packfanlv

I did the whole survey but not the advisory board. I agree that the survey was long and they never did specify how many tickets they are giving away for respondents.

^^Yah I noticed that after I read your comment. In the intro to every F-word episode he does it and in most of the British Kitchen Nightmare episodes he takes his shirt off as well.

Hello Everyone, After being home for a while I am looking at getting back to my travel writing and thought that a website redesign was in order. Since I am not my best judge, I wanted to know if anyone wanted to look at the site to provide me feedback with what they think both feature wise and aesthetically. (All of the old content from my trip is there, but I haven't updated the actual site content wise in a while.) So far people have said that the blue is too dark and I tend to agree, but haven't come up with a good color replacement yet. Any and all suggestions and constructive criticism will be appreciated. Thanks. The site is www.familyrtw.com BTW it is a pain in the but to remove the ads, but please don't click on them. This is not a ploy to get traffic or anything like that. I just thought since I respect what some of the members of TPR think, that I could get some great feedback from this. Thanks.

I honestly don't think that is what this is about. At least I don't think I was targeted because I haven't really said anything about this. Perhaps they just sent it to random people that won tickets.

^I answered the questions in a way as to not lose my ticket. I did see the ad three different times though so I don't feel guilty at all.

^Well for the record I DID NOT, HAVE NOT AND NEVER WILL enter for anyone else Universal. I am a good boy.

^I agree that the ops are most of the problem. A couple of years ago when we were at SFGAdv, Superman was running one train every ten minutes or so. It was ridiculous. I also think that they could inform the GP a little better about how the restraints work so they can minimize the mistakes like someone leaving a leg outside of the stirrup. I agree that Happy Valley Beijing had fast dispatch times, but if I remember correctly they had a lot of employees, which perhaps could make the difference.

^I got it as well. It was interesting how they asked those questions and then said something like, "Did you enter for someone else? Not that it was illegal to do so and even if it was, this survey is anonymous." It was wierd.

^You're right Joey. The only thing that is sure right now is the people who own Six Flags stock (including myself), are very very sad given its current price!

^Perhaps something was lost in translation?

I don't see them selling any parks because they will not be able to get enough money from the sale to offset their debt load. If they sell a park then they lose the cash flow from that park and if the amount they receive in the sale isn't sufficient to pay down that debt and reduce their interest payments. They may try to sell one or two parks, but only the ones that aren't currently making money. From what I understand, almost all of the remaining Six Flags parks are money makers.

I knew I must've been missing something. Thanks. Either way I just don't think that looks very comfortable. I think that is why stand ups have all but gone away as far as new designs go. They just aren't comfortable compared to a sit down coaster.

^^Am I missing something on the Floorless Inverted? It seems to me that inverted coasters are already floorless.

Everyone seems to miss the point here in my opinion. This company has turned around quite a bit. The only reason they may not make it is because of the credit markets. The current management inherited over $2 billion in debt and the company has huge repayments to make. Up until now they have been able to restructure this debt and reduce it. If not for the interest payments, Six Flags would make a hefty profit. The current management has been prudent in picking new attractions that are a lot more cost effective for the company. A park like Magic Mountain makes a lot of money and thus supports the decision to spend $10 million on a new attraction. In my opinion Shapiro has done a great job (from a business sense) finding extra sources of revenue like in park advertising and licensing deals which totaled over $60 million last year I believe. While it is true the only reason they were cash flow positive was because they didn't pay their PIERS dividend, the fact that they even came close to making a profit is a miracle considering where the company was 3 or 4 years ago. No one knows whether the company will make it or not, but the business itself has been run properly for several years now. It is just a matter of whether or not that $2 billion debt load is to much to overcome. I hope they can!

There is no doubt that Six Flags is a troubled company, but there have been a few positive things this year. For the first time, the company is cash flow positive, meaning that they actually brought in a profit this year. While the odds are still stacked against them to survive as a company, many of the individual parks are profitable and would be sold off if the company was liquidated. I just don't see the bigger parks like SFMM, SFGAdv, SFGA, SFOT, SFOG shutting down at all.

^I actually agree and can't wait to get back to Singapore when this park opens to experience it for myself.

^Unless you've visited Genting Highlands (which is owned by the same company) then you are a little worried. Seriously though, I have seen the massive site that this park will sit on and the location is awesome. I hope that this park turns out great. (I think Universal will hold them to a high standard!) They also seem to be putting it in the right place and I think Singapore with its population and tourism can support it.

Oh, www.themparkreview. I got it now. Thanks.

That is a very fun little game. Thanks guys.

^^I'm pretty sure Psyclone at SFMM didn't exist yet when this video was made.

^I was wondering the same thing.

^Thanks for another great report. Canada's Wonderland is high up on my list of places to go. Behemoth does look amazing and the park seems to have a great atmosphere.

^That ship in the background looks similar to the one in the splash boat picture Elissa posted of Happy Valley Chengdu, so I am assuming that is where it was taken. (In fact, I think you can even see the ramp in the picture.) I think it is this ship in the background. I wonder if it is a Waterworld ripoff like the Chimelong Paradise show.

^^Thanks. I forgot about the Iron Dragon reference and was basing it off of the Disneyland being 30 years old.

Thanks Shane. That was a nice video. I'm guessing it was from 1985 right?