Ridewatchers

Would a brake run work? Goliath at SFMM has this strange habit of sometimes stopping for a full 10-15 seconds at the block brakes mid course. Great view (you can see much of the front of the park from there), but definitely a maintenance concern.

Riddler's Revenge at Six Flags MM, for two reasons: first, people aren't careful (and really don't know) to ask to have their seat adjusted so that they avoid extreme crotch or knee pain at the bottom of the inversions, and second, ridership has dropped to near-zero. It's a walk-on even during busy season. Third reason: it's pretty much a yawn and you have to do all the work to make sure that your ears aren't boxed along the way.

My train on Revolution (at SFMM) stopped right outside the station as we were coming back. They said the computer showed some kind of an error. We sat for about 5 minutes, and they took my name along with a pair of Japanese friends in the seats behind me. I asked if we could get exit passes, but they said only if a mechanic came and got us out manually. So, of course, right after I gave my name to the RO, the error code clears and we return to the station!

YOLOCoaster/Full Throttle at SFMM is always a good experience. The RO will not let you know when the train is going to be launched: you'll hear "3-2-..." and then POW, on "2" he'll let you go! Not being "primed" is one of the things that makes a ride exciting. I only wish they would get rid of the recording at the top of Lex Luthor so you don't know when you'll be dropped!

Green Lantern at SFMM always gives a different ride (an Intamin mid-sized vertical coaster). Each rotating car seats 4 people, and if you put two heavy people on one side and two light people on the other, you'll get more revolutions on the descent.

It is a gamble, and I think that's the appropriate word. There are two outcomes: either the RO says "no," and you have to wait in the sometimes-hours-long stand-by line, or you're given the go and you end up saving 60-120 minutes of standing up in dry heat. Having the courage to ask is something I advocate, and it can save you HOURS; click on the link in my siggy and check out the "data" section. All the RO can say is "no," and you should respect their decision. Rides at Magic Mountain that have posted single-rider lines (something we call "SPRQ", pronounced "spark") are: Green Lantern: First Flight Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom Revolution Riddler's Revenge Scream Viper However, Roaring Rapids regularly seats single riders (ask), and both Superman and Goliath are known to admit single riders. Always ask. Again, check out our "data" section and click on "October 11, 2014." That was a very busy Saturday: Goliath had a 120-minute wait and X2 was busy through the late evening. "S" stands for single-rider, "R" means stand-by queue. Look at how much time was saved.

SFMM...but not for their attractions: the customer service is quite good. Instead it's their food service operation that needs some fixing. QUICK. Johnny Rockets: stone-cold hamburgers. They are actually serving cold patties to people and this is quite dangerous. Meat should never be served cold. Danger danger danger health hazard! I wrote a letter to management suggesting that they replace JR with a Dairy Queen, especially since Valencia regularly sees 90-plus-degree temperatures during busy season. Then they can serve all the cold stuff they want! Teen Titans Power Pizza. COLD pizza slices...sitting on cold counters. They had about 10 of them just standing there. Chicken strips: Cold/tepid. Stop serving cold meat, please!

Watch that 90 degree drop at the end!

Twisted Colossus!! They're making good progress, but they decided to lay track all the way to the section that was burned in the Colossus fire a few months ago. I'm hoping they'll figure out a way to make that area structurally sound.