themeparkman44

This is my very first post on TPR, so please bear with me as I workout my posting muscles. I simply wanted to thank you all and say how much fun I had partaking in the theme parks with all of you. Secondly, I would like to thank all members and staff involved with making my time at Six Flags Magic Mountain enjoyable. Even though there were some setbacks we knew about as a group, the rides that worked rode great and that is what essentially matters when at Magic Mountain. Lastly, I'd also like to extend a humungous thank you to Robb and Alissa for putting in the time, energy, and effort to put together this shindig - stay your outgoing and fun selves. PS. Rob, thanks for the heart-to-heart conversation we had outside of Knott's Berry Farm related to your TPR career - it really left me inspired and thinking about certain next steps in my life. Okay, enough with the "thank you's", now it's time for the summary. Highlights at Six Flags Magic Mountain (SFMM) * "Full Throttle" - This great coaster has an amazing launch, crazy hang-time in the world's largest loop, and a surprise launch on your way back to the station. Despite this coasters many technical issues, the thrill factor is very high and I simply love this ride. * "Drop of Doom" - Pure, unadulterated adrenaline rush. I could probably work hard to come up with more words to describe this killer ride, but that's the best I've got. The queue theming isn't too bad either. * "Twisted Colossus" - In a word - the current gem in SFMM. Rocky Mountain Construction took an already legendary coaster and found an even better way to "twist" it into something better. This ride is absolutely thrilling in every way and I am very proud to have this coaster in my hometown. * "Batman" & "Riddler's Revenge" - Two very capable Bolliger & Mabillard coasters that, for their age, still dole out plenty of excitement. Although Batman may be a little bit harsher than Riddler, they both hold their own when it comes to being able to move their riders in quite an exciting way. * "Tatsu" & "Ninja" - Two great coasters that are still performing quite well. (I love every time I almost blackout during the Zero-G roll. Is there something wrong with me? ) Things I'd Like to See Improved at SFMM * "Viper" - I rode Viper for the first time when I was a teenager. After Gold Rusher and Revolution, this ride represents a coming of age for me as it was the first "mega-coaster" I ever rode. Because of this it breaks my heart to see that SFMM is letting this once grand coaster gradually get rougher and rougher ). I look forward to the day when I will get to ride the refurbished Viper and relive the same thrill I got during my teenage years on this ride. * "X2" - This is an excellent ride, if you can take the shin bashing that takes place on it. Even though this ride is great (especially at night), I would love to see the vast number of technical issues this ride is experiencing be fixed. I am far from a logistical expert, so I don't know what (if anything) can be done to alleviate the many technical issues that seem to plague this ride, but I'm supremely bummed that I didn't get a chance to ride X2 this time around during the evening ERT due to its technical permanent closure. * "Superman: Escape from Krypton" - Why did SFMM decide to turn the trains 180 degrees so that the launch takes you backward from 0 to 100 MPH? I seriously don't get it. The thrill of that ride came in the initial launch and flying through the air at 100 MPH up an incline, then feeling weightless, before plummeting back to earth. By turning the train around, all they managed to do is completely eliminate the initial thrill of the launch. I understand that SFMM is going to offer an option soon, so I know which line I'll be waiting in. It'll be interesting to see how visitors will choose to experience Superman down the road. * "The New Revolution" - As much as I love the idea of VR on a roller coaster, is as much as I disliked the VR on the New Revolution. the reason I disliked it is because it seemed like a confused attraction. If you want to engage the riders in playing a video game, then allow the riders to play the game. Don't knock out the weapons required for battle before one-quarter of the ride is through, thereby making the shooting portion of the ride pointless. (Initially, I thought that it was only me that lost the cockpit glass, but it turned out to be all the riders I spoke to after the ride). My proposition is to either allow full game play, which would require a revamping of the VR experience as it currently is; or simply make a real-life film-like VR experience that is passive but will allow the riders to ride and enjoy the "show." * "Apocalypse" - The only word that comes to me when thinking about how to describe this ride is pain. SFMM, please do something about the insane beating this ride provides. This coaster makes X2 seem like Goliath. Good morning and welcome to #SFMMWCB 2016! The New Revolution taking some riders through the loop.. ..and a turn Full Throttle (affectionately known by TPR as YOLOCoaster) taking riders through the loop too.. ...and a turn Some very lucky riders about to embark on a "twisted" journey aboard Twisted Colossus Goliath warming up by dropping some humans.. ..and so is Drop of Doom Just going to stroll through the park.. ..and ride some great "swings." "Loop-ti-loop" a quote by Robb Alvey Riddler's Revenge whipping around some "revengees".. ..and whips them through some turns too for good measure Apocalypse: Otherwise known as my chiropractor's best friend ..I still don't get why we're going backwards on this one. Coaster geek-shot #1 Coaster geek-shot #2 Highlights at Knott's Berry Farm (KBF) * "Calico Mine Ride" - This is a nostalgic ride for me because I spent almost every other weekend each month at Knott's Berry Farm, and this ride was one of them. I absolutely love that KBF keeps the ride authenticity and spirit alive, while enhancing the sets and scenery of the ride. * "Log Jammer" - KBF updated Log Jammer! Did anybody else know this???! Okay, I'm good now. All I can say about it is that the enhancements made to the ride are AMAZING!! The theming and additions to the ride experience really made me feel pretty close to where Disney is with their theming. Kudos go to KBF for their amazing efforts! * "Xcelerator" - Just a great overall coaster. It's a classic Intamin coaster that has a great launch, a fun "up-and-over" loop, followed by some pretzel turns, before sending you back to the station. This is a great example of a coaster that makes the most use of the limited space it has. * "Silver Bullet" - A great Bolliger & Mabillard inverted coaster. That's it. Plain, simple, and great. * "Ghostrider" - I saved the best for last. I fell in love with this coaster when it first opened earlier this millennium, and the refurbishment by Custom Coaster International brought it back to its original glory days. All I can say is that this coaster represents everything I feel a good woody should. Granted, I am not as educated as some in that I haven't really traveled across this country to ride all the classic woodies (it's on my list), but the airtime, turns, theming (the lighting along is awesome) really takes this ride to the next level in my book. Well done KBF and CCI! Things I'd Like to See Improved at KBF * "Supreme Scream" - I could swear that when I rode Supreme Scream in 2012, the release from the top of the tower had considerably more pressure than this time around. In fact, I didn't even lose my breath this time. If I am right, KBF please re-adjust the ride so that the release "push-down" is like it was back in the day. This entire ride hinges on the fact that it ISN'T a free-fall ride, but a ride where you are pushed down to the earth; therefore, it should take your breath away. If it is just me, disregard my comment; perhaps there's something wrong with me . The cock says good morning to y'all (and me)! Welcome to #KNOTTSWCB 2016! The start of The most amazing behind-the-scenes tour of Ghostrider Duly noted Artsy (or at least I tried) The beautiful body of the coaster The gorgeous overhang over the initial drop Crossing Another of the gorgeous body of the coaster The really neat trains, created by Great Coasters International, are called "Millennium Flyers" Silver Bullet whizzing some people through Supreme Scream's tower standing tall Another one where I tried to be artsy (actually Google Photos was, I just liked it) Time for lunch, where we partake in some delicious fried chicken. (There is something odd about eating chicken in front of chickens). ..then a whole bunch of things happened and it was night. Good night from Xcelerator ..and good night to #KNOTTSWCB 2016 from Boomerang. See you next year!!!! That's all from me for now. Until my next post...