Considering what a disaster Steel Curtain has been, Sansei should probably shift some more focus towards Vekoma sales in the US. If I were a park, I'd have a lot of trouble trusting S&S with a major coaster project right now.
Ideal and Likely Volcano Replacement Ideas
- Thread starter CoasterAuditor
- Start date
A Vekoma invert would be great. I'm not a fan of 4-across seating for inverts like on B&M's - you can't see anything in a middle seat - plus no OTSR would be fantastic.
Is Steel Curtain an S&S issue or a Kennywood one. S&S has other recent rides in the US not having major downtime issues and Kennywood doesnt have the greatest track record on maintenance.
Going off topic a little, but do you happen to know what the issues were? I went to Kennywood on opening day last year and it was closed. I never heard anything about any specific issues but I know it was closed most of 2020.
I do agree that Vekoma is building some interesting rides in Europe and it would be a shame if we can't get those in the states.
I wish the STC could have launch capabilities, but I don’t think the track is wide enough to accommodate LSMs the way they appear on the sit down models (two fins). Then again F.L.Y. has a wider track gauge so there’s the possibility of Vekoma introducing a new launch invert model if that’s what you mean. As I said before though, all the launch coasters would be within this corner of the park. I would much rather have another launch coaster on the western side of the park, maybe in the old Dinosaurs Alive area.
Yes, Sansei owns both. From my understanding, Sansei has more or less been controlling where each manufacturer can build their coasters. The only reason there’s any new generation Vekoma coasters is because of Disney, and some small kids coasters here and there. Disney just has enough money to get around that.
The only S&S creations in the US that have been performing well are their flats and the freespins.
^Has Maxx Force been okay? I haven’t heard much negative about it besides complaints about length.
One of those would be a cool Volcano replacement not that that’s ideal in my mind…
One of those would be a cool Volcano replacement not that that’s ideal in my mind…
Kennywood supposedly did their own programming ...
If the theme is similar, only the X-pedition area makes sense, otherwise it would need to be more woodsy. I liked 6 coasters over there.
Hals has the squeezy tire drive things between the wheels (Thrills United vid 2:06) and isn't unusually narrow, just not as huge as the SLCs which looks ridiculous. They have huge spines, and it looks the same as F.L.Y.'s to me. Whichever, Vekoma would be the best bet for launched inverted and S&S doesn't make them (yet). They have been selling the family suspendeds here.
If the theme is similar, only the X-pedition area makes sense, otherwise it would need to be more woodsy. I liked 6 coasters over there.
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Maybe they did it after it opened but its original programming was 100% S&S.
Don’t forget the constant rumor that Disney made Vekoma sign a deal to not build other coasters in NA.
I can almost guarantee they did not. They are too small of an operation to have a controls engineer onsite. Now did they hire IOE after opening to reprogram it? Possibly. They hire Brian for everything else that needs programmed last I knew. That's actually where I first met Brian and Anne, while they were modifying Phantoms Revenge's brake run.
Yet S&S has built coasters in Asia and such, while Vekoma is completely not building thrill coasters over here. Also a Vekoma flyer that launched and inverted the same way Volcano did would be great. Also Mack extreme spinner. Or infinity coaster
I would lose my mind if KD ever happened to decide to build a Mack extreme spinner. It seems so perfect honestly. Also I mean just because something is like that now in terms of S&S building practices relating to Sansei probably depends on a lot of variables you wouldn't think of like when Sansei acquired each S&S and Vekoma.
Rest assured S&S's issues stem from *well* before they were acquired by Sansei. It's basically a feature of their products that you'll experience issues with them.
I find it interesting that Arrow licensed it's technology to Vekoma back in the day and S&S absorbed what was left of Arrow when it went under and now they're under the same roof.
Honestly this is the most exciting future VA coaster now since we have absolutely no idea what it will be. I can't wait until we start figuring it out.
I was just listening to a podcast about KD, and they discussed the Land of Dooz. Now I really want the next coaster to be Dooz themed.
A commenter on the drone video literally said that the volcano site would probably be turned into some dig site themed play area based on the shards of rubble remaining. How observant 
. He even doubted those were from the footers!
. He even doubted those were from the footers!