CoasterLover

I wouldn't put much merit in the accuracy of the image as it looks like they just took a stock photo of an existing ride and recolored it...

I don't think you have to worry about that. My guess is that everyone will quickly forget Iron Wolf when the 2012 attraction is announced and many will be ready to push Iron Wolf out to be ready to welcome the 2012 coaster...

I'm willing to bet good money that the new coaster coming to SFA for 2012 will be new to the park but not "factory" new...

Shiekra loads and checks two trains at the same time, so once one train clears the lift, the second train is already out of the station and heading up the lift (much like how Maverick at Cedar Point loads two trains and the second waits at the bottom of the lift until the first train clears the block). Griffon loads one train at a time, so when the first train is on the way up the lift, the second train still needs to park, unload, reload, and check before it can dispatch.

SFA has a height limit of 200' from grade. Even if they built the ride on a 8 1/2' tall platform, they could still build it within regulations (the ride is only 191' tall)...

Safe to say that my Wolfie is safe <3333 Well, technically, the email doesn't confirm that Iron Wolf will be staying at SFGAm. The email confirms that Hank supports keeping classic rides at SFGAm (and he probably fought corporate pretty hard to keep Iron Wolf) and the email confirms that Iron Wolf will be thrilling guests for many years to come (...possibly at SFA), but it doesn't specifically say that Iron Wolf will be staying at SFGAm or that Iron Wolf will be thrilling SFGAm guests for many years to come...

I think this is a bit more likely...

^Haunted River (formerly Smurf Mountain and currently Volcano).

A clue towards the replacement or just a sign? You tell me... Let the speculation continue...

I guess you can't bring up lost Disney attractions without also bringing up Disney's America http://virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com/campaign-for-disneys-america/ Most of those e-ticket concepts eventually found their way to California's Adventure (California Screamin, Soarin, Grizzly River Rapids, etc). As far as lost rides, Six Flags America was going to build a Huss Top spin where their Skycoaster currently is. Plans were submitted and parts were even at the park (sitting next to Joker's Jinx). Skycoaster was still going to be built, just more or less where the entrance to Whistle Stop park is now. Nonetheless, they changed plans, moved Skycoaster to where it sits today and moved the Top Spin to Darien Lake. You can still find the plans if you look through the PG County planning archives and on one or two old POVs of Joker's Jinx you can see the top spin parts when the train comes into the brake run (they were painted to look like wood... look up pics of Darien Lake's to see what I mean).

They don't provide a ton of information, but here's the company that did the lighting/sound/computer work for Rip, Ride, Rockit: http://www.showsys.us/projects/featuredRockit.html The short answer is that the train has several sliding electrical contact that charge the ride as it moves through the station. The train has enough contact with the chargers while it's in the station to sufficiently charge the train to last through the course of the ride. I know that's probably not the technical answer you want, but it's a start...

Wild World - Adventure World - Six Flags America MGM Studios - Hollywood Studios VisionLand - Alabama Adventure Knott's Camp Snoopy - Camp Snoopy - Park At MOA - Nickelodeon Universe

Only two rides were relocated from within the park the other four rides, along with the play structure, the pop fountain, the shop, and all of the landscaping were all new. Even if you leave out the two relocated rides, it would still be the largest "Thomas Town" in the chain.

^ While SFGAdv and KD probably aren't getting anything, Hershey, Dorney, and BGE are all getting coasters (two of which will probably get some national attention). It's essentially impossible for SFA to catch a year where NONE of their competitor add anything major...

A LOT of people just naturally don't drink enough water, so if you are starting out your day already slightly dehydrated, it can go downhill quickly. If you're going to a park and you know it's going to be hot, drink a lot more water the day or two before you go. Like a runner preparing for a race, you don't just start preparing the day of (granted,a day at an amusement park is no marathon, but you are doing a lot of walking/standing and all out in the sun). Appropriate clothes are necessary too. I know so many of you love your amusement park t-shirts, but if you have a light colored, short sleeve button down shirt, you'll find it "breaths" much better and will keep you much cooler. The other suggestions (eating a good breakfast, taking in the water rides, enjoying a show in the AC) are all great suggestions, but the best is taking a break mid-day. If you have the luxury of staying close to the park, get off the property and go cool off for an hour or two. At the very least, go to a nearby restaurant for lunch. When you're off park property, you'll find you relax much more and are much more willing to take the break an enjoy the cool. Refill on liquids, and enjoy your meal (don't just scarf it down). If you can get to your hotel, take a dip in the pool, relax in your room, take a shower.. all will help, and get back to the park mid-afternoon... you miss a couple hours at the park, but you'll feel MUCH better when you're there and will have the energy to stay around until the park closes (especially as the park starts to cool down into the evening and the crowds begin to disperse.

For those of you not planning on going to USH anytime soon but still want to hear "Tramtastic"...

What are you doing next Wednesday (May 25th)? Want to have a free day at SFA? Want to get some ERT on some coasters? Want to be a part of SFA's advertising campaigns for the next few years? http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=110669689020712

Just saw a new commercial for Mach Tower... the commercial describes that there will be music playing as the car goes up, then when you get to the top, the music will stop, the seats will "shake" and then the car will drop. Take that for what you will...

For those interested SFOG appears to be currently running several cars through test runs on Dare Devil Dive and it can all be seen on the webcam... http://www.sixflags.com/overGeorgia/footerNav/daredevildiveconstruction.aspx

For those interested, Green Lantern is currently testing one train and can be seen making cycles on the webcam... http://www.sixflags.com/greatAdventure/footerNav/greenlanternconstruction.aspx

^^WIld One @SFA in the top list of coasters that need this treatment?!? I would have to disagree. Wild One at SFA, to me, has consistently been one of the smoothest wooden coasters out there. Roar, on the other hand, now THAT one could benefit from this sort of modification...

Well, Manta was built with a large animal exhibit incorporated, Cheetah Hunt is being built with a large animal exhibit incorporated, would almost seem to make sense that they MIGHT have some sort of animal exhibit associated with Busch Gardens Williamsburg's new attraction. Granted Sea World and BGT are much more animal centered parks, but could still happen. I mean, you make a dark ride centered around some sort of nocturnal animal and have the queue wandering around an indoor, dark forest with the animals all around you. Depending on the animal, between the queue, the additional walk through animal exhibit, the backstage animal care areas, the gift shop, and the station, it could easily add up to 25,000 sq feet without containing any ride at all...

Like they fixed the Yeti on Expedition Everest? Somehow I don't think a flashing light would be a suitable fix in this case...

All depends on where I'm going. I try to plan my yearly vacations around parks in the same chain. For example the years I go to Cedar Point, I'll usually get a Cedar Fair season pass and hit Dorney and KD in the same season, and possibly KI, but in years that I'm not hitting Cedar Point, I'll only go to Dorney or KD, or possibly neither. I almost always have a SF season pass as a pass from SFA is usually only about $50 and pays itself off in one visit. With SFA so close, I go enough to make it worthwhile, plus SFGAdv is close enough for a trip or two every year which helps to more than pay for the pass. Additionally, with a SF season pass pretty much every year, we'll usually go slightly out of the way if a SF park is reasonably close to where we decide to go on vacation. Living in the Northeast, I doubt I'd ever get a Universal or Disney pass simply because I don't think I'd get there enough in a season to make it worthwhile. But if I lived closer, the Universal pass could easily be a possibility.

Looks like Planet Snoopy will be at Dorney in 2011... http://www.planetsnoopy.com/dorneypark/