bill_s

With these parks now year-round, I'm wondering if they will close some rides currently open for maintenance when others open up. I recall BGW doing that but can't remember details.

World seems a little too full of people ready to jump down someone's throat to me. "Fact" did have a question mark at the end.

It seems so stupid to not be able to afford a theme park because the area is too rich. Losing a park reduces the land value -- not enough to affect the property sold, but it doesn't seem far-fetched that lost property value could total $155M and lost tourism etc. another $155M in the next 5-10 years. However they could find another place for a park or turn one of their smaller parks into a more serious one.

^^-- On a visit ~10 years ago, Batwing opened around 5 PM (Roar never did).

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.

Avoid Sat. July 2 to Mon. the 4th, preferably motivate ASAP after arrival. The season often takes off on the Fourth or its weekend, weather dependent. In general, never been to SFFT, like to.

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!"

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.

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.

I noticed the new recorded ride spiels at SFA last year for Superman and JJ stated height not as a minimum, but as a range "to 76 inches" or 6'4". Though it didn't affect me, I was surprised. Could become widespread. The limit may not relate to, and preceded Pantheon's head-chopper support.

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.

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.

^^-- back row is also a lot warmer, front in the cold can make a hyper seem a lot longer than usual, merciless! Note the ice cream shop has hot chocolate instead -- even now, but should be switching soon, that's faked me out both ways.

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...

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.

^^-- 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.

Impressive, but from 2010 -- maybe you meant this as an example?

There is now a widespread opinion and evidence that Busch is getting worse and Cedar Fair getting better. For example, CF's new coasters are well themed, Seaworld's is relatively lacking -- although they built more, and are finally opening them. Food at BG has become inconsistent, KD's opening another reimagined restaurant. Whether CF has caught up or not, that's the trend. The merger would decrease competition and probably involves increased total debt. Rich guys getting richer., card houses reaching higher.

You don't have to go down to 19 degrees. Here in VA we have lots of over 40 in Dec., so that the parks cut coasters at 40 is only annoying. On New Year's Day eve it was in the 60s, 2 days later I shoveled snow and began 3 days without power.

Continuing payment makes it harder to raise prices. I don't know if they still offer(ed) a better price if you try to end your Membership -- I halved my payment back in 2015 and may never end it -- but now they can just threaten loss of legacy status and a price increase. I actually tried to spend a little at SFA for a while in 2020, but had trouble finding anything I wanted, or didn't want to wait in line.

On a Sunday morning, getting off the highway by 11 AM, KD to SFA is easy. I would prefer going mid to late afternoon depending on hours, but this will be stressful at the least. A late return is usually fine. Weekdays are more complicated. I caution against any park visit on a Saturday, but I can see wanting a day off. If you have season's pass, maybe get out of there and take it easy middle of the day, go back at night and stay until close, and rope drop it for a awhile, or close it again, Sunday. Richmond does have historical home tours and the like. The James River and Bell's Island is no Niagara., but is a good outing, and much better for kayaking.

I liked Ricochet and was ready for every brake except the sneaky one at the end. KD improved the brakes on their mouse with the 2018 name change, much smoother.

queue-times has been posting 60 minutes or closed on the coasters all this event, and the wait times at the entrance usually are 60 min. also, and this has been almost always wrong. More like max. 30, less off peak, rerides towards close. I mostly ride Dominator back row, row 6 is the roughest, right side is hard on your neck. Yeah donut burger was good. LAST DAY of Winterfest is Jan 9 !!!

Really, at any better park you should be sure to experience the night portion, however, the logistics of a road trip are complicated. HP at night is also great, and one case it might be worth the preview session is if you can't stay late the main HP day.