OldJJman

Loving the pictures! Thank you!

It started with Darien Lake. SFNE was just the last straw for SFI. Darien Lake accident SFNE accident JJ

Because that's what SFI (and their legal department) ordered for the ride. Especially with the problems that they incurred at Darien Lake.

Yes, except it is in Japanese.

Danny Rogers must be excited at this opportunity!!

I wasn't calling YOU on that Chris. But, much earlier in this thread, I got berated for saying the exact same thing. I was giving you credit, as I know you're a much bigger fan than I am, so your credentials give my (much) earlier posts some credibility about what I had perceived this to be. And, apparently, I was right! I'll see it eventually. Like I said, no hurry.

You know, it's fair to say that I was caught up in the hype, and I was actually inquiring about this show over the weekend as to when I should go. After seeing that video, my answer is "Eh, whenever I get there!" I know I'm in the minority, and I don't care. But that little snippet looked boring as hell to me. There was nothing there that makes me want to run out and see it. The hype, to me, was just that, hype. Dancing water. Check. Oooooh, they added color. BFD. Water screens. Check. Oooooh, they made them bigger. Whoop-ti-do. Fire. Check. Lots of it. Whoop-ti-do. Not too long ago, I got pounded here for saying that it wouldn't be a "Fantasmic" killer. Yet above, Chris (who's seen it 3x now) says the same thing, and he's one of the bigger Disney fanboys around. (Don't even deny it Chris! ) Nothing wrong with that. If that's what you're into, fine, please enjoy. What I saw, is EXACTLY what I figured I'd see months ago. A bunch of glorified lawn sprinklers, big mist screens, and fire effects. Color me unimpressed. Yeah, I will see it eventually see it. Probably in the fall. But until then.... Sorry, don't care.

Well... Everything's supposedly new, yet there's "Dueling Dragons" signage. (sigh)

That's an "OK" analogy, if there is enough familiarity with the franchise. But, when they went to put in TOT in Tokyo, the Japanese had NO real concept of the "Twilight Zone" franchise, so they had to come up with a complete new storyline for the same ride. The difference being, the story of TDS TOT is told a hundred times better than the TZ story. Its' story is completely told in the queue, and pre-show IN JAPANESE. Yet, even with the known aspects of TZ to me, the Tokyo version tells a better, more complete, and interesting story (Japanese or not). Though the ride itself is the lamest of the 4! That, I can certainly understand. Though, there has been nothing to to make me think that this ride will live up to the hype. The hype is more related to HP, than the actual ride itself, and what it is really capable of. Someday, I'm hoping, that this technology will be taken that extra step, and made into a reall "thrill" ride. Yes, from what I've seen, the themeing is awesome. Time will tell. I'm still getting over the fact that Lost Continent (one of my favorite themed areas in a park anywhere) is pretty much decimated, and will eventually be completely removed. Raises hands. I **CANNOT STAND** stupid "unicorns and fairies" stuff. Never have. That is the funniest thing I've read on here in a long time!!! I'll raise my hand on that one too!!! I also HATE the "unicorns and fairies" stuff!!!!!

First off, I would like to thank Adam for his diligence in keeping up with a majority of all news articles posted here on TPR (not just this SSA/SFNO diatribe). I imagine that it's quite time consuming, and can be a bit monotonous at times. So.... again, Thank you Adam! Now, onto the running joke that is "Southern Star Amusements, Inc.", and its' delusional leader, Danny Rogers. Once again, his command of the English language is.... TERRIBLE!!! (For those that do not know, the word should be "too", not "to". Again, I will reiterate, WHY is he posting info to a "fansite" and really nowhere else. I have NOTHING against the website, as they do have a love and passion for the park that was once there. That's fine. But, when "Danny" wants to make any kind of appeal, he states his desires and whims to a website that has only 338 members. Not exactly a good way to spread the word, if you ask me. I couldn't find exact attendance figures for SFNO in the years 2003-2005, but they were never in the top 25 of attendance figures in the USA. (source) However I did find an interesting article by the "The Times-Picayune" in New Orleans (that somehow hasn't surfaced in this thread until now). That article can be found here. An interesting quote from that article: Jazzland's attendance dropped 40 percent in its second season to 600,000 guests, while that of other regional theme parks climbed. Jazzland had been projected to draw 1 million people a year. For the sake of argument, let's be generous and say that, under SF management, they hit the 1 million mark (unlikely, but I bet Shane could shed some light here), for the years 2003-2005. Let's also say that the new park would draw as many people (HIGHLY unlikely). Under Danny Rogers proposed plan, the turnstile revenue would generate 1 million dollars in lease payments to the city of New Orleans. That's not bad. BUT, first you have to have the capital to open the park to get anywhere near those attendance figures. Anyone remember back last November (2009. Just to remind people how long Mr. Rogers has dragged out this impossible dream.) when SSA and/or Danny Rogers couldn't even raise $500,000 for the GO-Zone bonds to get this project off the ground?? It's NOT going to happen!!! Another amazing quote (with quite a bit of insight, I might add) from the "The Times-Picayune" article: Here's the set-up: "It's a very difficult market in which to operate a theme park. I say that based on the history and not just a gut feeling," said Speigel, president of International Theme Park Services, a Cincinnati firm. Speigel, who studied the park as both Jazzland and Six Flags, says he is watching closely this time around, too." But, here is the awesome punch-line: "It was an ill-conceived concept in the wrong location and it just should not have been built. It's just one of those things you ought to bury it and let it go." Wow. And I thought I was alone in my thinking!! JJ

A "professional" magazine puts up a really crappy video. Surprise, surprise. They probably went to the new "Harry Potter" themepark, and not IOA. Who the hell is Dumbledore?? On second thought, don't answer that. I really don't care about HP, and knowing even less MIGHT make this ride enjoyable. But, I doubt it.

Congrats Richard!! That's quite an accomplishment!! Sorry George, but that's too damn funny!!

Still DCA. Fail.

Having ridden 7 of the 8 (missing Hayabusa), this is quite easy: Eagle's Fortress by a wide, wide margin! Nothing would come in second. Flight Deck would edge out BBW (despite it's length) as there are no breaks in the action, for third. JJ

My favs: For the sheer power (sledgehammer in the chest) it has to be Dodonpa. Of the Intamins - Xcellerator, hands down. But my favorite is the second set of lims on Speed: The Ride.

This is really becoming a pathetic, sick joke. First off, he is posting all of this information to a fan website, which has a mere 338 members. I am NOT knocking the website, in fact I'm all for it (and for fansites in general). This man needs to become a little bit better educated in the ways of "Public Relations", and perhaps, having a competent person proofread his messages BEFORE they are posted would be a good start! Once again, this man is seriously demented. He only wants to save "your" park. He has absolutely NO vested interested in what's going on there, except to try and make a buck. At one time he was claiming that the only thing holding things up was the "old" mayor, as the new mayor would make things happen. Tick, tock. Tick, tock. Tick, tock. Tick, tock. Ahhh... NOT happening. This just absofreakinlutely cracks me up! (Not to mention, AGAIN, that Danny Rogers has shown a complete LACK of grammatical skills!!! (Use a few commas, you moron!)) Am I the only one that gets the impression that Mr. Rogers thinks that if the fate of the park is doomed, that the city will just GIVE him the rides to go open a new park, in another state?? Or, even more of a joke - sell him the rides?? With what money?? Didn't HIS company (SSAI) FAIL to come up with a payment of sorts late last year of a mere $500,000, to continue the pursuit of securing "GO zone bonds" (Or something to that effect)?? Now, this is strictly *MY* opinion here below: IF (and that's a big "IF" ) he were to open a new park in Mississippi, the ONLY logical thing that *I* could fathom would be some kind of place similar to Kemah Boardwalk, near one of the more popular gambling riverboat landings. I'm also talking about 3-5 rides, tops. That's about it. Not a bad idea, but not good either. As a few have stated before, Mississippi doesn't scream amusement park, either in population or general demographics. I'm glad he's still at it. He's so entertaining. I wonder what he'll try next? A hostile takeover of Disney? Why couldn't this have been posted before April 1st??? We could have ran with this so well!! Oh well, I'm quite sure that Danny Rogers will still be selling his sad story next year as well. Maybe I'll still get it in time for a good April Fools day joke!! JJ

^ You might want to consider the FACT that Mr. Weber may not be there next year. As stated in the article, for now, he is only there until they find a permanent replacement. It may be him, it may not. Speculation on what he might/might not do is kinda pointless at this place in time. JJ

WOW!! Interesting news! Though I doubt that at this late time in the season (pretty much all parks open for the summer) that we'll see any immediate changes. But it may make for an interesting off-season, come Sept-Oct. I think that installing Mr. Weber is a good move, if only to have an experienced figurehead at the helm during the upcoming season. Only time will tell if they (Six Flags Inc.) decide to keep him on-board in that capacity. Since the article stated that they have retained an "executive search firm", Mr. Weber may have to sell himself to the board, with his own proposals that would have their backing. Like I said, only time will tell. JJ

If you feel like your going to be judged by the clothing you wear, you might consider getting some new acquaintances. There's really nothing worse than shallow people. Been there. Done that. JJ

Sounds very Danny Rogers-esque to me.

I have to agree with the others have said here. I watched it for about 30 minutes and decided not to ride while my friends did. They got off extremely disappointed, so I had to try it. Yeah, it looks MUCH more impressive than it really is.

After being on 3 of the 4 "Mega-Lites" (missing Piraten), I think I'll have to quote the wise Dave Thomas - "You'll never see a "Mega-Lite" in the USA!" I kind of have to agree. Though I have yet to ride Intimidator 305, (and probably won't for another year, and really wonder how the airtime compares), they have way too much airtime for the GP at large, despite it's much smaller size. You have to remember, in the industry, marketing is everything!! If it's not bigger, taller, faster, etc... it will not get anyone really excited about it, except enthusiasts. Also, I have heard MANY times (from GP) that a coaster was defective, because people came out of their seat (i.e. "airtime") and they'd never ride xxxx coaster again, because that made them feel unsafe! I know people that think Colossus at SFMM is better than Terminator: Salvation or Ghostrider (OK-it IS better than GR nowadays, but...) ONLY because it is taller!! Most think the best coaster at SFMM is either X2 or Goliath. X2, because it is unique. Goliath, only because it has a 255' foot drop. Like Robb has said before, I've know quite a few people who have gone up to SFMM and skipped Terminator, just because they thought was just a re-theme of Psyclone, despite whatever I've told them. Besides, it's "too small" to be any fun. And... $15 million is quite a chunk of change for ANY park!! No matter what park would put one in, it would take several years to recoup the money spent. After all that being said - My vote would be for IOA. Move the kiddie Vekoma, and built another box to put it in (or in the existing JP Discovery Center). It could be like that scene where there had broom races, with great changes of direction (at least I think that was in a Harry Potter movie) and have visuals following you along the walls (like Space Mountain during Halloween). I know. Stupid idea. But, that's how I would currently do it. JJ - Who absolutely LOVES the "Mega-Lites"!!!

I wonder if "Stormchasers" can chase a tornado into Kings Island??

Perhaps maintenance was too busy installing trashcans (v4.27), to do things on schedule?? On a serious note, whether or not the guidelines as set forth by Intamin are one month or six months, I would think that if safety was really a priority anymore (and I'm not talking about changing height restrictions, must wear coats on rides, being indecisive on glasses policy, etc... those are cheap cop-outs IMO) they would've set the stricter standards for themselves as "preventative maintenance" to insure things like this would not happen. Typical American response: "It's not my fault. Blame those who made it, even if we didn't follow ANY maintenance guidelines!" And people wonder why we trash Knott's so often nowadays. Jeff "Used to love Knott's, now, pave it." Johnson