The Six Flags Magic Mountain (SFMM) Discussion Thread

[RCT3Bross]

^^ I can't say much about Apocalypse and Colossus because I never ridden any of them. But I ridden Colossos at Heide-park and that ride I believe will be better than those two. That thing had some airtime and was the greatest wooden roller coaster experience of all I had done. I must say, a park like SFMM should think about having a woody like that. (even if they have 2)

[SLUSHIE]

I don't think anyone is saying the coasters in CA, or MM specifically suck, just none of them really stand out as being really good rides. Sure we have more coasters than other states, but most other states have at least one stand out really good coaster. I personally would take quality over quantity or uniqueness.

 

I could ride Kumba or Montu all day and still love them. If I rode X all day I would want to kill myself (if it didn't do it for me).

Edited August 26, 2012 by SLUSHIE

[singemfrc]

X2 is definitely trip worthy if you've never done it before, especially as there aren't any other 4D's on this continent. I can't think of any others on the west coast that are unique or excellent enough to call trip worthy.

 

Agree with Robb on Tatsu and Medusa. Those are both "if you're going to that park, dont miss that one" rides, but not "you have to fly out to this part of the country for this coaster" rides.

 

From a California resident's perspective, the ones that I'm going to trip for are El Toro, I305, Kingda Ka, and Outlaw Run.

 

I could easily ride X/X2 all day, almost did last time I was there. Found it to be the most comfortable ride in the park when restraints were on properly. (This was 2007, before X2)

[Ed Farmer]

Best Rides in CA (IMO)

 

 

Those are the only rides that I see worthy of visiting CA for.

 

Your top 10 list must be legendary.

[SLUSHIE]

I could easily ride X/X2 all day, almost did last time I was there. Found it to be the most comfortable ride in the park when restraints were on properly. (This was 2007, before X2)

 

X is the one ride were I cringe in fear of pain the whole way around. I'm sure part of the problem is that I have never ridden on and inside seat, I am always too nice to the people I go with. The thing is jerky, bouncy and rough and there is very little you can do to brace for it. It might not actually be all that painful but I still don't find it all that enjoyable. I probably enjoy it just as much as I enjoy the average SLC.

Edited August 26, 2012 by SLUSHIE

[molemaster43]

X2 is definitely trip worthy if you've never done it before, especially as there aren't any other 4D's on this continent. I can't think of any others on the west coast that are unique or excellent enough to call trip worthy.

 

Agree with Robb on Tatsu and Medusa. Those are both "if you're going to that park, dont miss that one" rides, but not "you have to fly out to this part of the country for this coaster" rides.

 

From a California resident's perspective, the ones that I'm going to trip for are El Toro, I305, Kingda Ka, and Outlaw Run.

 

I could easily ride X/X2 all day, almost did last time I was there. Found it to be the most comfortable ride in the park when restraints were on properly. (This was 2007, before X2)

 

I think Green Lantern could be considered unique, but, after what I've heard about it, tripworthy? No.

[singemfrc]

X is the one ride were I cringe in fear of pain the whole way around. I'm sure part of the problem is that I have never ridden on and inside seat, I am always too nice to the people I go with. The thing is jerky, bouncy and rough and there is very little you can do to brace for it. It might not actually be all that painful but I still don't find it all that enjoyable. I probably enjoy it just as much as I enjoy the average SLC.

I havent been since the X2 upgrade (its been way too long) do you find the new trains better or worse? (I know I've said this in other threads so I apologize to those that have heard me say it already!) On the old trains I had friends and family that said what you did, that it was rough and painful, but I found it was usually because they were really short, really tall, or had the OTSR too loose and they were bouncing around. I look forward to riding the new trains in Oct and seeing how they compare to the old ones.

[Zingoman]

Im all about whatever this new ride will be but i hardly need it to have reasons to visit. Maybe I'm just not used to the rides in California being so available to me, but at sfmm alone I'd drive out for Lex, Revolution, Viper, X2, Tatsu, Ninja, Terminator, Riddler's, Green Lantern, Colossus, and Goliath. I have no issue with rough rides, and the classics never die. In fact I'd take Viper over any b&m I've ever ridden, and I don't have a shabby track record. I'm afraid I'm stuck in the minority on my coaster preferences. Having said that I suppose this is the part where I get crucified...

[Manic Monte]

^ I like SFMM's coaster line up. They managed to either get rid of, or fix most of the duds, and I think they have a solid line up now.

 

I do think they are missing that one *GREAT* coaster. That El Toro or I305 or New Texas Giant.

[australianalex]

^ The only "dud" they need to fix now is Revolution. And as for needing a great coaster, I agree. To really complete their coaster collection what they need is an airtime machine.

[Tmcdllr]

I have to agree with Robb, there are some very good rides but not really a single coaster that you would plan a trip for.. not a single one! Its awesome having so much variety in this state to ride but I just wish there was at least one OMFG I HAVE TO GO TO THIS PARK NOW TO RIDE THIS COASTER ride, but at present there is not. Maybe 2013 will change that but I really don't think it will. When there are coasters in Europe that you would travel to just to ride and none here that you feel that way about it really says a lot about what is here.

[SLUSHIE]

I havent been since the X2 upgrade (its been way too long) do you find the new trains better or worse? (I know I've said this in other threads so I apologize to those that have heard me say it already!) On the old trains I had friends and family that said what you did, that it was rough and painful, but I found it was usually because they were really short, really tall, or had the OTSR too loose and they were bouncing around. I look forward to riding the new trains in Oct and seeing how they compare to the old ones.

 

Keep in mind I think I have only ridden the new trains once or twice, and have probably ridden the ride less than 10 times all together. The new trains are certainly better, but they don't necessarily fix any one problem, they just reduced them and not by a huge amount in my opinion. The rotation is still 'rocky,' the arms still bounce and the ride itself is still very rough. Overall the ride is more ride-able, but I myself didn't find it anymore enjoyable.

 

Don't take my opinion as sound though, I know there are many people out there that like it.

 

I don't think roughness makes a bad ride, I still enjoy Viper, but Viper's roughness is a jerk here and there and X IS a jerk.

[CoasterKings908]

^ The only "dud" they need to fix now is Revolution. And as for needing a great coaster, I agree. To really complete their coaster collection what they need is an airtime machine.

The whole California area, in general, desperately needs an airtime machine.

[singemfrc]

The rotation is still 'rocky,'

I believe that is the rail causing that and not the cars..makes me wonder if Eejanaika and Dinoconda have the same issue.

 

Still, it is the one coaster they have that is definitely that unique even if it isn't everyone's favorite. I find it a bit weird that so many people look at it and go 'meh' because it still provides an experience that no other coaster (other than the two above) can provide. The thing was launched 10 years ago and still is the ride most people run to in the morning and consistently has the longest line in the park almost every single day. I don't think there's a lot of 10 year old rides out there still spinning turnstiles like that. To me that's pretty impressive even if I didn't like the ride.

[JonnyRCT3]

The rotation is still 'rocky,'

I believe that is the rail causing that and not the cars..makes me wonder if Eejanaika and Dinoconda have the same issue.

 

Still, it is the one coaster they have that is definitely that unique even if it isn't everyone's favorite. I find it a bit weird that so many people look at it and go 'meh' because it still provides an experience that no other coaster (other than the two above) can provide. The thing was launched 10 years ago and still is the ride most people run to in the morning and consistently has the longest line in the park almost every single day. I don't think there's a lot of 10 year old rides out there still spinning turnstiles like that. To me that's pretty impressive even if I didn't like the ride.

 

 

I do think that what Arrow did with X was very innovative. Although most rides towards the front of parks almost always have long lines.

i.e. Raptor, Skyrocket.

 

2013 Thoughts:

I just hope this thing provides some decent airtime, but this is Six Flags. There still new to this thing called a "launched coaster" Just don't let it be another monster inversion coaster, those grow old and tire.

[LaMapa]

X2 really depends on where you sit on the ride and on what train. The front is overall smoother than the back, but I have had some amazing rides in the back. The rotations are only rocky on the ramp side, the stair side doesn't have that problem. And right now they are running trains 1 and 3. Train 1 is MUCH smoother than train 3. Train 2 is even smoother. Train 3 is rough, train 1 is pretty smooth (enough as to where you would want to ride it again), and train 2 is glass smooth. But we don't get train 2 back until January.

 

And I completely agree with Zingoman.

[Jew]

Aside from Tatsu, the coasters are SFMM are the epitome of mediocre. Hopefully this ride changes that...

[Top Thrill Dragster]

Yeah, stair side of X2 is MUCH smoother than ramp side. Ramp side has this really violent "clocking" on the last half twist into the brake run. I've gotten some rides where if felt like someone took a baseball bat and hit me in the back of the head.

 

Also I find if you ride first thing in the morning, the ride is really smooth compared to later in the day when the trains have had a chance to loosen up.

[JonnyRCT3]

Aside from Tatsu, the coasters are SFMM are the epitome of mediocre. Hopefully this ride changes that...

Well most parks are like that, 2 or 3 world class coasters. 2 or great coasters, and the rest are average.

 

i.e.

 

SF:Great Adventure

World Class: El Toro, Nitro

Good: Bizarro, Superman

Average: Batman, Green Lantern etc.

[SoCalCoasters]

I think SFMM has a great collection of rides, as well as great ride experiences.

 

I had an absolute blast on the night time Goldrusher rides I had during WCB this past year. Sure, it's not an OMFG record breaker, but it was still probably the most fun I had on a coaster all day. Sure, the park doesn't have the best of everything, but it has a unique and diverse mix of some really great coasters that's definitely worth checking out.

 

If people would stop grumbling for two seconds about what the park doesn't have, they'd notice what the park does have. SFMM has great rides, even if they aren't the tallest or fastest, or have the most airtime.

 

And come on! Is Tatsu's Pretzle loop not one of the coolest moments on a flying coaster?

[MontagnaMagica]

I think SFMM has a great collection of rides, as well as great ride experiences.

 

I had an absolute blast on the night time Goldrusher rides I had during WCB this past year. Sure, it's not an OMFG record breaker, but it was still probably the most fun I had on a coaster all day. Sure, the park doesn't have the best of everything, but it has a unique and diverse mix of some really great coasters that's definitely worth checking out.

 

If people would stop grumbling for two seconds about what the park doesn't have, they'd notice what the park does have. SFMM has great rides, even if they aren't the tallest or fastest, or have the most airtime.

 

And come on! Is Tatsu's Pretzle loop not one of the coolest moments on a flying coaster?

 

You stole the words right out of my mouth!

 

Just to add to that... Ask almost anyone living in another country that can only dream of one day visiting a bunch of amusement parks around the world. This park is almost always at the top of their lists!

[Rotura Violenta]

I'm sure part of the problem is that I have never ridden on and inside seat, I am always too nice to the people I go with.

 

Despite living in the area, I don't go to SFMM much (really not a fan of anything there either), but I went recently with a few friends and rode X2 on an inside seat and it was much, much better. In general, I dislike that ride and usually skip it (I've always found it far more unpleasant than thrilling), but I was pleasantly surprised this time around. The young girl who the op. placed next to me, however, got beat up pretty badly.

 

As far as this new thing goes, like other have said, if it's just about big inversions, I don't think it would hold much appeal for me personally -- but as I rarely go to SFMM, I'm aware that they're certainly not building it for me! With that said, coasters that are all massive loops and whatnot often look very impressive and intimidating -- from the perspective of both watching the ride run from inside the park, as well as through the publicity and TV spots that such impressive elements would allow for. I mean, world's biggest loop? All that really means while riding is that you'll be staring at the sun for a few extra seconds than you would on any other looping coaster. But if it's presented well, and gets enough exposure, people will flock to it even if they find the loop itself to be underwhelming.

 

For me, I'd be stoked if this new thing really took advantage of that landscape and flew around the contours of the hillside, really hugging the ground. To be honest, that was something I was a little disappointed by when Tatsu's design was publicized (another ride that I just don't share people's enthusiasm for). Imagine a flying coaster that pulled some of the maneuvers that Tatsu pulls, but also drops you down to the dirt (for longer than the pretzel loop does) and sends you weaving head first through the trees before gaining some altitude again. Obviously, such a design would open it up to far more mechanical complexities and safety concerns than I could imagine, but as it stands, for me, it just feels like it sort of meanders through the air. I find the lift to be the scariest part!

 

For what it's worth, I do like Scream more than the park's other B&Ms. I know I'm in the minority, but the sequence of elements, and the speed that the ride navigates them, is spot on. Plus, there's never a line for it!

[JJ728]

Regarding the 2013 ride, once I found out that the rumors were favoring a Premier, I wasn't too excited. Sure, the rides they make are fun. But I don't think this thing is going to really be all that world class. In my opinion they should really just pull out all the stops and order an Intamin twistyyyyyyy goodness!! (with airtime of course). I really don't think Premier can pull off a ride that will make people flock to it from all over like I305 or El Toro did.

 

Call me a skeptic, but I'm not really putting my money on this announcement. I really hope I'm wrong though.

[JonnyRCT3]

^im with you100%. I'm hoping premier surprises me, S:TUF was a step in the right direction. Lets just hope they keep going with this momentum. Launch, Loop, ground hugging banked turns and some heartlines/barrels is all I'm expecting.

[Manic Monte]

Just to put things into perspective a little, before El Toro or I305, I wasn't all that impressed with the coaster line ups at Great Adventure or Kings Dominion either. One show-stopper can elevate an entire park from an also ran, to a must do.

 

The closes thing I've experienced with parks with several great coasters would be the Busch parks, and even they lack good wood.