The Six Flags Magic Mountain (SFMM) Discussion Thread

[CreditCrazy]

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.

 

I also like the idea of putting a flat ride there. That area of the park always seems so dead and plain, something new definitely should go over there and a flat ride is perfect. Even I skip going in that area most of the time when I visit SFMM, because it's kind of out of the way and I don't enjoy Scream and Colossus much.

[atem122]

I think a good plan for SFMM next year would be to add a gyro drop, and Wiggles World, but with a kiddie coaster. The drop tower could be marketed as a "first of its kind in cali" kind of thing and attract the older audience. If they marked Wiggles World right, it would bring in the younger crowd too, but, I think it would be smart for them to add a Roller Skater or maybe a medium sized coaster there as well. Assuming CP doesnt build something next year which they probably wont because there are no rumors or anything, that would tie SFMM for the lead again. If Knott's can say that they have ten coasters, then it's only fair that SFMM could market themselves as the largest coaster collection in the country again, adding a larger revenue stream and putting the park further back on track.

[CreditCrazy]

^A wiggles world would probably be nice for the park and sounds realistic for 2011+, but I think what they need to do first is add more family coasters and flat rides (gyro drop idea sounds great). Family rides/coasters can be more popular to a larger age group and are something everyone can enjoy, and that's something SFMM is lacking.

[atem122]

^It seems like all the family rides are miniaturized, there's no coaster there that's like Jaguar! at KBF, it goes from Canyon Blaster to Goldrusher. Goldrusher is really showing it's age, which is why they need a new, I'd say 40 foot tall kiddie coaster, hell a vekoma kiddie SC would be a good draw, and it would appeal to a pretty wide age group.

[CreditCrazy]

Gold Rusher is a family coaster thrill-wise but the fact that it has a 48" height requirement means it can't be "fun for the whole family". I'm mainly thinking of a spinning coaster like Tony Hawk, which sounds most realistic. It's pretty cheap, it's compact, it has a 42" height requirement, the park just got a new show with a similiar theme, it's family friendly, and it's a type of coaster the park doesn't have.

[atem122]

^That is a smart idea, but THBS has crap capacity, at SFDK, when all of the other rides were walk ons, THBS had a 45 minute wait

[CreditCrazy]

That is true, but Six Flags doesn't seem to have a problem with it, seeing as they already have 4 in a couple years. Although it could be possible that SFMM wouldn't want one because of its bad capacity, since they turned down a Dark Knight coaster last year.

[WFChris]

I agree that any mouse type ride would not be an ideal investment for SFMM. Besides, we already have one at Knotts. I dont even think a Eurofighter would be a good idea, even though I would love to have one here in socal. A midsize coaster that does NOT appeal to adults, but would appeal to kids making the jump up from Bugs Bunny Land should be what they are looking for if they plan on building a smaller 'family friendly' coaster.

 

Chris.

[X2coasterfreak]

Those kind of rides would work and appeal to some of the younger age group. I do not agree with a Wiggles World though. I mean they already have Thomas Town, do they need another kiddie area?

[atem122]

^They need an actually good kiddie area, Bugs Bunny World is a joke, their rides are too small and short, and Thomas Town is Concrete, a fountain, a decent coaster for little kids, and a pretty short train ride

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

^Ninja is pretty cool, and kids seem to like it.

[GivenOneChance]

Too bad they can't get rid of all the kiddie rides altogether like Bugs Bunny World and Thomas Town or whatever it is...you could fit a nice roller coaster in there somewhere that's premium space for this park.

 

Hahah. JK.

 

I wish.

[brand4d2]

I forgot to add- the Tatsu ride ops were very entertaining yesterday! I'm not sure if this stuff was planned or impromptu but among other things, they did Yoda impressions as well as hilarious ads for the Mooseburger Lodge and the Frozen Lemonade stand. They definitely made the wait in the station, or stations I should say as both were open, a fun time.

 

I thought about leaving a compliment at Guest Relations but then it occured to me that Management might not know that they're doing this and I might get them in trouble? Hopefully they are aware and are appreciative of their efforts to entertain the crowd.

 

Maybe next time then? I go on Tatsu quite a lot (20 rides this year alone) and one of the ops is there every time so I know he'll be there at least.

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

X's Lift gives you the best view of the park, seeing how it faces the park from the edge of it, and realy puts into perspective how much airspace the park has to work with. I've been to CP about four times and the one difference between the layout between CP and MM (besides the obvious mountainous terrain) is that MM has just as many coasters, but very rarely do any of them 'interfere' with one another. I mean, Batman and Riddler's are right next to each other, but when you're on each respective ride, you are immeresed in that ride. There is little obstruction on say, Tatsu, even though the close proximity to Ninja, Revolution, Jet Stream and even Orient Express. Heck, Even with Terminator being mere yards away from Deja Vu, you wouldn't know it was there after the lift, and the same could be said of Terminator while riding Deja Vu. This is the one thing I like about the park's layout. It's full of coasters, but it's not "crowded" with them, if that makes sense. I think that whatever coaster is next in line to be installed should use a lot of the airspace in the center of the park, as most of the coasters tend to sit along the outer rim of the park.

[stuartnz]

Talking about blacking out, on my first day I greyed out on Batman and Goliath, but nothing on the second day. Crazy.

 

I got back to the park and got night rides on X2 and Tatsu. They were both amazing! X2 had an hour-long queue, but we decided it was now or never and headed in. The line wasn't too bad, but I really did get sick of "We are Miracle Whip, and we will not tone it down" by the end of it.

The ride itself was great. The fire was the only effect working, so that means the audio wasn't working on both Terminator and X2. I guess that means no audio at all for me. Oh well, they were both great rides regardless.

The Tatsu crew was great, they kept us entertained for the 15 minutes we had to wait. Singing along to the Tatsu theme and asking if he can buy the soundtrack:lolr:

[rawrtotheargh]

Just a random update ... but Goliath's third train is back from rehab. And should be operational very soon. However, lines haven't been bad at all and they seem to be doing very well with 2 train operation. So not too sure on how often they will be running 3.

[ebl]

^ Goliath seems to do just fine with two trains. Whenever they run three, they just seem to stack the third one---at least most of the time in my observation.

 

I'm thinking about heading out there tomorrow...it's a maybe, but we'll see.

 

Eric

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

^Hey, get as much value out of that season pass as you can. I do.

[atem122]

Sometimes I wonder how the park still turns a profit when I go and only spend 20 bucks, that $90 at the beginning of the year better have held its own

[ebl]

^^ I have the Xtreme Play Pass, which is only $125. To me, that pass is WAAAAYYY underpriced. In fact, one time I even told Jay Thomas that they could bump that pass up to $200 and I'd still pay it because even at that price, it's quite a bargain!

 

Needless to say, Jay told me he liked my way of thinking.

 

The trouble is that so many people can't justify paying that much for a Six Flags pass because it's not "of Disney quality." True in some respects, but it really depends on what you want out of a theme park. Well themed, relatively tame rides, or big thrilling rides? Honestly, I prefer the latter, so that's where I go.

 

And SFMM is only half as far from me as the DLR is.

 

Eric

 

EDIT: By the way, I won't make it out to SFMM today. But I am wearing my freshly washed TAKE THE TUNNEL shirt from Termination Day!

[brand4d2]

I agree about the Xtreme Pass being underpriced. No black outs plus great discounts on food, merchandise and even Flash Passes. It's an even better deal when compared to how much my Disneyland Annual Passport costs.

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

Sometimes I wonder how the park still turns a profit when I go and only spend 20 bucks

 

That's was $20 you would have otherwise not spent if you weren't at the park. The average paerson does not pay full price each four times (hypothetically) a year, so to get someone to pay as much or more once in the season than a full day's admission, only to have them residually bring in money ends up being a great investment.

 

Think of it this way...You spending $60 on a play pass and going 20 times a year (assuming you spend $20 every visit) made the park $460. By comparison, a guest who visits once a year and uses coupons from Taco Bell that cuts admission to two for $54, (also assuming the couple spends $20 a piece) made the park $94. So assuming you are always going to have day guests, and one time admission, you can see why season pass holders are valuable in a certain sense, and why they (SP holders) aren't "raping" the company for money in a sense.

[PeoplemoverMatt]

^ Not only that, but if a SP holder has a great time in the park, the SP is likely to tell their friends, who go to the park & have a great time and then tell their friends, who go to the park and, well, on & on it goes.

 

Maybe then all those friends have a huge meet up & even greater time at the park later on?

 

That's lots of fun & happiness all born out of one Season Pass that's extraordinarily low-priced compared to what Season anything costs pretty much anywhere else (parks, theatre, sports, etc). When guests have lots of fun & happiness at a park, that spells nothing but GOOD things for, and about, that particular park.

 

I'm just really happy see & hear about all these people having great times at SFMM.

[atem122]

^You're right about that, I have 2 friends that have season passes because of me

[Calicoasters]

The Xtreme Play Pass works great in my case too! When I was a regular season pass holder I always left the park to get lunch, but now that I have a discount (at most places) I spend more money inside the park. I also buy more merchandise than before.