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There's another aspect of excitement in the world of thrill rides. There's the excitement of the latest announcements of upcoming rides from an industry as secretive as the military at times, and the excitement of all the latest happenings at parks around the world. Sometimes the news is good, sometimes the news is bad, but our aim is to bring you the fairest, timeliest, most accurate details on everything that concerns you. COASTER-net's team of journalists is hard at work around the clock to bring you the in-depth scoop!
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False reports about Disneyland Malaysia
Disney reveals that there are no plans to build another park
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© Disney
Disney denies plans to build new park.
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After media reports said that Disney was holding discussions with the Malaysian government about a new park, Disney revealed that it has no plans to build the park.
"We are constantly exploring opportunities around the world as we look to grow our parks and resorts business. At this time, however, there are no existing discussions in Malaysia and we currently have no plans for a Disney-branded resort development in that country," Lisa Haines, a spokeswoman for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, told the media.
The Malaysian Prime Minister in charge of economic affairs, Effendi Norwawi, stated that they were in discussion with Disney operators in the United States and Japan. The park is planned to be built in the southern state of Johor. Norwawi said that they are hoping to get a deal with Disney, but they are also "discussing with several other parties to get the best option."
Disney has a plethora of amusement parks around the world and is always considering new park ideas as a way to increase profits. Disney parks have been operating for over 50 years and continue to bring joy to tourists and local families.
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El Toro test runs in front of hundreds
Six Flags Great Adventure wooden coaster runs
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Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, NJ, USA 05/29/06 - By: Josh Davidson -
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© GADV.com
El Toro is a new wooden roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure.
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Over Memorial Day weekend, Six Flags Great Adventure's new Plaza Del Carnival section opened, but many people got a special treat today as El Toro, tested for the first time.
Reports have been of the lift chain testing, and the train on the track with no proof of testing, but today on many Great Adventure fan sites and theme park releated sites, El Toro has tested, and with photos thanks to GADV.com.
Signs for the last few weeks have said that El Toro is going to be unleashed in two weeks, and now the count down has officially began!
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Are roller coasters becoming dangerous?
Valleyfair accident raises questions, concerns
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Valleyfair, Shakepee, MN, USA 05/24/06 - By: Cory Gross -
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© Clint Novac
Wild Thing at Valley Fair had an accident, with 18 injured.
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According to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, 979 serious injuries that require an overnight stay at the hospital were reported by major parks last year. Over 335 million people rode over 1.5 billion rides. There has been an average of two deaths on a ride for the last 10 years.
Valley Fair is a Cedar Fair-owned amusement park that is located in Minnesota. Valley Fair has had no deaths in its 30-year history. It is home to a 207- foot, 74mph, and 5,460-foot long roller coaster called Wild Thing.
Recently, there was an accident on that led to minor injuries of 18 people. As the ride was being slowed by its brakes, the last car broke off and tipped on its side. The rear wheels on the second-to-last car came off the track. It is unknown, though, whether the derailment happened before or after the cars separated.
Valley Fair officials inspected the ride on Monday but did not touch the ride. The officials of Valley Fair waited for officials from the manufacturer from California. The inspection is planned to take days.
The government will not inspect this ride, for in the state of Minnesota, all parks have to handle ride inspections themselves. Valley Fair has its rides inspected before every season, and also has a trained staff inspection crew in the park
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A Paramount purchase for Cedar Fair
CF will acquire Paramount chain for $1.24 billion
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© Paramount
Paramount Parks will be aqcuired by Cedar Fair L.P.
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Cedar Fair L.P., who owns seven amusement parks and five water parks, announced today that they have signed an agreement to buy the Paramount Parks. Cedar Fair will acquire the Paramount Park stocks for a cash purchase of $1.24 billion.
The transaction is subject to certain conditions. These conditions include regulatory approval and other terms and conditions customary for transactions of this type, and are expected to close during the third quarter. More in depth details were not announced.
In 2005, the five Paramount Parks include Paramount Canada's Wonderland, Paramount's Carowinds,
Paramount's Great America,
Paramount's Kings Dominion, and Paramount's Kings Island brought revenues of about $423 million while entertaining 12.2 million guests. Cedar Fair brought in 12.7 million guests and reported revenues of $569 million. Together, the two companies made almost $1 billion and entertained about 25 million guests in 2005.
© Cedar Fair L.P.
Cedar Fair is to purchase all Paramount Parks.
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Cedar Fair will have a ten-year lease for the Paramount name. Dick Kinzel, owner of Cedar Fair L.P., said that parks like Kings Island and Kings Dominion will keep their names. Cedar Fair will honor the four-year lease with Nickelodeon at the Paramount Parks. The evaluation of the possibility to renew the contract will take place after the four years are over.
Kinzel feels that purchase of Paramount Parks will be good for Cedar Fair because Paramount operations are about the same as Cedar Fair's. There are no plans to merge the season passes this year, but Cedar Fair will see if merging season pass admission to all parks is feasible for the 2007 season.
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'Wild Thing' accident at Valleyfair
Eighteen people suffered minor injuries
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© Valleyfair!
The rear car of Wild Thing separated from the rest of the train and derailed on the brake run entering the station.
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Eighteen people suffered minor injuries while riding Wild Thing at Valleyfair today around 4:30 p.m. Fourteen of them where taken to St. Francis Regional Medical Center, while four refused any medical attention.
© Devin Olson
Wild Thing is a Chance-Morgan 21-story hypercoaster. Wild Thing was Chance-Morgan's first major ride.
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The fourteen mostly just had sprains and strains, but no broken bones. The hospital spokeswoman, Lori Manke, said that they were all treated and released by 8:30 p.m. "They're all doing very, very well," she said.
The cause of the accident could not be immediately identified, said a park official. Bill Von Bank, a Valleyfair spokesperson, said that the last car on one of the trains was separated from the rest of the train at about 4:25 p.m. The event happened on the brakes entering the station.
While Wild Thing reaches speeds up to 74mph, but it would have been going much slower at the point of separation. The car came to a rest derailed and tipped on its side on a platform by the ride, but did not fall.
Bailey Merchant, 12, was in the rear car during the accident. She said that the car in front her started to smoke and jerk. Then she said that car "fell right off the track and made the last car turn over." Bailey said that she fell out of the car, but her friend was stuck, so she helped her out. Merchant said later that, "We were jerked and twisted and it started to hurt really badly."
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Cedar Point plans to improve its park
Cedar Fair reveals plans for its amusement parks
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Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH, USA 05/20/06 - By: Cory Gross -
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© Cedar Point
Cedar Point is world famous for its roller coasters, but shareholders are worried about its finnancial performance .
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Cedar Fair owns some of the most thrilling, hair-raising, and heart-stopping places on Earth. But, shareholders of Cedar Fair LP are worried about the firm’s financial performance.
At the company’s annual meeting many shareholders questioned Dick Kinzel, the Chief Executive, why he changed the buy-one-get-one free admission to Cedar Point to buy one night at Castaway Bay and get the second night free.
Even though prices at Cedar Point are lowering, the decision was not very popular with the shareholders. One of the shareholders said they put in more shares just so that he could get more of the buy-one-get-one free admissions to the park. Another shareholder said that he is too old for the water slides and that many are too.
Dick Kinzel reassures them that a discount to the water park will be better for them. He told them that he wanted to firmly introduce his water park to stock holders. He also revealed that he is considering purchasing Kings Island, one of five Paramount parks.
The company lowered Cedar Point’s admission by five dollars, which makes the admission less than 40 dollars. The park had a decrease in its attendance by two percent last year, and greatly hopes lowering its prices will attract more visitors. The decision was also made due to the struggling Ohio and Michigan economies, where many of the visitors live.
Cedar Point has been operating for over 130 years and is famous for its world renowned roller coasters. It has been a favorite for families and keeps its visitors’ problems and concerns in mind.
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Hong Kong Disneyland plans for the future
Disney's strategy after the grim May Golden Week
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Hong Kong Disneyland, Lantau Island, Hong Kong, China 05/18/06 - By: Michael Ingerson -
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Hong Kong Disneyland recently admitted that the number of guests during the May Golden Week was lower than expected. While Disney didn't release any attendance numbers, managing director Bill Ernest stated that the attendance record is lower than earlier predictions. Disney is confident that they will reach the first year goal of 5.6 million guests, and steps are being taken to meet that target.
© Honk Kong Disneyland
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Ernest said that Disney has stepped up its advertising in the China mainland and in Taiwan. Disney has also brought many of its trade partners into the park and its two hotels. Ernest also stated that he believes that the summer months will be very busy for the park, and that operation hours would be extended and the daily fireworks show would start one hour later at 9 p.m.
Honk Kong Disneyland has been criticized for being too small and lacking the popular attractions that the other Disney parks around the world have. Responding to this criticism, Disney is planning to build a new attraction within the next two years. The new attraction, to be named Small World will be located in the Fantasyland section of the park.
© Honk Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong Disneyland has revealed some of their plans for the future of the park.
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"We will also bring in three attractions, Autopia, Stitch and UFO Cool Zone this summer," Ernest said. "If the business grows, we will grow accordingly. We will grow the park from the annual visitor numbers from 5.6 million to 10 million." Ernest has vowed to correct all of the mistakes the park has made.
Hong Kong Disneyland opened on September 12, 2005. Since then, there have been management shakeups, which include the resignation of Don Robinson, Ernest's former boss, and the departure of three marketing and sales executives. Even though Ernest admitted to the problems and hardships of the park so far, he is confident about the park's future.
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Mr. Six back in action for new commercial
Popular mascot spotted at Six Flags Great Adventure
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Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, NJ, USA 05/16/06 - By: Devin Olson -
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© Gainsider.com
Mr. Six was spotted May 16 at Six Flags Great Adventure during the filming of a new commercial. It is unknown whether it will air locally or nationally.
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The TV sets across America have been without his energetic dance moves and the beat of his techno music this season, but that may be about to change.
Over five months after Dan Snyder assumed ownership of the Six Flags theme park chain and stated that a future for Mr. Six seemed unlikely, the popular star from the 2003 and 2004 national advertising campaigns was spotted Tuesday on the set of a new Six Flags commercial - New Jersey's Six Flags Great Adventure. This follows more recent comments from Six Flags CEO Mark Shapiro stating that, rather than eliminating Mr. Six altogether, Six Flags would reduce dependency on the advertising campaign.
The webmaster of unofficial Great Adventure site Gainsider.com snapped a picture of Mr. Six in full costume, seated in a director's chair beside the midway. A sign just inside of the entrance read, "We will be filming in the park today" and, "We thank you in advance for your patience," with "Six Flags" printed at the bottom.
It is unknown whether the commercial will air nationally or simply within the region of Six Flags Great Adventure, which is in the process of advertising their record-breaking wooden coaster nearly ready to open, El Toro.
COASTER-net launched a campaign to support the popular commercial mascot Dec. 10 with the "Save Mr. Six" petition at Savemrsix.coaster-net.com.
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B&M flyer opens for the 2006 season
Six Flags Magic Mountain's 'Tatsu' opened on May 11
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Valencia, California 05/14/06 - By: -
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© Six Flags Magic Mountain
Tatsu is located in the Samurai Summit area of Six Flags Magic Mountain.
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Standing 170 feet tall, Tatsu can be spotted from quite a distance away, with its five inversions and other elements.
Mark Shapiro said a few words about Tatsu's opening. “This is a celebration of 45 years of thrills,” Shapiro told reporters. “We will continue to be the thrill park leader ... and nothing underscores our continuing commitment to thrills as Tatsu.”
Riders enter their seats, locked in by harnesses, only to be tilted forward until they are looking at the ground and exit the station. Tatsu is the world's tallest, fastest, and longest flying coaster and has three trains that seat 32 people each.
This flyer was quite anticipated, as over 1,000 people camped outside the park on Wednesday evening in hope that they would be the first to ride it on Thursday, May 11. Finally, the park opened the front gates at four in the morning on Thursday so the anxious gets could enter the park.
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David is the luckiest name at La Ronde
Park holds contest to be the first to ride 'Goliath'
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La Ronde, Montreal, Quebec, Canada 05/14/06 - By: Cory Gross -
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© LA Ronde
Goliath opened yesterday with 72 Davids on hand to conquer the new giant, Canada's tallest and fastest coaster.
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The new coaster at La Ronde that opened the season on May 13 will always welcome a rider with the name of David.
On Thursday, May 11, there were 72 Davids at La Ronde. There were Davids of all genders, sizes, and ages. Davids who were 10 and Davids who were 65, but they all came to La Ronde for the same reason…to be the first to ride the 175-foot, 68mph, roller coaster with over 4,000 feet of track called Goliath.
Anyone with David as their first, middle, or last name was allowed to enter a contest that would choose the first rider of the tallest coaster in Canada. More than 1,200 Davids entered the competition from all over the province of Quebec.
All the Davids were ready to ride and excited to be part of this event. This unique ride takes 3 minutes and 12 seconds, features 6 zero-gravity hills, and when it reaches its top speed, the rider’s hair is pushed forward and not backward, giving this ride its very unique element.
David Martel, 11, who was one of the youngest Davids at the competition, said, “I was scared a bit going up and at the first drop,” but he admitted he was extremely excited and found the ride to be very fast.
Lise David, the oldest person who was in the competition at 65 years old, said, "The day before I wasn't so sure, I was pretty nervous, but this morning I woke up and said, ‘I have to do this,’ " She added, on her way out of the park, "I love rides and this one is Number One." This ride was and will be a hit for people of all ages. Be sure to catch a ride on this Mega coaster. . . even if your name is not David.
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Six Flags selling unoccupied land to local developer
Site that once held Six Flags AstroWorld being sold off for $77 mil
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Six Flags Astro World, Houston, TX, USA 05/12/06 - By: Cory Gross -
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© Six Flags AstroWorld
Six Flags AstroWorld closed in October 2005 after Six Flags decided to sell off the park to developers.
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For $77 million, the land that once occupied Six Flags Astro World will be sold to Angel McIver, Company. Six Flags Industry closed Six Flags Astro World in October 2005 and has been auctioning off its major rides and attractions.
Even though the land was initially estimated to be sold for $95 million to $142 million, the deal is expected to be made final on June 1st.
The officials at Angel McIver have not announced what they will be planning to do with the area. The 104-acre site could house many different properties such as retail, medical, office, hotels, or apartments. The site is located in central Houston, therefore whatever it becomes, will be a success.
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Disney's 50th celebration proves success
Walt Disney World and Disneyland reach record highs
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© Walt Disney
Walt Disney theme parks are reporting increasing crowds as the 50th anniversary celebration comes to a close.
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The Happiest Homecoming on Earth is nearing the end for Disneyland and the other Disney theme parks. However, it's still a very happy time for the Disney theme park company.
The Walt Disney company has posted a 19-percent earning increase.
Walt Disney World showed a three-percent increase, but the new Disney theme park, Hong Kong Disneyland, had lower crowds than expected. Disney plans to change that, but is indeed happy from the overall records of the 2005-2006 season.
The Disney company hopes for another record year as Disneyland's 50th anniversary comes to a close and EPCOT's 25th anniversary nears.
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Small Ohio water park closed for the season
Cleveland's Dover Lake Waterpark will not open this year
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Dover Lake Waterpark, a small waterpark in Sagmore Hills, Ohio will not be operating this summer. The 54-acre park brought in many families with their low admission prices and their fun attractions.
Officials speculate that the park, which has a tax-assessed value of $1.7 million, may be sold to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Deputy Superintendent Bill Carroll said that the park service can not afford to buy the waterpark. He also stated that the National Park is worried about the future owner's use of the land because it boarders the Nation Park.
Alice B. Kanieski, a part-time zoning administrator for the town, said, "I'm quite disappointed that the park isn't going to open, it was just a great place to be."
Dover Lake opened in 1969 by C.J. Dover and his wife who had opened a ski resort in 1963. It was the first "modern" waterpark in the Cleveland area and had the state's first wave pool.
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Classic 1933 coaster might run again
Williams Grove Amusement Park seeks new owner
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Williams Grove Amusement Park, Mechanicsburg, PA, USA 05/08/06 - By: Cory Gross -
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Williams Grove Amusement Park, located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, officially closed for the last season in 2005. However, the 1933 wooden roller coaster classic may be running again this season. The park now hopes that the Amusement Park can still be saved.
The decision to close the Park was made in February. The decision was made by Manager of sales Sally Loh, who also manages the Williams Grove Speed Way across the street from the park, and park owner Morgan Hughes. The park closed because Loh said it was too difficult to manage both the amusement park and the Williams Grove Speedway.
But there are two ways the old fashioned, family amusement park can reopen: A professional management team, with experience in running family-owned amusement park, could take over the corporation. Or, someone could pay six million dollars to operate the amusement park and agree to keep it an old-fashioned, family park.
Loh says, “We try to keep it reasonable and family oriented.” This is exactly what the park aimed for. It was a favorite of families, for it made a perfect place for family picnics and reunions. It cost one dollar on weekdays to eat by the creek and two dollars on weekends.
Loh hopes the park will keep on running and hopes the new owners will keep it family-oriented. "If you don't know the business and love it, you're not going to want to do it," Loh said. "Hopefully someone will see it and think it's a beautiful, nostalgic place." The park was profitable, especially to the company picnic business. Hopefully, the park will reopen and deliver its family charm with its 1933 classic roller coaster and its many picnic areas that have delighted families for decades.
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Can higher gas prices save you money?
Six Flags offers up discounts with gasoline receipts
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Six Flags New England, Agawam, MA, USA 05/07/06 - By: Cory Gross -
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© Six Flags
Six Flags New England and 12 other Six Flags Park are giving discounts to guests with a gasoline receipt of any amount.
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There’s a benefit to high gas prices after all. Six Flags New England and 12 other Six Flags parks hope that the high price of gasoline will not stop customers from driving to their parks. Until May 29th, an adult ticket is $15 with a gasoline receipt of any amount.
This promotion cannot be used for a child, senior citizen, two-day Multi Park, or evening discount tickets, but can save a lot of money on a normal one-day adult ticket. At Six Flags New England a normal adult ticket is $50 plus tax. This promotion can result in a savings of up to $35.
Six Flags New England’s spokeswoman Melissa M. Pimkerton says, “Like everyone in America, we're seeing what's going on with gas prices, and we're sympathetic.” Six Flags Industry is realizing people’s needs and what they have to sacrifice to come to a Six Flags park, or any other amusement park.
Six Flags Industry has launched a new slogan in newspapers stating: “Our President is doing something about gas prices.” Mark Shapiro, the Six Flags President, states that through this decision he hopes to attract more families. He hopes people will forget about the gas prices and will travel to Six Flags parks to enjoy themselves.
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Six Flags Great Adventure goes up and down
'Batman' back up and running while 'Kingda Ka' goes down
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© Clint Novak
Kingda Ka is down after an accident that occured during normal testing procedures.
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Six Flags Great Adventure is home to many world class coasters to include the tallest and fastest coaster on Earth! The coaster, named Kingda Ka, takes riders 456 feet in the air at speeds of 128 mph.
Kingda Ka, which opened last year, had a tragic accident at 9:45 at night. Reports said that Kingda Ka went down in a normal break down; however, in a normal test run, the ride shot at sparks.
A dropped cell phone caused damage to the catchar and the sensors around it, which made the coaster fail to stop in the catchcar breaks. In other words, The catchcar mechanism was catapulted into a "stopper" at 128 miles per hour.
Earlier that day, there were reports of the breaking system for Kingda Ka malfunctioning. Right after the accident, the Golden Kingdom area was evaculated.
According to the park's website Kingda Ka is down and there is no word when the record-shattering coaster will reopen.
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Disney to offer less intense 'Mission: Space'
After two recent deaths, Disney announces gentler ride
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© Josh Davidson
Mission: Space at Walt Disney World's EPCOT will offer two versions of the ride beginning this summer.
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As result of two recent deaths on Mission: Space at Walt Disney World, Disney will be offering a less intense version of the ride that will open at the beginning of this summer.
The original ride is based around a spinning centrifuge, but in the new version, the centrifuge will be turned off.
With this new version, Walt Disney World wishes Mission: Space to appeal to even more guests. This will be the first time in history that Disney has offered two intensity levels for the same ride.
In the past year, two people have died shortly after riding Mission: Space. Four-year-old Daudi Bamuwamye, died on June 13, 2005 because of a pre-existing heart condition. On April 12, 2006, a 49-year-old German tourist died of a stroke brought on by high blood pressure.
Mission: Space is a spinning ride that opened in August, 2003. The $100-million attraction is located at Walt Disney World's EPCOT in Orlando, Florida.
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