The Six Flags Magic Mountain (SFMM) Discussion Thread

[ColBI Guess Donkeys Are Okay]

I will be going to SFMM on Thursday the 19th of April. I'm from Australia and can't convince my wife to come with me. Will it be that unusual to see a 35 year old male standing in line waiting to ride coasters? Being from Australia, we don't really have parks like these, so I have to do it while I have the chance!

[Jordan M.I Guess Donkeys Are Okay]

^ I was a freshly 18 yr old male when I visited early last year by myself, I wouldn't consider it that unusual...

[LaMapa“Fear can make a donkey attack a lion”]

I will be going to SFMM on Thursday the 19th of April. I'm from Australia and can't convince my wife to come with me. Will it be that unusual to see a 35 year old male standing in line waiting to ride coasters? Being from Australia, we don't really have parks like these, so I have to do it while I have the chance!

Nope! It happens all the time! Don't worry!

[JJ728When I grow up, I want to breed donkeys!]

Hey guys, I know you hate these questions, but:

What will the crowds be like on Thursday April 5, and Friday April 6? I know it will be spring break but what are the crowds usually like in terms of waits for rides, etc?

Don't worry about the crowds if you get there before opening. Take the Revolution exit shortcut to Tatsu right as you get in, then head to Apocalypse, Riddler's (single rider), Green Lantern (single rider), Batman, Scream, Colossus. As long as you don't lollygag around, you'll get these rides done really fast.

Try to put off your lunch until after you're done with Colossus, so you don't have to pause as the crowds fill in the park. Viper and Revolution will have long lines at the beginning of the day. Come back in the late afternoon/evening to ride those with short waits, and brave X2 while you're over there (which won't ever really get shorter than an hour all day). Ninja and Gold Rusher will never really generate any "long" lines, so ride those when you have spare time.

That's what I usually do, and I only end up in significant lines for Goliath and X2 when its all said and done. It's really difficult to get through 13 coasters without having to wait in something. Have fun!

^If you want to take a chance, head to the park early to be one of the first ones at the gates, and, when they open, run like a bat out of hell to X2. This descision can significantly help you get through the day, or significantly hurt you. If you can get on within the first ten minutes, you can probably get on everything else with almost no wait. However, waiting 30 minutes or more can cause a major delay that could result in long wait times on other rides.

The best way to order your day, depending on arrival time would be:

+30 minutes before opening, go clockwise beginning with X2
Within 30 minutes of opening, go clockwise beginning with Tatsu
+30 minutes after opening, go counterclockwise beginning with Goliath.

The counterclockwise strategy will send you in the opposite direction from most people, resulting in the longest waits for the rides toward the back of the park, but shorter waits for X2, Tatsu, and Goliath. Still, it is usually best to go clockwise.

[LaMapa“Fear can make a donkey attack a lion”]

^Yes! Do this! Although I recommend that you run straight to X2 in the beginning and get on that. I can usually then get to Tatsu with an in-station wait only, then down to Apocalypse, Riddlers, etc. I would say to try to hold off lunch until at least after Riddler's. Then I would go to Goliath at the very end and I usually have a 30 min. wait for that. Then I will do Viper, Revolution, and Ninja, and if I have time,, X2 again

[ZeroG001This B&M donkey is so smooth!]

Didn't end up going today because the weather report said it would rain today, and no one in my group wanted to go if it was going to rain. Postponing the trip for a different Sunday in a couple of weeks, after the Spring Breaks in the area are over.

Take the Revolution exit shortcut to Tatsu right as you get in

I've been hearing about this Revolution exit shortcut for years, but have never known what it is and have never bothered to ask. Can you explain to me what it is? I usually hit Goliath first, and work around to having Tatsu and X2 last. But hitting Tatsu first, then working your way around the park clockwise seems like it might be a good idea, too.

^If you go up Revolution's exit, there are stairs that will take you right to the normal path leading to Tatsu.
Also, I don't really think how early you arrive matters, as long as you're there before opening. People tend to line up like sheep at the two main gates in the middle. I've gotten up there 2 minutes before opening and been at the front at a gate on the left side, already putting me in prime position to get to X2 first.

[JJ728When I grow up, I want to breed donkeys!]

^If you want to take a chance, head to the park early to be one of the first ones at the gates, and, when they open, run like a bat out of hell to X2. This descision can significantly help you get through the day, or significantly hurt you. If you can get on within the first ten minutes, you can probably get on everything else with almost no wait. However, waiting 30 minutes or more can cause a major delay that could result in long wait times on other rides.

That's why I head to Tatsu first, and catch the back half of the park with no waits. In my experience, running to X2 first is too inconsistent. Sometimes it opens late, sometimes there are too many people in front of you on the mad dash there, although sometimes you're just lucky.

Tatsu backs up fast as well, so if you get stuck at X2 you get hosed when it comes to getting on Tatsu. The line for Tatsu doesn't die down on spring break/summer days. X2 will go from 2 to 3 hours in the morning to about 1 hour in the late afternoon, then back to 2 hours before closing. Tatsu's full all day (full queue = ~1.5 hours). If I really want to go on X2, I suck it up and wait the hour in the late afternoon. Unfortunately, this plan also makes for 45 minutes in line for Goliath, but the queue is shaded, fast moving, and spacey. I'm usually done by 5 or 6.

[megalyteWhat would donkeys be like on the moon?]

Thank you everyone for the great information. The last time I have been to SFMM was 6 years ago and can't really remember much. But, I have been on Colossus, Scream, Goliath, Gold Rusher, Ninja, and Revolution so they really are not a priority. I really want to hit up the major rides (Tatsu, X2, etc). If I do end up going I will be probably take the Revolution shortcut up to Tatsu first and end up doing X2 in late afternoon. Can anyone give me more information on the exit shortcut?