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Very well said To me, there is a clear difference between "uplift forces/negative G's" and "airtime." Both are nice, but airtime rules. It's a trade off with some new coasters. You get super intense rip your face off rides like I-305, El Toro and Skyrush, but you basically have to staple people to the seat for safety. All great rides for what they do. And then there's Cyclops. I get what you're both saying, but I'm not sure I completely agree. On El Toro, with seatbelts and being stapled (and no wiggle room for me- I'm a thin guy), I don't think I was ever completely lifted off my seat in a way that at least part of my butt wasn't touching the seat that does otherwise. I felt much lighter in the seat coming down the hills as I was being forced into the lap bar, but I don't think you (or at least me) actually aren't in contact with the seat. The same goes for I-305. On the first airtime hill, you feel the sensation of negative g's, which we have acknowledged, but I felt that the OTSR's were too tight on my shoulders and thighs that I stayed in my seat. There is no measurable difference between "airtime" and negative g's. In my opinion, they are the same thing, just with airtime, you are theoretically above your seat. I've always believed that this usually isn't the case, but more of a perception of leaving your seat that becomes intensified with greater negative g's. I'm not saying I'm right and you're wrong, just that I believe "airtime" only occurs when the restraints are loose enough to allow you to leave your seat, which isn't the case (for me) on El Toro and I-305 (Haven't gotten to riding Skyrush. I'd love to though).

In case this hasn't been mentioned, Intimidator (Carowinds) and Behemoth have added seatbelts, http://screamscape.com Not a surprise, but not a good sign for other B&M hypers , if Six Flags were to catch on. I can only imagine the dispatch intervals with checking 36 seatbelts. Also surprised Leviathan didn't get seatbelts (yet).

Just to clear this up, airtime is the sensation of being forced into the restraint, not specifically being lifted off the seat. You are absolutely stapled on El Toro and have seatbelt, and the airtime certainly is not lacking or restricted. Adding the seatbelts serves the same purpose as lap bars, but neither restrict the uplift forces that push you into your restraint. Think of it this way: The measured negative g's are not reduced by seatbelts, are they? Edited for spelling

I would be shocked if you ever needed to buy a Flash Pass to accomplish everything at SFA in a single trip, and that goes for any day of the year. True, but we may still do it to get through everything a few times by 2PM or so and then go do some touristy things in the city. It wouldn't save you any time until 1. All walk ons until then.

I agree with most if what you said, but Six flags has a long history of very delayed openings. Goliath is a relatively short, compact wooden coaster with few bents needed for the tallest part- the lift. It will likely open a few days before the first of June, and even though it is wooden, it's not a VERY large project like a Giga or a longer wooden coaster. Look at El Toro in 2006. It is a very large coaster, but even being a prefab, it didn't open until mid June. With a history of late openings, snowy winters should be taken into account.

On a Saturday, I would expect 2 trains on up to three of the coasters, in all likelihood. Wild One and Superman, occasionally Mind Eraser will CONSIDER running 2 on Saturdays/busier days. I've never seen Batwing run 2, which is unfortunate, as it has the lowest hourly capacity and longest lines. I wouldn't imagine you'd need a flash pass. You can easily get 2 rides on every coaster without one on the busiest days of the year. I did the last Saturday of 2013 FF.

I've seen that before, I'm amazed it worth it to them to tarnish guest satisfaction to pinch a few pennies by running fewer trains. Try know more than I do, but that attitude is no way to run a regional theme park.

Been warned that lines may be long in the summer regardless of the day. I went in a Monday last Augst and Nitro's line was around 2 hours. If the safari is a priority, most definitely do that first. If not, you can easily get 3 or 4 rides on El Toro in the morning only waiting 1 cycle each time. Whatever you do, get there early. If te lines get really log in the afternoon, keep in mind that the posted wait times are for 1 tain, so divide by 2 or 3 accordingly. If you've never ridden a floorless coaster, Bizarro is worth riding in the front if you can spare the time. Have fun, Gadv is a great park.

Does your autocorrect change "int" to Intamin? That's a sure sign of being an enthusiast

I'd be surprised if SF RMC'd cyclone before colossus

Have there been any rumors about, you know what?

Adding to this, coaster seats, including El Toro (some say they are a tighter fit than most coasters), are built to fit the majority of people. The design can't easily be changed to still fit the smaller/thinner riders AND the morbidly obese riders. The train size isn't going to be increased, as it will only make it easier for smaller/thinner riders to slip out. Unfortunately, I think we saw a prime example of where the size limitations play in this past summer at Six Flags Over Texas. Now, we've seen Six Flags and now Cedar Fair with Diamondback react by adding seat belts to many coasters, even though I don't think it was that the restraint that didn't hold back the rider, but more the rider that couldn't be adequately held in place by the lap bar due to her proportions. Not a lap bar failure, but I think B&M hypers have the best type of restraint as it will always be on your lap, unlike the lap bars on the New Texas Giant and El Toro.

Does anyone know the reason that SFA chooses to run 1 train on most coasters almost every day of the year? Is this SFA managements' decision, or Six Flags as a company? I've heard they do this to not send out empty trains, and to save money (however that works). But, Gadv runs all trains on most coasters almost every day. On opening day at Gadv, Bizarro was running 3 trains even when it was a walk on until mid afternoon.

Yes, the seats are the same for everyone. Fat people shouldn't be priveleged with special accommodations. Not completely sure what you're arguing here.

Or the obese people can stop being unhealthy to fit in a train that is designed for people to fit in. Not trying to be mean, but not fitting in a seat that everyone easily can should be a wake up call. Also, B&M does this on many coasters.

I don't understand why larger visitors that know they may not fit easily don't use the test seat before waiting. It can save them the embarrassment and the time they spent waiting and slowing down dispatches.

New Texas Giant- Six Flags Over Texas

drugs being used in the bathrooms of great adventure has been going on since ive been going since the 80's. nothing new The stresses of witnessing stacking on El Toro were too great to handle, so they resorted to drugs. Happens all the time

I'm really not liking how packed in this will be next to Apollo's Chariot. Looks like less than 50 feet or so from the lift. I've always been a believer that coasters should be spaced out somewhat evenly for aesthetic purposes and balance in the park to disperse crowds. This look like Busch Gardnes just wanted to add a coaster to a quality collection, and this won't live up those standards.

^Surprised they would do that for Magnum's 25th and not Raptor's 20th.

From http://screamscape.com/html/busch_gardens_williamsburg.htm it seems that it will be an exact clone. BGW put in plans for a 150ft. Attraction, so it doesn't seem to be changing. Also, outside of a dual loading station, which the article says likely isn't happening, theoretical capacity (actual bases on efficiency, breakdowns, etc.) can't be changed, unless the train is extended, which probably wouldn't happen, unfortunately.

Looks like a great night for a ton of riding. Why can't all Six Flags parks do this as a "Thank You" to their pass holders? SFA has none of this

^Great pictures. The dive loop looks incredible. in addition to entering the dive loop from straight away, it seems like it inverts from a steeper angle than dive loops seen on steel coasters, primarily B&M's (stand ups, floorless and sit down). Should be exciting and it seems like it will traverse these elements pretty fast, considering how fast it goes. Sure hope I get to ride it someday.

I absolutely agree that they are a pain from a maintenance standpoint, but I don't think it's necessarily that big a deal. I rarely, if ever, hear people complain about Millenium Force or Intamin hypers having seatbelts, and the decreased capacity really comes down to the ride operators. If this was Six Flags, capacity would be severely effected, I'm sure of it. But Millenium Force has great capacity and rarely stacks at all, so I think it comes down to efficiency of the operations. Same with I-305- after it's debut year, most people don't complain about the OTSR's, which need to be buckled. My point is that it comes down to the operations. Now, I don't see it necessary, as most, if not all B&M hypers don't have seatbelts, but I don't see it as a major issue.

Goliath- virtually every Six Flags park these days... But I'll use SFGam...