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JamesMC

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Everything posted by JamesMC

  1. Just a quick FYI: Like all customer service industries in Illinois right now, Great America is fully open, but not fully staffed. I didn't get to the park for my first visit this year with my Membership until July, but I have now been there a few times this month. Yankee Clipper is SBNO. Logger's Run has limited hours. Demon is SBNO (according to the staff, it is in need of some hard to get mechanical part) but "may" reopen later this year. It only operated at the beginning of the season, but intermittently even then. Roaring Rapids is sometimes running, sometimes not. Mardis Gras Hangover is largely non-operational. American Eagle is only operating with the Red Side running. Blue trains are not even on the track. Approximately 30% of 'snack stands' are not operating. No Single Rider Only line on Goliath, but the one for The Joker is now open. Flat rides are anyone's guess. I have seen them all operational at one point, but on most visits, there are at least two that are not running. The Train is back! I believe it has way more throughput than Superman. (Ugh, I hate that line though I like the ride.) Waterpark has been super-crowded every visit. That's it for now.
  2. Quick Maxx Force update: I went to Six Flags yesterday for a few hours and MF was consistently launching in the neighborhood of 110 seconds. Although they were not being used for the most part, all of the new queue line addition is finished AND 4 out of six overhead sun shelter screens have been installed as well as a second large misting fan. Also, yesterday was exactly 40 years to the day that I first set foot in (what was then) Marriott's Great America. The new attraction for '79 was Fort Fun, the large children's playhouse where the Go Kart track is now. Tidal Wave was only a year old and it was the last year for Turn Of The Century before it was converted to The Demon for 1980 season.
  3. I don't Tweet so this will have to do...at SFGAM right now in line for Maxx Force. Big improvement this week with launches averaging every 105-110 seconds. The line is only 80% as long as last Tues, but moving almost 3x quicker. Got my first ride after a 32 min wait. Let's hope the trend continues.
  4. Ok,thanks! I thought it was a powering up number for the ride, but it makes sense that it is actually a cooling down reference to the LIMs.
  5. Thanks for the feedback^, however I think this number may be something different in this case. I am pretty familiar with the usual, "check 53, or cycle 31," banter, but after they say "120, or 115,... e.t.c, there is no additional rechecking of any restraints. Usually the number they say is followed by "clear to launch". I was thinking it has something to do with the ride itself being 'powered up' and ready to go...
  6. The only Intamin Impulse I have ever ridden is V2 at Six Flags Great America. I love this ride in the back of the train simply for the free fall sensation (especially since they stopped using the back tower brakes on the 2nd climb-out). However when in line, the operators will talk over the intercom prior to launch, but after safety restraints are checked and secure, and they say something that sounds like “115” or “150”, or some other ambiguous number...what is that?
  7. So, as far as Maxx Force is concerned, here is my report from riding it today. I was not there when the park opened, but I got in line as soon as I entered the park. The quoted wait time was 90 min and pretty accurate as I got on it in 84 min. That being said, I am not sure what the theoretical throughput of the ride is stated as delivering, but it was never quicker than close to 3 min between launches. At that rate, with full trains, that’s about 320 guests/hour. For today anyway. Half of the queue line switchbacks are not completed yet but are on the way. Today was about 84 with faint breezes occasionally, but there is no shade now until the last 15 feet before boarding. Stay hydrated, bring water or Powerade/Gatorade, it was at least ten degrees hotter in line. A young early 20-ish woman fainted in line and had to be wheeled out by EMT’s and later left the park on a stretcher with an ambulance crew. From some concrete footers near the existing lampposts it appears that when the queue line is completed that there will be some sort of canopy over it,but not right now. As far as the ride itself: Trains look awesome and the restraints are snug and comfy. The launch is Pure Bliss and Adrenaline!!! I have been on TTD at Cedar Point, which is faster, but a much longer launch, but to go almost instantaneously from standing still to 80 MPH, in maybe a third of that time is what is worth the price of admission here. WOW! And that sonic boom just after you hit top speed...amazing. The launch up til just past the Zero-g roll elements are super intense. The final inversions are fun as well but are already backing off on the overall speed. I am happy overall with the ride, but it is terribly short. I was talking to some other people at the park who said it did not open until well after Noon, and as much as I was willing to wait another 90 min for it, it stopped operations from just before 6, until just after 8 p.m. When I went by the queue at 8:55, the line was Far Longer than when I rode it initially, I am guessing at least 1 hour 45 min. I unfortunately had to skip it and wait until next time I go to the park. It seems to me that once all the bugs and opening jitters are worked out that this ride could launch every 90 seconds, meaning 600+ capacity per hour which is still pretty terrible. However, that launch is just enough to want to make you ride it over and over again. As far as terrible goes....I will get right back in line next time I get there....so there’s that.
  8. Take 294. There may be a slowdown in the area around O'Hare airport, but for the most part it is generally painless. Unless you are going on the weekend it is usually pretty fast. Another bonus is that there are 4 rest stop oasis areas between the IL state line and Great America and on I-90/94 there are none until it merges back with 294 in northern Illinois.
  9. There is a pretty good collection of pics in the book Riverview:Gone but not forgotten.. by Chuck Wlodarczyk on amazon and possibly EBay.
  10. I think this ride looks like a great addition to the park’s lineup, however, I think that the name of it is pretty C-...just saying...
  11. Got to ride “Mardi Gras Hangover” this past Tuesday, although I had to buy the T-Shirt to do so. Strangely enough I don’t think there were more than 40 people who chose to do so...I was expecting more of a crowd. The ride is a blast and the hang time is pretty insane! And the ride is long enough to feel like you feel that you have actually ridden something more than a tease. And it “feels” faster than it probably is. That being said, here are a couple caveats: The ride still has some bugs to work out, mainly the train repeatedly did not line up with what the operating controls deemed it to be in the “Home” position so that caused some downtime for maintenance personnel to come cycle the ride empty to correct this. Also, if you are a larger body type, please be aware that even though the seatbelt locks in place to the OTSR- you May Not still be allowed to ride...hopefully they have a Test seat by the entrance...we were delayed more than a few time by this. If you are not completely trusting of your restraints, this ride will probably terrify you, as I said the hangtime is intense, and there is no safety netting or visual obstruction, so when you are inverted, you really, really feel it.... Overall, I like this addition Way More than the two previous rides on this same footprint (King Chaos, and Powerdive) though I still get a little nostalgic about The Edge before that. A solid and fun addition! I just hope the maintenance staff is able to correct the couple issues that caused downtime during this preview day. Nice job Six Flags..... On a final and unrelated note, the skyline has changed without Pictorium...my guess is new water park expansion for 2019.
  12. I was appalled when they covered up the train station in Hometown Square.....glad it's looking like it did when I was a kid!
  13. Yeah, hey everyone with the Indiana Bashing because of a mis-worded new law which is going to be re-written to sound much nicer and compatible with all the other states that have this law (we are number 19) .....we the people living here were not given a memo by the Gov to start discriminating effective immediately.....Really, C'mon, the same peeps you have dealt with here are still the same peeps you are gonna get when you see us again....it would be in no one's best interest to be otherwise. We have not gone wicked and weird since the last time you have been here....no one is wearing a "I can't W8 2 Discrimin8" shirt......our businesses are open as always and if you want to spend a dollar there, they are not going to shoo you away......don't confuse a stupidly misworded document with the peeps who live here. I got hugs for all people, however I do charge $1 for said hug. And that was WAY before our Gov. decided to grab the spotlight....go get mad about weird laws in Delaware like jaywalking and spitting or something...or your own community HOA which tells you which trees you can plant, which grass you can cut, and what the color of your shades need to be. Nothing has changed here......(not saying that's a good thing)....but to have peeps post that they are NOT going to visit Holiday World.....you know, we have bigger issues out there in our country......my .02! By the way, I did not vote for our current Governor, but the fact that he's in office doesn't make me want to exclude anyone........ Everything is cool in Indiana right now, if you don't like the PuppetHead in Indy, then "Dislike" him on your FaceBook page, but that has nothing to do with almost all of us who live here.....just saying.....we are all good and happy to have you here!
  14. This may be a rant.... I am "all" for themed rides, HOWEVER..... Not all themed rides have to tie in with movies or sports teams or personalities etc...etc... My home park SFGA was the first to introduce "Batman, The Ride" for a B&M creation....and don't get me wrong, it was a really cool concept....did I need to see the movie or be a Graphic Novel Enthusiast for me to enjoy the ride?... no! I just needed to like roller coasters...and I do. All the tie ins were just fluff for a good ride....but I didn't get in line going, "Oh wow, I am going to soar and twist like the Bat Man?" No, and I believe he just flies in a straight line anyway. If Cedar Point is going to a deliver a LeBron James (and of course I am sympathetic to the name...ahem) it should be a RMC retooling of "Mean Streak" to an Out And Back. Think about it, when LeBron reached the pinnacle of his career...he went a long distance, far away. (Lift hill to turn-around, Miami) AND THEN decided to come home. (or back to the station)......unless of course Mantis rehab is going to have a lot of "Hoops" around the track..... Do we really need a Sports Star themed ride to make it entertaining? No, either it's a good ride or it's not. Not saying Mantis shouldn't have been called "Stacked, The Ride", but please Cedar Point....spend more money on the Rehab and less on the promotional tie-ins In ten years it won't matter anyway....we will have all moved on to the next movie or the next sports superstar. Just please make a good ride.................
  15. How many trains are going to be on the track? If I have seen this anywhere I have forgotten about it, there has to be at least 3 trains to keep two on the circuit, and one to join the one that's leaving the racing portion, but it it 3 or 4 trains.....I didn't see an answer at RCDB either..... Just curious, thanx!
  16. Six Flags Great America: 2015: Sky Screamer Swing Ride- - -where Rajun' Cajun was located. 2016: Removal of Pictorium - - -Expansion of waterpark. New 'launched' watercoaster, couple of body slides. This will also be the 40th anniversary of the park, so a new coaster is not out of the question. 2017: Crickets...... or maybe a new show.... 2018: Removal of ampitheather in Southwest Territory, installation of Mine Train. Why are we a Six Flags park without a Mine Train? I want a mine train....just make it a good one! 2019: It is going to happen like it or not.....this will be the year Whizzer or Demon will be removed....to be replaced by what, I don't know....just think it's going to happen.
  17. I am not usually amused by Tweenagers in line ahead of me, (and I am sure when I was that age, me and our group of friends were equally as annoying....) but there were a couple of Tweens (from Missouri) talking with a couple of early 20-somethings (from west suburbs of Chicago)....and it went like this..... If it rains outside, you say it is "Raining" If it snows outside, you say it is "Snowing" If it thunders outside, you say it is "Thundering" Yet.... When it is lightning outside you say it is "Lightning" And not "Lightning-Ing" Why is this? They were being especially stupid in their commentary but it was all I could do not to laugh.....and yet it's true. Why isn't it "Lightning-Ing"? Thanx whomever you are.....you made my wait in the overflow queue for "Goliath" very entertaining!
  18. "Whizzer" is kind of like Cedar Point's "Blue Streak"....it's not the longest, tallest, fastest ride at the park ....etc. etc....but if you were to remove it, a LOT of people would be bummed. I get that Blue Streak actually has airtime, but I am talking from a "nostalgia" standpoint......."Whizzer is the 2nd last of it's kind in the world, and I can ride it if I want with my season pass and a mere hour plus drive away. Who doesn't love that station that looks like it's something from another century.....surprise, it is~
  19. Not sure if you had anything to do with this (both Robb and Elissa), But there is a Single Rider line now in place for Goliath..... The only caveat is that the line has to have a posted wait above 60 min for anyone to be able to use it. I got six rides on it on Tuesday....as a real single rider....and I never waited more than 25 min....two of the rides I was onboard within ten min. One of the ride ops/station groupers said to me and another single rider was that Goliath will have this option, and depending on it's success that we may see more slow loading coasters build this in next year.....yay!
  20. Same as a wing coaster^ for load capacity, but I am assuming the track would have a structure that could support a flying coaster. Possibly new track supports.....I am sure B&M could hand this off to HW with no problems though....
  21. New Update on Single Rider Line for Goliath: It IS operational, with some minor guffaws..... IF you are a single rider mention this when you first get in line, some ops will give you a lanyard with the Single Rider Ticket, immediately, BUT you will still have to wait in the overflow queue til you get to the Flash Pass entrance. Others will say, when you get to the Flash Pass entrance after the overflow queue, let the line attendant know and THEN they will give you the pass and send you up the "Other Side Of The Staircase". Regardless, in my first 80 min at the park the other day I was able to ride 4 times....yay..... However, and I learned this later.....they will not issue you a Single Rider Pass if the posted "Wait" time is 60 min or less. I just kept going back when the line was "Busy" and I kept getting on in usually 20-25 min or less (two times I waited less than ten min), but I am truly a "Single" rider.....my wife is not a coaster enthusiast, and though she buys me a Season Pass every year, she does not accompany me...I go alone, a lot..... Also, one of the line attendant/ride ops told a couple of us with the single rider passes, is that Goliath will keep the single rider line, but it is also being used as a "Test" for single rider lines elsewhere in the park.....yay for us. Very happy!
  22. Wait, wait, wait....... I thought B&M launched flyer...loading facing the rear of the station, have the train put you in the "on your back doggie position", launch into a half pretzel loop or reverse Immelman and continue on from there, But...................... What if this is a hybrid (launched or not) "Wing-Flyer"......taking the flying position, but with Wing Rider vehicles.....Two on each side of the track....for four across....I don't think this has been mentioned yet....that would be a first!!!! Just brainstorming here people!
  23. Just to clarify what I have already posted.......you would board the train sitting upright. The seats would then recline to a horizontal postion....i.e. laying on your back, as opposed to be 'lifted' into the flying position. You would either twist 180 after leaving the station and launch in a 'normal' flying position, OR, what I rather hope...you would remain on your back (which would be a heck of a lot easier on the restraints), launch and then either be thrown into a "half Immelman" or the lower portion of a "Pretzel Loop" twist 180 degrees and spend the rest of the ride in the forward "flying position" I always thought that that would be cool. I've been saying this would be a good idea for years....maybe, just maybe HW has the same idea....No matter what, it'll be fun, it'll be new and people will ride it. Go Holiday World!
  24. Years ago, in the "Rumors and Speculation" thread I mentioned that I think a launched flyer would be possible.....get into your seats, have the seats go down with you as a rider going into a backwards "Flying" position....have a launch and a half loop/Immelman/half Pretzel to invert you into the 'typical' flying position and continue on from there....I may not have been wrong on what B&M are capable of doing......and that "Pit" screams 'water element' flyover from what I have seen. No Dive... No Wing... Just Fly....(I'll bet a dollar on this)
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