SDCFans - The Unofficial Fan Site For Silver Dollar City
Silver Dollar City & Celebration City Discussion => General Silver Dollar City Talk => Topic started by: Pudgy Jones on August 06, 2019, 09:34:10 AM
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I rode Thunderation on Sunday, and one cannot help but notice the VERY rough bump that others have mentioned. Do some of the coaster experts know what's going on? Is that a fixable issue? It needs to be addressed.
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Thunderration has always been a very bumpy ride. Haven't ridden recently but it's hard to imagine that it's significantly worse.
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Thunderation Bump........sounds like one of those new fangled dance moves the youths are coming up with.
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Maybe that's what's missing from Moonlight Madness dance parties - themed dance moves:
The Wildfire Slide
The Flume
The Taffy Pull
The Teacup Spin
The Mystic Spring
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Thunderration has always been a very bumpy ride. Haven't ridden recently but it's hard to imagine that it's significantly worse.
There is one specific place where it is noticeably worse. In fact, it's downright painful.
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I have completely stopped riding it because of that bump. It never used to be like that. I got worse when they started the earth work for TT. It is REAL bad this year. It seems like the track foundation has settled quite a bit in that spot. I never had any problems with TNT before but that one bump is now too much for me. The sad part is I love riding TNT. Even my 10 year old wont ride it anymore.
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I have completely stopped riding it because of that bump. It never used to be like that. I got worse when they started the earth work for TT. It is REAL bad this year. It seems like the track foundation has settled quite a bit in that spot. I never had any problems with TNT before but that one bump is now too much for me. The sad part is I love riding TNT. Even my 10 year old wont ride it anymore.
I was gonna mention that too. As much as I hate to admit it as I do like Time Traveler, it was around late 2017 I first started noticing the bump and yeah it seems to have gotten worse. I am betting the heavy equipment used around that vicinity installing the final launch and overbanked turn might have attributed to it. This also makes me wonder about the staff comments that were worried for its future when I visited last. It would be a pretty tragic loss to lose this coaster from the park. Hopefully something gets addressed in the off season.
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Last car ride on Saturday. It was bad but I won’t stop riding. The bruise on my right side will heal, right?
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If SDC replaced Thundetation with a Taron style ride, i'd be giddy as all get out. We loved, loved, loved our rides on Taron, feeling that little splash as you launched up a waterfall. Awesome, that airtime hill, oh my.
I say Taron as that ride is low and would be a great fit for that area. Never above the trees.
SDC needs to stop being cheap on faux rock rock. Time Traveler screamed for a falling in a misty rock tunnel out of the station.
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If SDC replaced Thundetation with a Taron style ride, i'd be giddy as all get out. We loved, loved, loved our rides on Taron, feeling that little splash as you launched up a waterfall. Awesome, that airtime hill, oh my.
I say Taron as that ride is low and would be a great fit for that area. Never above the trees.
SDC needs to stop being cheap on faux rock rock. Time Traveler screamed for a falling in a misty rock tunnel out of the station.
Yes. Let’s tear out the one true family coaster and replace it with a Taron coaster. Yes that makes complete sense. SMDH. Good Grief.
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I haven't been this year....where is the bump at? After the station? Before the helix? On the helix? after the tunnel and before the lift (where I assume)? By TT?
Is it a dip in the track? Does it slow the train down? Just give a jolt up/down/sideways?
You guys aren't very descriptive...lol How am I supposed to keyboard engineer a fix?
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If SDC replaced Thundetation with a Taron style ride, i'd be giddy as all get out. We loved, loved, loved our rides on Taron, feeling that little splash as you launched up a waterfall. Awesome, that airtime hill, oh my.
I say Taron as that ride is low and would be a great fit for that area. Never above the trees.
SDC needs to stop being cheap on faux rock rock. Time Traveler screamed for a falling in a misty rock tunnel out of the station.
Yes. Let’s tear out the one true family coaster and replace it with a Taron coaster. Yes that makes complete sense. SMDH. Good Grief.
SMH too. The best mine coaster I have ever ridden. This one is a gem and needs to be Preserved.
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I haven't been this year....where is the bump at? After the station? Before the helix? On the helix? after the tunnel and before the lift (where I assume)? By TT?
Is it a dip in the track? Does it slow the train down? Just give a jolt up/down/sideways?
You guys aren't very descriptive...lol How am I supposed to keyboard engineer a fix?
If it is the same one as last year it is during the Helix. Close to the end.
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It is close to the end of the helix. It almost feels like you are hitting a pothole in your car. It's not a subtle dip. It's a very sharp, jarring feel.
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Yes that’s exactly where it is and it is BAD. I have talked to several people and they all complained too.
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The "bump" has been getting worse for 2 years. It is definitely one of the best mine/family rides around but "good grief" it needs to be fixed. The self described "expert" should recognize that. My daughter and I once rode it 12 times in a row when she was 7 and had to walk the long line back around. Now we all cringe about the severe bump. Show it some love, not just "shut up and appreciate it".
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Now that I think about it, it seems like there is a 2nd bump that has formed down close to where it curves up from where it sits next to TT. I can recall if this is before the tunnel or after. I may have to ride it again to see. My problem with the bump is I know its coming so I tense up. I am already starting to get a stiff back from old age I guess which does not agree with the bump.
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It is close to the end of the helix. It almost feels like you are hitting a pothole in your car. It's not a subtle dip. It's a very sharp, jarring feel.
So it's probably literally the fastest part of the ride? Where it would probably also be the most noticeable.
Hopefully is just normal wear and not caused by TT damage. Id suggest calling SDC and letting them know. I'm guessing they do know about it....but it wouldn't hurt to make sure they SDC knows people are talking about it. Hopefully that would just help prioritize a fix for it. I would tend to think the park would go with a fix maybe in the offseason before doing anything too drastic with the whole ride. Like all things in theme parks....just depends on the money and lawyers what can be done.
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It is close to the end of the helix. It almost feels like you are hitting a pothole in your car. It's not a subtle dip. It's a very sharp, jarring feel.
So it's probably literally the fastest part of the ride? Where it would probably also be the most noticeable.
Hopefully is just normal wear and not caused by TT damage. Id suggest calling SDC and letting them know. I'm guessing they do know about it....but it wouldn't hurt to make sure they SDC knows people are talking about it. Hopefully that would just help prioritize a fix for it. I would tend to think the park would go with a fix maybe in the offseason before doing anything too drastic with the whole ride. Like all things in theme parks....just depends on the money and lawyers what can be done.
To add to this; yes if one does take this action to messaging the PTB, please be thoughtful in how you word it. Do emphasize you do wish to see a fix or total refurb made. If a bunch of people flood their message boards and emails about this issue with TNT simply complaining, the PTB may merely perceive that the ride has become old and outdated to the public and is no longer marketable and could potentially be a liability/negative publicity issue in the future thus causing them to simply close and remove the ride and put something new and different in its place.
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It seems like something happened when they were building Time Traveler that caused that one section of ride to get really bad. It's definitely a jarring bump/ jolt, and it doesn't feel good. Not sure what needs to be done to fix it exactly, but it does need something done.
No need to replace the whole coaster though- just fix the one section and give it a nice refurbishment as a whole. It's a good mine train coaster. There are a few I like better, but if you're in middle America then it stands out above almost everything similar within a 10-12 hour drive.
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My wife and I felt a real sharp jar going into the tunnel from the helix that was never there before. If that’s the bump I hope it can be fixed.
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I just spoke with the director of maintenance and construction, a nice young man, I wouldn’t look for any correction. The “ accelerometer “ is saying all is well. :(. I know we are not imagining this.
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Easy fix, Have the PTB take turns riding in the last car on each train. Bottom of Helix. That will fix the “accelorometer talking point” . Just fix that section. I love this ride and will ride again as is but dang it hurts.
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I call BS. That section of track has settled. My guess is they do not want to spend the money fixing it. It would probably be about like putting piers in a house foundation.
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We are definitely not imagining this bump.....
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I call BS. That section of track has settled. My guess is they do not want to spend the money fixing it. It would probably be about like putting piers in a house foundation.
Well you’d be incorrect because they’re literally having discussions right now on how and when to repair the ride (and not just this bump). Sliding piers is not a new phenomenon. Powder Keg has had several piers repaired and/or replaced over the years as have a few other rides. The issue is that when you build a ride on fill dirt, over time it will settle and adjust. It’s just what happens. So back to TNT, they’re discussing the fix and hopefully it can be done before next season.
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^Awesome news. Hopefully the coaster will stick around for years to come still. For an Arrow Mine Train I still consider it a gem of a ride.
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I call BS. That section of track has settled. My guess is they do not want to spend the money fixing it. It would probably be about like putting piers in a house foundation.
Well you’d be incorrect because they’re literally having discussions right now on how and when to repair the ride (and not just this bump). Sliding piers is not a new phenomenon. Powder Keg has had several piers repaired and/or replaced over the years as have a few other rides. The issue is that when you build a ride on fill dirt, over time it will settle and adjust. It’s just what happens. So back to TNT, they’re discussing the fix and hopefully it can be done before next season.
I wish he had just been honest then and told me that instead of the BS about accelerometers.
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It's like they say... When the accelerometer is a rockin... Don't come a knockin....
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I call BS. That section of track has settled. My guess is they do not want to spend the money fixing it. It would probably be about like putting piers in a house foundation.
Well you’d be incorrect because they’re literally having discussions right now on how and when to repair the ride (and not just this bump). Sliding piers is not a new phenomenon. Powder Keg has had several piers repaired and/or replaced over the years as have a few other rides. The issue is that when you build a ride on fill dirt, over time it will settle and adjust. It’s just what happens. So back to TNT, they’re discussing the fix and hopefully it can be done before next season.
I wish he had just been honest then and told me that instead of the BS about accelerometers.
Because he isn't in admin or PR, he very likely doesn't have clearance to say anything. And by doing so, it could easily put his job in jeopardy since he would be "speaking for the company" when he's not authorized. And he very likely was being honest. Accelerometers will show changes in g-forces, but they often won't show "bumps" so it's quite possible that it's not registering what we're feeling.
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Does where you sit seem to have any impact on the severity of the bump?
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Does where you sit seem to have any impact on the severity of the bump?
the front row is the best. Personally, I think the further back you get the worse it is.
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Does where you sit seem to have any impact on the severity of the bump?
the front row is the best. Personally, I think the further back you get the worse it is.
Thank you! I need to give this a shot the next time I'm there
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I rode it Friday just to see how bad it was. We were in the 2nd car back from the front and it was pretty bad.
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Was there this weekend and rode it in the front row, second row and 5th row. The front row is by far the smoothest. I was surprised how much worse even the second row was.