News The King Is Dead: Kingda Ka (& Zumanjaro) Closure & Demolition Confirmed

[SLC Headache]

A big thoosie fear with the extreme spinner is that Mack launches tend to be very gentle (underwhelming) compared to other manufacturers. Will they step it up or will we have like five swings to get to the top?

[Kingda Ka] WAS a one trick pony. That is undeniable, but that isn’t always a bad thing and it certainly wasn’t in this case.

See also: Volcano (RIP). The trick was powerful enough to make the ride. Also, both were visual centerpieces, Ka with its sheer size and Volcano with its mountain structure.

 

[The Master]

Storm Runner is for sure the best, but Kingda Ka’s intensity is something that just can’t be matched. I do think there’s a lot of revisionist history going on (especially in YT comment sections and on Reddit) considering 6 months ago, Ka was labeled a one trick pony, and now people are acting like its removal is the end of the world and will kill Great Adventure.

It WAS a one trick pony. That is undeniable, but that isn’t always a bad thing and it certainly wasn’t in this case. The amount of negativity towards the extreme spinner is insane considering the GP would eat that up, and so would a ton of enthusiasts.

We watched something similar with TT2, with people acting incredibly negatively towards the swing launch in comparison to the hydraulic launch, and yet people loved it (for the like 15 minutes it was open lol).

I think the negatively for the extreme spinner stems from the uninspired track layout and being a shuttle instead of a full circuit. Ka had a simplistic layout too but it's better than the extreme spinner which relies on the spinning to make up for the very simple layout. I am no fan of the proposed spinner layout.

 

[plighting_engineerd]

I think the negatively for the extreme spinner stems from the uninspired track layout and being a shuttle instead of a full circuit. Ka had a simplistic layout too but it's better than the extreme spinner which relies on the spinning to make up for the very simple layout. I am no fan of the proposed spinner layout.

I would argue the spinner has a more inspired layout than Ka did. Ka was launch -> top hat -> hill -> brakes, the spinner is inversion + launch -> vertical ascent -> outerbank half-helix -> (rollback) -> drop -> inversion -> brakes

 

[GASM]

I’m with you on that. I think calling any layout aside from a U Shuttle uninspired in comparison to Kingda Ka of all things is certainly a choice.

 

[bill s]

Thought about it a bit more, TT2 is a shuttle layout. The shuttle section is from the track switch to the spike top, so it crosses between the shuttle section and full circuit section multiple times. But a similar design with a track switch could be used for multiple trains with the larger part of the layout being a dead end (shuttle). The train would still need to enter the track switch facing away from the spike unless it's OK for the train to be reversed every other cycle, but again spinning makes that better.

A big thoosie fear with the extreme spinner is that Mack launches tend to be very gentle (underwhelming) compared to other manufacturers. Will they step it up or will we have like five swings to get to the top?

There was no mention of swing launching in the survey question, although certainly possible. A spinning coaster train is described as launching while inverted and then going up a twisted spike. The survey question then continued with "sending riders back down in a free-fall thrilling decent (sic) through the same harrowing upside-down twists and turns they experienced on the way up". This confirms there will not be braking on the way down, so also probably not a launch on the way up. No turns were mentioned on the way up, this inference of additional elements makes a big difference to if this an improvement over Ka (at least to those who haven't ridden an extreme spinner already). On the other hand it raises questions: if this extension is far slower the first time, it won't be very "harrowing". Or is the train braked upside down on the way back, in reverse to the launch on the way up? Seems possible but also slightly unbelievable. What's a spinning coaster going to do when braked hard from over 100 MPH? Alternatively, the question may be taking some liberties in that these additional "twists and turns" are part of a non repeating section of the ride.

I don't know that a giant spinning shuttle would be better or worse than a merely record breaking spinner, which could be judged by many as the world's best coaster. The shuttle would be more impressive, but also more expensive, maybe even more expensive than the world's fastest launched hyper, which also could arguably be the world's best. Fun fact, of the world's 7 gigas, only 2 have more than one point over 200 feet (Steel Dragon and Orion).

 

[italianstallion]

I would argue the spinner has a more inspired layout than Ka did. Ka was launch -> top hat -> hill -> brakes, the spinner is inversion + launch -> vertical ascent -> outerbank half-helix -> (rollback) -> drop -> inversion -> brakes

Disagree. Ka may have had one launch, but that one launch provided the most intense 3.5 seconds on any coaster anywhere. It’s something none of us are going to ever experience again unless you make the trek to Dubai. In my opinion arguing that a spinning shuttle coaster with a stall inversion will provide more inspired thrills than Ka is guilty of a level of recency bias on par with the rose colored glass any thoosie who hated Ka before it closed and now sings its praises has. But it’s going to happen. It’s the right balance of marketing gimmick Cedar Fair…I mean Six Flags…wants in addition to not being so ambitious that there’s a risk of not meeting the lead time they require to cover up their atrocious handling of all of this. In addition, before the acquisition all signs pointed to Ka staying, so it stands to reason whatever replaces it in 2026 is currently being or already has been hastily thrown together. With less than 2 years to go it’s impossible for Ka’s replacement to be the big multi-launch giga/strata I dream of and that Ka deserves to get replaced by. But happy for you that you like the idea, I’ll be interested to see how everyone feels about it 5 years on and if it still has the same appeal and inspiration Ka had/has.

 

[YachtyLogs]

>upside down, spinning launch to reach 400 feet
>not ambitious

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills here.

 

[italianstallion]

>upside down, spinning launch to reach 400 feet
>not ambitious

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills here.

And I feel like I’m taking crazy pills when people are okay giving this company a pass to build a gimmicky shuttle coaster (in a park that already has one and other such low capacity coasters) over a 300 foot tall version of an AlpenFury/Velocicoaster. You’re right, a launched inversion is probably cool, but if that’s the only thing worth mentioning it confirms my thought that the rest of it is a quickly thrown together visual gimmick to make it seem like they replaced Ka with something better. It’s not and it never will be.

 

[Nicole]

I’m curious. Have y’all ever ridden a Mack Xtreme Spnning Coaster?

I understand stand that people are very upset about the removal of Ka, especially without official warning. And I also understand that some people prefer straight speed over other forces. What I don’t understand is, however, is the level of contempt for what is (in my opinion) an amazing coaster type.

I had no idea what to expect, before riding Time Traveler. In fact, I feared it would be as boring as Cobras Curse. But not only is the experience crazy and amazing, but also it varies wildly from seat to seat and ride to ride. It is insanely fun and incredibly re-rideable.

As some someone who travels up to Great Adventure with some regularity, I am actually hoping they put in something with interesting forces. I know this is just my personal opinion, but for me Ka was literally a one-and-done. I made no effort to ride it, when I was there, and it certainly wasn’t my reason for visiting. If I lived close enough to Silver Dollar City, however, I would absolutely make an effort to go there just for Time Traveler.

While I think it is fine for people to be upset about losing Ka, especially given how the company treated the removal (and how they have handled the entire chain-wide Attraction Purge), I really don’t understand the unvarnished venom I am seeing for a possible replacement type, especially if they haven’t experienced anything similar.

 

[italianstallion]

I’m curious. Have y’all ever ridden a Mack Xtreme Spnning Coaster?

I understand stand that people are very upset about the removal of Ka, especially without official warning. And I also understand that some people prefer straight speed over other forces. What I don’t understand is, however, is the level of contempt for what is (in my opinion) an amazing coaster type.

I had no idea what to expect, before riding Time Traveler. In fact, I feared it would be as boring as Cobras Curse. But not only is the experience crazy and amazing, but also it varies wildly from seat to seat and ride to ride. It is insanely fun and incredibly re-rideable.

As some someone who travels up to Great Adventure with some regularity, I am actually hoping they put in something with interesting forces. I know this is just my personal opinion, but for me Ka was literally a one-and-done. I made no effort to ride it, when I was there, and it certainly wasn’t my reason for visiting. If I lived close enough to Silver Dollar City, however, I would absolutely make an effort to go there just for Time Traveler.

While I think it is fine for people to be upset about losing Ka, especially given how the company treated the removal (and how they have handled the entire chain-wide Attraction Purge), I really don’t understand the unvarnished venom I am seeing for a possible replacement type, especially if they haven’t experienced anything similar.

I went on Time Traveler two years ago. Its certainly a great coaster as the sensations of being launched facing different directions was certainly new, but I feel like I’m only going to like it on an attraction of Time Traveler’s size and layout. If we’re talking a 400 foot tall shuttle coaster I’m just not that enthused by the idea of it. First, the proposed shuttle layout being thrown around is nowhere near as interesting as Time Traveler’s layout. Second, when we’re talking a coaster of 400 foot tall size, to your point I much rather prefer to traverse the course of a coaster that size in the traditional sense to be able to appreciate the speed and height at which I’m traveling. Getting launched through the inversion will be the only cool part. Climbing the tower in a direction I won’t be able to see, then slowly coming to a halt at the top, only to roll back down in the same direction probably spinning as I do (and thus don’t get to appreciate that feeling of watching the ground rush towards me)…just not as inspiring as being launched as fast and as quickly as Ka did, then climbing into the heavens like I was on a rocket ship, flying over the top, plummeting down in a death spiral, and then ejector air into the brakes. Mack spinners have a time and place, this isn’t it.

 

[warfelg]

I’m curious. Have y’all ever ridden a Mack Xtreme Spnning Coaster?

I understand stand that people are very upset about the removal of Ka, especially without official warning. And I also understand that some people prefer straight speed over other forces. What I don’t understand is, however, is the level of contempt for what is (in my opinion) an amazing coaster type.

I had no idea what to expect, before riding Time Traveler. In fact, I feared it would be as boring as Cobras Curse. But not only is the experience crazy and amazing, but also it varies wildly from seat to seat and ride to ride. It is insanely fun and incredibly re-rideable.

As some someone who travels up to Great Adventure with some regularity, I am actually hoping they put in something with interesting forces. I know this is just my personal opinion, but for me Ka was literally a one-and-done. I made no effort to ride it, when I was there, and it certainly wasn’t my reason for visiting. If I lived close enough to Silver Dollar City, however, I would absolutely make an effort to go there just for Time Traveler.

While I think it is fine for people to be upset about losing Ka, especially given how the company treated the removal (and how they have handled the entire chain-wide Attraction Purge), I really don’t understand the unvarnished venom I am seeing for a possible replacement type, especially if they haven’t experienced anything similar.

I'll echo @italianstallion too that after riding Time Traveler, that scale is about right for it. I worry at the speeds and heights it needs to go to be a 400+ (heck even 200+) foot version would be a one and done for me. And I liked Time Traveler but I think it needs to be more of a terrain style coaster.

 

[netdvn]

GAdv doesn't exactly have to replace Kingda Ka with anything. They could pull a Vortex/Volcano and leave the land sitting abandoned. From the way people seem to be acting in this thread, I feel like GAdv is better off just letting the land sit there.

Wait for them to actually release something before placing judgement on it.

 

[italianstallion]

GAdv doesn't exactly have to replace Kingda Ka with anything. They could pull a Vortex/Volcano and leave the land sitting abandoned. From the way people seem to be acting in this thread, I feel like GAdv is better off just letting the land sit there.

Wait for them to actually release something before placing judgement on it.

You’re right, they don’t. Then they just have Nitro, El Toro, and Jersey Devil (jury out on Flash) to go up against everything Hershey is offering these days. Because I agree, better to leave that prime land vacant than drop a rushed shuttle spinner there in an attempt to perform fan service. But that’s all a moot point because they literally said 2026 is Ka’s replacement, so we do get to have this conversation on what we consider is worthy to replace one of the most iconic coasters in the world.

 

[The Master]

I would argue the spinner has a more inspired layout than Ka did. Ka was launch -> top hat -> hill -> brakes, the spinner is inversion + launch -> vertical ascent -> outerbank half-helix -> (rollback) -> drop -> inversion -> brakes

You overly simplified Ka's layout a bit. It was launch, vertical climb, tophat, 360 spiral vertical decent, large hill, then brakes. So Ka has 5 elements vs the spinner's 3 elements. Perhaps that is another reason for the shuttle design,, its a cheap way to cheat on doubling the elements by repatriation. Moreover, with a full circuit, every rider gets a more similar and equal experience, such as every rider goes over the top crest and sees the full view. With the shuttle only the front car will reach the crest and get a full view, all the other cars are skunked.

 

[plighting_engineerd]

You overly simplified Ka's layout a bit. It was launch, vertical climb, tophat, 360 spiral vertical decent, large hill, then brakes. So Ka has 5 elements vs the spinner's 3 elements. Perhaps that is another reason for the shuttle design,, its a cheap way to cheat on doubling the elements by repatriation. Moreover, with a full circuit, every rider gets a more similar and equal experience, such as every rider goes over the top crest and sees the full view. With the shuttle only the front car will reach the crest and get a full view, all the other cars are skunked.

Fair, forgot about the spiral. Also I'd argue any seat on the spinner gets a good view due to the spinning seats + the outer bank.

 

[Zachary]

over a 300 foot tall version of an AlpenFury/Velocicoaster

Anything that gets built will look unacceptable against this benchmark, but that's just because this benchmark simply isn't even remotely realistic.

Canada's Wonderland is one of the most reliably successful parks in the legacy Cedar Fair chain. Additionally, at least from what I've read, CW seems to be underbuilt for the crowds it consistently sees. Meanwhile, Great Adventure is a struggling park with a damaged reputation that, per posters here, frequently sees far lower than expected crowds.

I'm sorry, but Great Adventure, currently, does not justify "AlpenFury, but twice the height." The cost of such an attraction would be absolutely monumental. And hell, even if such an enormous sum of Cap-Ex was in the cards for SFGAdv, I am positive that there are FAR better ways to spend that capital than switching out something the scale of the shuttle strata spinner with something on the scale of Giga VelociCoaster. Six Flags needs to pour money into the guest experience, facilities, infrastructure, etc for years to build Great Adventure back up into a flagship-worthy property. When all that groundwork is complete, maybe then dreaming about Giga AlpenFury could be feasible.

 

[bill s]

Anything that gets built will look unacceptable against this benchmark, but that's just because this benchmark simply isn't even remotely realistic.

Canada's Wonderland is one of the most reliably successful parks in the legacy Cedar Fair chain. Additionally, at least from what I've read, CW seems to be underbuilt for the crowds it consistently sees. Meanwhile, Great Adventure is a struggling park with a damaged reputation that, per posters here, frequently sees far lower than expected crowds.

I'm sorry, but Great Adventure, currently, does not justify "AlpenFury, but twice the height." The cost of such an attraction would be absolutely monumental. And hell, even if such an enormous sum of Cap-Ex was in the cards for SFGAdv, I am positive that there are FAR better ways to spend that capital than switching out something the scale of the shuttle strata spinner with something on the scale of Giga VelociCoaster. Six Flags needs to pour money into the guest experience, facilities, infrastructure, etc for years to build Great Adventure back up into a flagship-worthy property. When all that groundwork is complete, maybe then dreaming about Giga AlpenFury could be feasible.

On the other hand, Wonderland didn't just lose one of its biggest attractions. So GA does need something good. They did not state specifically this is a replacement for Ka, although they did say all that stuff was leaving to make room for the future AND that would include a launch coaster in 2026.

Yeah a giga Alpenfury would be nearly double the height. Consider Orion vs. Diamondback at KI. Both are almost the same length and duration, Orion is faster but Diamondback has more elements that all hit so many consider it the better coaster including myself. With a real budget you have to choose, everyone wants a Ka that goes on forever. If a shuttle design can make it better, that's totally worth it, although practically the same that doesn't rattle your brain would still be at least as good even though some will not be impressed.

 

[Crunchewy]

Someone built a almost 30ft tall Kinex model of Ka as a tribute. Pretty cool to see the detail he put into it.

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No wonder Kingda Ka is getting torn down. That brutal finish.

 

[Great Adventurer]

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[The Master]

It really is an end of an era. The park will look strange this season, especially the north side.