PeoplemoverMatt

It is also in the same market as Universal Studios, Disneyland, Knott's and Sea World. No other SF park has to share a market with that level of competition. As such, its faults are laid that much more bare because of the ease of comparison. Most other SF parks are in their own market, or have one or two independent or CF parks to compete with for the local audience. GP has higher tolerances when there isn't the competition, or the same level of tourism. If SFMM in its current form and state of operations was in the Orlando market next to WDW, USO, Sea World, BGT etc, I'd bet it would receive very similar criticisms.

Something might have happened to the camera itself. Most likely the park would choose not to pay to replace it.

The Skyride station that was where Superman's tower is now was almost completely destroyed. Many other buildings suffered structural damage that was repaired internally without having to tear down and completely rebuild. The backstage offices were thrown into total chaos but that was primarily cleaned up while the park was closed. After that, the biggest headaches were the problem of employees and guests not being able to get to the park because of the extensive damage to the freeways south of SFMM. After the quake struck in January, it wasn't until early November that I-5 fully reopened. Between late January and early November, there was a bypass that allowed traffic to flow through, but was very narrow and still resulted in major delays.

Sky Tower closes every year during off season so it doesn't need to be staffed, and every year there's speculation about its removal. Does anyone have any real evidence pointing to a removal, or are people just going off the metal barricades that are always put up since the park knows Sky Tower won't be open to guests for months?

Buckle up. As of June 2013, there's a proposed project awaiting state approval that would build toll lanes on Interstate 5 between CA 14 and Parker Road in Castaic. That range includes I-5 at Magic Mountain Parkway. Locals here are being given the false choice between having toll lanes built in 5 years versus carpool lanes built in 30 years. Caltrans claims it only has the money to build the lanes in 30 years, but tolls would provide additional funding that could get lanes built faster. Thanks to some bogus meeting down next to Union Station that almost nobody from here went to because it took place at 9am on a weekday, toll lanes were declared to be the "locally preferred alternative" to the 30 years timeline because MTA officials who don't live here declared it to be so at the meeting. Nevermind how badly Caltrans mis-manages the already immense funding they get (it was awesome dealing with a construction zone for 5 years while a carpool bridge at 5/14 was built...not), that's never brought up. It's just 5 years, or 30 years. That's it. And the unknowing populace don't question why that's the only choice. They just dumbly pick the shorter timeline. Santa Clarita officials question the project, but they have limited power to stand up against the MTA board who is pushing for the toll lanes. See the EIR filed here: http://www.signalscv.com/archives/97728/ Bear in mind, the tolls are being considered not because they will FULLY fund building the lanes. Tolls are considered to provide the *additional* funding Caltrans claims it needs to bring in a private company to build the lanes so as not to take 30 years to complete the project.

You don't want to make the Kuka arms angry. You wouldn't like them when they're angry...

Both ways would ensure the profit they want. My question is why choose to piss people off when you could still advertise the same value and still make the extra cash without the backlash? As was pointed out earlier, seeing that $20 pisses people off right at the start. That's why Dodger Stadium cut their parking from $15 to $10, while hiking other prices in other places that are much less visible. Much better positive vibes from their guests, those who pay the extra money don't even hardly notice it, and the establishment makes even more money. A few more bucks out of three vists by the family car makes maybe $12 more for the company, with an unhappy pappy at the wheel who already doesn't want to come back. $10 more per pass for a family of four nets an additional $40, plus that family is happier not having to pay parking ever & will most likely spend more in the park on each visit, netting even more money. It's a simple concept yet always seems to be lost on them...

Maybe the property tax given that it is LA County, but I highly doubt they increased their parking lot staff or maintenance without any change to the lot itself. Most likely they're covering other costs, namely insurance/worker's comp/capital budget. There's also increased staffing coming to HH next season with the new slides, bringing increased training & safety with them, as well as installation/renovation of tower and removal of old slides. The part I never understand is, instead of pissing everyone off with a parking hike, why not just up the cost of a season pass and extend the Gold Pass upgrade offer? People go nuts over a <$5 dollar increase up to $20 for parking, but would they even notice a $10 hike in the season pass w/ free Gold Pass upgrade?

Many hotels charge $25/day or more to park now, but that's overnight parking.

It was an unbearable sunny & 73 degrees today. Hopefully it ends soon. I can't stand this anymore. To go to work in the morning with no need whatsoever to run a heater in the car, not have to de-ice a windshield, no snow to shovel...how are people supposed to live? I mean, really?

It's understandable. I think anyone who has had to rely on cable has snapped a few times.

America

29 hours 17 minutes later, spread out over 13 months, Epic Mickey is finally defeated. Finally got an RPG-style game down. Now to take down Wii U's Mario games, Zelda Wind Waker HD, and of course Epic Mickey 2...

Comets!

Way younger than any of the poll options... Wile E. Coyote Coaster @ SFMM. Not sure what it is now...Magic Flyer maybe?

Would I be in a minority if I said West Coaster at Pacific Park seemed weird and out of place? I know seaside/boardwalk/pier coasters are a traditional thing in coasterdom, but if you take a moment to look at its surroundings, doesn't it seem weird that amongst all the SoCal beachy areas there's this tiny little park with the tiny kids coaster? Maybe I'm too used to giant parks, but I've always thought it odd that it's there, and that many full grown adults shy away from it like it was some 500ft. high death machine.

A&W Ten is surprisingly good if you're familiar with Diet A&W. Going from regular A&W to A&W Ten is most likely a step down, but not as far a step down as going from regular to diet.

In San Diego, where ordinances are not coaster-friendly, I would think Sea World should focus more on dark ride-style attractions. Turtle Trek is something I'd like to see in San Diego, especially since Turtle Reef is already there.

May as well wait until the 5th. Crowds will have dispersed and you will have a much more comfortable time compared to the 30th.

With the parking fee hike, Gold Pass' value cannot be ignored if you intend on going more than 2-3 times during the year. 4 parkings alone covers the cost.

Hopefully I'll visit this park one day. Still got one more JTA credit left!

180 seconds and turned it off.

Granted, but most parks went bankrupt and had to sell off their coasters for scrap metal after they could never recover the cost of building the suspended coasters after nobody came to ride them. I wish gas prices were lower so traveling to parks would cost less.

Quicksilver Express - Gilroy Gardens

Hyper Rails