DirkFunk

I legit don't understand who wouldn't want to see all the park's wait times...well, other than a Fast Lane person. I look at that when I'm not already in line for something to help plan my day, especially since it includes closures. Also unless I'm missing it, there isn't a space for the season pass to be entered in the Android version. I guess I'll check again in 6 months when I go to a CF park again and download the new-improved app.

One spike. Loading area kinda like Mr. Freeze.

I've got a whole array of cameras now, but when I go to most parks, I just bring in my cell phone in lieu of one. Fun Pix, the Battle for Cedar Point, tracking wait times; if you don't have a cell phone on you (and possibly a battery pack for it), you are not gonna be experiencing the park to its best. If they'd just move the platinum pass to the app, that would be best yet, but since every park has a different app, probably no rush.

That's cool for y'all that don't bring a phone in, but I do, and almost everyone I know does, even people over 60. Six Flags has so much integration, my Gold Pass is on my cell phone. I don't even need the card now. Setting up times and all that is nice until people end up being delayed or run late, at which point everyone ends up hating each other. I'll happily live in the 21st century, thank you very much. As for the loose article box 'o doom, it isn't like it is a logistical nightmare to figure out how to deal with cell phones. Right now, the Six Flags queue management system involves a Tamagotchi on a carabiner. I'm sure an alternative can be figured out like, I dunno, bins specific for those using queue jump systems or whatever. As is, all these places want me to use my phone anyways - Cedar Fair just signed a licensing deal to ensure I get ads while using their WiFi. Disney practically demands use of a phone if you want to get the most out of a MagicBand. Outside of theme parks, I can use my phone to get into a hotel room without ever going to the front desk, filled with all sorts of expensive stuff I could theoretically steal. Why have the band? Why not just use the damn phone?

I'll improve it in two steps: 1) You buy it online via the park app 2) You have them scan the app at the Fast Lane entry/merge poine Then you don't even have to go somewhere to buy it, and you don't need to tear it off at the end of the night.

Regional parks might, but they'll use cell phone applications. I honestly think the bands are a stupid waste of money for most of these companies.

So the story from Screamscape on this seems to be that everything is a complete cluster: track is being refabricated for the ride in Italy and then needs to get on a boat before being installed and the ride tested again. The Miler coaster was delayed and then in the rush to get it up and Galeforce operating (which of course couldn't happen anyways, see prior statement re: track), had to be shipped to the site unpainted, where it will likely stay unpainted forever. You can't make this up.

Don't worry, you can always continue to delude yourselves by telling yourself, "RMC can't say anything because they aren't allowed to by Cedar Fair."

Summers are a significant issue, especially since they are expected to only get hotter. However, other issues which one might find pressing: -Limited availability of alcohol. Booze is expensive out there and must be found in "hotels". Anyone who has been knows that there are several places with small numbers of rooms which exist for little reason other than to sell beer/wine/liquor. -Ramadan. Expats leave en masse during it, as eating food in public is illegal most waking hours and temps rise to 120F+. -It's still a socially restrictive society towards members of the LGBT community with prison terms being possible They simply can't be all the things Orlando is without significant change to their society.

Let's go back a bit: Saudi Arabia is not open to tourism from any nation. It is easier by far to go to North Korea or Cuba than Saudi Arabia for an American or European tourist. It is also, how should we say this, not particularly inviting? Obviously then, this is geared towards a locals market. Why a theme park? Because what else are they going to build? Businesses? Saudis don't work. Here's a fun paper from the Gulf Research Center: http://gulfmigration.eu/media/pubs/exno/GLMM_EN_2014_01.pdf In 2013, 28.4% of Saudi nationals under the age of 30 were unemployed in the nation of Saudi Arabia, including over 60% unemployment among women (who also cannot legally drive). They are given subsidies to make up for the lack of employment, much of which has been handed to foreign nationals because Saudis are either incapable of doing the work physically or mentally, or because they find it beneath them (e.g. service sector positions). There is a desire to change these figures, but it requires a large scale generational shift in attitudes towards existence. So again, why theme parks? Because theme parks are entertainment for unemployed masses living off of a gigantic system of national welfare. Theoretically, the money then gets reinvested in the Saudi economy rather than going elsewhere.

Quick background: the UAE exists as it does because it exports most of its oil to India and has since it was discovered. It is a resort area for India, but has to compete with the existing places within that country as well as Thailand and Malaysia (in addition to India's middle class being a small margin). Saudi Arabia is an obvious place from which to draw visitors because they are free to enter the UAE and have such deeply restrictive policies that the UAE acts as a comparatively open and free society. However, it has a smaller population than California over 5x the space. 1/3 of that population consists of foreign nationals who are generally paid next to nothing and live in work camps. It's largest population centers are large distances away, requiring air travel. The water parks get better attendance (surprise), but crowds are easily dealt with on any day that isn't Friday. Friday is basically the Middle East's Sunday, and people come into the UAE in droves to have fun, get drunk, etc. Are the parks generally empty? Yeah. Are they gonna hit lofty 5-6 million attendance figures any time soon? There's only 11 million or so people entering the UAE for any reason, so no, absolutely not. Are parks being build there because they get sweetheart licensing deals? Yeah. But that's nothing new. Disney doesn't own the majority of any of its Asian parks. Neither does Universal of the Singapore park.

The part that blows my mind is that the first monorail at an amusement park was in Akron, OH, not Disneyland.

IIRC it was basically around where Blue Streak is now.

It's literally what Yas Waterworld already does.

Its the same as Waldameer and Canobie's I think. Also the ancient rocketship simulator and a couple of boat rides are there too IIRC

Dutch Wonderland actually has some cool kids stuff but is also priced like a Six Flags park which LOL. I doubt this alone gets me to go back there instead of dropping into Dorney with my Platinum Pass and riding Talon repeatedly, midday, on a prime summer Saturday with no wait.

Six Flags is actually doing better than Cedar Fair in FY 2016. Both had nearly identical 3% drops in EBITDA last quarter attributed to the same reason. People just read the headlines.

Both chains have pretty lofty goals as far as growth is concerned. Also most people still don't read these things for comprehension. From the actual CF press release: Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter was $336 million, down $10 million, or 3%, when compared with the same period last year. The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA during the third quarter of 2016 was the direct result of an extended period of record high heat during the last half of July and first half of August across the majority of the regions in which the Company operates. This resulted in a shortfall in attendance and a shift in consumer spending away from the amusement parks to the Company's water parks, where guests historically have spent less. A shorter average length of stay also occurred at the Company's parks during this period due to the record heat and humidity. Overall, year vs. year, EBITDA is less than 1% off from 2015. Revenue is growing but only keeping pace with increased expenses. Six Flags has a similar story right now.

Zoning and building permits aren't under federal purview. Neither are ride certifications. Now, you could be granted a permit to build a ride and them promptly be refused certification to operate it. That has actually happened a couple of times. There's also the option of trying to build a ride which you were not granted a permit for. Six Flags tried that years ago at New England. As far as the discussion of environmental concerns: allowing anyone to overstep boundaries set for them and then simply saying, "Well, they did it, gotta allow it!" sets the worst precedent ever and is not likely. Changes would be seen instead. Second, the greater concern is likely not for the zoo animals and their welfare, but the endemic fauna.

Bro, if you look straight up on almost any dark ride ever built, you'll see duct work and theater lighting. On Soarin', there's a million things to "break the spell"; dust from the projector, marks on the screen, the quick cuts between vastly different places, et al. I think its super funny when people act like "immersion" has nothing to do with them personally and their willingness to buy into whatever they're seeing, and instead is some sort of objective measure based on the amount of money spent on flair, jerky robots, or foam rocks. As for Soarin', its a great demo for the technology that now a bunch of copies exist of. I don't hate it, I also don't care about it enough to want to wait a long time for it.

2017 is the year of screen attractions between that and the Avatar E-Ticket. Personally I don't care because I'm a grown adult that knows everything is fake? I dunno, I'm crazy like that.

I guaran-damn-tee that the number of people that show up will be greater than zero. All 53 people (all of whom will either be paid to be there or coaster enthusiasts) that come are gonna have one helluva time.

In 10-15 years it'll be gone/rethemed anyhow.

As much as I enjoy Dragons, I am also OK with a new coaster occupying that spot given that Universal will never again duel the rides.

Hit E-stop, then go below deck and hit the power switch. That's pretty much all there is to it. The trains get craned off the coaster later in the month.