The Incredible Hulk Coaster: A History of Universal's Green Giant
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. This article delves into the history, design, and evolution of this iconic attraction.
Conception and Development
The history of The Incredible Hulk Coaster begins in the early 1990s, when Universal Studios was planning the development of a second theme park adjacent to Universal Studios Florida. Originally dubbed "Cartoon World," the park was intended to feature licensed properties, including characters from Looney Tunes and DC Comics.
By the end of 1993, it was decided that one area of the future Islands of Adventure theme park would be themed after Marvel Comics, with a Hulk theme being selected for a thrill ride. This decision came after Universal failed to secure a licensing agreement with DC Comics, whose characters were already licensed to Six Flags.
The designers of the ride wanted to simulate being fired out of a cannon and subsequently set about prototyping a launch system. Universal Creative and MTS Systems Corporation had a working prototype in 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.
Design and Statistics
The Incredible Hulk is a sitting coaster by Swiss firm Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M). The ride features a maximum height of 110 feet (34 m), and a first drop stretching 105 feet (32 m). Riders reach a top speed of 67 miles per hour (108 km/h) on the two-and-a-quarter minute ride.
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The launched lift hill of the Incredible Hulk Coaster accelerates riders up to 40 mph (64 km/h) in two seconds, and the coaster eventually reaches a maximum speed of 67 mph (108 km/h). It features seven inversions throughout the course of the 3,670-foot-long (1,120 m) 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 inches (140 cm) tall, are restrained with ratcheting over-the-shoulder restraints.
A unique launch system propels riders up the 110-foot-tall (34 m) hill. The system was developed by Universal Creative and MTS Systems Corporation. The final system which was implemented on The Incredible Hulk sees trains launch from 0 to 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) in 2 seconds. Riders travel at an angle of 30 degrees through a 150 foot long tunnel, pulling 1 G. To power this launch the designers investigated a variety of systems ranging from hydraulic, pneumatic, cable, steam catapult, and conveyor belt. At the end, a drive tire system was selected, where 220 electrical drive motors power a set of tires that pinch the train's underside to provide propulsion. The system would require eight megawatts of power to launch a single train.
Ride Experience
Original Version (1999-2015)
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. 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.
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!
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Immediately after exiting the tunnel, the train entered a zero-g roll inverting element and plunged down a 105-foot (32 m) drop. The train then reached a top speed of 67 miles per hour (108 km/h), 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 3,670-foot-long (1,120 m) ride features seven inversions including a zero-G roll, a cobra roll, two vertical loops, and two corkscrews.
Refurbishment and Updated Version (2016-Present)
On September 8, 2015, the coaster temporarily closed for a refurbishment, which replaced the tracks of the coaster, added a new storyline and free lockers nearby for loose articles, and onboard music composed by Fall Out Boy member Patrick Stump. The original ride featured guests participating in helping Dr. Bruce Banner find a cure for the Hulk, a monstrous muscular being with green skin that Banner becomes when angered.
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 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.
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The 2016 update to the ride added metal detectors to the queue line to prevent guests from losing any loose articles. If found carrying any loose articles, they are directed to the nearby lockers located across from the ride's entrance. The lockers are free of charge, much like those near Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit next door at Universal Studios Florida.
Strangely, Bruce Banner is not featured anywhere in the storyline of the updated attraction. Instead, the ride is now themed to guests becoming alternate versions of the Hulk.
Reception and Legacy
The Incredible Hulk has been well received. In its debut year, the ride was voted the best roller coaster by Discovery Channel viewers and appeared on the Thrills, Chills and Spills documentary. Amusement Business described The Incredible Hulk as one of Islands of Adventure's two world-class roller coasters (the other being the now-dismantled Dueling Dragons, later known as Dragon Challenge). Dewayne Bevil of the Orlando Sentinel rated the ride as his eighth favorite attraction in Orlando. He states the ride is "too intense to take back-to-back trips. It rattles our nerves, in a good way." Arthur Levine of About.com gave the ride 9 out of 10 stars.
The popularity of The Incredible Hulk Coaster even led to a clone being built at Universal Studios Beijing, which opened on September 20, 2021.
Incidents
On September 23, 2003, a 34-year-old from Jensen Beach, Florida, suffered a heart attack from an unknown heart condition while riding The Incredible Hulk coaster.
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