Time Warp (roller coaster)

Time Warp (formerly Tomb Raider: The Ride) is a flying roller coaster operating at Canada's Wonderland. It opened on May 2, 2004. 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.

Time Warp
Previously known as Tomb Raider: The Ride (2004-2007)
Canada's Wonderland
Location	Canada's Wonderland
Park section	Grande World Exposition of 1890
Coordinates	43.8408°N 79.5396°W / 43.8408; -79.5396
Status	Operating
Opening date	May 2, 2004
General statistics
Type	Steel
Manufacturer	Zamperla
Designer	Ingenieur Büro Stengel GmbH
Lift/launch system	Spiral Lift
Height	15.3 m (50 ft)
Length	390.99 m (1,282.8 ft)
Speed	41.4 km/h (25.7 mph)
Inversions	2
Duration	1:04
Height restriction	54 in (137 cm)
Trains	7 trains with a single car. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 4 riders per train.
Fast Lane available
Time Warp at RCDB

Ride layout and experience

Riders are loaded into 4-person cars, which rotate to face the ground when the ride begins.

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

One of Time Warp's cars ascending its spiral lift hill.

Its theme featured the 2003 Paramount Pictures film Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life. 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

• Flying roller coaster

External links

• Official website