Area Rocky Hollow Cost A$12,000,000 Height 119 m Opened 26 December 1998 | Status Operating Attraction type Giant Drop Max speed 135 km/h | |
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Soft opening date 20 December 1998 (1998-12-20) Opening date 26 December 1998 (1998-12-26) Address Dreamworld, Dreamworld Pkwy, Coomera QLD 4209, Australia Hours Open today · 9AM–5PMMonday9AM–5PMTuesday9AM–5PMWednesday9AM–5PMThursday9AM–5PMFriday9AM–5PMSaturday9AM–5PMSunday9AM–5PMSuggest an edit Similar Tower of Terror II, The Claw, BuzzSaw, Wipeout, Hot Wheels SideWinder | ||
Dreamworld the giant drop
The Giant Drop is an Intamin drop tower ride located at the Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast, Australia. The ride was added in December 1998 to the existing Dreamworld Tower which housed the Tower of Terror. For fourteen years, The Giant Drop held the record for the tallest drop tower in the world.
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The giant drop dreamworld gold coast australia
History
Construction of the Dreamworld Tower 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".
Ride
The Giant Drop consists of a pair of vertical tracks which attach to the flank of the Dreamworld Tower. Each track features one, eight-seat floorless gondola in which riders are harnessed in by over-the-shoulder restraints. Catch cars lift the gondolas for a duration of approximately 90 seconds to a dynamic height of 115 metres (377 ft). Upon reaching the top of the tower, the gondolas are released into a free-fall, attaining a terminal velocity of 135 kilometres per hour (84 mph) before stopped by permanently mounted rare-earth magnets. 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 baby.
Television
The Giant Drop has been featured on Australian Guinness World Records television show. It was also featured on the 2009, American, Travel Channel 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.
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 conceded the title on 7 July 2012, when Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom opened at Six Flags Magic Mountain located in California.