singemfrc

Did you read this before posting it? I'm not trying to be mean, but this is one of the most self-contradictory posts I've ever seen. The ride is expensive to purchase, expensive to maintain, and unenjoyable, yet you're surprised more parks didn't buy one? I'm more surprised that China bought one in 2012 after seeing X/X2 and Eejanaika operate for years. More on topic, I don't think the paint really looks all that bad. Unremarkable, but not terrible. At least the grey won't fade noticeably.

^ But my point is wouldnt those people be screened out when they got to the turnstile anyway? I can't imagine MM is doing it out of the kindness of their heart to save those people's time

I'd pass unless you have the option of rescheduling or don't mind a shorter day with a lot of closures. Very interesting I saw that SFMM has posted an employee outside the gate to validate gold passes before you even get in the gold pass line. Wonder why they're doing this..doesn't the pass still get validated when you're scanned in the gate? Are they really having a problem with people sneaking in the early entry?

When has that ever mattered before

Absolutely..that photo reveals a lot. Between lateral, the angle, and the bunny hop, thats gonna be incredible!

Sadly (why did I write sadly? lol) they haven't been so terrible lately. I think Apocalypse has been running one train and has had long waits as a result, but other than that I've been hearing startlingly good reports lately.

It does right now, if you sit in the back row. I think Twisted Colossus will overtake it though.

But again, cyclone is a lot further along than this one. Once they cut off the excess wood (which they explain in that video) and slap the entire coaster with fresh new paint, it will look a lot sharper. The video also explains how the new design will actually spread the load more so that there is less weight on each bent and/or footer, so it will be even stronger even if it doesn't look it.

Whoops. I didn't know (that site) wasn't allowed..thanks for the heads up, I removed the link I posted.

Quote a bit of new information in this video. Particularly of note they say the two chain lifts will be individually controlled and variable on the fly, so that the speeds can be adjusted as the trains go up the lift to make sure they race.

That's because it's unfinished and unpainted. It will look much better when it opens.

I don't think that green track has been shipped to the park yet. From what I've read about the construction process that will probably be the last track installed. That blue track at the top of the lift was originally scheduled to be some of the last track installed but the park or the RMC workers on site (I forget which) requested that they change things up and the blue lift track be sent ASAP and now it's there. I saw that at the beginning of HIP the park used a really realistic looking fake snow all over the place but the rain has washed it away and now they're using a more resilient but less realistic cottony fake snow. I doubt that anything short of flooding would damage any rides or lights.

Yeah that makes sense, I should have considered that.

There was one several years ago, I think it was only there for one season, it was removed quite a while ago.

I was up there on Labor Day of 2013 and there was no sign of the museum that used to be up there. The only thing in the room at all were trash cans. That was my first thought too, but when you think about it the thing was custom built in the 70s, it's very plausible that the people who designed and built it are no longer at Intamin (and may even be dead), and there werent computers then like there are now, so records may be hard to find and/or nonexistent. It's plausible. I wondered if a company like Otis who invented the elevator (the first elevator, elevators in general, not this specific one) would be able to be contracted..I'm sure they COULD, but I just don't know if the park would want to pay for it. I suspected (but it wasnt said) that it wasnt literally impossible, just that the park couldnt get it done right now whether it be for financial or logistical reasons. Aye, just as I would prefer Revolution be upgraded but wouldnt mind a new terrain coaster, I'd prefer the old iconic Sky Tower be kept, but I wouldnt be disappointed with a polar coaster either. Twisted Colossus is another good example actually - I was a bit sad to see Colossus go, but the blow was completely softened with the news that it was being replaced by an RMC!

I think its considered SBNO right now. It's definitely not considered permanently closed yet according to the park as of earlier this week. See my previous post..it's not up to code at the moment and the park is trying to find someone who can repair/upgrade it since Intamin apparently can't for some reason.

That may not be too far fetched. I'm hearing they're having more and more problems in regards to fixing Sky Tower. Reportedly (according to someone who recently spoke to park management) Intamin, who built it, no longer has the knowledge and/or equipment to bring it up to code and SFMM is having trouble finding anyone else that can make the necessary repairs and upgrades that it needs to continue operating in California. Sky Tower is a very unique elevator system, not only is it not like regular elevators, its also different than all of the other similar structures that Intamin built. Mind you this is long term, but if it comes to a point where it's decided that the tower will be permanently shuttered, I think putting a polar coaster type structure in it's place would be prettty logical. A tower is a pretty important structure for the park and a polar coaster is a great way to attract attention and use space efficiently at the same time.

I agree that I don't see the park replacing the trains just because its the 40th anniversary, but I think they trains are close enough to their end of life that they may choose to do it then anyway.

Normally yes, it was kind of a last minute thing, they posted it on facebook earlier in the week.

I don't think you have any idea what you're talking about. I think it's just the nostalgia. It's not a particularly thrilling coaster anymore but it is a historic one, and with comfortable trains could be a very nice relaxing ride through the trees. Slightly above average has always been it's potential, and that's worlds better than what it is right now.

I believe they did a soft opening of Yolo and Lex for SP holders too. I don't remember the opening of GL. Gnome, I got to do one of those promo shoots when Gold Striker opened at CGA and agree that is so awesome to get to marathon a brand new coaster like that. I rode 8 times in a row before they shut it down for the night. They ended up doing 3 more sessions on consecutive days but since it was a 2 hr drive on a work week for me I just did the first night. I did end up being the 5th ever public rider loaded onto the first train though SFMM is about a 6 hour drive for me in ideal conditions, so the timing would have to be just right for the TC opening.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQPuA6YPXmE Look how clean and tidy the park looks! Bright and shiny paint, no OTSR, no MCBR...sigh...

Never never NEVER go on a Saturday unless you get the platnum pass.. even then...Saturdays are normally taboo for going to amusement parks I used to say this too but someone earlier brought up a really good point. If there is a bring-a-friend-free day on a Sunday, going on the Saturday before is actually a good idea as so many people wait for the baff day that the saturday ends up being less crowded. Other than that, normally Friday is least crowded, then Sunday, then Saturday is the most crowded. Holiday In The Park is underway and X2 is generally operational though I've heard lots of reports that it has been very finnicky lately and going up and down throughout the day. It is actually a great time to visit the park - I've seen reports of very unusual things happening throughout the park on a regular basis recently, such as letting gold pass holders in the park 30 mins early for a rope drop so that the fingerprint scanners dont make them get in after the general guests, using more than one train on everything except Superman (which has the other car in rehab), Tatsu using both sides of the station simultaneously (usually practically unheard of)..they seem to actually be trying to run decent operations for a change.

Every once in a while they do this, everyone says how much they love it, and then the park stops doing it. This and the no bags express line should be an EVERY day thing. Gold Pass Guests getting in after the regular lines should never happen and yet it does all the time. Good news. I assume that is in anticipation of Twisted Colossus, which will probably be the new Platinum add-on.

First they start construction on an RMC coaster, then they announce that Scream will be painted, then they finally remove Ninja's old train for rehab, now they're running both sides of Tatsu's station tonight. If they don't stop this they're going to make it harder to find things to complain about.