austinlee

I rode Terminator for the first time on Wed 5/27/09. It had a 20 min line both times I rode it that day. I also got some walk ons during the summer because I rode it as soon as the park opened. I avoided opening weekend to avoid the lines you have described. The longest I have waited to ride it is 30 mins, except for one time when it broke down and what would have been a 20 min wait became 45 mins.

I did not ride Colossus when it was new. I rode it for the first time in 1983, but I do remember it being much more intense, and much more fun than it is now. I still ride it mainly for the nostalgia factor. I do still like it to some extent, but it does not compare to the newer, better coasters. At this point I consider it a family coaster. The first 3 drops are still pretty fun but the rest of the ride is very tame, especially the final turnaround before the bunny hops. It feels like you could get out and run the same speed. I think it is fine that they run 2 trains on it, because it rarely has a line anymore. Even when I was there in July and August, it was a walk on.

That's exactly why I am thinking about going that day. I think that is why the crowds were so light the day before the Super Bowl on 2/2/08.

I have been there on Super Bowl Sunday before too. It is usually a perfect day to go with no lines on anything. I went that day last year and was planning to do it again until I found out they are closed that day this year. The Super Bowl is not on March 8, it is on Feb 7. I may go on Feb 6. I went to SFMM the day before the Super Bowl in 2008 and crowds were very light. Saturdays can always be risky, but that is the only time I have ever been there on Saturday and had light crowds. I was going to go on Super Bowl Sunday that year too, but we had rain in the forecast. That plan may also be changed if I go back before that. I know what you mean about going that often. I was there on 12/21 and thought about going back on 1/3. I wasn't quite ready so I went this past Sunday instead.

^^^^ I rode Jet Stream on Sunday. It felt about 80 degrees at the time. By the time I got over to Log Jammer it had cooled down a lot and there was a large group of people using the water cannons. Since it was not as warm anymore and I didn't want to get soaked, by the water cannons, I skipped it. It was the first time I had gone on either ride since August. I never ride Roaring Rapids or Tidal Wave since I hate to walk around the park soaking wet.

Sorry you didn't make it Eric. Yes, it was a perfect day. I hope it's like that when you go. January is usually a great time to go, but the crowds were even lighter than I expected. Anytime I get on X2 four times and never wait more than 20 mins is a great day. Can't wait to go back.

I wouldn't read too much into that. Since it closed they have been changing those dates on a regular basis to reflect that Xcelerator will be closed for the rest of the current month.

When I was there yesterday Deja Vu and Ninja were closed. All other coasters were open. Roaring Rapids and Tidal Wave were closed. Log Jammer and Jet Stream were open.

My first park visit of the new year. I got there at about 10:00 and was able to park in the 3rd row of the parking lot and drive right up to a toll booth with no wait. Crowds were very light, as expected at this time of year. When they opened there were not many people waiting to get in. The new blue paint on Batman and the repaint of Goliath look really good. Thank you to the person who said a ride op told them that Goliath would be open over the weekend. It was open even though the parks website said it would be closed. Deja Vu and Ninja were closed as expected. I got multiple rides on every coaster I went on without a Flash Pass. I was wearing my Tatsu t-shirt and a security guard watching the line saw it and told me "you even have the right shirt for this ride". Also a ride op on Tatsu told me nice shirt when I rode again later that night. I even got a solo ride in the front row of the Viper one time and had many re-rides while either staying in my seat or just changing seats and getting back on. Near the end of the night I got 4 consecutive rides on Terminator without exiting. For the last 2 of those 4 there was no one waiting to get on and the ride ops just left the restraints locked, asked if we wanted to go again, and re-started the ride. To end the day, I got 4 consecutive rides on Goliath without exiting. Before the last ride a ride op gave some of the ride stats and after the ride was over, asked if anybody remembered how high the first drop was. A man answered and she gave him a stuffed animal. Here is my day. 1, 2: X2 twice. Waited 20 mins each time. 3, 4: Viper twice. Walk ons. 5, 6: Revolution twice. Walk ons. 7: Tatsu once. Waited 45 mins. Line would have only been about 20 mins. but it broke down when I was 2 trains away from riding. I decided to stay. 8: Terminator Salvation once. Waited 20 mins. I noticed a sign in the first pre-show room which says maximum occupancy 35. I don't remember seeing this before, but maybe I just never noticed it. Maybe this is why every other train is half full. The ride op which was telling people where to sit was purposely keeping the first 5 rows empty on every other train. 9: Jet Stream once. Walk on. Got to love Southern Cal weather with it being warm enough to ride a water ride in January. 10, 11: Gold Rusher twice. Walk ons. 12, 13, 14: Riddler's Revenge 3 times. Walk ons. 15, 16, 17: Batman 3 times. Walk ons. 18: Goliath once. Waited 20 mins. First time I have rode it since October. It was closed on my last two visits. The man next to me in line was very scared and asked me if it has ever killed anyone. 19, 20: Colossus twice. Walk ons. 21, 22, 23: Scream 3 times. Walk ons. 24, 25: Viper twice. Walk ons. Front row both times. Second time was a solo ride. 26, 27: X2 twice. Waited 10 mins each time. 28, 29, 30: Tatsu 3 times. Walk ons. 31, 32, 33, 34: Terminator Salvation 4 times. Walk ons. For the last 3 rides, did not have to exit the train. 35, 36, 37, 38: Goliath 4 times. Two walk ons, then 3 train wait for front row and one more walk on. Put my arms up every time. After the front row ride the man in back of me tapped me on the shoulder and said good job for keeping my arms up the whole ride. Ride totals. X2: 4 Viper: 4 Revolution: 2 Tatsu: 4 Terminator Salvation: 5 Jet Stream: 1 Gold Rusher: 2 Riddler's Revenge: 3 Batman: 3 Colossus: 2 Scream: 3 Goliath: 5

I don't find Pony Express uncomfortable. Just short and boring. There are kiddie coasters I have had more fun on. The Canyon Blaster at SFMM is a better ride. If Pony Express got removed tomorrow, I wouldn't care at all. I still enjoy GhostRider, although it is very rough.

^^^ You're right. I couldn't remember exactly when it was painted, but I knew it was during that 5-6 month period when it was closed. Your post reminded me that it was in the Spring. The first time I rode it, following the long rehab, was in April, 09. It had been closed since approx Oct.

Gold Rusher is much better than Pony Express. Pony Express is my least favorite out of the 60 coasters I have rode. It is the only coaster I have been on that, when it was over, my first thought was that I didn't enjoy it.

Deja Vu was repainted in the winter of 08 into 09, when it had a major rehab. Flash Pass was very useful when I used it last June, July and August when the park was very crowded. If you know which rides to hit first before the lines get too bad, the park layout and pick days when the crowds aren't that bad, you don't really need it. If you go on a busy day and want a decent amount of re-rides on the most popular coasters, Flash Pass is worth it. I have found the Regular to work fine. The Gold seems to be overkill, unless you can't stand to wait at all. Even on a busy day, you can find some less popular coasters to ride with short waits while you are waiting for your reservations to be ready.

I don't know why everyone recommends people the flashpass, as if it is essential to experience these rides, I personally never buy it and see no reason really.....but whatever. I do find it annoying when people have the flash pass and they take your spot on a ride like Superman...so I kinda feel for those who show you their nasty looks haha. I have found Flashpass to be unnecessary most of the time, but it has helped me get on many extra rides on a few visits when the park was very crowded. Two of the times I have used it were last July and August when the parking lot appeared to be near capacity and the lines were long on almost every more popular coaster. Using Flashpass I was able to get on nearly 40 total rides on both visits which is probably near double of what I could have done without it.

^^ That reminds me, I was in line for Supreme Scream at KBF one time when the person in back of me said to his friends, lets ride "Pedal to the Metal" next. That phrase is on the side of Xcelerators station and can be seen while in the queue for Supreme Scream.

Welcome to TPR. Sorry your visit to SFMM did not work out for you. I have not had problems like that and the high winds are what probably destroyed your day. Unfortunately for you they do close most coasters when the winds are strong enough and the park does clearly state that they don't give refunds for inclimate weather. I was there on 12/21/09 and with good weather operations were not an issue, except for what has recently been posted about 1/2 full trains running on Terminator. Deja Vu was open when I was there, but Batman and Goliath were closed. I hope you get a chance to come back and give SFMM another chance when weather is not an issue. I go there regularly and this is not typical of what happens there.

I think you are right. The 2nd Sunday in February is Presidents Day weekend. I was there the Sunday of that weekend on 2/17/08, and the crowds were very light. Tatsu and Deja Vu were about 45 mins and everything else was a 10 min wait or less. I think Tatsu and Deja Vu were a little longer than they would have been if X2 would have been open. It was closed for remodeling at that time.

The seats on X2 are off to the side of the track. Why don't they fall off? The line on Deja Vu takes too long. They should run two trains. All steel coasters are faster than wooden coasters. That's why Pony Express is faster than GhostRider.

I was planning to go on Super Bowl Sunday this year too. Last year I walked onto every coaster in the park that day, except X2, which had a huge 10 minute line. Most of them had less then 15 people in line and many had less than 5 people. Right before they closed we were able to ride Riddler's Revenge twice, without having the restraints unlocked. There were only 6 people on the train. The ride op asked if we all wanted to go again, then started the ride again immediately when everyone said yes. It was one of the best days I have ever had there. I may go on 1/24, the day of the Championship Games, instead. Sundays in January usually are not crowded anyway. 2/6 might be a good day to go too, even though it is a Saturday. I went to SFMM the day before the Super Bowl on 2/2/08. Tatsu and Deja Vu had 30 minute lines and every other coaster was a walk on.

I assume that SFMM is closed on 2/7 because it is Super Bowl Sunday. I went there on Super Bowl Sunday last year and the day before the Super Bowl in 2008, and the park was virtually empty both times. IMO, it seems like a cost cutting move. For a long time their website said they would be closed on 2/6 and 2/7. They just posted hours for 2/6 on their calendar two days ago. The 7pm closing times on Sundays in January are nice. That is later than they were open in Jan, 09.

I like Tatsu a little better at night, although it is one of my favorite coasters either way. Seeing the night sky and all the lights of the park and the surrounding area all around makes it feel even more like you are flying. Also X2, with the spotlights turned on and the better visual effect you get from the flamethrowers. GhostRider and Viper (SFMM) also feel faster to me when I ride them at night.

Robb, I have noticed the same thing. On most of my TS rides, after you get sent up the final stairway, you walk onto the train and there are not enough people left in line to fill the next train. Sometimes there aren't even enough people in the station to fill the train which has just returned. I feel that the stairway should be kept full at all times. I like the back row the best since I have found it to have more air-time. FrightFest1408, sorry to burst your bubble but SFMM is not open this Friday. They are on their "off-season" schedule right now and are only open weekends and school holidays.

Last time I was there, they were sending out almost every train with 3-5 empty rows and the line ended up being 30-45 minutes. It should have been about 1/3 shorter if they were running at capacity. The problem seems to be that they don't let enough people into the pre-show rooms. I would not mind watching the pre-show if there is a line and the trains are running at maximum capacity. When there is no line I think they should just let you walk through and get on. I have seen the pre-show so many times, I already know what they are going to say too. I have also noticed that many people don't pay attention to it.

The park must have really been deserted for the line on X2 to be that short. I have only seen it that short a few times. I'm not happy about those doors in the Terminator pre-show. I liked it when they would let you walk all the way through and skip it when there was no line. Looks like a perfect day to have been there.

Agreed about Revolution. I still ride it once or twice on most visits but mostly for nostalgic reasons and only if the line is short enough. I do not like it nearly as much as I did before the modifications. There are too many brakes now and too much headbanging on the OTSR's. That being said I would miss it to some extent if it was removed. Maybe I'm in the minority about Superman: TE, but I still like it.