VegasBaby

They are also claiming it will only have two trains and no moving loading platform, which is a travesty if true. I can't believe that CF would cheap out like that, especially on such a low capacity coaster.

When I visited SFGAm last year, I prepaid for my FP and I didn't have to watch a movie. At opening, I went directly to Goliath and got a few rides in before getting my FP. I can't remember if they have a separate line for FP purchased online (SFMM does this and there's hardly any wait), but it didn't take more than 5-10 min for me to get my FP about 30 min after opening. I was worried that they would limit reservations on Goliath (which they didn't), the only ride that had a reservation limit was JL:BFM and it was two reservations. SFMM now has FP reps in the gate plaza, so you can get your FP before entering the park. I don't know if any other SF parks are doing this, but it's pretty convenient and then you don't waste park time waiting to get your FP.

VR on coasters is a terrible trend in the amusement park industry. The load times are just horrendous and it doesn't add anything of value to the coaster experience, IMO. I've only been able to ride TNR once since the new trains were introduced because I refuse to wait in that ridiculous line. I just recently returned from a trip to Orlando and they've ruined a great B&M floorless (Kraken) with this stupid VR nonsense. I hammer the VR on every SFMM survey that I get, so hopefully they will get rid of it soon.

I totally agree with this, the TC crew is doing everything they can to make sure the trains race. On my visit last month, the control panel op was doing a countdown (30 seconds, to race, 15 seconds to race, etc). The only reason you don't get a race every time is that people are too slow to put away their crap or somebody doesn't fit in the restraint and it has to be double checked.

There's obviously something mechanically wrong with Xcelerator because Knott's wouldn't close it down in the middle of summer for routine maintenance. Maybe the cable snapped again or they are waiting on some parts from Intamin. It's just strange that it has taken them so long to fix. I think it's been down for at least 3 weeks now with no opening date in sight. I would expect something like this from SFMM, but not at Knott's.

It really is a shame since the retracked GhostRider kicks some serious ass and the Knott's operations are generally pretty good on the other rides. I'm going to try and hit the park mid-week in October (it's usually completely dead during the day at that time of year) just so I can get a bunch of GR rides in without the ridiculous wait times.

These are great additions for Hershey, they certainly needed more slides in the waterpark. On our visit two years ago, we only spent a half day at the waterpark because the slide lines were ridiculously long. The mat racer looks like a lot of fun and should have really good capacity. And I am very happy to see more of these hydromagnetic water coasters being built. I've ridden two this summer (RiverRush at Dollywood and Krakatau at Volcano Bay) and thought they were both fantastic rides. Looks like I am going to have to plan another trip out to Hersheypark!

It's too bad that they didn't keep it around, I love those Schwarzkopf Shuttle Loop coasters. I think Montezooma at Knott's is the last one still operating in the U.S.

Totally agree, the space is way too large to put in what I'd consider a glorified flat ride. Plus, they wouldn't need the extra construction time for such a small coaster. I think we're looking at some kind of Intamin blitz or Gerstlauer Infinity that may end up wrapping around the sky tower. Hangtime will probably be the name though based on that teaser, which could refer hanging at the top of a vertical lift a la Mystery Mine.

Totally agree, if SFMM gets a flat ride next, I really want it to be a Giant frisbee. They are my second favorite flats after drop towers and the GP would absolutely love it.

As much as I love Yolo, it's a damn shame that they didn't make it a little longer so you wouldn't hit the break run on the way down.

All of the rides have bins to put your stuff in and most of the time the employees will put it in the bins for you. (Daredevil Falls, the log flume, is the only ride I can think of that doesn't have bins, so you have to take everything with you on it.) Dollywood has a no outside food or drink policy, but I don't know if that applies to unopened water bottles.

Carowinds looks like a great park, I really need to get out there and visit it. Thanks for the great trip report, it's fun to live vicariously through all of your adventures!

I guess that I just got lucky because it was open every day of our stay last month (June 25-30) with minimal downtime. It opened with the park each morning (or shortly thereafter) and we got 2-3 rides a day on it. It was only running one train but at least it was operating pretty consistently. Hopefully it will stay open for everyone that has trips planned because it really is a hell of a ride!

I think that's the general consensus at this point. It seems like most people believe that CGA is getting the RMC Raptor and Knott's is getting a Gerstlauer Infinity coaster or some kind on compact Intamin (a blitz like Maverick or a vertical lift like Fahrenheit). All I know is that August 16 can't get here quick enough!

I too have mixed feelings about this move. I visited IOA for the first time back in 2000 and absolutely loved the dueling. We rode the dueling dragons more than any other rides during that visit. On my last visit to IOA a few years ago, I still rode the inverts and really enjoyed them, but it just wasn't the same without the dueling. I am heading to the park next week and taking my kids for the first time, so I'm glad they will get a chance to ride them and I will get some final rides in. On the flip side, I am happy to see that they will be replaced with a coaster and I'm really excited to see what the Universal team can dream up. It's just a shame that they couldn't add this new ride and leave the dragons intact.

Most LA area schools will be back in session by Aug 25th, so I would expect the park to be pretty dead that day. You shouldn't have any trouble riding everything in the park despite the early closing time.

SFMM is not going to be sold. If SF didn't sell it 10 years ago when it was having financial difficulties, they certainly aren't going to sell it now. SFMM has the highest attendance in the whole chain and saw a 7% increase in 2016. The moves they've made in the last few years (Yolo, TC, TNR, JL:BFM, HITP) seem to be resonating with the GP and the continued increase in attendance is proof that their strategy is working.

I have a hard time believing this, especially when you have much older arrows like Loch Ness that are still running strong. I think there were some structural issues with Hulk and that's why they had to do the rebuild. Kumba is 6 years older than the original Hulk and nobody is talking about tearing it down. And it's probably run just as many if not more cycles than the original Hulk. That said, I won't shed any tears if Viper gets replaced with a giga or a 250ft dive coaster.

Green Lantern used to be good? I rode it when it first opened and found it to be atrocious then too. For me, it's held the crown of "worst coaster currently in operation" since the day it arrived. Good to hear you had success with Revolution, JT325. I assume the VR was broken on your visit? I too have never had a "good" ride on GL. Trust me, I've ridden it probably a dozen times thinking beforehand that it's not that bad. But then I ride the damn thing and instantly remember that yes, it's that bad! I skip it every visit now and spend my time riding TC instead.

LR really is an incredible ride in the back row. I got a few back row rides on my visit two weeks ago and it was crazy. I was out of my seat for the entire first drop and the quad down was Skyrush-like in throwing me out of my seat. The ride ops were usually pretty good about not stapling down the restraints, so I was able to get the full force of the airtime.

There used to be a single rider line for non-VR riders but I think they shut it down. I have heard that they will ask for non-VR riders to fill seats but they just pull them from the normal line. It really is a shame that they added VR as soon as they introduced the new trains. I would love to be able to marathon it with minimal wait times, but the VR has put a stop to those plans.

Yea, it makes a lot of sense for SFStL to get a S&S 4D in 2018. After getting JL in 2015 and flats in 2016/2017, they seem due for the coaster clone. I don't see SF spending the money to build a custom coaster at SFStL, so a Joker clone is probably the best the park can hope for. There is the wild card of the SF CEO saying they will be adding 5 record breaking rides in 2018, but I would expect rides with that kind of hype to go to one of the flagship SF parks. But who knows, maybe SFStL will get lucky and receive a new and unique coaster?

Knott's has early entry at 9:30am during the summer for pass holders and hotel guests, but that won't work for you since the rest of your party doesn't have passes. GhostRider has been insanely popular since the refurb, so I would get to the park 15-20 minutes before opening and hit that as soon as they let you into the park. Then I would head to the back right corner to Xcelerator before the crowds make their way back there. As for food, I would agree with the recommendations of Johnny Rockets (if you want a longer sit-down lunch) or Panda Express if you want something faster.

As far as I know, SF did away with the re-rides chain-wide with the platinum FP. I got a platinum FP when I visited during Spring Break in April and there was no wristband or re-rides. I've been twice since then and I haven't seen any platinum writstbands. It's not a big deal though if you have the platinum FP. If you reserve your next ride as soon as you get checked in, then your ride window is usually open by the time you're finished with the ride. This works especially well on Goliath because the FP stairs are right at the exit, so you don't have to completely exit the queue to re-ride. If you go to the park on Sept 7, it should be pretty dead and you shouldn't need to buy a FP.