Time Warp (roller coaster) explained

Time Warp
Previousnames:Tomb Raider: The Ride (2004-2007)
Location:Canada's Wonderland
Section:Grande World Exposition of 1890
Type:Steel
Status:Open
Opened:May 2, 2004
Manufacturer:Zamperla
Designer:Ingenieur Büro Stengel GmbH
Lift:Spiral Lift
Height M:15.3
Length M:390.99
Speed Km/H:41.4
Inversions:2
Duration:1:04
Restriction In:54
Trains:7
Carspertrain:1
Rowspercar:1
Ridersperrow:4
Virtual Queue Name:Fast Lane
Virtual Queue Image:Cedar Fair Fast Lane availability icon.svg
Virtual Queue Status:available
Rcdb Number:2516
Coordinates:43.8408°N -79.5396°W

Time Warp (formerly Tomb Raider: The Ride) is a flying roller coaster operating at Canada's Wonderland. It opened on May 2, 2004. It is the only rollercoaster in the world that was themed after the Tomb Raider franchise. After the removal of Tomb Raider themed rides at Kings Island and Kings Dominion it is now the only ride left in existence to be themed after the Tomb Raider franchise.

Ride layout and experience

The ride commences by loading passengers into a 4-person car and rotating the cars facing the ground. The vehicles proceed with a horizontal lift and push forward so that they engage with the rotating lift mechanism. The vehicles ascend into a spiral lift that gives riders a 360-degree view of their surroundings.

Once vehicles reach the top, they dive down and accelerate before making a quick turn to the left and into the first in-line twist. The ride turns to the right and into the first set of block brakes that slows the vehicles before making a small dip downward and another right turn into the second in-line twist. After a quick turn to the left, the vehicles pass into the second set of brakes and then make another diving left turn. There are a few quick turns before the vehicles return to the station. Once the riders are lowered to the standing position, the restraints are unlocked and vehicles are unloaded.

The ride has drawn criticism for a number of reasons. The restraint system has been described as uncomfortable and prone to causing "headbanging." The transitions between the in-line twists, the turns and the dives have all been criticized as rough. The ride's low capacity, due to the complexity of the full body restraint design and the four-passenger trains, has also been a source of criticism.

Special effects

Its theme featured the 2003 Paramount Pictures film .When the ride opened in 2004, the ride's entrance queue featured theming and special effects to resemble an ancient tomb. The entrance sign was mounted on bamboo sticks and stone columns with propane torches. Next to the entrance was a tent which resembled Lara Croft's base with two motorcycles. Beyond the entrance were Chinese stone soldiers akin to the Terracotta Army and a stone wall with images resembling deities found in ancient Buddhist and Hindu artworks. The queue and exit were guided by rope fences. Bat sounds looped while riders waited in the station.

The ride area was filled with a rumbling sound that got louder to entice riders. As this happened, flame torches would get bigger and at night the station's floodlights turned red.

Since its opening and with the name change after the Cedar Fair takeover, much of the theming has been removed, including the tent and propane torches. The Chinese soldiers inside the queue have been removed, but the stone mural is still present. The rope in the queue lines has been replaced by wooden planks.

See also