Opened -
2004
Rethemed - 2010
Manufacturer -
Maurer
Ride Type - Xtended SC 3000
Length - 470 metres
Number of Cars - 8
Capacity per car - 4
Drop Height -
56ft
Height Restrictions -
Click
here
Sonic the Hedgehog has taken up residence
in Adventure Land, ready to challenge guests to a game on Sonic Spinball! He has taken
over Spinball Whizzer to create an attraction where video games and
traditional pinball come together in a ride where you are not
only hurtling full pelt along steep, twisting tracks, but the car
you are travelling in is also freely spinning!
Riders rattle like a ball as they are catapulted down the 470m track at speeds of up to 60km per hour
over the 90 second duration of the ride!
Full of surprises, every ride on Sonic Spinball is unique as the
cars spin around depending on the weight and the number of people,
leading to a different experience every time. Sonic Spinball is a mad ride that all the
family can enjoy together. (A height restriction of 1.2 metres
applies)
Attraction History
Sonic Spinball opened at the
park in 2004 as Spinball Whizzer. It was manufactured by the
German company Maurer and is a custom designed spinning coaster.
During 2009 Alton
Towers revealed in their Long Term Development Plan that they
intended to move Spinball Whizzer within 10 years. However the
chance of that happening in the short term became less likely when
it was rethemed for 2010 to become Sonic Spinball, as part of a
three year deal with Sega. It's not the first time Sonic has resided
at Alton Towers, as he could previously be found in the old Toyland
Tours attraction too.
It seems likely the
coaster will be relocated when the deal with Sega has come to an end
in 2013.
