The capacity numbers that I have for Volcano, Avalanche, Backlot, Anaconda, and FoF all show that they each hover around half a million riders a year.
Project 2022: Tumbili, Reptilian, Arachnidia, & Jungle X-Pedition
- Thread starter mtorange
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I agree. Anaconda on a Saturday is not as long as it use to be. Probably one of the shorter lines in the park. Obviously someone in corporate loves it because it received a fresh paint job not too long ago. If they were to ever remove it, they could add something really innovative.
Anaconda also seems to be really reliable (I hardly ever see it down) and it almost always runs two trains. Plus, with Vortex gone, I’d guess parts are in good supply. Unless the park has an Anaconda replacement already lined up, I don’t think they can afford to remove another coaster from Safari Village after Volcano’s removal.
Lines don’t equal throughput. Anaconda has high uptime and good capacity. Even though lines for it are short, they aren’t nothing on regular days.
Its also a ride that fits well in the less intense category attracting a broader number of guests, including youngsters. If they replace Volcano with the small wing coaster, I could see Anaconda being replaced with a big ticket ride over the lake. This could be a 2 for 2 long term strategy.
Avalanche has 30+ minute waits on weekends and a decent line even on slower days.
Taking it down would be crazy as it’s one of the coasters little kids can go on. Having lots of coasters and rides for young kids is a big advantage KD has over other parks, and messing with that to build a slightly better big ride makes no business sense.
I can't imagine that Avalanche's line was any longer than Shockwave's or Windseeker's. Yet though Shockwave got the boot. But there forgive me for not knowing if Shockwave had maintenance issues. Anaconda's line is not all that long on a Saturday. Not like it use to be. Stunt Coaster at times has a longer line than Avalanche.
The last 2 times I was at KD the line for avalanche was outside of the queue.
I just can’t get past the logic. Why is anyone advocating removing Avalanche in order to build a slightly bigger coaster to replace Volcano? The only plans we’ve seen relating to a Volcano replacement don’t even use all of Volcano’s old space.
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Avalanche tends to have longer waits than the Stunt Coaster, but that's probably due to higher throughput on the Stunt Coaster. Avalanche gets inconsistent throughput with the seating arrangement and a lot of families trying to ride together.
I noticed Anaconda's line was a lot longer this past year, though I think that's due to Volcano being removed. A number of Saturdays, I saw the line out near the entrance which is easily a 30-40 min wait.
I, too, have been surprised by how Avalanche consistently gets a good amount of riders every year, but I think it’s cool to see a classic coaster from the past hold its own in Safari Village.
Just as a side comment to using the old Dinosaurs Alive area for a coaster, I feel that KD would be wise to utilize some of that land back there. I remember going to DA one of the last days it was open and thinking how it would be great to see another solid coaster over on that side of the park. I personally feel like it would create a good balance across the park in terms of the number of coasters on each side.
Just as a side comment to using the old Dinosaurs Alive area for a coaster, I feel that KD would be wise to utilize some of that land back there. I remember going to DA one of the last days it was open and thinking how it would be great to see another solid coaster over on that side of the park. I personally feel like it would create a good balance across the park in terms of the number of coasters on each side.
I always looked at Dinosaurs alive as a good spot for a Haunt attraction. I haven't been to Haunt in a few years so, forgive me if they already do.
But I do agree that that it is another good spot for a coaster. I really love how it sits in the trees near Grizzly. Would have loved to see them create Twisted Timbers in that heavily wooded area. I don't doubt that KD will find a way to create a good coaster no matter where they decide to install it. Ever since Twisted Timber's debuted, I've been in the spooky mindset of theme when it comes to rides in a heavily wooded area. Does anyone feel they could create a Verbolton style coaster that runs parallel to Grizzly?
But I do agree that that it is another good spot for a coaster. I really love how it sits in the trees near Grizzly. Would have loved to see them create Twisted Timbers in that heavily wooded area. I don't doubt that KD will find a way to create a good coaster no matter where they decide to install it. Ever since Twisted Timber's debuted, I've been in the spooky mindset of theme when it comes to rides in a heavily wooded area. Does anyone feel they could create a Verbolton style coaster that runs parallel to Grizzly?
There is a lot of prime wooded land at Dinosaurs Alive and across that service road next to White Water Canyon. If they put anything on the Dinosaurs Alive side I hope it remains heavily wooded as that is what has always been, and always will be, what makes Grizzly great to me. You take that away and it really loses a ton of luster (I still love Grizzly). The clones of Grizzly at other parks (can't name them off the top of my head) are notoriously unappealing from reviews I've heard.
A haunt at Dino Alive would really be something.
Getting back to the topic, I would be soo disappointed if Avalanche was torn down anytime soon. There is plenty of room left from Volcanos footprint for a wing, and then some.
A haunt at Dino Alive would really be something.
Getting back to the topic, I would be soo disappointed if Avalanche was torn down anytime soon. There is plenty of room left from Volcanos footprint for a wing, and then some.
I think there's a weird grey line between interesting and fun. I don't think Avalanche is particularly fun but it's not ride without merit. However, I'm pretty indifferent to them tearing it down for something new.
IIRC Kings Island got rid of their go-karts for Banshee. Maybe that could also be an option to open up space for avoid clearcutting next to Grizzly?
I tend to agree with that first bit. Since it's the only Mack bobsled in North America, though, I'm a big fan of keeping Avalanche around.
It's debatable in my opinion. I've attached another Google Earth picture of KD. In it, you can still see Volcano because they haven't updated it. But, you'll have to help me judge this. In this post I will also attach the Cedar Point POV of Gatekeeper. I always felt that Gatekeeper traveled a much greater distance than what Volcano's land covers. If we added a B&M Wing Coaster; wouldn't it have to be a smaller one? It seems like there would be more space on Anaconda's land if you look at the space that the lift-hill covers along with the course. However, I don't think the park wants to get rid of Anaconda, or as you mentioned; Avalanche?
Volcano's land looks like it could support an intense single rail coaster like the new Jersey Devil at Great Adventure.
Volcano's land looks like it could support an intense single rail coaster like the new Jersey Devil at Great Adventure.
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Gatekeeper is a very different shape than what would fit for KD. It's an out and back layout, and wouldn't work in that space at all. Try something like Flug der Dämonen at Heide Park. A more compact layout like that would fit easily, without even needing to cross over FOF. (And just for kicks, Flug der Dämonen sits right beside a Mack bobsled!)