The Incredible Hulk (roller coaster)

The Incredible Hulk

The Incredible Hulk from across the lagoon
Islands of Adventure
Park section Marvel Super Hero Island
Coordinates 28°28′16″N 81°28′06″W / 28.471168°N 81.468424°W / 28.471168; -81.468424Coordinates: 28°28′16″N 81°28′06″W / 28.471168°N 81.468424°W / 28.471168; -81.468424
Status Under Refurbishment
Opening date May 28, 1999 (1999-05-28)
General statistics
Type Steel – Launched
Manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard
Designer Ing.-Büro Stengel GmbH
Model Sitting Coaster – Custom
Lift/launch system Tire Propelled Launch
Height 110 ft (34 m)
Drop 105 ft (32 m)
Length 3,700 ft (1,100 m)
Speed 65 mph (105 km/h)
Inversions 7
Duration 1:30
Capacity 1920 riders per hour
Acceleration 0 to 40 mph (0 to 64 km/h) in 2 seconds
G-force 4
Height restriction 54 in (137 cm)
Trains Multiple trains with 8 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 32 riders per train.
Single rider line available
The Incredible Hulk at RCDB
Pictures of The Incredible Hulk at RCDB

The Incredible Hulk is a launched roller coaster located in the Islands of Adventure theme park at Universal Orlando Resort. As the name suggests, the ride is themed after comic book superhero character, the Hulk. The ride opened on May 28, 1999, to positive reception. It is the first Bolliger & Mabillard roller coaster to feature a launch system, though its design was implemented by Universal Creative and MTS Systems Corporation. The Incredible Hulk is also unique because it features a launched lift hill as opposed to a conventional chain lift or horizontal launch track. The train accelerates to 40 mph (64 km/h) in approximately two seconds and reaches a top speed of 67 mph (108 km/h). Riders experience seven inversions throughout the course of the 3,700-foot-long (1,100 m) ride. The roller coaster temporarily closed on September 8, 2015, for major refurbishment and is expected to reopen in the summer of 2016.

History

In 1991, planning began for a new theme park adjacent to Universal Studios Florida. By the end of 1993, it was decided that one area of the future Islands of Adventure theme park would be themed after Marvel Comics, with a Hulk theme being selected for a thrill ride.[1] The designers of the ride wanted to simulate being fired out of a cannon and subsequently set about prototyping a launch system. Universal Creative and MTS Systems Corporation had a working prototype in January 1995. Methods to achieve this acceleration were investigated into mid-1996.[2] On-site construction of Islands of Adventure was underway in 1997,[3] with Superior Rigging & Erection being responsible for erecting the supports and track of the roller coaster.[4] On May 28, 1999, Islands of Adventure officially opened to the public, with The Incredible Hulk being one of its debut attractions.[5]

On August 14, 2015, Universal announced that the coaster would undergo major enhancement and refurbishment work. The ride closed on September 8, 2015 and is expected to reopen in the summer of 2016.[6][7]

Characteristics

One of "The Incredible Hulk's" original trains. Each train seats 32 riders.

The Incredible Hulk is a Sitting Coaster by Swiss firm Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M). The 3,700-foot-long (1,100 m) ride features seven inversions including a zero-g roll, a cobra roll, two vertical loops, and two corkscrews. The ride features a maximum height of 110 feet (34 m), and a first drop stretching 105 feet (32 m). Riders reach a top speed of 67 miles per hour (108 km/h) on the 1-minute, 30-second ride. Each of The Incredible Hulk's trains feature eight cars which seat riders four abreast, giving each train a maximum capacity of 32 riders. Riders, who must be at least 54 inches (140 cm) tall, are restrained with ratcheting over-the-shoulder restraints. This train configuration allows the ride to achieve a theoretical hourly capacity of 1,920 riders per hour.[5] The ride features two subterranean dives, is partially built over water, and is illuminated green at night.[5][8]

A unique launch system propels riders up the 110-foot-tall (34 m) hill.[9] The system was developed by Universal Creative and MTS Systems Corporation.[8] A prototype launch system was designed by January 1995. The prototype consisted of a series of boxcars welded together to form a launch tunnel. A track-mounted dune buggy was then propelled inside the tunnel through the use of a weight drop launch mechanism. The designers then experimented with different rates of acceleration, each emitting between one and five times the force of gravity.[2] The final system which was implemented on The Incredible Hulk sees trains launch from 0 to 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) in 2 seconds. Riders travel at an angle of 30 degrees through a 150-foot-long (46 m) tunnel, pulling 1 G.[8] To power this launch the designers investigated a variety of systems ranging from hydraulic, pneumatic, cable, steam catapult, and conveyor belt.[2] In the end a drive tire system was selected, where 230 electrical motors power a set of tires that pinch the train's underside to provide propulsion.[2][8] As this system required eight megawatts of power to launch a train, the park built several customized motor generator sets with large flywheels. Without these stored energy units, they would have had to build a whole substation and risk browning-out the local energy grid with every launch.[2] The launch system made The Incredible Hulk the only B&M ride to feature a launch, until Thunderbird opened at Holiday World in 2015.[10] Unlike The Incredible Hulk, Thunderbird uses a Linear Synchronous Motors (LSM) launch system that was designed by B&M.[11][12]

Experience

Overlooking part of The Incredible Hulk's themed queue before the 2015-16 refurbishment

Queue

Riders enter the science laboratory of Dr. Bruce Banner with many televisions showing the story of the Hulk.[8][13] Bruce is now trying to find a way to reverse the effects, which the guests are about to take part in. While walking through the lab they encounter items including the generator, the gamma core and the towers of power. Riders are also able to watch the roller coaster through large holes in the walls as well as listen to the ride as it does a number of passes.[14]

Ride

The 150-foot-long (46 m) gamma-ray accelerator from which The Incredible Hulk is launched
Zero-g roll

Once riders have boarded the train, it departs the station entering the gamma-ray accelerator, where the anxious voice of Bruce Banner issues from speakers in the walls: "Everything looks good...I think...I think this time it's...going to work!" On cue, a female voice announces that there has been a malfunction. Klaxons begin to sound inside the tube as Dr. Banner screams in terror: "No. No! No!!!" The last "No!" is synchronized with the launch mechanism, which propels the train from 9 to 40 mph (64 km/h) in 2 seconds. Upon exiting the gamma-ray accelerator, the train immediately goes into a zero-g roll, down a 105-foot (32 m) drop, and into a cobra roll over the park's main lagoon. Riders complete a vertical loop, then enter a subterranean tunnel full of mist. The train encircles the gamma-ray accelerator and is sent into the back area via corkscrew. A smaller vertical loop wraps around the mid-course brake run, which is flanked by two over-banked turns. The train is slowed down by the mid-course brakes before being sent down another hill to a corkscrew and turn-around. Riders then travel sideways through an on-ride camera zone and then to the ride's final brake run after a helix.[5][8][15]

Reception

The Incredible Hulk has been well received. In its debut year, the ride was voted the #1 roller coaster by Discovery Channel viewers, appearing on the Thrills, Chills and Spills documentary.[16][17] Amusement Business described The Incredible Hulk as one of Islands of Adventure's two world-class roller coasters (the other being Dueling Dragons, now known as the Dragon Challenge).[18] Dewayne Bevil of the Orlando Sentinel rated the ride as his eighth favorite attraction in Orlando. He states the ride is "too intense to take back-to-back trips. It rattles our nerves, in a good way."[19] Arthur Levine of About.com gave the ride 9 out of 10 stars. Levine describes the ride as "both terrifying and exhilarating" and "not for the faint of heart".[13]

In Amusement Today's annual Golden Ticket Awards, The Incredible Hulk was consistently ranked until 2013.[20] It debuted at position 19 in 1999 before reaching its peak ranking of 9 in 2001.[21][22]

Golden Ticket Awards: Top steel Roller Coasters
Year19992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015
Ranking 19[21]11[23]9[22]17[24]21[25]20[26]19[27]21[28]30[29]26[30]29[31]43[32]35[33]47[34]–[20]–[35]–[36]

In Mitch Hawker's worldwide Best Roller Coaster Poll, The Incredible Hulk entered at position 3 in 1999, before slowly declining to a low of 65 in 2013. The ride's ranking in subsequent polls is shown in the table below.[37]

Mitch Hawker's Best Roller Coaster Poll: Best steel-Tracked Roller Coaster[37]
Year199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013
Ranking 3 No poll11141918282732363943 No poll5566

See also

References

  1. ↑ Schneider, Mike (July 5, 1998). "Theme Parks Set in Motion Around Conference Tables". Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Total Immersion: Theme Park for the 21st Century. Orlando, Florida: USA Network.
  3. ↑ Cronan, Carl (September 15, 1997). "Disney Finds Another Way To Keep Visitors Entertained". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Services". Superior Rigging & Erection Company. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Marden, Duane. "Incredible Hulk  (Islands of Adventure)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  6. ↑ "The Incredible Hulk Coaster at Universal's Islands of Adventure". Universal Orlando. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
  7. ↑ "The incredible hulk coaster to undergo major enhancement and refurbishment work". Universal Orlando. August 14, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Super Hero Island Is Marvel". Amusement Business 111 (14): 18–19. April 5, 1999.
  9. ↑ "Incredible Hulk Coaster (Islands of Adventure)". Parkz. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  10. ↑ Niles, Robert (February 9, 2010). "2010 Best Theme Park Attraction nominee: Incredible Hulk Coaster at Universal's Islands of Adventure". Theme Park Insider. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Thunderbird - Holiday World (Santa Claus, Indiana, USA)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  12. ↑ "Incredible Hulk - Universal Studios Islands of Adventure (Orlando, Florida, USA)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  13. 1 2 Levine, Arthur. "Hulk Roller Coaster is...Incredible". About.com. New York Times Company. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  14. ↑ "The Incredible Hulk Coaster Queue at Islands Of Adventure". YouTube. November 6, 2011. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Incredible Hulk Front Seat on-ride HD POV Universal Studios Islands of Adventure". Coaster Force. YouTube. November 17, 2010. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Universal's Islands of Adventure". Perfect Florida Guide. Archived from the original on July 5, 2008.
  17. ↑ "Poll Puts Hulk Ride At Top Of Heap". Orlando Sentinel. May 16, 2002. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  18. ↑ O'Brien, Tim (January 11, 1999). "Four major theme parks to debut in 1999; many smaller ones to open". Amusement Business 111 (2): 18.
  19. ↑ Bevil, Dewayne (February 24, 2013). "Incredible Hulk Roller Coaster at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  20. 1 2 "2013 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today 17 (6.2): 34–35. September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  21. 1 2 "Top 25 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 7B. August 1999. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  22. 1 2 "Top 25 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 7B. August 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Top 25 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. August 2000. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  24. ↑ "Top 25 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 7B. September 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Top 50 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 14–15B. September 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  26. ↑ "Top 50 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 18–19B. September 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2007. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Top 50 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 26–27B. September 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  28. ↑ "Top 50 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 26–27B. September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  29. ↑ "Top 50 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today 11 (6.2): 36–37. September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  30. ↑ "Top 50 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today 12 (6.2): 36–37. September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Top 50 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today 13 (6.2): 32–33. September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  32. ↑ "Top 50 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today 14 (6.2): 34–35. September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  33. ↑ "Top 50 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today 15 (6.2): 38–39. September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  34. ↑ "Top 50 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today 16 (6.2): 36–37. September 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  35. ↑ "2014 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today 18 (6.2): 46–47. September 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  36. ↑ "2015 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today 19 (6.2): 49–50. September 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  37. 1 2 Hawker, Mitch. "Steel Roller Coaster Poll 13 Year Results Table (1999–2013)". Best Roller Coaster Poll. Retrieved October 5, 2013.

External links

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