dippindotsguy8

Where did you hear that? Screamscape a year or two ago. I think it was on Kings Dominion's page. The Coaster Critic also copied it and wrote a bit on it http://www.thecoastercritic.com/2012/11/rumor-cedar-fair-remove-arrow-looping-coasters.html I'm not going to complain about a lack of this. What I took from that is that Cedar Fair is supposedly going to remove two of them in particular, and that Lance is just broadly applying that to mean that all arrows across the chain are doomed. That's a very different thing than "Cedar Fair basically said __________" Yes, it is reasonable to assume that someday, many of the arrow coasters standing today are not going to be around, but it's not like the chain made such a dramatic statement as what you're suggesting.

I think the issue is not asking the operators to do a visual scan of the area. The issue is asking the operators to be dramatic and obnoxious when doing it to appear really safe. At SFDK, the person on controls at V2 just whipped her head from side to side multiple times, at a speed that probably caused some whiplash and didn't give her time to actually see anything. Also, at magic mountain, the statement "Visual Scan" is being just thrown in the spiel, often without the operators even really looking at all.

Or maybe it's VF that needs to get the memo I don't like the idea of calling that a family coaster. It's a fun, uncommon flat ride.

Before the 2013 season, to make way for Dino's Alive While I think Valleyfair really needs to put in something to cater to thrill seekers, and I'm concerned about the lack of effort there, I can't complain about this expansion in and of itself. Yes, it's mostly re-locations, but it does fill a hole in the park. That area felt very disconnected and barren, and this will definitely make it look/feel a lot better! Also, the public should respond well to the return of an Antique Autos-esque ride. Now the question is what will fill the place of the Tilt-a-whirl (by Wildthing) and the Scrambler (near the front).

To be honest, I was very disappointed with almost every maze there, with the exception of Aftermath. That one was a step in the right direction, and from what they said at WCB, it sounds like they want to move more in that direction with their new mazes. It just felt like the most "complete" maze between the scenery and the acting. Most of the other ones felt like an afterthought (i.e., throwing camouflage netting over a ride's queue and calling it a maze). Willoughby's was interesting, although I didn't really find it intense. The gag right at the beginning of the maze was the best scare in it.

Superman: EFK at SFMM. I guess I don't hate it, but I would never wait in any line for it.

2009 -Prowler, WOF 2011 -Windseeker, KBF (not my home park at the time) -NTAG (If we're counting that), SFOT 2012 -XFlight, SFGAm -Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom, SFMM 2013 -Outlaw Run, SDC -Gold Striker, CGA

If anyone cares, I guess the haunt info for this fall is now online https://www.valleyfair.com/haunt I'm kinda surprised the park didn't take the opportunity to officially announce either of the new mazes, but it's good to see some significant changes in the lineup.

Excalibur really isn't a rough ride. They only pain you'll have is if you sit in a wheel seat and don't brace yourself for the quick transitions. It's not necessarily the most exciting ride out there, but I'm not so sure why people always call it rough. There are much worse arrows out there than Excalibur.

You really don't know that for sure...for all you know there could have been a hiccup during installation that has delayed the project, which is information that would not be readily available to the public. Of course that is always a possibility, but I have my doubts. And either way, no official opening date has been publicly set, so they don't have a reason to be in a hurry unless they desperately want it open as soon as possible, for whatever reason.

The only reason they are so far "behind" if thats what we're calling it, is that they made no effort to get it done in a timely manner, because they don't have to. As long as it opens sometime in "Summer of 2013" which gives them til the end of August, they are technically on time. To answer why they choose to have such flex deadlines..... its SFMM.

From my experience with X-Flight, if you're looking for an intense ride, you won't like it. I found it to be a decently fun ride - particularly because of the keyhole - but it's definitely not intense, which is why a lot of people say they don't care for it.

Fixed

^Any of the back, far right seats are my personal favorites, just because you get to be on the outside of the overbank, and I like the forces in the back as opposed to the front.

Had a great time at the park yesterday evening and managed to get my first 3 rides in on Gold Striker! First of all, I'd like to give a huge "thank you" to the people at California's Great America who made this series of photoshoots possible, at no cost to anyone wanting to participate. The ride itself is solid. I particularly liked the pacing, and I love that it keeps the speed up all the way from the lift to the brakes. I would probably rank it somewhere in the middle of the GCI's I've ridden (Apocolypse, Renegade, Prowler, Roar and Gwazi). Overall, it won't drastically affect my wooden coaster rankings, but I really enjoyed it. It's a great, much needed addition to CGA, sure to be a hit with all of the guests this summer. Most people's reactions to the ride were very positive, from what I could see. Congrats to GCI on another winner!

I'm all signed up for the Thursday night session. Can't wait! I'm glad to hear so many positive reviews. Hopefully we'll get some night rides in!

You will have to pay for parking initially, but if you keep your parking receipt, they will refund you when you process the pass. Be sure to hit Xcelerator and Montezooma's Revenge. Most of the major attractions are worth a ride, but those are two you don't want to miss, IMO.

Wasn't me. I swear. -Dippindotsguy

I too have noticed this almost every time I've been to the park. There's always at least 2 or 3, sometimes more employees on controls. At first I thought it was for training or something, but it doesn't seem that way. Again, not saying it's a problem, but it's odd.

I'm not opposed to weekdays, depending on which classes (and how many) I would be missing. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays work best. Either way, I would definitely TRY to attend an event if it was a park I really wanted to experience TPR Bash-style.

Am I the only one who is dying for a Gieco Gecko themed ride, like they asked about? haha

^Again, as of yesterday night, it was NOT topped off. They never attatched it. It was taken down after about a half hour. I just want to be clear on that. But yeah! It looks nice, and the drop out of the tophat looks very steep. I'm excited to ride it at WCB, if not this spring.

I'm pretty sure it's completion of the loop. I was at the park yesterday, and they had the top piece all lined up for a good half hour, but then for whatever reason, they decided not to connect it and lowered it back down. My guess is they probably got it done today or will finish it this week, but I don't have any solid info about that.

It does if you're talking about lessening the sustained airtime. Just look at Kingda Ka's speed hill that has brakes on it. To clarify, the bottom half having brakes on it or not doesn't matter when it comes to airtime, but you're right that where the bottom half starts (along with speed, forces, and other things) defines how long the airtime is sustained. And by bottom half, I mean the point where the angle of descent starts to decrease.

The bottom half isn't what matters when it comes to airtime. I'm still hoping for a little pop of air. Nonetheless, thanks for the update! Edit- Sorry chickenbowl, I didn't see your post. You beat me to it!