AFTER EFFECTS PHOTO SLIDESHOW

The fierce Kingda Ka is simply the tallest, fastest roller coaster on Earth. This remarkable thrill ride breaks all world records for coaster speed and height, zooming from
0 to 128 mph in 3.5 seconds and catapulting you 45 stories into the sky.

Get propelled horizontally at 128 mph via hydraulic launch
Hang on tight as you shoot 90 degrees into a quarter-turn
Blast 456 feet high, then plunge vertically into a 270-degree spiral
Experience weightlessness as you swoop down a valley and up a 129-foot camel hump
Kingda Ka is a roller coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey, USA. At its opening on May 21, 2005, it became the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world, claiming the title from Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point. The train is launched by a hydraulic launch mechanism to 128 miles per hour (206 km/h) in 3.5 seconds.[1] At the end of the launch track, the train climbs the main top hat tower reaching a height of 456 feet (139.5 m).[2] Due to aviation safety concerns, the tower is equipped with three dual strobes: two mid-way up, and one on the top.

History

Kingda Ka was officially announced on September 29, 2004, at an event held for the media and enthusiasts.[3] It was revealed that the ride would become "the tallest and fastest roller coaster on earth", reaching 456 feet (139 m) high and accelerating up to 128 miles per hour (206 km/h) in 3.5 seconds.[4]

On January 13, 2005, Kingda Ka was topped off at its 456-foot (139 m) height, finishing construction.[5] A crane over 500 feet (150 m) tall was used to hoist up the highest track piece for the ride. Just approximately four months later, Kingda Ka opened to the public, media day being two days before, on May 19.

Kingda Ka was originally supposed to open on Saturday, April 23, 2005, but on April 18, 2005, Six Flags announced that Kingda Ka's opening would be delayed; media day would have been on April 21. [6] Before Kingda Ka was built, Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster was the tallest and fastest roller coaster on the planet.

During a test run with no passengers on June 8, 2005, a bolt failure caused damage to the launch cable resulting in closure of the ride until August 2005, and the reconfiguration of the line area.


Major malfunctions
On June 6, 2005, less than a month after its grand opening, a bolt failure caused the liner inside the trough that the launch cable travels through to come loose and create friction against the cable. The friction caused the train to not accelerate to the correct speed. The rubbing of the cable against the inside of the metal trough caused sparks and shards of metal to fly out from the bottom of the train. The engine, as it is designed, attempted to compensate by applying more force to the cable to attain the 128 mph (206 km/h) launch speed.
The brake fins—metal fins attached to the underside of some roller coaster cars that slide between brakes mounted to the track[7]—rise up into the braking position on a timing pattern, independent of the launching mechanism. The fins are mounted in steel supports that are connected to actuators that raise and lower the fins into the desired position. There are four braking zones, and each zone has about 24 individual brake fins. The fins actually caught up to the launching train as the timing pattern of the rising fins was faster than the accelerating train. The magnetic brakes began to slow the train in the launch area, and the engine tried to compensate even more, and dragged the train through the brake zones. The catch car released, but the train was still in the brake zone and came to a complete stop at the bottom of the hill.

This malfunction occurred when no passengers were aboard during a test run. No injuries or deaths occurred. Damage occurred to the launch cable (frayed and needed to be replaced), engine (minor routine damage to seals), and brake fins (many needed to be replaced). The brake fins in the launch section are mounted in such a way to keep fast moving trains from moving backwards into the station, but a fast moving train being pulled forwards caused an unexpected stress on a number of fins that bent them forward. Not all of the fins needed to be replaced, but there were more damaged brake fins than Six Flags had replacements, and extra brake fins had to be specially ordered from Intamin. In addition, Kingda Ka had to be re-inspected. Kingda Ka started testing on July 21, 2005. It reopened on August 4, 2005, with the line modified so that it no longer ran under the launch track.[8] The dark blue train was being launched when the malfunction occurred. It was used for the rest of the season, but major problems requiring replacement parts were discovered when the train was inspected during the off-season. Consequently, this train remained disassembled throughout the 2006 season.


Ride experience
After the train has been locked and checked, it slowly advances out of the station to the launch area. The t

Day 196 - One of the traditions wifey and I have is when we visit a locale we pick up a few items, one being a fridge magnet, another being a Christmas ornament, those will be show cased when we put up our tree. Anyways it was a tough choice this time, as there were so many magnets to choose from. Finally we decided on this one, and we will have to print one of the photos from our 3000+ photo collection.

That being said, I think I forgot to list the must ride rides as it slipped my mind so, in no particular order, but by park we have.



Magic Kingdom (Crescendo - Wishes fireworks show only on evenings the park closes at 9)

Space Mountain <-- it is a given you have to ride this, get the fast pass and come back if the queue is longer than 30 minutes

Splash Mountain <-- You will not get that wet, again get a fast pass if you can

Thunder Mountain Railroad <-- Was good no loop de loops or anything, but overall a solid roller coaster for the younger crowd, fast pass it if you can.

Its a small world <-- Original ride, essentially a must do, I do not think there is a fast pass and the line is always long, go after 7PM to get in faster

Rides that were dissapointing

Astro Orbiter <-- Long line and ride was too short

Pirates of the Caribbean <-- Line moved pretty fast but the ride was not very exciting



EPCOT (Crescendo Illuminations fireworks at the international pavilion 9PM every night)

Soarin <-- Very good for sure fast pass it, the line starts early and does not die down, our fast pass was gotten at park open nearly and they told us to come back 3 hours later

Spaceship earth <-- Centre piece of EPCOT so it is a given walk past it when you first enter park as everyone gets on it at the start of the day, come back around 12 ish there will be no line

Test Track <-- You are the crash test dummy

Mission: Space <-- Only do the intense interactive and it pretty good

Sum of All Thrills <-- You make your own coaster, ours had 4 loop de loops it was pretty good

MUST MUST MUST see

Captain EO <-- Back for a limited time only and remixed into 4D as in you wear 3D glasses and you get blasted with stuff in the theater.



Hollywood Studios (Crescendo Fantasmic every night at 8PM also at 9:30 when they close late)

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster <-- Like Space Mountain, (fast pass for sure line gets crazy) indoor and dark and you will not know where you are going, if you want thrills at Disney this is the ride next to Space Mountain you want to be riding.

Star Tours <-- Good remixed to 3D get the fast pass if you can line is long

Toy Story Mania <-- Fun!! get fast pass if you don't you will wait a long long time, over 2 hours

Muppet Vision 3D <-- Muppets in 3D with the hecklers how can this be bad?

Rides that were disappointing

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror <-- it was good, but the drop did not seem that intense



Animal Kingdom (Crescendo none, park closes at 6PM every day)

Expedition Everest <-- Soooo good we rode it 3 times, no line after around 5PM



Universal Studios Islands of Adventure

Incredible Hulk Roller Coaster <-- It is the hulk the roller coaster is green as well

The Amazing Spiderman <-- in 4D very good

Rip Saw Falls <-- You will get wet

Flight of the Hippogriff <-- Kids coaster, still good

Dragon Challenge <-- Dueling roller coasters line moves fast but can get very long

Disappointing rides

Doctor Doom's Fearfall <-- Not that fearful

Poseidon's Fury <-- Long line for just a walking tour bah.



Universal Studios Florida

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit <-- Looked pretty good from the distance, was closed for maintenance when we were there...

Shrek 4-D <-- Never been seen footage from after the first movie to before the second movie

Revenge of the Mummy <-- Ride it

The Simpsons Ride <-- 4D ish no glasses (wifey found out after I told her that Sideshow Bob is played by Kelsey Grammer)

E.T. Adventure <-- Weird ride but one of the originals check it out for sure

Disappointing rides

JAWS <-- Dunno what to say, just thankful we had express pass

Men in Black <-- Toy Story Mania 50000 times better

Yes we had a busy 4 days. I ll leave it here at that.