Manic Monte

I'm really happy about some of the positive changes the park has made. Here it is the middle of August and the worst thing we're hearing about are slow operations. However I must hope that Jay is reading this. The Tatsu situation needs serious attention. The slow loading on this ride is becoming legendary and it's inexcusible. The last two times I have visited the park it has been the slowest moving line in the park. Slower than X2 and Deja Vu combined! This makes no sense for a new B&M. Running 2 trains (1 on each side) on a popular coaster is the equivalent of running 1 train, especially if you designate one side to flashpass. This really has become one of the worst loading rides I have ever seen. And at SFMM that is quite an accomplishment. End rant.

^ Thank You for that... I'm all for opinions, but that doesn't mean they don't suck just cause their yours. This is the same sort of whining that we got when Behemoth was announced. And now here it is a year later and I've read nothing but praise for it.

It looks really fun. Perhaps about the size of Cornball Express? SFMM? WOF? or some mystery project we haven't heard about yet?

I like "have a magic day". Yes it's corny, but a park like SFMM needs a bit of corniness. It's certainly better than the "go away" feeling you got from the park just 3 years ago.

This does not surprise me at all. And it's got nothing to do with the crappy 49ers. Paramount had major headaches trying to get anthing built at Great America once the area became over run with office buildings and whiney neighbors. So muh so that they eventually gave up on coasters all together. And we know Cedar Fair. If they can't build coasters, then they will want nothing to do with that park.

^ The only thing I didn't know was that the official announcement will come in September. But I probably could have guessed that considering that's when Dark Knight was announced last year.

I wonder if they are really going to go for the "Terminator" theme, which some people here seem to think is improbable, because there is a Terminator "themed" ride at Universal. Guess we'll have to wait until it's confirmed, but it sounds so cool to me.

^ I believe that Jay Thomas said point blank at WCB that the new ride WOULD NOT use the Psyclone plot of land, and that they had other plans for that area in the future. So unless things have changed, look to another area of the park. Also, I DO believe wood is coming for the very reason you say it's not. Removing Psyclone (as bad as that coaster had become) left a big hole in the park's line up. Lot's of steel with loops, very little non-looping family coasters. In a lot of ways, technology over the years has made the new breed of wood coasters as refined as steel, so adding one is not as big a risk as it once was. If the coaster is marketed right and placed in an all new area, it doesn't matter how soon since Psyclone. People always show up to ride wood coasters because they are ride the whole family can ride together. Even Colossus gets a major line on weekends. An EK clone would be awesome. An original design that uses some of the terrain? Possibly incredible.

^ What? I've heard nothing but good things about EK, and this from enthusiasts who are a lot tougher to please. A new woodie in So-Cal? The first one built in over a decade? I think just the opposite as you. I think this will be the easiest coaster for SFMM to market since Goliath. Mainly because they can market it to families as well as thrillseekers. The one thing that Jay Thomas said about the new coaster is that we (enthusiasts) would really like it. I believe him.

So according to this article, SFMM almost DID get the SFNE Dark Knight but ultimately passed on it. Probably because of the lackluster response. I really think Shapiro needs to stay out of the ride placement/development business, and leave that to park level execs. http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/index.php/dark-knight-roller-c-2280/

^ Given the economy and Six Flags other issues, I don't think you're far off. But I wouldn't care, EK looks like a blast.

^ And Flashback!

I always wonder why Tatsu doesn't do better in national polls. It truly is one of the best steel coasters in the US. A little "flyer" bias maybe?

1) The Voyage 2) Nitro 3) Apollo's Chariot 4) El Toro 5) Thunderhead 6) Disneyland's Space Mountain 7) Tatsu 8) SFNE's Superman 9) Fire Dragon 10) Hades

Well they will invest in GA, and see if they can get the attendance to rise to the 2 million mark like it did in the 90's. They will never HEAVILY invest in the park like they would their larger attended parks like Kings Island or Knotts, but I think Great America will end up playing an impotant role for them. And luckily the park does have some competition, so they can't just sit back on their hands. SFDK is a big threat. Paramount gave up on rollercoasters at GA because they got tired of battling the city of Santa Clara over height limits and building permits. So attractions allocated to GA wound up at other parks. Cedar Fair is key to getting the 49ers studium built, so they have some power right now.

Wow, and the Nick Stuff is plastered all over Great America. It will be interesting to see how they pull this off. I'm guessing Great America will get some sort of Knotts makeover. I'm also guessing the new wood coaster will have a "western" theme?

^ On the other hand, I have to credit Shapiro with some of the positive things happening (inside the parks) around the chain. SFMM hasn't looked this good since 2000, and I'm happy the park is in the process of an amazing 180 degree turn. I'm just afraid that at this point, no one will care.

I'm not sure they sure fire him (although if the parks don't turn around this year, his days are numbered), but he did permanant damage to SFMM with his ignorant rookie comments about the park, to the "LA" MEDIA no less. I don't care how many family areas you open up, or how well you market them. If moms and dads don't feel it's safe taking their kids there, or if they feels the park is going to take their money and run, they're not going. The LA area has too many other options. I really wish the company would just drop the Six Flags and market themselves as the "NEW" Magic Mountain. The Six Flags "Brand" seems to do more damage than good at this point.

Honestly, I don't care what the theme is, or whether it's 80ft or 120ft. I'll just be happy to see new wood coming to the mountain. Finally, a coaster without inversions and hopefully some decent airtime. The End

Wow! Great update! Thomas Town looks great! I haven't been to the park since it opened, but I hope the park can get the word out about this. For some reason it looks more appealling at SFMM than it does squished into SFDK. And I hear ya on the 2009 thing. Someone e-mailed me yesterday and expalined some things that I did not know (as well as to "shut the hell up" lol). I'm keeping quiet until at least construction begins (if not the annoucement itself). But I'm excited!

Actually, the Terminator Theme would make a little more sense if the coaster was built this way. It might also increase its length of operation and quality ride experience in the long run. Its also going around that this ride might be some sort of prototype for GCI? A steel frame would kind of explain that too, I don't think GCI has built a steel framed wood coaster yet. Does anybody think Shapiro might have planned a mock up "slip" to see how much uproar would be created on the coaster sites, just based off rumors? . Good point. I hadn't thought about the possibility of a steel frame, which would make perfect sense considering this is SFMM we're talking about. Perhaps Intamin priced them out, so GCI was the next logical choice. Either way I would support the Terminator theme, it sounds cool. The universal ride is almost a DECADE old, not to mention Universal caters to many tourist, while SFMM is mostly supported by locals.

^ There you go... I think it's going to make for a kick ass coaster personally.

^ I've already stated that the "new" Terminator will be distributed by Warner Bros, not Universal.

Unless Knotts completely re-tracks Ghostrider soon, they may have to remove that "Best In The West" sign very soon.

I wonder if they'll do a Movie Backlot thing like at SFGAdv. I'm I the only one who likes the idea of a Terminator themed wooden coaster at SFMM? Who cares if it's wood. Only geeks care about specifics like that. Most people will just enjoy the ride. Anyway, it's just a rumor at this point. But it is a rumor directly from the horse's mouth.