The Six Flags Magic Mountain (SFMM) Discussion Thread

[Calicoasters]

@ stuartnz - Glad you are having fun and that the mist is actually on! Batman is too short so of coarse it would be stacked, Riddler's Revenge usually is only stacked every other run, but That's odd for Goliath. Were they running three trains on Goliath? That may be why.

 

Good thing you are saving X2 and Tatsu for the night, they are incredible night rides! I also recommend Terminator and Ninja at night! Keep Having Fun!

[Emiroo]

SFMM Newbie here with an easy question:

 

Is the rotational program on X2 the same everytime or is it random? I know there are switches on the trackwork that tells the train when to rotate, but does it always rotate the same way?

 

If it's not random, do you think it would be that difficult to adjust the computer to do so (Kind of like Disney did with Tower of Terror)? Do you think it would make the ride better or worse?

[socalMAN123]

The rotational program on X2 is always the same. And the actual rotations are not controlled by computers, but rather a run along track aptly named X track. It's a complex system and I remember talking to Tim about how it works, but I don't remember the full details. And I think the current rotational program fits the ride perfectly and is awesome, so why change it?

---Brent

[CoasterCard]

^ (From my understanding) There is another track that is "x" distance away from the train which changes distance x throughout the course. As that distance changes, the wheels that run on the x track move up and down, turning a gear on the train. This gear then rotates the seats on the train.

 

The only way to alter the way the seats rotate would be to change the track or remove the existing x track and replace it with a new x track.

 

 

OR.... would it be called y track..... hahaha

[The Disneylander]

SFMM Newbie here with an easy question:

 

Is the rotational program on X2 the same everytime or is it random? I know there are switches on the trackwork that tells the train when to rotate, but does it always rotate the same way?

 

If it's not random, do you think it would be that difficult to adjust the computer to do so (Kind of like Disney did with Tower of Terror)? Do you think it would make the ride better or worse?

 

You might want to double check your facts. There are no computerized switches on the track; everything is mechanical. X2 has two sets of rails: the running rails and the "X" rails. The "X" rails are the ones that control the spin of the seats. Every seat is hooked up to a gear-and-pulley assembly that is, in turn, hooked up to the "X" rails.

 

The "x" rails are a certain distance from the running rails, and this distances changes every so often. As the distance changes, since the seats are attached to the "X" rails, they move in conjunction with the change in distance. That's how the "4D" effect takes place.

[Emiroo]

Told you guys I was a SFMM newbie!

 

Thanks for the quick answers. Makes perfect sense now. And it would be retarded (if not impossible) to alter that "X track". I thought it was computerized and that would be another story.

 

Again, thanks for the clarification.

[atem122]

^Don't worry, before people learn what controls the spinning, most people thing it's computerized or spins freely

[The Disneylander]

Anyone have an update on the freeway construction on the I-5? For Termination Day there were still some cones lying around.

[ShoubraStreet74]

Is anyone else bothered by X2's roughness? I went there on Sunday, and right after the fire the second raven turn really smashed my head around. My head hurt for the rest of the day and still does when I move it quickly. The last time I went, which was when it was still "X", I hurt my leg in the same part of the ride. This time I remembered to keep my legs in place but the raven turn was really rough on my head. I didn't want to ride it again even though there was no line because I didn't want to to do any more damage. I rode tatsu about 5 times after that, which was ridiculously smooth and comfy.

 

By the way, second to last row of the train (when it's above the track), outer seat.

[cooksta77]

^Personally I've never been bothered with roughness on X2 but I have heard people say stuff about it.

[atem122]

The second raven turn always gives a bit of a beating, but it's not that bad and the rest of the ride makes up for it. I have had 2 pretty bad experiences at the bottom of the first drop where it really roughed up my head. 80% of the time though, it's been as smooth as Arrow's get...although my last ride on Viper was amazingly smooth, and not just smooth for viper, I mean smooth for any coaster

[WFChris]

^Regarding the roughness, always remember to have your heavier rider on the outside seat. Once I learned this little trick I didnt have as much of a problem with the ride.

 

I too, have had friends that did not understand how X's mechanics work. It's understandable though. He thought it free rotated, and has been on it multiple times, too! It was kind of annoying because I was with a group of smart people, and I really don't like breaking out the 'Roller Coaster Dork' card. In this case, though, I think it was necessary, and pretty easy to explain as I was able to point out the different locations of the X track at different moments of the ride.

 

Anyway, just thought I would share the random story.

 

Chris.

[brand4d2]

Is anyone else bothered by X2's roughness? I went there on Sunday, and right after the fire the second raven turn really smashed my head around. My head hurt for the rest of the day and still does when I move it quickly. The last time I went, which was when it was still "X", I hurt my leg in the same part of the ride. This time I remembered to keep my legs in place but the raven turn was really rough on my head. I didn't want to ride it again even though there was no line because I didn't want to to do any more damage. I rode tatsu about 5 times after that, which was ridiculously smooth and comfy.

 

By the way, second to last row of the train (when it's above the track), outer seat.

 

Normally I'm not bothered at all but today I rode in the second to last row like you did and on the outside. I also hit my head during the second raven turn. I guess I won't be sitting near the back any longer for X2.

 

Truth be told, none of my rides on anything were that great today - Tatsu didn't feel that great and I came closer than I ever have to blacking out on Goliath. Revolution and Colossus felt horrible but that's my fault for opting to ride them.

 

How much of an effect does heat have on one's coaster riding experience? As most of my trips are in the Winter and Spring, I haven't been to SFMM in the summertime for a number of years.

[coasterking2981]

^

Depends on the g-forces of each individual coaster, and of course what your body can handle. The more intense the g-forces of any particular part of a coaster, especially Goliath's helix, added with 90+ degree heat, and the chances of you graying out increase.

[Guest]

Depends on how pleasant your wait in line is also. If its really hot out and you waited in line for any of the big coasters at SFMM and wait in the hot crowded station with no water after riding a bunch of other coasters you can bet on getting really light-headed or sick. Doesnt matter which ride it is.

[hauntme23]

I actually always enjoy the line for X2. Never fails, I'm always next to a nice person who has either never been to the park, or on the ride prior.

[atem122]

^It was even better when they had the wipe out videos...but those are a relic of the past now

[hauntme23]

^ I know! I loved those!

[X2coasterfreak]

Yeah all it is now in the X2 line is mayonaise commercials.

[SuperShawn]

Oh come on I know on those 100 degree summer days I'd rather watch Mayo adds than wipe out videos!

 

For me the heat makes me black out more on Goliath and I can't ride back to back like I do in fall. And I've only had one experience with X2's roughness and that was my ride with out holding onto anything. I was tossed around like a rag doll. As long as I hold on and keep my head back I've never had an issue.

[ethans_dad06]

I'm not a Dr or anything, but I have heard that blacking or greying out is more common with people who are dehydrated. If that is indeed true, then that would make sense why the heat makes people grey or black out on rides because most people dong drink enough water in the heat.

[X2coasterfreak]

I blacked out on Goliath once, but the thing was I didn't even eat anything that day. And I was drinking a lot of water.

[WFChris]

This is just a random comment about the 'Where would a drop tower go?' debate:

 

So I was thinking about the park and its bizarre layout when I started thinking about that dead Scream/Colossus corner. I mean, Scream really isn't a bad ride, yet it has pretty much THE shortest lines in the park. Is it because it is so out of the way that people forget about it?

 

Well, first I thought to myself 'maybe they can connect the path back around to Yosemite Sam Sierra Falls or something like that. You know, create a 'loop' instead of a dead end. Upon looking at a Google map, this seems pretty out of the question as it would be a long useless path.

 

Then, I noticed that there is a great chunk of land between Colossus and Scream that would be perfect for a flat ride! Why not put a descent marketable flat right there? I really think it would help to spread the crowd around the park, because I do believe that once you give the crowd another reason to venture over there, Scream is capable of attracting a sizable line.

 

I know Scream is not the greatest ride ever, but for how new it is, I am astonished at how short the line always is. We are almost spoiled by it considering how long people are waiting to ride Bizarro and what not. Thoughts?

 

Chris.

[ajinaz]

Heading to the park on Friday. How have the weekday crowds been this summer? Is the QBot needed?

[cooksta77]

^^That's actually a good idea that I never thought about. If they do put a marketable flat over there that would bring crowds over to that part of the park which in turn could take some crowd away from the X2, Tatsu, and Terminator side of the park. If they bring that corner of the park to life it could spread the crowds out throughout the whole park.