Jay20016

Or they could build giant nets around each park, pass out fairy wings to everyone who enters Central Florida, let 'em park where they want, and then magically fly in to the front gates on their own free will. Are those fairy wings for sale at local Walmarts? They're not the fairy wings, but look-a-likes so your mileage may vary...

What you're failing to realize and understand is that a lot of people on these forums are not just enthusiasts and the general public, but also the people who run and operate, on all levels of these parks, the day to day operations-- from the concession stand worker to the maintenance guy to the suit dealing in finance... A lot of us have intricate knowledge of park operations and protocol. What people have "latched" onto is that there are important "holes" in the story that others have tried to have you fill in via questions. Did you advise the attendant at the bottom of the slide of the problem/injury? Did you see the park first aid? Did you talk to any of the supervisors or managers on duty that day? Did anyone file a report of the injury? I work at and supervise two of the top water parks in the world, though not one of the SeaWorld/Busch Gardens family of parks ones... The point is these questions are important. Anytime something happens, it is a big deal. More often than not, injuries happen when people are not following the rules however, there are those times when accidents do happen. For those, there are things that get done to ensure the safety of the attraction as well as other guests. For my own parks, our protocol is to immediately send a supervisor down the ride to test. These employees have been with the park for a while and know full and well what is normal or abnormal on the slide. If all is well, nothing is out of place, and no harm done then we can feel confident in reopening the attraction. Part of the fun of water parks is that there is very little restricting you while experiencing the attractions. That is where the thrill comes in, but also an inherit "danger" if you will for minor injuries to occur. Cuts and scrapes from textured/anti-slip pool surfaces, friction burns from where people make contact with dry sections of slide (think of putting your hands behind your head with fingers locked on a body slide, rather than crossed over your chest), sun and heat related problems... water parks can cause a bit of pain because by nature you're exposed (bathing suits, shirtless, barefoot, etc.) more than you'd ever be at a normal theme park. As for some of your concerns with how the park handled the situation, have you ever worked in a guest service industry? If so, put your self in their shoes. If someone doesn't talk with the attendant immediately (or upon discovery of the cut), doesn't talk with first aid for care, and files no report with a supervisor or manager or guest services... then what paper trail is there to lead to their story being credible? We do not assume everyone is lying, do not get me wrong on that point, it is just that there are a lot of people who file false reports and or claims in an effort to get whatever they can. They ruin it for honest folks and make the parks cover their butts a bit more readily to stop a hemorrhage of money/tickets/etc. for these false claims. At my parks, if we make an error, or something happens you better believe it that we try and roll out all of the stops for those in need because we want your repeat business, guests are what pay our bills; both corporate and personal. It doesn't make sense to make people never want to come back due to bad experiences. On the other hand there are limits to what we can do though. We issue free tickets all of the time, sometimes with added perks if the situation requires it. Why free tickets and not reimburse? For the reasons above about fraud. If you've never worked in a service industry then you probably can't relate to someone watching every bit of a movie, including the credits, then storming up to the box office for a refund because it sucked. Or eating 99% of the food on a place at a restaurant before complaining it was wrong and expecting your meal to be comped. So too do parks have to wonder if the incident was so distressing, then how did you spend the rest of the day there at the park? Furthermore, think of those free tickets as an investment. Park prices are only going to rise and if you were to give them another shot down the road, you'd be earning money on those new, higher ticket prices! As far as some of the other concerns you have: Park capacity: It isn't just an imaginary number someone thought would be good. It is based on a great deal of many things, one of which is usually mandated by fire codes and public ordinances for evacuations as well as readily available food and restrooms on site. Furthermore, most parks have a theoretical upper limit and what they consider their "satisfactory experience" limit. They are never the same, and theoretical limits are good deals higher. We personally do not want guests to have a bad day when they come to our parks, we wouldn't want to feel like sardines and do close to capacity when the situation requires it. I can say however, that telling people that we're full usually is not met with a "Oh, thank you good chap for saving me from an otherwise disastrous day" but rather a line of expletives... As for wait times, I do find it funny that you also went to the park on the opening season of their new slides. New rides = more attention. More attention = more guests. More guests = longer lines. It is theme park 101. There are ways to avoid the crowds if possible, but if its a hot, sunny, summer day; good luck. Weather Closures: Lightning is no joke. Florida gets a lot of it. We take it very seriously. It sucks to have to close for weather, but if the situation requires it, I'd rather be safe than sorry. As mentioned above most public pools or water parks have a plan in place for dealing with it, usually a 5 to 10 mile radius around the park/complex. It is something completely out of our control, and if weather is one thing, it is very unpredictable. We can't look at a radar image and/or the clouds and say that this storm will only have 5 strikes outside of this range. We just try to keep the closure time as small as possible while still maintaining safety which is our number one concern. Being on the side I am, I can't also help but feel like people would complain if we did do what they asked/expected and ride it out to the last minute. It is almost a Sword of Damocles. Whatever decision is made people complain, hindsight gets the best of them, and if something were to happen, rather than "Why are you closing?" it would be "Why didn't you close sooner!?!?!"

I remember that as well, and I'd be hard pressed to call it an accident...

Not only that, they themselves clearly state they're not in any way shape or form trying to compete with Disney and the other big parks... Niche market with niche hours. I'd rather they sort out what keeps them profitable early on, than waste thousands, if not millions, of dollars in running costs with low attendance.

Most quick queue system work at theme parks because of alternate entrances; how is this going to be handled with one entrance to the slide and most having already narrow stairs on the way up to them? As the Scream Scape article mentions, you can pretty much forget about riding a bowl, funnel, half-pipe slide, single body slide (think speed slide, as most parks only have one free-fall type) or any other capacity nightmares. Also, how does it work for tube pick up? Most parks have a line for pick up before you even start up the stairs and waiting in line at the slide, do you bypass both? Are there separate stacks? In theory this sounds nice, but knowing first hand what nonsense a water park goes through daily, I do not envy their people right now.

I'm interested if they are not already working on it as across the path from the elephant exhibit there is a rather large section being excavated. It is the old elephant enclosure, that then became a spot for camels... then nothing... then camels... then random other stuff, and then camels again. I was at the park yesterday (5th of July) and while it was busier than normal, it wasn't too outlandish, 3 trains on Montu and Kumba out the gate with Cheetah Hunt having a delayed opening, and then another delay when they finally added all of the other trains. Even Sheikra seemed to be going pretty good as it never really went over a 15-20 minute wait at peak, and then walk on later. But, forget about Gwazi, another late opening and only one side was running. Posted wait was 15 minutes but it went almost nearly to the entry way where it splits just outside of the l0ckers. If I didn't know that it usually takes 15 minutes when you're at the white line by the gates, about to board, I might have waited. Cheetah Hunt's line at the end wasn't all that bad. It got down to about 30-45 around 8pm...

The two trains have been at Scorpion for a few weeks now, but even still I've yet to see them both on the track at once. If anyone has the chance, I completely recommend checking out Cheetah Hunt at night as it definitely takes things up a notch. It is a good coaster in the daytime, but was a damn fun one at night - especially in the old Rhino Rally section.

Do they even have cables that can snap?

It is funny that I still remember the old Hanna Barbara thing from before Jimmy Neutron... will be interesting what they can do with the new material. As for the new Spider-man improvements, that promo shot looks awesome. Makes me wish they'd hurry up with the Transformers ride already just to see what an extra 10+ years of tech can do for this ride system...

I don't think it is just the trademark on "Walk" but rather the use of "Walk" in relation to a themed night life/restaurant area in the center of the attractions area of Orlando.

Read the full sentence before you argue it. Cutting through the bullshit, fictitious e-quarrel aside, you still seem to not get the point that what you're so valiantly arguing for and against are points of discussion that I've never made. The quote: Is immediately after my initial post with a lovely " ^ " indicating that you are replying to me. Thus, the "You" in "You can go ahead and say [...]" is me. Thing is, I didn't say that. Nor did I say anything remotely close to that, or even anything else you've attributed to me in the subsequent replies. You rail on and on about assumptions and it is really you who've assumed and misinterpreted what I've wrote as being a "hater," which is the furthest from the truth. The lines about Space and Thunder mountain are to add on that records don't mean squat with the people who matter to parks; the non-enthusiast, general public. That is where the money is. That is where the focus is. This ride is intended to do only one thing and that is to be a boon for attendance figures and get more of "those people" through the turnstiles. And I think what the whole problem was this entire time was you were not understanding what that run-down of rides was actually meaning: "[...]they have the thrill market cornered with their B&Ms;" - Kumba/Montu/Sheikra "a wild mouse to get the "first credits," - Cheetah Chase / Sand Serpent "a small looper to help progress into things a bit more intense," - Scorpion "and a woodie that is a great ride." - Gwazi ... and then ... "They're expanding their coverage of the full range of age/intensity levels of their guests." - Cheetah Hunt This isn't a slight against the coaster it is me acknowledging and breaking down why this isn't the typical "Intamin" coaster as Thom25 was saying... Hell, if all parks did was look to top each other year after year, coaster after coaster, they probably wouldn't be in business all that long as without a balanced line-up of coasters and thrill rides your bottom line will suffer. I'm all for BG to expand further, bringing in new visitors and new dollars to help with future projects to take crowns.

"Family friendly" as in, if the 48" height requirement sticks, more kids will be able to ride it. That frustration of being just under the height can be compounded when big brother or big sister can ride, and the younger can't. Lower height, more potential riders. Less heartaches and tears for parents... The notion was not to say that this was going to be a glorified wacky worm... rather, that more families with younger children would have the option of riding provided the height doesn't change. I don't think you'd get what I mean. Your originally said it was MADE for a lower age group and was not suppose to be thrilling. However, just because it has a lower height limit, it doesn't mean that it was designed as a stepping stone. While yes, it can appeal to a very small range of kids, by having a slightly lower height requirement. I agree that more children will be able to ride, obviously, it's just your previous comments that I have a problem with. I never once said it was made for anything other than cornering another segment of their demographics. With what you quoted of mine, where does it state anything other than that? You've not understood my point from the beginning... hell, your first reply to me has you saying: "Hey, this coaster is going to suck, and it's directed as a stepping stone to the bigger rides." which is completely the opposite of my point that post was referring to. How am I going to mention Thunder Mountain and Space Mountain, rides that are unanimously loved/ridden/re-ridden/re-loved and think that unless it is an ACEr's wet dream, that it will suck? You're arguing with me in parallel thinking, wrongly might I add, that I'm detracting the coaster... I agree that the ride will be good for what it was designed to be, 1 of 5 world class coasters, of varying types, at a well run theme park, it's just your previous comments and assumptions of points that I have a problem with.

"Family friendly" as in, if the 48" height requirement sticks, more kids will be able to ride it. That frustration of being just under the height can be compounded when big brother or big sister can ride, and the younger can't. Lower height, more potential riders. Less heartaches and tears for parents... The notion was not to say that this was going to be a glorified wacky worm... rather, that more families with younger children would have the option of riding provided the height doesn't change.

And neither does this, it rolls.

I know this is rehashing something from a few pages back, but I can't quite conceive how you would ever think that this would be on the same level as I305, El Toro, or even Maverick when it has been touted as a family friendly coaster. Apart from Scorpion and Cheetah Chase (or whatever it is being called now) you had to be 54" to do the coasters. Sure, there is Gwazi, but a lot of my cousins that we've brought to the park were scared more of the wooden coaster than the steel, so even at 48"it still was a tough sell... Busch Gardens has shown they're not dumb with what they do... they have the thrill market cornered with their B&Ms; a wild mouse to get the "first credits," a small looper to help progress into things a bit more intense, and a woodie that is a great ride. They're expanding their coverage of the full range of age/intensity levels of their guests. Not everything has to set and/or break records to be a great coaster. Look at what a good majority of the world hold as some of their favorite coasters (Space Mountain and Thunder Mountain) for proof.

It's nice, but it almost looks too smooth for a woodie. Some of the best sections of wooden coasters are the lateral force heavy bits. Sudden changes in direction feel that much more vulnerable on a woodie for some reason... Nice as an air-time machine if that is what you were going for though.

It is an under-rated ride IMO. Sure, a lot of the effects have stopped working, and the story throughout was something that went a bit zany, but... its got a great first drop, a "surprise soaking," and then a 2nd drop that I never expected the first time through.

The drop looks nice, it isn't steep, but its parabolic in nature meaning that the airtime will be sustained, and later than most people are used to. Think of the drop before they modified it on Dudley Do-Right at IOA, it was an awesome feeling because the airtime hit later into the hill and didn't subside till you got to the second portion. Here is a modified shot The picture isn't mine, but if you look at the yellow edge that is the opening drop, the blue edge is the modified drop. Blue is still fun, just not the omg-wtf-craziness of the yellow.

Why would you be "all for that?" Why would you be "all for waiting in line", when you don't have to? Disappointed to hear that Texas Giant may not be on Flash pass. I do hope that is not actually the case, and they simply just haven't added it to the system because the ride isn't open yet. --Robb Doesn't it seem that usually "new" rides aren't on the passes for their first couple of months anyway? I've got just the Orlando parks to base off of, but... Harry Potter, Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rocket and even Manta all started out without a quick queue option, adding them a few months into their operation.

You mustn't have seen Everest have you? They usually try and theme to the tree heights, if they have the money for it...

I'm not claiming to be an expert by any means, but I work with a chairlift on a regular basis and it is actually surprising how quickly you can add/remove things from the wire. I've seen a full set of chairs removed in under a day's work (~40 chairs) and one removed in a matter of minutes for some refurbishment work; add to the fact that Busch Garden's sky ride buckets already unhook from their main cable(s). Unlike most chairlifts where the seat is always clamped onto the same section of wire, the buckets are loaded in a separate area and then reattached to the main line. Anyone who has ridden it will note that in the course of the ride you also switch directions around the midpoint. The chairs enter that station and then progress down a rail (new credit?!) to be attached to the next section of the course. I've always been intrigued in how they run theirs so effortlessly with what I see as a potential for stacking if one is not careful... especially with there being many different factors in speed of "dispatch" if you will... but, that is beside the point. Sorry for the industrial engineering efficiency/ride capacity tangent... As for the cable, I cannot speak on their housings at BG, but there usually is the ability to have the cable loosen or tighten a few feet if weight distribution requires it. The giant wheel of the drive motor can be on a pneumatic system that can, on the fly, add or remove tension if the weight changes suddenly by moving in the direction of travel, or away from it. I do not know their full plans, but shortening a tower while seeming like a drastic change doesn't strike me as much as some are making it out to be. Ultimately when you think about it, the ride follows the wire. If it goes 100 feet straight, 50 feet in a climb, etc. as long as they have the proper spacing of towers and tension calculated you're looking at really only needing a new footer(?), fabricated support tower, and new passive wheels at the tower that dictate the ride's direction (meaning straight wheels, climb wheels, or descent wheels). Chairlifts are complicated and yet simple at the same time.

I like how the 'rumor' doesn't mention the cold front that passed through yesterday dropping a bunch of rain...

I guess. But the other thing is, go into it knowing that plans change and that you might not get to do everything you wanted to. A lot of the headaches people get in the summer are really from their over estimations of what you can and can't do. If it is a vacation, have fun, first and foremost.

One of the funny things is watching how most people do research online, and how you can start to see that what was once considered "prime" off-times have become just as crowded, if not more so, due to what people read online. Crowds will be existent pretty much from May to October. A general rule of thumb that I've noticed is that if you think about how most people will spend their vacation, a pattern emerges. If people are doing the WDW 5 day passes they typically arrive on a Sunday and do the check-in + something small that day. Monday is usually the busiest day for Magic Kingdom as it is what people associate "going to Disney World" with. Tuesday is usually busier at Epcot, Weds is usually Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom depending on the ride preferences and ages. Thursday can either be which ever they did not hit before; so Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom again, or it also could be the day for the water parks as you typically start to see an increase in attendance over Thursday to Sunday there. If they are not planning on visiting just the WDW parks, then Thursday is also the day that Sea World, Universal, etc. seem a bit more crowded. Friday is either the "do-over" day, visit another resort day, or Downtown Disney/Outlets/etc. day.... Now, this doesn't account for Extra Magic hours or when the big shows happen. But, a lot of people tend to follow this pattern with their parks, sometimes you can go to the "off-day" park and have a more enjoyable experience.

Its not that it is moving slow, its that the twist itself is elongated... Think of the lateral forces you feel in a normal twist/zero-g roll/whatever we're calling them now... and imagine you're off the side of the track doing that... wouldn't it hurt? A major point for B&M's track record being so smooth is that they go to extreme lengths to heart line all of their elements; this looks to be no different.