teacherkim

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.

So some reporting from the ACE event last Saturday at the park: (and keep in mind I am just the messenger here) Screamin' Eagle was down for a lift hill motor issue. Awaiting parts, could be several weeks. Bummer for sure. All the other coasters were running two trains which was really nice on a low attendance day. Beautiful weather but after Labor Day and before FF so not a huge crowd there. Even so the park very generously added a second coaster and a second hour to ert for the group of 49 attending the event. It was Freeze and Thunder plus snacks. They gave us a nice long walk back of the Boss including a chance to climb part way up the stairs leading down from the mid course brake to get a very cool view of the coaster in action. I've done it before but it isn't always offered. Log Flume had a mechanical problem with the right side of the flume and was running the seldom used left side instead, which was kind of a nice treat. For those that don't know they don't often have the staff and/or crowds for both sides and usually run the right side as it is way easier to load fast pass and ada riders. They did have some temp tiny bridges to accommodate those riders. JL running the best all season that I have experienced. Fire effect back on and mostly working as intended. Final screen still f**ked up. Everything else running normally except TS and Spinsanity of course. And I really don't remember about Fireball, I don't usually pay any attention to it. All the FF props up and ready to go and we did see what were clearly FF cast members getting a walk around as some sort of training. At one point I did see them go to the little show area for the train so MAYBE something related to FF is going to happen there? We got a twilight group ride on the carousel. The horses are magnificent and the craftsmanship really shines through. The chariots are not yet on and are still being restored which explains the mysterious fb post regarding the "real opening". I was told by management that the reason they went ahead and opened it without the chariots was as compensation for the fact that the Joker funhouse part of the queue has never opened. Although I thought that a bit of a strange connection. The reason for the funhouse not yet being open is also apparently missing parts................no elaboration on what those parts might be. At lunch I talked to 2 members of the management team. One is the new entertainment manager. He is from the area originally but spent most of his career at SFFT, but he and his wife recently moved back. He stated that there would be enhancements to the entertainment for next year and that this was already underway. He also told us that park management was lobbying for new rides(s) and other improvements with Coaster Con 2027 in mind since SFSTL is one of the host parks for that. Of course he had a crowd that wanted to hear that, we'll see. Asked two different management bigwigs about the whole food issue with the legacy memberships. One told me that he flat out had no idea, the other just repeated the all add-ons will be good at all parks line. Of course these aren't add-ons they were included as part of the memberships and I know they aren't all the same. Bottom line - it will simply be a try it and see if it works situation next year. I was told they were well aware of the 50th anniversary of Eagle next year and that they are "working on plans to celebrate". Again, we'll see but they did promise to keep the organization in the loop.

So last post about the food on legacy SF memberships until I simply try it out sometime next year and see if it works. I was as an ACE event at SFSTL and asked management at the lunch. One person flat out told me he had no idea if it was carrying over or not. The other (a very long time employee of the park) simply repeated the "all pass add ons" will be usable at all parks. Problem being this isn't an add on. It was included as part of the membership upon purchase of the membership. I know for a fact not everyone with a membership has the same food offerings, it depended on when you bought it, so.............that's where I think the confusion is. I really don't think they know and it will be a matter of just waiting to see if it is accepted or not.

You didn't derail. It's the SF corporate thread and you have every right to bring up any topic relating to SF as a company. Even I'm getting tired of my own posts about the legacy memberships, just haven't been able to get a satisfactory answer. No worries

I went online to see if you could add the dining when this question came up before and it wouldn't let me BUT I have no idea if that was because it wasn't working properly, or because it knew that I already have dining on my membership so therefore it would be redundant, or what. I mean it's a moot point for us because we already get 2 meals and a snack grandfathered in our membership. I think right now it's all somewhat of a crapshoot depending on what day it is and who you are dealing with.