Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars
Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars | |
---|---|
Status | Operating |
Opening date | 14 July 2012 |
General statistics | |
Type | Steel – 高鐵 – Launched |
Manufacturer | Vekoma |
Designer | Walt Disney Imagineering |
Lift/launch system | Both |
Length | 1,100 m (3,600 ft) |
Speed | 72 km/h (45 mph) |
Inversions | 0 |
Duration | 3:14 |
Capacity | 1,728 riders per hour |
Height restriction | 112 cm (3 ft 8 in) |
Trains | 6 (Usually 5 for operations) trains with 4 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 3 rows for a total of 24 riders per train. |
Must transfer from wheelchair | |
Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars at RCDB |
Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars (
History
Planning
In early 2009, Hong Kong Disneyland proposed a financial arrangement to the Legislative Council of Hong Kong with the aim of expanding the park by adding three new themed areas. This plan was approved in July 2009.[5] On 13 December 2009, the official groundbreaking ceremony took place.[6]
Construction
The mountain, the centrepiece of the themed area, is 88 feet (27 m) tall
Opening
In June 2012, Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars began
Ride
Overview
Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars is the centrepiece attraction in the Grizzly Gulch section of Hong Kong Disneyland.[2] It is a Vekoma Mine train roller coaster with 1,100 metres (3,600 ft) of track.[1][9]
The ride is the second Disney roller coaster to have a backwards section on it – the first being Expedition Everest in Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World.[10] The roller coaster also bears several similarities to the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad attractions at many Disney theme parks, with the mountain itself resembling Grizzly Peak at Disney California Adventure.
Experience
The ride begins in the Big Grizzly Mountain Mining Company building. This is home to the mining company's sawmill and one of the mining shafts, where the sounds of a snoring bear can be heard. Signage reports on recent sightings of the mountain's resident family of bears, which lead one of the original prospectors to discover the mountain's gold and the bears to be seen as a lucky charm.
Entering tunnel 4, the train begins to climb a lift hill in the style of a traditional roller coaster. Once the train nears the top of the mountain the lift cable appears to break (next to Shaft 44, in reality the lift cable ends) causing the riders to go back down the hill in reverse and along a different track before entering another mine. Two animatronic bears, a mother and cub named Mother Lode and Nugget, are located inside the mine and the cub sets off some TNT while reaching for a hanging catch of fish left behind by one of the miners, causing the train to launch out of the mine on yet another track. The train then goes through a variety of twists and turns before arriving at the terminal
See also
- Hong Kong Disneyland attraction and entertainment history
- 2012 in amusement parks
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Expedition Everest
References
- ^ a b c Marden, Duane. "Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars (Hong Kong Disneyland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ^ a b MacDonald, Brady (2 December 2011). "Top 20 for 2012: Best new rides at theme parks around the world". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ^ "Hong Kong Disneyland - Grizzly Gulch themed land". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Hong Kong Disneyland". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ^ "Hong Kong Disneyland's Expansion Plans Approved". Asia Travel Tips. 16 July 2009. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
- ^ "Groundbreaking Ceremony Celebrates Hong Kong Disneyland Expansion". Hong Kong Disneyland. 13 December 2009. Archived from the original on 7 May 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
- ^ South China Morning Post - Come on down to Grizzly Gulch
- ^ Theme park out to cement its attraction Amy Nip. South China Morning Post. 18 May 2012.
- ^ 迪士尼灰熊山谷下周開幕. Oriental Daily (in Chinese). 4 July 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Expedition Everest (Walt Disney World - Disney's Animal Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
- ^ Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort