SUPER BOWL 2012

Showing posts with label Tips. Show all posts

2012 March Madness

Post by Mr Seng in Diagrams, Download, Engineering, Tips | 0 comments

March Madness is here! Watching these unpredictable games is almost as fun as a riding a roller coaster!

If you're interested in joining my pool leave a comment below and feel free to download the bracket and pool manager below. Visit my Excel Spreadsheets Help blog to learn how to complete your NCAA 2012 basketball brackets.

2012 NCAA Tournament Bracket.xls download
2012 NCAA Tournament Pool Manager.xls download

Join the roller coaster enthusiasts March Madness pool to help get you through the last weeks of the off-season! Type in Group ID (102697) and leave the password blank. http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/t1/group/102697/invitation?key=8af4f27d9df49a06

Click here to learn how to dominate your March Madness pool by picking those bracket busting teams!

Sorry for the mostly unrelated post. The good news is I plan on visiting Dollywood in two weeks on opening weekend for a chance to experience Wild Eagle, America's first wing rider coaster!

Kick Start Coaster Dynamix

Post by Mr Seng in Blueprints, Coaster, Design, Engineering, K'nex, Links, Models, Recreation, Tips, Video | 0 comments

Coaster Dynamix makes the most realistic roller coaster model kits that you can buy. To date, all revenue from models sod has gone right back into the company to help improve their already fantastic product. They need our help in raising $50,000 in order to start a full production run. I've already pledged my $35 for the launched coaster model to put on top of my desk here at home. If you've got $5,000 to spend you can have them custom design and build your very own working roller coaster model! Make your pledge today.

See more models at http://www.coasterdynamix.com/

Disney World Vacation And Savings Travel Guide Review

Post by Mr Seng in Books, Disney, EPCOT, Harry Potter, Layout, Marketing, Tips, Walt Disney | 0 comments

What's better than looking up Disney ride layouts online? Going to Disney World and actually riding them! Disney World Vacation And Savings Travel Guide is a new book where an ex-Disney employee reveals insider secrets on how to have the best and most cost effective vacation to Walt Disney World resort. This book proves you don't have to be ultra-rich to have an excellent time at Disney World. Instead of spending $5,500 on the trip you could have just as much fun for only $2,700! The book is laid out very professionally and even includes worksheets to help keep your vacation organized. The Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide is updated on a monthly basis to keep up with the constant change around the resort.

Click Here to check it out!

What Would Walt Do? eBook Review

Post by Mr Seng in Blueprints, Books, Design, Disney, Download, Engineering, EPCOT, Maintenance, Tips, Walt Disney | 0 comments

Attention theme park fans! What Would Walt Do? is a new eBook about the team members, construction workers, and engineers left with the task of building the Walt Disney World resort after Walt Disney's death in December of 1966. The book was written by project manage D. M. Miller and the question "what would Walt do" came up every time a decision had to be made. In the end it was determined that Walt would want to do the right thing. He would've selected the highest quality option available regardless of the cost. Download this fantastic eBook as a PDF file right to your computer today. A must read for all fans of Walt Disney and the Walt Disney World resort.

Click Here to Download!

Why Disney's Customer Service is Better than Universal

Post by Mr Seng in Disney, Tips, Trip Report, Universal, Walt Disney | 0 comments

On our recent vacation at Universal Orlando Resort, we waited over an hour in line for Rip Ride Rocket and they closed the ride right before we were about to get on. At that point, the park was closed and we didn't get to do anything else and had essentially wasted the last hour or two of our time in the park. There was no compensation for us or any others waiting in line. We left the park very disappointed and frustrated, along with countless other guests- not a good lasting impression for first time visitors. I understand there are mechanical problems, no big deal, especially if they are early in the day. My issue is that it was the end of the day and there was no attempt at correcting the feeling that our time and money had just been wasted- the two most important issues for me as a park guest. At Disney, they give you fast passes good at any park for x number of days. Thus their customer service will always be better in my eyes.

Dollywood Vacations Map

Post by Mr Seng in Diagrams, Dollywood, Park Maps, Tips | 0 comments

I scanned a picture of the map we received when my wife and I stayed at one of the Dollywood Vacation cabins. I couldn't find any online when I was making my reservation which was kind of frustrating. We spent three nights in one of the least inexpensive cabins, One More Night, and it was totally amazing.

What computer software programs do roller coaster designers use?

Post by Mr Seng in CAD, Coaster, Engineering, Fun Facts, Tips | 0 comments

Today, roller coasters are designed using the latest in computer technology. The universal tool for the engineer that has completely ruled out the classic drawing board is CAD (Computer Aided Design) software. Programs such as AutoCAD are used to draft, adjust and detail bents in accordance with ride standards. Some companies employ proprietary software which optimizes the track layout at the computer using elaborate numerical algorithms to help keep the g-forces on the passengers below required safety or customer defined limits. Computer programs can analyze dynamic and static calculations for the track, and automatically determine where supports should be placed.

3D CAD software, such as CATIA or Solidworks, now allows designers to have every aspect of thrill ride design all within one software program including 3D models, 2D manufacturing drawings, kinematic simulations, finite element analysis (FEA), and image renders for marketing purposes. Standard parts like bolts, springs, nuts, washers can be taken from standard part libraries or catalogs and bills of material can be derived directly from the model and inserted into a drawing.

Utilizing this type of software is an enormous improvement over methods that were employed even twenty five years ago. The time required to create a ride would be great without using a computer because of the enormous number of calculations required. Changes and iterations can be made much faster using the computer. Rides can also be built to higher standards, quality, and tolerances. Modern 3D CAD systems can help the engineers design the ride within the limits of biodynamic tolerances of the passengers. A simulation of the coaster can be done based on the CAD data, and so the forces and the dynamic behaviour can be determined way before a prototype has been built. The roller coaster is virtually assembled early in the design phase to test functional relations and mechanisms as well as collision detection of components and clearance envelope. When the CAD work is complete the production data is electronically sent to the manufacturer.

Best Kept Industry Secret

Post by Mr Seng in ASTM, Disney, Engineering, IAPPA, Jobs, Tips | 0 comments

I recently had the pleasure of attending the ASTM International F24 committee on amusement rides and devices bi-yearly conference held in New Orleans, Louisiana. There were more than 125 attendees of the event which included individuals from Canada , the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the US. The ASTM F24 committee is the best kept secret in the amusement industry. Why? If you're looking for a job in the industry everyone tells you that you have to attend IAAPA, the yearly colossal expo show. From what I've heard, the park representatives present are under huge pressure to try and sell or purchase new rides, so it feels like you are getting in the way if you want to hand someone your resume. At the ASTM conference there is no pressure, everyone is totally relaxed and open and friendly. Not to mention nearly every attendee (except for myself) seemed to have a vice president, director, manager, or president attached to their job title. And they were all willing to sit down and have a conversation with me. How awesome is that? If you're looking into a job in ride design or engineering you need to join ASTM and participate in these meetings.

I will let you in on another piece of information. Nearly all of the engineers I talked to expect new employees to have at least six months of actually working at and amusement park under their belt, especially working hands on with rides. Oh, and Disney expects students applying for internships to have at least a 3.0 GPA. I hope that helps some of you young engineering out there looking to get into the amusement park industry.