neil009

That was kind of a silly issue. What PTC train with individually ratcheting lap bars has ever NOT had seat deviders? Is that even possible?

That overbank just does not look real. This coaster does not look real.

Six Flags can only "fix" rides within their budget and also their ability. Six Flags itself can't just invent new restraints for Superman or fix whatever makes the Goliath train so terrible, it's not that simple. It may not even be possible as far as any of us know. Do we even know why the trains were changed in the first place, in either case? Obviously there was a reason. My point is that yes, the GP care about rider comfort, I hear complaints all the time after people get off painful rides like SLCs, in fact if anything I'd say non-enthusiasts have LESS patience for rought rides, the only difference is they're less informed and may not know the ride could be better than it is. In any case that isn't the only factor in whether or not the issues will actually be addressed. It is a factor but this is Six Flags and costumer satisfaction is even less a priority than it is at other parks.

AWESOME! DAMMIT Seriously though, so happy the song is changing.

Other factors: -Incompetence -Budget cuts -Low emphasis on costumer satisfaction The hit to capacity from the missing row is a bigger deal than the headrests, but Six Flags never seems to care that much about capacity.

Seriously though, was anybody really expecting otherwise? This type of train only has one other kind of restraint, right? The restraints it used to have? The ones it had when someone got flung from the train? Why did anyone think they'd be going back to those? After the accident, it used the same lap bar for 5 years (until the Bizarro transformation), they just added the side bars and weird ankle restraints. All we want is a smaller lap bar that hits closer to the lap, so it's less bulky and more comfortable. Ooh gotcha, I didn't know that (or if I did I forgot). Personally I wasn't expecting them to change, though they are ditching the audio apparently which I didn't think would happen. I know I've said it before but IMO the worst thing about those trains wasn't the restraints, it's whatever made them rattle like a shopping cart down the track. Hopefully with a full rehab and no top-heavy speakers this will be addressed.

Seriously though, was anybody really expecting otherwise? This type of train only has one other kind of restraint, right? The restraints it used to have? The ones it had when someone got flung from the train? Why did anyone think they'd be going back to those?

That is amazing and hilarious.

What makes dive coasters different in this regard from every other ride that doesn't completely stop at the MCBR? If it isn't "my pipe-dream Roller Coaster 1", then expect endless b*tching from entitled enthusiasts who have a degree in NoLimits and clearly have the know-how in designing and building a $15 million+ ride. People seem to be taking this rather personally. Does someone here work for B&M or something?

A straight drop that you creep towards slowly, that you can see coming from a mile away? After already getting to do that once, only it was bigger and better the first time? Double downs are great because suddenly you're feeling airtime when you're not expecting to. Surprises are what makes rides fun.

I can't really think of many things you would put directly after a MCBR besides a drop. I mean, the drop is kind of what gives the coaster it's speed back after a MCBR slows the train down. If this were Intamin, they could put a launch after the MCBR... If the MCBR were not already 130+ft off the ground. I'd assume B&M puts a second almost vertical drop after the MCBR on Dive Machines because you know... the coaster is a DIVE MACHINE... and Vertical Drops are kind of what Dive Machines are all about. Things more interesting than another vertical dive: A rollover into a dive loop, a steep swooping drop with a tight transition at the top, a double down. There's three and I'm not even a roller coaster designer. Most importantly, none of these things would require a full stop at the MCBR. B&M would go a long way towards making these already short rides feel more substantial by not deviding them in half. Imagine a lower MCBR with no stop, a steep drop with lots of floater air, into a series of ground-level switchbacks (with a tunnel or two). Now there's the start of a real second half. I think you misunderstand what midcourse safety brakes are there for. You need to design the ride as if the ride does come to a complete stop, and then allow for some added velocity. In this case, a dive on a dive coaster is a good thing. Your suggestions are fitting for other coaster types. I know how MCBRs work. But on many coasters you barely slow down most of the time, if the brake kicks in at all. That means those rides can have a tighter pacing without this sudden stop right in the middle of the ride every time. Trying to repeat the psychological suspense of the first drop is repetitious and doesn't add anything to the ride. I've ridden dive coasters before, I've always thought this. B&M designs the ride, they can make it anything they want. Pretty sure everything I said would be totally possible with dive coaster trains. And also, accounting for various speeds at the MCBR is what every ride with a MCBR has to do, most of them don't stop completely every time. What's your point? I'm not even talking about how long the ride is, all I'm talking about is whether or not it has to stop at the MCBR.

Good, let's keep it that way. Did I just read that someone wanted a double down on a dive machine? And why couldn't you have a double down on a dive machine? Explain this to me.

I can't really think of many things you would put directly after a MCBR besides a drop. I mean, the drop is kind of what gives the coaster it's speed back after a MCBR slows the train down. If this were Intamin, they could put a launch after the MCBR... If the MCBR were not already 130+ft off the ground. I'd assume B&M puts a second almost vertical drop after the MCBR on Dive Machines because you know... the coaster is a DIVE MACHINE... and Vertical Drops are kind of what Dive Machines are all about. Things more interesting than another vertical dive: A rollover into a dive loop, a steep swooping drop with a tight transition at the top, a double down. There's three and I'm not even a roller coaster designer. Most importantly, none of these things would require a full stop at the MCBR. B&M would go a long way towards making these already short rides feel more substantial by not deviding them in half. Imagine a lower MCBR with no stop, a steep drop with lots of floater air, into a series of ground-level switchbacks (with a tunnel or two). Now there's the start of a real second half.

Why does B&M feel the need to waste track on a second vertical dive that's smaller and shallower than the first when something more interesting could go there? Also it requires the MCBR to be on 100% all the time.

Wait, you're telling me I CAN'T have 24 hour instant access to everything that's happening at the construction site every second of the day?? I'M SO DISAPPOINTED!!!!! What a world we live in.

I liked the restraints on I305 FOR I305, but that's only because I can't imagine any other restraint that would allow you to survive those insane transitions intact. They press on your shoulders so freakin hard though, they're really pretty awful (hence why they're the "backpack of doom" restraints). Surprised they're so popular...? I'm hoping they can loosen them up just a little bit, like B&M did with the wing vests.

Fahrenheit and Storm Runner don't have anywhere near the problems Maverick and I305 had with neck chopping. They do NOT need the backpack-of-doom restraints and I would be seriously disappointed if they got them. The hard plastic bars are vaguely annoying but at least you don't feel like you're pinned down within an inch of your life in them.

^...Not what I was hoping to see. A lot of people are probably going to really dig the changes. I'm glad they're giving this ride some attention. I just liked it the way it was. I don't like having to sound whiny or ungrateful, I'm not. I'm super grateful I got the chance to ride it last season. And maybe the changes will be a net positive, who knows. But clearly what made the ride so unique is changing.

"Six Flags president John Fitzgerald previously said that putting the panels in the theme park's parking lot would be too close to the public and would put visitors at risk of injury or the equipment in danger of being damaged." This is such a hot streaming line of bullsh!t I can't even stand it. I want to hear EXACTLY how he thinks kids are going to hurt a bunch of solar panels.

I didn't dislike Mean Streak to the extent that I wouldn't go on it again. I went on one of the busiest operating days of the year and I'm pretty sure I got in line, rode it, and was out the exit in under 30 minutes. I wouldn't blame anyone else for skipping it but in terms of ride quality to wait time ratio, it's not too bad if you're a wooden coaster fan.

I wouldn't be so quick to say that for sure. Virtually everyone I know thinks of Six Flags as having a bad reputation, and that comes through a combination of long slow-moving lines, poor operations, and smaller things like the new ride you were excited for not being open. And I don't believe for a second that reputation is incapable of impacting their bottom line. How much it impacts it none of us can even begin to guess because we don't have all the numbers in front of us but it stands to reason. Sure they might be the biggest game in town, but give your costumers a lackluster experience enough times and they'll decide amusement parks in general aren't worth it and find something else to do with their summer days.

I can tell you for nearly certain the GCI thing won't happen. "We know you didn't like that old wooden coaster, so we replaced it with a new wooden coaster that's shorter and slower." Doesn't exactly fit with Cedar Point's image or modus operandi.

^That isn't hard evidence of anything. Could all their rides opening late be purely due to incompetence? I've worked for very large companies where incompetence runs very deep, trust me, it could be. The rationale doesn't even make sense if you really think about it. The time to get people excited for the new ride is before the season starts, starting in the second half of the prior season when construction starts. People are ready for the new ride when they arrive on their first visit. When someone makes the decision to patronize your business, that's the time when you have to act and give them the best time possible. That's what's going to make them want to come back, not staring at your new lawn ornament wondering why they can't ride it. Take it up with park management then, despite what we say they don't care what enthusiast think for the most part. 95% of people on here disagree with what Six Flags does a majority of the time. But will Six Flags change their ways? No. The general public doesn't care or notice when rides should/shouldn't open. Why does everyone here think the GP are some kind of zombie horde that doesn't care about anything? Tons of people are excited about the new ride. If it opens late, tons of people will go in the spring and be disappointed. It's a bad way to operate and that's why none of their competitors operate that way.

Nooooo, it just means that you're part of a really awesome bigger picture that just hasn't come together yet! Wrong. That's not always true. He could suck forever. Im gonna go with what prozach626 said... It's true, your life could end up slightly redundant, with one big exciting moment followed by a short, unfulfilling experience. At least you won't have to wait in line long.

I think there's about a 3 to 1 ratio of people talking about others arguing to people actually arguing.