Chrisrad

If this one is too much, please delete it!

Here's my first stab at it.

Went to Knott's yesterday for an hour or so.. (I was in the area). I got a few rides on Silver Bullet and Ghostrider, and managed to take a few pictures. Pony Express has 2 trains in the maintenance area, with one covered up. On both trains, everything looked in-tact.. no signs of any foul horseplay.. On the train that was covered, the wrought iron 'gate' on the back was slightly bent.. but it might have just been the angle.. The covered train is on the right.. in-person, the black metal piece looked as if it was bent back.. Behind the fence on the left, a maintenance worker was working on the train.. Here are pony's brakes on the launch.. Excelerator was running well.. dispatches every few minutes.. Despite some newer pieces of wood on Ghostrider, it didn't feel any different.. that ride is simply brutal, even in the front row. Riding Colossus 5 times, including backwards twice, it pales in comparison.. Ghostrider has the tendency to rearrange my organs.. I feel for the people who were behind me on one ride.. they were so large that two employees had to pull on the seat belt buckle to make it long enough to fit around their waists..

Darn.. just when I thought I had the inside scoop. To be honest, I'm not too familiar with the ride or the trains as I haven't ridden it. From the tower I thought I was looking at metal brackets that are usually on OTSRs. Oh well. Regardless, nobody was working on the ride. As far as not riding it, I need more of a thrill than going partially up a 400 foot tower of steel, only tocome right back down. X2's audio...yeah... Odd..just not exciting or adrenaline-pumping. X2's standard audio does much more for the overall experience. I'm on my droid so I apologize for errors.

Went to SFMM on Sunday.. First off, before I forget, there were bees... everywhere! Every trash can had a few lingering bees, and at Johnny Rockets, they kept coming to our table.. one landed on my soda few times. On Gold Rusher, the employees blocked off an exit because they announced, "there are bees over there".. I'm no expert, but I didn't think it's bee season. Oh well. They didn't bother us. But for those with allergies, it could be a problem. (I'm supposedly allergic based on my last sting, but the guy in me is too stubborn to admit that.) Arrived shortly after opening and, against the pattern of the GP, went to Goliath first. We got a $1 l.oc.ker and rode once. Then did Colossus, Scream, Batman, Riddler, and Goliath again; all while still exploiting the same $1 l.o.cker. So quit whining about paying the $1.. Goliath is my favorite. The MCBR was a bit harsher (slowed the train almost to a stop) than I remember. Headed back toward the front, got a REAL lo.ck.er (I got in for free, had a free parking voucher, and had a free meal voucher from my birthday so I needed to support the park somehow ). Went up to the Sky Tower - announcements during the elevator rides are new - they talk about the park's history and some details about rides. Neat. From the tower, noticed that Terminator was stopped at the top of the lift - only for a little while. Also noticed something with Superman. I've never been on the ride, but it looks as if restraints are visible on BOTH sides. And this view is from the tower so maybe both sides are going backwards? I don't know. I've never ridden the ride and probably never will. It's very hard to tell from the Droid photo.. but if you're familiar with the trains, you can tell that you are facing the fronts of the trains.. Also, as someone else mentioned, there are cables that go up the tower.. probably for painting. Or for SFMM's 3rd experience... "Superman: The Escape"... Ride to the top and get out.. then slide down to the ground via guide wires. Here's Terminator with a train that was having a hard time taking the tunnel.. We then completed the circuit.. rode Terminator (I felt a few rough spots, and I've ridden in a dozen times); Viper, twice; X2 twice;, Tatsu; then back down to do Riddler again; Colossus backwards - twice; and finally, Goliath, one last time. On X2, the audio didn't work on the first train. So we got back in the 5 minute line and rode again.. it worked this time. And it was LAME! Sorry to offend any of you. Give me Harry Connick and Metallica ANY DAY over a Halloween recording. I don't really remember the all of the details, but the Halloween recording has to do with an unidentified UFO.. (or plane?).. To make things better (or worse) the song that plays once you're back in the station is REM, "It's the end of the world as we know it." Regardless of not being able to hear Enter Sandman up the lift, X2 was still incredible - fire working on both sides. Overall, a great day! Especially for a Sunday. We managed to avoid the droves of people who started at X2 and looped around.. the longest wait was a half hour for Terminator. So, to sum things up: *A lot of Bees around the park (trash cans/recycle bins) *X2 was running great *B&Ms are starting to bore me. *Tidal wave (that's the one from Step by Step, right?) was dry; yet it was operating on my last visit a few months ago. *New "Ask.com" signs everywhere.. at least 2 in Goliath's queue alone.. Let's just say they are trivia questions where you text in an answer for a 'chance' to skip a line. The questions have to do with Barbie's last name and Justin Bieber.. to name a few.. Need I say more? Toward the end of the night it turned into teen central.. we got in the ever-so-important Colossus backwards rides so we were more than satisfied.

Knott's is just trying to compete with SFMM... Why let them have all of the glory with backwards Colossus? On a serious note, I am shocked to see anything like this happen with such a mild coaster, especially considering how far the train had to travel from the incline, back to the station.. And as others have asked, why no anti-rollbacks?

I am not 100% certain, but I think it was 6pm last year. If I remember correctly, I knew I had to go over to Colossus later in the day to ride it backwards.. I'm hoping to get up there next Sunday as I have a free parking pass through the rewards program. Colossus backwards is quite the experience. Imagine if they were to run it backwards permanently... there's your third 'experience'!

If I recall correctly, this was discussed at WCB.. SFMM just doesn't have the infrastructure to allow this.. at least not right now. The l-o-c-k-e-r-s were also discussed.. SF is trying to discourage you from bringing so much crap inside the park.. Think about how much time it takes for guests to walk to the other side of the train to put stuff in a cubby.. it just adds to loading times...etc. I use the $1 lockers on Tatsu and X2 for my cell phone.. (Droid X) because it is my personal responsibility to take care of my personal belongings. If I didn't to buy a locker, I would leave it in the car.. it's as simple as that. Why does everyone have to bitch about a buck? A lot of us probably get in for free with our passes.. or next to nothing with discount tickets. Additionally, SF has to protect itself from lawsuits.. people do stupid things.. they bring stuff on rides that should not be on rides... Objects fall out of pockets and hit other people.. bad news! The other day on Tatsu, as we were approaching the final brake run, someone's cell phone flew out of their hand or pocket and hit the diamond plate 'decking'.. even with the train slowing down, the cell phone basically disintegrated into dozens of pieces.. So yeah.. I wouldn't be surprised if that guest got upset and complained to SF.. too bad.. they offer $1 lockers.. should have used them. Just playing the devil's advocate here.. sorry

FYI - Supervisors are allowed to use their phones while on duty. Many ways this is how they communicate with other supervisors around the park. There are times and places for using them, and the park doesn't want (nor do they allow) their front line employees to use them. So, before jumping to conclusions, it's entirely possible that the supervisor was not doing anything wrong at all. --Robb I should have elaborated.. He was kneeling down behind the control booth texting.. He wasn't making a phone call.

Regarding cell phone use when supervisors aren't around, I saw a young guy using his phone at the Tatsu station. He had to have been a supervisor because he had a dress shirt and tie on.. It really is a disgrace seeing the lackadaisical attitudes of a lot of the employees.. it's as if they are forced to be there..

After riding Goliath yesterday in the AM, the drop really has no effect on me anymore.. While I love B&Ms, and their loopy goodness (Tatsu #1, Batman and Riddler tied for #2), I am beginning to enjoy traditional coasters even more (non-looping).. While I appreciate the thrill of Viper, and the fact that X2 simply owns its riders (that ride is just plain ballsy), I am more into drops and speed.. perhaps being able to enjoy the surroundings without being jostled all over the place.. Also.. I've ridden scream a few dozen times.. Is it really true that the track piece at the bottom of the first drop was dropped during construction? Or is that just hearsay? There is definitely a noticeable 'vibration' at the bottom for a second. If so, any more details of the mishap?

^^In the morning, it was the first ride we went to.. We were able to walk on to rows 3 and 4.. We made a backwards loop around the park, ending at X2, then reversed the course, ending at Goliath. Since the park closed at 6, it was probably a bad idea to plan on riding Goliath last.. as that is a pretty 'big' ride in that section of the park.. Or.. as the GP makes a loop starting at X2, ending at Goliath, I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the people in line were ending their day at Goliath. There were two trains running on Goliath, and all of the other rides for that matter (excluding Deju Vu). Based on the light crowds, I was definitely surprised to see 2-train operation.

Perhaps I should wait to post this because of the focus on Jay's unfortunate departure, but here it goes anyway.. Went to the park yesterday (Tuesday). According to The Weather Channel - on my phone - temps were around 110. Park looked great! Everything open expect Ninja (some welding being done on the ride) and Superman (obviously). I took two friends along for the day.. one had been to SFMM before, the other had never been. My biggest complaint is the Panda Express by Viper.. VERY poor customer service. I don't mean to bitch, but it's $12.06 for a meal/soda. There were two cashiers when we walked up to the window, but one closed right when it was our turn. Our particular cashier was quite rude, and was VERY hesitant to make any accommodations for one of my friends who is a vegetarian - as some of you might know, the combos are already prepared and are ready-to-serve.. the cashier had to think about asking the cooks to make something special.. and they were all quite rude about it; there were easily 4 cooks and 2 cashiers in the little building.. After receiving our food, we had to ask for napkins.. between the three of us, we got four napkins! There are NO dispensers anywhere near the tables or building. Again, he was offended that we asked for them. We ate lunch.. and watched the line get bigger.. and also watched as only one cashier serviced the customers. Anyway.. it irks me to see people that have jobs.. yet they don't want to work.. And they don't know ANYTHING about customer service.. Sorry for the bitching.. NEXT Construction for the N'awlins roller coaster... Somebody put sunglasses on one of the props. Some welding on Ninja. And a random shot from the Sky Tower. All-in-all, great day! We made it our goal to ride every 'major' ride twice.. Except for Revolution and Deja Vu. So: X2: two rides without getting back in line (changed seats). Audio worked out of station, up the lift, and at the end of the ride; cut out while on the track. Viper: 2x.. front, then back. Riddler: 2x.. front and back. Goliath: once; tried to go twice but the line at 5:55 pm was at least an hour. Scream: twice Colossus: twice Batman: twice; front and back Terminator: twice; front and back Tatsu: twice; front and back Did I miss any? Maybe. Crowds were light..HH had some decent crowds.

^ Awesome, thanks! I'm also guessing that the heat will scare away large hordes of people.. Although I could be wrong. We'll see.. and I will post a quick report tomorrow.

Going to MM tomorrow.. Shouldn't be too bad, right? (I'm talking about the crowds, not the weather ) I know they're open until six, but has there been a barrage of school buses and kids lately? Thanks!

I wear jeans that are slim-fitting. I usually put my droid in a front pocket on most rides. On Tatsu, I put it in my back pocket; on X2, it goes in the front. I still worry about its survival but I have had pretty good luck so far. Cargo shorts sound nice, but I hate wearing shorts.. so.. *knocks on wood

Nice TR! I was at Planet Hollywood in March and stayed in a room identical to yours'.. Yes, the parking situation SUCKS!!! It feels as if you're not supposed to be rolling luggage around a mall.. haha. Did you go to Circus-Circus?

Really? You actually believed that? If I remember correctly, someone said that it was closed recently, and maintenance workers were doing some welding on the loop. Unfortunately, that info is buried in the pages discussing Superman.

This thread keeps getting better and better. Don't be discouraged that you're not getting tons of replies.. I check on it every day and have only replied once. Keep it up! It's awesome!

The flour machine was running yesterday, but they were still passing out corn tortilla's only.. I've seen the Indiana Jones guy on a recent visit.. and yeah, big time MC'er... Where are the new brakes on Screamin? I rode it yesterday and didn't feel anything different..