kraxleRIDAH

Ha. You think that's a problem here? Three words: Hong Kong Disneyland.

Have you actually been to Magic Mountain? Or was all of that concluded after picking up a bunch of hearsay? Nearly everything you mentioned in your post is accumulated stereotypes of the park.

I had Knott's and Magic Mountain in mind too when I responded to ginzo's suggestion. I really don't think there's a larger percentage of line-jumpers that fall into the category of pass holders. I think non-passholders are just as likely to line jump as passholders. If there's to be a system implemented to reduce line jumping, I don't think ginzo's proposition to revoke season passes would do any sort of improvement. Firstly, the management has to catch the line jumpers in the act -- and that's hard enough as it is for many parks since so many people get away with it so quickly and stealthily before it can be delt with. Secondly, one isn't able to know whether or not the offendor owns a pass or not, and if questioned about it, is one really going to think they'd say "Yes, I do have a pass. (Here it is, confiscate it from me.)" I think in order to completely eliminate line jumping is to spend lots of money on a new technology that would completely deter the act of line jumping completely, which I don't think a lot of parks are too keen on throwing cash out on (such as a mid-point queue ticket scan). I can certainly see Disney having the resources to invest in this kind of queue maintenance system. It would be like an electronic version of handing out numbered tickets when entering the queue, but with failsafe mods. Guests' admission tickets (like used for Fast Pass) are scanned at the queue entry by Flash Pass-like machines before the turnstiles allow entry to the queue. The scan records the guests' electronically numbered place in line. Halfway into the queue, there's a checkpoint with a ride host/operator that rescans the ticket. Any ticket scan that has a number that falls out of order (out of order by more than the amount of people in the same party) warrants immediate removal of its holder from the queue, forced to leave the queue through the mid-queue check-point area that would join with the attraction exit ramp/path. This mean EVERYONE in the group must enter the queue at the same time to ensure "saving places" is eliminated. * If a single member of the party past the halfway check-point were to leave the queue due to an urgent need to use the restroom or some sort of emergency, they can have their ticket rescanned (Queue Return) at the checkpoint and exit the queue out through the checkpoint area and are told to return to the checkpoint via ride exit path. When they return, the ride host scans the ticket and the system will read the re-scan and the person will be allowed to rejoin their party. Notice how I mentioned SINGLE member of the party. Meaning a group of 5 girls leaving their boyfriends and queue to buy lemonade slush and have a cigarette break won't be allowed to return to the same place in line. Well, who am I kidding? The costs for this kind of parkwide system would be too much.

I think the ultimate solution is to revoke season passes for line jumping. That'd stop the problem in its tracks. I don't understand why this isn't already standard at all parks. It doesn't take a neurosurgeon to realize that line jumping is terrible for business. Something tells me season passholders aren't the sole problem with the issue of line jumping. Did you forget people purchase one-day admission tickets too? How is what you suggested the "ultimate solution?" Just curious.

As much as i would love to see this happening, i think with Shapiro in charge that chance would be 0% I thought it being a joke was obvious.

I've felt this sensation on Magic Mountain's Viper before, but the park's two other Arrow coasters -- Ninja and X don't do that. Strange. Probably has something to do with the age of the gearbox or something.

^ Markings are now showing up in the area behind The Riddler's Revenge and Batman The Ride for EL TORO II -- WEST COASTIN': THE RIDE.

Those were some great photographs. The colors were vibrant, the shots were well centered, and were overall impressive. Good job for your first PTR!

I had my old SONY DSC P-72 replaced with a black SONY DSC T-100 in April. Very good for a ultra-compact point and shoot. Was really expensive though... and then I had to go buy expanded memory (2 GB) and a protective case for the housing. http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665061046

^ It all depends on how many people are riding. If it's a fully loaded car, then it won't climb the tower as high, while if it's only two or three riders, it'll shoot straight to the top.

When I first looked at the photo and read the caption I thought Superman was the rollercoaster. Nevermind the fact that the giant S&S tower in the middle behind Mr. Freeze has a huge "S" logo parked on top of it...you missed that?

^ Whoever said Mr. Freeze, the character villain, had only a specified color(s)? I think it looks much better than before.

City Parks = Public Amusement Parks = Private Six Flags Inc. is bound by contract to financially operate and maintain the park. Under contract, the city has no obligation to repair it -- Six Flags on the other hand, does.

Magic Mountain's Flash Pass is not a Q-Bot system like at the other Six Flags parks. $20 buys you one strip of FOUR Flash Pass tickets. When you access a designated Flash Pass queue, a ride host will tear off a ticket from the strip.

Now, it'll be interesting to see how they carry out the integration with the current Lost Continent facades and Dueling Dragons... I can see it now...Dueling Dragons becomes Potter vs. Voldemort: THE RIDE.

It was confirmed that a huge chunk (if not all of) Lost Continent would be stripped away for this project. It's too bad they didn't have any excess property to expand onto for this new "land."

Harnesses as in the four-point fighter pilot straps (2002 on the original boats) and the stationary over the shoulder-restraints (June 2006 brand new boats).

Don't post about something like that as if you knew what you are talking about...which you clearly don't. It's super annoying. Both Private and California State Investigators determined Lori Mason-Larez was thrown from Plunge due to her extreme girth (58-inch waist) and weight (262 pounds) -- and that she was not properly secured in the attraction, with the restraint resting on her stomach, not thighs. Plunge was designed to safely accomdate an average rider weight of 175 pounds and 50-inch MAXIMUM waist. Eyewitness accounts after the accident made absolutely no mention of her trying to stand up during the attraction -- she was riding with two of her children. However, some eyewitnesses in the same boat mentioned that she leaned to the side to cover up her children during the drop, but even so, her falling out isn't her fault. Just a bunch of bad coincedences mingled together to cause a fatality. As for Hayley William's death on Hydro -- I quote an article from The BBC: Need I say more?

As a general rule, shoot-the-chute flumes really have nothing but one appeal --- and that's to soak riders. Albeit some of the really small ones don't get all riders drenched, but most of them accomplish that quite well with a bit of thrill factor, despite the single drop and splash. For me, I won't get in line for a shoot-the-chute unless it: (1) is warm or hot out; (2) has less than a 15 minute wait; (3) is by the name of Perilous Plunge (the only water flume that's more terrifying than 50% of the world's roller coasters). Knott's Berry Farm's Perilous Plunge. All other water flumes pee themselves in its presence. Perilous Plunge splashdown. Take a good look at the size of the people on the bridge in relation to the wall of water that's about to crash into them.

Heard a little something interesting today on Mad Money talks with Cramer. According to Mark Shapiro, there is more than $10 million in improvements going into Magic Mountain this year. That's definitely a good chunk of money and at first I thought...where is all this money going. But then I thought about it and it certainly does add up. Keep these in mind: * Removal of Psyclone * Removal of Flashback (Fall 2007) * Refurbishment and reopening of Metro (Fall 2007) * Transformation of Chicken Plantation to Justice League Feast * Transformation of Buongusto to Coldstone Limited * Transformation of Carousel Grill to Johnny Rockets * New paint job for Ninja * Three Cool Media fixtures * Resurfaced Car Park * New in-park and out-park signage * Increase in seasonal staff wages * Increase in seasonal staff hiring * Ride the Mountain amateur skate/BMX special * Repaving of midways * New paint job for Car Park trams * Also, Shapiro mentioned that for the first quarter of this season, Magic Mountain is responsible for most of the 7% increase in chainwide attendance. Turns out some good strategic marketing, park improvements, and a new face can really work wonders. Listen to it here: http://videoplayer.thestreet.com/?clipId=1373_10356532&channel=Cramer+Executive+Interviews&cm_ven=YAHOO&cm_cat=&cm_ite=&puc=yahoo&ts=1179147525694

^ That's not true. CONSTRUCTION (1996): PEARLY WHITE DURING OPENING YEAR (1997): FADED PAINT IN 2003: [/img]

Was in Hollywood today near Univerasl Studios earlier this afternoon and saw a Sierra Sidewinder advertisement on a huge billboard with "NOW OPEN" in big letters on the bottom.

Orcas ARE bigger than elephants... Great photographs!

...but you've ridden Diving Machine G5?

I've been on: Shockwave (Kings Dominion) Mantis (Cedar Point) The Riddler's Revenge (Magic Mountain) My favorite is The Riddler's Revenge.