The Dolphin's Got It's Thunder Back!

[Simba]

Thunder Dolphin at La Qua in Tokyo re-opened to the public on 1st August 2013. The Intamin Mega is the world's 9th tallest coaster, and one of Japan's most iconic, passing through a hole in a building, and the center of a Ferris wheel.

The ride had been closed since a bolt fell off in December 2010, injuring a 9 year old girl.

[Thekingin64]

And I thought it would never re-open. Glad it has though.

[TheAustralianViper]

I am so pleased that this has reopened, as I am going to Tokyo in September and I wanted to ride this coaster.

[Kumali]

That's great news! I always had a feeling they would try and re-open it. It's location just makes it way to awkward to remove easily.

[Simba]

That is a very good point Kumali, but somehow even if this coaster never did reopen, I am sure the coaster would have just been left SBNO.

@TheAustralainViper I am also glad it has reopened for your visit to Tokyo in September.

[Kumali]

Agreed Simba. Unless the whole area got torn down, Thunder Dolphin is never going to get removed.

Saying that, they did manage to get the coaster off the top of the Stratosphere though.

[TheAustralianViper]

But High Roller the stratosphere coaster was only around the circular structure of the Stratosphere, and also very small, Thunder Dolphin however is gygantic in-comparison.

[Thekingin64]

Both coasters face different types of challenges when it comes to removing them. Compared to the Stratosphere, this would be quite easy to take down. You could easily bring in a crane and take the ride down bit by bit. The Stratosphere is too tall for most cranes and the coaster and other rides were placed up there during the construction of the actual tower. To remove the Stratosphere coaster the had to cut it up into very small bits at the top of the tower and bring those bits down in the lifts.