What happened to the Drop of Doom Attraction at Galaxyland in West Edmonton Mall, Canada?

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A short documentary on the history and fate of the Daring Drop of Doom ride at Fantasyland / Galaxyland in West Edmonton Mall, Canada. The attraction was a Free Fall ride by Intamin Amusment Rides.
Aside from the roller coaster known as the Mindbender, this may have been the most iconic ride in the park.
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[@TwinStix]

Was a fun ride ... never forget that buzzer. Hey, can you do a video on the old ship that used to go all the way around? Would love to know why they got rid of it.

[@bonniemcphee2645]

the old drop of doom was sold and still operates at Movie land park in Italy.

[@kitkatstrats9516]

The Pendulum, it was sold

[@anthurion1]

Someone drowned at that ship so they got rid of it. Or so I seem to recall

[@rushbayou5230]

@@anthurion1 nah .... they got bit by a shark lmao

[@laurenkimberly3937]

@Timothy Simpson haha yes my friends and I called it the upside down ship too

[@kathylaughter2012]

I remember when they had the zipper in there as well! Man those were the days!!

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

The Zipper is one of the best of all time rides. There used to be one at a traveling carnival that came to Edmonton mall parking lots every summer in the 70s. You could go on it for a quarter (or less) if memory serves. We rode that thing so many times in our teens, it was crazy fun.

[@Evzilla84]

They ruined that place. It was amazing in the mid 90s-early 00's. There were some awesome flats there. The Orbitron, Disco Dynamo, Drop of Doom... Perilous Pendulum... aghh! It sucks now! Lol

[@Evzilla84]

@@OMGWTFLOLSMH the Zipper is hands down the best ride ever lol. The one in WEM was the only permanent model chance ever made. It was always down for maintenance, though. :( Was sad to so it and many other awesome flats go.

[@sdbaynes8266]

I went on the zipper 22 times then wasn't allowed on till I got rid of all my change so I walked to the arcade and gave away $14 in small change so I could ride it more lol

[@sithtrooper_tor-_5045]

Man those were some fun days

[@tarcyschindelka2314]

I was the last person (along with my sister and two people from Moose Jaw) to ride the Drop of Doom. It broke. We laid there for an hour, until finally they came and broke us out. When I returned to WEM a few weeks later, it was gone.

[@peter.s-yt]

That's crazy

[@whysothirstyy]

I've binge watched all of your "what happened to..." videos and I love them so much. The nostalgia of these old photos/videos of web makes me so happy. Keep the content coming (:

[@AstralMystic]

This ride was a favorite of a few older family members of mine back in the good old days of WEM, when I was still pretty little. We moved away from the area for years. And one thing those same family members were disappointed over was that the Drop Of Doom - which I'd been super excited to now get to ride with them on a trip of Galaxy land - was another relic of the city's past. I have ridden other drop rides. I love them, and roller coasters too! But there's still some sense of missing out, lol

[@souljustice]

Last and only time I went on that ride. I was 12. The safety bar wouldn't close properly so when the sound went off for the drop we just sat there. Suspended. Until the bar gripped down crushing my stomach and we immediately dropped. Definitely felt doomed.

[@amby5438]

THAT HAPPENED TO YOU TO

[@wraith_of_the_barrens]

You too omg

[@Dannyboyy86]

AHHH that happened to me too! When i was about 9 years old.. i slammed it down so hard at the last second so far in my gut.

[@aaishahassan1591]

soul justice I

[@vinnievee5710]

Happened to me too

[@joleemoore]

Oh man, I remember this ride in the '90's. I LOVED IT!! My brother and I rode it. The buzzer, and drop was felt in my gut. Boy I miss that ride I have tried the slingshot but nothing compares to "the Drop of Doom" My youngest brother called it "The Drop of Dudes" it truly was am amazing ride in West Edmonton.

[@jamesdavidson8624]

I remember as a kid watching one of the test runs, the car went up, had something to simulate the weight of the riders, and down it came. It hurtled past the braking zone and towards the stairs - way too fast! There was a loud “crang!” noise, and a mangled car slowly wheeled back into view. Guess this was an early test as they were getting everything set up. But that image stayed with me, and I never took the ride...

[@ER_GUY]

I loved the drop of DOOM! For those that knew (i.e. ride employees) - there was a chest bar release, that could be activated, allowing the chest restraint from "releasing". We really felt dangerous doing this, as essentially we just had an unlocked bar to hold onto, and it felt like we were lifting/floating for a brief moment - STUPID now that I think about it!

[@PizzaKingg]

i never worked there. But was told about that so would do it whenever i rode the Drop of Doom to.

[@user-ut9ln4vd5m]

I had that chest bar come loose once, while at the very top waiting for the drop! Was just holding it normally, probably getting a little antsy. Had no idea until just now that there was a way to intentionally release it.

[@masteryoshi7121]

YEAH! I did get to go on the Drop of Doom at WEM a couple of times. I miss it too. Great video! I was always wondering about that ride. Thanks!

[@jadenbeaulne191]

You should do a video on the ride The Cyclone. That one wasn’t in the park very long.

[@djmoases]

I rode it in 2000 when I was a kid. Still imprinted on my memory how epic this ride was and how intense as a kid it was to ride. Sad to see it go, but glad it's still providing thrills to others in Italy now!

[@azazel00060]

This was the Best ride ever. Rest In Peace Drop of Doom 💙

[@doanster]

Thanks for this great video! I've been looking for this info for years...

[@anthonykarosas3111]

One day, friends and I rode the Drop of Doom 14 consecutive times. An experience like that changes you, man.

[@mattlaviolette3030]

Anthony Karosas no one in line and they let you stay on I went 12 once

[@MILE30Adventures]

I'm loving all your videos! Very well done.

[@DTMB35]

That can’t be a coincidence that it’s new location is named the “Hollywood Tower” , when the Disney Tower of Terror takes place in the Hollywood Tower Hotel

[@kw6stheater539]

I love this channel! I also really love Galaxyland, as it is my PERSONAL favorite amusement park. Not my favorite overall, but my personal favorite. I'm very happy that there's a channel like you that talks about the history of Galaxyland and WEM.

[@seaskiguy]

I did get a chance to ride this on a visit to the park. I loved these first-generation free-fall rides. Being inside with the peek-a-boo view you got at the top, really added to the experience.

[@timbr33]

that was probably the most 'extreme' ride i went on as a kid, haven't lived in canada since 1996, went back in 2002 with my wife and took her on the mind bender, she thought it was so funny how scared i was, i told her the history after we had survived the ride hahaha RIP

[@corygiesbrecht5423]

Nothing beats the Drop of Doom! The creaking and rattling ascent to the top then banging your way into position which by this point, one was left wanting to jump off this clap trap! Waiting for the voice of God (in the form of a buzzer) seemed to take hours and then the explosive plunge to a certain death!! I went on it once and none of the slick free fall concepts today come close to the fear I experienced on that thing!!

[@thebuffalodude]

I've been on that ride many times and I'll never forget the sounds it used to make!

[@89cgil]

Great video!

[@randyscatterty4679]

i can only recall riding the drop of doom a few times, but damn was it something else! the only ride I've gone on that comes close was a freefall style ride at K-days, back in the early 2000s (maybe 2003?)

[@3ternallyoblivious]

Omg love this channel I never knew there was a channel surrounding around west Edmonton Mall

[@CanadianGamerDad]

I loved the drop of doom. I used to put a penny on my lap and watch it hover for a few seconds till you hit the straight away. Thanks for all these videos I was there for most of all these cool rides

[@kmarie5561]

I love this channel!

[@Spehcktor]

I miss that ride. I must have ridden it 300 times over the course of childhood. Great times! And great memories! Thanks for the video.

[@ScrapHappy]

This was my favourite ride! I’d love to ride it again!

[@SongbirdCollageArts]

It was the 3 to 5 second wait at the top that killed you. It never seemed to be the same amount of time, so you never knew when it was coming. I rode that sucker probably 50 times or more. So scary, so good. At the top, with the windows, you could also the sky so it made it seem so much higher.

[@timbo904]

I used to run this ride, it was great if you needed some money for lunch, also, riding it without the restraints was a lot of fun, and easy to do if you knew what you were doing

[@OtzmaKotzev]

They had a ride called disco dynamo too that was sold and operated in NY until it got scrapped

[@paulallaway8380]

Nice to see the Drop of doom. Again. First time WEM. 1985 I was 11

[@IntaminFanboy]

Wow, I never knew about this ride before! I rode it at Movieland Studios a few years ago, but I thought it was another relocated one. Guess this one had a pretty cool history being inside for most of its operating life!

[@canuckbucks]

I think it was 1988 the last time I rode the DoD.... what a summer for Edmontonians '88 was.... not that the summer before which saw a full-on level 5 tornadoe touchdown in the city killing 27 people was much less memorable but it was the year we lost Gretzky. Anyway, I was 14 and my cousin and I went to WEM for the day, anyway, we went up alone, just the two of us on the DoD. When we got to the top we were pretty excited and it was also, as I recall, interesting to see through the large windows up there and over the rooftops of the whole mall. Pretty impresssive to me then. We waited for the buzzer.... which didn't come. An issue of some sort stopped them from releasing us (this is only a couple years after a maintenance issue killed 3 people on the roller coaster). So, OK, now we were feeling less brazen, minute by minute, feeling each second come and go, in that way which makes one properly anxious. We waited up there for over twenty minutes and really finally figured we'd be going down some ladder, directed by a sweaty maintenance worker with a radio... when the buzzer sounded! Whooooaaaaarrrrrrgggggghhhhhhhhhhhhssssssssshhhhhhhhggggg.... holy cow, we got a proper doom drop that day. Thanks for the memories.

[@evilspoons]

Yeah, July of 1987 wasn't particularly great for Edmontonians, particularly those of us who lived in the NE (Fraser).

[@smcgilli34]

Aw man...I didn’t know that this was gone as well. These videos are depressing. Seems like every cool thing that I remember about the mall is gone. Sucks.

[@sugarfreerecovery4339]

I love your videos and find them so soothing. They bring me back, when I was a teen in the late 90's/early 2000's. I work nights in a group home in Aylmer, Ontario now and I watch these videos and go back to a different time. I always hated the drop of doom tho.

[@dandaniels3798]

Drop of doom was awesome. I definately miss it

[@100Rawr1034]

Maybe it’s just my nostalgia and growing older but I miss the old WEM! As a kid it felt so fun to go there, nowadays I can’t quite capture that same feeling there

[@copper2552]

I love your vids keep it up

[@katzenixx]

I had no idea that the Drop of Doom was re-installed elsewhere, that's pretty cool! I didn't experience the ride myself, however my (incredible & now retired) dad was a part of the crew who erected the attraction along with other WEM structures!

[@justin7403]

Loved that ride. Step dad and I sat in the middle two seats and were about to go. Last second they add two middle aged ladies to the outside seats. As the buzzer sounds at the top, they both face the middle and scream at banshee like levels until the cart stops moving. No hearing for a week!!!

[@jf6466work]

Went on this ride back in 1999 and came back to galaxyland in 2013. I was massively disappointed that the drop of doom was gone...

[@robr6980]

well came across your video. wow what flash backs. I spent a lot of time on those rides. I went on the drop of doom hundreds of times. like every other ride there. Yes the mall has sure changed over the years and not for the best . thanks for posting all the video

[@mizunopearl]

I recall riding the drop of doom years ago. When you thought of Fantasy Land (aka Galaxy Land) the Drop of Doom and the Mindbender were always the first rides to come to mind. I don't like quirks in the works. I think they could have come up with something more amazing with the extra space left by the Drop of Doom, but I understand why they had to replace it. I'm glad it found a new home somewhere else!

[@Retrodude1985]

I've never been on that ride and I wish they bring it back.

[@d3ci.b3L]

While I went to the mall when GalaxyLand was still called Fantasyland, I never went on the Drop Of Doom, but have been on the Space Shot many a time! I think the thrill of being shot up and immediately back down is a nice feature. I remember the accident on the Mindbender, and still think of it when I ride it to this day!

[@mateojara4990]

they should scrap quirks in the works

[@35caliber.]

Mateo Jara it’s not too bad but i feel like they could do better

[@CanadianGuy2004]

Hell no

[@alexav4329]

It’s a fun ride for younger children, the park would never be the same without it! It use to be the best when I was younger, I would be so sad if it was gone.

[@KaspersetzSlideStudios]

Space Shot is definitely awesome, I did that a couple years ago when I was visiting from Toronto.

[@cygulf]

That was my favorite ride...

[@revertinotse8582]

The days of heading to West Ed was a time to just hang around. And being a Mallrat. Went on the Mindbender twice. As well as the Drop of Doom. Sure it was great. But as times went. I limit myself by going to the Mall. Same scenery boring. So i only go there once in maybe 1 or 2 months. Maybe longer.

[@lowtiersupport5530]

Man, I rode this back in 1997, not know what I was being pulled into. I was 9 years old lol. Good times.

[@bonniemcphee2645]

I loved it. that 30 second thing where you had to read that thing....baahhhhhhhhhhhh...drop

[@red2k69]

I used to be a one of the ride operators for the Drop of Doom. One day starting my morning shift I found a small pipe and a small bottle of Visine. This would become the first pipe I ever owned as I kept it. I realized that the only people that worked earlier than the staff at Galaxy Land were the matinence crew that worked on the rides and made sure they were safe to use and in working order. After finding the pipe it made me think twice about ever going on to the Drop of Doom ever again, or any of the other bigger rides in the park since.

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

Rode the Drop of Doom many many times back in the 80s, and probably 90s. It was a lot of fun and it really scared the bejesus out of you the first few times. I didn't know/remember that it had been removed. Haven't tried the new one, but I wouldn't mind.

[@elainearsenault5203]

I rode it every day in the summer of 1989, as my family had a super summer attractions pass. We were there first thing in the morning riding the Mindbender until it had a lineup, and then we would go to ride the drop of doom. I still think the best part of the drop of doom was the sign at the very top when the car was coming forward it to the drop track - it said “you are about to fall 13 stories. The fall will take approximately 4.2 seconds. Please do not tamper with safety restraints.“ (I might be mistaken about the 4.2. It was a long time ago and I’m doing it from memory). As soon as you finished reading the sign, you’d hear the buzzer, and drop.

[@GregPeden]

Actually West Edmonton Mall never loaded Drop of Doom correctly, it was designed to load three cars in bulk, then it would take all three and queue them up to run on the ride while the next three were loaded up. Parks like Cedar Point ran the attraction in this way.

[@annetteslife]

I don't remember anyone riding that ride when I was at the West Edmonton mall in 99. I rode the Free Fall drop of doom which was the exact same model as this one at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia California in 1991

[@Kronoc]

That goddamn buzzer. Wow, I was like 8 or 9 when I went on this

[@southpuddle]

I remember riding this in 2001. I seem to remember it had an insane pop of ejector airtime at the top of the lift when it stopped almost instantaneously at the top. The other 1st gens didn’t seem to deliver that.

[@nelex17]

Yes, I miss it!

[@canadian4freedom]

Loves that ride. Don’t mind the space shot and quarks is for younger people. I miss all the rides. I even remember the on ride in the middle of the coaster which is now base for the new coaster.

[@brittaniistarzz8354]

Oh man I remember being sooooo terrified the first time me & my cousins went on this. I was even crying! But after the first time, we couldn’t stop riding it

[@gex69ca]

I got to ride it! Used to put coins on my lap and watch them float upwards as we fell.

[@jeffpepin7683]

I loved the Drop of Doom. The name, itself, was iconic. The big blue structure was so intimidating as a child and with the clever window, It seemed to have reached the sky.

[@devonopdendries7722]

My brother loved that ride... I was younger and was too scared XD

[@marktaylor7742]

loved it

[@ShadowGamer507]

That looks SOOOO COOOL DAMNIT ...

[@LakeNipissing]

"BZZZZTT" *W H O O S H !!!*

[@derpyc.hoovesIV]

One of my favorite rides that was ever there. That and the boat that went upside down, whatever that was called. Pendulum something something.

[@OtzmaKotzev]

perilious pendulum

[@arleneandrews3846]

I went on that ride when it was new!

[@aggregatejeff]

I am not sure why but I love this series

[@zaytan1126]

I remember operating this ride in the 90's We used to make money off it because peoples loose change would fall out and land behind the seats. The worst is when you had to walk up the stairs all the way to the top (sometimes in the summer) because the car was stuck in the drop zone (and I hate heights) and walk the people back down.

[@victoriapaul4078]

I knew a friend who worked the Perlious Pendulum back in the 90s as well, they would loose change as well, when the boat was almost ready to flip over and you were upside down for about 5-10 seconds, I loved that ride! I never had the nerve to try the Doom Drop! LOL!!

[@zaytan1126]

yup, ran that ride too. Actually, ran all of them but the kids rides were the worst :)

[@evilspoons]

Victoria Paul Ugh, I like "swinging ship" rides just fine but the inverting ones where they hang you upside-down drive me crazy. I don't miss that thing one bit. I think most of my dislike can be attributed to wearing glasses and worrying they're going to fall off the entire time the thing's upside-down and stopped.

[@vinnievee5710]

Zay Tan moto jump was the most boring. And galaxy kids. We had some good hiding/napping places

[@cdn_badger]

Lived in Whitehall square. Almost lived on this ride and the Mind Bender. Moved to Vancouver Island in 88. Took my wife there a few years back and was extremely disappointed with the new look of the park.

[@urbex_coasters]

I've ridden Demon Drop, the same style drop tower. It's a shame this was removed for a one of the S&S towers found everywhere, and even more a shame that Mindbender is no longer, meaning enthusiasts have exactly zero reason to visit Alberta now (unless you're passing through to get to Vancoover Playland).

[@bonniemcphee2645]

Good fun. i remember being so scared when reading the plaque telling you you were so many feet and then the big *beeeeeep* and then you were down

[@kathylaughter2012]

Biggest rush ever wasnt it!!

[@jamesodenbach6876]

Yeah! I'm surprised he didn't mention that sign in the video!

[@brianfuller5868]

It was a great ride.

[@Evzilla84]

I grew up riding this ride. Went to WEM every weekend and none of the new-gen drop towers compare. The one in WEM was especially thrilling because it literally FLEW up the tower and jolted to a stop at the top before moving forward. Most of the POVs I've seen of currently running models have a much slower lift.

[@ryanshewchuk3111]

The last time I rode it was on a quiet weekday so we would run to get back on 15 or 20 times in a row. The other intimidating factor was the sign at at the top that that stated something to the effect of: "you are about to drop 12 stories in 3.7 seconds" then the buzzer went off.

[@CLooLoo]

Wow I didn’t know it was gone! I was too chicken to go on it myself but enjoyed watching other people go on and get a fright haha! 😂

[@brittaneypregizer6903]

Nothing was as fun as the drop of doom!

[@squeegle4826]

My father has been on the drop of doom he said he misses it so much and hopes to go to the new one but happily I go to now known as galaxy land a lot and I go on the minbender and spaceshot and orbitor and ya well most of the rides 😂

[@brinsg]

the drop of doom was the best ride. i've been on it so many times and when i found out it was removed i was heartbroken since at one point it was the one ride my whole family would go on every time we visited. although now that i know that it is in italy if i ever get the chance to find it I WILL GO ON IT AGAIN. XD

[@TravisOutlaw674]

What a pity. I REALLY miss that ride!

[@rushbayou5230]

use to tell fist timers that the trick to the ride was to exhale just at the time of the buzzer LMAO.. many ppl past out. i tried it once and almost passed out. i rode the coaster more though cuz the DOD WAS SUCH A SHORT RIDE. i hated its replacement, thought it was boring. Good ol Fantasy land ;) oh yes ... i still call it that.

[@freebird7797]

Back in 88 was my first time, it was terrifying all the bangs of steel hitting steel then that buzzer, whoa hold on. It took me the whole day to get my nerves back to then ride the mindbender for the first time. But the ride that scared me the most was that ship that does a complete flip, I thought it was like the others at first that go back and forth. But no way this ride went pretty high the first pass then I really noticed the cut out in the roof that would fit the entire ship. I never held on so tight, I truly thought I was going to slip out and die, never again was I going on that ride.

[@tinotse8964]

First the Drop Of Doom left the Mall. Now the Mindbender shut down permanently after 30 plus years. Heard they closed down the Coaster in January

[@212Elevators]

Does anyone know any footage of this one?

[@philipmitchelmore7293]

I rode that ride once, scared the poop out of me, but anything to be with a girl who liked me, but I left Edmonton in early 2003, to go back to Newfoundland, then Oct. 10 2014 moved to Nova Scotia, still love Edmonton though

[@Tibo.VanderAa]

today i was in movieland italy and i did the hollywood tower . It was super cool!

[@BestEdmontonMall]

AWESOME!!

[@michaelcraigjesso6043]

Terrifying !!!!! I was on it once in the late 80's and I couldn't walk getting out of it. I was shaking so bad. ~LOL~ Its really sad that they just closed the Mindbender as well. I've been on that hundereds of times.

[@mdmenzel]

The enclosed nature of the area where the tower was added a sense of claustrophobia to the fear of the drop.

[@Awesome_Alex99]

Wish they still hade it

[@NotusingyeT837]

I’m only 11 and I didn’t experience the drop of doom but I went on the space shot and I almost cried 😅 When your at the top I realized I couldn’t scream no matter how hard I tried I almost couldn’t even breathe I thought my stomach was gonna shoot out of my throat. When I got off I was crying a bit but my dad was so proud of me and my brother for going on that one ride next to it (it’s camo coloured and it like spins you around and upside down idk what it’s called) and the space shot as those are probably the scariest rides there I was wondering what the red ride was and I saw videos of it and why it’s closed and I’m glad it’s closed or my brother would have forced me on it.

[@ryanlee2336]

Yes!

[@bearing_mayday]

I like this ride it’s one of the most trilling ride at movieland

[@mattiax360]

I ride it yesterday, always awesome it is like the the old granny of the park ahah, but it works very well even with those clink clank metallic rumor ahah

[@devined1970]

Me bad but we use to hang out with guys that ran the drop of doom and we would take our harnes off just as it dropped. With the force of the drop you would come out of the seat slightly then fall back in the harnes would fall closed. Dangerous I know. But it was in 86 lol. I Moved away from the mall many years ago. Now I tell my grandkids all about it.

[@wonderwoman978]

huh. So they did take it out in '02. I was way too young to be able to ride it...but I vaguely remember it. I always thought it was some sort of wicked fever dream I was recalling,,,watching it go to the top and drop.

[@mattlaviolette3030]

Penny on the knee was the best, it would float about four inches above your knee then as your turn gave up at the bottom it lands in your 🤚🏼