The Six Flags Magic Mountain (SFMM) Discussion Thread

[atem122]

^Most likely the closest thing to rain that you will experience is the mist on heavy in all of the queue lines

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

^^Everything runs in light rain, Superman closes the minute it becomes uncomfortable, Deja Vu and X may close in heavy rain, and Riddlers, Batman and Scream drop to 1 train.

[DisWiz]

Most excellent, thank you for the speedy reply!

[CorkscrewFoley]

Hey

 

I think one of the reasons i enjoyed it so much is because we really have no analagous park in the UK. For me Knotts was very much the "Thorpe Park of America" but SFMM was bigger and bolder than anything I've ever done.

 

I also rated all the rides pretty highly. Even rides like Scream which seem to get a near universal slating. Ok it is in a carpark but its still a damn good ride. Perhaps I've just not ridden enough (Riddler was my 100th coaster).

 

Anyway thought id share my 2cents (or pence i guess)

 

So one question, did Knotts have the same issues with chavs like Thorpe does?

[Mechanic]

I've never experienced much of a bad element in the clientele at Knott's.

[AirtimeAddict17]

I'm going to SFMM in about a week and have never been there before. What coaster(s) should I go to first?? X2 and Terminator? And which order? I just want to get on basically everything there without missing too much.

[atem122]

I'd say hit up X2 first and then hit the park clockwise since the park is in a giant circle, but last time I went X2's line got decently short around 8, so maybe do Termy first, then go clockwise and hit up X2 around 8. BTW if you're truly an airtime addict...you've come to the wrong place.

[CreditCrazy]

Well, it's the summer, and the park is crowded, so I would suggest getting a Q-Bot with the X2/Terminator add-ons.

 

If not, I would go to either X2 or Terminator first (only one, because by the time you're done with one the other will be busy). Then do whichever one you didn't do at night, right before closing. Both are very good at night, but I prefer X2.

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

It really just depends on which day you go. Tuesday could mean a walk-n for all ride (minus X and Terminator) and the two headliners with reasonable waits, verses Friday and or Saturday being a day where even Scream and Viper have a line. Plan accordingly

[AirtimeAddict17]

Ok thanks for the advice

[Calicoasters]

^First thing, I recommend getting Flashpass since you plan on doing some serious riding. If you are going on a weekend, you will need to be there pretty much all day to get in all coasters and more. Flashpass would help you help achieve that goal pluss give you some extra time to rest and recharge because SFMM is an exhausting park.

 

If Flashpass is out of budget I suggest starting on the right side of the park with something like Goliath or go straight to the back of the park to Riddler's Revenge. Most of guest (90%) of them will be rushing to the left side of the park for Terminator, Tatsu, and of coarse X2. You could do that too and actually get on X2 without waiting too long, but it's a gamble. Rides like Viper and Revolution are very popular when the park opens (due to location) so save them for later in the day. Tatsu is also know to have a shorter line in the late afternoon.

 

Hope this helps, good luck, and have fun!

[ebl]

Speaking of FlashPass, I'm going to guess that it can sell out? I'm sure there are just so many Q-Bot units...

 

Eric

[GivenOneChance]

I'm going to SFMM in about a week and have never been there before. What coaster(s) should I go to first?? X2 and Terminator? And which order? I just want to get on basically everything there without missing too much.

 

I just went, first time since 2005, and I went on a Friday.

 

Most guys say buy the flash pass and stuff, but I don't think it is necessary if you plan on going during the week and if your objective is just to get to experience each individual ride. That's not to say that you can't ride rides a couple of times or several times. I rode Tatsu 3x and Goliath 4x, but by going with the ride plan that is quoted below, you really limit yourself to riding Deja Vu, X2, and Terminator one time.

 

I agree with all of the points right here from Calicoasters (below): This is what I've always done since 2004-2005. I won't be doing it anymore though the next time I go which will probably be next week. But it's a good way of being able to ride all the rides and you have more than an adequate amount of time (if you stay at the park from opening to closing to be certain) to get all the rides in.

 

If Flashpass is out of budget I suggest starting on the right side of the park with something like Goliath or go straight to the back of the park to Riddler's Revenge. Most of guest (90%) of them will be rushing to the left side of the park for Terminator, Tatsu, and of coarse X2. You could do that too and actually get on X2 without waiting too long, but it's a gamble. Rides like Viper and Revolution are very popular when the park opens (due to location) so save them for later in the day. Tatsu is also know to have a shorter line in the late afternoon.

 

Follow this type of sequence if you want: Goliath --Scream--Colossus--Batman--Riddlers--Tidal Wave (not the ride, just the bridge lol)--Goldrusher--Superman--Ninja--Terminator--Deja Vu--Tatsu--Roaring Rapids--Viper--X2--Revolution.

^^ IF you want to minimize the amount of walking you do, that sort of thing.

 

Of course I omitted flat rides and what not, but I'm just not concerned for the flat rides.

 

 

I went with something similar to this when I went on a past Friday (did Deja Vu after X2 and finished things off with Goliath 2x). Terminator would probably have 2 hour long line (1 train), and Deja Vu will have a long line simultaneously during the time you arrive at that end of the park if you followed this ride sequence.

 

I'd skip Deja Vu and save it for later in the night if so, when the line dies down. Finished things with Goliath because it had little, no line at night (830 - 930 PM)

 

 

Good luck. Hope you enjoy what MM has to offer. I tried to help.

[robbalvey]

One thing I disagreed with is all the hooting about how SFMM's Flash Pass w/ X2 & Terminator is OMG $82!!! while the Gold Flash Pass in NJ is touted as somehow a better bargain by being $80. Somehow the whopping $2 difference doesn't strike me as earth-shattering, but perhaps the point was that SFMM should charge $82 as the standard Gold price and not have the option to pay $10 for X2 & Terminator?

I think before you compare SFMM's FlashPass option and SFGadv's FlashPass options you should note what coasters at Great Adventure it's good on:

 

The Dark Knight Coaster

Batman the Ride

Bizarro

El Toro

Kingda Ka

Nitro

Superman: Ultimate Flight

Great American Scream Machine

Rolling Thunder

Runaway Mine Train

Saw Mill Log Flume

Skull Mountain

Fly Me To The Moon 3-D

Congo Rapids

 

Those top 7 coasters could have anywhere from a 45 minute to 90 minute wait even on an average day. And you get unlimited rides on all of them.

 

Where as at SFMM take a look at the list of rides:

 

Batman the Ride

Goliath

Déjà Vu

Colossus

Tatsu

Goldrusher

Jet Stream

Log Jammer

Ninja

Revolution

Riddler's Revenge

Roaring Rapids

Scream

Tidal Wave

Viper

 

How many of those ever have more than a 20-30 minute wait? Maybe Tatsu and Deja Vu?

 

Great Adventure seems to spread their crowds out a bit more evenly because most of their coasters are higher capacity and chew through the crowd at an even pace.

 

So you'll have several rides with 45-60 minute waits each, instead of at Magic Mountain where you have 2 or 3 coasters that have 2-3 hours each, but the rest of the coasters have shorter wait times.

 

But at Magic Mountain I'd be willing to bet that during the busy peak of the day a good percentage of people are in line for X2, Tatsu, Terminator, and Deja Vu leaving the other coasters with fairly short wait times.

 

And your $80 at Magic Mountain only gets you *ONE* ride on the parks signature attraction and it's newest attraction.

 

If Great Adventure was only going to give me one ride on El Toro, screw that! I'll just go for opening and run to the coaster. But when I know I can bounce between El Toro and Kingda Ka as much as I want all day long, AND get to ride Nitro, Bizarro, and Superman wait-free, sign me up!

 

I personally don't mind the up-charge that Magic as added to the system, but I do think it should be unlimited rides on each coaster.

 

We will be using the Gold Flash passes for the first time at Discovery Kingdom and Magic Mountain with our group in just a couple of weeks. We just used them at Dollywood, SFOT, SFFT, and SFOT and I absolutely swear by them!

 

--Robb

[ethans_dad06]

^ Yea, I personaly think its overpriced for the upcharge of X2 and Terminator. Before the q-bot system was ever used I never had a problem getting all coasters done in a day anyway, but on the extra busy days I can see why its useful. I dont think I will be purchasing a q-bot anytime soon, unless they add all day access to X2 and Terminator, because those are the only two coasters worth the extra fee anyway in my opinion.

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

I personally don't think the Flashpass is overpriced, for the sole reason that (as previously stated) I could just wait to go to the park in Jauary and ride everything with virtually no wait, and major rides with substantially shorter waits than peak season.

[AirtimeAddict17]

^First thing, I recommend getting Flashpass since you plan on doing some serious riding. If you are going on a weekend, you will need to be there pretty much all day to get in all coasters and more. Flashpass would help you help achieve that goal pluss give you some extra time to rest and recharge because SFMM is an exhausting park.

 

If Flashpass is out of budget I suggest starting on the right side of the park with something like Goliath or go straight to the back of the park to Riddler's Revenge. Most of guest (90%) of them will be rushing to the left side of the park for Terminator, Tatsu, and of coarse X2. You could do that too and actually get on X2 without waiting too long, but it's a gamble. Rides like Viper and Revolution are very popular when the park opens (due to location) so save them for later in the day. Tatsu is also know to have a shorter line in the late afternoon.

 

Hope this helps, good luck, and have fun!

 

Thank you this sounds like a good plan!

[AirtimeAddict17]

I'm going to SFMM in about a week and have never been there before. What coaster(s) should I go to first?? X2 and Terminator? And which order? I just want to get on basically everything there without missing too much.

 

I just went, first time since 2005, and I went on a Friday.

 

Most guys say buy the flash pass and stuff, but I don't think it is necessary if you plan on going during the week and if your objective is just to get to experience each individual ride. That's not to say that you can't ride rides a couple of times or several times. I rode Tatsu 3x and Goliath 4x, but by going with the ride plan that is quoted below, you really limit yourself to riding Deja Vu, X2, and Terminator one time.

 

I agree with all of the points right here from Calicoasters (below): This is what I've always done since 2004-2005. I won't be doing it anymore though the next time I go which will probably be next week. But it's a good way of being able to ride all the rides and you have more than an adequate amount of time (if you stay at the park from opening to closing to be certain) to get all the rides in.

 

If Flashpass is out of budget I suggest starting on the right side of the park with something like Goliath or go straight to the back of the park to Riddler's Revenge. Most of guest (90%) of them will be rushing to the left side of the park for Terminator, Tatsu, and of coarse X2. You could do that too and actually get on X2 without waiting too long, but it's a gamble. Rides like Viper and Revolution are very popular when the park opens (due to location) so save them for later in the day. Tatsu is also know to have a shorter line in the late afternoon.

 

Follow this type of sequence if you want: Goliath --Scream--Colossus--Batman--Riddlers--Tidal Wave (not the ride, just the bridge lol)--Goldrusher--Superman--Ninja--Terminator--Deja Vu--Tatsu--Roaring Rapids--Viper--X2--Revolution.

^^ IF you want to minimize the amount of walking you do, that sort of thing.

 

Of course I omitted flat rides and what not, but I'm just not concerned for the flat rides.

 

 

I went with something similar to this when I went on a past Friday (did Deja Vu after X2 and finished things off with Goliath 2x). Terminator would probably have 2 hour long line (1 train), and Deja Vu will have a long line simultaneously during the time you arrive at that end of the park if you followed this ride sequence.

 

I'd skip Deja Vu and save it for later in the night if so, when the line dies down. Finished things with Goliath because it had little, no line at night (830 - 930 PM)

 

 

Good luck. Hope you enjoy what MM has to offer. I tried to help.

 

Thanks! You and everyone else definitely helped me out so much!

[PAL]

After a rough all day business meeting in Santa Monica, I raced over to MM for a bit of stress releif. After battling through rush hour, I hit the park about 7:30. Close was 10. I managed 8 coasters: Revolution, Viper, Ninja, Riddler's Revenge, Batman, Scream, Goliath and a fantastic spin on Terminator (don't hold on - there are plenty of air pops on this intense twister). I was 5 minutes shy of squeezing in Tatsu too. Only X2 was out of the question. On a summer Tuesday night you can get a lot done in about 2 and a half hours, and feel a lot better for it.

[Calicoasters]

^That sounds like a very intense 2 & 1/2 hours!

 

Papas just posted a trip report from the park featuring slow Deja Vu operations and a really interesting advertisment on Viper's trains! CHECK IT OUT!

[atem122]

I think Schwarzkopf should pay anyone riding Viper figuring as they're getting the message out. And I was so happy SFMM didnt have any of the really stupid advertising like in Iron Wolf's station and Mindbender, poor poor Vipey

 

On the plus side I'm really happy that they didnt totally sell out and brought the X2 themed ads back, and that the Termy ride ops got permanent costumes too!

[Guest]

Has anyone noticed in the parks lines, the silver railings are painted silver? Wouldnt it be less maintenence-intensive to just make stainless steel railings like most parks and never have to paint them? Also they still have the same garbage cans that were there in National Lampoons Vacation.

 

The little things in life fascinate me the most

[coasterking2981]

The little things in life fascinate me the most

 

Like how lazy ride ops can be, thus partly ruining the experience of a good ride?

 

Thats one of the things I get peeved about. I dont mind if the ride ops are talking and checking the restraints, sending off trains, etc., just as long as they are doing their job. But when they turn about every ten minutes to realize there is a train waiting to be loaded and sent off while there another in brake run ready to unload its passengers, that's when the supervisor(s) need to get on their a$$es or have them fired.

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

that's when the supervisor(s) need to get on their a$$es or have them fired.

 

Believe me, the supervisors do a pretty decent job when it comes to dealing with bad seed employees, but the problem is that when you do get rid of these "bad seeds" they're just replaced with new ones. It's just the nature of the business. Six Flags may have this issue more than anybody else, but it's not a problem exclusive to just them.

[coasterking2981]

Guess it just comes down to how committed you are to your job then