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I get where you're coming from, but in this case I really disagree. Thoosies have been super negative about the wing from the first leaks. If nothing was known going into today and Kings Dominion finally announced the long awaited Volcano replacement as Rapterra, the thoosie world, by and large, would be seething. The fact that the coaster make, model, and layout have all been out for many months now has made thoosie reception far more positive than it would have been otherwise in my opinion.

That said, I think reception is really good overall? Marketing blundered the rollout, but I've seen near universal praise? People have super minor nitpicks about scenic, but that's fine, whatever. If that's the biggest critique, that's a massive win. The only other hate I've seen is coming from people who still are somehow mad that Volcano would be replaced with a wing—something these thoosies really should have been mentally calibrated for months ago.
 
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I’m curious as to what the height requirement is going to end up being. I’m expecting 52" like most other B&M vest restraint coasters, but considering Dorney got Iron Menace down to 48” with seemingly no changes to the restraint design, would be cool to see KD follow in the same direction. Would make this even more of a home run for the park broadening the ability to ride to younger kids.
 
I was just hoping to see with this announcement whatever they had planned for the reptilian cave, since it is just kinda cut off on the side by Rapterra, but I guess I’ll just have to keep waiting.
 
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Disagree. Wait until this news cycle settles and own your own news cycle of an announcement.

@mwhinva -

It's that and how many times have we seen plans change mid course? I forget who but someone said about (I think it was you) did the artist take liberty.

I guess my personal feelings on it is - I don't really care what a renderings theme design surroundings are and am kind of just - indifferent - on all of it until I get to see the entire ride in person. Like looking back, Cooperhead Strike's announcement shows a bunch of grass, trees, shrubery in the ride area and it turned out to be just stone. So - eh - I'll judge all of that when the ride is done.

I get that plans will and can change (launch building/pre-show anyone?). We could very well be getting a ride attraction with minimal theming. Usually, budget limitations axe many potential options for an attraction. I don't put much into these types of marketing videos shown in the announcement. They are there to generate excitement and motivate folks to visit by purchasing a day ticket or season pass.

Given that Rapterra stays close to the ground in 2-3 places and terra is Latin for earth/ground, I was hoping for an interactive element with the train in one or two places (given most existing B&M wing coasters to date have at least one interactive element). The places I was looking at was the low points going in and out of the dive loop.

Still seems to be a good coaster for the park.
 
I like the layout. Most B&M inversion coasters are constant inversions. This one has elements between the inversions.

Note that Dominator is also an exceptional layout for B&M because there are elements between the inversions.

The only thing that could’ve made this better is having a figure 8 helix at the end. I like that element on Thunderbird and Wild Eagle.

I hope they planned as many trees around the ride as the video shows. They cut down a significant amount of trees to build this ride.
 
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Open air station should always be the expectation with non Disney/Universal parks. I can think of very few additions to SF/CF parks with enclosed stations in recent years. Not even Dr Diabolical at SFFT has an enclosed station, and it has a whole preshow. As much as I'd love it, it's unlikely
 
145 feet seems pretty great considering what the top hat was looking like compared to Tumbili . Also, it reaches 65 mph, I thought Thunderbird only reached 60? Is there any other launched wing coaster besides these two?

Thunderbird and Rapterra are the only two full-circuit B&M wing launch coasters. Chessington in England has Mandrill Mayhem but it's more of an impulse type coaster and hits a speed of 45 mph on the launch.

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Am I missing something? The closest to a near-miss element that is normally a staple on wing coasters, seems to be the temple ruins around the launch. Not really complaining here.
This is a guess, but with KD working to construct Rapterra so soon (not even August yet), I think the extra time might be used throughout the winter and early spring to sprinkle theming around the coaster. That hopefully included a near miss around the raptor roll element.
 
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