Jurassic World VelociCoaster

Roller coaster in the United States
Watch the on-ride POV
Jurassic World VelociCoaster
Universal's Islands of Adventure
Location Orlando, Florida, USA
Status Operating since June 10, 2021
Rider height 51 inch minimum
Replaced Triceratops Encounter
Statistics
Manufacturer Intamin
Product LSM Launch Coaster
Type Steel - Launched
Riders per train 24
Propulsion 2 LSM launches
Height 155 feet
Drop 140 feet
Top speed 70 mph
Length 4700 feet
Inversions 4
Drop angle 80°
HELP

Jurassic World VelociCoaster is an Intamin steel dual launched roller coaster located at Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida, USA.

It is the park's tallest and fastest roller coaster as well as the fastest launched roller coaster in Florida, and the fastest roller coaster at any Universal Studios park worldwide.[1]

History

In May 2018, a permit was filed for the demolition of the defunct Triceratops Encounter walk-through attraction.[2] In mid-January 2019, stalls and games around the area were removed and a construction wall was erected. A drawing of the layout was also leaked.[3]

In early 2019, more substantial clearance work started around by the Jurassic Park Discovery Center.

On May 24, 2019, a permit confirmed an opening date of 2021 and the possible name of 'VelociCoaster.'

The arrival of the ride's track on June 25, 2019, confirmed that Intamin would be manufacturing the ride.

As fall 2019 wore on, more land was prepared for the new coaster, stretching from the park's Bilge-Rat Barges Rapids ride to the back patio of the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade. Footers began to be poured in December.

By spring 2020, the queue buildings and supports began to be erected. The first segments of track were installed in March.

When Universal Orlando closed due to the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, construction accelerated rapidly with the absence of guests allowing the use of paths to place construction equipment. By June, the oscillating helix by Three Broomsticks, the heartline roll in front of the Jurassic Park Discovery Center, and the dive loop were all installed.

The first half of the ride was completed on June 25. On July 8, the highest point of the ride was set into place by workers.

Rockwork began to be added in July, completely encasing part of the first half of the ride. The queue buildings started to rise soon after. By mid-August, nearly all of the track was completed and at least one train for the ride was onsite.

The final s-bend was completed at the end of August, and thematic elements are now under construction, including electric fences and more rockwork. The entire track layout was completed on September 3.[4] A pull-through test was conducted on September 16.

On September 28, 2020, Universal Orlando Resort revealed more details on the new ride. It would be named Jurassic World VelociCoaster and would be themed to the Jurassic World franchise.[5]

On October 15, a video showed the train cresting the top hat during the first test run. The ride has since been testing with both trains, which in turn have been testing their LED lights.

In March 2021, the ride’s construction fences were taken down, and the first human riders also boarded the coaster in early 2021.

On April 6, 2021, it was officially confirmed that VelociCoaster would open to the public on June 10, 2021.[6] Passholders had the opportunity to ride VelociCoaster in early May.[7] Following passholder previews, VelociCoaster opened to the public for technical rehearsals without prior announcement on May 7, 2021.[8]

Prior to its grand opening, a park guest threw ice at the ride.[9]

On June 10, 2021, VelociCoaster officially opened to the public.[10][11] All guests who got to ride the attraction on its first day got a free churro as a reward.[12] The lines would reach up to 4 hours long upon opening.[13]

Design

Elements

VelociCoaster is a double launched LSM Launch Coaster manufactured by Intamin. Sections of the track are double-spined like Skyrush at Hersheypark and Intimidator 305 at Kings Dominion, indicating high g-turns during these sequences. It reaches a 155 feet tall mark, has a max speed of 70 mph, with two LSM launches and has over 4,700 feet of track. Throughout its course, the coaster passes above and below itself a total of 40 times. The first launch sends guests down the track at a speed of 50 mph, while the second boosts the train back up to high speeds at 70 mph making the second half of the coaster faster than the first.[1]

According to the layout, the ride begins with a brief show section before the first LSM launch, which propels riders into a 'spaghetti bowl', a tangled mess of track featuring multiple overbanked turns, some airtime hills, a Jr. Immelmann and a dive loop. A second LSM launch sends guests roaring into a 155 foot tall outside top hat, followed by a 140 foot plunge in front of the Discovery Center. A 100 foot long zero-g stall follows, which is then followed by a wave turn, outward-banked hill, and steeply overbanked turn. Riders then whip through a heartline roll, referred to as the "Mosasaurus Roll" over the water, followed by an s-curve into the brakes. Along the way, riders will encounter velociraptors, a huge rock mountain, and other dangers. Although the raptors inside the attraction itself are stationary, the usage of the terrain, track elements, lighting, and onboard audio on top of the sheer speed provide optical illusions giving them a lifelike appearance.[1][11][14][15]

An image depicting the roller coaster train for VelociCoaster. It features a launch tunnel and the newly designed blue, black, and silver trains with LED emblems on either side of the headrests. The seats have a higher heartline and sit more elevated on the cars for a smoother ride when maneuvering high-stress elements.
Official train reveal artwork courtesy Universal Orlando Resort and NBCUniversal

Trains

6 cars per train. In each car, riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows, for a total of 24 riders per train. The train design is virtually identical to Pantheon at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, another Intamin LSM Launch Coaster. The same pull-down lap bar restraints found on that and other new Intamins are also found on these trains. The zero car and seats feature LED lights. One main difference in this train design is the heightened heartline of the cars which provides for a much more pleasant ride on a variety of elements that would otherwise be rough and jerky. The heartline also allows for a singular lap bar style restraint.[14][15]

A steel statue of four velociraptors surrounded by the ride queue and entrance.
Main entrance and steel Raptor statue at VelociCoaster

Queue

The queue for VelociCoaster features an experience in and of itself. Upon entering the queue guests come face to face with a large statue featuring the four main Velociraptors Blue, Charlie, Echo, and Delta from the Jurassic World franchise surrounding the main tophat element of the coaster. Throughout this section, a honeycombed high-tech ceiling interacts with the area soundtrack to intensify the experience. Mr. Dino DNA also makes his first appearance to guests.[14]

In the next area, guests enter into a passageway featuring large clear windows, behind which is the second launch tunnel. As guests go whizzing by on the coaster, special effects display a pack of Raptors running after the speeding train.[14][15]

From here guests stop to hear from Jurassic World Scientists and staff and then enter a holding pad where they come face to face with the highly advanced animatronic raptors.

Finally, guests go on to the ride lockers (see below), metal detectors, and finally to the screening room for a pre-show before boarding the ride.[15]

When guests enter the boarding station they are greeted by gigantic plate glass windows in a large room. The view is expansive and looks out over the whole paddock and attraction. Upon further scrutiny, guests will discover that this area is in fact, a replica of the overlook in the Indominus Rex paddock in the Jurassic World films. Details as minute as light fixtures unite the stories and provide a sort of mental before and after in the rider's mind.[1]

Lockers

A first for Universal Orlando Resort, VelociCoaster features a no-cost dual-sided locker system that is built into the coaster's queue line that is accessed via the guest's park ticket. This allows guests to place their items in the lockers on the entrance side, and pick them up right after they get off the ride on the alternate side, insuring optimal locker space and availability to riders, as well as providing guests the ability to hold onto their phones while they are still in the queue line until it's just about time to board the roller coaster. A symbol system consisting of varying dinosaurs is used alongside a numeric system to help guests identify their appropriate locker on the exit side, Larger items, however, must be stowed in the Discovery Zone lockers prior to guests entering the ride queue. A model locker is available outside the ride entrance for guests to ensure whatever they have with them at the time will fit into these lockers.[14][15]

Easter Eggs

There are a variety of easter eggs throughout the attraction. Some are blatant such as novels and memorabilia from some of the franchise's most enduring characters, while others are more intricate and easy to miss.

Images

External Links

The category Jurassic World VelociCoaster contains additional media.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Universal Creative (06/10/2021). "Complete Guide to Jurassic World VelociCoaster at Universal's Islands of Adventure". Discover Universal Blog. Universal Orlando Resort. Retrieved 06/12/2021. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  2. "Triceratops Encounter to be Demolished at Universal Islands Of Adventure". Amusement Insider.
  3. "New Jurassic Park roller coaster headed to Islands of Adventure, documents show". WFTV.
  4. "Jurassic Park Roller Coaster Trackwork Complete".
  5. "Universal Orlando Shares Fresh Looks at New VelociCoaster".
  6. "VelociCoaster to Open June 10th at Islands of Adventure". NewsPlusNotes. April 6, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  7. Michaelsen, Shannen (April 22, 2021). "Jurassic World VelociCoaster at Universal's Islands of Adventure Hosting Passholder Preview in May, Registration Now Open". WDW News Today. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  8. Michaelsen, Shannen (May 7, 2021). "BREAKING: Jurassic World VelociCoaster Has Soft Opened at Universal's Islands of Adventure". Universal Parks News Today. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  9. "Universal Guests Banned After Throwing Ice at VelociCoaster Riders".
  10. Glenn, Brian (06/10/2021). "NOW OPEN: Jurassic World VelociCoaster at Islands of Adventure". Inside Universal. Retrieved 06/12/2021. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  11. 11.0 11.1 Tuttle, Brittani (06/10/2021). "Jurassic World VelociCoaster now open at Universal Orlando Resort". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved 06/12/2021. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  12. "Guests Who Ride VelociCoaster on Opening Day Receive Free Churro".
  13. "There's a 4-hour wait for new Jurassic coaster at Universal, better than some new rides".
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 Rdzanek, Austin (06/09/2021). "Jurassic World Velocicoaster, Review & Element-By-Element Analysis Of The New Islands Of Adventure Roller Coaster". Behind The Thrills. Retrieved 06/12/2021. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 Coaster Studios (05/10/2021). "VelociCoaster Review Islands of Adventure New for 2021 Multi-Launch Coaster". YouTube. Coaster Studios. Retrieved 06/12/2021. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
Articles on Universal Orlando Resort