bert425

and here it is lights on

point to be made: ABSOLUTELY worth the upcharge (~$3 for Haunted Mansion). It's *not* a "scary, Haunted House attraction" - it's an old skool dark ride attraction where you slowly move by sets - cheesy, WONDERFUL sets, mostly in neon colors. we love it, and it's for the throwback cheese factor, not the scary. . because really, it's less scary than the Disney Haunted Mansion. here's a TPR ride thru. . . don't miss it, if going to Knoebels (also don't miss the chair lift, I'd do that over Impulse ANY day).

Yup. . just saw his post as part of Thrill Seekers United FB group. tho really, not a loss. . it took up space, and the shows that WERE there, were never very well attended (of course, removing the sunshades from it, made it hell to sit in that amphitheater anyways. So let's see what goes in there. . . it might be a really large flat. . . or (and I dunno how much $$ Fiesta is going to spend. . but this is just wishfull thinking) - move Pandemonium there with a retheme, and build that out and back woodie for the boardwalk

they would tho. . Mr. Siebert is great about that. the teasing for Joker was EPIC. . as was the teasing for DareDevilDive. and keep in mind - also has been teased, and announced now, Poltergeist is getting repainted (Dark green supports, light green track) with a new queue line and will be down as of July 4th. So they DID announce something with a coaster. . and SFFT doesn't really have a pattern of new coaster every couple of years: WW - 2018 Batman - 2015 (3 years earlier) Iron Rattler - 2012 (2 years earlier) Goliath - 2008 (4 years earlier) Pandemonium - 2007 (1 year earlier) Superman - 2000 (7 years earlier) Poltergeist AND Boomerang - 1999 (1 year earlier) Roadrunner Express - 1997 (2 years earlier) Six Flags took ownership in 1996 so yeah. . I mean, it COULD be a coaster, but SFFT has been in pattern of something new every year or so. . but really, it's been multiple flats back to back between coasters.

I'm seeing numerous "updated" stories today that the train "stalled" after the lift chain "separated" so. . . did it snap? or is it something they can weld, and just fix? dunno. . all the stories are focusing on that the ride stopped and guests had to be escorted off. but interesting they are using the terminology "separated" for what sounds like a lift chain snap.

they are lacking a Wooden Coaster. and folks have been begging for years for a wooden "out and back" on the boardwalk - they have the space for it (heading out towards the parking lots), but it hasn't been done (yet). I do think eventually we'll get a woodie tho.

the location is towards the inside of the park, it's not against the quarry wall. many think it's going to be the Axis coaster. my gut, and i'm sticking with it for now, is that we're looking at a heavily themed Flat ride. where this is in the park - CrackAxle (which very recently was rethemed to a "Screampunk" area when they installed DareDevilDive last year - which also fits into every clue that Mr. Siebert has given) has two coasters (Iron Rattler & Roadruner Express - which both have entrances directly across the path from where this new ride/attraction is going. . so I just don't see it being a coaster. It's also VERY close to DaredevilDive, so that's why I'm not in agreement that it's the Axis coaster (why put a spinning coaster right next to the area of the park with two coasters and a spilling flat). CreackAxle is also severely lacking in flat rides. Other than the new DareDevilDive? the only other non-coasters in this area are two kiddie rides, and the train station. so I really, really do think that one of the "storefronts" on the street will have the back wall removed, that will become the queue for this new ride, and we're looking at a new flat. we shall see tho. . . if they end up removing all of the Sundance Theater? that's a large area, and yeah, could be a coaster. . but I feel the theater is staying, and they are just going to build next to it (where the work seems to be going) - perhaps just removing some seating from Sundance. But until the theater is bulldozed? I'm sticking with thinking it's a flat.

Yes. Ready to go back to a Japanese park again (and the skip the line at USJ are insanely expensive. and I still think worth every penny)

^yup its why sfft did away with their single rider line on ww and made it flash pass once people realized that everyone is single rider? There was no benefit to that line - which became just as long as standby so now just used for flash pass

@boldikus

not in 2021 Crowds and demand are different - just look at crowds every weekend (and most weekdays) at open parks. You can NOT compare to how things have always been in the past. and every SF park I've used Flash Pass at has the person scanning at the station - not at the entrance to the FP line. (so yes, you can wait in that FP line after it's pinged you to get in the line - for a good 20 minutes or longer - and you can't pick next ride until you've scanned in from the Flash Pass op near the station entrance) but your experience is obviously different, so that's nice that you've had better luck not going for the highest tier. I still recommend highest tier you can get if you're going to ride things and not just wander around.

just want to point out that this is not necessarily true, and can really bite one in the ass. yes, you're in the Flash Pass line with Gold and Bronze members, even if you're Platinum - since it buzzes to go to the line once the time is up (be it 10 minutes for Platinum, 30 minutes for Gold, or 50 minutes for Bronze). *but*. . you can't book your next ride until the FP entrance operator scans you in. (and in MANY cases, that's at the station entrance - not at the Flash Pass entrance. . so yeah, you might be waiting in that flash pass entrance line, but they won't scan you in until you get to the operator at the entrance). so the moment you're scanned, and in the station, if you're Platinum, you can likely book your next ride - and head directly there after your current ride is done. HOWEVER - if you're Gold (or Bronze) and it's a busy day? odds are that once they scan you in the station, you can book your next ride, but can't head there to get in the line until 30-50 minutes later (Condor and I had Gold level at a super busy day at SFFT last Nov - it's a year round park - and once we booked Iron Rattler? we had a 55 minute wait before we could go to the FP line). so yeah, it can really bite you and eat up a ton of time if you don't splurge and go for Platinum. - i can see some "not following the rules" and getting in the line before their time has pinged (which is really breaking the rules, as that's not following the intention of buying FlashPass). . . but I also have seen that happen and the operator makes them leave the line, if they notice them letting others go in front of them to wait for their times.

LOL. . thanks. and as more and more parks announce cuts to hours. . I think the lines are gonna get even more insane on the days/hours they are open. I get it - really, I do - but with so many "enthusiasts" feeling entitled? I feel terrible for the employees who have to face the barrage of complaints about it. Budget into your plan for skip the lines - it will make a visit much better (and even better if it turns out you didn't NEED it.. . ).

^ I checked the calendar for the waterpark after you noted wasn't open. . .yeah, they are not open on Tues/Wed - so I'd have to assume staffing. Typically it's open every day once the "daily" operations start. I note they only have the June info loaded (not ope Tues/Wed), so I'd have to assume they are still hoping to open daily July-Sept?

LOL. . yep, typical Texas weather for early June (which is why it didn't keep that many people away - tho I'm sure the Waterpark kept lines somewhat manageable on the dry side? and I'll bet that when the lines started to get longer, it was folks leaving the waterpark section and moving over to the "dry" stuff) as to DDD, it's luck of the draw that you got the "plane" programmed for the extended upside-down stall - they're all programmed slightly differently, so what I did on my two rides was to watch carefully while in the line, and note which car had the more intense "whipping" rather than the extended stall. . then requested to be put in that number when the grouper assigns. It worked once, and the 2nd time my request was ignored and they just put me on an open spot (tho still worked out OK).

if you want to get the most out of your visit to a Theme Park this year, I still say you should plan/budget for the perk. if you get lucky to have a slow day and you don't need to get one? great. . but I wouldn't chance it, and stand by my advice. (hell, i'm going to Coasterstock at KI in ~1 month, and even tho we have tons of ERT on both days? still bought FL+ for Saturday).

to be fair, Dorney is usually "horrible" anyways - miles and miles of concrete baking in the sun. but the waterpark stays busy if you like that kind of thing, and it draws everyone away from the rides in the park (tho I do think most of the rides are pretty mediocre). Talon is good tho, I enjoyed Hydra, but seriously, the only reason I'd recommend Dorney is to get a ride on Demon Drop - which is still amazingly fun. now, if they ever put the holding brake back on Possessed? then there's two reasons to visit. SO much concrete. . but the holding brake on the opposite side was neat, and made it worth the ride.

well, that's just a given (tho if Talon has a line, it might be worth FL+ for that to reride it. What does Dorney charge? like $4 for FL & $5 for FL+ ? ) LOL

I keep seeing this question popping up across multiple threads (and all over FB group too). . so figured I could start a thread answering the question: I'm going to xxxx park on xxxxx day, do you think crowds will be big enough that I should buy the upcharge skip the line pass? --> EVERYTHING is different in 2021. . . pent up demand from COVID closures for 15 months has resulted in every park being slammed, most every day (unless poor weather keeps the crowds away). Many parks are also dealing with staffing issues, resulting in shorter hours, and hella long lines for food places that *are* actually open. so the answer to "should I buy Flash Pass / Fast Lane / Skip the Line?" is YES thruout 2021, the answer is YES. the only reason not to get it, is if you don't mind not riding much, and just want to go for the atmosphere to walk around the park, maybe grabbing only 1 or 2 rides. (for example, your "home park" and you don't care if you ride much, you just want to go out and enjoy the day and people watch). Personally tho? if I'm traveling specifically to go to a park? damn right, I'm paying the upcharge to get Flash Pass/Fast Lane +/Timesaver, etc. . . especially if I plan to eat in a park, and I know I'll spend 45 minutes in the food line? I want to make up that time elsewhere on a ride. (steps down off soapbox)

if they follow what other SF parks do? the new ride will be a 1 time ride on Platinum Level Flash Pass.

don't see it anywhere. . they want you to download the free mobile app (which has the map on it), I suppose.

My Brother worked at Astroworld at 17, and he did it because he wanted to, not because my Parents made him. I wanted to, but was only 15, and I think you had to be 17 at the time to be hired. .and by the time I hit that age? I saw how many hours my Brother worked and realized it was more fun to hang out at the park every day over summer and mess with him (he worked at the hot dog place in Coney Island), than it was to actually, you know. . . work there

^ the response they're getting is appalling. sheesh. . . all I can do is shake my head and think "entitled much?" at many of the responses.

it appears SFFT is joining the bandwagon with "power hours" added on certain Saturdays to keep riding for 3 hours (9pm to Midnight) for a slight upcharge. (tho Diamond Elite & Diamond Elite VIP are free, the cost for Season Passholders and other Member tiers is only $5, and only $15 on top of daily ticket if neither a member or passholder) think it's a great idea https://www.sixflags.com/fiestatexas/events/coaster-power-hours-june-19?fbclid=IwAR1WZicZbdmsm3ohUMVZr8Xx0wZxJ_K_h5oqcgKpCKLOLEMam1JuV4hdrMM

I just bought the limited edition bundle T-shirt/badge from the KI online store. yeah, they get you with the shipping. but it's really a steal at $15, so I went for it. lovely design.