OK.. its official, in case u have not seen it anywhere else..
Thunderation's seats all face forward!
So it seems that TNT no longer has backwards facing cars, according to some comments on SDC's facebook page. Copper mentioned this would happen several months ago, but I left it to rumor and seriously hoped he was mistaken.
I'm quite saddened to hear about this, as the backwards facing cars were a highlight of the ride, and were often more enjoyable than the normal cars, IMO. The only good reason I can imagine for this change involve those ever-increasing insurance & safety liability issues that have plagued the park's older attractions and oddities. ::)
Anyone have more insight on this?
I talked to some of my friends that work at the park today and they said that the reason was that the cars were never made to run backwards and it was tearing them up. They had to do maintance on the backwards were 2 or 3 times more often.
NOOOOOOOOOoooooo! >:( that was part of the fun of Thunderation. I wonder what the reason was behind that decision.
Quote from: oklaSDCfan on March 17, 2011, 10:39:23 PM
I talked to some of my friends that work at the park today and they said that the reason was that the cars were never made to run backwards and it was tearing them up. They had to do maintance on the backwards were 2 or 3 times more often.
Hmm, but wasn't it debuted with backwards cars? I would have thought Arrow planned for that instead of letting them just flip a couple of cars around. In any case, after 15 years it seems silly to end the tradition now, unless there are serious issues finally cropping up. Could it be a sign that the ride is headed out at some point?
I've never ridden it backwards. It's my favorite of the "new" rides (I'm dating myself, I know). I never saw the attraction of riding it backwards, but then I'm not such a coaster junkie. I'm sure some folks need the change to still get a thrill out of it.
Nothing wrong with that -- but I just don't get it. I want to stare death in the face, and be certain I'm about to be decapitated on that plunge into the mine. ;D
I'd say I'm probably in the solid majority there, too. I've seen the backwards car leave empty or nearly empty lots of times when the ride was full and the lines were long. I wonder if throughput was a factor? Or is TnT so much less popular now that throughput isn't even an issue?
Curious.
I know some of you will miss it, but the couple of times I tried the backwards cars, I had a headache the rest of the day.
They could have reduced the backwards cars form 2 to 1.
It was fun for the kids but I agree, it didn't give you time to prepare for the turns and gave me a headache.
Maybe they were afraid someone would throw a Disney Lawsuit against them, somebody there is always trying to make a buck on neck brain injuries.
Quote from: shavethewhales on March 17, 2011, 10:56:25 PM
Quote from: oklaSDCfan on March 17, 2011, 10:39:23 PM
I talked to some of my friends that work at the park today and they said that the reason was that the cars were never made to run backwards and it was tearing them up. They had to do maintance on the backwards were 2 or 3 times more often.
Hmm, but wasn't it debuted with backwards cars? I would have thought Arrow planned for that instead of letting them just flip a couple of cars around. In any case, after 15 years it seems silly to end the tradition now, unless there are serious issues finally cropping up. Could it be a sign that the ride is headed out at some point?
It did not debut with backwards cars. I think they started that a year or two after.
I loved sitting in the backwards car-facing people we knew, or vice-versa. it made for great rides!
I was always a fan and I heard of moms sitting the oppisit of kids so they can comfort them if needed. My husband hated it due to what he calls the whiplash. all well. can all be winners. ;)
Quote from: saladdays on March 18, 2011, 10:55:25 AM
Quote from: shavethewhales on March 17, 2011, 10:56:25 PM
Quote from: oklaSDCfan on March 17, 2011, 10:39:23 PM
I talked to some of my friends that work at the park today and they said that the reason was that the cars were never made to run backwards and it was tearing them up. They had to do maintance on the backwards were 2 or 3 times more often.
Hmm, but wasn't it debuted with backwards cars? I would have thought Arrow planned for that instead of letting them just flip a couple of cars around. In any case, after 15 years it seems silly to end the tradition now, unless there are serious issues finally cropping up. Could it be a sign that the ride is headed out at some point?
It did not debut with backwards cars. I think they started that a year or two after.
Ah, I see. They left a comment on their facebook page stating "It was decided to take the ride back to it's original design."
Still seems extremely odd after all these years. When I was there they were popular seats, and they were a big reason I rode that thing as much as I did. The ride somehow seems a lot less special to me now...
My kids are going to be extremely disappointed about this. Anybody know why the ptb decided to take the ride back to its "original design"???
Of all the things they could bring back "the original design" to; interesting choice.
Awww shucks!! 1st, the green trams and now the backwards TNT cars! What are they doin' to me?? This ain't good news comin' from down in the Ozarks! I'm not sure what I'm more sad about: Not getting to ride backwards or that the hilarious signs hanging above the backwards seats will no longer be there.
It certainly added an element of thrill and came in handy when my mom, who is deathly afraid of coasters, agreed to ride TNT. She thought it would be better for her nerves if she didn't see what was coming so she rode backwards. I road in the car behind her so we were face to face and took a video of her rather torturous experience. Poor lady. Probably wouldn't have been that bad if she'd ridden forwards. Oh well. Makes for great footage!
Quote from: DollarCityBoy on March 19, 2011, 12:39:33 AM
Of all the things they could bring back "the original design" to; interesting choice.
Excellent point! Now let's work on the AP, the FM, and the FitH! How about restoring the LRotO to RBDB? Put the original splash features on PK. Etc., etc., etc.
thats the project for 2012 right? refurbish all needed items? LOL
I'm like Stacey Sue; the times I've ridden TNT backwards, I felt crummy the rest of the day. Love to ride it facing forward!
I am getting old. I ride anything, and I feel crumby all day. Maybe even the tram, or the train...okay not that far...but I always dedicate one day specifically to riding. that way I don't feel crumby on more than one day of my visit. If there is no line, odds are I won't pass up a ride though!
It never bothered me to ride backwards, and I never came close to feeling like I was going to be thrown out.
It's safe to assume, someone got a substantial break on insurance costs by returning them to the original design.
Plus, they won't lose customers based on this, so with all that in mind, this was probably a simple and logical decision.
It is my understanding that the reason for the return to the original orientation is...safety. Some of you were joking about injuries and law suits, but apparently that's exactly what happened. It's not worth it for the company.
I understand SDC needs to protect itself from lawsuits but this makes me really sad. Thunderation was my first big roller coaster and I always loved riding it backwards. I agree with Steve, it just seems less special now. A little less unique. :(
Rumor has it, that all rides that go backwards will no longer do so: for example, The Giant Swing will utilize only one row of seats and will now only go up.
thats taking the whole riding backwards thing to far because the giant swing needs the momentum from the swing pendulm to complete the ride cycle or in fact even opperate.
;)
Oh yah???
Well I heard.....uhh....
I heard at the holdup spot on the train, they will not even let the Frisco roll backward that foot or so once it is getting started again to return to the station
AND.....
I heard that they cannot even use the word BACK anymore meaning that we aren't really going BACK in time at all.
AND.....
I heard that the woodcarvers have been asked to stop the sale of all BACK scratchers immediately
AND......
I heard that the new name for the baby BACK ribs will be the "Loin Ribs"
AND...
In FITH will now hear...
"You get *BLEEP* in here and put on your pants"
when passing the Flanders place out of censorship over the word BACK
AND...
I have no more sarcastic BACK jokes
Quote from: rubedugans on March 23, 2011, 11:09:40 AM
In FITH will now hear...
"You get *BLEEP* in here and put on your pants"
when passing the Flanders place out of censorship over the word BACK
ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOW rube! you really got "back" on the soapbox on that one!!!! LOL
Talking about the train. i heard thet were going start stopping about 50 yards earlier before the train robbery. So the people in the front cars would not have to turn around and risk a "strain" on the necks. To watch the skit.
That's because people are not allowed to look back at the skit.
The GS, BTW, now rotates the full 260 degrees forward and keeps spinning until the ride comes to an abrupt stop. Same with the Mighty Galleon. The Electrospin simply launches toward the highway.
I'm glad we're on the same wavelength, RD!
No great loss. I still enjoy riding forwards after all these years, but I hated riding backwards. My kids might miss it, though.
I'm sorry dorsal, but you are a fin on the back of a fish, and you are no longer allowed to...oh wait, I'm taking this too far. It's just funny that you commented at this point in the conversation.
Sorry to contribute. Guess I'll go back to lurking...
oh man! HB your on a roll today!!
I agree with you dorsal about thunderation. This is a forum so I appreciate you input on thunderation:)
Actually, Dorsal, I agree. It is no big loss to me. I've not ridden forward in a long time, since I'm always relegated to facing the people who are. It might be nice to ride forward for a change.
And I was just playing with the topic - not jumping on you. Please continue to comment. The more, the merrier!
just a thought but the people who rode backwards that got sick.........did the sick go in their face or the ones in front of them?????
eeeeewwwwww.
Thanks for the beautiful visual.
Dorsal,
HB was just messing with ya. After Rube's post it was just too funny.
oh well I gotta get <<Bleep>> to work.
Yea that is not a nice pic in my mind... But after hearing that thought I am glad everyone rides the same direction now... lol
thanks MTGT! NICE!!! wish you could have posted a picture!
As a person who has to deal w/ severe motion sickness -- I think this is great! ;D
OK.. so your a sick individual like the rest of us. GREAT! ::)
i dont do anything backwards or circular spinny. :-X
Howdo, sounds like a good set of rules to start with.,
Yes, I am digging up an older thread here, but my father can definitely be added to the list of folks who support the change. He rode backwards one time, and that was also his last time! He was sick for the remainder of the day. :-X
I am certain the reason for the changeover is not due to mechanical reasons. The theory that it was changed for liabilities reasons sounds the most plausible. I mean if several of us in the forums have complained of headaches, and severe motion sickness then I am sure thousands of other people have experienced the same. This is definitely no time for neck injury lawsuits.
Frontwards, or backwards there is nothing like the rumble through the hills that is ThuNderaTion!
plus if I am not mistaken-you can see thunderation from the SDC campground, which is an added bonus in my book.
your right about that. TNT has its own sound. you can pick it out miles away..