Dreamworld’s Tower of Terror was engineered with the opportunity to develop a second ride from the tower. To construct this ride on a stand alone basis today would cost around $12 million.
On The Giant Drop guests feel the anticipation as the open horizontal gondolas are slowly lifted skyward to 119 metres, with passenger’s legs hanging freely. Riders then accelerate at the speed of gravity until the magnetic braking system stops the gondolas metres from the ground - delivering over 4 G’s of positive, seat-pinning force.
The Giant Drop is capable of handling 600 to 800 passengers per hour.
Dreamworld’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Fred Maybury, said “Guests can experience the best of both worlds - being blasted skyward on the Tower of Terror at speeds of up to 160 kph and free falling downward on the Giant drop from 0 to up to 135 kph.”
The gondolas free-fall at 9.814 metres per second [compounding], giving riders 5 seconds of weightless freefall.
The Giant Drop reached new heights in sheer exhilaration in 1997, claiming three world firsts:
- It was the tallest free fall ride in world
- It was the first time the dual open-air 8-seater gondolas had been installed on a ride of this height and design.
- This was the first time a single tower had supported two high-tech thrill rides, creating structural design and construction history for rides of this type.
CONSTRUCTION FACTS
- The ride components are manufactured by Ribe Trade Corp, sister company of the Tower of Terror designers, Intamin AG of Switzerland.
- The Giant Drop was assembled by over 30 local tradespeople.
- More than 45,000 man hours were spent on the attraction’s installation.
FAST FACTS
Speed: Up to 135 km/hour (84 miles/hour) Height: 119 metres (39 storeys) Acceleration: 9.814 metres per second (compounding) Free Fall: Five seconds Gravitational Forces: 4G’s Cycle Time: 106 seconds Capacity: 600-800 passengers per hour Ride Vehicle: 2 x 8-seat horizontal gondolas on the eastern and western aspect of the Tower Opened: December 1998
The Giant Drop is, spanning over 500 square metres, a 16 metre replica oil rig rising from the trail of wooden and metal ramping surrounding the rig and tower.
