InvadR

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TrevorBondi

TrevorBondi

Oct 7, 2011
635
943
210
Virginia Beach
Hey everybody, I don't mean to derail the thread or anything, but here's a very short video I put together from some of my footage at Media Day.



I apologize that it isn't longer, I was really struggling to get quality audio during interviews and lacked the time necessary to get all of the off ride shots I wanted from the train. I did my best with what I had, and I hope you enjoy!
 
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RE: Project 2017: InvadR

Quick Invadr Opinion:

Nothing really negative about the ride itself.

The Que line is fine, nice shade structures already some Vandalism on at least one of the support poles for the shades.

The Station is miniscule being polite. Never seen one so cramped anywhere but it serves it's purpose. My son and I got sent to the last car which was good, wanted a back or close to the back seat.

The dispatch times when we first got in line across the path were deplorable. Seems A ride ops Manager or higher up of some sort stopped in to check on the ride team. After that the times sped up to A good pace. As soon as the on course train hit the brake run the dispatching train left most times, Occasionally there was a slow dispatch which is inevitable. If the ride team can maintain that loading and unloading schedule consistently then the ride has some decent throughput. Ride Ops Manager around or not around they should strive to hit that mark consistently.

The ride itself is A great ride, awesome 1st drop, great laterals, good all around on the airtime IMO.

The only gripe I have is a personal one. As someone who is 6'3" tall I fit in the seat comfortably, leg room was not an issue, but arm room was. As the "front" of the car is the "back" of the car in front of you there is no secondary hand rest as the "front" of the car is moving through the course and negotiating the turns and curves. So this leaves only the Hand rest on the Lap Bar which is fine for A shorter person. With as long as my arms are my right elbow only had the right side frame of the car to lay on, on one particular element, A diving right handed turn I got my elbow pretty banged up at the bottom of the turn. Nothing severe but caught me off guard because it was a short jarring movement to the right at the bottom of that turn that got me. Nothing to keep me from riding again but will have to try to find a better riding strategy next time around.

Overall A great ride addition to the park and see it being very popular for A long time.

Just my thoughts.
 
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RE: Project 2017: InvadR

Finally rode Invadr this evening. Was told there was a 90 minute wait but only waited 60 minutes. Rode in front. Incredibly fun ride, definitely exceeded all my expectations. I really thought this ride would disappoint given its stats but I'm happy to say Invadr holds its own in a park already brimming with great coasters. Absolutely adore the interaction between the log flume, Invadr, and the railway.
 
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RE: Project 2017: InvadR

Unagi said:
Fell in line at 11:24 am and got off at 12:30 pm.

Employees running the line are telling people 2 hour wait but I waited just over an hour.  The line is moving pretty fast and is even a bit shorter now than when I got in line.
Click to expand...

Probably good to over estimate than under estimate. Granted, that could be a turn off for people anyway.
 
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RE: Project 2017: InvadR

Kyle, TPF and I rode InvadR today....I should have taken pictures...but it looked like they were lubeing the track. They stopped the ride around 7-730 today 4/19 and then two people went out onto the track from the station up the lift. One guy had a blue bucket and a stick with a roller on the end. He was rolling something onto the track. (I assume it was lube.) When they started everything up you could see the freshly lubed track glistening and smell lube.
 
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RE: Project 2017: InvadR

Luke said:
Kyle, TPF and I rode InvadR today....I should have taken pictures...but it looked like they were lubeing the track. They stopped the ride around 7-730 today 4/19 and then two people went out onto the track from the station up the lift. One guy had a blue bucket and a stick with a roller on the end. He was rolling something onto the track. (I assume it was lube.) When they started everything up you could see the freshly lubed track glistening and smell lube.
Click to expand...
It really made a noticeable difference in the operation of the ride! There was a lot less squeeling (which was really bad today on the final helix), and the trains seriously flew through the turns and hills! Since they added the lubrication it felt a lot faster and more out of control. Like Luke said, you could really see and smell the lube on the track, but as silly as it sounds, it made a noticeable difference in the experience and operation of the ride. I'm assuming because between the wheels and the track it's really metal on metal.
 
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RE: Project 2017: InvadR

As stated above, it honestly made a huge difference. They only lubed the first turn coming out of the station. I hope this is an on going thing, because that was my best ride yet! Back row too!
 
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RE: Project 2017: InvadR

I rode 3 times just before close. (Including the last 2 runs of the day.) While Apollo is still my favorite in the park, this coaster has moved into second. This coming from someone not a fan of wooden coasters. The thing is just FUN. It may not be the fastest coaster here, but it FEELS fast. I especially like the first bunny hop after the big drop, when you feel like the train is coming off the rails.

Of note is that there was extreme metal on metal screeching during the last dip and sharp turn before entering the station. Everyone around me was kind of freaked out about it.
 
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RE: Project 2017: InvadR

Yeah, it sounds just like a subway car coming into a station. They said that was the second fastest part on the ride, and you can feel that for sure. It sounds like that part of the course takes a beating.
 
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RE: Project 2017: InvadR

The more I ride it the more in love I become with it. That said I had an interesting thought the other day. Did the park under estimate how popular this ride would be? The station design seems to suggest that maybe they didn't expect that it would have a giant fan base.
 
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RE: Project 2017: InvadR

horsesboy said:
The more I ride it the more in love I become with it.  That said I had an interesting thought the other day.  Did the park under estimate how popular this ride would be?  The station design seems to suggest that maybe they didn't expect that it would have a giant fan base.
Click to expand...

Hmm, interesting thought. I still haven't gotten to ride it yet (darn), but the way it has been described is what I thought and was hoping it would be -- fun and re-rideable but not going for being the fastest/biggest/most intense thrill ever, etc.

I am beyond happy that the park thought a ride like this was worth building -- and even happier that it is, as you point out, so popular.
 
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RE: Project 2017: InvadR

I agree with ToddF - InvadR is simply terrific, and I have a hard time keeping it second place to Apollo, which has been my number one since 1999. I can't help feel that it's time for InvadR to reign as my new number one. The fact that it doesn't look menacing makes it such a welcome surprise. I think that is what makes it so amazing. We finally have a coaster that does something that we all had wished for - and that is to "wow" you without being obviously menacing. Some may point to Verbolten, which I adore, but this is a different breed of surprise, and I know it will be one of the first things I run to for years to come.

Well, WELL done BGW!
 
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RE: Project 2017: InvadR

InvadR overtook Alpengeist as my favorite. Got four rides in on wednesday and the last one being the third to last train of the night. I plan on only riding it saturday and seeing how many rides i can get on it!
 
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RE: Project 2017: InvadR

Just got an email from the park announcing Pass Member Exclusive Ride time on InvadR! (and Festa Italia early ride time)

https://seaworldparks.com/buschgardens-williamsburg/PassMembers?utm_source=Silverpop&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=00611157%20-%20BGW_May_ERT-LRT%20(1)&utm_content=DIGITAL&spMailingID=10866478&spUserID=MTkyNTAxNjM3MjM5S0&spJobID=1141664999&spReportId=MTE0MTY2NDk5OQS2

[click the EVENTS tab]


(Hope this is not old news.)
 
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RE: Project 2017: InvadR

Invadr is down at the moment. The bear train went to dispatch and rolled forward maybe 2 feet so that its front was lined up with the edge of the platform before brakingband locking. Maintenance has been on seen for about 15 to 20 minutes and have not been able to clear it so far. They shut it down and gave everyone in line quick passes to come back. All and all a big thumbs up to the staff for how they handled it.

Update they free the train and are now cycling through test runs with empty trains. It has probably been down for 45 minutes or so, so far.
 
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