
bill_s
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About bill_s
- Birthday 11/30/1959
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kings dominion
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Six Flags America (SFA) Discussion Thread
bill_s replied to Mind Eraser's topic in Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, & Donkeys!
^^-- On a visit ~10 years ago, Batwing opened around 5 PM (Roar never did). -
Six Flags Corporate Discussion Thread
bill_s replied to davidmorton's topic in Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, & Donkeys!
Versus paying $15 for food that's $5 down the street, that's pretty good. Panda express at KD was always open and busy, but their in-house replacement is around as busy, and they probably make more off it. -
A regular April to Oct. season is enough time for plenty of highs and lows. At any rate, the most crowded day of the entire year is probably in your date range, along with some days that maybe aren't close. But you knew that. I think most people have a good idea what days are good and bad, the underestimation is how much different it can be, both in person counts and the effect. True though, the Fourth may not kick off an entire crowded month there.
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Icon Park - Drop Tower opens today
bill_s replied to tndank's topic in Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, & Donkeys!
I don't think he was that overweight. That he was big and only 14 makes it worse, but otherwise he was comparable to myself or many others here. Fact is, there is a whole segment of the population that is big here or there or everywhere but still active enough to want to ride. The subject of height restrictions has recently come back up. I'm not sure there's a solution because if increasing the limits also increases the minimum size, more willing riders will be excluded than gained. But it may be closer to an even tradeoff than (actual) designers realize. The seats and restraints of the Freefall look to me to emphasize freedom and comfort over range. About the only ride that even has restraints I know would have accommodated him comfortably is Avalanche/Reptilian. Once I rode it and a huge biker yelled joyously and surprisingly unselfconsciously "finally something I can ride!" -
Icon Park - Drop Tower opens today
bill_s replied to tndank's topic in Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, & Donkeys!
Also from the Newsweek article, ""ICON Park formally notified the owner of the Orlando FreeFall, the SlingShot Group, demanding suspension not only of the operation of Orlando FreeFall but also the operation of Orlando SlingShot, effective immediately, until the attractions are proven to be safe by authorities," the statement read." Unless the restraint slipped, broke or bent, it seems to me the gap was still sort of small. To be forced through by the brake, he would have had to be repositioned forward such as by panic during the drop, or maybe passing out limp or leg momentum. -
Carowinds Discussion Thread
bill_s replied to robbalvey's topic in Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, & Donkeys!
Both Hurlers was neutered in 2010 (Intimidators added) except for a brief period when the trims were turned off in Carolina after retracking. Before that it was a good but not great, and frequently rough coaster. It did look great in 2019, with lots of new wood and nice trains, but they've got to let it fly free and pay the cost -- at least they don't have other woodies to maintain. It could still be reprofiled to be a lot better. -
2021 TPR Coaster Poll Results!
bill_s replied to A.J.'s topic in Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, & Donkeys!
I really don't think this has been explained. I didn't create the program but will give it a go. An example: Person 1 rates El Toro #1, followed by 3 steel coasters and then Phoenix. Person 2 rates Phoenix #1, followed by one wood coaster that no one else likes and then Toro. In overall rankings, El Toro would beat Phoenix because the 3 steel coaster spread is larger than that one wood coaster. But in wood rankings, Phoenix wins because the steel coasters cease to exist. This is a simplification at best, but shows a system it could happen. If you pull out the woodies from the overall list, you get a result based on how people rate them relative to all coasters. However the actual woodie list assumes the order in peoples' rankings wouldn't change, but pulls out the steelies in advance and reruns the program from scratch. May seem flawed but it is more a true woodies list then. -
Kings Dominion (KD) Discussion Thread
bill_s replied to robbalvey's topic in Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, & Donkeys!
Kd is relatively great park for crowds, but there still can be substantial lines at times. I've never gotten FL in hundreds of visits, but there are definitely rides I just skip some days. Last year, FoF was crazy. That and Reptilian will be the ones to rope drop. Also, ride Dominator before official opening or wait until much later. -
Hersheypark (HP) Discussion Thread
bill_s replied to robbalvey's topic in Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, & Donkeys!
The best times for crowds are often mid-Spring through early June except Memorial Day. Mother's Day is good, not all holidays are bad... -
Kings Island Question
bill_s replied to scooterdoug's topic in Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, & Donkeys!
I couldn't fully tell you because I haven't been to a park on a Saturday in years, and intend to keep it that way. -
Why no American Vekomas?
bill_s replied to CedarFlags's topic in Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, & Donkeys!
^^-- they make the Vekomas in Europe and S&S in US so there is surely some price difference. They are significantly different coasters though overlapping niche. It can take years to plan and complete a project, and their improved reputation is fairly recent so there is still hope.