Giant Drop (Dreamworld)
Encyclopedia
The Giant Drop is an Intamin drop tower ride
located at the Dreamworld
theme park on the Gold Coast
, Australia
. It is the world's tallest vertical drop ride standing 119 metres (390.4 ft) high.
began in 1996. On 23 January 1997, the Tower of Terror officially opened to the public. Close to two years later, on 26 December 1998, The Giant Drop officially opened to the public as part of the Dreamworld Tower. Additional theming was added around the base of the ride and the Vintage Car track was re-routed around the base of the tower. The cost to build The Giant Drop, had the Dreamworld Tower not been already standing, was published at A$12 million. Over 5 million people have been dropped to date.
In mid-2007, concerns were raised over the safety of Intamin drop towers after an incident at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
's Superman: Tower of Power
ride where a teenage girl had her feet severed after a cable had snapped. Despite the incident, Dreamworld continued to keep The Giant Drop operating stating their ride's cables had daily and monthly checks. An independent safety audit concluded that "Dreamworld's safety standards are world class and second to none".
gondola. Riders are harnessed in by over-the-shoulder restraints. Catch cars pull the gondolas to the top of the tower - a trip that takes approximately 90 seconds. The gondola pauses at the top of the tower for a moment of time before it is released from the catch car and dropped at a speed of 135 kilometres per hour (83.9 mph). After 5 seconds of freefall, the gondola is stopped by a magnetic braking system a few metres from the ground. At this moment, the on-ride photo is taken.
Upon opening, the eastern side of The Giant Drop featured a momentary pause shortly after the release from the top. This was caused by a set of magnetic brakes, which have since been removed.
documentary
"Extreme Terror Rides
". In 2010 season
of The Amazing Race Asia, teams were required to ride The Giant Drop and photograph Kenny Koala
, the park's mascot, waving the race flag once they've reached the top.
opens at Six Flags Magic Mountain
in 2012.
Amusement ride
Amusement rides are large mechanical devices that move people to create enjoyment. They are frequently found at amusement parks, traveling carnivals, and funfairs.-Notable types:*Afterburner*Ali Baba*Balloon Race*Booster...
located at the Dreamworld
Dreamworld
Dreamworld is a large theme park situated on the Gold Coast in Queensland. It is currently Australia's largest theme park with over 27 rides including 4 roller coasters. The park is made up of several themed lands: Ocean Parade, Kid's World, Wiggles World, Gold Rush Country, Rocky Hollow, Tiger...
theme park on the Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is the world's tallest vertical drop ride standing 119 metres (390.4 ft) high.
History
Construction of the Dreamworld TowerDreamworld Tower
The Dreamworld Tower, is a high tower located in the Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The Tower of Terror II and the Giant Drop both share the tower.-Tower design:...
began in 1996. On 23 January 1997, the Tower of Terror officially opened to the public. Close to two years later, on 26 December 1998, The Giant Drop officially opened to the public as part of the Dreamworld Tower. Additional theming was added around the base of the ride and the Vintage Car track was re-routed around the base of the tower. The cost to build The Giant Drop, had the Dreamworld Tower not been already standing, was published at A$12 million. Over 5 million people have been dropped to date.
In mid-2007, concerns were raised over the safety of Intamin drop towers after an incident at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
Kentucky Kingdom is an amusement park located in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. The park is located on of land which includes a collection of 27 amusement rides and a water park named Splashwater Kingdom...
's Superman: Tower of Power
Superman: Tower of Power
Superman: Tower of Power is a thrill ride located at two Six Flags parks. The one at Six Flags St. Louis is an Intamin Giant Drop model, and the one at Six Flags Over Texas is an S&S Combo Tower model. The one at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom was demolished after an accident that maimed a teenage...
ride where a teenage girl had her feet severed after a cable had snapped. Despite the incident, Dreamworld continued to keep The Giant Drop operating stating their ride's cables had daily and monthly checks. An independent safety audit concluded that "Dreamworld's safety standards are world class and second to none".
Ride
The Giant Drop is made up of two vertical tracks which run 119 metres (390.4 ft) to the top of the Dreamworld Tower. Each track features one, eight-seat floorlessFloorless roller coaster
A floorless roller coaster is a roller coaster with trains that ride above the track and allow the passenger's legs to dangle. It is a fairly new concept in roller coaster design brought forth by manufacturers Bolliger & Mabillard. The first ever floorless coaster debuted in 1999 at Six Flags Great...
gondola. Riders are harnessed in by over-the-shoulder restraints. Catch cars pull the gondolas to the top of the tower - a trip that takes approximately 90 seconds. The gondola pauses at the top of the tower for a moment of time before it is released from the catch car and dropped at a speed of 135 kilometres per hour (83.9 mph). After 5 seconds of freefall, the gondola is stopped by a magnetic braking system a few metres from the ground. At this moment, the on-ride photo is taken.
Upon opening, the eastern side of The Giant Drop featured a momentary pause shortly after the release from the top. This was caused by a set of magnetic brakes, which have since been removed.
Television
The Giant Drop has been featured on Australian Guinness World Records television show. It was also featured on the 2009, American, Travel ChannelTravel Channel
The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,...
documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
"Extreme Terror Rides
Extreme (Travel Channel series)
The Extreme series on on the US Travel Channel features "the absolute best of what the US of A has to offer—to the total EXTREME". Produced by Sharp Entertainment, it travels around the United States to document and showcase various places, events, things and people that are extreme in some...
". In 2010 season
The Amazing Race Asia 4
The Amazing Race Asia 4 is the fourth installment of the reality television game show The Amazing Race Asia. The Amazing Race Asia 4 features several teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship, in a race around the world. Production for this installment was delayed in 2009...
of The Amazing Race Asia, teams were required to ride The Giant Drop and photograph Kenny Koala
Koala
The koala is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia, and the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae....
, the park's mascot, waving the race flag once they've reached the top.
Records
At the time of opening, in December 1998, The Giant Drop gained the Guinness World Record title of the "World's Tallest Vertical Drop Ride.". The Giant Drop will lose this title when Lex Luthor: Drop of DoomLex Luthor: Drop of Doom
Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom is a drop tower ride currently under construction at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. The ride will be integrated into the existing Superman: Escape from Krypton tower structure.-History:...
opens at Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain is a theme park located in Valencia, California north of Los Angeles. It opened on Memorial Day weekend on May 30, 1971 as Magic Mountain, by the Newhall Land and Farming Company. In 1979, Six Flags purchased the park and added the name Six Flags to the park's title. In...
in 2012.