Jew

It's a great concept but the execution always left a lot to be desired, imho. There's simply way too much dead space, no pun intended. You'll go through a scene then walk along an unthemed pathway for 500 yards, then walk through another scene, then another unthemed path, rinse, repeat, until you end up back in the park. If you've never done it before, I think you'll enjoy it. But it really doesn't have repeat value after that first time through the grinchmas area, bates motel, Psycho House, and War of the Worlds. Would be very cool to see them switch the route up one year. Another cool thing is they build 3 mazes on the metro backlot sets, so you get to see some of those up closer than you normally would to. But only one small section is themed as a scarezone

I don't even care anymore. SFMM is such a lost cause it's not even funny to laugh about it anymore. For $7/month, I'll show up, ride Twisted Colossus and a few other rides and leave.

Modern safety rules do not allow for this to occur. The actual reason block brakes slow every train that comes through is not to actually slow down the train but instead to verify that the brake is still functioning. Basically the block trimming the ride is just a side effect of verifying functionality. Ride systems are designed with the default position of all brakes to be closed. They only open when necessary, which usually means the block ahead is clear and the train approaching hits a certain sensor before they will open. Brakes won't open under any other conditions short of a extremely rare catastrophic failure. Using them as trims or completely opening them up has nothing to do with checking that they work---there are already sensors that will ensure the brakes have the right air pressure and are in the right position.

I haven't had any luck myself. Each time I haven't had a large enough group to win the battle.

If they wanted to, I imagine they could install more proxy sensors along the track and have the lift motor speed/slow down accordingly so the train doesn't actually leave the lift until the other train is back.

THIS! I have never seen more "disability" passes on any other ride. I don't know why GhostRider always has so many, but it's so incredibly annoying. I understand the use of a disability pass, and when one person who is truly disabled brings along a friend or something and they really can't stand in line, of course I understand, and that is perfectly acceptable and they have every right to do so. I hate it when one barely-disabled person brings 15 other people with them and fill up half the train almost every cycle. I swear, I don't know what it is about GhostRider, but it BY FAR has the most "exit" people. I don't think the lack of a block brake is the issue. The ride's capacity would be fine (not great, but fine) if there were fewer people at the exit, people were faster at putting stuff in the bins, employees had more motivation, and if there was a single rider line. There is so much more that goes into a ride's capacity and throughput than how many trains they run. Knotts would be the defendant in a lot of lawsuits if they just assumed someone was "barely disabled". Parks are limited by what they can do and be in compliance with the ADA. The best alternative would to be to issue return time passes, since that is equal accommodation. I guess I should have been more clear. I'm not bothered by "barely disabled" people going up the exit. I'm bothered by the huge numbers of guests they bring with them. Like I said, when one disabled person, regardless of severity, goes up the exit with one or two other people, it's not an issue. It's when they bring their entire extended family with them and fill up several rows on the train it gets annoying. It is a complicated situation. Reasonable accommodations make it so theme parks have to allow companions, since able bodied guests are able to wait with their groups.

THIS! I have never seen more "disability" passes on any other ride. I don't know why GhostRider always has so many, but it's so incredibly annoying. I understand the use of a disability pass, and when one person who is truly disabled brings along a friend or something and they really can't stand in line, of course I understand, and that is perfectly acceptable and they have every right to do so. I hate it when one barely-disabled person brings 15 other people with them and fill up half the train almost every cycle. I swear, I don't know what it is about GhostRider, but it BY FAR has the most "exit" people. I don't think the lack of a block brake is the issue. The ride's capacity would be fine (not great, but fine) if there were fewer people at the exit, people were faster at putting stuff in the bins, employees had more motivation, and if there was a single rider line. There is so much more that goes into a ride's capacity and throughput than how many trains they run. Knotts would be the defendant in a lot of lawsuits if they just assumed someone was "barely disabled". Parks are limited by what they can do and be in compliance with the ADA. The best alternative would to be to issue return time passes, since that is equal accommodation.

Ride justice league today... It's definitely better than the version at SFoT that I previously rode. If the 3D rendering was better, It would be a "world class" attraction. The physical sets are great, just didn't mesh well because the rendering is way too cartoonish. Also hard to see what you're shooting depending on the color. Preshow video was out and the cyborg animatronic didn't do anything on my ride. Some other random thoughts: -would be better to have switchbacks inside instead of the preshow rooms. -the outdoor queue is as tacky as can be. Gravel rocks to cover dirt all over the place and it's just a section of old RRv queue fenced in.

I believe that is just a rebuilt existing train

Whatever it is, since it appears to have a surfing theme... Windjammer had a surfing theme. So did Riptide. Hope this ride kicks ass and breaks the curse. Agreed it's much too large of a space for a surfrider.

This will be of interest to some of you... VIP Tours have returned to HHN for $269-319 depending on the night.

Six flags announced their fright fest offerings at midsummer scream today. The returning mazes The new maze for this year. No details provided, presumed to take over willoughbys garden Metropolis will be a new scare zone that changes throughout the night. Costumes, lighting, etc. Also new: a VIP tour that focuses on the haunted areas of sfmm Revolution will have a gargoyle vr overlay. This one is supposed to be interactive and feature multiple endings

California plays by it's own rules and is just taking extra precautions. They just want to make sure at least in the public's eye that everything is working safely. I wouldn't say it has anything to do with the public's perception. It's not known at this time if the Ohio accident exposed a fatal design flaw that has to be corrected or was just a freak accident, so DOSH made the right call. California routinely goes above and beyond to ensure safety. Years ago, The state also mandated Superman and Xcelerator have their lapbar systems re-designed to ensure they were down to a certain point before being able to dispatch in order to avoid any ejections in response the numerous Intamin fatalities.

That one was a tivoli re-mix and caused by a failing weld. We're in uncharted waters here with a solid piece of steel ripping apart on a kmg ride.

To me, it doesn't make any sense at all to steal the thunder from Star Wars at DLR. I wouldn't be surprised if they do teases/small reveals for the next few years and don't do a full reveal until 2020. I would imagine their marketing efforts will be 100% star wars based in 2019.

Articuno was at the gym around the corner from my house, but I had no help

Knott's has a history of making announcements in the November-January time frame. Cedar Fair will mention it in the investors conference call with the other announcements to note that there is $$$ going to it, but refrain from providing details.

Pixar Pier as a seasonal overlay seems half assed. Pixar Pier as a complete land makes it obvious the new direction of the park is "Disney Studios West" and that's fine. It's the current weird mesh of "era's of California" with "load up on all the IP's that don't fit into Disneyland" that make it seem like the park still has its original problem: it doesn't know what it wants to be. It just looks a lot nicer now since they didn't take every shortcut imaginable like they did the first time around. Ultimately I suspect they're going all in on the "IP's that don't fit into Disney" route and the California theme will be phased out. Which is fine by me if they maintain the quality they brought with Carsland.

I don't understand why anyone would be sad to see Viper leave. It's time has come and gone. It's not THAT good.

You can only weld steel that is taking a constant beating for so long....Hence why UO had to rebuild Hulk. Viper might be at the end of its useful life.

We'll have to agree to disagree. My Facebook news feed would seem to disgree with your points (parents happy their kids have something more to do), but to each their own Meanwhile six flags post bankruptcy is doing pretty good for itself financially, so they've found a model that works for them and is fiscally responsible. Sorry that doesn't include a mega coaster every year anymore.

The ride is definitely better than Knott's Voyage, and on par with DCA's Toy Story ride. But this type of ride makes more sense for a younger crowd, which works at a Disney park, but seems kind of random at a park like Magic Mountain. I'm not saying people won't ride it once they're at the park, but to think this is going to attract a crowd over 15 years old *to come out and actually visit the park for it* is stretching it a bit. And guess who spends the most money at parks? Families.... Magic Mountain will make more money off the 15 year kid whose whole family tags along than they will a teenager who shows up and doesn't spend a penny besides their initial pass purchase (or monthly payment)... Except SFMM has neglected family stuff for over a decade. That's how SF Corporate thinks about all the parks except MM and Gadv. Both neglect family rides in general and have not gotten family friendly flats. I believe the last flats for both were 450 and 400 ft drop towers. not family friendly at all It's never too late to balance out the park. And with Six Flag's limited spending the past few years, that's probably what's about the happen anyway. I'm guessing next year will be another non coaster year as the park adds flats or kids rides instead. Six Flags limited spending is not a few years, it's been since bankruptcy. It's all based on a formula since bankruptcy. It's here to stay and their EBIDTA is great. There is no way they are changing and said so in their investor presentation. People just didn't notice the limited spending b/c 2011-2016 b/c they were adding RMC's, YOLOcoaster, Xflight. Now that it's 4D's and superloops everywhere people seem to notice and think this is pull back. They are actually spending slightly more money each year since bankruptcy they are just spending on cloned garbage to a large extent. Oh no, we've noticed, trust me. It's still a far cry from that Thomas Town, Wiggles nonsense from the Shapiro years. The limited spending now is yielding things their parks have needed since forever. Dark rides, family rides, waterpark additions, flat rides., breathing new life into old, beat up coasters. This is a GOOD thing. Well.. except for enthusiasts that miss 25 million dollar mediocre B&Ms every other year. The thing is they have a done horrible job. The parks are literally becoming all the same. They have to gimmick rides as their supposed "flagship rides" that are not going to hold up to time. JL's are a video game, people and kids lose interest in video games quickly. I an tell you know 1 year after JL's in some parks the line is nothing, it's a virtual walk on at some parks. 4D's lines are just b/c the capacity stinks, the thing gets less than 500/hr in reality though spec is 720/hr Finally, the parks that need flat rides the most SFFMM and GAdv haven't gotten them and the parks that need coasters badly Stl. LaRonde, SFA haven't gotten nothing. SF is essentially banking on the people in these areas will keep buying passes and allowing themselves to be "abused" and neglected by SF, by getting year after year of poor additions I went to SFoT before the USC vs. Alabama game and had it not been for single rider, I would have waited 2hrs for justice league. The majority of six flags guests will never visit parks besides their local park.

The ride is definitely better than Knott's Voyage, and on par with DCA's Toy Story ride. But this type of ride makes more sense for a younger crowd, which works at a Disney park, but seems kind of random at a park like Magic Mountain. I'm not saying people won't ride it once they're at the park, but to think this is going to attract a crowd over 15 years old *to come out and actually visit the park for it* is stretching it a bit. And guess who spends the most money at parks? Families.... Magic Mountain will make more money off the 15 year kid whose whole family tags along than they will a teenager who shows up and doesn't spend a penny besides their initial pass purchase (or monthly payment)...

People will lament the loss of "classics" and edutainment being a thing...but what the audience wants changes too. Universe of Energy was a giant waste of space in its current form, and with how large the building is I am excited to see what they do with it. And that's coming from someone who hasn't seen either Guardians of the Galaxy movie.

If parks only bought "reliable rides", there wouldn't be much variety throughout the industry. In this case, I would guess Sol Spin was offered to them at a discount given the Windseeker situation, so Knott's probably wasn't exposing themselves to much risk...