HeartlineCoaster
Theme Park Superhero
I returned the following morning, bright and early, to have one more stab at the apple. Enquiries had of course been inconclusive, 'the rides change every day' they said. Sure enough upon arrival the sign had changed.
Tilt Coaster yes, Beyond the Clouds no.
Such dilemma, do I pay full price for the extra cred, knowing full well that I'm destined to return again one day?
Yes. It will probably be closed then too. Gotta take what you can get.
Day 11 - Suzhou Amusement Land
Powered straight to the tilt before it could garner any form of queue and was treated to a single train of wait. The train itself is a definite improvement on the old model, was hoping the rest of it was too, as the duelling Hefei one had dealt some vicious punches in the latter half of the layout. Surely something this vesty, open and spacious can't do the same.
It's a very slow and suspenseful climb to the top, followed by an even slower and slightly less suspensful tilt sequence. The lack of fanfare or vigour kinda ruins the moment a bit, even the locals don't seem to get as phased by it as they should be, you're just sort of stuck there, hanging, likely wondering if it's broken. One thing Battle of Jungle King did do better there was have an MC doing trick countdowns.
Once the drop is initiated, you plummet below ground level for extra effect before being thrust into a mostly continuous set of inversions and tightly banked turns, some of which are rather dizzying and intense. Crucially it rides well, full respect there.
The low roll at the end that looks suspiciously like the older model, and still not quite right somehow, delivers a very strange set of forces, none of which were bad. It's nothing special, other than being very different from what's out there (read: cloned). I wouldn't go out of my way for it, but would happily ride it again.
Turns out the flying theatre did exist, right next door to the robot arm dark ride. It was already hideously overpopular by this point, shoulda done it the night before. My attention had also already faded by this point, always looking to the horizon, so couldn't be bothered.
Did the dark ride again instead because it was walk on.
Rawr.
It was time to jump in another car.
Wuxi Sunac Land
Once again the Sunac property was free to enter, pay per ride if you wish, but all inclusive is the way to go. Interestingly here it all changed at 4pm, from which point you couldn't just bowl up and stroll in. Not sure on the logic, maybe a cheaper deal? Still seems the better model in these kinda locations.
Main Street USA was very un-USA, to its credit.
You can't help but notice the main event from pretty much anywhere inside or outside the park. It's huge. The situation was nervous as always, having not seen it actually run at any point since being dropped off. Thankfully this was just thanks to not having enough riders to fill a train, and of course being run at a snails pace.
Loved it though, size makes all the difference here. It's not often you get face-ripping intensity on this model yet it happens through sheer speed alone in the opening section.
In constrast to the HB one the day before, I also loved that they mix up the elements a lot more here. It's far less inversion heavy, beginning most notably with this giant twisted hill into the more 'interactive' section.
As you pass over the signature rockwork, a second speed type hill thrusts you out and over the water with an excellent moment of new found momentum. It compliments the whole wing thing rather well.
After the large and graceful overbank, there's a surprise piece of dynamicism as well, with a little S-bend twist as you head into the rock itself. A snappy little transition you wouldn't otherwise expect from such a big boy.
All of this is excellent, though it runs foul of falling a little flat at the mid course. It's rather late game and leads to the type of slow, hangtime filled roll, again through the rock once more, that most people seem to hate.
I'm on the fence, to me it's not the forces themselves that bother me, though they are undoubtedly uncomfortable, it's whether the ride has earned it.
Has the 200ft monster been trying to kick your ass up until this point? Then go right ahead.
Have you been sunglasses on and not caring up until this point? Then it's too late, don't bother.
The former, this one's the former.
Flying Theatres? Did someone say China has flying theatres? In true form, while the world class, unique rollercoaster attraction couldn't even fill a train with guests, the flying theatre held an hour of queue for almost the entire day. As such, we'll come back later.
I was curious to see how trains could pull off stunts, but sadly the timing never lined up.
This was a surprise, I walked in rather blind. I think it's a cred. Maybe a dark ride? No, cred.
Well kinda both. Turns out Zamperla make Multi-Dimension coasters now, who knew? Well, you should, because @gavin showed us the other day.
Queue was pretty nifty.
The coaster portions were clunky as anything, at about 2Mph, and so there was very little dynamic going on with either that or the story. The thunderbolt rode better.
You stop several times in scenes of some steel mill, with various mishaps taking place, causing you to change direction of course.
I actually found the drop track itself rather brilliantly executed. It was the smoothest part of the ride and it hit me with a great deal of surprise and force. A diamond in the rough.
Blue Fire, but red. I like them, but there's far too many at this point. Walk-on and a lighting package though.
Their monstrosity of a water cred was far too popular, because water.
Who wants to ride an actually decent ride when you can have water? It too was skipped, for now.
Because I really wanted to ride this. Since the whole lockdown, joining the database, researching dark rides thing, Final Sea Battle has been a bit of a bucket list attraction for me. Was never sure why, because I'm also spoiler averse, but it sounds cool, right?
Right. Better disguising of the show building than Universal at the very least.
This was also busy, deservedly at least. More likely because it was hot outside and aircon is almost as good and as hard to come by as water, rather than as any testament to the quality of of the ride.
Thankfully not 120 minutes busy.
I actually read the plate this time, that's a genuine Jinma, their DGC-12A model no less.
What does that mean? 4D dark ride. Spiderman/Transformers on a boat.
It delivered. They can make a damn good product when they put their minds to it. For once it didn't feel like one of these Chinese ride systems where there should be more in the tank, it should have more to give. The range of motions were perfectly suited to the action and the action was pretty great, if a little over the top.
As seafaring citizens you end up in this massive sea battle, obviously, but being the minions that you are just kinda get flung around from pillar to post witnessing, and not helping. It's got a bit of everything, pirate style cannon battles, big impressive physical setpieces, big fantasy blokes punching things, a giant sea monster.
It's not gamechanging as an attraction itself, with a lot of the same old beats that become a bit cliche in this style of attraction by now, but I always enjoy seeing them under a new skin at the very least. I'm more just pleased that other manufacturers and companies are able to pull off something this damn good. Need a bit of healthy competition and Wanda/Sunac is poised to be that, they're just so sporadic in their choice of investment.
The day was turning out pretty relaxing all things considered, yeah there was still stuff to do but it was all open until late so we left the park and went to the big mall outside for a bite to eat and a break to soak up the vibe.
After another treat on Falcon, it was time to suck up the wait for the water coaster, because some stupid people with a stupid hobby decided it was worth counting. Tactics hadn't worked here as even though the sun was going down, it remained as long of a wait.
They gave away free ponchos for the one in Guangzhou, so I was kinda holding out for the same, only to eventually end up as the only person aboard without one. Oh dear.
It's very sparsely themed to the whole duck, duck, goose thing, and the 'coaster' section comes underneath the big lift hill, after rounding a corner. It does the whole Supersplash turntable, backwards drop and up, turntable faff, but in an straight line, very low to the ground and even more slow and pointless. I did inwardly chuckle at the visible confusion of others trying to work out what and why it was doing this.
After more barren drifting, tons of insects were swarming the big lift, making it even more tense and unpleasant. Then the drop. Then the wet. Then the wet again. It did the horrible two stage soaking like Tidal Wave. Would never have put up with that otherwise, but cred.
You know what's a good way to dry off though? Big wing coaster. It was starting to get dark now and this was due to close an hour earlier than the one thing left so I just lapped it a few times until they shut shop.
The lightning package kicked in and I got some night rides on it, so that was pretty magical again, looking out over the city before the chaos and reminding me what the hobby is all about. Sunac is doing me well on that front.
Tactics worked, the theatre was down to a single load of waiting for the night and the reward was another above average, but still sightseeing experience (Jiangsu being this region). It had a pleasant preshow and I will say again the quality of these ones Sunac are getting are pretty good for what they are. The market is just so saturated with them now.
They had a night time show running to cap things off, so decided to check that out.
It told an old Chinese legend through the mediums of dance, puppetry, water projection, fountains and lights. A little more subdued than your average 'spectacular' but rather tasteful for it. As always it's nice to have something a bit different.
They had one big water jet in the middle that was absoutely massive, I've never seen one quite like it. Must have been pushing past the height of the coaster at max blast and had this really satisfying effect of the water slowly cascading down for several seconds afterwards, each time it switched off.
Very nice place overall, really enjoyed the time here - you can usually tell that when I actually stick around.
They've got a great top two in the star coaster and dark ride, and Blue Fire, the theatre and the indoor cred are rather good support if you're not jaded like I am. One of the most well rounded Sunacs for sure. I'm really glad they seemed to have stopped the separate movie park in a mall thing now, just needs some wood.
Up next - not another wing coaster
Tilt Coaster yes, Beyond the Clouds no.
Such dilemma, do I pay full price for the extra cred, knowing full well that I'm destined to return again one day?
Yes. It will probably be closed then too. Gotta take what you can get.
Day 11 - Suzhou Amusement Land
Powered straight to the tilt before it could garner any form of queue and was treated to a single train of wait. The train itself is a definite improvement on the old model, was hoping the rest of it was too, as the duelling Hefei one had dealt some vicious punches in the latter half of the layout. Surely something this vesty, open and spacious can't do the same.
It's a very slow and suspenseful climb to the top, followed by an even slower and slightly less suspensful tilt sequence. The lack of fanfare or vigour kinda ruins the moment a bit, even the locals don't seem to get as phased by it as they should be, you're just sort of stuck there, hanging, likely wondering if it's broken. One thing Battle of Jungle King did do better there was have an MC doing trick countdowns.
Once the drop is initiated, you plummet below ground level for extra effect before being thrust into a mostly continuous set of inversions and tightly banked turns, some of which are rather dizzying and intense. Crucially it rides well, full respect there.
The low roll at the end that looks suspiciously like the older model, and still not quite right somehow, delivers a very strange set of forces, none of which were bad. It's nothing special, other than being very different from what's out there (read: cloned). I wouldn't go out of my way for it, but would happily ride it again.
Turns out the flying theatre did exist, right next door to the robot arm dark ride. It was already hideously overpopular by this point, shoulda done it the night before. My attention had also already faded by this point, always looking to the horizon, so couldn't be bothered.
Did the dark ride again instead because it was walk on.
Rawr.
It was time to jump in another car.
Wuxi Sunac Land
Once again the Sunac property was free to enter, pay per ride if you wish, but all inclusive is the way to go. Interestingly here it all changed at 4pm, from which point you couldn't just bowl up and stroll in. Not sure on the logic, maybe a cheaper deal? Still seems the better model in these kinda locations.
Main Street USA was very un-USA, to its credit.
You can't help but notice the main event from pretty much anywhere inside or outside the park. It's huge. The situation was nervous as always, having not seen it actually run at any point since being dropped off. Thankfully this was just thanks to not having enough riders to fill a train, and of course being run at a snails pace.
Loved it though, size makes all the difference here. It's not often you get face-ripping intensity on this model yet it happens through sheer speed alone in the opening section.
In constrast to the HB one the day before, I also loved that they mix up the elements a lot more here. It's far less inversion heavy, beginning most notably with this giant twisted hill into the more 'interactive' section.
As you pass over the signature rockwork, a second speed type hill thrusts you out and over the water with an excellent moment of new found momentum. It compliments the whole wing thing rather well.
After the large and graceful overbank, there's a surprise piece of dynamicism as well, with a little S-bend twist as you head into the rock itself. A snappy little transition you wouldn't otherwise expect from such a big boy.
All of this is excellent, though it runs foul of falling a little flat at the mid course. It's rather late game and leads to the type of slow, hangtime filled roll, again through the rock once more, that most people seem to hate.
I'm on the fence, to me it's not the forces themselves that bother me, though they are undoubtedly uncomfortable, it's whether the ride has earned it.
Has the 200ft monster been trying to kick your ass up until this point? Then go right ahead.
Have you been sunglasses on and not caring up until this point? Then it's too late, don't bother.
The former, this one's the former.
Flying Theatres? Did someone say China has flying theatres? In true form, while the world class, unique rollercoaster attraction couldn't even fill a train with guests, the flying theatre held an hour of queue for almost the entire day. As such, we'll come back later.
I was curious to see how trains could pull off stunts, but sadly the timing never lined up.
This was a surprise, I walked in rather blind. I think it's a cred. Maybe a dark ride? No, cred.
Well kinda both. Turns out Zamperla make Multi-Dimension coasters now, who knew? Well, you should, because @gavin showed us the other day.
Queue was pretty nifty.
The coaster portions were clunky as anything, at about 2Mph, and so there was very little dynamic going on with either that or the story. The thunderbolt rode better.
You stop several times in scenes of some steel mill, with various mishaps taking place, causing you to change direction of course.
I actually found the drop track itself rather brilliantly executed. It was the smoothest part of the ride and it hit me with a great deal of surprise and force. A diamond in the rough.
Blue Fire, but red. I like them, but there's far too many at this point. Walk-on and a lighting package though.
Their monstrosity of a water cred was far too popular, because water.
Who wants to ride an actually decent ride when you can have water? It too was skipped, for now.
Because I really wanted to ride this. Since the whole lockdown, joining the database, researching dark rides thing, Final Sea Battle has been a bit of a bucket list attraction for me. Was never sure why, because I'm also spoiler averse, but it sounds cool, right?
Right. Better disguising of the show building than Universal at the very least.
This was also busy, deservedly at least. More likely because it was hot outside and aircon is almost as good and as hard to come by as water, rather than as any testament to the quality of of the ride.
Thankfully not 120 minutes busy.
I actually read the plate this time, that's a genuine Jinma, their DGC-12A model no less.
What does that mean? 4D dark ride. Spiderman/Transformers on a boat.
It delivered. They can make a damn good product when they put their minds to it. For once it didn't feel like one of these Chinese ride systems where there should be more in the tank, it should have more to give. The range of motions were perfectly suited to the action and the action was pretty great, if a little over the top.
As seafaring citizens you end up in this massive sea battle, obviously, but being the minions that you are just kinda get flung around from pillar to post witnessing, and not helping. It's got a bit of everything, pirate style cannon battles, big impressive physical setpieces, big fantasy blokes punching things, a giant sea monster.
There's a fake out ending during which I was reciting the 'your bravery has saved the planet' spiel that always rounds these things off and then you get jump scared and attacked once more before the actual speech round the corner
It's not gamechanging as an attraction itself, with a lot of the same old beats that become a bit cliche in this style of attraction by now, but I always enjoy seeing them under a new skin at the very least. I'm more just pleased that other manufacturers and companies are able to pull off something this damn good. Need a bit of healthy competition and Wanda/Sunac is poised to be that, they're just so sporadic in their choice of investment.
The day was turning out pretty relaxing all things considered, yeah there was still stuff to do but it was all open until late so we left the park and went to the big mall outside for a bite to eat and a break to soak up the vibe.
After another treat on Falcon, it was time to suck up the wait for the water coaster, because some stupid people with a stupid hobby decided it was worth counting. Tactics hadn't worked here as even though the sun was going down, it remained as long of a wait.
They gave away free ponchos for the one in Guangzhou, so I was kinda holding out for the same, only to eventually end up as the only person aboard without one. Oh dear.
It's very sparsely themed to the whole duck, duck, goose thing, and the 'coaster' section comes underneath the big lift hill, after rounding a corner. It does the whole Supersplash turntable, backwards drop and up, turntable faff, but in an straight line, very low to the ground and even more slow and pointless. I did inwardly chuckle at the visible confusion of others trying to work out what and why it was doing this.
After more barren drifting, tons of insects were swarming the big lift, making it even more tense and unpleasant. Then the drop. Then the wet. Then the wet again. It did the horrible two stage soaking like Tidal Wave. Would never have put up with that otherwise, but cred.
You know what's a good way to dry off though? Big wing coaster. It was starting to get dark now and this was due to close an hour earlier than the one thing left so I just lapped it a few times until they shut shop.
The lightning package kicked in and I got some night rides on it, so that was pretty magical again, looking out over the city before the chaos and reminding me what the hobby is all about. Sunac is doing me well on that front.
Tactics worked, the theatre was down to a single load of waiting for the night and the reward was another above average, but still sightseeing experience (Jiangsu being this region). It had a pleasant preshow and I will say again the quality of these ones Sunac are getting are pretty good for what they are. The market is just so saturated with them now.
They had a night time show running to cap things off, so decided to check that out.
It told an old Chinese legend through the mediums of dance, puppetry, water projection, fountains and lights. A little more subdued than your average 'spectacular' but rather tasteful for it. As always it's nice to have something a bit different.
They had one big water jet in the middle that was absoutely massive, I've never seen one quite like it. Must have been pushing past the height of the coaster at max blast and had this really satisfying effect of the water slowly cascading down for several seconds afterwards, each time it switched off.
Very nice place overall, really enjoyed the time here - you can usually tell that when I actually stick around.
They've got a great top two in the star coaster and dark ride, and Blue Fire, the theatre and the indoor cred are rather good support if you're not jaded like I am. One of the most well rounded Sunacs for sure. I'm really glad they seemed to have stopped the separate movie park in a mall thing now, just needs some wood.
Up next - not another wing coaster