The Six Flags Magic Mountain (SFMM) Discussion Thread

[pǝʇɹǝʌuı]

Okay, I get the operations thing. I thought most people were hating on the theming and vibe of the park. To be honest the theming on some of the rides is much better than most of the rides at Cedar Fair parks, but people complain that it's not kept up very well (which I can see to an extent).

 

But yes, the operations are terrible. One of their big rides is always down whenever I go, and the ride ops are super slow in general. Don't even get me started on how poorly designed Riddler's queue area is. It's a great ride, but I skip it every time. Even if the line is just in the station, you can bet you'll wait a good 30 minutes before getting on. Tatsu breaks down a lot, too. I've seen it break down while I was in line at least three times, and every time I swear it's ride op error. The only ride that has decent operations is Scream, and that ride never has a line so I usually ride it 2-3 times every time I go.

 

I really shouldn't complain about operations though. Nobody should unless they've been to Fuji-Q. Holy crap that park is slow. That's a discussion for a different thread, though.

[Bedholm]

I'm just curous, does anybody know if Titan also basically stops at the mid-course? Or did that ride get designed with a less intense ending helix?

At least this year Titan's mid course didn't slam nearly as hard and the lift hill went way faster. Titan seems to haul for the first half and the twister section at least doesn't only get speed by the helix but instead almost immediately. Even though the rides are almost exact replicas titan is the far superior ride even without the extra helix I would take Titan any day of the week. I don't know if im the only one who's noticed this but is the mid course on Goliath hitting harder and harder each year? The gap between the rides is huge to me as I have titan in my top 10, but Goliath is not even a top 20 ride to me.

[Manic Monte]

Titan and Goliath are fun rides, but horrible excuses for hypercoasters. The fact that Titan is slightly better isn't saying much at all. I'd take the absolute weakest B&M hyper over either of them.

[iloveblueberries]

Titan and Goliath are fun rides, but horrible excuses for hypercoasters. The fact that Titan is slightly better isn't saying much at all. I'd take the absolute weakest B&M hyper over either of them.

 

Sometimes I'm in the mood for a ride like Goliath. Sometimes I'm in the mood for a more common style hyper coaster. They both scratch my "giant coaster drop" itch. I should probably see a doctor.

[DoubleDown]

I'm going to jump on the "not understanding all the hate" bandwagon. I don't understand why people trash it so much.

 

I understand your point, but maybe what I say will give a little insight. I've been visiting Magic Mountain since I was a kid, so I enjoy it, but over that time I've come to understand the criticism. I still continue to visit, just cause it's so cheap. I pay $125 a year for a gold pass to park for free and ride the roller coasters anytime I want. But you know what I think really hurts the company and encourages the hate on these boards? It's the lack of progression in technology and customer service that has really pissed a lot of people off over the past 2 decades.

 

There are a long list of things Disney and Universal have done to enhance the experience for the price you pay, but you don't see this kind of progression from Six Flags, even though (besides the price of admission) you pretty much pay the same (OR MORE) as both of the aforementioned parks once you walk through the gates. It really makes you scratch your head and wonder if the people in charge really have any clue what they're doing. From a guest standpoint, they rip people off. From a former employee standpoint, they deserve all the criticism they get. They're stuck in the 1980's and continue to do things the way they've always done them, and it really is a shame.

 

For instance, are DIGITAL UPDATED WAIT TIMES for each ride throughout the park really that hard to do in 2015?

 

The company has NEVER spent, maintained, or operated the park with even the most mundane standards. Even I'll admit, there are times when I'm at the park sitting in line sweating in the sun, and I'm like "WHY isn't there shade here? Who designed this crap? What the HELL could be taking SO long?" It gets absurd. But the lack of progression of the chain as a whole compared to parks like Universal or Disney really is quite sad. It's like they haven't changed the way they do things for the past 20 years.

 

There are so many ways to improve the park, but for some reason the culture of the employees from the top to the bottom has basically kept this from happening. Nobody seems to really want change. The attitude is "If it's not my job, I'm not going to do it." It's been said before, but I'll just reiterate: If any educated semi-intelligent coaster enthusiast on here were in charge, I think we'd see a significant improvement in not only the operations of the park, but a face lift of the Six Flags company in general. It's much more complicated than that, for sure, but I think even myself could come up with a handful of suggestions that if immediately implemented, would drastically improve the experience of the park for every guest that walks through the gate.

 

But as far as I was concerned when I worked there, this company and it's higher ups aren't interested in that. They want "Yes" people who follow the flock, to continue things the same ways they've been doing it since I can remember. It's really too bad. Considering the potential of just Magic Mountain in general, it hurts to see how things continue to deteriorate. And I'm not sure if that's because the people up the chain only care about lining their pockets with money, but when you consider how much cash the parks make and how little things have improved, someone in charge is just not doing it right.

 

Sorry for the rant, but I hope I hit it on the head. I don't like the complaining much either, but it's also hard to blame people who are not satisfied with a product they've been paying for after years and years have gone by.

 

Wait, are people seriously debating if Six Flags is going to remove one of their biggest rides? Have we gone that far away from sanity?

 

If you're speaking in regards to my comment with replacing Goliath with a giga, I suppose my post may have been a bit confusing? I guess what I mean is I would have gone 15 years without Goliath, to have a nice Intamin Giga like i305 eventually installed there instead.

 

It would be downright ridiculous to assume the park would tear out Goliath to replace it with a ride merely 50 feet taller. Sanity restored.

[pǝʇɹǝʌuı]

When you're comparing to Universal and Disney, even Cedar Fair lags behind in operations. What DoubleDown said is sad, though, that nobody that works for Six Flags seems to care about the overall park experience. Even more sad is the fact that the parks still make a ton of money. Doesn't Six Flags have a "new ride every year" policy for all of their parks? That would certainly attract guests a lot better than "Hey, we cleaned up our bathrooms!" From what I've seen the GP eats it up. SFMM in particular seems to be getting more and more crowded every year. In fact, slow operations may even make you want to come back and ride the rides that you didn't have time to get to, or pay for a ridiculously overpriced fast pass.

[Jew]

It's hard to find people who care when you pay so little with no benefits. The good ones move up to management level (or move on to other parks) fairly quickly, but there isn't nearly enough good ones to go around.

[jray21]

That's a really big part of it. You get what you pay for with labor.

[MrSum1_55]

I would agree with most of the criticisms about Goliath, as it is my least favorite hyper. (I think I even like Steel Force a little better). G forces in any direction are almost nowhere to be found anywhere but the helix. The first drop is also by far the weakest I have seen on a hyper. Goliath was by first hyper, and at the time I was just beginning to break into the enthusiast world. I remember stepping off confused, and I wondered why enthusiasts loved hypers so much. It was not until later on, when I was able to visit parks with real hypers like Cedar Point and Kennywood that I realized how great rides could be without any inversions.

 

As for the state in the operations, I know that it has been noticeable. However, has there not been a general decline in operations in the chain in general? I have heard quite a few things about SFOT having gone downhill.

[WatchOutForThatTree]

We're heading out to SFMM in a few weeks (April 20th - to be exact). While I'm pretty damn sure Twisted Colossus will barely be in testing mode by that point, is there any word on whether Scream will be open by then? I see the painting's nearly done, but how much of the construction surrounding it is a disaster area that would prevent it from opening?

[aeyrolet]

I have heard quite a few things about SFOT having gone downhill.

Unfortunately, its true. Recently, it seems, they don't like taking constructive criticism about it either.

[dippindotsguy8]

We're heading out to SFMM in a few weeks (April 20th - to be exact). While I'm pretty damn sure Twisted Colossus will barely be in testing mode by that point, is there any word on whether Scream will be open by then? I see the painting's nearly done, but how much of the construction surrounding it is a disaster area that would prevent it from opening?

 

I doubt it. My guess is now that the re-theme of that area is underway, they won't open any of it back up until everything's done, including Twisted Colossus.

 

I could be wrong, but ideally you'd want to unveil your newly themed area all at once, and not in parts.

[Superbatboy]

Goliath may not be a favorite among enthusiasts but it's been a huge success for MM. It's smooth, reliable, a people-eater, a GP favorite, and has a big intimidating presence in the skyline.

 

True it'd be nice for MM to have a hyper/giga 1-2 punch line CP, CW, and Carowinds but its never gonna

[singemfrc]

Goliath may not be a favorite among enthusiasts but it's been a huge success for MM. It's smooth, reliable, a people-eater, a GP favorite, and has a big intimidating presence in the skyline.

 

True it'd be nice for MM to have a hyper/giga 1-2 punch line CP, CW, and Carowinds but its never gonna

I really enjoy Goliath. I don't find it thrilling at all, but it's fun. The station is always nice and cool on hot days and the ride itself is smooth, so it's a relaxing coaster to me. I don't think it would work at all at a park like Cedar Point, but amongst all the YOLO Inversion stuff at SFMM it's a welcome contrast for me.

[MagicMountainMan]

Scream will reopen when the rest of the area opens as well. Right now most of the area from Magic Moments down is devoid of any concrete so it will be a little while before it is done.

 

Memorial Day Weekend is looking like the target that the Twisted Colossus team is trying to hit. So hopefully no late June openings...

 

Oh and...

It's hard to find people who care when you pay so little with no benefits. The good ones move up to management level (or move on to other parks) fairly quickly, but there isn't nearly enough good ones to go around.

[COASTERelic]

Goliath may not be a favorite among enthusiasts but it's been a huge success for MM. It's smooth, reliable, a people-eater, a GP favorite, and has a big intimidating presence in the skyline.

 

I have not been on Goliath since it opened and was wondering if it still gives the grey out sensation through the helix? I thought that was the most memorable part of the ride.

[DJeXeL]

^For me it doesn't. Some people are more sensitive to G-Forces than others.

[coasterlvr]

I have not been on Goliath since it opened and was wondering if it still gives the grey out sensation through the helix? I thought that was the most memorable part of the ride.

 

the mid course brake basically either almost stops the train, or does stop the train now. so the end twisty area isn't as intense as it was when it opened. i'd say it still has some pretty decent positive g forces, but not like it once had.

[singemfrc]

Goliath may not be a favorite among enthusiasts but it's been a huge success for MM. It's smooth, reliable, a people-eater, a GP favorite, and has a big intimidating presence in the skyline.

 

I have not been on Goliath since it opened and was wondering if it still gives the grey out sensation through the helix? I thought that was the most memorable part of the ride.

^For me it doesn't. Some people are more sensitive to G-Forces than others.

That, and it depends on how you're sitting in the seat. The grey out comes from the train banking to the right going into the helix and then the G-force sucking the blood out of your head. If you keep your head straight (perpendicular to the car), the effect is maximized. If you tilt your head to your left so that your head is perpendicular to the ground as opposed to the car, it minimizes the G-force's effect since the blood cant be sucked out of the side of your face. If you grey out on Goliath and don't want to, that's a why to help curtail it.

[DJeXeL]

the mid course brake basically either almost stops the train, or does stop the train now. so the end twisty area isn't as intense as it was when it opened. i'd say it still has some pretty decent positive g forces, but not like it once had.

 

Agreed. That MCBR is a pain in the ass.

Best part of Goliath for me is the airtime hill. The rest is just "meh."

[COASTERelic]

Goliath may not be a favorite among enthusiasts but it's been a huge success for MM. It's smooth, reliable, a people-eater, a GP favorite, and has a big intimidating presence in the skyline.

 

I have not been on Goliath since it opened and was wondering if it still gives the grey out sensation through the helix? I thought that was the most memorable part of the ride.

^For me it doesn't. Some people are more sensitive to G-Forces than others.

That, and it depends on how you're sitting in the seat. The grey out comes from the train banking to the right going into the helix and then the G-force sucking the blood out of your head. If you keep your head straight (perpendicular to the car), the effect is maximized. If you tilt your head to your left so that your head is perpendicular to the ground as opposed to the car, it minimizes the G-force's effect since the blood cant be sucked out of the side of your face. If you grey out on Goliath and don't want to, that's a why to help curtail it.

 

Heck no..I welcome the grey out sensation. hahaha and thanks for the informative reply.

[SimiGeek]

Anyone know anything about the fire? I'm at the park and it appears to be twisted colossus area?

[Jew]

Another one?

[DJeXeL]

Oh geez. I hope not.

[COASTERelic]

Anyone know anything about the fire? I'm at the park and it appears to be twisted colossus area?

A day late April Fools joke I would assume.