Angry_Gumball

I spy some familiar faces in that last shot Well, here's to a looooong day at work and then off to ride Gold Striker and meet up with the group! The quest for 100 begins today/this afternoon!

Night rides are going to be awesome, the main reason why I'm going to actually hop on the Capitol Corridor tomorrow after work (avoid freeway traffic too). Should give me a good several hours to ride! Then come Sunday for a true full day at the park! Now that Gold Striker Gifts is open, I am going to have to seriously discipline myself from grabbing my wallet and buying more Gold Striker goods...definitely nabbing those hardhats though! And yes I will bring my hardhat along on future visits and wear it around the park It's like rocking the Mickey ears at Disney . I saw lots of other neat goodies in the shop too when I peered through the doors last weekend.

Credit 50, good old Tatsu!

Once I heard that GS opened, I couldn't even keep my excitement level contained. Sadly I have to work tomorrow so a nice chunk of the day will be missing...but I get off early enough I can just catch the train and avoid afternoon traffic! Park closes at 10 so here's to some awesome night rides!

So, some info came up last night on the local news about the whole mechanics being on strike dilemma. http://ktvu.com/news/news/labor-dispute-vallejo-amusement-park-raises-safety/nX6gx/

I know the park's working hard on getting this gravel ornament up and running, crossing fingers that it will be soon! I'm just curious what's up with first rider auction...

I had a rather solid visit to SFDK yesterday, Memorial Day. Initially I was not expecting much out of my visit, thinking it would be like the opening day 'disaster' that left much to be desired. Part of what helped was the fact that first off, it's a Monday and second: there was rain threatening. Crowds were there but it seemed like they weren't there at the same time. The longest wait I had was for S:UF which was only a 20 minute wait. When I first went to ride it, the ride actually broke down as I was next in line (I was only in line for 5 minutes). Unsure of how long it would be (they had us all leave the building) I opted to ride V2 and come back. Sure enough in V2's station I see S:UF cycling and then seeing riders on board. Medusa all day was only 5 minutes/3 train waits. Roar was running both trains but running extremely rough (felt like I was riding a coaster made of Legos/riding down a long set of stairs...it actually gave me a headache to be honest. Ride Count/totals for the day... Medusa - 4x S:UF - 3x V2 - 2x Sky Screamer - 2x (Brrrrr....always freezing when I ride this!) Cobra - 2x (I had the brilliant idea to scoot to the left and put my hands up in the last row. Coming down the drop left me sliding pretty hard into the right...hello rib smash!) Boomerang - 1x (This was pretty smooth, just braking afterwards was pretty bad) Roar - 1x (Once was actually more than enough...I really hope soon this ride gets a nice full on retracking...not just top laminates in certain sections) Voodoo - 1x Taz - 1x Nairobi Lookout Balloons - 1x (I love this ride, insanely easy to spin!) Thrilla Gorilla - 1x Random highlights and lowlights of the day: - Butterfly porn! Yes some butterflies were doing it...butterfly style - Last Medusa cycle of the night...did get quite rattly though. I was in the last row and it was just starting to mist/drizzle - Speaking of wet, I rode S:UF for the first time in a moderate drizzle...this ride is quite fun in the rain! - Kids trying to cut in line...parents condoning such behavior - Getting on rides and getting around the park was much easier...benefits of cargo pockets and a worthy investment of a weatherproof jacket with zipper pockets (it has a certain super hero ride's name on it )...helped with the rain too! Didn't have to fuss around with lockers and be 'tied' to a plaza during that time. - Clean restrooms! Cleaner than another SF park down south Sorry no photos this time, was a bit lazy and focused on just enjoying the day there. Sadly I didn't get to the Cirque Dreams as lines were actually forming 40 minutes early. We've got all season though. I did hear the music playing and such while around the area and it sounds pretty good. Definitely a very solid visit, making me wanting to come back real soon!

Switching gears here from the Nor-cal bashing and soundwall complaints... Here's how my visit yesterday went. So yesterday was a busy but fun day at the park. A good chunk of the morning was spent in Boomerang Bay as there was nobody there (water slide marathon). I think we did Down Under Thunder 5 times before we decided we were soaked enough. Highlights of the day included: -Down Under Thunder -Opening ceremony, we all got little flags when getting in the park...too bad there was only 5 of us otherwise we would have had...Six Flags! -Fireworks show was neat, very patriotic! Other randomness: -Firefall is definitely showing its age...when inverting I could feel the gondola want to slip. The final 'face first rotation' over the water/fire was more of the gondola just sitting upright gently lowering (think of a ferris wheel). Later though it seemed to hold...so we must have gotten the 'dud' ride -Stupid kids playing piñata with the trees. You hear a "Stop hitting the trees!" coming from somewhere when you hear the father say "They can do whatever they want!" SMH... And the holy grail of yesterday's events...Down Under Thunder airtime! (Part of this was shot last season with my cousin and I, courtesy of Blue Fire Guy)

Judging that uneven height, I have a feeling they aren't done yet, as the panels are almost what seems like RCT3 walls (different heights) I noticed some panels on a saw horse just to the right, telling me that the walls still need to be finished and will remain an even height along the track. My whole outlook. They are definitely strange, we aren't used to seeing these kinds of things on wooden coasters. The track layout itself will still completely kick butt And agreed. I can't wait to ride this (more) with the hands up as that's how this coaster was designed to be ridden.

Honestly, the painted walls look pretty decent in my opinion (see walls on middle finger turn). I'm sure the rest of the walls will receive paint as well.

They changed the Boomerang Bay water to acid In all seriousness I just rode Down Under Thunder and Tasmanian Typhoon. jackaroo landing was closed entirely until we left.

One thing they have been doing is painting the wood panels...certainly looks more 'finished'. Figured I'd share some pix while waiting in line for Flight Deck! Side note: you think we are itching to ride this, the park is itching to get this running even more! So I'm honestly not sure what's going on but I can say it will open when ready. Covered and partially Wall'd brake run Walls, raw wood. Walls go down to the bottom Painted walls on the 'middle finger turn'

Da-fudge??? Was that just really that dusty?? (Pic of mysterious TPR writing) I had that feeling as well that the park is even more anxious to get this beauty running...hard to promote your 2013 season with new hotness in a SBNO/dirt ornament state. I'll be there tomorrow, nice and early...regardless how slammed my body is from today...took a bike trip in San Francisco to Golden Gate Park.

They could if they plan on having the coaster valley. Remember, Wodan was built with a taller lift due to using PU wheels as they have a little more rolling resistance...I like to call them 'play-doh wheels.'

Sad, missing the big weekend, the kickoff of summer. But what can we do? Hopefully we will find out something soon rather than the whole 'hurry up and wait' thing that's going on.

Or like pressing the 'cross the street' button...which around here, they'll firmly say "Wait!" (And yes I repeatedly press them just to hear the thing say "Wait! Wait! Wait!...") Gold Striker or not, I'm going this Sunday for some CGA fun...I doubt I'll be doing any 5-man runs on Didgeridoo Falls as the temps won't be the warmest (and you get decently soaked on this) but I will definitely hit up Down Under Thunder and Tasmanian Typhoon as you get just as wet or a little less wet than you would on Logger's.

Here's Day 3 of the trip, a continuation on the DLR. Sorry it's a bit late, I've been a bit busy and a bit lazy...not to mention being on Gold Striker overload shortly after the trip. Here goes! I'll let the photos tell the story. We basically primarily focused on the DCA side this day...and other side note: I love Plaza Inn chicken! Ready to rock the 3rd day into this trip! And yup I've now got my own set of ears! Whee! Escalator ride! Not as cool as Parque España's but it is a magical Disney escalator Got my fast pass! Ooh! A hidden mickey! And over to warm up on an Intamin again! Wheee! And over to Mickey's Fun Wheel, where you spend more time loading the wheel than you actually do really riding it (we got 1 whole lap around the wheel). Artsy Fartsy Stuff! Nerd shot: tires! Traditional taking a picture of me, taking a picture of...routine And finally, up we go in the nauseating, swinging gondola! Should I be a Jeff Johnson and count this as a credit? It has wheels and upstops, rolls entirely by gravity! Over to Orange S....I mean Silly Symphony Swings! Pretty forceful wave swinger, and a nice setting! World of.....color? Now with 100% less color (Yes I know it was most likely testing) For some reason, the clouds remind me of Andy's room (from the Toy Story movies)...very fitting for a Disney setting! A quick spin on Golden Zephyr. Pretty fun, relaxing ride! Of course I couldn't resist thinking of the flyers back in the bay area (CGA) After a quick trip on Little Mermaid, I re-realized how creepy Ursula was...I found her quite creepy when I was younger. And you can't have Disney without fireworks...ok so these aren't real fireworks. Finally..venturing into Cars Land for the first time to see what's up. Radiator Springs is coming up shortly. First to try out this ride. Not only does the way the ride works mechanically amaze me but never underestimate this ride...lots of body slams to be had! And time for a new credit, and my first Mack coaster. Typical mouse with a decent moment of airtime. The moment has arrived...checkin time for RSR! Zoooooom!!! This ride was pretty neat! Looks just like Radiator Springs Over to Luigi's Flying Tires (or extremely soft 'did we actually even bump anything' hover tires) Tires! Tires! Tires! And this is where I'll end the photos here as the rest were more photos of World of Color. Stay tuned for Day 4, Knott's Berry Farm!

We don't even know what the next ride will be, wether if it's a flat ride or coaster. Never say never on noise issues either. As much as steel can be quieter, riders can make quite a bit of noise. Lastly I highly doubt they will delay the opening to July. I'm sure they're wanting to open this sooner than later...would be senseless to just put off opening the new hotness. Trust me, I'm getting just as antsy to reride this beauty. Opening will come soon.

I've never been on a Wing Rider but I kind of have my expectations set on what to expect on the day I ride one...I see wing riders as those rides that deliver a nice, graceful ride without putting a bunch of crazy forces down on you. Forces are nice but for the flight feeling, I think the whole smooth, graceful concept fits it perfectly. On the topic of flying and B&M...having ridden Tatsu, I found it to be pretty smooth and graceful for the first half...having the one moment of intense forces in that pretzel loop was sufficient for the type of ride it is. Not every element of that ride had to have grey out-worthy forces to make it a nice ride. Sure this is a different coaster type but the whole idea feels pretty similar to me...as in you're taking flight.

Um, yea...if he farts, it's over. Nice report! I need to get back to SFDK again, haven't gone since opening day (that rather insanely busy Saturday).

And this is where I'm baffled. I was informed a while back that the tunnel (when the only noise reduction GS had was the drop tunnel) was not a requirement, that the park is looking after their neighbors. But with how much has popped up since the promo shoot makes me think something else is up... like, how much more noise dampening would you even invest in if its a courtesy thing and not required? This is all strange in my opinion...lots we don't know.

YOLO interacts with 1 path, the path leading to S:EFK. It flies over the top and dives underneath it for that 2nd and 3rd launch.

I tried every which way on Revolution...the "Giraffe Neck" technique (stretching neck to attempt keeping head above restraints), head against rest, going with the turns, bracing, even went as far as sticking my hands between to act as pads but still no luck. Once you leave that lift, Anton lets out his wrath...you get the pleasure of feeling his disapproval from the rather neutered/botched ride (though those trims were a nice sigh of relief). When I rode X2, I was in the very last train but took an inside seat. I had also rode Revolution (SFMM's turd) in the very last row. I'll gladly take on X2 over Rev any day

Honestly, I would have thought that anything along the queue area would have been fine as you have a giant, dormant building acting as a sound buffer. I'm no sound expert but I would have thought for sure that the Pictorium would have been sufficient enough to dampen noise especially that low to the ground. With all of these walls that have risen, this makes me wonder how the ride will sound now when standing outside the park. During the shoot, it sounded awesome hearing this loud rumble (muffled but very bassy like thunder) followed by a sudden explosion of sound as the train pops out the initial mine shaft/tunnel. As that area was directed away from the buildings, I'm still baffled why there's the low walls filling in the hand rails. Aesthetically, it looks awkward but that could change once it's painted. (Can the white infill be painted too during the 2013 offseason?)

Having ridden X2 once (a month ago actually) I found it enjoyable...pretty rough though on the torso but I still enjoyed it. I can't say that it is one I could marathon as it does kind of bounce you around a bit, combined with the hard-ish restraints. On the flipside, I will take X2's roughness/bounciness/rockiness over Revolution any day. I can tolerate roughness but when my head starts getting smacked repeatedly, I'm done with it.