The Incredible Hulk Coaster

The Incredible Hulk Coaster is a launched roller coaster located at Universal Islands of Adventure theme park within the Universal Orlando Resort. Designed by Werner Stengel and manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), the roller coaster is themed after the Hulk comic book superhero and opened to the public on May 28, 1999. It is the first B&M coaster themed to a Marvel Comics superhero character and the first to feature a launch design, which was primarily implemented by Universal Creative and MTS Systems Corporation.

The launched lift hill of the Incredible Hulk Coaster accelerates riders up to 40 mph in two seconds, and the coaster eventually reaches a maximum speed of 67 mph. It features seven inversions throughout the course of the 3670 ft ride, which was positively received when it opened. A major refurbishment began in September 2015, which included an updated queue line, slight theme modifications, new sections of track, and new trains that feature on-board audio. It reopened to the public on August 4, 2016.

History

In 1991, planning began for a new theme park adjacent to Universal Studios Florida

Characteristics

The Incredible Hulk is a sitting coaster by Swiss firm Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M). The 3670 ft ride features seven inversions including a zero-G roll, a cobra roll, two vertical loops, and two corkscrews. The ride features a maximum height of 110 ft, and a first drop stretching 105 ft. Riders reach a top speed of 67 mph on the two-and-a-quarter minute ride. Each of The Incredible Hulk's trains feature eight cars which seat riders four abreast, giving each train a maximum capacity of 32 riders. Riders, who must be at least 54 in tall, are restrained with ratcheting over-the-shoulder restraints. This train configuration allows the ride to achieve a theoretical hourly capacity of 1,920 riders per hour.[12] The ride features two subterranean dives, is partially built over water, and is illuminated green at night.[12]

A unique launch system propels riders up the 110 ft hill.[13] The system was developed by Universal Creative and MTS Systems Corporation.[14] A prototype launch system was designed by January 1995. The prototype consisted of a series of boxcars welded together to form a launch tunnel. A track-mounted dune buggy was then propelled inside the tunnel through the use of a weight drop launch mechanism. The designers then experimented with different rates of acceleration, each emitting between one and five times the force of gravity.[15] The final system which was implemented on The Incredible Hulk sees trains launch from 0 to 40 mph in 2 seconds. Riders travel at an angle of 30 degrees through a 150 ft tunnel, pulling 1 G.[14] To power this launch the designers investigated a variety of systems ranging from hydraulic, pneumatic, cable, steam catapult, and conveyor belt.[15] In the end a drive tire system was selected, where 230 electrical motors power a set of tires that pinch the train's underside to provide propulsion.[15][14] As this system required 8 MW of power to propel each train, the park built several customized motor generator sets with large flywheels to reduce the risk of browning-out the local energy grid with every launch.[15] The launch system made The Incredible Hulk the only B&M ride to feature a launch, until Thunderbird opened at Holiday World in 2015.[16] Unlike The Incredible Hulk, Thunderbird uses a linear synchronous motor

Ride description

1999–2015

Queue

In the original version, the queue began with the science laboratory of Dr. Bruce Banner with many televisions showing a cartoon about the story of Hulk, featuring appearances from Bruce, General Thunderbolt Ross, Betty Ross Banner, and the Rhino.[14] Bruce tried to find a way to reverse the effects of gamma mutation, which the guests were about to take part in. While walking through the lab they encountered items including the generator, the gamma core and the towers of power. Guests waiting in line were also able to see the roller coaster through large holes in the walls as well as listen to the ride as it did a number of passes.[19]

Ride experience

After boarding, the train moved into another area of the station themed as a gamma-ray accelerator, while a recording of Dr. Bruce Banner was played anxiously stating, "Everything looks good...I think...I think this time it's...going to work!" A female voice then exclaimed, "Warning! Coolant levels dropping!" and announced that there was a malfunction. Alarms began to go off inside the accelerator as Dr. Banner screamed in terror, "No! No! No! No!" The last "No!" was synchronized with the tire-propelled launch mechanism, which propelled the train from 0 to 40 mph in 2 seconds at an upward angle exiting the station.

Immediately after exiting the tunnel, the train entered a zero-g roll inverting element and plunged down a 105 ft drop. The train then reached a top speed of 67 mph, followed by a cobra roll over the park's main lagoon. The train then proceeded through a vertical loop, followed by a subterranean tunnel full of mist. Upon exiting the tunnel, the track encircled the station, sending the train into a corkscrew and a second vertical loop, which wrapped around the mid-course brake run and was flanked by two over-banked turns. This led into the mid-course brake run slowing the train before descending another hill into a second corkscrew and a turn-around. The train then tilted sideways during the final stretch of track as riders passed an on-ride camera and entered a helix, which ended at the coaster's final brake run.[12][14][20]

Queue

Ride experience

2016–present

Queue

Following a major refurbishment that was completed in 2016, a new, original storyline was added with a completely redesigned queue experience that places guests inside a perilous scientific experiment led by General Thaddeus Ross. The entrance features a statue of Hulk holding one of the ride's vehicles over his head, and arching tracks passing over him. These arching coaster tracks came from the original Hulk Roller Coaster. The televisions now show CGI animations of test subjects being exposed to gamma radiation and being transformed into Hulk-like creatures.[21] As of April 2015, riders must pass through metal detectors and security personnel and must rid themselves of all loose items from their pockets.[22][23]

Ride experience

Queue

Ride experience

The refurbishment added new, immersive elements such as a revamped launch tunnel and audio speakers integrated on-board each train. After walking through the queue, guests arrive at General Ross' launching platform. After boarding, the train departs the platform and enters an area themed as a gamma core. The train begins to ascend a launch tunnel, while a female voice recording announces, "Initiating Gamma Exposure. Hulk Transformation: Accelerating. Do not be afraid." Visual and audio effects portraying the reaction of a gamma accelerator are activated, as a tire-propelled launch mechanism sends riders catapulting out of the launch tunnel. Riders experience the same track layout from the original Hulk ride that was rebuilt with new track pieces. An original score composed by Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy is played over the on-board speakers.[24]

logodimensions	280px
imagedimensions	280px
location	Universal Islands of Adventure
section	Marvel Super Hero Island
coordinates	28.47117°N, -81.46842°W
status	Operating
opened	May 28, 1999
soft opened	March 27, 1999
year	1999
type	Steel
type2	Launched
manufacturer	Bolliger & Mabillard
designer	Werner Stengel
model	Sitting Coaster – Custom
theme	Hulk
lift	Tire propelled launch
height ft	110
drop ft	104.9
length ft	3700
speed mph	67
inversions	7
duration	2:15
capacity	1920
acceleration from	0
acceleration mph	40
acceleration in	2
gforce	4
restriction in	54
carspertrain	8
rowspercar	1
ridersperrow	4
virtual queue name	Universal Express Pass
virtual queue image	Universal Express availability.svg
virtual queue status	available
single rider	available
transfer accessible	available
rcdb number	557

The Incredible Hulk Coaster

History

Characteristics

Ride description

1999–2015

Queue

Ride experience

Queue

Ride experience

2016–present

Queue

Ride experience

Queue

Ride experience

Reception

Incident

See also

External links

References