dippindotsguy8

Yes... they usually don't have broad enough experience to know that a GT-X would be more intense than Wild thing. Even if they're wrong about the specifics, they know Wild thing is a bigger, faster coaster.

1. Number of inversions is a terrible way to decide the quality of a park. Even with a hyper GT-X, it would be a stretch to say that it's a more complete park than VF. 2. No, I wouldn't trade it. As much as I really want a GT-X, I don't think it's a fair substitute when you consider the overall success of the park vs. giving enthusiasts airtime. A GT-X is missing something important that VF benefits from with Wild Thing: Having a 200ft+ coaster that goes 73mph, has solid capacity (when running 3 trains) and gives riders a reasonably long ride experience. There simply aren't a lot of flashy statistics you can throw at people when advertising a GT-X. Of course Wildthing isn't at the top of the game anymore, but a 200ft drop still means something to most people.

I have swept soak city multiple times and I haven't seen the cabanas completely full. whoops it sent twice. Sorry! I can tell you that they do actually fill up quite regularly, particularly during mid-to-late summer. You honestly think VF's coaster line up is that much better? It is, actually.... We have a more modern corkscrew, we have a hyper, we have a decent GCI, we have an Impulse coaster, we have a classic wooden coaster, we have the same Arrow mouse, and we have Excalibur, which at least is something unique. The only thing we can't compete with them on is an SLC, which honestly isn't that great. I'm not saying guests wouldn't ride an SLC, but I do think our coaster lineup is significantly better than MIA's, and in this day and age even the GP can see the difference between a cookie-cutter SLC and Banshee. There's also other reasons a B&M would be the ideal choice 1.Capacity 2.A custom layout that doesn't require taking a large, rectangular chunk out of the parking lot. 3.I would guess the reliability is better. 4. Zero complaints from guests about a rough ride experience.

Agreed, although it's worth noting that WOF already has Captain Kidds (a medium-sized, themed kids structure) and Paradise Falls (a modern, full-sized play/spray structure). King's Dominion has Soak City Splash House (full-sized structure) and Canada's Wonderland has a close to full-sized play structure.

"Binky" - Snarky Puppy

Current all-time favorites: 1. Arrested Development (Original run) 2. Futurama 3. The Office 4. Friends 5. South Park When it comes to TV, I almost always prefer comedies. If I'm going to sit through a movie, however, I usually find comedy disappointing, with some notable exceptions.

Same, the ride would still be great without it, but with all these layout changes (which for the most part are great) I'm beginning to fear we won't see that epic turn.

I agree with most of what you're saying, but I do actually think it's more than enthusiasts these days who feel that VF is really lacking in the coaster department. This is the vibe I've gotten from pretty much everyone 16-25 that I've talked to or overheard, whether it's while in line for things at VF, or just in random conversation. As most of you know, I haven't pushed for a new coaster on these boards until now... normally I'm in complete agreement with what mdcastle said, and I really haven't been concerned about where the budget has been going until recently. If they don't put something in within the next 3 years or so, I think they could have a real problem.

I'm not sure how restraints can "kill" airtime... there's very few recent coasters out there where the restraints actually allow you to float out of your seat without making contact with the lap bar or shin bar. That said, my experience with Outlaw run was that the shin bar is uncomfortable, but didn't reduce the airtime in any way. Also, it wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as the Premier shin bars on Superman @ SFDK, and YOLOCoaster @ SFMM.

Yes, VF probably is competing with Nick U (honestly not a threat) Wisconsin Dells, and probably Great America. However, if it actually is affecting the attendance, we should be trying to fight harder. If we're really losing people to those places, it's because of a lack of family offerings (resolved over the last 7 years) a subpar waterpark (currently being resolved) and a lack of any major, modern coasters/thrill rides (this has gone on long enough that it will become a problem if it hasn't already). Obviously Cedar Fair has a smart setup where they don't waste money on an expansion a park can't support with it's own revenue, but sometimes you have to build something just to stay in the game. I fear the consequences of refusing to build a significant coaster for over a decade. People have the internet now. The general public knows what kind of rides are out there at other parks. If they hold off too long, they will lose guests to other parks and revenue will begin to drop instead of grow. The additions that have been made in the years since Renegade were very important, and I'm glad they've been done. I also think the idea of parks "deserving" a new coaster out of some form of pity is ridiculous. At some point, though, you do need to maintain the ability to attract people who aren't kids or parents, and that crowd is probably being lost to other major parks. I'm not asking for a giga or anything that size, but something really needs to be built soon that will actually generate some buzz. Regarding Knott's, they have the ability to build pretty much anything... it's not only a family-oriented park because it's land-locked. The fact that it doesn't have a hyper/giga/whatever is definitely a choice the park has made and not an inability to fit one in. Furthermore, their high attendance also has something to do with being open year-round. It's certainly a busy park, particularly in the summer, at haunt, and during other seasonal events, but being open for as much as 6 months more than the other parks gives it a boost.

Of what I've actually visited: 1. Knott's/CP tie 2.KI 3.VF 4.WOF (yes, I've been on prowler) 5.CGA (yes, I've been on gold striker) I don't feel like it would be fair to include Gilroy because it's not trying to be what the others are. What I guess my full list will be when I eventually get to all the parks: 1. Knott's/CP tie. Knotts for it's heritage and everything, CP for it's coaster collection 2. KI 3. Canada's Wonderland 4. KD 5. Carowinds 6.VF 7. Dorney 8.WOF 9.CGA 10. MIA I will say though, I haven't visited one that I didn't like. In general, I've generally preferred them to the six flags parks that I've visited (SFMM, SFOT, SFGAm, SFDK. Also generally nice parks, with Over Texas and Discovery Kingdom being standouts, but I like the feel of Cedar Fair better.)

Yeah as others have said, it's an excellent, fun family ride if you're in the outside seats. Inside - not so much. That's the problem I have with this style of seating vs the standard Disko-coasters...not everyone experiences forces.

Yes, that excellent rating scale. I remember that once the balloon ride was rated a 4. It also says that Renegade is "Less Thrilling" than Wild Thing, which I think that most everyone would disagree with... It's actually the rating I would expect for this attraction. Keep in mind the number given isn't just about how intense or scary a ride may be. It is very specific to what kinds of things the guest will experience. In the waterpark, I believe the rating system also considers the swimming ability required. A 5 in the waterpark, for example, means that the rider will also be encountering deep and turbulent water, and may need to be able to control their body under these conditions. That will not exactly be the case with these new slides because they end in runouts, not deep pools. These slides may be intimidating and thrilling, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are "aggressive" per se.

My #1 donut is the freshly made blueberry donuts from M and M. If you live in Southern California, or are visiting Disneyland anytime soon, you've got to check this place out and get the blueberry donuts. Just make sure you eat them hot Of the more common donut styles, I agree with others who particularly like crullers and maple bars

Again, I'm sorry, I'm not trying to call you a hypocrite -- I was just trying to make sure you aren't. Because I've never met you, I really have no idea what kind of person you are haha. Since I've seen large amounts of hypocrites on both sides of this issue lately, I wanted to make sure you'd stand behind what you say, which you will. I may disagree with how you approach this, but I don't think you're a hypocrite. This seems like a very reasonable, balanced view to me. I also get why some would want to take a less compromising stance, but this is kinda where I land on the issue.

In no particular order: 1. Alien 2. The Thing 3. Insidious (the first film.... they lost me at the second and hopefully will win me over with the third) 4. The Conjuring 5. Blair Witch Project 6. Exorcist III 7. Poltergeist 8. Silence of the Lambs 9. Jaws 10. Just the basement scene from Annabelle. The rest was kinda crappy, but that scene was really good 11. Psycho (not with Vince Vaughan!) 12. Nightmare on Elm Street 1 13. Ok, yeah, the Scream franchise.

^^ Again, yeah, inverts are very common, but to me a staple means no park feels truly "complete" without one. Plenty of incredible parks out there don't have inverts. Though I agree, it's a hole in the lineup that would be nice to fill at some point. Nowhere? Really? Adventureland just installed a Wind Seeker last year called Storm Chaser. Adventureland is located in Altoona, IA which is just northeast of Des Moines. From Minneapolis it only takes 3.5 to 4 hours to get to Des Moines. VF needs something thrilling. Wind Seekers are pretty tame when it comes to thrills. They can be fun an provide good views but not very thrilling compared to most rides that size. Thank you

7 Dwarfs Mine Train, WDW

I'm partial to the wave swinger with chairs coming from all points of the top, including straight into the sky.

I've already provided an answer as to what I'll do when the Religious Conservatives push a similar law thru Texas. and no where did I say anyone should move out of Indiana -- only that I won't be spending money there. so please don't put (false) words in my mouth. I'm sorry, I'm not trying to put words in my mouth, but what I'm saying is that you're willing to let all of these families in Indiana suffer economically that have nothing to do with passing this law (which appears to be 90% of hoosiers... not a small minority) Their only "crime", if you will, is living in the state of Indiana. Why is it fair for people to potentially slip into poverty because of something they didn't support is happening? In order to escape the fury of the rest of the country, people would be forced to move eventually. Are you willing to be in the same position when your state passes the law? I'm not saying you asked people to move - I'm saying that it's a very possible implication of what you're calling for, and I want to know if you're willing to face the same consequences if it happens to you? The only significant harm I see going on here (now that the law has largely been negated) is to the people in Indiana who have nothing to do with supporting this. But if your position is that they just have to deal with it, I guess I understand that, so long as you're willing to put up with the same scenario in Texas.

Common does not equal staple. Carousels are a staple. Flumes are a staple (hi, Valleyfair) I also never said worthless. I just said the worth it brings doesn't justify the price, given what it could be spent on. But you really, really, really want a windseeker, so I'm done trying to convince you that it's not the best option. Regardless of what we think about the place, it is competition. It's somewhere else that people can (and do) spend their entertainment/vacation money, and is far closer to Valleyfair than SFGA is.

I at least got my airtime fix during a rather turbulent flight last night. That should hold me over for a few days.

How far would you go with this? I don't mean to use a slippery slope argument, but really... I think it's a question we need to answer, as "bystanders don't matter" has been used to do horrible things in history. Believe me, I know that boycotting is powerful, but that's exactly why I think a more effective response would just be to mercilessly boycott any business that actually discriminates or publicly supports discrimination. It appears that most people in Indiana have a huge problem with this law, and it's probably safe to assume that it will get overturned as soon as people can be voted out, if not in the next few weeks/months. I totally respect your choice to not go to Indiana, especially if you feel unsafe there, but I'm really not sure the situation requires that. I don't feel "unsafe" there at all, but I won't give money to a State that gives an "ok" legally to discriminate against me. I absolutely disagree with what you call "bystanders don't matter" as that's not at all what a boycott is. think of it this way (a famous quote from Martin Niemoller, a Protestant pastor, and critic of Hitler who spent 7 years in a Concentration camp): "First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me." and yes, I go to this as a Jew, it's the first thing that comes to mind -- in other words, there ARE no "innocent bystanders" -- discrimination affects all even if you think it doesn't. When Texas passes a similar law -- which the morons are rushing thru now, I'll stop spending money here as well (only on essentials, but will be vacationing and traveling out of State, despite Fiesta, SeaWorld, Schitterbahn, SFoT and many other great parks here). When Texas pushes this thru? My disposable income will be spent elsewhere. Well yes, discrimination affects all, but legality of it alone does not unless people take advantage of that, which it appears has not been an issue in Indiana, despite LGBT having never been a protected class there. Will you be moving out of Texas? Or do you only expect that of everyone unfortunate enough to be living in Indiana right now?

In this part of the country, it would be unique. Exactly how big is "this part of the country" to you? Two less than 8hrs south of Valleyfair, and there will soon be one in Wisconsin Dells, and likely one at SFGAm in the future (yes, I'm counting Starflyers and other similar ripoffs) When talking about the footprint, it's not about whether they could do something. It's about whether they should. We have plenty of space for things considering how the park has removed or relocated a ride almost every year since 2008. There's Chaos's spot, Skyscraper's spot, Scrambler's original spot, Tilt-a-whirl's old spot, the old Corkscrew tot-spot, and an amphitheater that sits unused covering a large amount of space. Also, for 5-6 million, I think they could build something far better and more unique. *edit* - I just realized for roughly the same price tag, you could get Falcon's Fury... Of course, and I understand that. Your opinion is totally valid. That said, a park should consider what the majority opinion is, and I think it's fair to say that most of the general public (not even considering the enthusiast community) would never say something like "It's better than most coasters". The most common thing I hear from people who have seen them is "Oh, yeah, it's alright." Why would a park settle for that when they could do something so much more interesting and compelling? Obviously parks need some average rides. Cedar Point, for example, was already doing just fine in the thrill/intensity category. Valleyfair, on the other hand, has left thrill seekers out in the cold since 2007, as many in this thread say on a daily basis. Given what most are saying the park lacks, a windseeker is not the way to reel in thrill seekers from out of state.

Well there's a lot of things that could be cheaper if they decided to make the park look like a dump. But that's not really how CF rolls these days.