edgeboy

I rode it today. It wasn't that bad, and I'm not necessarily a huge fan of VR. The graphic image quality is not great, but it is oddly effective and mildly humorous (both intentional and un). Personally, I really wished it had been augmented VR, so you could still take in the view. On the plus side, since there aren't as many riders to check, the wait/dispatch times are actually not that terrible--much better than they were for TNR. So if there does have to be one ride with VR, operationally, this is a much better fit. On the minus side, they did confirm that single rider will be discontinued as long as VR is on it.

^Yeah, that does not look ready to open in four days. Edit update: Knott's confirmed on their own twitter account that Hangtime is NOT opening on the 31st as the app says. They did say an opening date would be announced soon.

While this is true, there is a difference between "less than complete" and "the gift shop doesn't even have finished walls, the light package hasn't been sufficiently tested, the station isn't finished, and the entire landscaping is still uneven dirt". Call me silly, but that seems more like "far from complete" from even a soft opening, frequent ride testing notwithstanding.

Berry Fest pulls pretty big crowds already, so it's not going to be a huge boost to attendance. If they open it during the typically dead weeks following the festival, then there could be a noticeable difference in those numbers. They went through all of Haunt and all of Christmas with only 2 big coasters running, so now that Xcel is back and they are up to 3, the capacity pressure has already been relieved. I'm sure Marketing would like to have some time to actually market the opening day, instead of just posting on Facebook "hey it's open now". And, my original point... any new attraction is bound to have a learning curve. Figuring out that learning curve on a 20,000 attendance weekend is a recipe for chaos and guest complaints. Since it's been slated as a Summer opening since its original announcement, there's no time crunch. They could prove me wrong though, who knows. ^Everything he said. Plus, I've been talking with a friend who works for Gerstlaur. While he obviously can't say anything specific, he did say to me today that he'd be traveling to CA for the opening, and that we should meet up and say hi. But he made no mention of traveling to CA this weekend, implying he's not visiting for a little bit. Between all that CedarFlags said above, what my friend didn't say, and seeing the state of the site myself less than a week ago, seriously makes me doubt it's opening this weekend. Also, as crowded as it is with Boysenberry Festival & Spring Break now, with those same people returning just a few weeks later for the new ride = x2 $$$. If they rode it early, why should they come back in the summer? Those same kids are out of school then, too. Knott's would be smarter to lure them back.

I think this is the voice of sanity. Plus, with the way spring break doles out here in SoCal, half the schools have it this week, half have it next week (or even later!). Even if everything was in readiness (and as stated above, I don't think it is either), It'd be pretty bad PR for them to open it this weekend when half of people's spring break would be over. Given not only the spring break crowds, but also the Boysenberry Festival crowds, it'd just make more sense for them to open it after all that's over. Plus, it gives a reason for people to return to visit. I've found their app to be very inaccurate and frequently non-functional. I wouldn't put much stock in that.

I'm wondering what this VR addition will do the Single Rider line. TNR got rid of theirs when VR appeared on it. Will this be the same?

That's an odd way to spell "Xcelerator". Actually, the HangTime rumor is there as well. While Hang Time may be testing the ride, the station and surrounding area are nowhere near ready for an opening for this weekend (unless you count buildings with still exposed structure and beams, unfinished queue, and no landscaping whatsoever/dirt floor "almost ready"), so we can put that to rest right now. That'll need minimum two or three more weeks to include finishing construction/landscaping, stocking the store, and training staff. Likely more, but after that, it's hard to say. Xcelerator, who knows? It's been testing a bit in the last few days, but has also been experiencing quite a few rollbacks... so that's a little harder to say. I'd hope for perhaps this weekend, but not count on it either. I'll be curious to see what updates occur on that situation.

I remember not too long ago (about a year), I was doing one of those online guest surveys they send out. In the survey, they mentioned rides such as Terminator: Salvation, Atom Smasher, and Grinder Gearworks. In the final section where I could post additional comments, I wrote, "It's tough to take your survey seriously when you don't know the names of your own rides."

It was boysenberry sour cream. Mine wasn't frozen at all. My personal fave was the elote corn. And it was cool to see the executive chef from Dorney Park there! He brought up the good point that his park is in the off season, and it's freezing cold there with blizzards. Why not come to CA and steal ideas? He really liked the idea of a 2 ft long hot dog for his own park. But he does recognize boysenberries should remain a CA exclusive. Another point that not many are mentioning... this year, the tasting card is flexible. You are not tied to the 8 items listed. You can use it to get 8 short ribs if you wanted. I love that! A few items off the card would still need to be paid for separately (the boysenberry funnel cake, ice cream sandwich, boba, etc.) My only disappointment: they didn't bring back the meatballs, my favorite item from last year. And while it hasn't gotten any hype because it's a holdover from last year, the alligator bites are back as well at the Calico Fry Cart. Lastly, for those who missed the adorable Beagle Bonanza train ride in Camp Snoopy during the Peanuts Festival, it's still up and running!

That Steakhouse is still there, you know. And yes, I can confirm I saw the sign up at the TGI Friday's as well. But no idea what food place they will turn into yet.

Wow, MiceAge is really losing it. They claim there's a rumor Xcelerator will be getting a linear induction system to replace the hydraulic launch. ?????? And about a week ago, they claimed it was all but known Diagon Alley was coming to Universal, which is really under a great deal of speculation right now, and far from confirmed. On a side note, I did notice at the Marketplace, both Virginia's Gift Shop and TGI Friday's both have notices in the windows claiming they will be replaced by a "general eating place". Anyone know more? I know Virgina's has been in decline for a while, but it's still sad as I believe it to be the last property actually owned by the Knott family. It would truly be the end of an era.

Let's also keep in mind that by California standards, it's been freaking freezing outside right now. I'd have to imagine that would impact visits of late. I wouldn't really be wanting to ride coasters in this cold snap, even if there's no line. But I'd have to imagine they're "all in" on the 365 day op. Otherwise, why start memberships? It'd be a public relations disaster to have 365 ops, have people get memberships, then cut back drastically the next year. I think they announced the 365 day ops to make the memberships more palatable. No real going back now, unless they end up changing their minds about the memberships altogether.

It operated from 1976 until 1999 in the Roaring 20's/Boardwalk section of the park, it was removed for Perilous Plunge. That vid has come great footage. Parachute Jump, Whirlwind, Whirlpool (indoor Scrambler--and still miss that Art of Noise soundtrack), Windjammer, and glimpses of XK-1, Hammerhead, Wacky Soapbox Racers, Corkscrew, and more! Brought back a lot of memories.

^^Yup. Greezed Lightening, aka Whirwind. Used to be on the spot where the scrambler and gliders on the Boardwalk are now, next door to the old Dolphin/Skate Show Theater. Didn't know it still existed (barely). Where is that?

It actually got stretched horizontally, but I know what you mean. I do like the idea of a "not quite vertical, not quite corkscrew" inversion.

According to news reports dated around the end of November, the entire resort closed for renovations (we saw it ourselves, as we were in Vegas just before then and saw it all fenced off), but was scheduled to reopen Christmas Eve of last year. Their website says they're currently taking reservations... can anyone else confirm? Or know of the status of the rides? Update: just saw on their website that "all amusement rides are closed until further notice".

Fury and I305 would like a word with you I will give you those two. My remarks are mostly in response to numerous people on this board who think a giga is the answer to all their dreams. It's not necessarily. And while TC is a bit of a "bucking bronco" style, it does suffer from a massive buzz kill right in the middle of the ride just when things get going called "the second lift hill". While I enjoy the ride as a whole, what I'd really like to see is a ride with crazy laterals, length, and virtual non-stop action/no brake run. On that front, El Toro and Maverick deliver. And I'll grant Fury and I305 do as well, though I like the fact the other two can do it without the height, which make them even more surprising. Let's think about which rides at SFMM are the longest in terms of not having a massive brake or lift hill in the middle. Going off memory, Tatsu, X2, Riddler, Apocalypse, Ninja, Scream, and sort of Revolution. Fine rides, mostly, but nothing in comparison to non-stop, WTF is going on, rides given by Maverick or El Toro (Tatsu and X2 being the closest--but they're both gimmicky--with Apocalypse maybe in the running if it was actually smooth again). And say what you will, but so does MF. If you dislike other aspects about it, that's your opinion, but the speed, duration, and lack of brakes still makes it a great ride to me. If your opinion differs, so be it.

I certainly don't need a giga, I feel super tall coasters, with the possible exception of Millenium Force, are pretty overrated. I'd love either an El Toro or Maverick styled ride. SFMM needs a long, "bucking bronco" styled ride. If you ask me, despite the public popularity of Full Throttle, given all the land they had to work with, that ride was a waste of space that could've been much better used. I'd also even be happy with a Mad Mouse and/or El Loco. I know they're not really record breakers, but it's something else the park is missing in terms of balance of coaster thrills.

At least for me, the only part of that ride that was rough at the outset was the first vertical loop. I remember it pretty vividly because I thought it was unusual for just that one part to be rough. It took about 2 years before the rest of the ride starting catching up, in terms of roughness.

I rode Scream about 2 weeks ago in the front outer left seat and can confirm that it’s still extremely rough. Like I’m talking Viper rough.... Oh, I rode it about 3-4 weeks ago myself. It is still rough. Actually for me, more of a constant chugging. But I felt it was way, way worse before the new trains. I am glad you feel the same... there's a lot of people out there who seem to feel it's smooth. Granted, everyone has a different experience, but aside from the opening year or two, it's always been rough to me. I don't get that many rough B & M's, but that was one of them.

Scream just got upgraded trains a few months ago. What you experienced is improved from what it was before. Prior, IMO it was one of the roughest B&M out there.

While I can't take credit for some of these pics, these are rides I miss at SFMM. I actually loved the Galaxi. The rest are scans I made from a very old souvenir book. Crazy Barrels, anyone? Circus Wheel? El Bumpo? Eagle's Flight? Swiss Twist? Metro? Spin Out? Mountain Express? Dragon? And I still miss the Swiss Twist. Trivia: while the lower Dragon station still sits unused (and I've always thought a flat ride, possibly a scambler, would be a great fit in there... even a teacups-style ride), many of you know the upper Dragon station is now used for the loading station for Ninja. But did you realize the rotating loading platform is still there, just under your feet? Next time you take the stairs down, note the unusual arc on the floor... that's it! You can also spot remnants of the track as you acend the top of the final lift hill, just off to your left.

^I can confirm that. I was in the park Sunday, and there are definitely about 10 or so vertical steel beams already up.

The interesting implication with all these memberships is that they intend to continue 365 day operation for the indefinite future. Otherwise, these memberships won't be worth much next year (or they'd have to lower their prices).

I'm surprised in the Niagara Falls/Buffalo NY area, no one's yet mentioned Clifton Hill, a mind boggling assortment of tourist traps that has to be seen to be believed (especially the figure of Frankenstein eating a hamburger). And if you are a haunt fan, there's many to do... although most of them are not much more than elaborate home haunts with "off the shelf" gags and little to no live actors, Nightmares is quite the standout, and not to be missed if that's your sort of thing. Also very near Cedar Point is Ghostly Manor, another year round haunt is actually pretty good. I did a very similar trip. I actually didn't mind Conneaut. But it is very small, and I agree it's all about Blue Streak and the Devil's Den. Across the street in their lawn parking lot sits a rusting Tobbagan (on it's side, not even close to operational) that you can get super close to (it's not fenced off), and was fun to explore up close and take pics of.