aCoasterStory

BUT, if the supports for the lift were the same as in the original rendering and if the track was painted the same as Outlaw Run, nobody would likely be making a big fuss about it...even those changes are really aesthetic only.

^ Exactly what I was worrying about. Hence why my first coastering of the year will be BGT next weekend (unless I stop by Wild Adventures on the way, that is).

^^ I thought about it, but I figured lines wouldn't be too short considering it's 1) a Saturday, 2) opening day, and 3) ride crews will still be getting familiar with things. Am I over-thinking it?

1) Are there discounts on quick queue or animal encounters for annual passholders? 2) How long does the pass processing process take? Can it be done before the park opens? Do you still have to pay for parking on the day you're going to get your pass processed? 3) What sort of crowd should one expect next Saturday (3/22)? 4) Is Adventure Island a water park worth going to? Anything special about it? Thanks!

I'm trying to talk myself into taking a road trip down to BGT/AI the weekend of the 22nd/23rd. Talk me into/out of it.

Back in the day, that was actually where the main entrance to the park was located. From 2001-2007, this was there: http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/photo.php?pageid=58&linkid=484 I think I literally was only able to ride it 3 times the entire time it was there because it was closed so often.

That was the one time I legitimately thought I might fly out of the restraints on a roller coaster. I also thought Green Lantern at SFMM was crazy, especially my first time because I had never experienced anything like it before and didn't know what to expect.

http://www.amusementtoday.com/painting-of-bat-roller-coaster-progressing/

Maybe I'm not seeing things right, but I'm having a hard time matching this up with the rendering. To me, it looks like a curved drop into an airtime bunny hill. On the rendering, it looks like that curved drop is actually the ascent up the 2nd hill, and the bunny hill is a completely separate chunk at the end of the ride.

That's what she said? (sorry...couldn't resist...)

Here are my thoughts. I've been to SoCal twice. The first time, I visited all 5 parks. The second, I only hit Knott's and SFMM. I didn't think Universal was anything really all that great. I'm much more of a fan of coasters than 3-D movie rides. I enjoyed Disneyland/DCA. I was there from 8AM opening to after the 12 Midnight closing, and did generally feel like I was able to do everything, but Cars Land wasn't open yet, and Matterhorn Bobsleds were in the middle of their refurb, so YMMV. I do think Soarin' is overrated, though; don't wait more than 30 or 45 mins for it. Knott's was cool, but I don't think you need an entire day there, especially if you're looking for more thrilling coasters. Silver Bullet isn't the best invert (though it is fun), and GhostRider isn't as great a woodie as some people have it rated. XCelerator is good fun, but other than that, they've got a Boomerang, a Wild Mouse, and a few more family-oriented coasters. If you're looking for atmosphere or theming or cleanliness or friendliness, then SFMM probably isn't going to win any contests, but they do have the best coasters in SoCal, even if some of them aren't all that spectacular. X2 is a really cool experience that needs to be done at least once, preferably in the front. Tatsu is generally well regarded, though I do prefer SFoG's Superman, personally. Ninja is a good suspended coaster--better than Iron Dragon, but not as good as Flight Deck/The Bat. Viper is your typical Arrow Mega-Looper. Apocalypse was fun when I was there 2 years ago, but was closed last summer for a bunch of work; I've heard it's gotten rough. IMHO Riddler's Revenge is the best stand-up coaster in the US. B:TR is your typical Batman clone. Green Lantern is another unique experience; some love it, some hate it. It's one of the most intense coaster experiences I can remember. Superman:EFK is pretty cool, but the acceleration isn't all that extreme. Scream is a forceless B&M floorless that's literally sitting on top of an old chunk of un-landscaped parking lot. Colossus isn't really that good or bad. Goliath has some nice positive G's. Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom is cool. Revolution is historic, even if the OTSR's make it unpleasant. Gold Rusher is okay. I can't speak to the kiddie coasters.

Because they're so addicted they can't wait however long the line may be between smokes (be it 30, 60, 90 mins or more).

Ummmm what? I am missing something? If the car the farthest back was going faster than the others I would be VERY scared. You tell that friend of yours that a coaster isn't like a highway; your car can't pass someone else's. 1 -it's a very common misperception and certainly fits the criteria of Robb's request. I think it would be cool to look at this as follows: I think you'd want to put sensors in the front, middle, and back cars to measure speed, location, and g-forces (vertical & horizontal). Then you would want to compare the data between the different seats in 2 ways: 1) at the same moment in time (this should show that the speed of the entire train is the same at any given instant) and 2) when that car goes through a certain element/crosses a certain point on the track (this should show the back of the train going faster than the front when it reaches the bottom of a hill, and vice-versa at the top, for instance). I think looking at it this way would help explain why you experience different kinds of airtime in different seats, for instance.

I was actually at a water park one time and there were park employees with a radar gun clocking how fast people were coming down a couple of the body slides.

My idea has always been to have people walk around the park with massive water guns & use them to extinguish any cigarettes that are being smoked outside of designated areas (and also soak the perpetrator). Obviously they would need to post signage that smoking outside of designated areas is punishable by soaking and that the park is not liable for any water damage to the property of guests violating park policy (not sure if that can be done legally).

Can I just throw out there that if they had painted the track steel the same as Outlaw Run, people probably wouldn't be making a big fuss about this... (Also, SoB had a steel structure for its inversion, so steel for the 0-G stall isn't that crazy...and do steel supports for the lift hill even matter to the ride?)

I'm a heavy guy, and I carry most of my weight around my midsection, but I've never had to actually take a walk of shame. I have come close a time or two, though. The worst was El Toro, where the ops had to staple me in...I didn't really enjoy the ride because of how stapled I felt. I've also had some close calls on the Intamin impulse coasters where not all of the seatbelts are the same length. One seat, it's long enough to have plenty of extra belt...the next, I'm struggling to get it latched...same coaster/same day. Go figure. I want to say I had a similar close call on Mille once as well. What I *really* don't understand are the people who are 300+lbs and who don't bother to check the test seat (or think based upon prior experience) before waiting 2 hours to ride. And most of the time, the rest of their group then gets off too... I guess if 1 member of your group doesn't get to have fun, no one can??? I don't get it.

http://www.usatoday.com/media/cinematic/video/5760737/

The Bat is going to look awesome once they're done painting it. It'd be epic if they brought back the bat heads on the trains. I always thought it was cool how Flight Deck ran right up next to the support structure for SoB. I'm going to miss that. I think there's enough room between the Bat & Banshee for a nice wooden coaster that could bring that element back. I'm sure GCI or RMC could build something really cool there.

1) Like many others on here, 1st-Gen Intamin Drop Tower (Free Fall @ SFoG). Rode this for the first time in like the 6th or 7th grade. Now I'm not one to curse, but when it dropped, I definitely went "oh s***". 2) Sky Rocket @ Kennywood. Was not prepared for the airtime at the top of the first hill, and I didn't have my lapbar down as tight as I should have...I literally thought I would have flown out of the ride if I hadn't been holding on to my lapbar at the time. 3) Cliffhanger @ SF White Water Atlanta. 90' tall body slide. I want to say it's at a 79 degree angle, but I couldn't find confirmation of that. I still remember when I was a kid, being up at the top of the slide and trying to work up the nerve to actually go down the thing. But I always would, and it would always be a great rush. 4) Skyrush @ Hersheypark. Only rode it once. Back row, wing seat. I wasn't terrified I was going to fly out, but it felt like the restraints were going to snap my leg bones.

This is the first I've seen/heard of this coaster...looks like it'd be fun!

Actually, the idea that they had to go searching for something, and wasn't something that everyone already knew about, could mean its something we've never seen before. It can go both ways! Or that they went to three states to see examples of whatever it is - that's what led people to RMC in the first place (Texas, Missouri, and Illinois). This is what I thought at first, but it's true that they just said they visited at least three states, not that the ride they picked was specifically in each one. The "impulse" thing really threw me off since it doesn't seem to jive with the "three states" thing no matter how you slice it. Very mysterious, as intended I'm sure. There are 5 Intamin Impulse coasters in the US (not counting Volcano). Since Possessed is in PA, they wouldn't have had to travel far for it. That leaves Cedar Point, Valleyfair, SFGAm, and SFDK as out-of state installations. Not at all suggesting one of these coasters would fit in at Knoebels...

True, but they're stuck with extremely strict height restrictions and were willing to pay for something like that. I don't think any park in America (please correct me if I'm wrong) has a coaster that digs so far underground before coming up and out. Also true, but the key point is that where there's a will (and an appropriately-sized pile of cash), there's a way.

I'm going to be in Vegas for a convention in June. It's still quite a ways away, but I'm excited to ride it. The biggest hurdle will be figuring out how to make the trek out to ride Desperado while I'm there.

Are you confusing that Starship with Mind Bender or Dare Devil Dive? I've never seen a looping starship with just a lap restraints. (Now I'm thinking of the old Ring Of Fire carnival rides. Good memories!) I only ever rode it once, and all I really remember about it was the hydraulic lap restraints that clamped down super tight. I couldn't find any great pictures, but it's entirely likely that it had OTSR's as well.