PAL

A quick photo-free TR from yesterday's visit: The very tip-top of Superman's tower sports a classy red color. There's a long way to go before it'll be point-and-shoot camera worthy. Goliath's midcourse seemed to be biting even harder than its usual slam to a near stop. On one of our two laps we sat parked for a good 5-10 seconds before creeping over the drop into the helix. It was a little colder than it's been, but the train was fully loaded at the time. There was nothing doing at Batman's extended queue, at least nothing visible from Batman, the adjacent walkway or Riddler's lift. Squads of junior / peewee cheerleaders choked the entrance plaza at park open. I feared for my sanity, but needn't have worried. The park was as quiet as I'd expected for the Sunday after Halloween. Most rides were station waits. At 2 pm the lineup for X2 started at the split. Trains 2 and 3 were running, with audio a fail on 3. Discover Card holders were allowed into the park 5 minutes early. Everyone else saluted the nation's veterans while the national anthem played a la Cedar Fair. That was a change since my last visit this summer.

You can't fool me. I know Cedar Pt when I see it. Mmm, cheese curds.

Wow, enjoyed the report, almost felt like I was there... not quite, but see you at WCB. I'm glad your trip to the Mt worked out. It's fun and interesting to see how others feel about the local parks. For me the mix of sentimentality battles with the contempt of familiarity, resulting in views anything but objective. You were kind to Revolution and Scream, Grizzly and Demon. Dichotomy! My head hurts. Thanks, and what the hell were you thinking? CGA has outstanding flats. If we could close that sucker and disperse them to more 'deserving' parks in the state, wouldn't that be great. Just kidding, CGA solitary fanboy. I remember that park when it was cherry. So much potential wasted, it's sad. I rather enjoy Medusa west; for one, it's a bigger ride than it's eastern cousin. Terminator is great, but you missed the best wood in the state. That resides in Santa Cruz of course. Get your mind out of the gutter! What's your wood top 10? Are you missing some of the most popular among coaster dorks? Curious. If not WCB, see you at SFOT once Texas Giant starts its second lease on life.

Brady MacDonald of the LA Times has confirmed Superman's details. The illustration looks drawn right from the film clip. ZacSpin announcement, you can't be far off. Interestingly, he notes that Superman will run both trains backwards for a few months. Later, one will be turned around. That 100 mph number is there too. I guess we'll see soon enough. http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/themeparks/la-trb-superman-six-flags-magic-mountain-20101019,0,4743557.story?track=rss

According to the Orange County Register, the brake fins were painted before the ride opened to the public. Source: ocresort.ocregister.com/2010/10/19/knotts-pony-express-back-on-the-trail/59314/

^^"Kutos to the author." Google whiz. It strikes me as crazy someone would take on the liability of a massive and aging wooden structure without FIRST engaging an engineering firm for an assessment and estimate. You have to know what you're getting into beforehand. Time pressure never justifies such an apparently irresponsible leap. I have to wonder about the terms of the purchase. How long can they leave it on the property, and if they fail to move it, what are the consequences? Best of luck to them, 'cause they should be stuck with one hell of a mess when events reach their natural conclusion.

I think I'll hold my breath for the official announcement. For those with industry history, what's the chance this doesn't happen? 2011 is shaping up to be a great one for Six Flags. Between the Giant's makeover, the SFOG addition, and now this Zac Spin, the company is breaking all kinds of new ground. Nice bounce-back.

^Why would anyone want to hunt ponies?

^ I don't know. There's sad and pathetic, and then there's sad and pathetic.

Beer is available at SFDK and SFGrAdv, and probably other 6 Flags parks. I don't see it as a problem. It'll be pricey and most likely limited to certain areas of the park. Fact is, if people want to get hammered, they can do it right now in the parking lot for a relative pittance. There's nothing wrong with enjoying a mug of delicious suds with a tasty park meal. If nothing else, it'll make Magic Mt's mediocre food a little bit more bearable.

That bottle rack skeeves me out. I think about some punk mixing them up for laughs. Ugh. I do my best to avoid refillable 'souvenier' cups. They're a hassle to manage.

^I was wondering when someone would mention the Peoplemover Tron Tunnel. I can still hear the whizzing and buzzing of light cycles dueling to the death - it was that loud in there. The sequence livened up an otherwise nondescript section of Peoplemover track. Sort of what ElecTRONica will accomplish at DCA.

^^You missed the sarcasm. I'm glad the park is devoting resources to Superman. It definitely needed the attention. It has nowhere to go but up!

ECB was outstanding. My son and I got 15 laps on that brand spanking new thrill monster I305 that day, unthinkable in normal circumstances. We didn't want ERT to end. By the 3rd circuit of the night, I was hands-up the entire ride and grooving to the unique and intense snap-rolls of the twisties. All credit to the kid for telling the old man how to time the lean. Best OTS restraints ever. We didn't start out loving I305. Our first rides were a couple of days before ECB, about 30 hours after hopping on Millennium Force during our CP introduction. I know that MF has that "forceless" reputation. I didn't care, I came with no preconceptions. It was awesome, especially in the back seats. Amazing height and speed, and solid airtime. That first valley even greyed me out a couple of times. It found a place at the top of my list. When it was time to try our second giga, I looked at that towering lift and expected something like MF. Instead of the free fall, I found myself pressed against the front of the restraint during 305's first drop as the train's momentum was briefly checked. The twisties snapped my neck violently, even with the soft bars. I was expecting MF and didn't get it. After that first ride, I was less than impressed. My mistake? I didn't approach it with no expectations, as I had MF. Fortunately, we had a golden opportunity to ride and ride and ride at ECB. Once I got to know I305, I realized that the 300 ft drop is not the signature element even though it's right there in your face. Don't get me wrong, that drop is still thrilling. No, the twisties are the standouts here, unique in my experience and as intense as any moment I've experienced in a lifetime. The ride's a winner, and that's particularly clear when judged on its own character. KD is unbelievably fortunate to have it. I wish we had something approaching it out west.

For years I've carried a hard-shell case and tucked my glasses safely away in a secured cargo shorts / pants pocket. That changed two weeks back. I discovered a new kind of glasses strap, one that will keep the glasses around my neck if they should fall off - if they did, everything would be a blur, not just the coasters. The product name is NexStraps. Unlike standard straps that only circle the head and don't provide enough security for my peace of mind, these have a second loop a lot like a necklace. I know what you're thinking. Choking hazard! There's a break-away and the cord is somewhat elastic. That second loop isn't likely to come into play because it exerts a downward force on the glasses. It saw me through TTD, Maverick, I305, and 20 laps on El Toro on a recent trip. I'm a believer. Now I know what I was missing. Being able to see adds tremendously to the experience. I'm going to buy these straps for my entire near-sighted family.

^ I don't know what ECB you attended. There might have been a few boos, but those people were a small minority. TPR is way classier than that... at least in this context. There wasn't much classy about the TPR Quest Game, which explains why it was pure awesome. Stretch, my 13 year old who stands nearly 6-3, has never had a better time at a park. This kid is turning into a teen, but he was literally jumping for joy during our I305 ERT marathon. We were on our 9th lap when I noticed the telltale trash can parked in the queue entrance. As we surrendered our seats to those waiting for one of the last trains, we spotted a couple of open singles and hopped back on for a final 3 delirious spins. When Robb announced East Coast Bash, I'd already planned a big loop around the best of the East Coast / Midwest parks, for us a trip of a lifetime. Our planned route went straight into the dumper, 'cause we weren't going to miss a Bash for anything. In a voyage that included Cedar Point, Great Adventure, and a stroll 200 ft up on Griffon at BGW, East Coast Bash stands out as a highlight. That walk-back was a real privilege. Standing so close to a screaming blur of a train really puts the awesome speed and power into perspective. Thanks to the KD staff for rolling out the red carpet, and thanks to the TPR team for a typically enthusiastic and terrific event. We're already looking forward to the next Bash!

1. The Matterhorn, I'm certain of it. 100. Probably Roller Soaker at Hershey. The milestone snuck up on me. 100th Steel. Wicked at Lagoon. 150. I305 at KD during a quick visit leading up to East Coast Bash. Park / major models only for me. Credit whores help me out - how can I too learn to love depravity?

Wicked at Lagoon. Two big pops of air over the top hat = more out of the seat fun than the entire state of California. Win, SLC. Our beer's still better! EDIT: I just realized - Wicked was my 100th steelie.

I was just in Salt Lake for a trade show, but dashed away to Lagoon, largely to check out Wicked. I was pleasantly surprised. Lagoon is a charming small park, lushly landscaped and featuring a fun mix of old and new and some pleasantly potent coasters. Park photos aren't usually my thing - I'm too busy riding - but I took time out to give back to TPR just a little. This should take care of TPR's Lagoon photo needs, except for the Boomerang bumper car sign - missed that one. One more observation. It got up to 95 or 96 degrees, just a tad warm. No big deal, this park has banks of drinking fountains all over the place, and the water's refrigerated! Beautiful. Space Scrambler More Space Scrambler Tilt a Whirl Yeah, you know what this is. Sky Scraper It was open, but not too busy. If you ride this, better set aside plenty of time. Rock o Plane I hadn't seen one of these in a long while. Carousel More carousel Boomerang bumper cars Free refreshment

^^Those construction materials have been marshaled under Goliath for months. The slab at the former flat ride site across the midway from Thomas Town has been cleared. Any hope of something new, or are they just landscaping an eyesore? It might have been that way for months (like the Mr. Six site) and I just didn't notice. Does anyone have a list of Xtreme Play Pass restaurant discounts? I was denied again Thursday, this time at Wascal's (the fast food place between Thomas Town and High Sierra Territory). This is a generic Six Flags place, and I'm sure it is included in the discount program. It isn't worth arguing with a clueless, poorly trained cashier, and the line at Guest Services was longer than I cared to wait when I passed by. The park should have a hand-out for guests, or print the terms right on the pass. In spite of the huge improvement I've seen in the past few years, there's still room for improvements on the customer service side. Six Flags Magic Mountain presents its newest attraction - dirt. Real dirt. Not make believe.

I've attended the past two West Coast Bash events with my son, now nearly 14. It was a wholesome environment, more so than this site itself (which I consider PG-13). Generally I find people adjust their behavior to fit those around them. TPR members in my limited experience are much more polite and friendly than average. Must be the ERT!

Superb! (any chance of a preview?)

From Elissa's Europe trip report, I can tell TPR avoids dumps. What makes a good TPR hotel, and where can I buy the guidebook? It would mean more to me than some AAA or arbitrary and often inflated star rating. This appears to be a common park-going problem. I see the post about Great Adventure hotels and I commiserate. I'd prize a good enthusiast recommendation for places to stay near BGW, KD, GrAdv, Knoebels, Kennywood and CP.

Ok then, this CP rookie wants to know the secret to a good ride on Magnum. OP, nice report - thanks!

California Screamin at Disney California Adventure. The crew was cranking 5 trains. Love those high speed operations.