Of course they would need approval. However, I would rather see the invert than what is actually coming (or at least highly rumored to be coming).
This isn't go to help matters with the timeline...So I was doing some diggin' and uncovered what appears to be a new, updated version of SeaWorld San Diego's Wild Arctic coaster project. Unlike the recent SeaWorld San Antonio 2023 or Carowinds 2023 leaks, I'm not going to put much effort into analyzing this documents as BehindTheThrills has already done a really great job of outlining the project's basics here:
That said, since BehindTheThrills published the layout, the project appears to have undergone some changes. The plans still seem to depict an Intamin Family Multi-Launch Coaster utilizing part of the Wild Arctic simulator building as a station, but the number of launches and the layout have both changed notably. A graphic showing the coaster's new layout can be found below.
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Comparing it to the original, pre-COVID version, the coaster does appear to have lost some track length and one of its launches. That said, personally, I think the new layout looks a bit stronger overall. The supports/footer spacings suggest to me that it may have gained a little height compared to the original iteration and, frankly, I think the new layout looks less repetitive as well. A lot of the track shaping actually reminds me A LOT of Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Project DarKoaster—the new, younger sister coaster to SeaWorld San Diego's Wild Arctic coaster.
Speaking of track shaping, check out how detailed this site plan is! It's not often that we get to show off actual track schematics, but we got lucky this time around!
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I guess I should say something about timeline too. My experience with following California projects is essentially non-existent so take my guestimate with a heaping spoonful of salt. If this were a Virginia project, given the stage SeaWorld San Diego's Wild Arctic coaster is at right now, I'd say I expect it to be ready for a 2023 opening. That said, this isn't a Virginia project and, from what I've observed on the public record thus far, this project seems to be moving at a pretty glacial pace. With that in mind, assuming it eventually receives the many approvals it still requires (and isn't redesigned again), I wouldn't be too surprised to see it slip to 2024. For now though, keep your fingers crossed for 2023—it is DarKoaster's sister after all!
Anyway, lastly, I'll leave you with a composite map showing the project in the context of the park.
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Shipments coming in for this project! As by the title of the ride (Family Launch Coaster 13-1104), it'll be 13m (~43ft) tall and an impressive 1104m (3,622ft) in length!
They’re taking the new attraction every year plan seriously, And to be honest that’s where Six Flags has always failed. When they used the strategy it lacked because they have so many parks some of them were neglected. Seas is apparently able to invest in new major attractions every year/every other year and the financials seem to like the strategy.Is SeaWorld trying to spend as much money as possible? This is just getting wild at this point!
Except that they are sacrificing a lot of the guest experience to get there which includes high prices and surcharges as well as in-park experience suffering in many cases. I agree that this isn't a SFWoA blunder but there certainly are the same elements at play.They’re taking the new attraction every year plan seriously, And to be honest that’s where Six Flags has always failed. When they used the strategy it lacked because they have so many parks some of them were neglected. Seas is apparently able to invest in new major attractions every year/every other year and the financials seem to like the strategy.
To me, the only place that the SEAS/SF comp falls short is SF has/had SO many more parks that it was much harder to reverse course (and they may still be doing so). SEAS is still “small” with 5-ish parks (if you want to pair water parks) to worry about reversing course.Except that they are sacrificing a lot of the guest experience to get there which includes high prices and surcharges as well as in-park experience suffering in many cases. I agree that this isn't a SFWoA blunder but there certainly are the same elements at play.
But I think that's also exactly why we're not seeing the size of blunders like with SF. If SEAS has more parks this could already be a disaster. The other aspect of it is the price..... SF was priced too low but also had a higher quantity of passes/tickets sold because of their larger number of parks. It makes sense that SEAS would price things higher but the levels they are reaching might be working really well for them now but it's not going to be sustainable....To me, the only place that the SEAS/SF comp falls short is SF has/had SO many more parks that it was much harder to reverse course (and they may still be doing so). SEAS is still “small” with 5-ish parks (if you want to pair water parks) to worry about reversing course.
The sustainable part is not exclusive to SEAS right now. IMO much of the economy is going to hit a bubble soon.But I think that's also exactly why we're not seeing the size of blunders like with SF. If SEAS has more parks this could already be a disaster. The other aspect of it is the price..... SF was priced too low but also had a higher quantity of passes/tickets sold because of their larger number of parks. It makes sense that SEAS would price things higher but the levels they are reaching might be working really well for them now but it's not going to be sustainable....
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