Valleyfair (VF) Discussion Thread

[CPSFMMCW]

I could see a tornado or bowl style slide area in the middle where the red is. A water play area could also be very possible in that area. And then I could see some Bonzai Pipelines adjacent to the wavepool to the right.

[Rollercoaster Rider]

And some color.

[Spartan]

Who's the third park slated for significant growth besides Valley Fair and Carowinds?

[CaptainUnknown]

^^RCJunkie, I see what you are saying with the yellow outlines. But I believe that you forgot to include something in that: The restrooms in front of Mad Mouse. They would have to be at least relocated for traffic flow. I've always thought that the restrooms there made it seem a tad claustrophobic. Plus, they're old.

 

While we're on the subject of aerial views, I looked over at Dinos Alive. Many of the picnic cove buildings are still there. I'm not entirely sure how accurate Google is right now, but they could be used for Haunt purposes. Or maybe Dinos was always meant as a temporary attraction. When the Dinos leave, I think that the picnic cove will be moved back, Route 76 will be expanded into where the current picnic area is, and the rest of the Dinos plot used for something else. Possible for what could be part of whatever replaces Corkscrew.

 

For everyone saying that the Ampitheater at the front of the park will be replaced by a flat ride or something else, I doubt highly that they'd put a whole attraction in that area unless they'd either reroute the train, and/or creating some sort of bridge to get over the tracks. I could see them putting part of some kind of coaster there or and upcharge attraction, but not a free with admission ride. And before everyone points out Cedar Point does something similar with Mean Streak, remember the ride that it was when it opened and the hype surrounding it, and compare it to the ride it is today.

[VF15]

Who's the third park slated for significant growth besides Valley Fair and Carowinds?

 

California's Great America. I think it's good that CF is giving them some attention too because for the past several years until they got Gold Striker, they had been a very neglected park (more neglected than VF in my opinion), as they went several consecutive years without any new attractions. At least Valleyfair got something new every two years.

[RCjunkie]

^ Yes, it is CGA. And the reason they were neglected even more than VF was because of the indecision of the 49er's stadium right next to the park. That has now been settled with a new stadium being constructed and the parking situation resolved without taking any land from CGA. They did not invest for 3-4 years because of the uncertainty of that situation but now that it is done it is one of the 'Big 3' parks for growth for CF according to them.

Edited May 29, 2014 by RCjunkie

[garyman6]

^^RCJunkie, I see what you are saying with the yellow outlines. But I believe that you forgot to include something in that: The restrooms in front of Mad Mouse. They would have to be at least relocated for traffic flow. I've always thought that the restrooms there made it seem a tad claustrophobic. Plus, they're old.

 

While we're on the subject of aerial views, I looked over at Dinos Alive. Many of the picnic cove buildings are still there. I'm not entirely sure how accurate Google is right now, but they could be used for Haunt purposes. Or maybe Dinos was always meant as a temporary attraction. When the Dinos leave, I think that the picnic cove will be moved back, Route 76 will be expanded into where the current picnic area is, and the rest of the Dinos plot used for something else. Possible for what could be part of whatever replaces Corkscrew.

 

For everyone saying that the Ampitheater at the front of the park will be replaced by a flat ride or something else, I doubt highly that they'd put a whole attraction in that area unless they'd either reroute the train, and/or creating some sort of bridge to get over the tracks. I could see them putting part of some kind of coaster there or and upcharge attraction, but not a free with admission ride. And before everyone points out Cedar Point does something similar with Mean Streak, remember the ride that it was when it opened and the hype surrounding it, and compare it to the ride it is today.

 

VF15 beat me to it. He is correct. California's Great America.

The old picnic cove buildings that you are talking about are being used as a haunt location for ValleyScare already. Mr. Frazier seems hesitant to remove them right now because ValleyScare is huge now and he doesn't want to loose a haunt location. That could alway's change if a new haunt location is built. The current picnic point will not be leaving for many, many years. They just built two new pavilions this year. They have a seating capacity in the thousands with a brand new kitchen right there that can produce 3000 meals per hour. As for Dino's, that very well may be a temporary attraction and could be used for something in the future. My guess though is that it is here to stay! It could be moved to another area. The reason VF got Dino's is to attract grade school kids. Before Dino's schools could not bring grade school kids to the park because there was no "educational" attraction in which the school would be able to use tax dollars to pay for a field trip. Next is the amphitheater, there are two big issues with this venue. First, its out of code and would be quite expensive to bring it back to code and usable again. Second, performers don't like it cause the braking of Wild Thing causes a lot of noise. I think this location would be perfect for a large flat ride such as a giant Frisbee or sledgehammer. I don't see the track as a problem. It could be used as a coaster support area but even with a flat ride located here I think there would be plenty of room for coaster supports in the area.

[Mdcastle]

A few other thoughts on Soak City

 

If you shortened and moved Wild Things queue to be next to the train tunnel and demoed the Pronto Pup and Funnel Cake stands and yet another set of old, cramped restrooms you'd have a lot of land behind the wave pool (although it would be awkward to get to from the rest of the waterpark and you'd get a nice view of all the wave pool mechanical equipment. It would make a good spot for a water coaster, with the entrance in the old Hydroblaster area.

 

The Viking ship I wouldn't care if they removed it now, the new higher headrests really wreck the ride for me.

 

If they took out the existing slide towers they could build something higher and cantilevered over the road.

 

A Flowrider packs a lot of wow into very little space.

 

Mad Mouse looks like it would be easy to move, and the main path could go behind the games area.

 

I'd like to see a new main entrance. I know Valleyfair wants you to walk by as many food stands as possible, but it's about as far as you can get from the parking lot, and the walkways by whatever they call Red Garter now are often congested.

[RCjunkie]

The restrooms in front of Mad Mouse. They would have to be at least relocated for traffic flow. I've always thought that the restrooms there made it seem a tad claustrophobic. Plus, they're old.

 

It would be fantastic if the rumored water park expansion included the park moving those bathrooms. They need updating and that corner is terrible for people traffic on a busy day, it comes to a crawl at times. Moving the bathrooms and removing the old corporate patio would open up that entire corner and help it out. Something is going to happen with all the usable space around Soak City now. If it is going to happen next year we should see an announcement in about 90 days.

[VF15]

Mad Mouse looks like it would be easy to move, and the main path could go behind the games area.

 

After thinking about it, I think that Valleyfair should relocate Mad Mouse to the former Tilt-a-Whirl location because that corner that turns near the volleyball courts (old IMAX area) is truly a horrible thing when it comes to visitor traffic. To be honest, I actually like Valleyfair's relatively odd layout, but just that one turn is one thing that can really be an inconvenience when you're going to and from the back areas of the park. Removing Mad Mouse would open up room to make a much easier turn there.

 

Something is going to happen with all the usable space around Soak City now. If it is going to happen next year we should see an announcement in about 90 days.

 

Yeah, we'd want the waterpark expansion to be announced in late August, but it wouldn't surprise me if they waited until late September to announce it since Route 76 was announced then. Last year, around mid-September, I was convinced that we were getting nothing, and then Route 76 literally came right out of nowhere. Hopefully we'll hear something in August, but you can never really know with a park like Valleyfair.

[VF15]

Here are some pictures from VF's Facebook page of the new LED night lights on the Ferris Wheel and Scrambler. They look really cool. I've got to get to the park at night one of these days.

[valleyfairfanatic]

I loved the route 76 lights, I think when fall comes and valleyfair fires up the fog machines it will look great in the fog. I noticed when i visited valleyfair a few weeks ago they still had the front of zombie high up, why is that? Here is what i mean, this is a picture of it last fall but the front is still set up even to this day(minus the "spray painted" lettering of zombie"

[garyman6]

Wow! The LED lighting looks awesome! Can't wait till Monday. Gonna be there all day so I'll see the lights.

[VF15]

So I've been reading all of the buzz about Colossus at SFMM closing (I am aware of the possible RMC makeover), and I realized that Colossus is an International Amusement Devices coaster, and IAD also manufactured Valleyfair's High Roller. While the two rides really don't have too much in common, does anyone else think that High Roller might bite the dust in the near future? I personally think that it will happen later rather than sooner because several parts of it were retracked this past offseason, greatly improving the ride, and even though it isn't a kiddie ride, I think it fits in quite well with Planet Snoopy.

Still, I feel like High Roller might be removed somewhere down the line, as no ride can live forever. I hope it doesn't get removed soon, but what do you guys think? Is HR going in a few years?

 

On a side note, I'll be at Valleyfair for a few hours tomorrow, and hopefully I can make a trip report and post it by tomorrow night or Wednesday.

[valleyfairfanatic]

Its hard to say, I think excalibur will be destroyed before high roller is, considering the removal of excalibur drinks, and because high roller just got a lot of track work and new seat belts. I think we'll be seeing high roller for a while

[garyman6]

Utility marker flags, the background is Looping Starship

The brown ground you see used to be heavy vegetation that covered a tunnel over Raging Rapids. All Gone! The Foreground is the yet to be completed sand volleyball courts where IMAX used to be

Just got back from my first trip to Valleyfair today. I gotta say that my daughter and I had a great time. The track work on High Roller and Renegade have made great improvements especially on Renegade. It was a much improved ride. I even really enjoyed Excalibur. It seemed more fun than usual. Wild Thing was running awesome and smooth as glass but the winner was Route 76. Valleyfair hit a grand slam with Northern Lights, Antique Auto's, Scrambler and Tilter. Northern Lights is an extremely fun ride. Much more than expected. We rode it 8 times today including the last 4 rides of the day. A trio of 20 something guys sat in front of us and were talkin smack about the ride. I told them that it was a lot more fun than they are expecting. Well after riding it two times in a row they were huge fans. I tried to meet with Mr. Frazier today but he was unable to today. Well, now on to some speculation. Three things stuck out to me like a sore thumb and they all are the Soak City expansion. We have heard rumors about a massive water park makeover not just adding some slides. I saw a few things today that would seem to support that. First, the so-called sand pit for kids to play in. This was literally just scrapping off sod and dumping sand. It was not up to Valleyfair's high standards for appearance. This tells me that this area is an expansion zone. Second, Remember the tunnel that Raging Rapids goes through? Last year, there was heavy vegetation and several trees located on top of that tunnel area. They have completely stripped it of all vegetation and have not planted anything as a replacement. I am predicting that Raging Rapids will be history next year. Lastly, I noticed utility marker flags (excel energy) located all over the area around Looping Starship and the lawn between where IMAX and Looping starship. I posted a few pics for you to see. Another prediction; The current entry to Soak City is going to be relocated. When I looked at all the land that now includes raging rapids, the entry to SS and IMAX site, there is a large area to expand.

[garyman6]

Just adding a few more pics of our day. See you at the park!

Power Tower Looking Good!

My Daughter has this strange thing growing out of her head! We really should get that checked out!

Mad Mouse was seriously ticked off today. Made it that much more fun!

[Mdcastle]

Raging Rapids is a fun ride and still gets used a lot, but I wouldn't be surprised if it goes, I imagine it's expensive to operate because it requires several lifeguards to staff and a lot of water to be pumped up. Noah's Ark used to have something similar years ago but they got rid of it. Either they just retire the ride, or they replace the entire slide tower- as I pointed out they could build it higher and over the road even with Excalibur still there.

 

Other notes:

*The neon sign still has some dead tubing. I really hope they restore it rather than putting up an LED video board like everyone else (I've done business with a local neon shop- there's still people left that do this).

*Lockers have been replaced with electronic PIN codes that you can rent with a credit card at a kiosk, rather than coins. $13-$15 seems a bit high, but at least you don't have to bring cash and carry a key around anymore.

*They claim passholders get early access to Soak City, but I went there a half hour before it opened, and there was no one stopping anyone who wanted to enter, pass or no.

*Route 76 is concrete slabs, rather than paving stones. I'm assuming there was already concrete in the area that was serviceable so they added more rather than rip it all out and redo it. The new walkway lights (I still miss the old ones they took out years ago) are LED.

* Every year they turn off more and more of the waterfalls on Thunder Canyon. I don't know if pumps are failing, or they're too cheap to run them, or if guests were complaining about actually getting wet.

* Riptide wasn't operating the first two times I was there. Extreme Swing now can use both sides.

* Price of food seems to have gone up, big surprise

[VF15]

*The neon sign still has some dead tubing. I really hope they restore it rather than putting up an LED video board like everyone else (I've done business with a local neon shop- there's still people left that do this).

 

Actually, I saw this recently on the City of Shakopee website. Looks like VF wants to get an electronic sign.

There are some pros and cons to a new sign. It would be a good upgrade for the park, as most other Cedar Fair parks have an electronic sign. The current sign is one thing that helps Valleyfair retain it's unique charm, but the park has unfortunately lost some of that charm in recent years, and a new sign would contribute to that. Still, I'll probably be okay with whatever happens.

[RCjunkie]

^ Bummer. That neon sign is classic and does give VF some unique charm, too bad it looks like it will be going away. I get that an electronic one like they use at other CF parks allows for more advertising and information and you must update/evolve/adapt to a changing market place if you want a amusement park to survive but that sign is iconic for Valleyfair. Maybe they could move it some where inside the park, it looks great at night. Put it up in Route 76, maybe on the AA's track, anywhere works for me to keep it around. But if they insist on removing it completely along with its charm and make VF more like other CF parks then they better make VF entirely like most other CF parks and bring a serious water park expansion and a great roller coaster over the next 2 years. A smaller park like VF needs little things like the neon sign out front to have a unique attraction and charm to the park, if not they better have rides and attractions then that make you want to go instead and that part needs to be stepped up then.

The classic Valleyfair sign at night.

[yogibrain]

Going this Friday night. this will be our fourth time this season but first time in the evening to see everything lit up.

 

Sent from my C6916 using Forum Fiend v1.2.7.

[EricGarbo]

I am going to be visiting the park for the first time on Friday. Should I expect any serious crowds? Also, what should I head to first to avoid longer lines later? It would seem that Renegade or Wild Thing are the most popular rides, but I'm not sure what the local GP make a habit of heading to first.

[TheDarkMaxim]

Seems like the waterpark is lacking a solid large play structure like area. That would make sense for expanding the waterpark, seeing as how popular they are with the entire family, and are a staple of any waterpark.

[VF15]

I am going to be visiting the park for the first time on Friday. Should I expect any serious crowds? Also, what should I head to first to avoid longer lines later? It would seem that Renegade or Wild Thing are the most popular rides, but I'm not sure what the local GP make a habit of heading to first.

 

I was at Valleyfair today for a few hours, and the longest I waited was about 25 minutes for Renegade. I can imagine that Friday will be slightly busier since it is closer to the weekend. Ride Corkscrew and High Roller first, as they can quickly produce lines that make it not worth waiting. After that, go to Renegade and get a few laps on it because they don't put on the second train until around noon. Excalibur won't be a problem, as it's always a walk on. I'd only ride Mad Mouse if it's a walk-on, or if you desperately want the credit. Wild Thing and Steel Venom shouldn't be any longer than a 20 minute wait. Keep in mind that if you have a gold or platinum pass, you can enter Route 76 at 9:30, before the GP gets in. Hope you have a good time.

[VF15]

I saw these photos on the Valleyfairzone Twitter page. It appears that there are orange marks in several areas close to Soak City, including near a nearby building, near the former Hydroblaster spot, and in Excalibur's queue. At this point, I think the park is just screaming "2015 Soak City Expansion". If they put a mark right near one of those buildings, perhaps a waterslide's top will be built over the park midways. I'd rather have Excalibur's land used for a new coaster if it ends up getting removed, but whatever happens happens. If the waterpark expansion ends up stretching out to all these points, then we could be looking at a truly new waterpark next year.

Edited June 5, 2014 by VF15