JT325

^I agree with your points, but in the next few years I have a feeling Corkscrew will... as they say "reach the end of it's service life." So, they can put a new Corkscrew in. By MACK, of course. It would be a people eater, more people would like it, and it would reduce lines on Maverick, RMC Mean Schnitzel and High Heel Dragqueen. PS - they could even use the same footings. If they wanted. Like Busch Gardens did with BBW/Verbolten. But we know CP likes brand new things.

Re-track Corkscrew? Replace the track? Haven't Vekoma and Arrow rides had new track put in with the same or worse results? They can mess with the track all they want. Those structures/track vibrate, no way around it. No good flexion or joints to move. Some suggest the new(er) Vekoma vest restraints. Have you tried those? They're even worse. You don't headbang, but instead are held down AND back by that tightening vest and are shaken to death. Uck! Taer Corkscrew down! But wait! I LOVE Corkscrew - well for a ride or two - that's all I can take. Rip it out, and build a brand-new version (with a figure-8 or something else at the end) by MACK! That would give us the best aspects of Corkscrew: the Corks over the midway (with red lights!!!), and a ride the kids love. MACK can built it with a 42" height requirement. Heck, if MACK does it, everyone would love it. Same height, same inversions, same sequence of elements (plus a longer ending), but with super-comfortable trains. Ahhh... the comfort. They can even make half the train those new spinning MACK cars. Or backwards

^ I must've missed it on my 10+ rides! Can someone explain it to me?

I'm curious about the new Vekoma trains on Mind Eraser. Does that vest retract during the ride AND continue locking tighter (like X-Flight at SFGAm and the boomerang at Carowinds)? Or does it retract but not continue locking (like Thunderbird and Banshee)? I guess another option would be no retraction at all (like the Intamin vests on Maverick, easily the most comfortable of the 3 designs).

Has anyone seen three train operation yet? If so, how's that going?

Oooohhhh. But did you ride Beast without seatbelts, headrests, no brakes and WITH buzzbars? And it was stained red? Dats what I'm talking bout. Mmmmk.

They're using the blue and green trains today. There is also a beautiful orange train in transfer!

Mystic Timbers is an excellent ride! Good for the family, but lots of action for the coaster geek like me. I love any sort of a variable lift, being a lift hill enthusiast. Better near the front half the train, but great everywhere! They have a winner on their hands.

Love a good Waffle House! I saw Mystic Timbers from the highway too

^ The coasters at Lakemont are awesome and rare. I hope they redo the park nice, it really it has a lot of potential! Did someone mention Idlewild? That place is beautiful. I often think of Rollo Coaster as one of the best coaster designs ever. It's a mini Boulderdash. I think I'm in the minority that prefer it over Boulderdash (which I also love!). There's just something about classic coaster trains that really does it for me.

^I worked at the park for one day in 1995. I asked to transfer my internship from SFOT (where I spent the summer). When I got to MM, it was a little disorganized. So I went in the park a few times, got in my car and headed back home to Chicago. Stopping at Parks the whole way home. LA was not a good place for a midwestern gay boy who was completely clueless. But not as clueless as some of the people I met at Magic Mountain. Turns out it was a force from somewhere else. The moment I got home, I found out my grandpa had died the night before. My ulterior motive for the internship was to get the shoulder bars removed from Revolution. I did my senior Engineering project on that ride. Imagine my joy when they got lapbar trains last year.

^Good to know there are more of us who say something! ^^Such a blessing! I bet that PB sandwich was a blessing too! I'm still trying to figure out what I'm gonna do to eat when I get to magic mountain this summer. I won't have a cooler to keep in the Rent-A-Car, so I'm thinking just to leave the park to eat. I know how long it takes to get back in a SF park sometimes, so I'm thinking about finally breaking down and getting a Discover card. It's kind of a shame. This is only a concern I have been going to a Six Flags park. How to dodge multiple hassles.

All my favorites are underrated!

^Congrats! I went through a *minor* depression when I turned 40... must have been a pre-wired nature thing that wanted me to have my own children. Nature is funny sometimes. At this point, it would be a big task for many of the Six Flags parks to get back many of their well-behaved families. Even here at SFGAmerica, many locals/burbs, etc., won't have anything to do with the park. I go when I know it won't be busy; or after 7pm in the summer. And after 2 years of having a dining pass, I'll never do that again. Waiting an hour for food in a place that has one register (where there 4 in the 80s) just isn't worth it to me. Peanut Butter and banana sandwich in the cooler and I'm set!

^Very cool. I wish more people would show their kids how to be nice. Since this is a SF thread, I attribute many of the issues at their parks due to the company themselves. It's cheap babysitting for many kids that were not shown how to be nice. I would rather pay $200 for a season pass and enjoy a little more comfort. And better operations. What's Chicago Skate? I was bad too... in my 20s and into my early 30s. Its nice to grow up sometimes, isn't it!?

^Ha! Well, you handled this situation very ... nicely. Pop off? I thought that was a Chicago thing! 43 and still working on my popping off. At work and otherwise.

Out of curiosity, how did you know they were from Florida? The last time I heard someone use that word in a negative way (after a 12 step meeting no less!) I warned him that using that word "could get your teeth knocked out." He wasn't happy about that, but quickly backed down. I was later informed that he had dentures (young guy, too!)... so I really got him with the "your teeth" comment. I was also spoken to about what I found out was an "implied threat." Oh well, times are changing! Kudos! This is hard for me, but I'm working on it. Glad to hear you guys still had a fun day! Way to go! Was it the mom of the offending kids? I've had security get mad at ME for reporting line jumpers (at Kings Dominion). This slick dude thought he could browse up in the queue, and everyone was complaining to themselves but not to the person. I spoke up, and the people around me were like "thanks for saying something." My reply was "why am I the only adult saying anything?" I guess the security didn't want to deal with the situation and seemed to be pissed off at me. A run-in with some black ties at the end of the day scored us some exit passes and meal tickets - which I did not ask for. Six Flags parks seem the regular place for this sort of behavior, but it happens other places too! I've learned to better pick my arguments. In a ride queue where no one else can speak is not the best place for me to be the only one to speak...

^ I'm starting to like this Nina Kleppe button. Does she still hang around enthusiast circles? ^I hope they go that way. Six Flags turned 2 coasters (Colossus) into one (Twisted Colossus). And have built many half or 2/3rd coasters lately... Goliath at Great America, Full Throttle, Iron Rattler. Whatever they do at CP, I'm sure it will be a step above.

Has anyone else heard the name STAMPEDE lately? That would be a good name! Maybe it will be 3 coasters. Kinda like Hersheypark is doing with their new shot/drop towers. I know I know... why stop at 3?!

The new coaster is looking great! Can't wait to return to the park this year.

But it's true. Lots of annoying and bad behavior. I was a loud and obnoxious kid/teen (and sometimes still am), but we simply had more respect for others back then. Sometimes the employees seem to not care about anything as much as half the clientele. It's a touchy subject, but it's gotta be talked about if we are gonna be honest. There are also great people who work there, who care a whole bunch. They are outnumbered unfortunately. Lots of nice people visit the park, too. But over the years, many locals have seen the park go down the tubes in many ways. It's not the employees or clientele's fault, it's squarely Six Flags' fault. I'm sure there is something in there about the price of a season pass. Guess I won't be the one to go there. Someone else could explain it much better than me. Personally, Great America being my home park, I go a few times a year. I still have a good time, mostly before school lets out in May/June. If I go up in the summer, it's usually after 7pm, when people start going home. But I'm only 45 mins from the park, so that's a benefit. Annoying, loud, bumping into me, cutting in front of me (all of which I can handle, but I'd rather avoid it)... swearing all kinds of crazy sh*t when I'm there with my parents and little cousins. I don't want my family around that. In fact, the whole family is heading out to San Diego this summer. I will be going to SFMM alone... I explained to the family that even though we have SF passes, it would be a much better time for the whole group of us if we spent our "family park day" at Knotts. Completely different crowd and superior operations. We all have opinions, but very few of us actually think we are better than anyone. But here is something that does happen frequently, and that is enthusiasts complaining about other enthusiasts.

Well... for many coaster and CP fans, sure. And I'm sure it's heaven! But for me, a higher heaven is riding a Schwarzkopf coaster a bunch of times. Or the Conneaut Blue Streak. Or Legend/Voyage at Holiday World. Or Kennywood Thunderbolt or Phantom. As good as it gets is all relative to what we like most. To be honest, as much as I *LOVE* Maverick and TTD, I would probably ride Magnum more given the chance. After a few rides on Mav and TTD anyway.

Now that I think about it a little more... it's worth mentioning again how important it is to get there early. If you can, I would say get parked by 9am. You have a little time to drive around Perimeter Road and take in all those incredible coaster views. It's not a big deal to me, I lived there for 3 summers and have been many times since. But for a first and one day trip, you gotta maximize your goodness. That first hour rides are open is very valuable coaster time.

^I was going to add the hint of looking for empty seats when your ride is over... but I know CP isn't always OK with re-rides. The Re-ride skill: some people are good at it; some will never learn - even the hard way; and some have to be trained. Every man, woman and goat for themselves! Every time an empty seat goes out, a kitten dies. That is one thing that Six Flags is very good about. In fact, they encourage it most of the time.

And don't forget the fine point of being IN the park by 10am. If you can arrive "at the Point" by 9 or 9:30 that is good!