The Six Flags Magic Mountain (SFMM) Discussion Thread

[TonyG]

yes i saw that too when i went on superbowl sunday, quck question: do you think they are ever going to change the color of the batman trains? i think it looks bad now that the coaster is blue and the trains are still gray

[atem122]

^Probably not for a while. Is it just me, or do Batman's trains seem whiter than before the rehab? Is that just because they're cleaner? Did they replace the steel? Or am I seeing things?

[TonyG]

yea i saw that too, i think its just cleaner, they probrably gave them a good cleaning while the ride got painted. It still anoys me though, the colors just dont match it makes it look like the trains dont belong. still love the ride though, it kicks

[rosscoe]

I thought I might chuck this in this topic because someone might find it useful in the future when it shows up in searches (I've asked this same question in the past), but I've finally worked out a reasonably practical way to get to SFMM on public transport/transit that will get you there in time for opening, and wont force you to leave too early, and wont cost a heap like those organized coach tours. I did this on my Presidents day visit and it worked perfectly.

 

The key is to take ake tthe 757 "Noho Express" commuter bus run by Santa Clarita transit, which departs outside North Hollywood station (on Lankershim Blvd) on the LA metro red line subway (This is one station north of Universal City, which is the station at Universal)

It takes about 35 minutes to get up to the Valencia bus station, and costs $2.50 each way.

 

It runs roughly once every hour from early in the morning, and on weekdays the last one from Valencia back down leaves at 8:22pm at the time of writing ( on weekends the last one leaves earlier at 6:33) so you should be able to have a decent amount of time up there. No point linking to the timetable page since these change frequently anyway...Google it.

 

From the Valencia bus station (Called the McBean transfer station) you can.

-Take a local bus to SFMM (The connections aren't that good to be honest, plus you don't avoid that leaving early problem)

-Take a Taxi

-Go on foot. Valencia is a nice place, and the walk up takes about 40 mins (4 km) to get to the park. I was even treated to the sight of the burnt out "TPR clubhouse" on my way there). Plus you can be a proper enthusiast and take photos of X2 from the road in

 

I suppose if you are down in Anaheim then getting to Union station (Southern terminus of the Red Line) might still be annoying (Though I'd recommend using the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains instead of Metrolink because they are more frequent) But if you are staying in the Universal area then this should be a fairly simple trip.

 

So to sum up, those visiting LA without a car are best to try SFMM on a weekday, and might find it easier to perhaps spend part of your stay in the city near Universal to make doing SFMM and USH easier.

 

 

 

Gav, thanks for the Info. will use this in August when I go.

[Jew]

False and False, Borrega.

 

I don't think Superman ever made it more than 80% up that tower.

Anyone else confirm?

 

When it first opened, the ride had to complete a few cycles at 100MPH to be certified by the Guiness Book of World Records as the fastest coaster. Those were probably the only cycles to get to the E-brakes at the top.

[coasterking2981]

Getting out of the topic again,

in Mexico there's a strong rumor about Superman, they say that a couple of years ago the train got out of it's rail!

killing some people.

and, due to this reason, that's why nowadays superman doesn't reach the top, when it gets to halfway it goes back.

anyone knows something about this?

 

^Why is that though?? Is it simply because Superman uses LSM's compared to say...... LIMs?

 

 

My understanding is its simply a combination of Superman's age and the poor maintenance work that was done on it before the new management came in. Which might be why it also doesnt run both sides at the same time anymore. I dont think the fact that it uses LSMs has anything to do with it.

[austinlee]

One time, a SFMM employee told me that Superman usually doesn't even hit 85 or 90 mph anymore. That means that, technically, Goliath is the fastest coaster at the park.

 

An employee told me the same thing. He said it currently goes about 75-80 mph. If Batman's trains ever get repainted I would like to see them painted black so they would be the color of the Batwing. I love the ride though, and would not mind if it stays the way it is either.

[Jew]

Getting out of the topic again,

in Mexico there's a strong rumor about Superman, they say that a couple of years ago the train got out of it's rail!

killing some people.

and, due to this reason, that's why nowadays superman doesn't reach the top, when it gets to halfway it goes back.

anyone knows something about this?

 

^Why is that though?? Is it simply because Superman uses LSM's compared to say...... LIMs?

 

 

My understanding is its simply a combination of Superman's age and the poor maintenance work that was done on it before the new management came in. Which might be why it also doesnt run both sides at the same time anymore. I dont think the fact that it uses LSMs has anything to do with it.

 

I wouldn't call it poor maintenance...I would call it technology ahead of its time. It's just not practical to make a motor use so much power for such a short time under the summer heat of Valencia!

[coasterking2981]

^True. I suppose the same could be said for X/X2 when it debuted in 2001

[rcdude]

One time, a SFMM employee told me that Superman usually doesn't even hit 85 or 90 mph anymore. That means that, technically, Goliath is the fastest coaster at the park.

 

An employee told me the same thing. He said it currently goes about 75-80 mph.

 

No wonder the launch doesn't feel like a 100 MPH launch and the weightlessness doesn't feel like 6.5 seconds. According to my knowledge of physics, a 75 MPH launch only gets the car about 200 feet up the tower, which results in about 3.5 seconds of weightlessness. It also reduces the g-force at the bottom of the tower from 4.5 to 2.5 or somewhere around that.

 

Now I have an excuse to justify not waiting more than 15 minutes for the ride even if I'm with people who want to ride it. I'll just tell them the actual statistics are quite a bit different from what they've heard. If they insist on riding, I can just go do Tatsu and come back.

[austinlee]

Yes, definitely ride Tatsu instead since it's worth a longer wait. I am not willing to wait more than 15 minutes to ride Superman either.

[AnEscapeArtist]

From what I've heard Superman hits about 87 on average, but that's at the very end of the launch. 'Tis a pity, as there are photos of both trains almost clipping the brakes at the top of the tower (AT THE SAME TIME!) back when it previewed in 1996.

 

Courtesy rcdb.com

 

I don't believe there's any factor other than the technology when it comes to the ride not being able to reach higher speeds. Basically when the ride goes any faster than 87, the computer loses the car, the magnets lose track of firing and the whole system shuts down (this is due to LSM's being a little more complicated computer-wise than LIMS). If the Valencia heat or amount of power being used was a factor, I doubt the ride would run at all.

 

Bottom line is the ride was one of its kind back then, and it was a gamble. Today, computers of 1996 simply can't handle such a daunting task.

[Jew]

^Have you noticed how much the ride is down?

 

One of the many design flaws was the lack of a proper cooling system. LSM's get hot. Having 90-100+ degree Valencia summer heat beating down on them doesn't help anything. In fact, one of the more lengthy "rehabs" for S:TE occurred after one of the stator houses caught fire. The drive also automatically trips itself when its overheating, to prevent any further damage (a drive trip is what happens when the computer loses the car). Why do you think California Screamin' has the misters spray the launch after every launch?

[Guy T. Koepp]

I would have no issues with misters on Superman/Bizzarro. Actually, I kinda love the idea! Perhaps that could be part of the re-do. I say GO FOR IT!

 

Guy "Personally, I like the idea of a Bizzarro Re-do." Koepp

[southpuddle]

Personally, I think that SFMM could get Superman to reach 100mph again if they really wanted to, but there's also a cost factor that plays into it. It's got to be more expensive to launch a train at 100mph as opposed to 80 or 85mph (when it comes to supplying electricity to the LSMs). The few extra seconds of ride time and almost unnoticeable speed increase simply aren't enough to warrant spending the extra dough. I'll also buy into the theory that the computers simply can't handle the car going that fast with any sort of reliability... if you think about it, all other LIM/LSM launched coasters top out at around 60-70mph... perhaps Intamin was biting off more than they could chew when they proposed the 100mph figure!

 

On another note, I can't imagine how LOUD it must be to have two trains racing up the tower together if you were standing directly underneath it... YIKES!!!

[austinlee]

According to Screamscape, Six Flags has announced the rewards for the Funatics program. Here's the link.

 

http://www.screamscape.com/html/industry_news.htm#SixFlags[/url][/url]

 

1. Free Flash Pass

2. Free refills on the Sports Bottle

3. Free parking pass or upgrade

4. Bring a friend free pass

5. 20% coupon for 2011 Season Pass

 

On my last visit there was a sign which said the Funatics program would be valid for any visit from 5/15-9/6. Assuming this is accurate I would be very happy about the Free Flash Pass after the first visit. I am currently planning to go on 5/19, with other visits before that, and this would allow me to get a Free Flash Pass which I could use during Summer Vacation when the park is crowded.

 

The next three rewards after that would not do me much good. I don't use the Sports Bottle, I already have free parking with my Xtreme Play Pass and my friends don't need free tickets. The 20% discount on a 2011 Season Pass would be very nice, but it is unlikely that I will visit 5 times during that time period. Right now I am planning 3 visits during that time, probably in mid May, late June and early August.

[SharkTums]

^I'm very curious about this free flashpass after one visit. I wonder if it's more like a 'free rental' aka $15 off like they do for Xtreme Passholders or something. Seems like a big reward after one visit to get a free qbot on your next visit (and during the busy season as well!)

[kidcoaster 2]

Agreed that is a big reward, but maybe it could be only good for one ride because that wouldn't be too bad.

[austinlee]

I am curious about this too for the same reasons. A free Q-bot seems like something they would give after the 4th or 5th visit, not the first. A pass for one ride would be a nice reward after one visit too. If it was a free rental like the Xtreme Pass holders get, I wonder what would happen since I already have an Xtreme Pass.

[CPmaverick]

On the Six Flags website, it mentioned that after one visit you would get a pass to skip the line. It said nothing about getting a free Flash Pass which leads me to believe it is a one time use thing for one ride.

[SharkTums]

^Yeah, that seems A LOT more like it.

[DBru]

Sounds like a nice perk, nonetheless.

[ebl]

I've already been a few times this year. Are these offers e-mailed to you? If so, I haven't seen anything yet.

 

Eric

[kidcoaster 2]

I've already been a few times this year. Are these offers e-mailed to you? If so, I haven't seen anything yet.

 

Eric

 

Apperently it don't start till May

[SharkTums]

FYI,

 

I was told today that the number on the Six Flags Magic Mountain Season Pass Mailer is INCORRECT, and that they figured that out today after I brought this to their attention. (No wonder they weren't getting any phone orders!!!)

 

Now, the odd thing is that this number HAS been correct in the past, but they're saying now that the number is 661-260-2601 instead of what is printed on the flyer (a transposed verion of that number). Seems like someone messed up somewhere here!!!

 

Here's a picture of the mailer:

Here's a picture of the mailer!