[bobbyfoster]

I read while back that Disney was working on a new flying coaster concept. I happened to come across this article and found it interesting. Does anyone else know about this potential project?

I wasn't sure if this would fall under 2018 predictions or not as, there isn't really a date. What I found interesting was the vertical loading station.
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Disney is looking at how to improve on the flying coaster technology by making a vertical launch and load area.

Disney is looking at how to improve on the flying coaster technology by making a vertical area where the coaster cart is stationed vertically and guests — on different levels — can climb into the coaster car, documents showed.

The Walt Disney Co. is quick to patent many of the ideas its Imagineers create, as each has the potential to end up being the next bleeding-edge ride.

That's why many are watching what Disney (NYSE: DIS) has planned for a patent originally filed a few years ago on a vertical load-and-launch roller coaster that resurfaced after being published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in September.


The patent seeks to improve on the existing flying coaster technologies by incorporating a multi-level loading area where the coaster cart is stationed vertically and guests — on different levels — can climb into the coaster car, documents showed.

Theme park fans said Disney's patent is alluding to a new attraction in the works for the Orlando parks. Some believe it could be a new ride for Epcot that may adapt the company's popular intellectual property, like Guardians of the Galaxy. However, take that with a grain of salt until Disney officially announces something.

http://assets-origin.bizjournals.com/or ... faces.html

[Edwardo]

I know Disney works with Vekoma Quite a lot and I know vekoma has similar patents for loading horizontally so maybe those are the patents they're working with.

[KIJester]

Maybe it's just me but I truly believe that flying coasters will be nonexistent in 15-20 years much like how we are now seeing the standup coaster slowly disappear.
It was a great idea/concept when Vekoma's Flying Dutchman first came on the scene, but the face down position the body was in took some getting used to. Of course, not to be outdone, B&M mastered the layout and smoothness (Manta, not so much the Superman models) but even those models can be a bit uncomfortable at times.