Kraken (roller coaster) explained

Kraken
Logodimensions:125px
Imagedimensions:250px
Previousnames:Kraken Unleashed (2017–2018)
Location:SeaWorld Orlando
Section:Sea of Legends
Coordinates:28.4111°N -81.4583°W
Status:Operating
Year:2000
Type:Steel
Type2:Floorless Coaster
Manufacturer:Bolliger & Mabillard
Designer:Werner Stengel
Model:Custom
Lift:Chain lift hill
Height Ft:153
Drop Ft:144
Length Ft:4177
Speed Mph:65
Inversions:7
Duration:2:02
Capacity:1500
Restriction In:54
Trains:3
Carspertrain:8
Rowspercar:1
Ridersperrow:4
Virtual Queue Name:Quick Queue
Virtual Queue Image:Quick Queue availability logo.svg
Virtual Queue Status:available
Transfer Accessible:available
Rcdb Number:581

Kraken is a steel roller coaster at SeaWorld Orlando in Orlando, Florida, United States. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, the ride opened as the second longest floorless coaster in the world on June 1, 2000, with a track length measuring . It features a total of seven inversions and reaches a maximum speed of 65mph. The coaster was named after a fictional sea monster of the same name. In late 2016, Kraken underwent a refurbishment and reopened as Kraken Unleashed in June 2017. A virtual reality experience was added to the ride, but due to technical difficulties and extensive wait times, the feature was permanently removed the following year.

History

Kraken (2000–2016, 2018-present)

In 1999, Six Flags Great Adventure spent $42 million on new attractions including a prototype Floorless Coaster by Bolliger & Mabillard, Medusa (later Bizarro and back to Medusa).[1] The immediate popularity of the ride[2] led SeaWorld Orlando and three other amusement parks to announce plans to install Floorless Coasters in 2000; aside from the announcement of Kraken on May 6, 1999,[3] Six Flags Discovery Kingdom announced Medusa, Geauga Lake announced Dominator, and Six Flags Fiesta Texas announced .[4] Kraken was announced as costing approximately $18–20 million.[5] Krakens announcement more than one year out from its opening was an attempt by the park to drive international attendance.

Construction for the ride was well underway in January 2000.[6] During construction, Superior Rigging & Erection was responsible for erecting the supports and track of the roller coaster.[7]

On June 1, 2000, Kraken officially opened to the public. At the time of opening Kraken held the record for the tallest and longest roller coaster in the state of Florida. It held this record until 2006 when Disney's Animal Kingdom opened the 4424adj=midNaNadj=mid Expedition Everest.[8]

Kraken Unleashed (2017–2018)

On September 27, 2016, the park announced that the ride would undergo extensive refurbishment and reopen in 2017 with virtual reality headsets. It reopened as Kraken Unleashed on June 16, 2017.[9] [10] This update also featured an original orchestral score by Rick McKee for the VR film, as well as original area music. In early 2018, the virtual reality headsets were removed from the attraction’s ride vehicles and the ride went back to being Kraken due to technical difficulties.[11] They returned to the ride in June 2018.[12] Later that summer, the virtual reality was permanently removed due to slow dispatches and excessive wait times.[13] [14]

In 2022, Kraken was repainted with seafoam green track and dark teal supports.[15]

Characteristics

Statistics

The 4177adj=midNaNadj=mid Kraken stands 153feet tall. With a top speed of, the ride was the fastest roller coaster at SeaWorld Orlando until the opening of Mako in summer 2016.[16] [17] The ride features seven inversions including two vertical loops, a dive loop, a spiraling camelback (zero-g roll), a cobra roll and a flat spin.

Trains

Kraken operates with three floorless trains. Each train seats 32 riders in eight rows of four. This gives the ride a theoretical hourly capacity of 1500 riders per hour. The open-air trains feature seats which leave riders' legs dangling above the track. Riders are restrained with over-the-shoulder restraints.[18] As the trains are floorless, the station has a retractable floor for safe boarding.

Theme

Kraken is themed after the mythological sea monster of the same name, kept caged by Poseidon. Much of the ride is located above water, with three sections featuring subterranean dives. The ride's station and surrounding area are themed as Kraken's lair. Eels are said to be Kraken's young and therefore feature throughout the ride's queue.[19] A SeaWorld Orlando spokesman stated "although it's a roller coaster, the theme of the ride brings it back to the sea, and to our (SeaWorld Orlando's) core".

Ride experience

After riders have boarded, the station floor is retracted and the front gates open. Kraken departs with a right U-turn out of the station. This leads directly to the 153adj=midNaNadj=mid chain lift hill. At the top, the train crests the lift hill and follows a fairly level turn to the right before dropping 144feet towards the ground. The ride then enters the first 128-foot-tall (39m) vertical loop followed by a diving loop, passing by Mako's lift hill. A spiraling camelback (zero-g roll), where riders experience a feeling of weightlessness, is followed by a cobra roll. A banked turn to the left leads into the mid-course brake run. The exit from the mid-course brake run drops down directly into the second vertical loop. A subterranean dive into Kraken's lair is followed by a corkscrew. The ride concludes with a final brake run and a short path back to the station.[20]

Reception

The Orlando Sentinel commended the ride for "perfect timing and keeping folks guessing", giving the ride ratings of 4 out of 5 for both thrill and theming.[21] Sentinel reporter Dewayne Bevil ranks the ride at number 7 in his Top 50 Orlando Theme Park Attractions list.[22] Although it was reported that the ride would be more exciting than The Incredible Hulk at the nearby Islands of Adventure theme park,[23] Mike Thomas of the Sentinel concluded that "Hulk clobbers the competition", with Kraken taking the number two spot.[24] In an interview for the Los Angeles Times, Jerry Dane of the Florida Coaster Club described the floorless experience like "you are hung out there open and free". Dane also commended the ride's ability to provide different, yet equally good experiences in a variety of seats.[25] In 2012, Kraken was featured on the Travel Channel TV series Insane Coaster Wars, and received first place in the public-voted "Wrong Way Up" category.[26] Theme Park Review's Robb Alvey shared the view that Kraken was better than the competition which included Dollywood's Wild Eagle and Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom's Hydra the Revenge.[27]

In Amusement Todays annual Golden Ticket Awards, Kraken was ranked in the top 50 steel roller coasters numerous times since its opening. It debuted on the poll at position 48 in 2003, peaked at position 23 in 2004, before it fell off the poll in 2009.[28] [29] [30] [31]

Early reception to Kraken Unleashed was mixed, with theme park enthusiasts noting long dispatch times[32] as the main detractor. Overall VR experience seemed to be positive, however.[33]

Notes and References

  1. O'Brien. Tim. Six Flags Great Adventure to turn into 'superpark'. Amusement Business. February 1, 1999. 111. 5. 3.
  2. O'Brien. Tim. Park attendance off to a great start for 1999. Amusement Business. June 7, 1999. 111. 23. 1.
  3. Sea World Orlando To Build New Roller Coaster For 2000. June 22, 2013. May 6, 1999. SeaWorld Orlando.
  4. Roller Coaster Search Results. Category = Floorless. May 4, 2013. http://rcdb.com/r.htm?ot=2&ca=111&page=1&order=10.
  5. O'Brien. Tim. 'Angry Sea Monster' To Emerge At SeaWorld. Amusement Business. May 17, 1999. 111. 20. 37, 40.
  6. News: Barker. Tim. Seaworld Gets Kraken - New Ride To Open In Spring. June 27, 2013. Orlando Sentinel. January 24, 2000. Tribune Company. March 3, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303203922/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2000-01-24/business/0001220335_1_thrill-rides-new-ride-roller-coaster. dead.
  7. Web site: Services . Superior Rigging & Erection Company . March 24, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130407141701/http://www.superiorrigging.com/services.php . April 7, 2013 . dead .
  8. Record Holders. Longest roller coasters in Florida. September 16, 2011. http://www.rcdb.com/rhr.htm?m=2&l=3180.
  9. News: SeaWorld will introduce virtual reality roller coaster. Pedicini. Sandra. September 26, 2016. Orlando Sentinel. en-US. January 30, 2017.
  10. News: SeaWorld Entertainment Unveils Major New Attractions For 2017. September 27, 2016. en-US. January 30, 2017. PR Newswire. https://web.archive.org/web/20170202091145/http://finance.yahoo.com/news/seaworld-entertainment-unveils-major-attractions-110000726.html . February 2, 2017.
  11. Web site: Is SeaWorld Orlando's Kraken got the leash on again? VR headsets removed. Yates. Erik. January 21, 2018. Behind The Thrills. en-US. May 27, 2018.
  12. Web site: SeaWorld Florida. June 22, 2018. Screamscape. en-US. July 12, 2018.
  13. News: Reality bites: SeaWorld abandons virtual reality headsets on Kraken coaster. Wynne. Sharon Kennedy. September 20, 2018. Tampa Bay Times. September 20, 2018. Times Publishing Company.
  14. News: SeaWorld: Kraken roller coaster ditches virtual reality headsets. Russon. Gabrielle. September 18, 2018. Orlando Sentinel. September 20, 2018. Tronc. en-US.
  15. Web site: SeaWorld Orlando Repaint Update - Mid-December 2021 - The Coaster Kings. December 14, 2021 .
  16. Kraken. SeaWorld Orlando. 581. June 22, 2013.
  17. Manta. SeaWorld Orlando. 4190. June 22, 2013.
  18. O'Brien. Tim. $20 Mil Floorless Coaster To Have Superman Theme At Fiesta Texas. Amusement Business. November 8, 1999. 111. 45. 21.
  19. O'Brien. Tim. New Coasters Highlight Capital Park Improvements For 2000. Amusement Business. September 13, 1999. 111. 37. 32, 38.
  20. Web site: Kraken Roller Coaster Front & Back Seat POV SeaWorld Orlando. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/3GYNv735H_k . 2021-12-22 . live. Theme Park Review. Robb. Alvey. Robb Alvey. YouTube. June 22, 2013. April 13, 2013.
  21. News: Kraken, SeaWorld Orlando. June 27, 2013. Orlando Sentinel. Tribune Company.
  22. News: Bevil. Dewayne. Kraken at SeaWorld Orlando. June 27, 2013. Orlando Sentinel. February 24, 2013.
  23. News: Barker. Tim. Roll Over, Shamu - Kraken Making Big Splash Now. June 27, 2013. Orlando Sentinel. May 25, 2000. Tribune Company.
  24. News: Thomas. Mike. Can Kraken Beat Hulk? Let's Test It. June 27, 2013. Orlando Sentinel. May 25, 2000. Tribune Company. March 4, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061551/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2000-05-25/news/0005250041_1_n-roller-coaster-hulk-thrill-ride. dead.
  25. News: Murray. Alicia Lewis. SeaWorld Makes Splash With New Roller Coaster. https://archive.today/20130628040319/http://www.latimes.com/topic/go2-2129,0,3171320.story?track=rss-topicgallery. dead. June 28, 2013. June 27, 2013. Los Angeles Times. September 18, 2002. Tribune Company.
  26. Web site: SeaWorld Orlando's Kraken Voted a Winner on Travel Channel's "Insane Coaster Wars". Inside SeaWorld. SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment. June 22, 2013. July 23, 2012.
  27. News: MacDonald. Brady. Top thrill rides compete in Travel Channel's 'Insane Coaster Wars'. June 22, 2013. Los Angeles Times. June 26, 2012.
  28. Top 50 steel roller coasters. Amusement Today. September 2009. May 17, 2020. October 19, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131019224819/http://www.goldenticketawards.com/issuearchive/2009gta/2009gta.pdf. dead.
  29. Top 50 steel roller coasters. Amusement Today. September 2010. May 17, 2020. September 21, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055950/http://www.goldenticketawards.com/issuearchive/2010gta/2010gta.pdf. dead.
  30. Top 50 steel roller coasters. Amusement Today. September 2011. May 17, 2020. October 19, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131019215626/http://www.goldenticketawards.com/issuearchive/2011gta/2011gta.pdf. dead.
  31. Top 50 steel roller coasters. Amusement Today. September 2012. May 17, 2020. October 19, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131019222649/http://www.goldenticketawards.com/issuearchive/2012gta/2012gta.pdf. dead.
  32. 875351281707220998. Kraken Unleashed is running 1 train right now with 8–10 minutes between dispatches (about 200 riders per hour)pic.twitter.com/RMmMDiGoe0. June 15, 2017. TouringPlans. June 18, 2017.
  33. 874754309308723200. The #KrakenUnleashed VR experience exceeded my expectations. Has a few flaws, but overall good! ~@MrBrianORL. Park Pass. June 13, 2017. ORLParkPass. June 18, 2017.