bill_s

If you got a concussion from ridding a roller coaster, as well as hip problems from roller coasters, and almost broke your nose on a log flume... I'd say: 1.) You are riding these rides wrong. 2.) You need to find a new hobby. I guess I'll defend myself, although should probably just call you a name. No, it's how bad those rides are or were. I probably did ride a wheel seat, but that's not technically wrong. Paramount had really let the woodies go ... and Hurler at that time was the best of the 3, or I knew to be more cautious about it. Anaconda can really slam your head and they stuck me in row 5 or 7 due to me using Wednesday Walk On or whatever they called that. I went back and learned to ride RY in its 2008 form before they started retracking it-- after a two month hiatus. Still ride Anaconda -- in certain rows. Grizzly I started religiously avoiding wheel seats. The cause of my accident on the log flume still hasn't been fixed but I didn't complain about it. Those metal handrails get very slick and there is nothing to prevent your hands from slipping off the front end. The log may have dug in more as well. I never go down the drop without my hands behind the mounts anymore. 95% of the people on this board would have just started saying these rides suck, burn them down. Many do. Maybe they had a similar experience on Hurler and Shockwave. I didn't and wouldn't.

I got a bad enough concussion on one ride of Anaconda I didn't feel right for 3 days. I still have hip problems from RY 2008 and Grizzly 2009. I also nearly broke my nose on the log flume. I never had any such problems due to Hurler or Shockwave. The do think they did something to The Spot on Anaconda a few years ago. Don't know how, but it got better. That section of the rails was partially unpainted the previous year so they at least painted it. Maybe went at it with blow torches and rebent it slightly. It's still rather borderline but it was really bad. The rest of the coaster is crazy but can be fun, and I still hear kids sometimes saying it's their favorite in the park.

They already have a coaster over the lake that will kick your a$$, or at least kick your head. Seems to me I305 was the last coaster at KD that won't be some kind of replacement of a previous one, plus their main statement coaster, now that they are entering the replacement phase with TT they may come a bit faster out of necessity, or closures at any rate, say in 2 years after another minor upgrade and another 2 years to replace a coaster. It's still really complicated compared to what was there, but yeah it looks great, better than their previous with the same stats but based on Cyclonic layouts. Probably the most "from the ground up" bits of any conversion, contrasts a lot with Steel Vengeance which is basically a whole, whole bunch of random stuff to carve up.

So... everyone? Specifically vacation-goers. When you only have one shot to make your vacation go smoothly, of course you're going to eliminate variables, such as waits for attractions, with an unlimited line-skip pass. I would honestly be surprised if semi-regulars to Hersheypark dropped on the pass at all. If I were still living in Pennsylvania and could go when I wanted to for a day, I wouldn't spend any money on even the lower, single-ride tier. I agree. The problem I have with everyone saying "Save!" is that's what I do so I can even go to some of these places. On the other hand, while some are more fortunate in having better income, I'm very fortunate in having great parks nearby with relatively light crowds -- all the more reason I'm not inclined to spend the extra. Considering that fast passes are on top of getting there, getting in and the rest, I definitely do consider them expensive. I don't consider them "for the rich" as the extra park income not coming out of my pocket can be in my benefit. It's hardly the only thing where you you need to think and plan more if you don't have money to throw at the problem. Another thing is, if I had a choice between going to a park on a light crowds day or a free fastpass, I'd still prefer the lighter crowds. 20 minutes from the merge point? I waited 20 minutes or more for less than 1% of my rides last year. Multiple rerides, solo rides, walk on front row rides? None of those are features of fast pass. Are we sure the merge points are 20 minutes from the station? I've heard contradicting accounts. It was a generalized statement about fast pass systems, not specific info on Hershey, the 20 min. number is from a mention of CP here (vs. the OLD HP system). It does seem about right for the distance from the merge on Wildcat, the only one I even noticed due to the bored guy sitting there, but it would depend on how many people they let through, they could cut it as soon as the line peeks out of the station.

If Chic-fil-A had the full menu with the salads, that would be a serious alternative for theme park food. On the dining plan I'd just have to ask for forgiveness.

^^-- Platinum is over $100 more and it's a better deal to just get seperate passes for 2 parks. It becomes a deal if you go to 3 parks, and even then really you need to go to 2 of them more than once. I'm not buying that SF passes are so cheap. A special on 4 passes is not the same at all. I know personally only 2 people that bought a set, and both went only once themselves and rode one ride, for different reasons. When you start stretching it to get a "deal" it happens like that. I wouldn't count discounts on merchandise a discount on the pass either, it tends to be they come out ahead. I never used any of them.

^^-- I stayed there. Rooms are tiny and the A/C is large enough for a house, and the thermostat switches it between full blast and full off. It needs to be very hot, cold or just right (not humid). I suggest bringing a fan and duct tape so you can aim the vent upwards without the curtains going nuts. Beds are hard, frig didn't really work. Almost too quiet. The Taco Bell almost within walking distance is excellent.

So... everyone? Specifically vacation-goers. When you only have one shot to make your vacation go smoothly, of course you're going to eliminate variables, such as waits for attractions, with an unlimited line-skip pass. I would honestly be surprised if semi-regulars to Hersheypark dropped on the pass at all. If I were still living in Pennsylvania and could go when I wanted to for a day, I wouldn't spend any money on even the lower, single-ride tier. I agree. The problem I have with everyone saying "Save!" is that's what I do so I can even go to some of these places. On the other hand, while some are more fortunate in having better income, I'm very fortunate in having great parks nearby with relatively light crowds -- all the more reason I'm not inclined to spend the extra. Considering that fast passes are on top of getting there, getting in and the rest, I definitely do consider them expensive. I don't consider them "for the rich" as the extra park income not coming out of my pocket can be in my benefit. It's hardly the only thing where you you need to think and plan more if you don't have money to throw at the problem. Another thing is, if I had a choice between going to a park on a light crowds day or a free fastpass, I'd still prefer the lighter crowds. 20 minutes from the merge point? I waited 20 minutes or more for less than 1% of my rides last year. Multiple rerides, solo rides, walk on front row rides? None of those are features of fast pass.

I was already thinking the cars will look good in real life, seeing the vid I'm thinking the truck front isn't very big. Extreme closeups import no sense of scale. Looking at the video and scrolling twitter, delicious. I think people will be able to find it with that sign .. Would they flip a "T" at the last minute?

^^-- If they did that, I'm sure a lot of people would call Six Flags "stupid" for a year or 2. Sure, Highridin calling your plan "stupid" also calls you stupid, but as to your multi-paragraph business plan, it boils down to "raise season's pass prices". You either agree with it or not. I did catch the math error already. With other parks creeping up in price, Six Flags has definitely taken a different approach. The SFA pass gets you SF parks all over the country, as well as being cheap. The only way it makes sense is if they figure on making it up on Flash Pass sales. With many of their more crowded parks, they probably do. I agree that the admission price going up would make for a better experience. I'd also expect the parks to seem more upscale, without ads everywhere, though. I could see SF going to a seperate $200 pass for that gets you into other SF parks, but $200 *is* too much for SFA alone without major changes. If that was the only level and $200 still got you in other parks, it would only sell to those planning to do that. They would lose me as a passholder at that price, because I have 2 better parks closer to me. I might be willing to pay for a single day at SFGAdv, but it would be at least 5 years before I'd go back to SFA. Last year, I made 3 trips (split over evening-morning at one) to SF parks and increased the wait time for rides with substantial lines only 5 times (Sunday evening as SFNE). I spent some money in the parks except SFA, since my visit there was cut so short by traffic and cold. I wouldn't have made the long trip to SFNE if admission wasn't already paid for. So they did make money off me they otherwise wouldn't, with no significant cost to them. I'm more likely to be there when the park looks too empty than when it's too full.

I kind of think they need some sandpaper and a paint job, but last 2 days have been coaster weather and I'm ready to ride!

And that is the one stand-up I dislike most. Honestly I always found the Togo ones more comfortable. Even if there's airtime on a stand up. "Even if there's airtime on a stand up" .. OK it didn't increase the comfort but it was wonderful. Stand up coasters without airtime (B&M) killed the genre. It's what makes a good one. It also would be very handy for a floorless conversion too though. I have my doubts that Vortex, Apocalypse or GL would make a decent floorless either, they're rather slow and boring. It's possible, Apocalypse at least has a lot of curves, but no way would any of them come close to the breathless pacing of Dominator without a big change of layout or adding LIMs. .

^^-- Looking at the above blockout days chart, there are no blockouts that weekend so management is expecting the whole weekend to be light. I don't think I've ever gone there on a Friday but general experience says that can't be beat.

^^-- in my post back on Tuesday, I did say "possibly the whole area would need to become more dense to the point of changes in government attitudes to make it worthwhile."

This is weird. 9 years ago they didn't have EZ-pay annual passes, they called them memberships, but now they're calling the new ones memberships. I'm finding the the new selections confusing. What are the blockout dates? If I change my current, um, membership to the new one for less money, does my commitment start over with a full year? I don't see either in the FAQ. I'm guessing the blockout dates would be good times to avoid the place, but who knows.

^^-- they leased all or part of the land for Kentucky Kingdom. The Darien Lake property is worth less. SFA's property increases in value more or less constantly. The value of the company increases, it's just not cash.

^^-- I wasn't thinking it would necessarily end up being a Six Flags with my combination idea -- I really don't know how it would work. It just seemed odd to be talking about putting in bars and other entertainments in place of an amusement park when there's malls with coasters in them. Screwed up priorities! But, money. I started talking about sale of the property in trying to explain what could be going on. Of course there's even some possibility they don't put much in SFA because they know the park inherently becomes unpleasant when crowded and it just increases the "reputation" issues. Or maybe Six Flags is trying different ways to run parks, it's even starting to work.... I don't think Six Flags is in a hurry to sell the place even if they see it in the future. I just think it could be a factor in their decisions that the land it is on is more valuable than usual (and relatively unspectacular as well).

Sounds to me the headline is false because no one gets overtime because no one works over 40 hours a week, he won't pay overtime. If they change the rules, they will have the option of working longer at the same rate. Hart implies at least some of them are well above minimum wage and some work another job for more hours, which is more questionable, although probably many do work another job due to inconsistent hours and still will have to.

I thought I said much of that but can't find it. I don't think things are to that point -- possibly the whole area would need to become more dense to the point of changes in government attitudes to make it worthwhile. Still, even if they're looking at selling 20 years, this affects what they are willing to build. Water park expansions are mostly cheap and don't hold up well 20 years anyway. A Sky Screamer is practically a portable ride compared to a coaster. One thing occurs to me reading "high end restaurants, bars, and shops" -- if they do that, leave some rides behind in operation, just change the whole nature of where they're at.

I just thought Rebel Yell was a good name for a coaster and still is, the controversy made it a little edgy. Just a little friendly rivalry ya'll .... I do feel a little mad, in the end just frustrated because there isn't any suitable response. I guess I'll just enjoy Racer 75 while I'm over there enjoying Figure8 82, Mouse 02, and the new RMC 18.

It might be rough enough you should ride it NOW. The only way it's losing all crazy ejector is if it's closed, or trims -- big ones.

"one and done" sounds like a crap ride. It wasn't, but it was more a one-time, single-experience not oriented to reriding and something you'd expect to not stay with the the same program for decades. Maybe they'll see how the VR goes and repurpose some of the hardware for that ... the whole ride in a tiny dark box.

To me "Pacing" is more a matter of design. Most coasters do slow down as they go through the course, so good pacing has to allow slower speeds towards the end there just needs to be appropriate things to do and they have to meet specs. I'm still interested in how much RMCs slow down compared to their original versions, I haven't done both versions of one yet, only rode WC. The plastic wheels slow it down but the smoothing should compensate some. Still, this will be long for its height for steel coaster. I'm guessing it will finish at a speed no faster than the original's best even with the increased height, but no slower than its last year. That's a big range. The later elements just don't look high speed to me. The overbank is fast, but by the time you get to the cutback, where did the Big Curve go? The actual curve has been reduced to a fraction. I saw the ledgers in person at Haunt for some of those sections and the trick track and they looked severe with my assumptions at the time. I think it has to be slow enough the reverse bank, for example, slows down a good bit, but I think it's a bigger one than on WC and more elevated compared to what follows. The stats are similar though. It will be a very cool coaster but I think the RMCs differ from what I first expected. They're not "biggest baddest meanest" , more a detailed, complex, long for their size type of coaster. The steel conversion means they have to make them at least somewhat more intense element-wise just to match the original, and then take that another step.

[attachment=0]thing.jpg[/attachment] "In the rich tradition of the classic Italian daredevils, no single man wowed the crowds like Tempesto®. Take center stage and recreate his signature stunt. " I seem to recall other references to "stunt". At any rate i find its shortness a good thing.

Some people end up having 2 or more family get-togethers on different days, and then some end up with their 1 or 2 on a different day other than Christmas. I know the last xmas Eve was the last really nice day of the season and SFA was closed, so they may at least change that. It does seem different than Florida, where lots of people aren't having the traditional celebration, at least not while they're there.