West Coast Bash 2008 - The Official Thread!

[RIP Psyclone]

^Yes, and when he talked about Racecoaster at Nurburgring, he also said they are adding elements to it to make it more fun. He mentioned one being a banked turn, possibly "90 degrees(!)" and also another. Even though an airtime hill like on Hypersonic XLC and Dodonpa wouldn't fit well within the race track theme, I think that would be a small price to pay! When you think about it, that applies to Top Thrill Dragster too.

[ebl]

One time at Mooseburger Lodge, our lunch cost $57,000. I mean, I knew theme park food was expensive, but...

 

No, it was a goof and got fixed. My credit card is safe.

 

Eric

[PeoplemoverMatt]

THANKS SO MUCH ROBB and to the Magic Mountain staff for putting this unbelieveable event on for all of us!

 

The impression that I got coming away from this was that the park still has a ways to go but the culture is changing for the better, and that's so huge that I can't really put it into words. This period of the park suffering has gone on for so long that to see the park President and GM 'get it' as much as they have feels like this is VASTLY a bigger deal for the park than any new coaster ever could be. The Magic of the Mountain Museum is a perfect example itself of just how different and how much improved and better everything is and is going to be now there.

 

What really stood out to me just how visible Jay and Tim were during the event OUTSIDE of the presentations/Q&A sessions. My friend Johnny and I ran into Jay and crew several times. I've NEVER seen that kind of visibility or that concern for our group and how our day was going, what our reactions were, what we thought of the event, etc etc. They didn't have to do ANY of that. I was just completely blown away by that, and I really saw it filter down throughout the park staff. There'are still some holdovers from the days of lesser standards, but the change just in the past seven months that was magnified yesterday, as Robb has said, it's nothing short of amazing.

 

I was 1000% impressed by how Jay, Tim, and Neal took the oddball questions like the ones about the souvenir cup and the candy machines. Clearly the people who asked those kinds of questions have a different priority set than they do, but Jay and team handled the questions with a very appropriate attitude and a lot of class, so even more kudos to them.

 

Jay Thomas even gave me his business card to keep the communication going as to what I see that's done right, where the 'misses' are, who in the park deserves credit, etc. That also speaks volumes about the attitude of these guys and just how devoted they are to doing things right.

 

During night ERT, Jay asked me what my favorite ride was in the park, and I told him, "That Magic of the Mountain Museum is my favorite place here now. It is a monument to Magic Mountain's history that is absolutely unbeliveable see. To a local like myself, it really means a lot that you guys would do that." In reply he said, "I think it's mine too. I know exactly what you're talking about." (He lives in Newhall.) So there you have it folks...from the Park Pres. himself!

 

People need to understand that all the improvements can't be done tomorrow, and it all can't be done at once. There's going to be a plan and an order to this, and it's hopefully going to last as long as it needs to in order to do what really needs to be done, and to do it the right way. You may not agree with the priority list, I'm probably not going to 100% agree with the order in which everything's going to get done. However, what I got from that session was that Jay and Tim understand what needs to be done, they understand the tools at their disposal, and they earned my trust that it will get done and done the right way. That's also huge.

 

It would seem that the days of darkness at Magic Mountain are over! It's getting better every day and it's only going to get better from here on out! It's such a wonderful thing to see, and I can't wait to see more of it.

 

Big props and thanks to Robb & everyone from the RideWorld/TPR side and definitely to Jay, Tim, Neal & everyone from the SFMM side for putting on one of, if not the greatest coaster enthusiast event to date!

 

-- PMM

[mr.jacobson]

anyone remember how much the x2 trains run for?

Also I can't remember exactly what my tour guide said when we went to Psyclone to check out the old trains. Did they scrap some of them or use them to help design their own?

[RIP Psyclone]

anyone remember how much the x2 trains run for?

Also I can't remember exactly what my tour guide said when we went to Psyclone to check out the old trains. Did they scrap some of them or use them to help design their own?

 

$2,100,000 each, $6,300,000 for the 3. Wait, went to Psyclone to check out the old trains? You mean the old trains that were there? I believe it was said they are using the Arrow ones (XLR-8 & Shockwave) for parts for Ninja and Viper. The old Psyclone trains? They're used to run backwards on Colossus during fright fest. The old X trains? I'm sure they will soon be scrapped, as parts will probably be interchangable, but I heard they did cycle an old train today to compare to the new one.

[ajinaz]

A specific question was worded something like 'I understand the new paint is nice and everything, but when I leave the park, the only thing I will remember are the completely appalling bathrooms.'

 

~In my opinion,~ six flags offered us a wonderful opportunity to ask them questions and actually receive answers, surely we can return the respect back to them in the form of properly wording questions.

 

Chris.

 

I am the one that asked this question and I believe that I prefaced my statement by saying, "I appreciate the new paint." I really believed that the purpose of the Q&A for the execs was to get a perspective on what needs to be addressed. I think that I looked at the park on Sunday from the perspective of a family out for a day. I think it was clear to them that we all appreciated what was done "for us." But the park will not survive with 350 customers.

When I left the theater I went to the bathrooms right outside. All of the toilets were full of waste. 2 of 3 towel dispensers were empty and the trash cans were overflowing. To me this is an easy fix. Assign two people to monitor all the facilities on an hourly basis. The cost would be less than 200 grand a year.

I'm not real big on sugar-coating and I really don't think that sugar-coating is what a businessman wants to hear when trying to keep this incredible turnaround going.

Al

[TheRealTinkerbell]

Once again, SFMM has put all the horrible things I've ever said about it together and kicked it into my face like a huge wave of sand. I am so amazed at all the changes that MM has made! Robb and Elissa, you guys are awesome, no matter what. I loved everything on this trip. My tour guide William was AMAZING! He was so informational and knew so much about the park and gave us little fun facts, that I can not THANK him enough. Also, thanks for keeping me calm while I was freaking out at Sky Tower . How CAN I forget Sky Tower. I mean, I know that I'll never go up it again probably, but I'm really glad that I did go. I loved the Q&A, even though some of the stuff I had heard back in January, it still kept me interested. MM really has a great team to make this park better! And I loved the whole presentation of commercials from past-years (especially the ones with random animals like Lions and Bears)! The night-time ERT was amazing. I felt like I was the Queen of Magic Mountain. Like the trains were just waiting for me to go on them! Thank you to EVERYONE that made this trip possible. It was seriously an amazing experience.

 

Now, as for the whole bathroom issue. I don't know if it was just the men's bathroom or what, but I remember all the times that I had gone to the bathroom-which was a lot- the bathrooms were really clean. Actually, I can't even forget to mention that when I first got to MM, after riding Tatsu, I went to the bathroom and I read some stupid sharpied tagging that said "I Love Vigina" and right underneath it someone's response to it saying "if you love it so much, you should learn how to spell it". When I came back to that bathroom after riding Tatsu on my night-time ERT, i used the same stall, and I saw that not only the response(which was written in pen) was gone, but the sharpied tagging was gone as well. It really surprised me that someone actually took the time to clean that. I mean, it was something so small, and hidden in such a weird place, that I'm amazed someone took the time to clean that stall and check for it. I've been in way worse bathrooms before, and I won't even begin to describe my traumatic experience in a Disneyland bathroom once, but I saw that MM has really impoved on it's bathroom standards.

[wrs28330]

^ Jen, right?

 

I had a blast on the tour, and am happy to hear that you enjoyed all the tidbit pieces of information about the park. I have some issues about Sky Tower, specifically climbing up and down the stairs, so when I see anyone looking a little timid I do my best to set them at ease and take their mind off the tower itself and focus on all of the neat things to see up there. This is much easier now that there are hundreds of park relics to see!

 

Again, I had a blast at WCB, and would like to thank everyone for all the great feedback!

 

My name is William,

and I am SIX Flags!

[robbalvey]

When I left the theater I went to the bathrooms right outside. All of the toilets were full of waste. 2 of 3 towel dispensers were empty and the trash cans were overflowing. To me this is an easy fix. Assign two people to monitor all the facilities on an hourly basis. The cost would be less than 200 grand a year.

But you say this as though the park has stacks of 200 grand just laying around growing mold.

 

Perhaps a better, cheaper solution is to talk with the PSA supervisors and get them to embrace the IBU philosophy and take ownership of those bathrooms. And if they don't buy into the IBU idea, replace those managers with those that do.

 

I to believe that Jay answered the question honestly and I do beleive you will see those bathroom improvements in the near future.

 

--Robb

[TheRealTinkerbell]

Hi William!!!!!

I honestly can not thank you enough. I loved all the memorabilia, especially of all the stuff that had your dad in it. How cool is THAT! I was seriously on the verge of a panic attack up there before you came to my rescue! I love you for that!

[coasterjunkie91350]

When I left the theater I went to the bathrooms right outside. All of the toilets were full of waste. 2 of 3 towel dispensers were empty and the trash cans were overflowing. To me this is an easy fix. Assign two people to monitor all the facilities on an hourly basis. The cost would be less than 200 grand a year.

But you say this as though the park has stacks of 200 grand just laying around growing mold.

 

Perhaps a better, cheaper solution is to talk with the PSA supervisors and get them to embrace the IBU philosophy and take ownership of those bathrooms. And if they don't buy into the IBU idea, replace those managers with those that do.

 

I to believe that Jay answered the question honestly and I do beleive you will see those bathroom improvements in the near future.

 

--Robb

Yes area 3 has had a hard time keeping that mens restroom clean lately ill make sure flor is aware of it

[Jew]

Funny...I stepped out at some point during the presentation to use those very same bathrooms...Aside from the fact it looks like a high school bathroom (real basic design, nothing fancy), I didn't notice any of what you mentioned. Granted I wasn't paying close attention, but nothing stood out so much that I would remember it being so bad. I've seen worse at Disney, Universal, and Busch parks. I've also seen worse at SFMM on other occasions as well.

 

I also don't think even Disney staffs a matron in every restroom all day every day. I would assume that just like SFMM, they DO have people assigned to restrooms, but they rotate around and do periodic checks, so lapses are bound to happen.

 

However, that's not to say that the bathrooms weren't horrible when you walked in, or that you aren't right in saying the bathrooms should be kept clean all the time...But I also agree with the other poster in saying that the question came more as an attack than a concern. There should still be a common courtesy given to them to address all questions/issues politely and professionally, so they can give an equally as polite and professional response.

[davidcornell]

Simply stated, this was the best day I ever spent at a Six Flags park.

WOW.

 

You also forgot to mention FREE PARKING for those of us who got up early or whose body clocks were still on eastern time.

[mr.jacobson]

 

You also forgot to mention FREE PARKING for those of us who got up early or whose body clocks were still on eastern time.

 

Free parking was pretty amazing. I was really confused when I could just drive on by without paying lol.

[Doombugger]

I agree that the bathrooms should and can be staffed / maintained better but you can say that about any park you visit. Granted, the bathrooms are bad at MM in many areas but in my opinion Disneyland bathrooms are horrible too, even if it is not as bad as MM.

 

I think once they eliminate the small restrooms and focus on having maybe half of the current 19 bathrooms and only large, updated facilities with an empowered staff it can become reasonable.

 

The men's bathroom near the theater was bad and it was not very busy Sunday. The small restrooms need to go and more staff need to service them more often, especially on busy summer days.

 

Amusement park bathrooms are just bad but a necessary evil, I think Jay gets the importance to the overall product perception and will make efforts to improve it.

[WFChris]

I used a number of mens restrooms around the park....(stalls)....and they were all fully stocked, and clean. Well except for one but that was the fault of the patrons not flushing...I cant stand having to flush for other people but thats just me, not the parks fault

 

Chris.

[ajinaz]

 

Perhaps a better, cheaper solution is to talk with the PSA supervisors and get them to embrace the IBU philosophy and take ownership of those bathrooms. And if they don't buy into the IBU idea, replace those managers with those that do.

 

I to believe that Jay answered the question honestly and I do beleive you will see those bathroom improvements in the near future.

 

--Robb

 

Robb,

 

Once again, thank you for the best experience that I have ever had at an amusement park. I really can't think of one thing that was not perfect. It was so strange to just keep riding around in a circuit without ever getting off the ride. Superman is so much better with only 2 people riding.

 

Now to the bathroom issue, I did not realize that I was coming off as ungrateful or less than gracious when I asked the question. For that I am sorry. I think I should have said that "the park looks fantastic, but even with all the improvements many mothers and fathers will still leave the park remembering the bathrooms that their children had to use." I know I seem to be obsessed with the rest rooms but I approached my visit from the perspective of everyman. I want MM to be the best and without a steady increase in patrons (families) that will not be possible. When you think about it, there is only one thing that every single customer uses at the park. Some people ride, some people watch the rides, some people shop, some people hold stuff while family members ride, some people arrive by bus, some by car, some get dropped off. But every patron has one thing in common.... they use the rest room.

I don't know about everyone else but when I walk into a clean restroom with an employee cleaning log on the door it makes me feel like the place is going the extra mile.

 

And Robb I hold you partly responsible for providing us with almost unlimited food and drink (and ice cream). Maybe I wouldn't of spent so much time inspecting the restrooms.

 

[georgeriley15]

Thanks for the best ERT session ever!!! Thanks Robb, et al.

If anyone goes to ACE's day at SFMM, please report back whether they opened everything up for them as well.

 

Regarding the bathrooms:

My wife and I saw plenty of disgusting bathrooms throughout the day. They would really benefit from installing automatic flushing toilets.

 

Sorry we had to leave the presentations early (hungry fussy 2 year old with us). It was a nice shock to hear upon our return that all the coaster were open for us. We'll definitely be back next year.

[ebl]

I got a nice e-mail from Jay earlier today, thanking me for sending him .jpg copies of my 1971 park map. He said he'd find a way to get that printed out and into the museum.

 

And he expressed regret, too, about me not finding my camera.

 

Eric

[Brisal73]

Even after the breakdowns at both Tatsu and Viper in the morning. The event was still awesome.

 

Interesting thing was I dragged one of my friends with me who hated SFMM because of how dirty and ghetto it was.

 

By mid day he told me...you know what? I have never seen this place look so clean. I laughed and totally agreed with him.

 

Now they just need to stop giving the park away for free so some of the ghetto folk wont screw it all up.

 

I too was excited about the NERT Colossus, Scream twice, Goliath Twice, Batman Twice, Riddler Twice and finished it up with Gold Rush twice. Also if you haven't ridden Gold Rush at night you should and sit in the back row. During most of the ride you cant see what the hell is about to happen. It was awesome and probably my favorite experience of the day.

 

I wish the ticket booths were open by the time we left because I would have bought and year pass right then and there as gratitude for a great time.

 

Thx again see you next year or maybe X2 opening???

[astroworldfan1]

Wow! From just reading the imput back on WCB is sounding like you get better treatment than ACE! I really wish I could gone!

 

Robb, have you ever considered doing a East Coast Bash or a South Coast Bash?? I would be first to sign up!

 

-Tatum

[ebl]

^ Even speaking as an ACE member, I will say that so many of them just have the wrong attitude, that is, like the parks owe them favors. Trouble is, that kind of attitude really rubs the parks the wrong way and makes them re-think hosting events for that group.

 

Eric

[WillMontu]

I agree on that the bathrooms do have room for improvement.

Some of them do actually fit in with the theming of the area they are in and would be quite nice once the vandalism and such gets cleaned up. In addition, if they are cleaned regularly, they are more likely to stay clean. People tend to be more likely to trash a dirty bathroom

A lot of places have systems where the restrooms are checked and cleaned on an hourly basis. If they do consolidate the many smaller restrooms into larger "super-loos", they would probably be easier to upkeep.

 

On side note, I have uploaded a few pictures to Robb's FTP and may consider posting a Photo TR in a few days.

[PURE]

I just don't get it. There's this entire event with so much time before for so many questions and comments and the bathroom problem seems to be the biggest subject of concentration. And that's fine, I guess. But I can't remember the last time I walked into a bathroom and its quality ruined my entire day, whether I was at a park or not.

 

And Magic Mountain bathrooms, although they're not like high class restaurant bathrooms, they do the job. I'm sorry if you have to "use your hands" to flush the toilet or turn the water on, sheesh.

 

I just felt that with the amount of higher ups in the room, there would have been a little more respect and class from some of the people asking the questions. Of course its fine to ask questions, but a lot can be assumed by how you ask. There's no need to let out on the guys who were nice enough to spend a whole day walking the park with us, answering questions left and right as HONESTLY as possible, and doing things I've never even heard of before (flipping burgers after park closing for people who were hungry and couldn't find food anywhere else).

 

I guess my problem is, they explained the entire day that the face lift of the park is in a 5 year phase, having a grudge because the bathrooms haven't yet been fixed (and they're right, bathrooms are NOT cheap) in the first 7 months of that face lift puts our group (TPR) in an awkward situation, because the last thing we'd want to do is make them think that we're ungrateful.

 

I, for one, would like to be given the opportunity to have this size of WCB sometime in the future. And showing them our appreciation does nothing but make the opportunity more possible.

[Mechanic]

Also if you haven't ridden Gold Rush at night you should and sit in the back row. During most of the ride you cant see what the hell is about to happen. It was awesome and probably my favorite experience of the day.

 

We did that also and it was really a blast.

 

I agree that the restroom issue could have been brought up a little more politely, but since the person that asked the question has already apologized for coming off a little too abrupt, I think it's fair to treat the matter as water under the bridge. For what it's worth, I personally didn't have any particularly negative experience in any restrooms that I used, nor did anyone in our group make a comment to me about the restrooms one way or the other. Maybe I was just lucky and hit the restroom right after it had been gone over by the custodial staff?

 

I felt a little tension in the room when a few different questions were asked, but what was very impressive was the manner in which the park management addressed the concerns presented to them. They stood up straight and acknowledged that things hadn't been as they should be and that it had carried on that way for far too long. Tim in patricular struck me as a really stand-up guy that recognizes that moving forward in correcting whatever shortcomings there are is far more important than looking backward to place blame. I don't think the lessons of letting the park fall into the poor state that it was in are lost on any of the current executive staff. These guys didn't take the easy way out and hide in their offices during the event. They were visible, approachable, personable, and came across to me as proud of what they've accomplished so far, as they should be. They're enthuasiastic to get out the message about what they're doing to make the park a place that people will want to come visit. I can't imagine what more they possibly could have done to make us all feel welcome and to show us that the guest experience is their priority. Plain and simple: These guys "get it".

 

I think Magic Mountain has a future that's brighter than even the best days of its past. The down years shouldn't be forgotten, but they shouldn't be dwelled upon either. The focus going forward is trained in where it belongs, and whether or not anyone could absolutely agree on what should be done in exactly what order, the fact that the things that need to be done are getting done is what progress is all about.

 

The IBU strategy that they've employed is working well and I think we should all feel fortunate to have been invited to "Celebrate success". I wish the park and the company continued success. SFMM will definitely be in the plans for our summer vacation. Besides saying "thank you", I can't think of a better way to thank the park than by visiting it and supporting it with my $$$.