GayCoasterGuy

^Very tempting. If it's really opening, I may head up Monday morning. It stinks being out of work, but then I get to do fun stuff like that.

Rocky Mountain/topper track isn't an option? I rode the ride back in 2007, and although on the rough side, thought it was a GREAT ride. Probably the best GCI I ever rode.

^I guess you really liked the unlimited pop included with price, then? haha! Great description of the park and especially, Voyage.

My first thought was "I'll be the first one there tomorrow!" It's not that far of a drive. But it all seems suspicious to me. Stranger things have happened in coaster fandom. I think I'll just wait until I know for sure the ride is open.

^The Chaussee (Shaw-say). We had all kinds of funny names for it when I worked there.

Although I haven't been there for a few years, I always thought this was different at least with Great America. Their operations team is really good and quick usually. When I have been there on slow, early June dates, they never go below two trains on the bigger rides if more are available, and they don't section off rows. I would agree that Great America is much better than the other Six Flags parks. But still way behind Cedar Point. Multiple trains can help efficiency, but not when they are stacking for minutes and plenty of empty seats going on (including double seats...). This is all year long, not just at the start or end of the season. GAm has some great employees - they really try their best. But my main point is they don't have much to work with. The training simply is not there to begin with. With my experience of first working at CP then going to SF (back in 1995!), there was a HUGE gap in overall operations (especially with ride capacity efficiencies). Now, that gap is even bigger.

The reason is "the kids aren't out of school yet" if you bring it up at the park. I know I know... I defend them too much myself. No more. Even if the rides are all up, Six Flags still runs rides at least 30-50% less efficient than Cedar Point. Then, what about the 35 minute wait for cold fries (after they already have payment for your season dining pass - never again for me). Those fries come cold and with that wait when its busy ("we're too busy") and when it's dead ("we send employees home when it's this slow").

Wing coasters are very visually impressive. People like stuff that looks nice; the psychological effect works. If it looks THAT good, it must be good. Since most of us coaster nerds ride lots of coasters lots of times, the visual thing doesn't work on us as much as it does the average park goer (notice I didn't use the trigger name "GP."). Just look at how nuts people go for Vekoma boomerangs. (I would prefer riding a boomerang over X-Flight.)

The Arrow rides are all welded together, mostly. If the ride had hinges and ball/socket joints, that would absorb some of the shock. But either way, it's a complex mechanism and those seats are gonna vibrate any which way you do it. The track and trains would have to be much larger and bulkier to really stifle that motion. B&M has their 4d-inspired model - the wing coaster - and even those solid B&M machines have vibration.

SF Great America is going to be on NBC 5 here in Chicago... in a few minutes. It can't be good, it's something about "safety.. you need to know." These things tend to be silly and unneeded, we'll see. (UPDATE - it was about the park not being competent with injuries and calling 911 when they need to. They had some former employees (current employees anonymously contributed as well) talking about how the park cares more about their image and doesn't want people to see emergency vehicles in/around the park. The park says they are competent, did reviews, and are not interested in commenting any further.)

Unless you count the force of that redundant vest holding you stupidly tight.

Viper backwards will be great AND crazy! That level of airtime backwards is gonna be nuts. And hill #8 of course, in the first (formerly the back) car... that will be interesting.

Legend is most people's least favorite at the park - but some of us prefer it over the other 2 Legend gets its love! It's great they are doing another auction for disaster relief. They did a Katrina auction back in 2005 and I'm now the proud owner of Raven road and upstop wheels, and a Legend guide wheel (from the G-train). Those are some great souvenirs! And a flag from Legend's lift

From an objective point of view, I think they are fine. They are a very middle of the road thrill. Gatekeeper is perfect for Cedar Point; that's not a backhanded compliment, it's being honest. People seem to like them. I certainly don't hate any coaster (even the Viper that was at Great Adventure, or Son of Beast - they still had good parts and looked cool!) but I'm just not very fond of the wing riders. What really kills it for me is the vests. I'll always be restraints sensitive - more so than the average coaster nerd. I just about HATE shoulder bars and lap bars that STAPLE you to the seats (it's not air time if you are stapled!?) I'd probably really like the wing riders if the vest wasn't there. Similar to the soft restraints on I-305 and new Vekoma trains, the vests hold me BACK and DOWN. That's not fun on a coaster. It's also very clearly not needed - look at all the wild rides with no shoulder anything (Dare Devil Dive with it's super-hang-time does just fine). I'd even go as far as to say I would prefer regular old shoulder bars. A little headbanging is better than being held down/back (I'm sure many will disagree).

I warned a friend to NOT ride Iron Wolf a couple years ago, does that count?

The ride looks great. Perfect colors for a beach coaster! I keep calling it the Undertoad. Anyone remember that episode of the "The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy"?

I'm not fond of waiting in line. But the GREAT thing about CP is (as far as big thrill parks go) they have relatively good efficiency on rides. The lines keep moving. When I was at the park in 2011 (after a 10 year hiatus!) I was surprised I actually had fun waiting for Top Thrill Dragster. The platform attendant with headset was doing a great job overseeing everything and keeping people entertained.

I was wondering about that new design on the side of the seats. Interesting; nice to have the inside story! Why the foam padding over upholstery? Look forward to seeing that!

Great caps! 3 headrests on Mind Bender

Was at the park this weekend - both trains are now on Batman (one with wheel covers, one without). Went to get on, then they shut down the entire ride for 30 minutes to clean up a protein spill. Later on Raging Bull: same thing - shut down entire ride for the better part of 30 minutes for a protein spill. When I worked at CP and SFOT, we would not load the train where the protein spill was. We'd quickly clean and spray it down good, then let it cycle a couple times empty to dry. But we always loaded the other trains. Weird.

Probably Demon at SF Great America. Usually worth the headache It's been a staple for me since 1982, and is often good for re-rides without leaving the station. Then I would say CP Blue Streak (even when I worked on it, I rode it nearly ever day; loved it back then!) and Mind Bender at SFOG (I usually park myself on that ride when I'm there.) Also done Legend at Holiday World to no end - thanks to Holiwood Nights! And the Screechin' Eagle at Americana 64 times in one day, what a day that was!

^I think a lot of the Deads' popularity has to do with Grateful Dead Culture. You could probably say the same for many bands, to different extents. For example, Kiss has the Kiss Army. Blondie has Debheads

^Good point! They pulled from the best of the best, that's for sure. It seems popular music is getting more and more recycled; there isn't much *new* stuff. Even that YOLO coaster theme is a pure AC/DC tribute.

Exactly! I think they are interesting and a little "different" - definitely adding to the ride. They will make strange tunnel-like sounds when your on the ride, too. Cool!

Underrated - New York Dolls I dunno how much Kiss got from them, but many 80s bands sure ran with their image (which is fine, but NYDolls were very special...)