Samurai (ride) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Samurai |
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Samurai, at highest point in cycle.
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| Ride statistics | |||||||||||||
| Attraction type | Top Scan | ||||||||||||
| Manufacturer | Mondial | ||||||||||||
| Height | 60 ft (18 m) | ||||||||||||
| G-force | +4g / -3g | ||||||||||||
| Capacity | 500 riders per hour | ||||||||||||
| Vehicles | 6 | ||||||||||||
| Riders per vehicle | 5 | ||||||||||||
| Duration | Approximately 2 minutes (Setting Dependant) | ||||||||||||
| Height restriction | 140 cm (4 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||||
Samurai is an exciting ride at Thorpe Park in the United Kingdom. It's known for its spinning and swinging motions. This ride first opened at Chessington World of Adventures in 1999. Later, in 2003, it moved to Thorpe Park. When you ride Samurai, you'll hear a special version of the song "Burly Brawl" from The Matrix Reloaded movie.
Contents
How Samurai Works
Samurai is a type of ride called a Top Scan. It was built by a Dutch company named Mondial. The ride lifts you up and spins you around. It also swings you back and forth.
Ride Stats
- Ride Type: Mondial Top-Scan
- Height: 60 feet (about 18 meters)
- Ride Time: Around 2 minutes
- Height Rule: You need to be at least 1.4 meters (55 inches) tall to ride.
- G-Force: You can feel forces up to +4g (pushing you down) and -3g (lifting you up).
- Status: It is currently open and running.
- Seats: There are 30 seats on the ride.
- Capacity: About 400 people can ride every hour.
Samurai's Journey: From Chessington to Thorpe Park
Samurai first opened at Chessington World of Adventures in 1999. It was part of the Mystic East area of the park. This ride was the first of its kind to be installed in a UK amusement park.
Why the Move?
Samurai stayed at Chessington until the end of 2003. Then, it was taken apart and moved to Thorpe Park. People believe the company that owned both parks, Tussauds, wanted to change what kind of visitors each park attracted.
Chessington was planned to become more family-friendly. Thorpe Park, on the other hand, aimed to attract teenagers and young adults. This meant adding more thrilling rides. Moving Samurai helped Thorpe Park become a bigger thrill park.
You can still find a small reminder of Samurai at Chessington. If you ride the Dragon Falls log flume, look closely. You might spot a samurai warrior decoration hidden in the plants.
Samurai at Thorpe Park
Samurai opened at Thorpe Park in 2004. It was the only new ride that year. It took the place of an older ride called Calgary Stampede. Samurai is now located in the Old Town area of Thorpe Park.
Mixed Feelings About the Move
When the move was announced, some fans were sad. They thought Chessington was losing one of its best rides. There was also some talk because the ride kept its name, "Samurai." This name didn't quite fit the theme of the area it moved to at Thorpe Park.
Some people also felt that the ride was not as intense at Thorpe Park. They thought it ran slower than it did at Chessington. However, even at Chessington, the ride was not running at its fastest possible speed.
Ride Updates
There were rumors that Samurai would be re-themed when a new roller coaster opened in 2009. This did not happen. Instead, the blue fences around the ride were painted red. This helped them match the new roller coaster better. The ride also got a longer queue line. This was to help with more visitors coming to that part of the park.
