JamesMC

If Pictorium were to disappear, I would imagine the space would best be utilized by expanding the waterpark next to it. A dark ride seems to be not the best use of this space. Just saying....

No rumor, no speculation, nada.....just saying....why is SFGA one of the six flags without a mine-train? We got X-flight 2 years ago, and we have "Goliath" this year, but why don't we add a cool mine train to the SouthWest Area in the next couple years? It'd look really cool running near Giant Drop and Raging Bull....hey, there's a whole underused stadium that we could knock down for the footrprint.

Okay, we have a record-breaking coaster coming.....and we had a major new addition with X-flight two years ago. True, there were a number of years with much ado about nothing....but we can't complain now. The sign could be a child's drawing for all I care...anyone in Chicago want a heavily themed 7 Dwarves coaster (which does look cool) or do we want some new adrenaline where Z-Force and Iron Wolf once stood? I myself will take the RMC thank you very much.

I only get to SFSTL maybe once every five years, but it holds a special place for me nostalgia-wise because it was one of the few 'family trips' where my parents would drive us a few hours from home specifically to go to an amusement park on a non-vacation mini-trip. And I am feeling a little underwhelmed. Six Flags Mentions: Have you ever driven a used car? Have you ever skipped rocks on the surface of a calm pond? Have you ever made the "perfect" piece of toast completely by accident? Now you can experience those same emotions all over again for the UMPTEENTH time on Boomerang. Twice. Forwards AND Backwards. On The Same Ride. Without waiting in line twice. It's like two rides for the price of one. Really. Finally, The "Low Capacity Monster" St. Louis and surrounding communites have dreaded will be landing at the park just in time for the 2013 season. "The ride is only about one third the fun if that," says Six Flags executives. There will be plenty of time in line to mingle with complete strangers and or strange people, in the tight and seemingly endless swithchback queues before you even board the ride. "Can you imagine every couple of minutes standing in the sweltering Missouri Sun, when the ride dispatches and a faint cool breeze blows over you? We can, and we did and now you will too. As a bonus, Six Flags will be offering an upcharge attraction (5 Star Sudoku Puzzles) to complete whilst in line, so bring your No. 2 pencil (and an extra dollar to store it in a pre-ride locker). "This ride is a throwback to simpler times when everything moved slower. Not every ride needs to be 'Microwave Popcorn Fast' or as dangerous as Evel Knieval!" Six Flags 2013---We Put The "Booooooo!" in "Boomerang"

Ummmm.....we Had a Boomerang, and a pretty Kick-A#$ one at that (other than the downtime, but hey, I'll take it back any day in place of Buccanner Battle.) Not so sure I want a smaller, less thrilling version simply because (in the style of Greg Brady's "Johnny Bravo" days,) "Hey man, the suit fits". Ugh!

Haven't had a chance to post this yet, but the last time I was in line I was at SFGAM, I overheard two (maybe 15/16) yr. old girls (Who line-jumped by the way to 'catch up' to their friends) discussing how the ride was in an area that Six Flags just built for it. Glad Six Flags was able to construct land that wasn't there to begin with or capitalized on plate tectonics to squeeze XF in there. Yay for us.

A Keyhole is an object that the train flies through in it's course, usually during an inversion. Check out any you tube video for X-Flight at Six Flags Great America (POV- preferred) and you will see what I mean. Here the "keyhole" is where the train is rotating 360 degrees in a slower fashion through a tower whereby you as a rider feel that the train seemingly will not "fit" in the space it has to traverse. In other words, it's a "headchopper" but not in a linear sense where the train is beneath you on a flat surface. It is a spatially rotated headchopper (or in the case of X-Flight, a "bodychopper"). Hope that helps. If not, take two aspirin and call your Dr. in the A.M.

Couldn't miss talking about "The Whizzer"(aka Willard's Whizzer) at SFGAM.....a very unlikely, yet still standing fun machine and the last of its kind in the U.S. (especially since in was 'saved' in the 11th hour by coaster and family enthusiasts, when Superman was heading to town). Still thrilling riders in Illinois since '76---we are coming up on 40 years!

Got to ride X-Flight 3 times in the span of less than 15 min at closing the other day....SWEET................

Here's the thing.....I don't mind the "announcement" but they need to have like a 20 min loop in the station. Different messages and such. Hearing the same one over and over and over....it's a little much. I'd rather them just get rid of it.

So......... Is the "rumored/alleged/for sure" name going to be "Erie's Fury" or "..........Hawk"? Or something altogether different..... Opinions, please....and facts if ya have 'em (I'm not so sad about DT going away, it was fun while it lasted and I rode it in both incarnations, but really, can't you just build "around" the space sprial? I have only ridden it a couple of times, but as a kid growing up, ....it's just a good family bonding kinda ride....) just saying.... '

I know Disaster Transport is on it's way out....that's already confirmed, but as I posted a few days ago in the Rumor/Crazy Ideas thread, some guy ahead of me (in line for X-Flight at SFGAM), but close enough to hear for just a bit, was telling a couple behind him that, Space Spiral isn't getting removed, just having the queue relocated somehow. Do we actually have confirmation that the Sprial is going to be removed, or just the existing pathway? If it's the former, than I guess his alleged 'name' for the new Wingrider is suspect, but if it's the latter, maybe he was credible. He sounded sincere, but most of the rumors which I have reported on have not been credible, but hey, don't shoot the messenger. I'll believe 'em when I see 'em.

The beach is one thing, that is land that is "owned" by CP.....when things start strectching out into the water, there are lots of regulations....that's my real question....different states have different regulations regarding the amount of "water" that is "yours" to build on. Sometimes you "own" frontage, and sometimes you do not. Just because you can sink a footer on the beach doesn't mean you can put one in the 'drink' per se. I have no conception of the rules in Ohio regarding what the rules are building out into the lake. Again, it seemed like "blue oyster cult" man had some info...not saying it's true or accurate.....and could be garbage...just saying that's what I heard....... And on a side note, "Blue Oyster Cult Man" with the C.P. prohecies.....why was that woman wearing enormous high heels at an amusement park? Wow, that looked unconfortable!!!... Again, if you are on TPR, Please post a response........this is bugging me. Anyone else "in the know" is welcome to respond here as well......

Also, in regards to my last post^ I have a question. CAN Cedar Point actually build out over the shoreline or just next to it? Anyone with zoning or maritime law knowledge in Sandusky...what're the options. Anyone, anyone, Bueller???

Hey, anyone hear anything even remotely similar to this? Was in line at X-Flight at SFGAM yesterday and overheard some (50's-ish) guy in a Blue Oyster Cult "T", slightly ahead of me in the queue near the station (he went to the right side and I went to the left, sorry, love the back outside left seat---and I didn't run into him anywhere else during the day for clarification) but...anywho...he was mentioning something to the couple behind him about the (rumored/for sure) project at Cedar Point next year....and he didn't say anything I haven't already heard or have read, but two things: Cedar Point's sky tower isn't going anywhere, just part of the queue will be revamped and the new/proposed wingrider will fly around it, and that it's going to be called "Erie's Fury" (after Lake Erie I would imagine) and stretch out over the water at some point. Anyone with any other info???? Agreements/Disagreements...whatever, it was just some news I haven't heard before and I am curious And dude (with the BOC "T" at SFGAM 7/10/12,) if you are on TPR...a response would be good, or a post here. P.S. May post a non pic review of the park yesterday, but what was with all the B&M's (excluding Bull) breaking down over and over? Anytime I got near one there was an E-stop, station malfunction or what have you....started to think I was Cousin Oliver from The Brady Bunch and jinxing everything.

Forgot all about "High Roller" at Stratosphere......everyone I talked to said it was lame and therefore I always skipped it, but now since it's gone, I wish I would've (and I could've) gotten a credit on that.

Not that any of the coaster of 2012 should be dismissed....but my home park is Six Flags Great America and I CANNOT WAIT for "X-Flight", (although I will prob have to wait 2 hrs. for it...ahem) to get here.....It's been a long time since we had something to "Woo-Hoo" about. This one's a big deal and thank you SFGAM ....we deserve this one.

Never missed a credit (eventually/nor intentionally) with the exception of "The Bat" at King's Island. The year we visited the park it was "shut down" that day for mechanical reasons,(although my friend at the time had ridden it just a couple days earlier) and by the time I got back to the park with my family a year or two later it was just 'gone'. Althought I "did" get to ride "Vortex" the year it debuted on "The Bat's" old stomping ground. And: "Rail Blazer" at Six Flags Over Mid-America (SFSTL now)- we were planning a family trip to the park and after the accident on "RB" my parents switched gears and we went to Cedar Point instead. Had we gone just 3 weeks earlier (as orginally planned by my folks) we would have gotten to ride, although by no means am I diminishing the seriousness of the fatality that occurred on it.

I love Viper (the station) at SFGAM-----but c'mon the exit queue is longer than the ride itself, and honestly I don't really think I am exaggerating. (and I wouldn't even care about that but I walk fast, and I always get stuck behind someone who is in no hurry at all and won't get out of my way). I've got rides to ride and things to do people! Stick to one side.....

Worst for me-----(not just the station but the queue/wait experience) Riddler's at Magic Mountain----the ride is great, but that line makes me want to commit crime!!!! Deja Vu- (tho I am one of the people who was thrilled with ride itself) V2 at Six Flags Great America....they should film a "Snicker's Bar" commercial here on busy days. FireHawk at King's Island....slow, slower and slowest..... Top Thrill Dragster X (have never ridden it as x2) Italian Job/Stunt Track at King's Island In the "The Station Is Ok. but I don't like the 12-mile Trek to reach it category" "The Boss" at SFSTL "American Eagle" at SFGAM---it was a long way there the old way (thru the tent) and they somehow made it longer. "Viper" 'disembarkation journey' SFGAM (though the ride is awesome) I'll probably think of more, this is just off the top of my head....

I like the simple "old-time"y ones the best, themeing is secondary to me. Here's the ones I like: SFGAM: Whizzer (simple, elegant and classic) Demon American Eagle Raging Bull SFSTL: The Screamin' Eagle River King Mine Train Kings's Island: The Beast The Vortex The Racer Cedar Point: Blue Streak Gemini Magnum Corkscrew SFMM: Revolution Colossus Again, I like simplicity and I like classic coasters. I do not necessarily need a 'show' while I am waiting in line, nor do I need a soundtrack....I like the "Batman" theming in the queue, but c'mon already do we need a soundtrack BLARING in the station, same with Millenium Force and Top Thrill Dragster, whose queues are kinda lame anyway. I like a queue where you can talk to other people in line, and not have to shout at them. my .02 and I may add to this later.....

Tell you what: I am not sure if I rode on one of the final rides of Iron Wolf the other day (Labor Day) or one of the first rides on Apocolypse, but I will say the ride ops kept the (small, but consistent) 20 min line moving right along. I have been "down" on the Wolf for the last few years as far as rerideability, usually I'll ride it twice in the whole season (and I have a season pass, thanx to my wife), but I got on 3 times Labor Day, and to be honest, I "Actually" had 3 Very Good Rides.....I have no idea how this happened but it's true....and I had a blast................................... I loved this ride as a young adult, but have grown apart from it the last five years or so................but Labor Day, don't know who was workin the Mojo, but somehow I got back to that point where I was 20 yrs. old again, and found the ride pretty damn good. Maybe someone slipped me a "Nostalgia" pill.....who knows? Hope the GP appreciate this ride in it's new home.

Wow, I think this is an awesome idea, and it makes great sense using an existing ride as the supports.......however, from an engineering standpoint......will the forces of Superman impact how the drop tower operates, or is new ride being built upon the existing structure? Not trying to be a party-pooper, but if the new ride utilizes the 'same' structure as "Superman", how is the effect of the launch figured into the rattle in the tower into the new drop ride. I would think that there would need to be some serious 'dampering' in the construction of the new ride to offset the vibrations of the existing ride, should they be launched/dropped while the counterpart was in operation. In other words, you can't have a straight drop if the forces of a launched coaster put the tower in nothing short of a 90 degree drop. Maybe it's been discussed before ,but I am just curious

Oh wow! Finally....! This is the first time I have been beside myself in being excited with a new addition to Six Flags Great America in a long, long time. My wife gets me a season pass for my birthday every year.......I think I will be there once a week next year for this one! But just to stir the pot, what do you think is going in the old Iron Wolf area------it won't take place next year, but for 2013/2014 do you think it will be a WindSeeker, ZacSpin, or the Premier ride that Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is building which is a lauch shuttle with the steep dive and the barrell roll?

Yay for leaked L.A. Times articles..... (This was inadvertently left out of my orig. post) Assuming that the leaked facts/artist renderings are not the result of "unofficial imagination....Yay for us! I'm not saying that we couldn't use a ZacSpin in the future but not right now. I think one would be appropriate in 2013 in the Iron Wolf Area..... However, we need a "major" new addition with some real capacity/hour. If the news tomorrow says we are getting a ZacSpin, I will applaud SFGAM, but with the sound of One Hand Clapping.... (and I have included the audio of this as a background to this very message....can ya hear it?) Go Wing Rider! Please, please please let Wing Rider be true.......