JT325

All this dissing Cobra... I mean, it's not a great ride and it's at La Ronde, so I can understand how easy a target it is. But for me, it was better than most of the B&M standup coasters I've been on. With the one exception of Riddler's (years ago). I really didn't find Cobra too bad, and rode it twice 2 summers ago. Meanwhile, I'll only do Georgia Scorcher once per visit. And would only do Mantis once per visit... and rode Chang one time with each of it's color schemes. I also rode Batman a coaster of the same make at Astroworld (when it was called Batman (surprise!) and all white I believe) and enjoyed it more than the B&Ms stand-ups I rode (Chang, Iron Wolf*, Vortex, Mantis... and perhaps 1 or 2 more?) *Iron Wolf was stellar in it's opening year, but yeah.. those stand-ups age quick and horribly.

Did anyone else hear a rumor that Thunderbolt got seatbelts? I mean, not that seatbelts make or break a ride, but it would still stink. The ride has operated safely for over 4 decades. Related, Idlewild may get "new modern" trains for Rollo Coaster. That really REALLY sucks. It's 2017 and people still can't take responsibility for their own behavior. I say, if we have to have all these stupid modifications to classic rides due to stupidity, put air gates on all trains and subways across the nation. Maybe that would be a good lesson. Obviously I'm just ranting, but man this is stupid. Meanwhile, Germany does just fine with their spinning flat rides that have no fence around them. Even with all that beer!

There's a better chance Six Flags sells Magic Mountain to Cedar Fair. They tried to a number of years ago This would be great. Could you imagine Magic Mountain, but run like a Cedar Point!? It would be a dream. Never say never!

Best three day trip? Park yourself at Knoebels. Walk away still wanting more.

I don't ever remember seeing a CP commercial here in Chicago. Kinda strange yet cool.

I was hoping to have the all or part of the Griswold family, KISS, Lynda Carter, Timothy Bottoms, and a few others at the opening of New Revolution. But they ran the VR route instead. Revolution still deserves a grand re-opening of it's own, sans VR. So much potential there. But hey, if VR sells, I get it.

Maybe Riddler will be re-branded. Woohoo! Add some water splash effects (that will work for a week, like X-Flight)

With all this talk of touristy-popular (don't get me wrong - I had to have Skyline when I was recently at KI) pizza around Chicago, it's got me thinking of the Dairy Queen down the road from Great America! Dang it's hard to find those in the city (proper)! We only have a few... I'll only give myself a max of 2 visits to the DQ during my Great America days/nights this year. Trying to get off all the extra sugar and "stuff." But man a DQ can hit the spot on a hot day!

^B&M restraints systems are designed to put your body around and between stuff (restraints and seats) so you can't fall out. I promise you will be ok on Tatsu! If the restraints were not down far enough, the system would not let the train dispatch; the B&M brain knows all! I do understand the B&M flying coasters can be a little intimidating while hanging in that position, but that kinda adds to the fun!

I glanced through and saw someone mention the first thing that came to my mind: SF Great Adventure, 1987. What a horrible and careless mistake that was. Yup... Six Flags started coming up with all these crazy rules after that. One that seemed to be new at the time was employees checking every single restraint. Before that, it was a visual and maybe a thumbs up. Man did rides dispatch fast! Six Flags has been at the root of several strange and/or long-lasting rules/colors (orange restraints; grey undercarriage/bogies), etc. Good to see Cedar Point still dispatch relatively quickly even with all the checks.

In order to turn around operations long term, I think they're going to have to raise the price of season passes. I'm thinking triple the cost… similar to what Cedar Fair charges. It's still a great deal. It would take a few years to get to that level, but I hope they're going in that direction. They really need an overhaul with their training. Six flags employees generally seem not very good at communicating and connecting with themselves or the guests. It's not their fault; it's mostly trickle down. Offering better bonuses, and perhaps an extra dollar an hour might help.

With a double loading/unloading station and six trains?... oh, wait. Either way, Cedar point knows what they're getting into. I would still love to see a super high capacity loading station like Disney. They could totally pull it off.

Speaking of Batman clones ... The Batman (Vampire?) at La Ronde was obnoxiously fast. I'm wondering if it's due to the shorter train of seven cars? Perhaps the wheels they are using? I think I've been on most, if not all of the Batman clones, and it was the fastest I've ever been on.

Great looking ride! All that with (what looks like) comfy lap bars. That's the thing I can't stand on similar rides at Kings Dominion and Cedar Point: those bulky, annoying shoulder bars. Liseberg is near the top of my "must get to" list.

Because there is a lack of space at CP, right? I do like your idea of drop towers on TTD though I bet they would operate it nicely, too!

So what is the SOB reference on Mystic Timbers I've heard a few people mention? I must have missed it on my 10+ rides.

Teeheehee Thank you. I needed a good smile and laugh.

It would be nice if GCI came and did that. Has Six Flags ever had GCI fully revamp a coaster? If so how long ago was it? In reality I don't think it would happen anytime soon. It sure would be nice though. Ewww... I'm not a fan of this idea personally. GCI had a tendency to remove many of the best parts (air time) of coasters, especially any noteworthy drops. They have removed a great amount of the airtime on Yankee Cannonball and the small (but wonderful!) kick going over the first drop of Legend is now gone. And we don't need to go in to the Coney/Luna park debacle. Ugh. I mean, those coasters are smoother now, but there is a way to make a woodie smooth with out removing the best bits; you don't have to do both at the same time. Also, those GCI lap bars really PIN you in your seat. I love Mystic Timbers and their new coasters, great and fun rides, but I'm not a fan of of what they do to older rides. People complain about PTC trains due to the "old design," but that simple 4 running wheel design is what gives many of our favorite woodies their KICK. The lap bars can be a pain, but no trains are perfect. Buzz bars for all! And lose those pesky headrests.

Whizzer has a way of creating good memories. It was my first big coaster. Before the air gates, the seatbelts... heck, back then you would sit down and the train would take off. They ran four or five trains; if the whole queue was filled under the station, that would be about a 25 minute wait. It's 90 minutes nowadays. Not complaining, just different operating procedures. Well, maybe just a little complaining. Oh, the old headlights and taillights the ride had! I'm so glad we still have Whizzer. As an ACE member, I pushed for landmark status years ago. Very happy about the plaque out front. Lucky to be there the day of the unveiling as well! See, sometimes if you tell a park what you would like to stay (in a kind and polite way of course), it can happen. Now the ride has an award. Could you imagine a cookie-cutter ride like Superman being in that spot? That was their original intention.

^As well as plenty of lifetime long coaster nerds. I love Whizzer. Seems to get better each year, while the thrill of many newer rides wears off after a few seasons.

Man that ride is beautiful. HW always does it right! Can't wait to ride it!

^I don't find too many new-ish steel coasters (or woodies for that matter) that hold my attention for that long (my first Mind Bender ride was in 1990)... and the ride seems to get better every time I ride it. Continued returns! I love B&Ms too, but several have been "one and done" for me. I rode Mind Bender over 80 times over 3 days once (the park was dead). THAT is good time!

Mindbender? Or Mind Bender? I knew what you meant, just pulling your chain Mind Bender is still my #1 steel coaster, and #3 overall. If I were to rank rides...

^I was trying to be funny/coy about the Six Flags entrance experience. It's kind of a mob experience, very unorganized and slow too. I've waited in the long line at CP during Halloweekends to get back into the park. It was a long line, but it moved very quickly.

Have you been to Six Flags?