PTR: SFDK 3/25/07

[speedracer]

After seeing Sean's great pics of the media preview, decided to go check out all the newness at SFDK for myself last Sunday. Since Sean did a great job showing off the new signage and everything, this is more of a regular TR than duplicating what Sean already covered in his report.

 

First off, just wanted to share some NorCal springtime pics. When time allows, love to cruise the bay area backroads on my way up to Vallejo. My favorite route takes me through the East Bay foothills, through little dusty towns, over and along the Sacramento River delta, past ginormous turbines, and finally drops into Solano County, home of SFDK.

 

Mt. Diablo in the horizon

 

Sacramento delta

 

Last of 3 bridges I cross before heading east

 

Good thing they put in a stop sign, otherwise you'd never know you just drove through downtown Birds Landing

 

"Where the grass, the dirt and the gravel all meet . . . "

 

Sounded like a Stevie Nicks concert out here

 

Big arse turbines

 

mooo

 

 

 

Finally make it to SFDK

 

Beautiful new entrance sign

 

All that remains in the infamous Swartzkopf graveyard

 

 

The lakeside setting makes a nice backdrop for the park

 

Just had to get some close shots of the new sign, really is striking

 

 

 

The old Zonga pad is now being used for valet parking

 

About this point I noticed something quite different. Suddenly the air was filled with this Lion King-esq music and rhythyms, along with bird sound effects all around. Didn't get a pic, but throughout the entire entrance area and all around the park, they've installed hundreds of new huge booming speakers that crank out ambiance, sorta reminded me of Adventureland at DL with the piped in jungle noises.

 

First new critter to greet you at the remodeled new entrance

 

This is the first example of something I noticed throughout the day. Notice the "SF" missing from this major new entrance signage? In other cases, the "SF" is so small or nearly transparent, almost as if DK wanted to somewhat downplay their association with the tarnished SF brand name. Or perhaps to allow the park to have it's own identity once again rather than being lumped in as just another SF ride park.

 

Band-Aid to hide Medusas parking lot setting. Looks better than before, just hoping next years investment addresses this problem with something more permanent

 

The new entrance plaza looks amazing now

 

Shouka spewing Intamin track

 

V2's new colors are really spectacular, looks much better in person

 

Entry gate

 

 

New Explorer Outpost thing, not sure what's it all about, but nice to have the lone park aquarium open for free again (had been converted to a buffet place where you had to buy the dinner in order to see the fish tanks)

 

Few shots of the interior retheme

 

 

 

 

Say hi to Patrick

 

Jellyfish

 

 

sup!

 

Really do love the new colors of SFDK

 

 

Even the trashcans are park/section specific, and again, with no reference to SF

 

stores even received an extreme makeover along with all new merchandise

 

 

 

It's interesing to note that the main gift shops have been stripped of any coaster related merchandise. The typical generic SF souvenier offerings have mostly been scaled back and replaced by unique, park specific animal items and higher end merchandise, such as these vases that run for $370.00 each

 

These new posters show how the park has returned it's focus back to it's original roots, highlighting only the parks animal offerings. No coaster references in sight, and the subdued SF again

 

 

Gotta love the new family friendly focus

 

obligatory big cock shot

 

for some odd reason, the shark is already missing from the new signage

 

one PO'd looking gorilla

 

a few flats were out that day, but these purple things smelt so purdy!

 

True sign of quality machinery, a broken down Boomerang

 

This is one of those park sections that are quickly disappearing from today's parks. An entire side of the park runs along this tranquil quiet lakeside trail in the back where no one hardly goes. No rides in this area, and will never be, so most people don't even make it out here. Which makes for a nice quiet escape from the insanity. New banners have been added along the way highlighting facts and info on the parks renewed star attractions again, the animals

 

 

Also located in the back is the Butterfly Habitat, another great place to escape

 

 

 

 

 

Koi pond and waterfall

 

Backside of the falls

 

 

Even the plain bland walls leading to the picnic areas received some love

 

Poor flipper wanted to play

 

 

Here's one of the more recent additions to the park, the Carribean themed Ocean Discovery

 

 

 

Line for Roar, park was actually pretty busy, normally opening weekend is a ghost town and walk on for all rides

 

ROAR!

 

Cobra, now being touted as the "largest family coaster in Northern California". Obviously they forgot about Quicksilver Express

 

 

 

Stage that replaced the Medusa Plaza fountain. I normally love fountains, but that thing was so hideous, seriously looked like it was made of feces molded into crude animal shapes, with water spewing forth. So glad they got rid of that eyesore!

 

Random Medusa shots

 

 

 

 

Kong with it's new entrance and slogan, "you'll never escape it". Must be talking about the ear boxing you get

 

new Kong entrance now in Medusa Plaza

 

Foliage around Medusa's station has really filled in nicely over the years

 

Medusa is also being marketing for the first time as the tallest, fasted and longest coaster in NorCal, even though it's always been since it opened

 

 

 

Can sorta make out the new train paint scheme here

 

A few last shots of the beautiful new V2 paintjob, thanks for reading

 

 

[Shockwave]

Great photos!

 

Now that looks like a Six Flags park going in the right direction. Looks a lot better than Magic Mountain did!

[thefitness]

Nice pictures! Those giant turbine things were so cool looking.

 

Anways this looks like a really great Six Flags park.Some of those shots you took of the inside of the stores really reminded me of BGA.

[Rollerholden]

Awesome pics! Sorry about Boomerang, it opened late and only stayed open less than two hours.

[verticalzero]

Fantastic photo's, it is so nice for a Park to look so smart,clean and tidy, makes everyone want to come back and enjoy their surroundings.

 

I want one of those T-Shirts with the animals doing a mooney.

[PKI Jizzman]

Great pics! I really do like the new paint job on V2, aswell as all the new name and theming! SFDK looks like the nicest SF park out there! Good pics of Medusa, some shots I havent seen before

[Eric_Smith]

when will V2 open?

[Swimace]

Wow what a great TR. I didn't realize how extensive the change from SFMW to SFDK was, but I think the park looks great. I've never been there before, but it seems like it's really going in the right direction.

[AT0527]

Ok so the park looks good, they did a great job with their sings. I dont like V2's paint job..ill get used to it but i still dont think those colors look good together. and Im upset about the upcoming thomas Town and its location, i think theyre making a mistake with that.

 

However, other then that, they did a great job with their new signs and the entry plaza looks great! glad they covered up the old chain link Fence that showed Medusa's parking lot. Oh..and the Vallet parking this is retarded.

[MrsPhishy]

Nice pictures! I've always thought Marine World wasn't that bad of a park, but I was a bit skeptical of the themed lands. I think we can all agree Six Flags isn't particularly known for their extraordinary theming. But I'm very impressed with the improvements.

 

I for one am also looking forward to the new Thomas area and am happy to see a continued focus on families.

 

I'm sort of starting to regret our decision to not renew our season passes this year.

[CP_RULES]

WOW! This transformation is amazing! I never thought a Six Flags park could look so good. I cannot believe how well they did with all of the theming. Great pictures! Let's just hope that all the parks can get this kind of love.

[LOVE SFKK]

This place could easily be passed as a Disney, Herchend park in my opinion. Its amazing what some new signs, remodled stores, and personal touches can do

[Loco]

Im upset about the upcoming thomas Town and its location, i think theyre making a mistake with that.

 

Yea, That new Thomas Town is going right in the middle of a big walkway there. Thats not good thing, plus the Looney Tunes section will be right next to it.

 

Im also curious as when V2 is going to open. Anyone know?

[Rollerholden]

I heard V2 should open this weekend... don't take my word for it though.

[kennywood!007]

WOW! This park looks so nice now. I'm loving the feel of it, very peaceful. V2's paint in your pics looks awesome!

[kraxleRIDAH]

Makes me real happy when I see these photographs. The transformation looks incredible -- and so far I can tell, pretty satisfactory. This is what the former Six Flags Worlds of Adventure tried to be, but failed miserably.

[chmilo24]

Yea I went there on opening weekend too and they did a great job. I can't wait for next big announcement, I heard that it will be either a new coaster or thrill ride. Also, I'm glad that they'd rather be DISCOVERY KINGDOM rather than SIX FLAGS discovery kingdom. It is like that in most SF park titles, Six Flags is in these huge letters while the parks name are in these small letters you can hardly see.

[Angry_Gumball]

The more I look at SFDK and it's new signage, it's beginning to amaze me with how something simple can change it up a lot. I sure do hope they ditch the parking lot theme instead of masking it...maybe fill it up with that tanbark stuff or lava rocks like Kong...Shoot...even grass & foliage would be amazing but yet costly. I do hope the sky theme area won't be forgotten...Anyway, great photos. (My favorite was probably your Roar shot taken at that unusual angle, worthy of becoming one of my drawings some day.

[Darien Laker]

Great Photos!

 

This park has turned around even better than I thought. I hope that all the parks get unique themes to this extent.

 

It really looks like for once, a Six Flags park is being made individual rather than made to be like the rest of the parks in the chain.

[Gnome]

This place could easily be passed as a Disney, Herchend park in my opinion. Its amazing what some new signs, remodeled stores, and personal touches can do

Um not really, but it is your opinion. Maybe a Herchend park, but Disney is still so far out of SFDK's league.

[speedracer]

Thanks guys, really appreciate all the great comments. I'll admit I was selective in my photos, the park is far from anything close to a Disney or even Busch park. Still LOTS of major work that needs to be done to bring the park up to the level of even SFFT or SFOT, but it's a great start and absolutely a major step in the right direction. Shapiro has promised this is only year 1 of a major multi-year multi-million investment into SFDK, so this is only just the very beginning, seems as though they're definitely on the right track.

 

Honestly, although they look spectacular, the themed sections are currently a little bizarre. For example, they have Thrilla Gorilla marked as in the "Sky" section, but right next door is the Butterfly Habitat, which is marked as being in the "Land" section. On the other side of the park immediately beyond the "Land" entrance shown in my pics is the Dolphin Stadium, which is marked as being in the "Sea" section. So these so-called lands may actually be more like concepts, with the various attractions scattered throughout the park fitting into either the Land, Sea or Sky idea for the park's theme. At least until the entire complete transformation and reconfiguration years down the road is completed, this is the best I can figure out how they're sectioning up the park.

 

Nice pictures! Those giant turbine things were so cool looking.

 

Pics don't do them any justice, these suckers are GINORMOUS in person. And these are the smaller ones, check out this video of the even bigger ones installed last year, the largest in the U.S., gives you a better idea of the size of these things:

 

http://www.smud.org/green/wind.html

[Angry_Gumball]

Is that the Altamont Pass? If so, there's definitely a ton of those Wind Turbines.

[speedracer]

^ These are actually right outside of Rio Vista off Highway 12. Can't see them from 12 though, have to get off and go towards Birds Landing then you'll see them everywhere.

 

The below are part of the Altamont turbines

[Sean Menefee]

Im upset about the upcoming thomas Town and its location, i think theyre making a mistake with that.

 

Yea, That new Thomas Town is going right in the middle of a big walkway there. Thats not good thing, plus the Looney Tunes section will be right next to it.

 

Im also curious as when V2 is going to open. Anyone know?

 

Have you been to the park this season and actually seen in person where Thomas Town is going? It's not going to change or alter the pathway leading to lakeside & Shark at all. With Round The World and the Ski show gone it will bring some life to that side of the park. (It could also boost LTSP popularity as well because of how close it's located.)

 

V2 is also slated to be up this weekend to welcome the spring break crowds.

 

BTW.....

 

GREAT trip report. I've been a bit under the weather this weekend/week so your PTR pretty much covers what I wanted to post about my second visit on Saturday. (I had an allergic reaction to allergy medicine...sweet huh!) It's been nice to see so many different perspectives of the park, and you did a great job showing how you afternoon went. Your photos are great looking!

 

Cheers,

 

Sean "Anyone hitting GA this weekend??" Menefee

[kaliboiryda510]

Yea well i just heard that they are training for V2 today and tomorrow, so it looks like it will be open for this weekend! I should be there so i might get a few shots!