haiderodes

I'd say it would still be smart to bring along a jacket for evenings. The temperature swings aren't as great as some of the other parks closer to the coast, but SFMM does sit at a higher elevation than those.

I am currently in a serious job hunt. Seriously its become my part-time job. Due to the market things are rediculously competitive in my field (Marketing and Public Relations) so I'm trying to branch out and focus on more communications related positions, but its still tough. My biggest beef with the whole applying/interviewing game is the fact that many places will not let you know either way if its a yes or a no. You take the asessments, do the phone interviews, etc and they don't let you know that they didn't want you. So frustrating! Another complaint is when they give you a crappy reason for not chosing you. Back in April I drove 4 hours to California for an interview. This after an exam and phone interview. They called me after and told me I lack industry knowlege for the position. Ok, I'll accept that, BUT my resume didnt include anything relating to such knowlege, I never "faked" like I had such experience during any prior steps in the process so why even put me through the paces? In the end they said they liked me and encouraged me to apply again, which I have, but its frustrating. At least lie to me and give me a better reason for not wanting me.

I wouldn't say I hate any, but here are my faves in no particular order... - Log Jammer @ SFMM - Splash Mountain @ DL - Pyromaniax (Timber Mountain during Fright Fest) @ Knotts Not a fan of Magic Kingdom's Splash...I think its the boats/logs. Jet Stream's boats always seem to have so much water in them so your feet are soaked before the ride even gets going.

My faves... Pacific Wharf Cafe @ DCA...really good soups and salads in Boudin sourdough bread bowls! Sleepy Hollow @ Magic Kingdom (Liberty Square)...the fresh ice cream cookie sandwich owns you! Fresh Cut Fries @ SFMM...just the smell alone makes your mouthwater

What do you mean "saying check"? Could you elaborate? I understand the airgate thing, even Disney has them nowadays whereas they didn't before. I still dont quite get the seatbelts on Corkscrew. They have them on Iron Dragon as well dont they?

From my experiences this past weekend the only restraints they physically touched were Maliboomer and Screamin'. All the others they just said "Push up, push up!" or "Pull on the yellow strap!" Really contributes to their ability to have fast dispatches.

This speculation is all very interesting. It makes me wonder just how autonomous the individual Six Flags parks are. I wonder who ultimately decides how capital investments/rides are distributed between the parks. Could it be that the park comes up with an idea and concept and presents it to corporate who then says yea or nay? Or could it be corporate saying..."here's your budget for capital expenditures, have fun"?

I can back up that claim. I bought mine during the one day sale in December and got it processed the third weekend in January and I didn't get a pass. In fact I didn't even get a coupon book until my second visit in February.

My first visit to the mountain was sometime around 87 or 88 but before Ninja opened. As I was a little kid at the time, I only remember snippets. I do remember riding the Tweety Cages and Log Jammer. Remember waiting for my mom to ride Z-Force, Reactor, Colossus and Jet Stream (my father wasn't big on the rides). I also remember sitting next to the Grecian Fountains (near where Superman's Tower is today).

My complaints... SFMM - Operations have seemed to improved, but once it gets crowded they seem to have a hard time with crowd control. On two of my visits this year, available queue areas havent been used meaning lines became disorganized and spilled onto the midway. Biggest offenders Viper and Ninja. Both have the switchbacks but they were not set up to handle the crowds. And for the love of God, there are two lines once you get into Ninja's station...why not use both as they have in the past? SFDK - One train operation on Kong means an inherently slow line...especially if they only have 2 ops. The controls op has to stand at the panel during the entire cycle so they dont let people in until the train has returned to the station. The airgates are pointless because they let the flashpass people in and open the airgates and then just count however many people from the line to fill in the space. Empty seats? Oh well. The line basically only moves once the train dispaches which is every 3 to 5 minutes.

The two times I rode Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom they did that. I'm not sure if its standard operations, but they stopped like three boats on the turntable. Loaded and checked seat belts and then gave a thumbs up. Really defeated the purpose of a turntable.

^^^OH lord! Out of all the places to rent out...SFMM?

What do you mean by exit clearance and why does a supervisor have to give it?

While we are talking about Revolution... I just wish they'd add the "knee pads" found on the other Schwartz's i've ridden. They really help us taller folks especially when we hit those brakes. Last time I rode, I thought a broke a knee cap on the exposed metal.

^ I always thought it had something to do with traction. Many Intamins since MF seem to have a "stripe" where the wheels contact the track. Maybe B&M were thinking the same thing? For me I'd say painting the rails would help to cover up those unsightly welds and give a better looking final product.

Interesting close-up photos! I'm really intrigued to see how quickly the docking operation works.

^ Um Pony Express will be Knott's THIRD launched coaster. You are forgetting Montezuma's Revenge.

Kong @ Six Flags Discovery Kingdom - 4/26/08

So far... Six Flags Magic Mountain (3) Six Flags Over Georgia Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Buffalo Bills [Desperado]

I paid 3.59/gal today, but I have seen Shell gas as high as 3.79 here. Earlier this week I had to drive to Bakersfield and the highest for regular unleaded I saw was 4.07 in Barstow, CA. \ My best friend that lives in Hawaii told me that its $4.21 for regular there.

I live with one of my good friends who I happened to live with during my Disney College Program. We rent a house...kinda big for the two of us, but I have to say its much better than an apartment.

I'm excited to see the falls again. I think they add some nice kinetic energy and atmosphere to the side of the hill. I always loved being in the park pre-Tatsu, at night with the flashing lights on Rev's loop. The trains speeding up behind the trees and into the darkness with the falls and fountains going. What happened to the strobes they had on the hill for a while? Did they remove them?

I was at the park this past Saturday and took a look at the construction as well. I think I understand why the park decided to go the "modular" route.... Think about it, a large flat concrete pad was poured for Zonga. If they wanted to do the traditional footer placement, theyd have to do a lot of cutting and repouring on this pad meaning more money. Seems to make sense to just use a stable base frame. Spongebob seems to have done the same thing and I think the new Dark Knight rides are also doing the same. Seems more common on indoor rides, but I think in this case it should work perfectly. I don't think a ride of this size will be easily shifted. I saw what looked like pads under certain parts of the fram, so I assume those will dampen any forces that could move the frame. I'm excited to ride this layout as its very different than the others.

It is the same with Riddler's. It says in the SOP that with two trains you're supposed to wait until it hits block brake, but the lift on both rides is 156 ft, so even you dispatch them one after the other, thats where it would be whne the next train clears lift anyway. Sounds like the SOP rules regarding two trains are more for timing as the PLC works out all the blocking issues. We had a similar rule on Rim Runner (water ride) at the Adventuredome. When running two boats you waited until the boat ahead cleared the lift (block B) even though you could technically dispatch the one in the station after it cleared block A. This allowed an even amount of time between dispatches so you wouldnt have a long period without a boat in the station. With three boats you cleared the station as soon as block A was clear and you heard the splashdown from the third boat. --- As for Scream, I have yet to ride it, but I rode Medusa this past weekend and they had just two people checking restraints for most of the day with two train op. The load op had to bring in the train, then walk down the gates with the height stick, check for Flashpass at the front, run to the back and open/close the gates, check restraints and then finally co-dispatch. It seems that the Flashpass was the biggest impedience as the op had to take tickets, determine how many rows would be needed, signal to the panel op which rows for the announcement, let them in, then run back to open the gates. Despite all of this they were working pretty hard, the majority of the stacking took place when there were people in the Flashpass line. To help move the line, they also avoided opening the Flashpass line every train and varied the rows used. Oh, and they have a sign over the 4th row indicating its for larger guests so people already know which row to get in.

Medusa West is pretty fun and to date the only floorless I have ridden, but I have to say its sooo bumpy.