The latest Ride of Universal’s “Islands of Adventure” – the most technologically advanced theme park – shows how surprisingly diversified the timeless ride system of MACK Rides’ „Classic Powered Coaster“ can be used to create revolutionary experiences. Located in the “Seuss Landing” area of the park the new ride named „High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride“ was opened to the public on June 22nd, 2006.

Challenge of using existing supports

Already to the park’s Grand Opening in 1999 a Monorail system was supposed to open here. Several technical problems though resulted in the ride never being able to operate and the supports and track remained un-used since. The Universal Creatives invented many different ride ideas to replace the monorail and contacted all the big ride manufacturers. Finally it was decided to re-use the existing structure instead of replacing it. With this task Universal contacted again MACK Rides and liked the ideas for a solution of the situation of the Germany-based, traditional family business.
With the help of the revolutionary “Zero-Level” Method implemented exclusively at MACK Rides only a year ago the track could be manufactured so accurately that the installation on the existing support structure at the park went without a single problem – all supervised by the Orlando-based MACK Rides staff. Assembly could be executed so quickly that the ride’s test phase started soon after.

Well-known ride system – all new experience

The Universal Creatives have truly re-defined the reliable ride system of the MACK Rides „Powered Coaster“. In order to archive the needed capacity level, two separate tracks were installed – one purple, one green. A special switch can interlock both track circles to give riders the experience of both lanes on weaker days. But the flexibility does not end here! Every train exists of 5 cars with 4 seats, each equipped with the new yet proven modular concept featuring single lap bar seats. These can not only hold adults comfortably but offer kids of about “34 their first roller coaster experience. Each of the four trains features a high-resolution Audio-System plus LED lights on board. Moreover no train is like the other: they have names of different Seuss Characters and tell the stories during the ride from totally different viewpoints making re-rides especially attractive. While taking the visitors through 7 indoor-scenes the catchy audio track animates through rhymes and songs to sing along and laugh about short stories and comments all around the popular children’s stories about Dr. Seuss and his’ friends. One of the highlights of the tour high above the themed are is the drive-through segment under the roof of the Snack-Restaurants „Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous” before riders are taken out to the park’s big central lake for great views on the other Islands.

New steering-concept

The ride system this time is less a powerful coaster but a very innovative monorail-type ride experience. Yet the advantages of the “Powered Coaster” is used through various accelerations, manoeuvres over twisted track segments as well as upward and downward helix allowing the ride to take place on different height levels.

On each track circle 2-3 trains run simultaneously which proves that powered coasters can NOT only run one train at a time at MACK Rides. This guarantees a high capacity. This new technology required a test track to be built on the premises in Germany. The trains now can track the distance to the train in front and regulate the rides’ speed. As soon as a train needs more time in the station for the unloading and loading procedure, the following trains on track slightly slow down in order to increase ride time without coming to a full stop and destroying therewith the continuous ride experience for the visitors. An innovative new standard of ride quality only offered in the coaster sector by MACK Rides.

Trend: have fun together

The feedback of the first riders does speak for itself: all generations highly enjoy the new „High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride“ and come off smiling. Instead of wowing through intense speeds an records in heights or costs the Universal Creatives succeeded this time in using a proven ride system and taking it to new heights of enjoyment. This underlines the present trend of offering new rides the entire family can experience together. Now visitors to the „Islands of Adventure“ Theme Park can discover – next to the awarded log flume „Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls“ and the extraordinary tea cup carousel „Storm Force Accelatron“ – another attraction made in Germany by MACK Rides. We would like to thank Universal for the wonderful corporation and are excited about the future plans together.


Technical Facts:

Track length:
Ride Time:
Construction time: 4 month
Number of trains: 4
Seats per train: 20 (5 cars à 4 seats per train)
Theor. capacity:
Ride speeds: 0 -18 km/h
Construction method: exclusive MACK Rides Zero-Level fabrication
Track-Colour scheme: one track purple, the other green
Specialties: switch track system, On-Board Audio and LED lights, Distance-System, suitable for the whole family