From actual launch from the raptor tunnel to when the train slows down to start returning to the station, Velocicoaster is a little over a minute, too. I’d argue that the spinning/drifting factor should be taken into account in regards to F&F’s overall length: If we got some two- or three-minute coaster that’s spinning around that entire time, it might actually turn more people away because that’d be a lot for people to handle.
Universal could’ve easily figured a minute or so is the sweet spot on how long a coaster with this sort of gimmick can be before it becomes “too much,” and it’s easy to sit here and judge its length without actually experiencing it first and knowing whether or not, “I could’ve” or “I couldn’t have handled another minute of that.”
And I’m just going to throw this out there, but I think it’s easy to overestimate the general public’s interest in theming, especially when you’re in a niche theme park forum where people naturally do care about that stuff. Most people simply aren’t going to care if there’s theming during the actual coaster so long as it’s fun, music is playing, and they get off it with a smile on their face.
It’s a miracle this coaster even exists for a lot of us old enough to have always thought nothing like it could because of the neighbors, etc., and for the millionth time, it’s going to be insanely popular with park goers. Personally knowing numerous people who haven’t been to Universal in years (or only go to HHN) but are ready to buy tickets and even APs because of this coaster’s existence, I can’t believe we’re still stuck on the idea that only “hard core coaster fans” will care about this.