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VelociCoaster

Coordinates: 28°28′17″N 81°28′19″W / 28.47127°N 81.471999°W / 28.47127; -81.471999
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Jurassic World VelociCoaster
VelociCoaster from across the lake
Universal Islands of Adventure
LocationUniversal Islands of Adventure
Park sectionJurassic Park
Coordinates28°28′17″N 81°28′19″W / 28.47127°N 81.471999°W / 28.47127; -81.471999
StatusOperating
Soft opening dateMay 7, 2021 (2021-05-07)
Opening dateJune 10, 2021 (2021-06-10)[1]
ReplacedTriceratops Encounter
General statistics
TypeSteel – Launched
ManufacturerIntamin
DesignerUniversal Creative
ModelLSM Launch Coaster
Lift/launch systemLSM
Height155 ft (47 m)
Drop140 ft (43 m)
Length4,700 ft (1,400 m)
Speed70 mph (110 km/h)
Inversions4
Max vertical angle80°
Height restriction51 in (130 cm)
Trains4 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train.
ThemeVelociraptor (Jurassic World)
WebsiteOfficial website
1st Launch0 to 50 mph (0 to 80 km/h) in 2 seconds
2nd Launch40 to 70 mph (64 to 113 km/h) in 2.4 seconds
RestraintsLap bar
Pre-show hostsClaire Dearing
Owen Grady
Single rider line available
Must transfer from wheelchair
Closed captioning available
Jurassic World VelociCoaster at RCDB

Jurassic World VelociCoaster is a launched roller coaster at Universal Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. Manufactured by Intamin, the ride opened to the public on June 10, 2021. It is themed to the Velociraptor dinosaurs depicted in the Jurassic World film franchise and is located in the Islands of Adventure's Jurassic Park area, occupying the site of the former Triceratops Encounter attraction. VelociCoaster features two high-speed launches powered by linear synchronous motors, a signature 155-foot-tall (47 m) top hat, four inversions, and a maximum speed of 70 mph (110 km/h).[2][3]

History

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Construction

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Universal Orlando hired Intamin to construct a new ride to replace the inactive Triceratops Encounter attraction, which had been closed for nearly a decade.[4][5][6] The initiative, dubbed "Project 791" in permits filed by the park,[4] would be the third collaboration between both parties following Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts (2014) and Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (2019).[7][8][9] The permits filed in 2018 called for the demolition and site clearing of Triceratops Encounter, signaling to the public that a new attraction may be coming.[4] Construction walls were erected in January 2019, and project documents were leaked online shortly after showing an overhead layout of a proposed roller coaster project.[10][11]

Construction entered full swing by the spring of 2019, with the removal of Triceratops Encounter and the clearing of unused land in and around the park's existing Discovery Centre building.[12] A bridge connecting The Lost Continent and Jurassic Park areas was also razed.[13] In June 2019, the first pieces of track for the unannounced coaster were delivered and stored offsite.[14] In July 2019, Universal Parks & Resorts filed a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the name "VelociCoaster", which fans quickly deduced to be the name of the new unannounced coaster.[15]

In early 2020, following months of concrete groundwork and further preparation, the extensive collection of track and supports already in storage were delivered to the construction site and installed.[16] Construction was temporarily halted during the initial COVID-19 lockdown and later resumed at a rapid pace. Much of the construction was completed by the time Universal Orlando Resort was cleared to reopen in June 2020, attracting the unreserved attention of park guests and local media.[17] The 155-foot (47 m) tall top hat element, the highest point of the ride, was topped out and completed the following month in early July.[18]

Announcement and further preparation

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Sign for the VelociCoaster, displaying the June 10 opening date

Universal initially declined to acknowledge that it was constructing a roller coaster, even after the ride had been topped out.[19] On September 28, 2020, Universal formally announced the new ride as Jurassic World VelociCoaster, billing it as a "new species of roller coaster" and the tallest and fastest launch coaster in Florida.[20][21] It was confirmed that the ride would feature twelve airtime moments, a 100-foot-long (30 m) zero-g stall, and a barrel roll over the lagoon for its finale.[22]

Universal continued to release new information on VelociCoaster before the ride's 2021 scheduled opening. In December 2020, closeups of the trains were published, and early testing was underway.[23][24] In January 2021, VelociCoaster hosted its first riders.[25] More details surrounding the specs of the new coaster were released shortly after, including its 140-foot (43 m) drop at an 80-degree angle and the use of a lap bar instead of an over-the-shoulder restraint.[26] The first launch accelerates guests from 0 to 50 mph (0 to 80 km/h) in 2 seconds, and the second one adds an acceleration boost from 40 to 70 mph (64 to 113 km/h) in 2.4 seconds.[27][28]

Construction walls around the construction area were taken down in late February 2021, giving park guests better views of the new coaster.[29] In April 2021, VelociCoaster's official opening date was announced.[1] A soft opening to press and enthusiasts was hosted on May 7, 2021, and the ride was well-received.[30][31] An official on-ride point-of-view video was released to the public on May 28.[32] The attraction formally opened on June 10, 2021,[33] with guests waiting in the queue for up to four hours.[34] It became the fastest roller coaster at any Universal park upon opening, beating The Incredible Hulk Coaster (1999).[35]

Ride experience

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Queue

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The queue begins outside the lower floor on the left side of the Discovery Center. Two raptor statues are on display at the entrance.[36][37] The paddock features glowing neon lights, and the coaster can be occasionally seen launching outside the building. For lines that stretch outdoor, there is an extended queue area that provides close-up views of the coaster's track, as well as shade and cooling fans.[38] Inside, guests see more raptor statues and eventually move into a room with six windows overlooking the ride track. A video special effect is used to show a Velociraptor chasing each coaster train as it passes by. Inside one of the windows, guests can find a clipboard and a radar gun. In another is a cup with permanent ripples referencing the first Jurassic Park film.[36] Guests then enter a room with a video presentation by Dr. Henry Wu. There are a few lockers with various items, such as football equipment, raptor toys, and books.[36] Guests enter an examination room where two animatronic Velociraptors are caged and muzzled.[36]

The examination room is followed by the lockers area, where guests can secure loose articles. They are unique for their two-way design, in which a door swings open on one side to insert belongings, and then swings open on the other side as guests exit the ride and retrieve them.[38] In addition, a family room can be found in this area, where guests can wait here while others ride the coaster. The family room contains a TV monitor that plays the Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous series by Netflix.[39] VelociCoaster is one of the three roller coasters at Universal Orlando to have metal detectors, with the others being The Incredible Hulk Coaster and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.[40] Prior to reaching the metal detectors, there are advertisement posters of fictional Jurassic World attractions, such as Gyrosphere Valley, T-Rex Kingdom, and the Mosasaurus show. The posters also show attractions that exist at Islands of Adventure, such as Jurassic Park: River Adventure.[36] After passing the metal detectors, guests walk up a flight of stairs into a final pre-show room displaying a video with Claire Dearing and Owen Grady, portrayed by Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt, respectively, reprising their roles from the Jurassic World film series.[41] In the video, Grady rebukes the idea of taking a ride on VelociCoaster and tries to discourage guests as well. The room features various Jurassic World props on display including zappers, net guns, a waiver and a dino tracker.[36] Guests then reach the station, where they board the train.[citation needed]

Layout

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The barrel roll above water

The loading area is located to the west of the queue. After exiting the station, riders take an S-turn into the pre-launch sequence, where Owen warns the riders one last time. Four Velociraptors can be seen in their cages on either side of the track; Blue and Delta are caged on the left, and Echo and Charlie are caged on the right. The boosters power up as the Velociraptors seemingly escape, and riders are launched from 0 to 50 mph (0 to 80 km/h) in 2 seconds. Immediately following the launch track, the train passes through an Immelmann loop and dives down and back up through a dive loop. Intricate rock work and foliage surrounds the track as trains pass through. The train turns to the left as it dives under itself and snaps back to the right, where the on-ride camera is located. The train heads through an overbanked turn and rises up into an off-axis airtime hill reaching a turnaround that rises through the rock work. This is followed by a downward S-bend, where the train passes Blue and Charlie, two of the four Velociraptors seen on the ride.

The train goes through another overbanked turn and hits a sharp S-bend, passing Delta and Echo. Following a slow outward-banked hill, the ride turns right and enters a tunnel and its second launch,[32] propelling riders to 70 mph (110 km/h) in 2.4 seconds.[33][42] The launch sends the train into a steep climb up to its tallest point, a 155-foot-tall (47 m) top hat. The train then plummets down 140 feet (43 m) at an 80-degree angle,[33][42] turning to the right and snapping back to the left to complete the 100-foot (30 m) long zero-g stall. An incline follows taking the train into a 125-degree overbanked turn, leading into a banked airtime hill, a 133-degree overbanked turn, and a speed hill.[32] Riders then reach the coaster's signature element, a heartline roll dubbed the "Mosasaurus Roll", which inverts riders over water at 53 mph (85 km/h). An off-axis airtime hill is the last element before the train reaches the brake run.[32] Owen thanks riders as they return but is abruptly summoned to tend to a situation over at River Adventure.[citation needed]

Reception

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Golden Ticket Awards: Top steel Roller Coasters
Year 2021 2022 2023 2024
Ranking 18[43] 5[44] 3[45] 2[46]
Category Ranking Ref.
Golden Ticket Award for Best New Roller Coaster of 2020/21 1 [47]
Golden Ticket Award for Best New Attraction Installation of 2021 2 [48]

References

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  1. ^ a b Kleinhenz, Marc (April 6, 2021). "Jurassic World VelociCoaster's opening date REVEALED". Orlando Informer. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  2. ^ McReynolds, Landon (September 28, 2020). "Hold onto your butts: Universal Orlando shares details about Jurassic World VelociCoaster". Click Orlando. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  3. ^ Carter, Ashley (September 28, 2020). "Universal Orlando Officially Announces New Jurassic VelociCoaster, Reveals More Details". mynews13.com. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c Murillo, Tyler (November 4, 2018). "What Kind of Coaster Will Arrive in Jurassic Park?". worldofuniversal.com. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  5. ^ Nelson, Dustin (September 29, 2020). "The First Jurassic World Roller Coaster Is Full of Raptors & Looks Intense". thrillist.com. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  6. ^ Marden, Duane. "VelociCoaster  (Universal Orlando)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  7. ^ "VelociCoaster is Going to Change EVERYTHING at Universal Orlando Resort. Here's Why". Theme Park Tourist. November 14, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  8. ^ Nick Weisenberger (July 22, 2014). "Coasters-101: Escape from Gringotts Secrets Revealed". Coaster101. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  9. ^ "Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure". IAAPA.org. August 1, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  10. ^ Skambis, Chip (January 19, 2019). "New Jurassic Park roller coaster headed to Islands of Adventure, documents show". WFTV. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  11. ^ Stella, Alicia (January 18, 2019). "Jurassic Park Roller Coaster Update and Track Layout Revealed for Islands of Adventure". OrlandoParkstop. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  12. ^ Marc N. Kleinhenz (September 25, 2020). "Jurassic World VelociCoaster REVEALED". Orlando Informer. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  13. ^ Stella, Alicia (March 4, 2019). "Jurassic Park Roller Coaster Waterfront Changes and Updated Track Layout for Islands of Adventure". OrlandoParkstop. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  14. ^ Young, Josh (June 25, 2019). "TPU Exclusive: Jurassic World Coaster Track Arrives in Orlando". themeparkuniversity.com. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  15. ^ Carter, Ashley (July 31, 2019). "Universal Trademark Filing Hints at New Coaster Name". mynews13.com. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  16. ^ Stella, Alicia (March 20, 2020). "Jurassic Park Roller Coaster Construction & Rumor Update – March 2020". OrlandoParkstop. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  17. ^ LeCompte, Brianna (June 7, 2020). "Check Out the Construction Progress on the Jurassic Park Coaster at Universal Orlando!". allears.net. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  18. ^ White, Tharin (July 9, 2020). "Photo Update: Jurassic Park 'Velocicoaster' tops off highest point". AttractionsMagazine. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  19. ^ Tuttle, Brittani (September 25, 2020). "Jurassic World VelociCoaster confirmed for 2021 opening at Universal Orlando". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  20. ^ Glenn, Brian (September 28, 2020). "Universal Orlando shares first-look and details on Jurassic World VelociCoaster; opening 2021". insideuniversal.net. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  21. ^ Nolfi, Joey (September 29, 2020). "Universal unleashes new Jurassic World: VelociCoaster thrill ride details". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  22. ^ Tremaine, Julie (September 29, 2020). "Meet The VelociCoaster, Universal Orlando's Newest Thrill Ride". Forbes. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  23. ^ Corless, Tom (December 4, 2020). "FIRST LOOK: Universal Offers Close-Up of Jurassic Park VelociCoaster Roller Coaster Trains". WDW News Today. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  24. ^ White, Tharin (December 13, 2020). "Watch the Jurassic World Velocicoaster testing at Universal Orlando". AttractionsMagazine. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  25. ^ @OrlandoInformer (January 25, 2021). "Step aside, test dummies – VelociCoaster is now testing..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  26. ^ "Universal Orlando Shares New Details About Jurassic World VelociCoaster". www.mynews13.com.
  27. ^ Niles, Robert (May 2, 2021). "Universal's Jurassic World VelociCoaster Opens for Previews". Theme Park Insider. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  28. ^ Biesiada, Jamie (September 29, 2020). "Florida's fastest, tallest roller coaster coming to Universal Orlando". Travel Weekly. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  29. ^ Carter, Ashley (February 24, 2021). "Universal's VelociCoaster Construction Walls Come Down, Revealing More of Ride". Spectrum News. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  30. ^ Marc N. Kleinhenz (May 7, 2021). "Jurassic World VelociCoaster's soft-openings BEGIN". Orlando Informer. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  31. ^ "VelociCoaster Soft Opens to All Guests for the First Time". Orlando ParkStop. May 7, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  32. ^ a b c d Universal Orlando Resort (May 28, 2021). Official Jurassic World Velocicoaster POV. YouTube (Video). Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  33. ^ a b c de León, Héctor García (June 10, 2021). "What you need to know about Universal Orlando's Jurassic World VelociCoaster". Florida Today. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  34. ^ Kennedy Wynne, Sharon (June 10, 2021). "There's a 4-hour wait for new Jurassic coaster at Universal, better than some new rides". Tampa Bay Times.
  35. ^ "Complete Guide to Universal Roller Coasters 2023". February 16, 2024.
  36. ^ a b c d e f "10 Easter Eggs at Jurassic World VelociCoaster". June 9, 2021.
  37. ^ "Get up close to velociraptors from 'Jurassic World' on Universal Orlando's 'VelociCoaster'". WFLA. April 30, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  38. ^ a b "Unofficial Guide to the Jurassic World VelociCoaster at Universal Orlando". May 5, 2021.
  39. ^ "Universal's new Jurassic World: VelociCoaster is a terrifying run with the raptors". Archived from the original on May 4, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  40. ^ "Universal Guest Causes Dangerous Conditions on Velocicoaster After Breaking Rules". May 26, 2022.
  41. ^ "One-word review for Universal's new VelociCoaster: Relentless". May 2, 2021.
  42. ^ a b "70 mph in 2.4 seconds: Universal Orlando reveals new Jurassic World ride". WFLA. September 28, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  43. ^ "2021 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2021. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  44. ^ "2022 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2022. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  45. ^ "2023 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Amusement Today. 27 (6.2): 66–70. September 2023. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  46. ^ "2024 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2024. Archived from the original on September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  47. ^ "2021 GTA WINNERS". Amusement Today. September 10, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  48. ^ "Amusement Today 2021 Golden Ticket Awards". Amusement Today. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
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