chadster

I too experienced the Funderland issues first of May, good ol' CalOSHA. Glad I didn't drive to Fresno!

Who is to say a ride opens late? It's generally an arbitrary date placed by marketing/pr who is sure to rarely check with site mgmt on a regular basis, handed an estimated date which is then in turn treated as gospel. The end result, 'delays' happen.

It would appear that the lift chain is going in. Should be any day now.

I know I have to show up at 3am on May 29th. That is all I know about media day, and having done enough of these, that's usually about all the info I get. Most of the time I'm lucky to know what entrance to use. I'm sure the park will send info to Robb that will in turn be sent to everyone going from CTPR.

Volunteer riders needed for Goliath on Friday, May 30 for commercial shoot. Riders must: - Be at least 18 years of age - Be available to be at Great America this Friday, May 30 at 8:30 a.m. OR 1:00 p.m. - Be able to ride Goliath multiple times, back to back If you are interested, send an e-mail with your head shot, height, shirt size, contact information and preferred time (8:30 a.m. or 1:00 p.m.) to OfficialSFGreatAmerica@gmail.com

Nope! My actual wait time in the line above was about 30 minutes, I only waited to time it. It goes somewhat faster with two people shoving the bar down on your lap instead of one. One thing I found odd was no one at the MCBR today, guess the test seat is their priority on low staffing days. Guy - They tested out the magic carpet loading at the end of 2012, the problem with it, and the only problem with it, was the lack of three trains on the rails. Because they rotate one of the three out for rehab, they never have three to run. So while it would work, you found yourself waiting on a train for 60 seconds, which is not a bad thing, but when your magic carpeting things you'd really want to never not be putting a butt in a seat. SFSTL magic carpeted their pando, had to acquire more cars from another park because it was running so efficient.

Whohoo half full trains due to TSA checkpoint and one person working it!! 1 train no waiting

But that would be large people profiling, and we can't have that. And yeah, even midday the station was thin with people as the artery was clogged. "Do you have any heart conditions, have you had recent surgery, do you have any questions concerning the safety of this ride?" That's gonna get old. And if the test seat isn't calibrated the same as the train, that's an even bigger problem. In addition to the four texas sized individuals who got booted, on the same train no less, (which meant it took them 10 minutes to dispatch, no joke)(they boot one, lock, check, unlock, relock, recheck, boot one, repeat) they booted a girl in a wheel chair because she had a sprained ankle. Classy. It wasn't even in a cast, not fake, just sprained. Sorry, no ride for you. Why even let people up the exit in a wheel chair then? Does this know also mean that people who walk with a cane or canes can no longer ride too? I really want to like this park, I really want them to get better, and they are in certain areas which is welcomed, but for every step forward they seem to take a few back. Maybe if they themselves didn't make a big deal out of what happened people wouldn't question anything. Locals know she was too fat to ride, they realize that is nothing wrong with the ride and that nothing ever was. The bottom line is someone was allowed to ride that should not have been. Take responsibility and move on. Somehow tho I'm sure the lawyers had a part in this so they could spin some things around in court. When 4 people are working load they slighlty stack trains, even when kicking people off. With two people, they always stack, always. With two people plus the two people at the TSA checkpoint, a little bit of stack, not much, but you don't slide right in, at least I didn't. So I'm not really sure what this is accomplishing. Ops is claiming they are sending more trains, and that may be, but are they sending more full trains. Nope. /rant I do have a nice photo update to share, maybe later.

I had no intentions of going to the park today but had to see this in person. Wow. I feel like I'm in third grade. Flashpass and handicap peeps don't go through this process of rule telling and seat fitting. Those that aren't getting a green light are being told the seats on the train are different and they might fit. Guess what? They don't. So four texas sized giants later from the handicap line the intended effect of faster dispatches was quashed. Looks like it's here to stay, word is operations likes it.

It's to allow you more time to take in the views, nothing more. What would you rather look at, the train loading in front of you or the Ozark Mountains? I choose mountains.

Yes, it was slowed.

this half assed system wasn't in play on Thursday tho it took about 30 minutes to send 6 trains, total fail on what should have taken 15 minutes while maximizing everyone's day. Just when i thought they were turning around with better entry processes and friendlier staff they somehow managed to fuck it up properly. Ill stick with Shockwave and Mr. Freeze until this nonsense blows over. In other news the train of death, ironic its red, is being readied for retrofits and a return to action. Its been in solitary due to the lawsuit.

Want more chances to win ponds? Add me 24chadster

This is why I have much respect for IRM, always willing to answer any questions or set us straight. Thanks guys

Two weeks ago I stopped by the Saturday Flea market to see what was going on. The parks' fundraising campaign yielded just under 20k. What does 20k get you? Turns out not a lot. They did manage over the winter to clear out one of the lots they had items stored in near Downtown Tulsa and brought it to a field onsite at the Flea Market. They also went and retrieved the donated roller coaster from Indiana and picked up a old school ferris wheel. A strange himalaya trailer also has appeared. But the bad news is not a lot has changed in two years. The original 4 rides have been moved around a bit and stuff can be found all over the grounds. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves, but let's be realistic, the chances of this park surviving on $1/ride is slim. Well, here we are. I equate the tilt-a-whirl to the building of a hot rod. Why? Because no matter how hard you try it just never seems to get done. Rode on these many a time as a child. Another one of the original rides to the new location Ditto. Here lies part of the old Fun Spot Coaster Freshly painted track and supports This is the strange himalaya looking ride that arrived. The wires are hanging all over the place and doesn't look sea worthy. Not sure where it came from, but it's for sure not the Reverchon version they originally had. I can't for the life of me remember what ride this went to. It was either the ferris wheel or super roundup....I think The mini golf course arrived last year But here it sits. In many pieces Along with the classic yellow picnic tables Phantasmagoria cars. Fun fact, Bell Sr. not only built the molds and cars for his park, but also for Joyland in Wichita and Wonderland in Lubbock. Track waiting for paint. Another shot of these cars. The memories they bring back of fondling and tonsil hockey. *sigh* Not sure if these are the spare cars purchased or the ones that will be ran. If they are the ones to run, they need a lot of TLC including new floor boards. A shot the back lot The ferris wheel that was purchased from a park in Texas. Still can't place which park they came from. So that's it. I heard they were starting assembly of the coaster, next time I visit the family I'll swing by and see what's changed. Although I'm mostly pessimistic towards the parks rebirth, I still give him credit for trying, it's more than most of us do.

"Recently Inspected"

Silver Dollar City's World-Fest: Cornucopia of Cultures New Shows: Spanish/Flamenco Music & Dance, Gypsy Music April 5 - May 4 (Branson, MO 3/2014) Fiery Spanish guitar riffs, staccato flamenco heel clicks and rhythmic beats of Argentinian bombo drums announce the beginning of a global cornucopia of cultures and entertainment as World-Fest kicks off at Silver Dollar City on April 5. America's largest international festival, World-Fest brings performers from around the world, presenting the rich entertainment traditions that helped build our nation as the park presents "Celebrate America." New this year, World-Fest features a showcase of Spanish/Flamenco music and dance in the park's largest presentation hall, Spanish-inspired street entertainment, plus a new show of lively gypsy music from the Ukraine, all running April 5 - May 4 at the Branson, Missouri theme park. The new show "Benise - The Spanish Guitar" features Spanish guitarist Roni Benise with a band of top musicians and dancers, pushing the boundaries of traditional Spanish/Flamenco music. The show includes rapid-fire Spanish flamenco, Brazilian samba and Cuban salsa rhythms and dance starring Benise, who has taken his show around the world, from China to Brazil to television's Dancing with the Stars, also winning an Emmy Award for a television special. Spanish-inspired theatrics fill the Festa de Espana courtyard, with costumed entertainers, living statues portraying iconic figures from Christopher Columbus to Don Quixote, and living puppet "marionetas" all interact with park guests. Also new is Via Romen, lively gypsy music from the Ukraine. The popular show Amamos Argentina returns, starring the Los Pampas Gauchos who play traditional bombo drums, dance and perform with boleros, plus Argentinian dancers perform the tango. Island Fire presents the rhythms, music and dances from Samoa, Fiji and the South Sea Islands, and features world-champion fire-knife dancers. Additional performers include Ireland's premier harpist Dearbhail Finnegan and English musician Robin Slater, Austrian yodeler Kerry Christensen, plus the melodic pan flute music of Ecuador Manta. Even the food goes global for World-Fest at Tastes of the World, a pavilion of international specialties. Guests can feast on selections from 20 countries, plus unique combinations from Irish Tacos to Polynesian Calzones. World-Fest, April 5 - May 4, is open Wednesdays through Sundays (closed Easter Sunday, April 20). Information: 800-831-4FUN(386) or http://www.silverdollarcity.com. World-Fest is presented by Humana.

Plat pass only (STILL) 1 ride time, can go back to flash pass office for another time if they are available. Polyurethane tread needs warm temps to fly. When the temps are 50 or below the ride indeed slows down, more so when it hits about 44. The sweet spot has been around 80 and above after its been in operation for a few hours. Hit 95+ and watch out. Nothing was done to the ride to slow it down (absurd load procedures excluded, seriously SFFT was consistently checking iRat trains with two people in less than 25 seconds this past weekend, takes these guys 3 minutes plus) Funny how this park has bowed down, bent over, and taking it deep at the expense of their customers (meaning mind boggling rules and triple yanking of restraints). Shame that someone died, it's not the first time it's happened at a Six Flags park, but for whatever reason this one has taken things to the extreme. Outside of state mandated $1 million insurance coverage, I believe I read in the lawsuit they are now self insured. And please no one start on how they are just making it safer, bullsh!t. Their sister parks are still doing it the old way so does that mean they are all doing it wrong? One final comparison. Sea World San Antonio who just happens to have a batman clone had 5 people working the ride, 6 if you count the queue entry. Restraints locked, checked, and dispatched in 20 seconds. SFOT, restraints locked and 4 seats checked in 20 seconds, 3 people working the ride. This park not only has zero hustle save for maybe Mr. Freeze and Shockwave, but a complete do it with as few people as possible attitude. Could more people have prevented the unfortunate accident that has caused this park to not be as good as it could? Maybe, maybe not. But hiring competent people and training them well certainly might have. But at the very least they need to bring back the Shapiro era of hustle and then more hustle. You can be safe and hustle, it's done many times over every day around the world. Overheard an employee's training one day. Trainer(who i think was just a regular Joe): "Do you know what lock out tag out is" Employee: "Yeah" Trainer: Ok, next question. Not, please explain it to me, or what is lock out tag out. It was marked off the list and on to the next. I chuckled.

^ As Mikey stated, yes she is. As far as Pat's other kids, I believe they were bought out some time ago by Dan and Will.

So let's sum things up. Will passes away, wife sues family over the valuation of Holiday World and wins which then leaves the bloodline Koch family, who built the park from the ground up, out in the cold. Pat, Dan, and Sis buy Alabama Adventures with the dream of building it up in a similar fashion as Holiday World with free pepsi, tubes, parking, and sun screen. Wow, amazing what a family feud will do.

^About the same if not slightly worse. They are also requiring any 'bulky' items in your front pockets be placed in the provided zipper pouch. (hey why not place your phone in it and not risk it falling out or screen shattering) If you're super close sometimes removing ones wallet from their back pocket provides that extra room needed.

^Neither do I.

Well, at least we know where the former NTAG ride ops ended up...Too soon?

For those that like reading legal jargon, the full filing can be found at thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/2014/03/texas-giant-train-designer-blaming-six-flags-for-fatal-accident.html/