ViperLover

Why does Six Flags always announce opening days before even knowing if the rides will be ready by then?

I find it amazing how the park evolved into what it is today. It started off as a small campground with a few rides. Then the thrill age sparked with the Viper, Ride of Steel, and Predator. Then there was the troubled times when Six Flags sold the park. Now it is adding more family rides and shooting down the idea of thrill rides (with the exception of Blast Off). The park is going at a rate of, well, a roller coaster (please excuse my pun).

I wonder if the trains are going to look as cool as they do in the video.

I didn't see anywhere in the article that mentioned that they wouldn't be adding a new coaster in the future. He just stated that they were currently more focused on upgrading the overall experience of the park that had been somewhat neglected by the previous owners before shifting any attention to adding any big coasters. 2013 plans are already set in stone, so how do we know based on this memo that they might not already be planning a coaster for 2014? He's obviously not going to come out and spill the beans to someone that's b%tching about the park not getting an Outlaw Run or Wild Eagle. These parks are also not known for "getting new coasters all the time." When was it that SDC and Dollywood last got new coasters before these two...at least four years or more, right? Personally, I think the changes they have made thusfar to improve the kiddie area, water park and hotel in recent years have been welcome improvements. Improving a laser show (that needed it badly) and adding a drop tower next year are great additions for next year. I also have way more faith in this park surviving with Herschend owning it than I did with the two previous owners. I think we just owe them some time to add some character to this park so it can shed itself from what many might consider to be an "oversized amusement park" or a "not quite a theme park" label. I think they would eventually like to turn it into a distinct family destination (aka Dollywood/SDC) versus more of a local teen hang-out or a cool place to go to a concert. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see them add a decent coaster in the future. Granted, I don't see them adding another hyper, a giga or a world record breaker, but I could certainly see them adding a decent family-style coaster or (okay, I'm dreaming here) a Mega-Lite! I never said that they would never get a new coaster. I said "any time soon". I understand that even wouldn't be room to put a Wing Rider or other massive coaster, but the park should get a new coaster so thrill riders keep coming back. I am at least happy about the drop tower plans.

A friend of mine has recently e-mailed Herschend Entertainment telling them how displeased he was with the fact that Dollywood and Siver Dollar City are getting new coasters all of the time and Darien's last coaster was only for families. They said: "Hello and thank you for your email and your comments. I appreciate your loyalty as a season pass holder and absolutely understand your desire for a new coaster or one of a kind ride. These types of rides however take large amounts of capital investment and complex financing. Since 1999, both Six Flags and PARC Management tried to do many different things to our park that made changes on the surface level, but neglected some much needed infrastructure updates. Since Herschend Family Entertainment has assumed management of the property, many of these issues have been identified and we are in a multi-year plan to bring our beloved, aging park back from the issues that it has had. While we are not installing hyper-coasters, which may only appeal to a certain group of our guests, we are doing many things that improve every guests overall experience and trying to place new and exciting elements in the park whenever possible, including our new launch tower, Blast Off and the massively upgraded Laserblast show, Ignite the Night, in 2013. New coasters are never out of mind, but the list of renovations is long and we are doing our best to work through that list as quickly and as economically as possible. Have a great day today, Mike Schuler" So here you go anybody who keeps wanting a new coaster. It is pretty much out of the plans any time soon.

^Yes, Texas Giant did suck before. Some wooden coasters are just TOO bumpy. Those are the ones that should get topper track. For instance, would SoB be better if it was built by Rocky Mountain? This is something that we will never know.

The Traver Cyclones seemed brutal. They had so many accidents. I would like to see one built today with a RMC track.

Call me pathetic, but I never rode a B&M. I hope to get on at least one next year. Could someone tell me if they are different than other coasters in any way?

I like RMC, but I think that their coasters are ruining the whole wooden coaster feel. My opinion is that a wooden coaster should have some bumps. The track that they use pretty much rules bumps out. I hope that real wooden coasters will survive.

Queen all the way!

I like the Ride of Steel at Darien Lake. Although the helixes waste a lot of room, the airtime is to die for (Literally, remember the two guys that fell out?)

^What do you mean afraid. Son of Beast used to have a loop. So that went to show that wooden cooasters could have inversions.

^ The word that I was probably looking for was overtalked about (I hope that's a word). I don't think that they are pushing the limits. Now a lot of wooden coasters are getting RMC track work and barrel rolls. Also, the Gatekeeper is just a wing coaster. Those are starting to pop up everywhere too.

Wild Eagle. It is really just a wing coaster and is talked about so much because it was at Dollywood. If it was new at a smaller park, it would have been forgotten about already. Wing coasters are starting to pop up everywhere. I know that this thread is for 2012, but since parks are announcing new rides for 2013, I will say my three top overrated rides for 2013. 1. Outlaw Run- It is talked about too much. Yes, I think that it is cool, but it is only a wooden coaster with some barrel rolls. 2. Gatekeeper- Another wing coaster that is talked about so much because it is going in at Cedar Point. 3. Blast Off- A lauched drop tower going into Darien Lake. It is only a single 12 seater tower that will have major capacity issues.

^ For me it depends. If the ride layout is basically the same with just a Rocky Mountain upgrade or plus minus a loop, I wouldn't count it as a new credit. If a lot of the coaster or even all of it was redesigned, then I would.

I would have to say no. Darien Lake is a great example of this. The Ride of Steel is a great coaster, but the rest of the park is average. The GP will say that the park still needs more coasters and thrill rides. So, realistically, a park needs a good collection of rides to be successful. A hypercoaster is a good start.

^I meant steel rails.

What do people mean when they say SoB had wood track with steel supports? It had to have steel track. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I agree that SWAT would be removed. Six Flags has shown that they will get rid of troublesome rides. Also, Ultra Twister, Warp 2000, Wagon Wheel, and Looping Starship would be removed because of age and other reasons.

Is it true that the Chipper's dome is still standing?

^Thank You. You explained it really well.

I know that it has probably been asked already, but how does a 4d coaster work? Are there motors next to the cars that spin the seats?

I think that teal pops. Or even green.

^I actually saw it on the old website about 2 months ago. It was scheduled for late August. Then it came around, and nothing happened.

The point of this topic is to see what the best and worst colors are used on a coaster. Ideas?