ilrider

I was on Dramamine when I rode it at SFGAm and was still incredibly dizzy when I got off. Could not walk straight for several steps. It was fun during the ride, though. I am not a big backward coaster fan. I find it very gimmicky and only do it once typically, for the experience.

Tether or not, that would violate the parks' loose articles policy. A tether can fail or slip off a hand, and then it is not safe.

And SFGAm has multiple of both those companies' coasters. With only so many big name coaster manufacturers, I think it makes sense. I am skeptical of an RMC Eagle anytime soon though, though I would not mind at all!

That is only for Chicago Public schools though, the ones in the city. The park is in Gurnee, not Chicago. Almost every other district in the Chicago area, including the suburbs near the park, get out in late May or the first week of June, so it could be fairly busy.

Banshee

The old Shockwave at SFGAm world gave me grayouts pretty much every ride, after the 3rd loop into the MCBR. I did not enjoy it, but I got used to it happening.

I had forgotten we had two fires at SFGAm this year, the Goliath station roof and the employee structure by the Grand Music Hall that burned down before the season started! Bad luck for parks for sure.

I was just making an observation on an interesting phenomenon that fires keep popping up on/near new RMC coasters. Did not intend to spark debates! I don't think anyone is blaming RMC's designs or RMC at all. Heck, the Goliath fire was roofing shingles that caught fire, likely roofing tar that ignited. Plenty of subcontractors working on those rides with tools and materials that can ignite. But it's still kind of odd it keeps happening to RMC in particular.

Yeah, not on the coaster itself, but I believe it was in the entry plaza of the ride, wasn't it? Still weird.

Oh, okay. No problem!

What what? Third fire on/near an RMC project coaster.

Isn't this the third fire related to an RMC coaster project? We had the station fire on Goliath this spring, and wasn't there one near Outlaw Run? Well, I did just post how RMC was on fire at another forum recently!

Good. Shorter lines for the rest of us!

Reason I asked is because some RMCs (like NTAG) use Gerstlausers. Was just curiosity if anything. Also if those are the trains they're using, how roomy are they? The PTC trains had not much in terms of legroom. Very roomy. The back of the seat in front of you is quite a ways ahead of you. Definitely way more width than a PTC retrofitted with a seat divider also. Very comfortable trains.

A focus group survey I took from the park online months ago asked my preferences for a new dark ride as a future attraction, and it was mentioned several times in the survey, so I think it is a real possibility for the near future and something the park really needs.

They claim tallest drop in a lot of their marketing too, so they are well aware it is not the tallest structure, but who cares if other rides have taller climbs but smaller drops? The drop is what matters!

And I've attended this park for over 30 years regularly and never had any big customer service problem. Weird. Guess I went on good days.

1) It will be busy. Many schools in the area will still be on summer break that week. 2 and 3: if you can, be there when the parking lot opens around 9:15, then when the gates open at 10 head left to get in line for Goliath first, which will open around 10:30. You should get on Goliath within about 15 minutes by doing this, avoiding lines over 2 hours shortly after the park opens. I have no experience with the single rider line so will let others chime in. If that line is operating, you probably would not have to show up quite so early, and maybe could even hit Superman first instead. If you do ride Goliath first, Superman would be a good second ride, then Raging Bull 3rd I guess, though you will be skipping around the park. After that, I would just circle the park and hit other rides as you come to them. V2 has low capacity too, so you could hit that on the way back to Superman from Goliath as an alternative. Getting there early is a key to some more reasonable coaster lines early. 4) Demon is fun, if you have time. The tunnel and theming make it interesting. It has gotten rough, though.

I do not think they are that bad. I did not even notice the tightening effect the first several times I rode it until I saw others mentioning it online. Since then, I have noticed it some, but it does not ruin the ride for me in any way. Mild discomfort as the train reenters the station is all. I have a feeling it varies depending on body type. They do not start too tight, though; it happens during the ride.

Let's say, hypothetically, a child was an inch too short (and there was no question about that), and the operator said no, and the child cried. Is that the employee's fault? Well, Robb isn't one to stir up drama when it isn't needed, so I believe him when he says that the ride op pushed her head down. And if the ride op didn't push her head down, that would have to mean that the measuring sticks around the park are inconsistent, which would be even more ridiculous. SFGAM is a great park, but they have the worst employees out of any park I've been to (including Mount Olympus). I think the issue is training. You think they have worse employees than Mt. Olympus? That's a complete joke, sorry.

The denying her the ride a second time with the wristband was the biggest problem with what happened today in my mind. I still, though, do not think KT was booed out of the station as was presented. The patrons at this park just don't act like that. The ride ops were being booed for a) making her get measured in the first place and/or b) denying her the ride. But, I was not there. Again, I am sure it upset her, but I don't think this makes the whole park look bad. It definitely makes the Viper team look bad!

Isn't it more likely the ride ops were booed for not letting her ride? I'm sorry, but I just do not see people in the station booing a child for getting measured or not being able to ride. This is my home park, and we wait on rides while children get measured and sometimes booted for being too short, and I have never, in my entire life at this park, seen the parents or child booed for any reason. Chicagoans, and Midwesterners in general, are friendly people. We don't get up in arms about waiting a few extra seconds.

But he should be, because it's a safety issue. I am a parent, and I would want my kids turned away if too short. It's happened before where it was a close call and we just wanted to check.

The point is that stuff like that shouldn't even be happening in the first place! It's a judgment call on the part of the ops. When a kid is borderline, it makes it tougher. How do you suggest ensuring consistency with different rides other than the wristband? I agree she should not get on Goliath and Eagle to be told no on Viper, but it's still a human using his/her eyes against a measuring stick. It's not an exact science. And it's for safety, so it's an important decision.

She got the height band now and all should be well. I though they usually place an ID card gently on a child's head as a straightedge to see where the child is at. Should be an easy call, but sometimes it is a close call as evidenced by the fact she got on Goliath and Eagle okay. That is why the wristband is a good bet before going on rides just to be sure.