CycloneMan Posted February 24, 2008 Report Share Posted February 24, 2008 Once again, the rumors have been circulating about an other ride closure, this time Houdini's Great Escape! If this is true, I am very saddened by this, being this was my favorite attraction at SFGAv. What do you guys think?' -Dainan "Should we start a petition " Rafferty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Master Posted February 24, 2008 Report Share Posted February 24, 2008 It would suck on toast if they remove Houdini! I like that ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted February 24, 2008 Report Share Posted February 24, 2008 I doubt this is going to be removed. The biggest strike against Houdini has been its capacity and that has been primarily caused by inadequate staffing. Fully staffed and properly operated Houdini can push through over 1300 guests per hour. As of Thursday morning this ride was not on the Park's list of removals. It seems like fear is setting in and we will probably hear a lot of rides hitting "the rumor list". I just heard they were taking out The Dark Knight Coaster! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb Posted February 24, 2008 Report Share Posted February 24, 2008 Hmmm Its not listed on great adventures site... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted February 24, 2008 Report Share Posted February 24, 2008 At one point the Buccaneer was listed as a Hurricane Harbor attraction so I wouldn't place any bets yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsDevs4Lyf Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 (edited) Perhaps they will be dousing riders of the Buccaneer this year as the ride rocks back and forth for that good ole life on the high seas feel lol I'm just happy Houdini is still there to allow for another attraction that takes you out of the sun for a brief period. Edited April 1, 2008 by JetsDevs4Lyf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 I hope Houdini opens this year. They put up new signage (similar to most other rides) so that is sort of a good sign. I would be more concerned if they had all been removed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsDevs4Lyf Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 Well I believe in one of the other sections there were pictures of some landscaping being done on the ride so who knows if they would even be working on that if there was no intention of opening the ride during the season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J4Sing Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 I never even heard of the Houdini ride until I found this forum. What exactly is it? Not another "Star Tours" type simulator I hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 I never even heard of the Houdini ride until I found this forum. What exactly is it? Not another "Star Tours" type simulator I hope. It's nothing like Star Tours! It is a Vekoma Mad House ride and fairly unique in the United States. The attraction is more of an illusion than a ride although you do actually move. Here's a link to Vekoma's page on the style of ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsDevs4Lyf Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 Basics of the ride have you enter Houdini's Mansion to a little preshow in which Houdini's spirit is brought back from the other side. Enter a large room in which Houdini's spirit has been captured. You are locked into you seat (basically four long benches two running the length of each side of the room) and Houdini tells you he is going to perform his greatest illusion to date. The ride begins here you begin a swift rocking feeling which increases until it looks as though the benches you are sitting in are spinning a full 360 degrees vertically around the room. I do believe this is the basics of the ride, if anyone else can explain it more thoroughly or clarify anything I may have misstated feel free to as I am going from memory as i did not ride this attraction after about July of last season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 Basics of the ride have you enter Houdini's Mansion to a little preshow in which Houdini's spirit is brought back from the other side. Enter a large room in which Houdini's spirit has been captured. You are locked into you seat (basically four long benches two running the length of each side of the room) and Houdini tells you he is going to perform his greatest illusion to date. The ride begins here you begin a swift rocking feeling which increases until it looks as though the benches you are sitting in are spinning a full 360 degrees vertically around the room. I do believe this is the basics of the ride, if anyone else can explain it more thoroughly or clarify anything I may have misstated feel free to as I am going from memory as i did not ride this attraction after about July of last season. Message forwarded for Mr. Houdini: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Master Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 Message forwarded for Mr. Houdini: Remember there used to be a picture a lot like that one in the fake Skylight? That ride had a real different plot back in 1999. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CycloneMan Posted April 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 I remember the ride back in 1999. What sticks out most is the lap bars, and how hard they slammed down! -Dainan "And the ragtime music during the film in the pre-show" Rafferty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted April 4, 2008 Report Share Posted April 4, 2008 Last summer I rode Houidini while the "house lights" were accidentally left on in the building (the building surrounding the ride cabin). We were able to see all the behind the scenes stuff through the skylight as it spun around our seats. I always thought that the big Houidini mural may have still been on the ceiling and just not illuminated however it was clear to see that in fact it has been removed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsDevs4Lyf Posted April 4, 2008 Report Share Posted April 4, 2008 I never had the pleasure of seeing this so either it was already gone or I may have missed it. Either way I guess it didn't last long even though it would seem like something that would last a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CycloneMan Posted April 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2008 Last summer I rode Houidini while the "house lights" were accidentally left on in the building (the building surrounding the ride cabin). We were able to see all the behind the scenes stuff through the skylight as it spun around our seats. I always thought that the big Houidini mural may have still been on the ceiling and just not illuminated however it was clear to see that in fact it has been removed. As did we. It was very nausiating with the light change when the cieling would dissapear. Though it was cool to ride it with the show lights on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Master Posted April 4, 2008 Report Share Posted April 4, 2008 (edited) I have rode Houdini a few times with the work lights on, and it does seem the big Houdini image has been removed. It was only in the ride during it's first year 1999. Back then the ride had a very different plot, there was no Margery during the preshow, only Houdini which they protrayed having turned evil or something like that. His big image would light up in the skylight, then it would morph in to a scary looking version of the image. The image of him that lights up over the fireplace in the preshow is the sme image (but smaller) that they once used in the skylight. Edited April 4, 2008 by The Master Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsDevs4Lyf Posted April 6, 2008 Report Share Posted April 6, 2008 Things seemed ominous yesterday as there was no signage for this ride, the gate was locked, and as of right now it's not on the ride listings on the website Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterPete Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 What I found to be interesting is that Houdini's isn't listed in the new park map book being handed out at the park yet they updated the ride signage a few weeks ago. The decision to leave it out of the map book had to be made a while ago. I wonder if this too was a last minute decision but they originally planned to not operate it and may have been reconsidering. Just some thoughts... Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsDevs4Lyf Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 At this point the only people who probably know are those running the park. I was quite looking forward to riding it and all but twas not to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Master Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 It does not look good at all that the sign is missing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsDevs4Lyf Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 Exactly like that was the first thing that I noticed after looking at the locked up gate. If they are going to shut it down they could let us know ahead of time. And if they are rehabbing it or something that's fine but it would have been nice to have a heads up about it. I know quite a few people we saw were headed towards it before onviously being turned away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAcoaster Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 We should all hope and pray that some money can be found to bring Houdini back...if not right now, maybe for Fright Fest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcji Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 Hopefully they are just renovating it but the way the park has been going removing every flat they have, doesn't look so good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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