If they increased the size of the side bolster on the seat by an inch or so on each side that would probably keep you relatively upright with just a lap barIf it had lap bars, you of all people would be most at risk of a spinal severing via those S-turns
I'd be surprised if it got new restraints, outright STUNNED if only a lap bar. I kid with the message above, but I do think the ride just simply needs the OTSRs because of the rotational forces on those s-turns. Probably survivable if you brace for it and know its coming, but that shouldn't be a prerequisite. Not to mention the crushing positive G's everywhere else, you kind of need to be pinned vertically in that seat.
Intamin do make a lap bar restraint for these generation of trains, so maybe they could be retrofit onto the existing trains, but I still think it'd require some kind of upper body restraint.
View attachment 34701
Project 2025/305: Pantherian (Intimidator 305 Retheme)
- Thread starter Kings Gardens
- Start date
- Status
For the record, I hope they don't change the restraints. I wouldn't mind a slight vest redesign to keep it from rubbing the sides of everyone's faces during lowering/releasing, but in general, I think 305 has excellent, comfortable, accommodating restraints—especially for such an incredibly intense coaster. And just in general, I, too, suspect that 305 without the vests would be a less comfortable, potentially more dangerous coaster.
Agreed. I like the vests. They easily accommodate a more "full figured" man like myself...
Budget wise, I seriously doubt new trains would happen. I'd just love if the restraints had a TAD more shoulder room. Upper body contact is necessary for those s turns. You could give the seats larger sides to restrain shoulders, but you can't let anyone lean forward at ALL. Some dumbass could lean forward on the turns and get seriously injured. Just loosen the black straps a little bit
Maybe I am reading too much into this, but that makes it sound like more than a simple repaint and rename, so I’m guessing something bigger is changing. Hoping for new trains and/or some actual theming. I think I’d love lap bars with deep seat bolsters, but if not that maybe a more open car design. Either way, hoping it’s nothing too too major, like a layout modification or anything like that.
Getting an “image cannot be loaded from passed link” error when I try to insert these into the post. But here’s the progress on the paint job as of today, hopefully the attachments still work. They did a bunch of supports, but no more orange as far as I could tell from riding in the front row. Pretty easy to miss a strip flying by though. 
Attachments
Last edited:
What do you think they’ll do with the concrete tunnel? If they do more than just slapping the ride logo on it, they could revitalize both FoF and 305’s plazas.
It would be awesome if they put a facade on the tunnel to make it look like you're entering the cave of a jungle cat. Not holding my breath, though! It seems like too much to ask during a year with an impressive number of major investments going into KD.
This would be cool too—they could even enclose the plaza in this “cave”. Would provide a lot of much needed shade or potentially AC that area of the park lacks.
VB06Hokie
Mostly wit & sarcasm, but contributes occasionally
Ahhhh I'm stupid. I'm tempering my expectations greatly. Expecting some vines on the tunnel, and new queue and station fences. That's about it.
Agreed. I think anyone expecting anything more than a new name, new paint, new train decals, and some new theming in the entrance plaza and queue, is setting themself up for disappointment.
Of course, I’d be happy to be proved wrong.
Of course, I’d be happy to be proved wrong.
I don't necessarily think they're setting themselves up for disappointment (like I'm not confident enough to bet I'm right), I just am tempering expectations to avoid disappointment if I AM right
I feel like this could relatively easily be converted into something resembling temple ruins and would be a cool way to enter the Temple of the Tiger or whatever big cat it’s going to eventually be themed to.
I also know this won’t/cant happen, but if it’s tiger themed, I think it would be cool for them to paint stripes on the track.
I mean, alternating orange and black pieces isn't impossible. At higher speeds it could looked striped
Wouldn't the trains be striped and not the track? How does the track make sense? Though it would look cool.
Track doesn't make sense and would be a waste of money, I'm just saying if you WANTED to do it, that's how you could make it work.
Personally I'm still holding out for a cheetah theme. It makes the most sense (aside from it being in the jungle). That way when the orange inevitably fades it'll still look nice and relevant to the theme
Personally I'm still holding out for a cheetah theme. It makes the most sense (aside from it being in the jungle). That way when the orange inevitably fades it'll still look nice and relevant to the theme
I am reliably informed that track painting was ordered stopped till after the end of operation after there were unforseen issues related to painting a track on an operating coaster. Support work should continue but we will see no new track painting till Winterfest.
Great to hear, I was hoping that’s what they would do. Get it looking as fresh as possible for opening next year!
After seeing it again in person on Saturday night, I am even more curious & hesitant to see just how they attempt to theme that area, and especially, the station. I suppose some simple banners, props, & paint could dress up the station, maybe some statues and the same for the queue.
There’s just SO much concrete there. Enough that a multi-year theme package may be warranted, if budget permits.
After seeing it again in person on Saturday night, I am even more curious & hesitant to see just how they attempt to theme that area, and especially, the station. I suppose some simple banners, props, & paint could dress up the station, maybe some statues and the same for the queue.
There’s just SO much concrete there. Enough that a multi-year theme package may be warranted, if budget permits.
- Status