CoasterLover

The commercial looks pretty good... [vimeo] [/vimeo]

I think it's a matter of personnel. One of the newsletters that SFA sent out talked about the construction of Apocalypse and interviewed a guy who had the title of something like "Lead Engineer for Six Flags." The article had talked about how he was headed to SFMM next. It almost implies that Six Flags has a core engineering staff that they have moved around to do the final work to open each of their new attractions this year. Further evidence that suggests this may be true is that none of the major attractions in the SF chain this year opened at the same time: X-Flight opened first, Goliath came on next, Apocalypse is next and the California parks are bringing up the rear. I guess the priority is to open the North East attractions sooner because their season is shorter (get the most operating days in 2012 possible). Just a thought, not sure how true it may be...

Do my eyes see a double-up-double-down?!? Very nice!

The complete update on SFAFans.com can be found here: http://www.sfafans.com/content.php/45-Apocalypse-Update-May-26-2012 -Season Passholder previews will be next weekend (June 2nd and 3rd) -Grand Opening will be June 7th -It's assumed that there will be soft openings to everyone June 4th-6th

This appears to be a case of SFNO 2.0. If you're asking for donations, I give this plan a 0% chance of success. Projects like this require millions of dollars in investments, not the hundreds or thousands of dollars you might collect through a charity drive. This is not like trying to restore a single wooden coaster that is still in moderately good condition. Without the backing of some serious investors, there's no way this happens. If you can't get the serious investors, why should I have any faith that I would be putting my donation to a good cause and if you can get the serious investors, why would you need my chump change?

^Just a hydrolic locking lap bar.

So does that mean that the ride will be worth up to three credits?

^Unlimited visits to the park until the end of the regular season (not including the Halloween or Christmas events) for the price of a single day pass.

The current approved plan for the speed slide/mat-racer combo puts the tower alongside the wave pool.

As I'm sure they'll use the "fahrt" joke a bunch (as seen in the merchandise), "fahrt" is German for "drive" or "journey."

I know a couple of you had questioned the color of the supports. The below picture from SFAFans taken yesterday seems to confirm that the park was just waiting to get the trackwork completed before painting the supports. All of the supports have started to be painted black as seen below. More pictures from SFAFans which show the completed transfer tracks, foundation work on the station, as well as some of the initial work for the computer room can be seen via the below link: http://www.sfafans.com/showthread.php/6587-Six-Flags-America-prepares-for-Apocalypse-in-2012!-Mayhem-comes-to-Maryland!?p=35373#post35373

^^Correction... ALMOST complete... there are still about 5-6 more pieces of track to install.

Regardless of how much you love or hate "Potterland", you have to at least somewhat agree that much of the recent additions/upgrades to the park are probably a direct response to the success of "Potterland" and the park trying to ride the success of "Potterland"... I mean, Harry Potter has just brought in crazy amounts of money to the Universal Orlando complex!

^Personally, in regards to the theme park side, I DO think it is a bit of a downgrade, but the fact that you will be able to go from waterpark to theme park on the same flash pass system I think makes up for the difference, at least until they are able to create an RFID version of the wrist band with displays and controls equivalent to the current V 2 FlashPasses.

^Yes, less convenient in that regard, but that was the same way FlashPass V. 1 and Fast Pass at Disney work (where you have to go to the actual ride to reserve). According to Lo-Q's website, it sounds like the system utilizes kiosks throughout the park where you can see the wait times of all the rides and reserve any of the rides. The Q-band (again according to Lo-Q's website) shows you a number which corresponds to the ride that you have reserved. The Q-band can also be "loaded" with money at the time of purchased to be used as a form of quick, cashless payment and the Q-band can also be used to open RFID equipped storage units (not sure if SFA will utilize either of these options, at least not in 2012). I think the problem at SFA is that Q-bot was never really needed in the dry park, however, the waterpark at SFA was always super busy. I think the goal was that people will buy Q-band for the water-park and get the dry park as a bonus, especially as the Q-bot was highly under utalized at SFA in the previous couple years. I also have to think the operating costs using the bands is less expensive for the park.

ACE Mid-Atlantic was at SFA today for an off-season tour of the construction and a Q&A session. The complete photo album can be found on the group's Facebook page ( )... you may need to "Like" the group to see the album. Here are some of the highlights of the construction:

Six Flags America has started to post photos of Apocalypse construction on their Facebook page. As of yesterday, it looks like they have from the station to the bottom of the lift completed. Vertical construction started last Tuesday, so this much up in four days isn't too shabby. Hopefully we'll see the lift complete by next weekend. Six Flags America's FaceBook Page Apocalypse at Six Flags America as of Friday March 2nd

^There's an ACE off-season construction tour coming up in a few weeks. I have to wonder if they have briefly stopped making updates to drive interest in the event (as showing off an update just before the event would probably at least slightly drop interest in the event). The last update was at the beginning of the month and at that time it looked like most of the footers were done. It's been pretty mild since then so I would image at least a decent amount of the steel work has been started by now.

An interesting change to a LONG standing Disney policy on facial hair. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/23/disney-will-allow-park-wo_0_n_1224824.html?1327358077

Seems they've pretty radically changed how they are doing the "minimalist-support" lifts from what they did for I305. I305 more or less just used a bulkier track going up the lift. Skyrush seems to be more of an I-beam latticework. Wonder what the catalyst for the change was (cost, strength, aesthetics, park's preference?). Nonetheless, looks pretty awesomely steep! This ride should easily become the new signature attraction for Hershey! Can't wait!

I'm not sure what you mean. IOA offers FREE finger-print controlled lock-ers which are free for the duration of the estimated ride queue length (plus some buffer time). Generally, I will keep my wallet, camera, and phone in my pockets (to avoid buying a lock-er), but at IOA, I found myself regularly using the free lock-er program to avoid the risk of losing anything in my pockets.

I was fortunate enough to be at the park today for a ride on Black Diamond. The rides were scheduled to open at noon and a line started forming around Black Diamond soon after. I can't say exactly, but it seemed by around 1 pm, they were cycling trains and by about 1:30 or so Dick Knoebels was called over for the inaugural ride. Unfortunately, with just Mr. Knoebels and one other person in the front row, the train was not able to engage the lift and sort of stalled before the first lift. Long story short, he got his ride, they made some tweeks, he rode again, soon after many from the Knoebel's family were riding, then the ride ops, and by probably about 2 pm or so, the ride was taking it's first public riders. As you've all seen the TPR tour pics, I'll keep this review short. -they were running 5 trains (two cars per train, up to four riders per car) -the restraints are just a single self retracting seat belt that goes across both riders -there is a stationary bar across the width of the train to give you something to hold onto -there are no seat dividers so larger riders can take a whole row if necessary -the ride is surprisingly (and enjoyably) long -there is a TON to see, especially for how quickly you move through each scene, certainly, this is one of those rides that you will notice new details each time you ride -the ride has a mixture of very modern effects with old tried and true effects -the ride is very dark (physically), there's about enough light for you to see the scenes and that's it -while there is no musical score, there are a lot of sound effects throughout the ride as well as some dialogue -is the ride scary? not per-say, unless you have a fear of the dark, but there are a few moments that may make you jump (as well as a few moments that may make you laugh) Overall, a VERY enjoyable ride and a perfect fit for Knoebels! So glad to see this attraction open and I could certainly see this ride making it's way onto some folk's favorite dark ride lists.

A particular SFNE fansite (which shall not/cannot be named here) has images of their scrambler being taken apart. It's difficult to say if this might be for some major repair or not, but being deconstructed so late in the season suggests that it MIGHT be on the way out.

^My prediction is that the parachute tower is safe... well, at least safe from being replaced by a SkyScreamer. I think SkyScreamer will go somewhere else. Not that parachute tower is completely safe from the wrecking ball, just that they won't swap it out for a SkyScreamer... just my prediction anyways...

Link Attractions? If they're adding what was on the surveys, looks like the 200 foot Sky Screamer along with the bumper cars, musik express, and I believe an elephant ride got better responses than the 300 foot Sky Screamer and nothing else. I'm predicting they opt for a 150 foot model along with the bumper cars and the music express. They'll get the elephant tide too, but it will just be moved from Golden Kingdom. I'm guessing they make up for the shorter SkyScreamer by making the four attractions into a new/revisioned themed area.