Valleyfair (VF) Discussion Thread

[RCjunkie]

Never left

 

Bummer.

[CaptainUnknown]

Never left

 

Bummer.

 

[ariznglori]

If the Rougarou revamp of Mantis is a success for Cedar Point, it's possible that Cedar Fair may focus on upgrading trains on existing coasters throughout the chain to improve ride experience--and not just for stand-up coasters.

 

It's cheaper to get new trains than a new coaster and has gotta be cheaper than a full coaster remodel like Six Flags has been doing with their wood coasters.

 

I like the idea of the company strengthening the experience of its existing lineup while saving up to add a new record breaker here and there, even if it's a few years further apart per park etc.

 

I'd also rather have upgraded trains on older coasters than adding disappointing flat rides (like most Six Flags parks this coming year) or none at all.

 

I would love to see Wild Thing live up to its name and I think more open trains can help.

 

But...how successful was the Iron Dragon 2000 train switch? After doing some snooping around, those seem the most likely switch to make. I heard height restrictions may be a problem with them, and cannot find any reviews about how the experience has changed.

[valleyfairfanatic]

I'm not sure if you guys are paying attention to what GCI just unveiled at IAAPA. On the topic of upgrading trains, I think the new chrome plated millennium flyer trains would look FREAKING AWESOME on renegade. Take a look for yourself, by far one of the coolest trains at IAAPA, besides thunderbird's of course.

[GCI Wooden]

Could you post a picture, valleyfairfanatic?

 

Also, I happen to like the bathtub trains on Wild Thing, but I wouldn't be against new trains... Just wondering, how did Steel Dragon get B&M trains when the track types are extremely different?

[Lightning9SX]

Unlike other Morgan's, Steel Dragon train have guide wheels on the outside similar to B&M trains, so not extremely different. I would assume with some measurements it wasn't that hard for B&M to draw something up. I'm sure they cost a pretty penny though. As far as updating the trains on Wild Thing, no thank you, there are much better ways to spend that money.

[valleyfairfanatic]

This is probably just a concept car. Im sure garyman has good intentions weather he does know or not. We really have nothing to lose, he hasn't given us solid facts about what his "source" says. Its a RUMOR. So everyone needs to calm down about this. The only bad thing that will happen if garyman truly doesn't know is that we'll be disappointed. And that isn't the end of the world people.

[Lareson]

Heh, yeah, chrome on a wooden roller coaster train may look nice, but probably within a week, it won't be. Wooden roller coaster trains get dirty very quickly because of the dust from the track. Not to mention bugs, and the usual messes that can happen.

 

Whatever Valleyfair is getting in the future, whether its a used but converted Vortex coaster, a brand new B&M, Vekoma, whatever, it's all at least another year off before the announcement is made. More than likely 2016 will be the time for the small parks to shine as I can see both Valleyfair and Michigan's Adventure splitting the coaster budget for new coasters. All of the other bigger parks are currently "set" on their lineup for the near future.

[GCI Wooden]

Oh, I didn't know that Steel Dragon had different track from other Morgans.

 

That GCI train looks beautiful, but I would rather see VF spend money on something else. The ones they are using currently work, and are comfortable, so why change them? The GCI train is still the exact same as the one on Renegade, except one is shiny, unlike changing Wild Thing's trains which there would actually be a fairly drastic change. I don't really want Wild Thing's train to be replaced because I find them comfy and would rather have VF buy something else with the money, like a new ride. Just my opinion...

[VF15]

This will probably sound like a weird idea, but I'd actually really like to see an S&S 4D Free Fly coaster at Valleyfair. Of course, we need to find out how much Batman: The Ride (SFFT) costs first because if it is anything over $15 million, it's probably out of the picture. Everything about that coaster looks great, with lots of flipping and great steep drops, and there really isn't anything else in the park like it. It wouldn't have any physical track inversions, but you'd still be inverted at times due to the flipping. Plus, I can see the GP going nuts for something like this. Even if it is a clone, I really don't mind clones as long as they're great rides (for example, Steel Venom is a clone but I still love it). It probably isn't the most likely possibility, but it could be a lot of fun .

Free Fly coaster train photo from IAAPA.

[garyman6]

Ok, can I respond to all the comments? First off I have never said I had concrete information on anything. I am only commenting on rumors. Speculating is fun or so I thought. Your all taking this way to seriously. I only mention Mr. Frazier when he tells me facts. Believe me I have asked him some pretty direct questions and he lets me know when he cant say any thing and I respect that. I've invited him to read this forum and I know he reads fb and vfz. So why would I post something that I shouldn't when I know he may read it. By the way, over a year ago he did call me on things I said on vfz. I apologized and we moved on! I also respect the fact that if you know something as fact you don't talk about it cause it could cause harm. That's awesome! All I'm trying to do is have some fun speculating. Sorry if it was offensive. My motive is to build a better Valleyfair, not bring attention on me.

[garyman6]

I have a theory about social media. I did a study (Not Scientific) HaHa! I believe that social media, such as this forum, has some influence on the decisions Cedar Fair makes when spending the capital improvement dollars. Take a look!

Cedar Fair parks and their ranking on Theme Park Review, based on number of pages.

1. Cedar Point - 2083 Flag ship park

2. K. I. - 1139 Well developed

3. K. D. - 1097 Well developed

4. C.G.A. - 939 Needs attention to bring to par

5. Knotts - 907 Well developed

6. C.W. - 642 Well developed (Canadian Flagship Park)

7. Carowinds - 458 Needs attention to bring to par

8. Valleyfair - 289 Needs attention to bring to par

9. Dorney - 164 Well developed

10. W.O.F. - 119 Needs attention

11. M.A. - 44 Needs attention

 

Look at the three underlined parks. They all have descent activity on the forums. W.O.F and M.A. both need lots of attention but since there is so little "talk" about the parks maybe they got passed up for now for significant improvements. Dorney park was a bit surprising but they have a nice well rounded line up including a great waterpark. Carowinds has a nice line up of coasters including the future fury but their flat ride line up has a lot to be desired. I think you will see some additional flat rides coming to Carowinds in the future. Its no wonder the California's Great America is on the list of 3, look at their discussion thread. They are a small park but rank #4 in discussion. That said a lot to me. Valleyfair has a solid 289 pages which put it on Cedar Fairs radar. I have to wonder if WOF or MA had more discussion pages would they have more attractions coming? All the other parks with a lot of discussion going on about them have seen significant growth for many years! This is just my take on this. What does everyone else think looking at this list

[ariznglori]

I think Cedar Fair sees dollars and cents, not web activity, as a sign of their parks' success. Certainly keeping a pulse on the buzz is good, but people are talking about the parks on the forums because of park investments and rumored investments, not the other way around. These parks have been around longer than social media and fan sites.

 

I do suspect that they look at the forums and muse on ideas every now and then, just to get a better insight into their consumers and what might be done to improve that they perhaps have not thought of (unrealistic I know).

[garyman6]

True, social media hasn't been around that long. Your probably right but I thought it was an interesting piece of info.

[RCjunkie]

ange. I don't really want Wild Thing's train to be replaced because I find them comfy and would rather have VF buy something else with the money, like a new ride. Just my opinion...

 

They sure are very comfy trains, you can re-ride it over and over with no pain. I would usually agree with you on this and that money should be spent on something else like a new ride. But when the biggest and 'baddest' signature ride in the park is one of the mildest rides in the park I would be open to anything that tries to improve the ride experience on it. After the drop hill and first camel back it quickly goes from Wild Thing to Mild Thing.

[ariznglori]

Valleyfair does make more money per guest than other Cedar Fair parks, so that is probably why we're slated for growth. Not social media.

Edited November 19, 2014 by ariznglori

[ariznglori]

But when the biggest and 'baddest' signature ride in the park is one of the mildest rides in the park I would be open to anything that tries to improve the ride experience on it. After the drop hill and first camel back it quickly goes from Wild Thing to Mild Thing.

 

This was my exact thought the first time I visited Valleyfair. Wild Thing currently is not the star attraction that it should and could be.

 

My first home park was Six Flags America (yes, the one on the East Coast). Valleyfair and SFA have a lot in common; similar ride lineups, coaster counts, etc. Valleyfair beats SFA hands down on charm, layout, atmosphere, etc. SFA beats Valleyfair in thrilling star attractions.

 

Superman and Wild Thing are of similar size (Superman is 4 feet shorter but has a 4 ft longer first drop and goes just 4 mph faster). However Superman delivers a superior thrill. True, Superman is 400 ft longer than Wild Thing, but that extra length is wasted on straight shots of track--Wild Thing's layout feels more effectively used. The trains made the biggest difference to me. I hope to one day see Wild Thing deliver a ride experience on par with the best coaster in the worst Six Flags park. That's not too much to hope for.

 

That's the last time I will bring up Wild Thing's trains.

[VF15]

But when the biggest and 'baddest' signature ride in the park is one of the mildest rides in the park I would be open to anything that tries to improve the ride experience on it. After the drop hill and first camel back it quickly goes from Wild Thing to Mild Thing.

 

This was my exact thought the first time I visited Valleyfair. Wild Thing currently is not the star attraction that it should and could be.

I'm starting to think that Wild Thing needs some changes too because this past season, I overheard a few GPs calling Wild Thing boring, and when the GP starts calling Wild Thing boring, you know it's time to make some improvements .

 

Also, here's a pic (from Mr. Frazier's Twitter) of what's behind the big dirt pile on the webcam. What this is, I have no idea, but it looks productive.

[GwaziBSRider1]

Judging from what appears to be rebar sticking out of the ground, I'd say this is footer construction.

[RCjunkie]

I'm starting to think that Wild Thing needs some changes too because this past season, I overheard a few GPs calling Wild Thing boring, and when the GP starts calling Wild Thing boring, you know it's time to make some improvements .

 

Also, here's a pic (from Mr. Frazier's Twitter) of what's behind the big dirt pile on the webcam. What this is, I have no idea, but it looks productive.

 

So, I am not the only hearing this from the GP! Good to know. Twice this year in the exit queue of WT thing I heard the same thing. First time in July I overheard a pair of girls (about 13-14 years in age) both say, "That ride was boring." and then in August a group of four boys (about 15-16 years old) in the exit queue also indicated that it was boring and that they should go back to Steel Venom. I agree with GwaziBSRider1, it looks like rebar sticking up in that picture so they look like footings for sure. And since they are in that area it means they are for the new slides if the concept art for the Soak City expansion is accurate.

[GCI Wooden]

Almost all of my friends (Not coaster enthusiasts) say that Wild Thing is boring, a few prefer High Roller to Wild Thing.

 

I'm glad that there is already footers in place, it'll be really interesting to see these slides go up.

[ariznglori]

The slides are going to be a great addition. I loved all the colors in the artwork for them. It gets me even more pumped up to see what will happen to the rest of the waterpark.

 

I have a feeling that the old splash pad may be the next spot for new waterpark attractions.

 

I cannot begin to speculate on what will happen to the old waterslides in that area, just hoping whatever replaces them is very colorful--not more white and blue. The Midwest is white and blue for 6-7 months a year naturally and I'm getting sick of seeing it.

[valleyfairfanatic]

Wild thing is a decent ride, but I don't think new trains are Valleyfair's 1# focus.

[VF15]

The slides are going to be a great addition. I loved all the colors in the artwork for them. It gets me even more pumped up to see what will happen to the rest of the waterpark.

 

I have a feeling that the old splash pad may be the next spot for new waterpark attractions.

 

I cannot begin to speculate on what will happen to the old waterslides in that area, just hoping whatever replaces them is very colorful--not more white and blue. The Midwest is white and blue for 6-7 months a year naturally and I'm getting sick of seeing it.

From what I've heard, the old slides will likely be going in a few years, so whatever will replace them is up for speculation. I'm hoping that something like a mat racer slide complex or a ProSlide Tornado are what could be replacing them. I agree that they should also get rid of the old splash pad too because we have the new one coming. Plus, the old splash pad is pretty pathetic for a kids' play area in a major amusement park.

[valleyfairfanatic]

I would love to see a Proslide Hydromagnetic Rocket slide go in place of the current slide tower. I think the magnetic "launch" on a water slide is pretty neat!