teacherkim

Making me miss Europa so much! One day I shall return to the raclette hut!! We were there with ACE in July 2024, got lots of ert and nice and warm for the water rides but I would dearly LOVE to go during the Halloween event. Even though we had 2 and a half days we didn't see everything and unfortunately the Ghost Castle was down for refurb while we were there; and I love those things. Wodan and Arthur were my favorites, Blue Fire for Joel. I had a student one day while subbing that was reading a book from the Arthur and the Minimoys series so I told him about the ride and he gave me all the background and explained the story. We stayed at Colosseo too. Never ate at the dinner buffet but the breakfast buffet there was absolutely outstanding. I actually let Joel have the big bed and I slept in one of the bunks because he was too tall for them I used the ladder steps as extra shelves, lol. Does the Food Loop restaurant usually have reservations? When we were there in the summer it was just line up and wait for an open seat.

That is what I have always been told by those in the know (and what my son was always led to believe when he was a ride op there) That it is a small but profitable regional park. I think a lot of people discount the role that the water park plays in attendance. Shortage of staff there got a lot more yakking on FB than anything about the dry park. Also, I would hope the fact that it is one of the original 3 ground up parks in the chain, and I believe the only one designed in house by Six Flags, would give it SOME sort of priority. Or maybe I am just assuming historical significance means something to people other than me.

Again things can be "planned" and then for whatever reason not come to fruition. So both things could be true; that there are 5 year plans AND that they won't all happen.

And I get all that, but to be fair I don't think it is so much we are flat out lying to you as much as plans and executing those plans are not always sympatico. While something like the sign is annoying to many of us, I guarantee you if you asked people in the park about it on any given day 90% of them wouldn't have even noticed but will be aware of improvements/problems inside the park. Not an excuse, the sign should be fixed, but perhaps an explanation on priorities. No rose colored glasses here though, I am well aware these things may or may not happen. As I said, just staying positive.

And just to make sure you're absolutely clear, the express pass you get at the other 3 hotels is unlimited for IOA & US; BUT is not usable at Epic. You have to buy a separate express for Epic which is one time on each ride per day (or if not getting express through your hotel you can buy the same one time express that works at all 3 parks each day) There is no unlimited express for Epic available at this time, although if you use your early entry wisely and utilize end of the day low crowds the one time gets the job done nicely. We have usually stayed at Royal Pacific to get the unlimited express pass but on our recent trip since we know Epic would be our focus we stayed at Aventura and bought a 5 day one time express. It reset each day and at Aventura when we wanted to go to the og parks or Citywalk we just walked next door to Sapphire Falls and caught the boat. If you want to experience a bit of Helios and the view while at Epic just go up to the rooftop bar and grab some food and/or a drink. As far as why it isn't offered it is my understanding that when the other hotels were built Loews insisted on this perk to encourage people to stay there and insure the success of their hotel brand, now that Universal has grown and has more leverage they no longer need to make deals with Loews.

I 100% hope so and strongly voiced my opinion on that when I had the chance to talk to the higher ups; not that my voice necessarily means anything to them. However, we were told that there will be some kind of celebration, we kicked around some ideas we had, and it was promised to keep ACE in the loop for whatever comes to fruition. Now how elaborate that ends up being? No one knows at this point.

So, we never made it out to FF this year. We were sorta thinking about going last Sat but it got rained out. I'm usually happy to spend an evening soaking up the atmosphere and having a quick run through of the houses, even though I know they haven't been on par with a lot of parks since the virus that shall not be named. However, having gotten back from Universal on the 5th I admit I wasn't super motivated to face it after the quality of Epic and HHN, lol. I think I will just call it for this year and spend the winter hoping they get the chariots finished for the carousel (that should be a given), they finally get the parts and open the funhouse portion of the queue for Joker (less sure about this one because that reason sounded a little sus from the start), next year's entertainment really is enhanced especially for FF (keeping fingers crossed that the manager that told me that was NOT just blowing smoke up my rear), and that there will be an announcement for a super new something in time for CoasterCon in June 2027 (the least likely of the bunch but an old gal can hope)

Honestly I really really feel over the shoulder restraints would not have prevented what happened. But of course I have no way of knowing that for sure.

So......we just returned from an Orlando trip. Had a date specific ticket to Epic on 10/1 and then went on our 1 day included with the package on 10/3 with plane tickets home on Sunday. As Friday morning dawned we had just accepted that we weren't going to make it on Stardust this time and had resolved to just enjoy everything else about the park; and it is a magnificent park. I mean they nailed the theming, lighting, soundtrack of each land. Never before was my son content to just walk around and appreciate the aesthetics in a park before like this one. THEN, as we are eating dinner on Friday (some of the best theme park food I have ever had btw) we hear the reopening news. Go look, sure enough trains in the station for the first time. What to do? Well we spend another $350 for two more tickets, concierge told us it was already sold out but we were able to purchase on line, blew off already paid for Howl O Scream tickets at SW, blew off a Vivo reservation (only significant because it was the only sit down restaurant at Citywalk I hadn't been to) AND went back on Sat 10/4, our last full day in town. Expensive ridiculous gamble? Yes. Was it worth it? Yes. Something wrong with us? Probably. So from the get go some upper management types were at the ride entrance telling everyone late afternoon to early evening would be when they opened, IF the weather cooperated. We spent until about 4 casually doing other things while keeping our eye on the proceedings. Around 1 or 2 there were maintenance personnel riding, after that other park employees were getting a turn, then the ride crew got their turn. About 4 we grabbed something to eat at the pub and started hanging out near the entrance. Rain coming off and on just to torture us and make it not a 100% thing. More bigwigs show up at the entrance in a vain attempt to keep people from hanging around. News copter overhead most of the time starting about 5. Finally just after 6 they very quietly and calmly opened the barricade and an unbelievably obedient crowd surged at a walking pace in and was walked backed to an extended queue. I think everyone knew how badly the park needed this to go well and no one wanted to risk getting kicked out...................JUST as we approached the actual entrance the fire alarm in the station starts going off. Yep it was accidentally set off and all of the ride crew, easily 20 or more employees had to evacuate. Now we are all being held: ride crew at attraction entrance, the initial 100 or so riders in the temp queue, everyone else where the barricades at the plaza entrance. Swell . About 15 minutes for maintenance to take care of the alarm. We ended up being on the 2nd train out. Got back in line and used our one time express for the other side. Two front row rides on each track. Then waited a good 2 hours for a third ride as by that time the entire park was aware. So three rides, one with an abnormally long line that doesn't usually happen due to capacity. The park did not close the line one second early and actually added a 3rd train on each side to increase capacity. The atmosphere was as raucous as any ert session I've ever experienced. You could tell the ride ops needed this and the crowd gave it to them. Lots of cheering, clapping, and high fiving. The ride itself? What a magnificent beast of a coaster. An instant top 3 and maybe higher once we have time to digest it. The interaction of the trains is amazing. The only thing I can conjecture as to how someone could get blunt force trauma is getting slammed backward into the headrest if you were flopped forward when unconscious, the torque of the two double boosts is unbelievable. I of course have no idea if that is what happened but after riding it I can not think of what else it could be. Not possible to hit the lap restraint or anything in front of you unless you were maybe 8 feet tall. Of course we don't know what we don't know but I can't figure this as anything other than a freak accident for someone not completely able bodied. What an experience the whole thing turned out to be though! Any questions that I didn't answer ( I was trying not to write a novel here) ask away.

Well now that the state investigators have publicly agreed with Universal that the ride did not malfunction in any way, I'm hoping they open it back up asap. We will be there in a week and I would never cry "vacation ruined" or any other such nonsense (after all you pays your money and takes your chances) it will suck mightily to have to walk around an awesome but not running coaster all day. I freely admit I am being a bit selfish here and apologize for it and while I certainly do not want to appear insensitive; he did make his choice knowing he was going against the recommendations posted at the ride. I am very curious about the state saying they were investigating under their manslaughter law. If they acknowledge the ride is not to blame who are they accusing of manslaughter? A family member that talked him into going on it? I mean he was an adult. Or is that just verbiage to ensure the outraged that they are exploring all possibilities on blame? Curious. My heart does go out to his family and the ride ops working that day. It must have been a terrible experience.

Well of course but I don't really think it is in real danger. For a few reasons 1) Even a local news station in a story with a headline meant to imply that the park was in danger (if you bothered to read it) that attendance has stayed steady for SFSTL, no decline 2) Although it's a small regional park it makes a profit. The only thing they were losing money on was HITP which they got rid of 3) Someone from upper management told me that not only is the park going nowhere but they are already working to enhance the entertainment. I'll assume he is right and honest until I have some reason to doubt him

And you might be right, but I will say that as unsexy as boring things like new roofs, new asphalt, or new kitchen equipment is to most people; to me it is an investment in the park for the long term. Let's see how it plays out. I choose to be positive but that's just my nature

I believe that came from a Tik Toker that saw the metal "in the seat" when she left the ride. So questionable, and some people seemed to think it was simply the tool to manually open the restraint, although I was certainly not on site and don't want to do too much speculating. Unfortunately, the speculation on FB has become a juggernaut and of course lots of people that have no idea how coasters work. As I am sure everyone knows by now the poor man was wheelchair bound with an apparent spinal problem. It will all be a matter of whether or not some aspect of the ride cause it or was it caused by an unfortunate aspect of his condition.

Look I know the odds are against us but I am curious about 1) Is the park management REALLY making a big pitch, or was the person that was talking to us just selling what he knew we wanted to buy? 2) IF he is making a legit pitch, does said park management have any power/sway with corporate? 3)And what do they envision as a cool new ride? That can be pretty subjective, lol. I like that for the most part everyone on here wants something good to happen for the park. Some of us more optimistic than others but that's probably a general personality thing. In the end time will tell, it's just that the waiting is hell.

As I have said, if you look at the area encompassing Ninja, the former paint ball field, Buccaneer (easily moved), the arcade which kind of sucks now anyway, the old Chevy building (only used for storage now), Tsunami Soaker and its gift shop, the former old time photo building, Spinsanity (also easily moved); there is kind of a lot of room there. Granted that would be a huge project that probably isn't going to happen and Chop Six and the Empire might be a bit in the way..........................still, if you're going to dream might as well dream big, lol. Also, Ninja while not super popular at this point is apparently a maintenance dream that almost never has issues. Annoying.