Not Another SFMM Photo TR!

[KKAddict127]

I took a trip out to LA last week, like I do every summer, to see my relatives out there. Traditionally, I have visited an amusement park every time. It started in December 2004 (one of my few trips to LA in the winter), when my coaster craze started. I headed out to the thrill capital of the area, SFMM. I had a great day, it had rained, so there was just about nobody anywhere. In August 2005, I hit up Knott's Berry Farm. Silver Bullet turned out to be a flop, and GhostRider just about broke both of my shoulders, but Xcelerator was the ride of the day. Now I'm back in '06, and a brandy-new flyer has opened on the mountain. I've been on two S:UF's, but I always get off wondering where the flying coaster concept could go. My prayers were answered on November 17th, 2005, when Tatsu was announced, and I knew my destination that summer. Now it was time.

 

We started out at my grandfather's house in Van Nuys, and drove a little ways to pick up my uncle and cousin, who were staying in the area to see us. We promptly got on the 5, and arrived in the park at about 9:30, a half hour to opening. I got in with my GAdv SP, and I got my uncle, dad and cousin in for half off. Of course, the ticket takers first looked at it like it was in Japanese. A few minutes later after consulting with some other employees, they were in. We came in to see a huge gathering at the entrance, with someone with absolutely no enthusiasm dancing on a lifeguard chair. Already, being in the middle of the crowd, I could tell this doesn't draw the family demgraphic that GAdv does. The family thing just doesn't seem to be working here.

 

 

They also do park opening differently than at GAdv. At 9:00, the GAdv people let you in a little bit into the park, past the security booths. They have a rope set up, and they let the rope down at opening, and security guards walk you to the ride of your choice (they used to let all hell break loose, I guess too many people got trampled). Here, they open the ticket booths, and let you in then. So if you are the first one in, you don't even need to run (unless someone behind you decides to). Sure makes it easier.

 

OK, now that my rambling is done, I'll get on with my trip...

EDIT: As with other Photo TR beginners, mine is posted backwards by mistake. Please scroll down to the end of my post and read up, thanks.

Photo TR starts HERE!!!

 

Welcome to Newark, NJ, the crown-jewel of New Jersey...really.

That large towery-thing keeps planes intact.

The view to my right for 5 hours.

The view straight ahead of me for 5 hours.

There was no big, colorful sign welcoming me to LA, so I had to take a picture of the baggage claim sign.

Our car, the Chevy HHR. Guess what it stands for...I'll go with horribly horrendous roundabout.

Of course, to alleviate the plane ride, I turn to a big ol' Carl's Jr. burger. After that, we drove over to my grandfather's house, and slept for the night. The next day would be...the day. I think the creativity part of my brain just went out the wind

Ah yes, SFMM, home to cheaply-cloned parking lot coasters. The battle for the tram seats was more thrilling than any coaster I'll ever get on...I still have nightmares.

My first ever big coaster lurks over that other crap-fest...

The skyline has taken a change for the better...

I figured out why these rides are still closed! The management ran out of magnetic material a few years back, so they opted for glue. Now, they can't get the rides off the board, so they remain closed. What they need is a crowbar...

It beckons...*insert inspirational music here*

Following a brisk walk up the mountain, it turns out I wasn't the only one who had heard of this new-fangled flying thingy...

So if the speed of fear is 62 mph, then Superman's 100 must be the speed of stupidity.

I wonder if that means "OMG, B&M is teh roxors!" in Japanese? Anyway, we took the far side of the station, and the total wait was about 25 minutes. Operations were horrible, I'll just leave it at that. I loved the ride, it was very unique and fun. It

Following a very sad incident at SFOG a few weeks back involving Deja Vu (and a donkey), I had to get on it at SFMM, so that was our next destination after Tatsu.

I named this picture Lord of the Breakdowns - The Two Towers.

The line was about 15 minutes long, with okay dispatch times. Thankfully, it never broke down. It was a surprisingly good ride, but still had a lot of the Vekoma roughness.

I guess Tatsu liked me, it kept poking through the bushes and saying hi...

ah, descions, descions...I pick X! There was a bit of a challenge going on here in my family, my dad wanted to ride it again after he realized it was the only coaster he couldsn't comprehend, and my dad challenged my uncle to ride it after saying he woul

Unfortunately, the line was about halfway up the bridge, a two hour wait. We heard someone come out, saying he got online at park opening, and it was noon now. Even family challenges aren't worth this, we decided to skip.

But Tatsu kept saying hi to me, even from X.

¿Realmente? ¡Cómo excita!

Flying at the speed of stupidity...no thanks.

Ah yes, time to go back to my maiden voyage after seeing X overflow. We took a ride on Scream, the coaster that was never meant to be (and it was rougher than the original), and it was time for the big one. I love my Goliath! My uncle and cousin opted

and here's a picture for all of you TPR-ers Goliath not just through a tree, but through a PALM tree! Whoo!

Welcome to Goliath, and oh, please give me credit when you brag about your new desktop.

Goliath was as awesome as ever, I loved it, and got on it twice due to the short line. They were running two trains, with no stacking. Next up, we met up with the uncle and cousin and hauled off to take on the Riddler's Revenge.

Unfortunately, even when it has that awesome loop going through the lift, we wouldn't be able to ride. My body was having some heat exhaustion problems (it was VERY hot), so we had to get out of line, and we sat down for a while.

Deciding that my body was in need of food, we took a trip to Food Etc. to get some of those awesome tacos for only $600. After that, I felt better.

We walked around for a little while after that, so my body could heal. I got some good angles on Tatsu, including...through the support...if the support was see-through!

Although I didn't get any pictures, I got two rides on Ninja after that, with a very short, one-train wait. It was getting close for leave time, but we walked down the mountain hoping to get on one more coaster. Goldrusher broke down during our wait tho

I know there is a sheriff sub-station on the premises, but there seemed to be a more-than-usual amount of cop cars there. More gang problems? So much for the "family" atmosphere!

4 days later, we took a trip to the Santa Monica pier to get on their beach-side coaster, the Santa Monica West Coaster.

Since my last visit last year, they re-painted most of it yellow, looks uglier, IMO.

Still a very photogenic coaster. They use this park in all of the movies...

The photos are posted in reverse! Start at the last photo and work up!

 

And I leave you with a postcard-like view of the Pacific Ocean...thanks for reading!

[robbalvey]

Ok, photos are working again.....not sure what happened there!

 

Anyway, thanks for a great SFMM Photo TR...that was one of the better ones!

 

--Robb "Liked the photo of the seat in front of you!" Alvey

[kennywood!007]

Cool pictures!

[coasterdude5]

Great TR! You had some great shots of Tatsu.

[KKAddict127]

Thanks for the help, Robb! I guess seeing Guy kiss a frog is a price I have to pay for your service...

[coasterrider1998]

ha ha ha Steve nice TR. I think we need you for our websites captions.