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I was at SFMM yesterday and noticed something interesting...the "other" elevator at Sky Tower was operating (the one that faces the back of the park, not toward Tatsu). For whatever reason, I was under the impression that they wouldn't run that elevator again just because there isn't enough demand for it. Maybe as a backup, though. Eric

^ Doesn't that model even say "Great American Scream Machine" on it? I can't remember. But some employees really don't know that much... Eric

At WCB, it was mentioned that the Metro track will be removed at some point. Removal of the track is expensive and is an unnecessary expense at a time when finances are tight. Eric

^ Hasn't been around here very long. < Doesn't come around much anymore. V Doesn't get out of bed much anytime!

If you want to mix flavors into your sodas, you can do that at home quite easily. Go to Cost Plus or Smart & Final and pick up Torani's syrups. They come in many flavors, both regular and sugar-free. Just pour a little of your choice of flavor into the soda, and voila! Flavored soda. Caramel Coke is pretty good, by the way. Anyway, so how is the old Mountain today on Father's Day? Eric

Wouldn't it be hilarious if one of those 106 flavors was the dreaded Beverly? Remember, that is a Coca-Cola product... Eric

^ The last time I rode my bike, the years still began with a "1." Eric

Finally got a job. I start next week. And it's only a mile from home. Eric

Finally got a job. I start next week. And it's only a mile from home. Eric

I was at the park today and got four rides in a row on Terminator without even getting out of the train. I rode on Train 2 in the very back row and noticed that the speakers had been removed and replaced with that patterned non-slip metal like on the running boards of the train. (I didn't get any pictures, though.) Train 1 still had all of its speakers. Just noting it. Terminator audio is definitely NOT coming back. Eric

This is a strange request, but did anyone get a picture of the exterior of the Party Bus? The reason I ask is that I had finished eating dinner at Wendy's next to the big SFMM sign after my visit to SFMM on Sunday, and was leaving there when I saw a full size motor coach exit at Magic Mountain Parkway (coming from the north), and turn toward SFMM. It turned right onto The Old Road, then turned left onto the road that SFMM employees use to get to work. I don't know where the Party Bus originated, but when I saw this bus, given the time of day it was (about 7pm) and where it headed, my first thought was "maybe that's the Bay Area Bash Party Bus returning from up north." Eric

I do know that Pole Position was at last year's Ventura County Fair (didn't ride it, though), so there are at least two of those floating around---or should I say "spinning" around? Eric

It took me long enough, but I finally realized that the two trains on Flight Deck at CGA have two completely different graphics on their wheel covers. One is sharks, the other is eagles. Eric

When these "bots" start knowing a lot of stuff about roller coasters, then I'll be a bit worried... Eric

Believe it or not, I actually have---at one of those supermarket parking lot carnivals when I was a kid. Do you own or use any cassette tapes?

^ I guess there is more than one way to interpret that. But, yes, Beverly the drink... Eric

Strangely, I've never been to Castle Park. It looks like a fun place. That spinning coaster there, Screamin' Demon, has an identical twin that tours as "Pole Position" with one of the carnival companies (Butler Amusements, perhaps). I rode that at the Ventura County Fair a few years back and...no. Not much fun. But I will give it points for the rather funky (dare I say "janky?") lift it has---you go halfway up, turn left 90 degrees, and go the rest of the way up. (Space Mountain has three separate lifts, which I'm guessing is because there isn't enough room inside there for one single straight one---the same issue I think it is with this model.) When I rode, I just found it to be pretty rough. As for the other coaster at Castle Park, I'll be riding an exact copy of it at SFMM in 3...2...1... Eric

^ Jay did mention at several events that more single rider lines would be coming to the park. Admittedly, this doesn't help Flash Pass sales, but it will move people and fill what would otherwise be empty seats. Eric

^ I last had Beverly in 2006 at Epcot---and I'm still trying to get that taste out of my mouth... In my opinion, SFMM has improved quite a bit, but there is still a ways to go. Not until there are more attractions for the younger set will I say that Six Flags has "made it." It's hard to be a "family friendly" park when the little kids have a few dinky rides in a kids area and little or nothing else throughout the park. As we've discussed over in the SFMM Discussion Thread regarding the issue with the height limit of the forthcoming Mr. Six's DanceCoaster, here is a golden opportunity to actually double the number of coasters that the young 'uns can ride (Percy's Railway being the other). Perhaps this is why the coaster appears to be falling behind schedule---they're awaiting a variation from Vekoma about that (my speculation). Anyway, Six Flags will get there and regain the family image it once had. We'll see where the new leadership and/or direction will take the company. Eric

^ You rode in front AND back on Terminator without leaving your seat...HOW tall are you? Just kidding. I've had solo rides on Superman, Revolution, Viper, and Canyon Blaster. A solo ride on Terminator would be great. Yes, right now is a great time to go to SFMM because school isn't out, but they're open during the week anyway. Eric EDIT: I forgot to mention that SFMM is really on the ball with the Funatic rewards. In today's e-mail was my voucher for 20% off of next year's season pass---and it's good for up to four passes!

^^^ Yes, there was fog in the tunnel on Goliath---and it was a great effect, too. What I'm not sure about is why such a simple effect like fog goes out so fast. Terminator's tunnel no longer has it, X2's bottom-of-the-raven-turn fog is gone, Goliath's tunnel is off, and Jet Stream's little shack---where the first drop is---used to have fog, too (that was a good effect because it hid the drop). Eric

^ I see by your location that you live close to me---we should meet up and go sometime, especially since we were both there yesterday. One funny thing...I got to chatting with a guy who was there with his daughters---also from Camarillo. Eric

^ Welcome RandallDuell. You probably already knew that the real Randall Duell was one of the people behind Magic Mountain in the first place, so it's appropriate that your first post here is in this topic. Anyway, in my opinion, Goliath is running just as well today as it did in 2000 when it opened---and I was there on Media Day for it, too (in the rain, I might add...). The only thing different is that the mid-course brake is turned up vs. how it was ten years ago. But the ride is just as smooth as it was. Eric

Got bored and took a very unexpected second-in-a-week run out to SFMM. More crowded today than last week when I went, but not that bad. Took the Orient Express up the hill to get my first ride of the year on Ninja. I rode the Karate Kid-wrapped train. Fun as always. Only waited a few trains to get on. Just for grinsies, I rode Jet Stream and had Boat 10 all to myself. It's been ages since I rode that and it was fun. Didn't get too wet, either. During the ride, a Ninja train went right over me. Terminator's line was maybe 15 minutes when I got in it. Both trains were running Batman was almost a walk-on. Two trains were running, but I noticed four- to five-minute dispatch times. I don't like the new recorded spiel. It sounds almost like they took it from Terminator. ("Glider pilots?" "Utility belt?") Colossus had a two- or three-train wait. Two trains were running. Scream! ran two trains and the wait was less than 10 minutes. While riding it, I almost started laughing when I looked down at the parking lot below because I figured that it wouldn't matter if there was any other theming because the real parking lot is within view anyway! Goliath was almost a walk-on---maybe a two- or three-train wait. Two trains were running. X2 had a 15-minute wait at the most. Two trains were running; one with audio, one without. I got the silent treatment on my ride... Eric

The only thing is that when I rode it earlier today, it was gray with red track and called X2. Eric