Vekoma

A visit to Universal Studios Florida

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New York

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem

The Despicable Me movies are among the most successful animated films of all time, which is mainly due to the hilarious Minions. In Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, we become Minions ourselves and are sent on a crazy journey to test our suitability as Minions. At the same time, the three children lose their gift to Gru and now it’s time to get it back. The ride in the simulators and the film shown are extremely entertaining, which is why I can highly recommend a visit to the Minions.

Shrek 4D

It’s interesting how long certain attractions can last in a large corporate theme park. The Shrek franchise is already 20 years old and has produced five films to date, with the last film having been released 10 years ago. Outside of the Universal theme parks, the film could be seen at Movie Park Germany and Warner Bros. Movie World on the Gold Coast in Australia, but in both cases the attraction was discontinued around 10 years ago.

Shrek 4D takes place after the events of the first film. The film is very well produced and extremely entertaining, but ultimately showed its age. This is one reason why the attraction will soon be closed and another Minion attraction called Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast will move into the park instead.

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is the big roller coaster at Universal Studios Florida. It was the first roller coaster with a non-inverted loop. As with Hollywood Dream The Ride at Universal Studios Japan, you can also choose your favourite music for the ride.

The ride begins immediately with a vertical lift, but instead of going straight into an equally vertical, if not steeper, descent, we ride comfortably down a steep ramp. With enough speed, we then shoot up the non-inverted loop. After enjoying the view from the top of the loop, we immediately jump back into the action. Shortly afterwards, we take on a longer ascent, after which we enter the first block brake. We then leave this with a slight turn to the right. At the bottom of the valley, we then enter a helix, which narrows towards the end and shoots up steeply before dropping just as quickly. After a further ascent, the second block brake follows just below the first. The following part leads us in numerous dynamic turns past the non-inverted loop and the station to the other side of the ride, where another block brake awaits us. After the subsequent drop, a series of S-curves awaits us, which then merge into a steep turn – similar to that of a Jet Star 2. This is the most powerful section of the run. A further braking section awaits us immediately after this element. Last but not least, a small drop with a final curve awaits us before we reach the final braking section and soon enter the station at reduced speed.

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit makes good use of the narrow strip of land available to it. The ride itself offers some great elements and sections; unfortunately, that’s about it, because the ride is anything but pleasant. The music creates an extremely coherent and atmospheric ride, but I personally don’t need to experience it that often.

Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon

Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon is an interesting attraction. The waiting area here is more like a lobby where you can sit down in comfort or take a look at the numerous exhibits from the NBC television station. The ride itself begins in the Tonight Show studio, where Jimmy Fallon sets off on a journey through New York. Here we first go through the studio offices, then across Times Square, down into the subway and finally we fly through the air and onto the moon. Basically, the ride is more recommended for anyone who is familiar with all the references to The Tonight Show. The ride itself is wacky and quite entertaining overall.

Revenge of the Mummy

The indoor roller coaster Revenge of the Mummy replaced the large Kongfrontation dark ride in 2004. The ride is based on the Mummy films with Brendan Frasier, who also plays a small role towards the end of the ride.

The ride begins with an extremely impressive dark ride section, which we exit backwards after the scene with the scarabs and hurtle down a small drop. Shortly afterwards, we are rotated 180° again, whereupon the actual rollercoaster section begins. We then shoot up a long ramp quite quickly. We then race over the crest with a bang and immediately plummet down a steep curve. We then hit a very tight helix with great intensity before plunging towards the hall floor. Next, we race through a bend close to the ground, which features some really strong banking. After a short speed bump, we climb a steep curve and end up at the supposed exit station, where Imhotep surprises us with a fiery finale. After another fall and several turns close to the ground, we reach the actual final brake, where Brendan Frasier asks for a coffee and succumbs to the curse of the mummy.

Revenge of the Mummy is an amazingly intense indoor rollercoaster. I personally really enjoyed the ride, which is why I rode it several times in a row during my visit. The great scenes at the beginning of the ride, as well as the thrilling rollercoaster ride afterwards, simply leave you wanting more.

The Blues Brothers Show

When the Blues Brothers arrive, a good show is not far away. One song after another is offered here, with the wit of the two brothers being brought to the stage very well. There are usually a few guest musicians, which is why no two shows are the same.

Transformers The Ride 3D

Like The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, Transformers: The Ride 3D scores particularly well with the ride system used. The ride offers a successful mix of film sequences and very well staged backdrops that take the action-packed ride to a higher level. As in the Transformers films, there is hardly a quiet second during the ride. There’s shooting, fighting and cool jokes thrown around wherever possible. Every few seconds, the next scene begins, whereby the transitions are absolutely smooth, leaving an extremely coherent overall impression at the end – in other words, Transformers: The Ride 3D is an absolutely awesome package.

San Francisco

Fast & Furious Supercharged

Fast & Furious Supercharged is not a good attraction, which means that the waiting times here are always limited. The ride itself offers the same over-the-top film that is shown in a short segment during the Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood, but here as a stand-alone attraction. While this stands out neither positively nor negatively as part of the overarching Studio Tour and can at best be seen as an entertaining stopgap, the attraction in Orlando offers nothing that justifies a wait of more than five minutes. Previously, there was an attraction in the same location, Distaster!, which had significantly more narrative depth and dealt with the making of a disaster film with numerous special effects and, before the actual attraction began, offered a pre-show and some movie magic, where selected actors from the audience took part in the production of the film Mutha Nature.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Hogwarts Express

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme area spans both Universal theme parks in Florida. While you can visit Hogsmeade and Hogwarts in the Islands of Adventure, you can explore Diagon Alley in Universal Studios. Both themed areas are connected by the Doppelmayr Hogwarts Express funicular railway. However, a ticket valid for both parks is required for the journey. While a park hopping ticket makes little sense at Walt Disney World due to the distance between the parks, the walking distance between the two Universal theme parks is a big plus, as well as the opportunity to take a ride on the Hogwarts Express, which is a really great experience. It is also recommended to ride both routes once, as the film sequences shown are different.

Diagon Alley

Somewhat hidden behind the London facades of Universal Studios Florida is Diagon Alley. In addition to the famous Gringotts bank, which has a large dragon on its roof, there are numerous smaller shops and restaurants here.

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts

The main attraction in Diagon Alley is the multi-dimension coaster Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts from the manufacturer Intamin. This ride offers a successful mix of dark ride and roller coaster, but is quite dark in tone as it is based on the events of the later Harry Potter films. The ride itself is quite leisurely, but is really impressive with its switches, seesaws and rotating cars. Something is constantly happening and at the end we somehow manage to escape from Voldemort.

World Expo

Men in Black Alien Attack

The Men in Black Alien Attack interactive dark ride is one of the best themed rides in the world. Instead of shooting at small targets, you simply shoot at the various aliens, which can quickly rack up a large number of points. In between, the cars sometimes turn quite rapidly, creating a surprisingly dynamic ride. While other interactive dark rides quickly become outdated, this one – despite the fact that the IP is now quite old – is always fun to play.

Spingfield, USA – Home of the Simpsons

The Simpsons Ride

One of Universal Studios’ most iconic attractions was Back to the Future: The Ride, where you went on a hectic journey through time in replica DeLorians to bring Biff back to the future. The ride was replaced in 2008 both in Hollywood and at Universal Studios Florida by the Simpsons Ride – an IP that was still very relevant at the time. The ride is quite impressive due to the simulators used and the pre-shows are very entertaining. The film itself is hectic and overloaded. Furthermore, the 3D look doesn’t really do the familiar characters from the series any favours. All in all, however, the ride is definitely entertaining; now that the rights are with Disney, you should definitely take a ride while you still can.

Woody Woodpecker’s Kidzone

The Woody Woodpecker’s Kidzone area is very colourful and, apart from the Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster, has no real connection to the well-known comic character. Instead, there is a Spongebob Shop, a rather wacky-looking inflatable boat slide centred around Feivel, a play area centred around Curious George, as well as the large E.T. Adventure dark ride.

Animal Actors on Location!

Animal Actors on Location! is one of Universal Studios Hollywood’s longest-running shows. The entertaining show offers a look at the training of the animals, which can then be used in the films, and of course everything goes a little haywire here.

E.T. Adventure

The E.T. Adventure dark ride is now the oldest themed ride in a Universal Studios park worldwide. The ride itself is well done and is particularly impressive with its large set designs, whereby I personally was really impressed by the indoor waiting area in the forest. The ride retells the events of the film before you arrive on the planet of E.T. and everything becomes a little more colourful. All in all, a great attraction that you are welcome to take with you.

Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster

Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster is the standard model of a Vekoma Junior Coaster, which can also be experienced in the park next door as Flight of the Hippogriff. Accordingly, the ride begins with a short curve out of the station and the subsequent lift hill. You immediately complete a left-hand steep turn with a subsequent upward helix, cross a short valley and a wide right-hand turn near the station. Over a hill, you cross the route you have just travelled, whereupon you lose some height in another helix. This is followed by a left-hand bend, after which the braking section awaits. Here you wait a little until the train has been dispatched at the station and you can enter it.

Hollywood

The Bourne Stuntacular

In The Bourne Stuntacular, the action in the background merges seamlessly with the action on stage. At times I found it really difficult to distinguish film from drama and that alone is reason enough to see the show. But what is on offer beyond that is great entertainment; such as big action scenes with stage sets that move across the stage parallel to the events in the film and much more. Great fun and a must-see show for every theme park fan and show lover.

Horror Make-Up Show

One of the funniest shows at Universal Studios Florida is the Horror Makeup Show, which gives you an insight into horror films and the associated tricks. Of course, the actual horror is limited, although the show has many allusions and is definitely not suitable for children, but that’s what Disney is for.

Pictures Universal Studios Florida

Conclusion Universal Studios Florida

Universal Studios Florida is one of my favourite theme parks in the world. I really liked what was on offer, even though many of the stages in the park are not currently being used. Together with the neighbouring theme park Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, the park forms a great overall package that you can enjoy for several days at a time without getting bored.

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Universal Studios Florida

Full Steam ahead on Hals-über-Kopf

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The novelties of Erlebnispark Tripsdrill

Erlebnispark Tripsdrill has once again built something new and presented it to the public half-finished – and thus not made with love at all. In the German amusement park scene, we only know this kind of behaviour from Hansa Park, but there they have to cover up a big tower every time. To be honest, I didn’t really understand why they had to open their two roller coasters, Volldampf and Hals-über-Kopf, during the Covid-19 pandemic; after all, they could have marketed the whole thing all the bigger when the pandemic was coming to an end.

Volldampf

Well, now the two roller coasters are here and can be tested. The smaller of the two Vekoma rides is the Family Boomerang Volldampf, which is already very impressive. Admittedly, the ride is basically finished; the only thing missing is the decoration at the reversal point of the ride.  Apart from the beautiful station, the cute and macabre train design, the foreign visitor gets acquainted with Swabian folk songs and before the ride starts, one sings along with Trulla-trulla-trullala of the song Auf de schwäbsche Eisebahne after the coaster has been designed.

The ride begins with the backward incline of the friction wheel lift. Once you have reached the top of the lift, you are first held in position while the friction wheels are pushed apart, thus clearing the way. Immediately the brakes are released and the descent begins. With momentum we now drive through the station and over a small hill to the right. Here we also avoid the threateningly close rail of Hals-über-Kopf. Close to the ground, we now whiz through a wide left turn before we cross a path on a hill. Now we make our way across the inside of the Suspended Thrill Coaster. After a slight turn to the right, a turn to the left follows. With momentum we then go through another right turn, whereupon we enter the station building of Hals-über-Kopf and change our direction above the station. A little more leisurely than before, we now go backwards through the already completed stretch.

Volldampf is fun! The ride across the big sister ride convinces with its curves close to the ground, the constant changes of direction and the mutual interaction. The long stretch of track also gives the passengers a lot to enjoy.

Hals-über-Kopf

Less is offered to park guests – at least in terms of design – on the Suspended Thrill Coaster Hals-über-Kopf. This is an iteration of the very common suspended looping coaster. The track profile, however, is based on that of the manufacturer’s new looping roller coasters.

The ride on the Hals-über-Kopf begins immediately with a short right turn, which soon leads us into the ride’s lift. Having reached a height of 30m, we immediately plunge straight down to the ground. Just above the roller coaster Volldampf we turn right. With momentum we now go through the first valley and immediately into the first inversion. We cross the station building of the family roller coaster in a long zero-G roll. Shortly afterwards, we turn around in an Immelmann Jr. Far above a pavement we now whiz over an airtime hill. After a short bend to the left, we plunge to the ground once more and immediately turn to the right and, poof, we see the world upside down a second time. Immediately we plunge into a 270° helix close to the ground and full of pressure, before we take off a little on a small hill. Another strongly inclined turn follows. Very close to the ground, there is a short bend to the right before we enter a dip to the left. This is followed by the last and final inversion of the ride. Shortly afterwards, we already hit the final brake.

Hals-über-Kopf is an extremely solid family roller coaster with a beautiful track layout and great pacing. The ride is only slightly stressful, which means that every member of the family should get their money’s worth. For us roller coaster fans, there is now an extremely exciting roller coaster in the Erlebnispark Tripsdrill that you could confidently ride for several hours at a time and that is an extremely nice thing per se.

Pictures Erlebnispark Tripsdrill

Conclusion Erlebnispark Tripsdrill

With the new roller coaster duo, Erlebnispark Tripsdrill has done a lot right. The new coasters enhance the front section of the park and, due to their location alone, ensure a better overall distribution of visitors in the park, who would otherwise mostly romp around in the back part of the park. Now there is something for the whole family in every area of the park and that is a very nice development for a family theme park like Erlebnispark Tripsdrill.

 

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Erlebnispark Tripsdrill

Flying through Rookburgh

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A new themed area at Phantasialand

Phantasialand has once again built something new and of all things it was completed during the Covid 19 pandemic. Whereas elsewhere the opening of the new attraction, the new themed area and the new hotel would have been postponed until next year, the park in Brühl has once again taken the initiative to completely turn the theme park world upside down.

After the closure of the huge IMAX Simulator Race for Atlantis at the end of the winter season 2015/16, rumours about the future use of the area started. At the same time, the new themed area Klugheim was in its final preparations. Shortly thereafter, Taron became Europe’s most signature ride and Klugheim one of the most immersive areas in a European theme park.

A teaser of the new themed area appeared to the start of the 2017 season and in June of the same year, the roller coaster F.L.Y. was announced to the public. The first track was installed soon after. Yet, due to the location at the edge of the park and between the areas Berlin and Fantasy, there was not much to look at. Indeed, no visitor would know what Rookburgh and its flying machine would look like until the opening of the area.

The Pre-Opening of Rookburgh

With time, the anticipation grew immensely and all the sudden – and in a time when nobody would have thought about it – Rookburgh opened its gates for a preopening. Due to Covid-19, the number of visitors to the area was restricted and only the front entrance to the area was opened, which led to a long queue right from the start expanding over a large part of the Kaiserplatz and into the Fantasy area.

I joined the queue around noon and enjoyed the time in the open-air queue on the Kaiserplatz for quite a while. Once Rookburgh was in sight – all the sudden – a queue jumper thought it was a good idea to be a group member of mine. Apparently, he was an employee of the park on a day off and was just interested in the area. As I do not accept queue jumping, I informed the staff about his behaviour and he was denied entrance to the area for the day of visit. He called me – rather thankful, I guess – an asshole.

From the moment, he forced himself into my life, I was angry. But all the anger was forgotten once I stepped into the immersive world of Rookburgh. This steam punk paradise is just incredible. The way the roller coaster F.L.Y. is passing through the area and the nearby Hotel Charles Lindbergh is awesome. There is so much going on, yet everything is reduced to the new sensation of flying and clear in its visuals.

Apart of the main attraction, Rookburgh offers some delicious treats. In Emilie‘s Chocoladen & Candy‑Werkstatt you can buy high quality chocolate and candies, whereas Zum Kohleschipper offers a range of delicious sandwiches and the restaurant Uhrwerk fully concentrates itself on exclusive hamburgers, craft beer and Gin. This all comes for a price and covers a segment, which was not yet been covered by the park. Phantasialand therefore offers a large range of fantastic food options for a very reasonable price.

F.L.Y. – a flying sensation

The signature attraction of Rookburgh is the Vekoma flying coaster F.L.Y. Albeit Vekoma was the pioneer of this kind of coaster, their Flying Dutchman model can only be found in a handful of parks. The complicated loading mechanism and the lowered capacity in regard to the competitor’s product never led to another installation since 2001. In 2009 a first iteration of the train’s mechanic got presented with the short-lived Stingray coaster at the Giant Wheel Park of Suzhou. For F.L.Y. the Flying Dutchman design received a completely new development. Now the trains are featuring the vest design to be found at other modern coasters of the company and the shin clamps are fixed to the train and not to the restraints and can be entered while sliding into them. But the most important novelty is that you are entering the train whilst the track is in a 90° rotated position – a swivel turned the car to a horizontal position.  The station is therefore highly unusual, as it needs to be rather long.

The ride on F.L.Y.

Once the train is boarded, the ride can begin. In a dark ride section, we climb a ramp while still sitting in an upright position. In a curve, we then change into the flying position in probably the most elegant way so far. Shortly thereafter, we are accelerated in the first launch section of the ride and into a wide and upwards leading curve. Along and above facades of Rookburgh, we now twist ourselves around in a corkscrew. After a left-hand bend, we cross the first launch section in an airtime hill. Accompanied with a lot of pressure, we fly through the back section of Rookburgh before gaining a bit of height in a curve to the left. We then make our way through the centre of the area before we descent in a very wide left-hand curve. A tight bend to the right then leads us towards the area front right corner of the area, where we descend to the ground level in a tight helix. Here we hit the second launch track and accelerate once more towards the Hotel Charles Lindbergh.

As the launch track is leading upwards, we soon have a view onto the upper levels of the hotel. A steep curve then takes us down. With a lot of momentum, we now fly over the restaurant Uhrwerk, before we make our way through the centre of the area once more. In a left-hand bend we then surprise the visitors of the Chocoladen & Candy-Werkstatt, while continuing our journey towards the front right section of the area. Here, we descent in a left-hand helix, before we plunge down towards the ground. In an intensive left-hand bend, we now head towards the second inversion of the ride, whereupon we continue in a wide curve close to the ground. A short swivel to the right later, we then hit the brakes. Like the start of the ride, we are then turned back to the horizontal seating position while passing through a short turn. We are now waiting for debarkation in a very comfy position. Shortly after, we reach the exit station.

Conclusion F.L.Y.

Rookburgh is without a doubt one of the most immersive areas in any theme park and F.L.Y. is its masterpiece of a roller coaster. It became my favourite flying coaster somewhere in the middle of the ride, as I could not stop laughing. As most of the flying coasters out there, F.L.Y. is a very intense experience, yet a very enjoyable one. The trains are a lot comfier than the standard ones to be found on a B&M coaster of the same type and guarantee a very safe journey through the air. The high capacity, the long ride time, the technology of the ride and its location certainly enhance the overall experience on F.L.Y.: a ride which got with ease the next big signature ride of Europe.

Pictures Phantasialand

 

What is your opinion about the Flying Coaster F.L.Y. and the themed area Rookburgh? Just write it in the comment field below the report or visit our social media channels:

 

          

Phantasialand