The Six Flags Magic Mountain (SFMM) Discussion Thread

[MIAfan88]

Scream's new color scheme looks a lot better than before. Now can change the name?

[njcoasterguy34]

Scream's new color scheme looks a lot better than before. Now can change the name?

 

As mentioned previously on this thread, it wouldn't make sense to change Scream's name since it fits right it with the Screampunk theme.

[coasterfreak101]

As somebody else said, Medusa (East) doesn't really get any flack. If the perception wasn't there that the parking lot detracts from the experience of the ride, I doubt it would get brought up.

 

To be fair, I don't walk off of Bizarro with a headache. I took one ride on Scream, and I can't say the same. It's just a poorly maintained ride to begin with - the parking lot only adds to the experience.

[Manic Monte]

Eh, while not glass smooth, I feel it gives the ride a bit of intensity that some of it's force less cousins do not have. But I've never had a bad ride on it. Now Riddler's Revenge on the other hand...

[AllenA07]

My biggest complaint about Scream is how it was introduced to the park. There are a lot of rumors out there (most of which have been all but confirmed really) that Scream wasn't meant for SFMM. The best evidence of that being true is that it always felt as though the ride was just plopped down without any real thought. Almost like in RCT when you select one of the pre-designed rides, and then run a short line. Even the name screams (see what I did there?) out for a lack of effort. The ride has never really felt like part of the park. I'm really hoping that Scream can get a new lease on life here with TC being built. Hopefully new paint and a new theme and being in a part of the park that gets some foot traffic will get the ride some love.

[WFChris]

I don't much care for the scenery inside the helix at the end of California Screamin' and that's at a Disney Park. I think if you are too busy staring at the ground while riding a coaster (Scream), you might need a new hobby.

Edited February 25, 2015 by WFChris

[sxexaxn]

I'll take Scream over Riddler's Revenge any day. I've found Riddler's to be more rough than Scream as well. Plus, that zero-g roll over the station is one of my favorite elements in the park. Not a fan of the orange supports now but I guess it's better than the faded eyesore it had become.

[AllenA07]

I have a hard time seeing any B&M as being rough. Wind Jammer was rough, Flashback was rough, Scream and Riddlers Revenge just fail to inspire the same amount of dread.

[jonskinny12]

I've never found Scream or Riddler's to be very rough. The only problem I've had with Riddler's is the pressure on my lower legs, but after figuring out how to ride it, that isn't as bad. I think they're both a lot of fun and rode each of them multiple times last fall when I took a trip there.

 

But this debate will go on and on... Just like the parking lot under Scream.

[DJeXeL]

Scream and RRV use Nylon wheels which contribute to their "roughness."

[vedved82491]

I've experienced headbanging on Riddler before, but had great rides during Frightfest. I'd say the same for Holiday in the Park, except I went that weekend where they decided to lock all the seat heights in place which was miserable. I'm sure temperatures contribute to how rides run too. Back in '06 and '07, the first couple years I ever visited the park, Scream was my absolute favorite ride. It rode smoother than Paula Dean on a stick of butter. On my last ride in December, the amount of rattling down the FIRST DROP was enough to ensure the ride was going to suck, which it did.

 

I'm truly hoping this extended rehab will allow the ride to return to its former glory.

[PeoplemoverMatt]

I sort of doubt the refurb has much of anything to do with how "rough" it feels. They're usually more concerned with its ability to stay open and withstand the increased demand that will spill over from TC.

[Blatch]

Twisted Colossus is looking awesome, and Scream's new paint job looks pretty nice. It's too bad that they're not re-doing the parking lot it's placed on top of, but at least it looks infinitely more appealing.

[Loco]

I thought Scream was always ignored.

This thread loves it so much!

[Kim Jong Un]

I feel like "parking lot" deserves it's own word filter at this point...guaranteed the park doesn't give two sh!ts about what the enthusiast community thinks of it's decision to put Scream in the parking lot.

[ArizonaGuy]

I never understood the strong dislike of Scream either. Isn't it a mirror of Medusa (Bizzaro) at Sfgadv? Is there the same dislike for the east coast version?

 

I understand the dislike of it not having theming since bizzaro got it but I enjoy Scream itself as a ride. I've had my fill of the Scream theme debate though so now i try to ignore it.

 

I wasn't talking about the theming between the two coasters, I was just wondering why Scream isn't as well liked as it's East coast counterpart when it's a mirror image of the original.

[DoubleDown]

MThere are a lot of rumors out there (most of which have been all but confirmed really) that Scream wasn't meant for SFMM. The best evidence of that being true is that it always felt as though the ride was just plopped down without any real thought. Almost like in RCT when you select one of the pre-designed rides, and then run a short line.

 

I get the Scream parking lot hate, and I get the "give it up it's been there for years" mentality. But really, I think the core issue of what Scream became/what it's become has what to do with what Allen said.

 

Getting this ride operational to the public was prepared bare bones. It's really hard to think the ride was installed otherwise. A couple cuts in the concrete were made to accommodate "low" sections of the ride, but Scream was no doubt last minute. "We already bought a coaster and need somewhere to put it." The queue walls, exit paths, and the plaza entry are pretty much "we plopped down a coaster with inversions now go ride." Scream has been the most bare bone B&M I've ever seen. Nothing about it draws people to ride. I've heard guests literally say "It's just like Riddlers!"

 

I think the easiest/cheapest solution would be to just PAINT the black top, but knowing SF, they'd screw that up. IMO a great solution to make the best of what they have, is dropping 3" of sand and sawing out circles for 30 palm trees in random places around the ride. You could even hide the palm tree watering hoses with sand. The ride would look a lot better, and everyone would be happy, and it'd add a new "non-parking-lot-coaster" element to the ride.

 

If better thought out AT ALL, the coaster could have been positioned in a way that would minimize the general disconnect from the park. Pull the ride 100 feet south so the dive loop is right in the middle of the Colossus County Fair path. Build a bridge that goes over the low drop between that and the zero-g roll to make an impressive entrance to the rides plaza. Or you could rotate the ride 180 degrees so the interlocking corkscrews reach far into the Colossus plaza, which brings the coaster circuit closer, instead of out in the parking lot!

 

It really is mind-blowing, that multi-million dollar installations are made with such asinine higher up decisions: especially at a company that promotes "entertainment" for paying customers. These guys have NO CLUE what they're doing. But we've all seen the culture at the park, we know employees that have worked at the park, and nobody who works there as a "lifer" really seems to care about changing it. Guess they're happy with where they are.

 

But enough about that, WHEN DO I GET TO RIDE TWISTED F*****G COLOSSUS!?!?!?!

[cfc]

There is one overriding factor in the whole "Scream/Parking Lot Coaster" debate: It isn't a very good ride, anyway.

[coasterfreak101]

I wasn't talking about the theming between the two coasters, I was just wondering why Scream isn't as well liked as it's East coast counterpart when it's a mirror image of the original.

Because one is a solid ride (scientifically proven to be made even more solid by flamethrowers), and one sucks.

 

To be fair, I don't walk off of Bizarro with a headache. I took one ride on Scream, and I can't say the same. It's just a poorly maintained ride to begin with - the parking lot only adds to the experience.

Scream and RRV use Nylon wheels which contribute to their "roughness."

On my last ride in December, the amount of rattling down the FIRST DROP was enough to ensure the ride was going to suck, which it did.

[cfc]

I'm not a fan of the B&M "Medusa" coasters in general, but I do prefer Bizarro in New Jersey to Scream in California.

[Manic Monte]

Still like my once per visit front car ride on Scream, which is the only seat worth riding on any floorless imo. Other than that, I could care less about it or any other B&M floorless design.

 

I'm happy they painted it, and it's no longer an eyesore. But sitting next to the awesomeness that will be Twisted Colossus means I get to care even less. Moving on...

[Ridewatchers]

I'm happy they painted it, and it's no longer an eyesore. But sitting next to the awesomeness that will be Twisted Colossus means I get to care even less. Moving on...

 

So how long will the lines be for TC on opening day? Guesses, anyone? And will FP be available?

[coasterbill]

Personally I don't find Scream or Bizarro rough. I do find Scream to be amazingly ugly though and I still consider it to be amazingly ugly because it's still built over a parking lot. The new paint is nice and all but I can't get over that.

[Superbatboy]

Bizarro was 10x smoother than Scream when I rode it in Oct.

[Manic Monte]

Wow. Blue track drop after the high five is up. Can you say hair time in the back!