The Giant Drop

This article is about an amusement ride at Dreamworld Australia. For general examples of the ride type, see Drop tower.
The Giant Drop

Dreamworld
AreaRocky Hollow
Coordinates27°51′43.3″S 153°18′58.5″E / 27.862028°S 153.316250°E / -27.862028; 153.316250Coordinates: 27°51′43.3″S 153°18′58.5″E / 27.862028°S 153.316250°E / -27.862028; 153.316250
StatusOperating
CostA$12,000,000
Soft opening date20 December 1998 (1998-12-20)[1]
Opening date26 December 1998 (1998-12-26)[2]
General statistics
Attraction type Giant Drop
Manufacturer Intamin
Height 119 m (390 ft)
Drop 115 m (377 ft)
Speed 135.0 km/h (83.9 mph)
G-force 3.5
Capacity 550 riders per hour
Vehicles 2
Riders per vehicle 8
Duration 100 seconds
Height restriction 120 cm (3 ft 11 in)

The Giant Drop is an Intamin drop tower ride located at the Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast, Australia. The ride was added in December 1998 to the existing Dreamworld Tower which housed the Tower of Terror. For fourteen years, The Giant Drop held the record for the tallest drop tower in the world.

History

Construction of the Dreamworld Tower began in 1996. On 23 January 1997, the Tower of Terror officially opened to the public.[3][4][5] Close to two years later, on 26 December 1998, The Giant Drop officially opened to the public as part of the Dreamworld Tower.[2][6][7] Additional theming was added around the base of the ride and the Vintage Car track was re-routed around the base of the tower.[8] The cost to build The Giant Drop, had the Dreamworld Tower not been already standing, was published at A$12 million.[9] Over 5 million people have been dropped to date.[7]

In mid-2007, concerns were raised over the safety of Intamin drop towers after an incident at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom's Superman: Tower of Power ride where a teenage girl had her feet severed after a cable had snapped.[10][11] Despite the incident, Dreamworld continued to keep The Giant Drop operating stating their ride's cables had daily and monthly checks. An independent safety audit concluded that "Dreamworld's safety standards are world class and second to none".[12]

Ride

The Giant Drop is themed to an oil rig at the Giant Oil Company.

The Giant Drop consists of a pair of vertical tracks which attach to the flank of the Dreamworld Tower. Each track features one, eight-seat floorless gondola in which riders are harnessed in by over-the-shoulder restraints.[6] Catch cars lift the gondolas for a duration of approximately 90 seconds to a dynamic height of 115 metres (377 ft). Upon reaching the top of the tower, the gondolas are released into a free-fall, attaining a terminal velocity of 135 kilometres per hour (84 mph) before stopped by permanently mounted rare-earth magnets.[7] At this moment, the on-ride photo is taken.

Upon opening, the eastern side of The Giant Drop featured a momentary pause shortly after the release from the top. This was caused by a set of magnetic brakes, which have since been removed.[6]

Television

The Giant Drop has been featured on Australian Guinness World Records television show.[9] It was also featured on the 2009, American, Travel Channel documentary "Extreme Terror Rides".[13] In 2010 season of The Amazing Race Asia, teams were required to ride The Giant Drop and photograph Kenny Koala, the park's mascot, waving the race flag once they've reached the top.[14]

Records

At the time of opening, in December 1998, The Giant Drop gained the Guinness World Record title of the "World's Tallest Vertical Drop Ride".[9] The Giant Drop conceded the title on 7 July 2012, when Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom opened at Six Flags Magic Mountain located in California.[15][16][17]

Preceded by
Supreme Scream		 World's Tallest Vertical Drop Fun Ride

with La Venganza Del Enigma
20 December 1998–7 July 2012[9]

Succeeded by
Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Dreamworld History" (PDF). Dreamworld. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  2. 1 2 Kornyei, Oscar (21 December 1998). "All set for the world's fastest free-fall ride.". Courier Mail.
  3. ↑ Wilson, Richard. "Official opening details". Photo. Parkz. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
  4. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Tower of Terror II  (Dreamworld)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  5. ↑ "Tower of Terror (Dreamworld)". Parkz. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 "Giant Drop (Dreamworld)". Parkz. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  7. 1 2 3 "The Giant Drop". Dreamworld. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  8. ↑ "Vintage Cars (Dreamworld)". Parkz. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Tallest vertical drop ride". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  10. ↑ "Girl's feet severed on ride at Six Flags in Kentucky". CNN. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  11. ↑ Vries, Lloyd de (22 June 2007). "Six Flags Closes More Rides After Accident". CBS News. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  12. ↑ Wray, Michael (25 June 2007). "Real scare for thrill seekers". Courier Mail. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  13. ↑ Knoop, Doug (3 September 2009). "'Extreme Terror Rides: Mega Speed' is a Thursday TV pick". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  14. ↑ "Filming locations for "The Amazing Race Asia" Episode #4.8 (2010)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
  15. ↑ MacDonald, Brady (1 September 2011). "Six Flags unveils new attractions for every park in 2012". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  16. ↑ MacDonald, Brady (6 July 2012). "Review: Lex Luthor and Superman rides do battle at Magic Mountain". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  17. ↑ MacDonald, Brady (28 June 2012). "Opening of new Six Flags ride on hold for a week". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 7 July 2012.

External links

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