The Six Flags Magic Mountain (SFMM) Discussion Thread

[MagicMountainMan]

^The coaster isn't bad because it's over a parking lot.

 

^^Wow that's awesome! That would have been a great thing to see

[Kingsislandfreak]

^The coaster isn't bad because it's over a parking lot.

 

^^Wow that's awesome! That would have been a great thing to see

 

Isnt that what I just said. I explained why it was bad (roughness,low intensty) but I've been reading this thread and heard people complain about the coaster for being in a parking lot and i am tired of hearing that complaint.

[ebl]

I just find it odd that two coasters with the same layout (well, mirror images of each other) give two completely different rides. There's the story of one of the track pieces being dropped for Scream! during the construction process (the section at the bottom of the first drop from what I've heard). Could the manufacturing process have changed a bit? Could it be that the asphalt/concrete of the parking lot under Scream! doesn't "give" like the dirt and grass under Bizarro? I don't know.

 

What I do know is that I rarely have bad rides on Scream! and will ride it any time.

 

Eric

[RCFreak]

I rode Bizarro last summer and to me at least, the difference between it and Scream was like night and day. Bizarro is like what Scream wishes it could be, it's fun and not super rough (and the whole Auger of Doom thing through the corkscrews is great!). In short, it was a heck of a lot better than Scream is.

 

 

 

I have to agree with this, I went to SFGAdv in September of 2008 and Medusa was a LOT better then Scream is, the four other friends that were with me (all from SoCal, all have been on Scream many times and few coasters outside of California) also agree with this and said as much as soon as we got off the ride without me even prompting them lol. What the biggest difference felt like to me was when they made Scream taller, they made the inversions an even bigger ratio so it feels much less intense then it's east coast counterpart. And of course it was a lot smoother.

[ebl]

^ Funny...I hadn't realized that Scream! was taller than Medusa/Bizarro, but I just checked here and here (Roller Coaster Database) and found out that Scream! is eight feet taller, yet its track length is the same. Obviously, to keep the track length the same, they had to have cut a corner or two somewhere. And that could certainly affect the ride.

 

Eric

[austinlee]

I think Batman is a great ride too. It is a little short but really packs a punch. I have never had many problems re-riding any coaster which is currently at SFMM. I have rode Scream (and everything else) 3-6 times or more without exiting the train many times without having any trouble. Psyclone and Flashback are the only coasters they have ever had which I had to give up riding do to pain. I have no problem with the "parking lot coaster" issue either. I find Scream to be a quality coaster which is basically all I care about. I have never been too concerned about theming. I just want to ride everything as much as possible on each visit. I like Silver Bullet too, although I don't find it as intense or as much fun as Batman. Batman also feels faster than Silver Bullet to me, even though I know it is actually 5 mph slower.

 

Regarding re-rides or riding a coaster at all in this case, I am somewhat concerned about the blow to the head I took on X2 last month. It was very painful and caused me not to ride it again that day even with no line. That was the first time I have taken that hard of a hit on X2, although I have always found it somewhat rough. If it happens again on my next visit I may have to make a decision not to ride it anymore, which would be very depressing because it is my current #1 coaster. After that hit on my last visit my neck was sore for 3 days and my head hurt until the next morning. No ride is worth that but I don't want to "lose" access to my favorite coaster either.

[MagicMountainMan]

Regarding re-rides or riding a coaster at all in this case, I am somewhat concerned about the blow to the head I took on X2 last month. It was very painful and caused me not to ride it again that day even with no line. That was the first time I have taken that hard of a hit on X2, although I have always found it somewhat rough. If it happens again on my next visit I may have to make a decision not to ride it anymore, which would be very depressing because it is my current #1 coaster. After that hit on my last visit my neck was sore for 3 days and my head hurt until the next morning. No ride is worth that but I don't want to "lose" access to my favorite coaster either.

 

That's weird, I actually rode it yesterday and thought it was running a bit better then it has been in the past 6 months. Maybe it depends on the train that you're on? I really don't know when it comes to X2 because I really have had some good and some absolutely terrible rides on it within the past year. At what part did you hit your head?

 

^^Scream is 8 feet taller? Wow I never knew that! I guess you learn something new everyday....

[austinlee]

I hit my head very, very hard on the first raven turn and hit it fairly hard again on the second raven turn.

 

I have rode X2 just about every month since the remodel. I have had rides on it ranging from somewhat smooth with no headbanging all the way to fairly rough with headbanging. However, on the other rough rides I have had on it, the headbanging wasn't really painful. It was more of a rattle. This was the first time X2 had inflicted that much pain on me but I am going to give it another chance on my next visit since it had never happened before.

[gforce532]

Im about 200 lbs so I notice a great ride experience difference between the outside and inside on x2. the outside is a much rougher ride than the inside. I love scream and batman but they are not re rideable to me because b&m loopers seem to bring out my motion sickness side. Which is weird because they only one I can go on for hours over and over without feeling anything is silver bullet. So bullet even tops tatsu on my list for that reason alone.

[austinlee]

I'm about 200 lbs too and I have noticed a large difference between the inside and outside of X2 also, but never to the extent of what happened on my last visit. Tatsu is my current #2 coaster. It should move into the top spot if X2 beats the heck out of my head again next time I go.

[ebl]

Since X became X2, I've been able to ride it much easier. But that second raven turn is my very least favorite part of the ride. It's there where I seem to get the worst of it. However, not once have I walked away from X2 in pain of any kind. The original X? A few times...

 

Eric

[austinlee]

Before my last visit I had never walked away from X2 in pain either. I even rode it 10 times in one hour on Season Pass Appreciation Day last September. The second raven turn is the roughest part for me most of the time too, although on my last visit the first raven turn was much rougher and actually whipped me forward then slammed me back into the seat which is why I hit my head so hard.. "X" never caused me to be in pain either.

[MagicMountainMan]

^Maybe next time ride it twice and on both trains (that are running) and see if there is a difference. I have a feeling that with a ride like X2, the longer time a train goes without a rehab or whatever you'd like to call it, the rougher it gets. Or maybe it's just a train in general that gives a worse ride. Or maybe I'm completely wrong.

[austinlee]

I did ride it three times on my last visit. I don't know which train I was on each time but this is what happened.

 

Ride 1. First ride I went on. A little rough, but no headbanging and no whipping back and forth in the seat. No pain and no real issues.

Ride 2. Much rougher. Some headbanging and light whipping on the raven turns. Hit my head lightly but pain wasn't that bad.

Ride 3. Right after ride 2. This is the one I have been describing.

 

I wish I knew if rides 2 and 3 were on a different train than ride 1. They were running two trains that day. I find it strange that this happened suddenly after as many times as I have rode it with no major problems in the last two years.

[MagicMountainMan]

Maybe one of the trains needs a refurb, it would be great if somebody investigated and tested it out. Tell us which train to avoid for now if we're right.

[austinlee]

Yes, it could be that one of them needs a refurb. I really hope this doesn't happen again when I go back later this month.

[coasterking2981]

^I wouldn't advise going again until May if possible. Schools are still having Spring Break for the next few weeks (different districts every week of course but still).

 

April is definitely a bad time to go.

[austinlee]

Thanks for the suggestion but I have had very good luck at this time of year in 2008 and 2009. I went there on the first 10:30-6 Monday right after the main part of Spring Break ended both years and had walk ons on every coaster in the park including X2.

[Jew]

^I wouldn't advise going again until May if possible. Schools are still having Spring Break for the next few weeks (different districts every week of course but still).

 

April is definitely a bad time to go.

 

No it's not. Spring break is over after today for the vast majority of schools. Any weekday between now and Memorial day should be pretty dead.

[BeachKidBoy]

Since X became X2, I've been able to ride it much easier. But that second raven turn is my very least favorite part of the ride. It's there where I seem to get the worst of it. However, not once have I walked away from X2 in pain of any kind. The original X? A few times...

 

Eric

Of all the times I've rode X2 I always seem to get banged after the fire effect as you go through the 'mist/light' area. If my heads not back against the backpad I get banged. I also try to ride in Jay Thomas' favorite seat, inside front row as you leave the station.

[dante1001]

IO'm planning to go next monday or tuesday. Is this a busy time of the year? Should I look into the FlashPass? I'm only there for a day so want to make the most of it, but I don't want to get an (expensive) FlashPass and seeing the park is half empty either

thanks

[SharkTums]

^You'll most likely be fine. See what the crowds look like, do some rides, then decide if you need the Flashpass or not.

[BeachKidBoy]

After a GREAT time at WCB, I am ticketed and ready for AAA day/night at SFMM on May 21st.

[AWill961]

I'm heading up to the Mountain this Friday. I don't think the park will be crowded anymore, like it has during spring break, and last week when I went. Any time now during the week for April should be a pretty good day.

 

I still don't know why the park closes at 7 pm that Friday. There's still no events listed for that day. Hopefully its just an extra hour to get a lot of re-rides in of Goliath.

[BeachKidBoy]

This Friday is still Spring Break for a lot of schools. Maybe that's it.