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When Velocicoaster finally opened to the public there was hype like I have never seen. In the enthusiast world the hype was insane. This was way more than the standard Florida/Universal fanboy chest beating about how they have the best new ride on the planet. This hype actually seemed like it was real.
With some real and honest hype out there I would not be truthful if I didn't say that the ride I wanted to strap into the most at Universal Orlando was Velocicoaster.
Just a quick note on the rides queue and station experience as taking photos of that is impossible to come by due to having to lock everything up and having to pass through metal detectors. The lockers are really ingenious as they have doors on the queue and the exit side so riders don't have to fight past a trainload of oncoming riders to get their stuff. The big reason for the lockers is Universal wants nothing that can possibly fly out of your pockets with this ride. From that point you head upstairs where you get to see the raptor paddock control room which includes videos of Claire Dearing explaining about how you will be riding a state of art coaster THROUGH the raptor paddock with live raptors. Velociraptor trainer Owen Grady hops on the videoconference stating how bad an idea this really is As Owen says shortly before you board the train "What could possibly go wrong".
With the warning about the bloodshed that is almost certain to follow, guests board the state of the art trains that show signs of a few close calls with the raptors before pulling out of the station into the raptor paddock.
You soon find that the rides launch track has raptor pens on either side and the raptors are more than a little excited to chase a trainload of
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Paul B. Drabek
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