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Attraction Type
Roller Coaster
Attraction Status
Existing
Attraction Manufacturer
Zamperla
Attraction Model
Lightning
Considering TTD was a catapult launch and not an LSM I'm not aware they ever listed it as such?
 
Something to add to the rumor of Intamin no longer being involved and liable for Dragster is that Intamin has completely removed the ride from their website. It was once listed under their LSM Launch Coaster portfolio with the other Accelerators but it is now gone. For reference, other defunct coasters such as Volcano, Wicked Twister, Zaturn, and even the failed U-Shape Roller Coaster remain on the website. LSM Launch Coaster - Intamin Amusement Rides
Did not expect to see you here lol, but good to know
 
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What are they gonna do about the big 420’ tall tower? It’s not like they can just remove that…
 
Personally, I won't be concerned or disappointed until the tower structure is taken apart. There are many things that could be happening. I wonder if any company, say S&S, is working with the park on a new attraction, using the tower structure but removing all of TTD's track.

There are so many possibilities, it will be interesting to follow and speculate on the design.
 
They did. They have all accelerators there

Fair - odd place to stick a product that uses a completely different propulsion system but whatever.



Otherwise, while fun to speculate, I don't think any of us can conclusively say what's happening other than the ride is down and stuff is happening behind a physical wall.

For all we know, the park is actually working with Intamin (despite bad blood rumors) to address some long-standing operational and reliability issues such as possibly installing an improved version their launch design using data from the original version and KK, and/or adding some slope into the brake run so it's easier/faster to cycle trains. Perhaps they are installing LSMs and thus have to make major changes requiring track replacement. Maybe the track has been used so much that it's easier to replace it during a refurb then trying to let it limp along.


All that to say... We just don't know until we know.
 
Fair - odd place to stick a product that uses a completely different propulsion system but whatever.



Otherwise, while fun to speculate, I don't think any of us can conclusively say what's happening other than the ride is down and stuff is happening behind a physical wall.

For all we know, the park is actually working with Intamin (despite bad blood rumors) to address some long-standing operational and reliability issues such as possibly installing an improved version their launch design using data from the original version and KK, and/or adding some slope into the brake run so it's easier/faster to cycle trains. Perhaps they are installing LSMs and thus have to make major changes requiring track replacement. Maybe the track has been used so much that it's easier to replace it during a refurb then trying to let it limp along.


All that to say... We just don't know until we know.
I know
 
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Feels like we’re closer to the reimagined experience being a 4D free spin, an observation tower, and a nice restaurant.
*Guitar base line plays*
The restaurant that breaks every height and speed record is here, top thrill pavilion!
It’s the tallest, at 420ft, 42 floors of service! And 120 meals per hour it’s the fastest restaurant in the world!
Wanna go? Got the appetite?
Cedar Point, absolutely amazing!
 
Sounds like most the launch, brake, and turnaround track is gone. Little word on the supports.
 
At this point it's probably best if everyone just assumes dragster is gone and expect a new ride in 2024. With what I'm familiar with, it isn't an understatement to say the ride has been retired. The most I can say now, it won't have a hydraulic launch and it isn't just an lsm retrofit.
In August you stated their plan has always been to reopen the ride with little refurb. What changed?
 
In August you stated their plan has always been to reopen the ride with little refurb. What changed?

Can't answer with any true knowledge, but guessing CF/CP figured the financials of making whatever switch works in their favor over just a straight reopening without change to the ride system.
 
In August you stated their plan has always been to reopen the ride with little refurb. What changed?
Not sure what happened internally to CP as that isn't really my wheelhouse, but Intamin went from fully supporting a reopening without major modification to getting a last minute notice that they are no longer going to be used to support the ride, among other things. I think Intamin has been pretty vocally upset on the back channels here due to the way the park has handled this. It went as far as parts being on order afaik, but at some point, the park just decided to completely change course without giving Intamin any hint to it before ripping out track.
 
Not sure what happened internally to CP as that isn't really my wheelhouse, but Intamin went from fully supporting a reopening without major modification to getting a last minute notice that they are no longer going to be used to support the ride, among other things. I think Intamin has been pretty vocally upset on the back channels here due to the way the park has handled this. It went as far as parts being on order afaik, but at some point, the park just decided to completely change course without giving Intamin any hint to it before ripping out track.
Interesting. Thanks for the insight
 
Not sure why all the hoopla over a new launch system. Isn't the same thing happening to the Montezuma shuttle coaster at Knotts?

Secondly, what does Intamin have to do with CP modifying an existing ride? That's like buying a car and taking it to a third party customization shop for changes. Do you go back to the car manufacturer and give them notice? Same for a home addition. Do you go back to the original builder and let them know what you are doing?

If a third party is involved with the makeover of Top Thrill Dragster, I would think they would have just as qualified ride-engineers and designers to work on the ride as there are for the company who built it.
 
Not sure why all the hoopla over a new launch system. Isn't the same thing happening to the Montezuma shuttle coaster at Knotts?

Secondly, what does Intamin have to do with CP modifying an existing ride? That's like buying a car and taking it to a third party customization shop for changes. Do you go back to the car manufacturer and give them notice? Same for a home addition. Do you go back to the original builder and let them know what you are doing?

If a third party is involved with the makeover of Top Thrill Dragster, I would think they would have just as qualified ride-engineers and designers to work on the ride as there are for the company who built Cedar Point had been one of Intamin's biggest customers and if what other's
It sounds like a it's a little more nuanced than that. Others have mentioned that Intamin was unaware that CP planned to use a different company for a refurb, even as far as saying Intamin had parts on order for TTD. It's speculated that this further damages the CP/Intamin relationship.

Because CP is essentially a customer to Intamin, they should be free to just head in a different direction and not work with them with again. It gets complicated in that Intamin products are littered around CF parks and those products will need supported. They might not have that original manufacturer product support which may lead to more incidents like this. It will be really interesting to see what company might come in for a TTD refurb, as it will most likely lead to more refurbishment on other Intamin rides around CF parks.

Fans of blitz coasters especially will be following this closely
 
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