Cheetah Hunt: New Intamin at Busch Gardens Tampa

[zjohn1988]

Cheetah Hunt finally completed a full circuit a few days ago.

[monsterfan99]

^Good to hear. They were working on the theme/animal area yesterday. Also great to see the band between the Chunt and the theater is the Cheetah Hunt construction crew complete with fake ride track.

[CoastsToCoasters]

^huh?

[monsterfan99]

They have a band in the area between the Moroccan Palace and the ride itself. There theme is the Cheetah Hunt Construction Crew that walks out of the construction area to perform. They dress in full construction crew get up and have a piece of fake Coaster track where their instruments are.

It's a nice little touch for the theme of the area. Crowd really gets into the performances and helps an area with not much to do.

[monsterfan99]

The ride is now running at full speed with park management getting their rides on it. Only 10 days until opening day.

[monsterfan99]

Either bad luck or the fact the ride is Intamin is hitting the park with the opening. The ride was down 6-7 hours on Media day yesterday. Today the ride is having problems again with the ride delayed 4 hours and maybe longer. Here's hoping it is open to tonight Special Event so I can get my rides on it.

[BP317]

I posted a TR to the forum, pics will be coming within the next few days.

[monsterfan99]

Rode it tonight as part of their "special event" aka 1000 plus contest winners. It is really a hit or miss ride. The positives are there are 2 nice moments of air time in all sections of the train, the former Rhino Rally section is fun and the ride is smooth as glass. On the negatives the launches were week with the one out of the station feeling pointless, the tower is beyond pointless and much of the ride was just smoothly eating up track.

I honestly left the ride having no clue who it was made for or why it was promoted as fast thrill ride. The speed is not there to the point where 3 of the rides in the park are faster with Gwazi not far behind. I would even go so far as to say it felt slower than Scorpion during most of the ride. Had they removed the Tower and the inversion this ride would be a perfect family ride. However, kids were seeing the ride as an equal to Kumba or Montu in the scary level. The ride itself is a family coaster that is too intense to be a family coaster.

In the end is it a bad coaster? Not really. However, it feels like it never leaves 2nd gear. Any reviews coming from coaster sites calling it amazing and incredible are just trying to buy PR points with the park. Rankings wise in the park it falls way behind the 3 B&M and on par with Gwazi thanks to the area around the ride. Sad to say entire package of ride and area gets a 5/10 from me.

[Cole]

You know I was also confused as to what Busch Gardens was going for with this. They had a good attraction in Rhino Rally (which they removed for Cheetah Hunt) I mean the area around it looks fantastic. Especially the Cheetah Exhibits (from what I've seen.) But the coaster just doesn't look special at all. I agree with you that this could have been either a home run family, or thrill ride. I mean imagine how awesome the ride would be if it didn't have the pointless elements (tower, inversion) and just stuck to the ground leaping up and down just like a Cheetah? Kids would've LOVED that. And what if it had 3-4 killer inversions and more airtime? Would have been high on alot of enthusiasts lists. It just looks like Busch Gardens struck out on trying to blend the two.


-Cole

[rct2wizard360]

From the looks of it, that tower element just really kills everything. I really do like how much it interacts with that area of the park but I honestly think they should've gone with a drawn out version of Rita.

Not something I'm rushing to Florida to try out but if I'm ever down there again I'll check it out.

[monsterfan99]

^^I know it's not why it is there, but it also seems like the inversion was put in to justify the OTSR. Speaking of which, the OTSR ruin what could be amazing air time. In the back row down the tower, you get Raging Bull style ejector air but the OTSR make you almost wish you didn't. Being taller this might not be an issue, but being short I fly up into it and now have two nice blood bruises on my shoulders to show for it.

This coaster will rank high in every poll due to the "certain major site" love and a ton of crappy coaster sites getting media invites. I've seen a grand total of 3 honest reviews (including one mentioned by BP) and the rest were the "WE RODE ON MEDIA (or opening) DAY" love fest. I'm not saying it is a bad ride at all. However to call it world class and easily the best coaster in the park would make me question anyone saying that.

Sadly, Rhino Rally is still there. I never rode the original version, but have rode the new short version. It was a horrible mix of Kilimanjaro Safaris and the Jungle Cruise that does not work at all. If it was any longer than the 3 or so minute it was it would be the worst ride in the Central FL parks. This is coming from someone who could ride K Safaris all day long and enjoy every ride. They just need to cut their losses and try something else for an animal tour.

From the looks of it, that tower element just really kills everything.

I am not kidding when I say the Air Grover coaster feels faster that the Tower figure 8. It provides a great view, but kills all the speed of the 2nd launch.

[tribar]

Is it just me or does Cheetah Hunt sound a lot like TDK

[FParker185]

Every review I've read so far is pretty dismal. The speed just isn't there, and overall it's not what it's hyped up to be. I don't see it doing great in the polls this year.