The Six Flags Magic Mountain (SFMM) Discussion Thread

[harper83087]

^^wesrg, I can't speak for the crowd size this time of year but I spent the weekend at the mountain a couple of weeks ago and here's what I got out of it. FP should open as the gates open, at least they did while I was there even though my purchase confirmation said check back at 11am. I was able to go through the training and have my q-bot in hand by 10:30. The FP lines basically take you to the station of the ride, generally through the exit. The only exceptions are for Tatsu and Riddler's which merge with the line at the stairs up to the staion,there may be a small wait depending on the normal line length. I highly suggest getting reservations for X2, worth every penny of the extra $15 per person per ride.

[wesrg]

Harper,

 

Thanks for the comments. Our plan is try and get one free X2 ride in, and if its as awesome as everyone says then we will book the extra trip (or 2!) for the $15pp. I also see you can book GL for the same price, so we may do that depedning on the line. Some report seem to say that the GL isnt too bad, as opposed to the 2.5 hour X2!

[harper83087]

We saw the GL lines anywhere between and hour to two hours depending on the time of day. We ended up waiting just over an hour.

[wesrg]

Harper, one quick question did you use the FP on Superman? I keep reading different reports on this and the website doesnt have it listed as a FP ride.

[harper83087]

I did use it on superman. The only ride that wasn't on the FP was Deja Vu. Other rides that were frequently "full" or "closed" were Riddler's and Batman.

[JJnCFL]

Hello all! First time poster, longggg time reader, 13 years to be exact, I know what you're thinking, what took you so long? lol Anyways just came back from SFMM 2 weeks ago and it was awesome! FP Platinum +X2 & GL definitely is worth it, as I got to basically ride everything except for Deja Vu which I didn't feel like waiting since it wasn't available for FP. Regarding Superman, the FP entrance is not through the exit but on the left side where there's a path that leads you to a door to open. It basically leads you to the area where it divides into sections. Be careful which line you're in if you're in a group larger than 2, the back is for groups of 2, while the other 3 rows are for groups of 4. It would be nice if they placed the signs that said the number of groups per row on top of the doors instead of on the doors since you can't really see it till you're close (well for me since i'm short lol) since I noticed a bit of confusion in there. Will definitely be back, enjoy your trip!

[takedown]

wesrg,

 

If you have a discover card, make sure you bring it. It will get you close to the front of the gate in the discover line and if you are lucky you'll be there on a day that they let that line in early. I've been there on days when I was almost to the walkway above Revolution before the front gates opened which equals first train out on Tatsu or X2

[CharlieT.]

Hello all! First time poster, longggg time reader, 13 years to be exact, I know what you're thinking, what took you so long? lol Anyways just came back from SFMM 2 weeks ago and it was awesome! FP Platinum +X2 & GL definitely is worth it, as I got to basically ride everything except for Deja Vu which I didn't feel like waiting since it wasn't available for FP. Regarding Superman, the FP entrance is not through the exit but on the left side where there's a path that leads you to a door to open. It basically leads you to the area where it divides into sections. Be careful which line you're in if you're in a group larger than 2, the back is for groups of 2, while the other 3 rows are for groups of 4. It would be nice if they placed the signs that said the number of groups per row on top of the doors instead of on the doors since you can't really see it till you're close (well for me since i'm short lol) since I noticed a bit of confusion in there. Will definitely be back, enjoy your trip!

 

Sounds like you has a nice trip. Welcome to TPR haha

 

Just curious, was X2's audio and fire effects working?

[liftsifter]

I waited 45 minutes on Green Lantern, and about an hour for X2. S:EFK was 90 minutes though.

[JJnCFL]

 

Sounds like you has a nice trip. Welcome to TPR haha

 

Just curious, was X2's audio and fire effects working?

 

Thanks so much, TPR is awesome! Regarding the audio & fire effects, I don't recall if the audio was working, but the fire effects definitely were working! Sitting in the back the flames looked and felt as if they were right on us!

[KDCOASTERFAN]

And I want some numbers for the maintenance cost for Deja Vu that keeps getting mentioned, how can it be that expensive? There are other rides that are more expensive to maintain I'm sure than that one, especially since it only has 1 train. Last time I checked most if not all the other coasters have at least two trains.

let's see, more trains=more parts=more time spent on maintenance=more money

I think people are referring to how it has to get its lift cable replaced every season, a relatively complex train, new motors, the catch system on the lifts, etc. How often do you see other rides getting completely new lift chains every year? I would assume that its one of the top three most expensive rides in the park to maintain.

 

Sad that the GIBs are such a faulty design as I'd love to see KD get one but vekoma messed up by designing it with a cable & catch car system instead of a chain.As we've seen from intamin with their vertical coaster at HP a standard chain would be feasible in place of the cable system for lifting trains on a vertical track but they obviously never took this into consideration when prototyping the design.

 

I seem to recall that the standard invertigo was originally intended to use either LSM's or a cable lift but in the end they chose a more reliable chain lift & for the most part...if given proper maintenance the rides built even out performed many of their older boomerang counterparts in terms of reliability.

 

Anyone know if the new GIB in China will use a chain or cable? it has been ten years now since the last "new one" was built so perhaps vekoma has gone back to the drawing board & made use of the upgrade in technology?

[KDCOASTERFAN]

And I want some numbers for the maintenance cost for Deja Vu that keeps getting mentioned, how can it be that expensive? There are other rides that are more expensive to maintain I'm sure than that one, especially since it only has 1 train. Last time I checked most if not all the other coasters have at least two trains.

let's see, more trains=more parts=more time spent on maintenance=more money

I think people are referring to how it has to get its lift cable replaced every season, a relatively complex train, new motors, the catch system on the lifts, etc. How often do you see other rides getting completely new lift chains every year? I would assume that its one of the top three most expensive rides in the park to maintain.

 

Sad that the GIBs are such a faulty design as I'd love to see KD get one but vekoma messed up by designing it with a cable & catch car system instead of a chain.As we've seen from intamin with their vertical coaster at HP a standard chain would be feasible in place of the cable system for lifting trains on a vertical track but they obviously never took this into consideration when prototyping the design.

 

I seem to recall that the standard invertigo was originally intended to use either LSM's or a cable lift but in the end they chose a more reliable chain lift & for the most part...if given proper maintenance the rides built even out performed many of their older boomerang counterparts in terms of reliability.

 

Anyone know if the new GIB in China will use a chain or cable? it has been ten years now since the last "new one" was built so perhaps vekoma has gone back to the drawing board & made use of the upgrade in technology?

[Top Thrill Dragster]

And I want some numbers for the maintenance cost for Deja Vu that keeps getting mentioned, how can it be that expensive? There are other rides that are more expensive to maintain I'm sure than that one, especially since it only has 1 train. Last time I checked most if not all the other coasters have at least two trains.

let's see, more trains=more parts=more time spent on maintenance=more money

I think people are referring to how it has to get its lift cable replaced every season, a relatively complex train, new motors, the catch system on the lifts, etc. How often do you see other rides getting completely new lift chains every year? I would assume that its one of the top three most expensive rides in the park to maintain.

 

Sad that the GIBs are such a faulty design as I'd love to see KD get one but vekoma messed up by designing it with a cable & catch car system instead of a chain.As we've seen from intamin with their vertical coaster at HP a standard chain would be feasible in place of the cable system for lifting trains on a vertical track but they obviously never took this into consideration when prototyping the design.

 

 

 

How do you know they didn't take in to consideration on using a chain instead of a catch car? Also Intamins vertical chain lift engages the train at a complete stop and while horizontal to the ground. The GIB engages the train twice while vertical and with the train moving. And I imagine using a chain would put stress on the structure and train and would end up being more costly than the catch car set up they have now.

[Tmcdllr]

^Exactly. While the Invertigos use the catch car/ chains they can do so because the lift is at an angle, so when it catches the train the stress may not be so bad. On the GIB however, the towers are completely vertical, and with the cable design when it catches the train the cable sort of acts like a rubber band and gives/stretches slightly which helps to reduce stress on the catch car and lift tower. If a "more reliable" chain was used here not only would the jolt of it catching the train be more severe and uncomfortable, it would also put a lot more stress on the structure and everything involved and actually, the chain probably would not last. How do you know they didn't try this when they were designing the GIB? And, don't you think they went with the cables because, oh I don't know, its the better design of what they tried? Comparing this to Farenheit does not work. You cannot compare a chain lift which engages the train on a horizontal plane at almost a standstill and a smaller train to a cable lift/catch car that grabs the bigger train AS IT IS MOVING up the vertical spike twice (once on each tower) per ride cycle. If the chain lift is so much better than the cable lift or launch then why doesn't Intamin use it on TTD or MF or most of their Megalites? There's gotta be a good reason so what is it?

[WFChris]

It's funny how these pointless arguments only happen when all of the moderators are all out of town on TPR trips!!!

 

But by all means, continue to deteriorate our credibility. As long as it makes you feel good

[Tmcdllr]

Yes it is pointless isn't it.

 

Please somebody talk about something else......please.

 

How about this...

 

I'm finally going down there next week for a few days and can't wait to ride GL. Is anything going on that would cause long lines? I would be in the park Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.

Edited July 31, 2011 by Tmcdllr

[John Knotts]

It's funny how these pointless arguments only happen when all of the moderators are all out of town on TPR trips!!!

 

But by all means, continue to deteriorate our credibility. As long as it makes you feel good

 

No homo, but I think I may love you.

[jray21]

Yes it is pointless isn't it.

 

Please somebody talk about something else......please.

 

How about this...

 

I'm finally going down there next week for a few days and can't wait to ride GL. Is anything going on that would cause long lines? I would be in the park Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.

 

There could be long lines if they are changing out the Deja Vu cable for a chain.

 

I checked the Valencia and Santa Clarita events calendars and didn't see anything going on then. Good luck!

[skaunit]

Quick question, I don't have my season pass coupon book with me right now...

I am going down with 2 friends on the 23rd and 24th of august. I have one coupon for $25 admission that will work on those days, but another friend has a season pass book also, and can give me his coupon, but I don't know if they need to see 2 season passes to use 2 coupons? I guess I could try calling the park [anyone have a number directly to guest relations?] but maybe someone here knows...

 

thanks.

[Sir Clinksalot]

Going to be 100% honest, I haven't used any of the coupon's for years. But I remember back in the day when they used to give multiple free-friend, free-parking, etc you had to show a pass for each coupon you were using. Something tells me that hasn't changed.

[Sir Clinksalot]

Somebody over at MiceChat asked us about school districts around SFMM and when they were going back, so I did a little research. Figured you all may want to know this as well for any end-of-summer trips to the park.

 

School Start Dates:

 

LAUSD - September 7th

 

Santa Clarita School Districts:

Castaic School District - August 11th

William S. Hard School District - August 18th

Saugus School District - August 17th

Sulphur Springs School District - August 18th

Newhall School District - Still has 2009 calendar up on their site, but one can assume it would be around the same time.

 

Palmdale School District - September 6th

Lancaster School District - September 7th

 

Ventura Area Schools:

Ventura School District - August 23rd

Oxnard School District - August 30th

Pleasant Valley School District - August 31st

 

Bakersfield School District - August 22nd

 

Looks like the last two weeks in August may be a good time to head out to the park for weekdays.

[buckaroo234]

Somebody over at MiceChat asked us about school districts around SFMM and when they were going back, so I did a little research. Figured you all may want to know this as well for any end-of-summer trips to the park.

 

School Start Dates:

 

LAUSD - September 7th

 

Santa Clarita School Districts:

Castaic School District - August 11th

William S. Hard School District - August 18th

Saugus School District - August 17th

Sulphur Springs School District - August 18th

Newhall School District - Still has 2009 calendar up on their site, but one can assume it would be around the same time.

 

Palmdale School District - September 6th

Lancaster School District - September 7th

 

Ventura Area Schools:

Ventura School District - August 23rd

Oxnard School District - August 30th

Pleasant Valley School District - August 31st

 

Bakersfield School District - August 22nd

 

Looks like the last two weeks in August may be a good time to head out to the park for weekdays.

 

You forgot a big one, the Antelope Valley Highschool District, Aug 8th.

 

Also went on saturday and unfortunately green lantern was running like crap, every car stopped on the MCBR for a good minute. Was not a happy puppy after my ride. The good news, batman and goliath are running the best ive ridden in years, and Colossus is running both trains. which is always fun, even if its a shitty racer.

[skaunit]

Going to be 100% honest, I haven't used any of the coupon's for years. But I remember back in the day when they used to give multiple free-friend, free-parking, etc you had to show a pass for each coupon you were using. Something tells me that hasn't changed.

 

Yeah, that's kind of what I figured... well it's not my money, and only a $10 difference from the online tix... and the twicket for the 2nd day will be good also, thanks...

 

AAAND, thats awesome info about the school start dates... looks like we may get pretty lucky on the 23/24th with low crowds.

Thank you mucho!!

[Sir Clinksalot]

^^ I didn't realize there was another school district in the Antelope valley. Good to know.

 

Weird that the AV HS district starts a full month before the other schools in the area.

[gdoggy1678]

Hey do any of you guys know if they have been running both stations at Tatsu or just one?