bill_s

Cedar Fair could have a completely different approach to design than Six Flags did. They may just be trying to make these coasters all they were intended to be, with less maintenance. RMC would benefit from an example of Iron Horse being used for a less extravagant, costly process. As to Hurler specifically, exactly it's not going to be something where it would be better just to start over. At the least, it will remain a coaster that tends to stay closer to the ground to maintain speed, it will not become all about height. The one tall, complex portion of the coaster will not somehow be rebuilt a lot taller, it would be easier to leave that unchanged and tear down all the low parts, unless the extra height is steel going all the way down to the ground. Maybe some spots will come down lower to the ground, the cut-out section at the bottom of the drop could be that (although if I didn't know better I'd say they're putting in a loop). As to the timing, neither of the coasters in progress have contributed significantly to their parks for years. I thought RMC said they were getting away from conversions a couple years ago, at least for a while. I haven't heard of them doing anything else right now, maybe they have something planned already next winter, or they just know they can do it now. And it is 2 coasters and Mean Streak is huge.

I missed the beginning or most of the presentation, although I'd think Hurler would be at the end if anything. As well as the missing track and structure section at the bottom of the drop -- which looks like they could go higher, they were limited by the bucket truck -- the track has been removed from after the missing section through the second curve and to the top of the next hill. Looks really different from Grizzly. I didn't make a beeline back there but did ride Ricochet twice to look. There's also a truck hidden behind the coaster, best I can tell the RMC bucket truck. The pile of old track in the boneyard is impressive. Word elsewhere is some new track is onsite.

Good. I was feeling like if they were going to sell a lot of them, maybe I should get one after all (Now I'm hoping to use not getting one to help justify starting up a BGW pass or something later on this year). I'm wondering if I'm geeky enough to walk down to see Hurler before even riding anything.

Is there some kind of announcement event during the preview? I haven't seen anything and haven't been to a preview night before. I know BGW usually does one on preview day...

Suck it trim brake, they yanked the track right out from under you!

Yeah, sit down, pull down the restraint and stop your bitching because the Anaconda don't want none. Better yet, save your bitching for the ride, screaming obscenities is barely even optional. It's a real He Man ride! Some say ride in the middle, last I did I got a concussion that affected me 3 days. Front 3 rows or the very back row. Front row of the back car if you're feeling lucky. It's rough but fun except for "The Spot" which should be taken very seriously. I push my head hard against the restraint at that exact moment. Don't ride with a hood, hat or anything that makes your head slippery on the headrest.

^^-- yeah it feels to me like when you drive fast up a hill and at the last moment before going over the peak, you slam on the brakes so you don't die. That hill might be OK but the following bits wouldn't (though they were slightly faster when the trim was on the first drop). I dislike the sensation of slowing down in itself, but can see some trimming and speed regulation at that point is part of the design. Coulda, shoulda ... the worst part is if you allow it to irritate you and not enjoy the end for what it is (not the best part, and never will be the best part on something like this). Re: Hurler, does anyone know anything about RMC's preliminary activities? I expect they have blueprints for Hurler, but they may still want to do some measurements. I wouldn't be surprised if they have a laser scanner that can measure a whole coaster (preferably before removing anything). Who knows how far along things are.

I305 ... actually I don't like the drop that much, which I don't get, it's one of the many pops of air but other than that it's just propulsion for the rest of the layout... which is breathlessly fast and intense. Is it the best? Yes and no and my enjoyment of it varies a lot. It's harder to fully enjoy but when you do, so good. It's amazing they built something that pushes your body so far. I think it's the coaster fantasy made real of a ride that eats through track with no respect for duration; like all fantasies it may not do it for you in reality. However, complaints about lack of airtime are absolutely impossible to take seriously, it would require ignoring objective fact.

Plus some rails will be a year old by the time it opens... and some won't.

I think a controlled leak is part of the plan, as long as they stay in control and no one does anything rash. After all, they have a year, no hurry. On Google from that link, I can see the cement mixer down to the left (looks unique), and blue box thing. It's the same name on the pic as the flyover vids, so I think it's real ... and looks like would be a complex photoshop what with the fence in front (which does have 3 strands of barbed wire on top, no reinforcing diagonals on Google but looks to need work then).

^^-- I think that so often there's no reason for urgency they get too used to it.

The reason I go to SFA is I've been to those other parks and it's actually a good change of pace and rides you can't ride anywhere else exactly, or as easily in the case of 2. I just don't go near as often as to KD. It's actually a nice park, just small with a tendency towards aging rides. Their Holiday is more to my tastes than BGW's Christmas Town. Plus a SFA pass is good across America and costs less. I've seen a few people there in 20 years I might want to keep my distance from, but mostly it's families trying to have a good time, mostly kids during the week.

Disagree. The more fast passes and the longer the wait times get, the lower the value of just a ticket or pass to get in. Eventually the fastpass arms race becomes so disgusting that many just stay home. But then, the majority view already is that amusement parks are overcrowded cesspits of overpopulation, luckily for us.

Batwing is in the back of the park and I expect those who make a beeline to the back at opening are mostly going for Superman. Last time I was there early-ish (mid-afternoon) they didn't open Batwing until about 5:30 (7 PM close) and if Roar ran that day, it was before I got there, but that was maybe 7 years ago on a weekday.

^^-- 301 is still mighty tedious, at best you get 30 miles of suburban stripmall sprawl to drive through. Google Maps also knows way more about the troubles on I95 and may mislead you. I was going that way because I just couldn't handle the stress of I95, but it takes soooo long. This was northbound only, the highway is much better by the time for me to head back south and the 301 bridge toll is south only (they charge you to get out of Maryland, haha, actually could be worth every penny if it discourages traffic). Twice I've given up on trying to get to SFA, 301N has been so bad on Sunday afternoons. That place really suffers from location, it's hard to have fun when you're seeing red before you even get there.

That's just past the peak of the main season. On the other hand, Saturday will still probably be only as crowded as, say, the following Tuesday at CP or GrAdv and Sundays are considerably better. Weather dependent of course. I'd say don't rush between the parks with that plan (unless you plan to Fast Lane), things do usually wind down some at night at KD, especially if you can get Sunday first thing and at night as well. Most of June and the very end of August are usually sparse. Unfortunately, you can tell the least crowded days by them coinciding with earlier closings, at least until Haunt.

Actually that's a good example, I think SFA can be worth going to every once in a while, while the merits of their rides is questionable I can guarantee you one thing, you won't ride any of them by going back to BGW... BUT, it really depends on how often you "happen to be" in the area and even get to go to BGW. And KD! Plus I wonder how much SFA's reputation relates to how annoying it is to get there. I don't travel much. I do get extra excitement when I get to go someplace new but at the same time my home park(s) and the highly local experience is hard to beat (just almost too casual). I can see where even "new" would start to get old though.

12, which embarrassingly is higher than my total wood coasters of 10. It's only one steel coaster manufacturer!

The tendency towards repeating one motion which is basically circular means it lacks the most important aspect of actual coasters. In other words, it makes you sick. This is surely better than the Larson Loops but how much?

Thanks for the tip. Also Lite mode has angle view which is exactly what I was talking about (controlled differently). It doesn't work everywhere (KD, GrAdv) but it works more places than the 3D and looks better. The 3D allows you to really fly around though.

I tried this, it's really cool! Looks like a video game though, basically that's how it works. It doesn't work on KD or Great Adv. Bing maps used to be a way to get a photographic angle view of coasters everywhere but they messed up bird's eye view. Manhattan looks like a video game but most places are flat, I tried Kemah Boardwalk and was able to get some of the old views (degraded?) by rotating the map (so try that trick), but otherwise the closest zoom shows an artists' conception of the park with a large building instead of the coaster!

I think the camera change *IS* the announcement for now. Just like being able to see something is happening from a distance is the current announcement for Mean Streak (they even made sure to have a couple pieces of RMC track laying around for that one). I'm reminded of when they modified I305, while that was never really announced at all (they preferred the GP oblivious), they knew the enthusiasts wanted to know and I don't know if that had anything to do why the top of 2nd hill was gone in less than a week after closing for the year, there certainly wasn't much left that needed to be said. Actions speak louder than words. Also, I think anytime the cam gets mentioned here it crashes.

Knoebels has become a bit bigger than what I'd call a traditional park though, I might be wrong but I'd expect one coaster at best at a true small traditional park.

Well that's a first step... it's not like we can ride by on a boat or something and see what they're doing.

Perhaps it's evidence of zero-sum weirdness. I would still claim we are less weird than those who never ride coasters. To have a "reason" to not be interested such as "being an adult" must require some convoluted thinking. To be too busy must be very busy indeed. Perhaps it's mostly fear, not great fear, but one easily avoided.