether it’s a family coaster … or one that looks to be kind of insane from what I’ve seen.”
ACE does not comment on coaster rumors, instead waiting for official announcements, Kraftchick said.
“It looks like it’s going to do some very interesting maneuvers at very high speeds. It looks kind of unique,” he said of the Islands of Adventure project. “But I’m only commenting on what I can see from my own eyeballs and from pictures that people are posting.”
Coaster buffs frequently are seen at the park taking photos of the construction from multiple angles. They shoot from the base of Me Ship, The Olive, from behind Mythos restaurant and from bridges to Wizarding World and Seuss Landing and elsewhere.
From the looks of the rail, there’s a top hat element (a loop that goes up sharply, levels off, comes down steeply), a stretch running along the surface of the water and a double-helix maneuver that rolls close to a Wizarding World wall. There are also support and themed structures, including a white building with the dinosaur logo on its sides.
Leavelle estimates the intensity of that coaster will be greater than the nearby Incredible Hulk Coaster or SeaWorld Orlando’s Mako coaster.
“Honestly, Florida’s not ready for this thing,” he said. “We don’t really have rides that push you into the seat other than maybe like Montu or Kumba [at Busch Gardens Tampa]. This is a whole different beast.”
Leavelle also keeps his eye on Busch Gardens’ Iron Gwazi, which has enthusiasts buzzing, and Disney’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” attraction at Epcot.
“Guardians, I think, is going to be the absolute eye-opener,” he said. “I think the amount of technology and crazy things they’re going to have in there, along with the overall layout, it’s going to be mind-blowing.”
Kraftchick said he is surprised that Universal has not gone public about the new attraction. It could be the first coaster to open in Orlando since Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
debuted, summer.
“You think they’d be promoting it … because they need warm bodies in the gates spending money like the rest of the parks do,” he said.
Strategy shifts on ride promotion, said Dennis Speigel, CEO of International Theme Park Services. Recently, parks “have gotten out front and announced their new product … to tease and titillate people, to get them excited about it,” he said.
“I think it depends on the type of attraction and how you’re planning on marketing it,” he said. “And whether it’s on time or not.”
There could be more of the coaster’s elements under wraps, Leavelle said. Maybe it’s more airtime or another inversion, he said.
“Who knows? It could throw us all off our game right there,” Leavelle said. “This whole coaster has been a surprise. It’s kind of neat.” also at
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