Elf • Hirakata Park

You might think 3.5 stars is too much for a "family wooden coaster", but trust me, I've had awful rides on Tonnerre 2 Zeus recently that were devoid of airtime that I have to give it 3.5 stars. There ...

You might think 3.5 stars is too much for a "family wooden coaster", but trust me, I've had awful rides on Tonnerre 2 Zeus recently that were devoid of airtime that I have to give it 3.5 stars. There are a couple of reasons: As I stated earlier, the ride has some powerful airtime up front (I rode in rows 7 and 2), especially with the great Intamin T-bars That are freeing and (in my opinion) better than their new over the head lapbars. The drops are also quite good in the back, but it is a front car ride for me. There are a few reasons why the back rows can be a little better though. The ride has a noticable rattle on all turns but the pullouts are smooth in the back (expect the one before the 4th turnaround, which as a jarring jolt in all rows). It is a different story up front though. The start of the pullout is smooth but the pull up into the turnarounds is pretty rough everywhere on the ride. Ironically, the turn out of the station is one of the roughest moments on the ride. The brakes are violent too. As for the layout, if I had to compare it to another old Intamin, it would be Indiana Jones et le Temple du Péril. If there was a 3.75 stars option, I would give it that, it was better than Tonnerre 2 Zeus (please retrack the turns though, then I would give it 4 stars). It is also unreliable. It wasn't open before 11AM and closed (possibly for the day) at 4PM.

welp,this might not be my top 10 coaster any time soon,but unironically,it was still a decent ride,not bad,but not good either.that is actually the last of the intamin regular woodies(not the refabric...

welp,this might not be my top 10 coaster any time soon,but unironically,it was still a decent ride,not bad,but not good either.that is actually the last of the intamin regular woodies(not the refabricadet ones).and this was back in the day when the swiss company still looked for identity,this one was build in 2001 and it is,as said,decent,its much better than must of their original woodies before elf.so ill get going nd give my honest opinions.welp,i kinda mixed about the layout,for one they have the original wooden turns,which yes are pretty weak,but airtime hills,they were actually pretty strong here,it is kinda cool to get some good airtimes,and airtimes on woodies,are much better than airtime on those steel coaster,since,i dont know,its quit a unique air that i cant describe.but yes,the turns werent that good and only waited for some airtime to come.it is a fun ride honestly,i can see this with the not so intense layout as the first woodie kids might go on.but,the ride isnt that smooth with many rattely sections,yes,those older woodies didnt age well over the years,and even the last of those didnt survive the agind process,but if you taking the dead turns and rattle,the ride is like a fun family wooden,not gravity kraft levels,but still fun and intresting coaster to the park