thrillrider Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 While I do think that Vortex would be better off scrapped than with new trains, I still think that getting new trains on that would be one of the most exciting things to happen to this park in the past decade. Besides Gold Striker and Boomerang Bay, new trains on a coaster would serve as huge news for the standards of this park. However, I will say that this park that was once in danger of closing made a pretty amazing comeback, almost like the west coast's Kentucky Kingdom. Maybe we will only have to wait every few years for a major attraction now, instead of every decade or so. ' I hear that cedarpoint has some extra stand up trains laying around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGA_88 Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 2015 calendar was posted. Looks like 10:00PM park closings all Summer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singemfrc Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 Just wondering, do you think that California's Great America should eventually become a year-round park one of these days? Since Six Flags Discovery Kingdom has gone year-round, you'd think that CGA might want to follow suit with them to be competitive. Or, is there a specific reason why it couldn't happen? Does Santa Clara happen to be colder than Vallejo in winter, or does the park not have the attendance to justify year-round operation?I think they should since they're the only major California park that isn't year round now. I'm sure Prudential would just love that though. 2015 calendar was posted. Looks like 10:00PM park closings all Summer! I'm shocked that the park is not only open but open until 7pm on Sunday 3/29. Heads up if you're going on that day opening weekend, WWE Wrestlemania will be going on next door at Levis Stadium (starts at 3 but people will probably start getting there at 1), so expect parking and traffic to be an absolutely nightmare unless you're only going for the first few hours. The park will probably be a bit busier the day before too since people travelling to Santa Clara for the whole WWE thing (There are other related events in San Jose on Saturday) may come to the park while they're there. If you aren't a WWE fan it's like their Super Bowl, it always draws huge crowds, the stadium will probably sell out. I'm not a huge WWE fan, I haven't watched their shows in years but I'm going to Wrestlemania out of nostalgia since I used to watch it when I was younger, it's rare that it's near us...anyway I was originally planning on going to CGA on the 28th, but now I'm wondering if it would be possible to just go to CGA at opening and then walk over to Levis Stadium for WM afterwards..I wonder how they will handle parking for two events at once since they haven't done that before. I also noticed the park is currently scheduled open for all Sundays next fall. I wonder if the 49ers are going to pay them to close again, I don't think their schedule is set yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillrider Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 Is wrestling still even a relevant sport?( I use the word "sport" very loosely). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singemfrc Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 Is wrestling still even a relevant sport?( I use the word "sport" very loosely). It was never a sport, it's theatre basically; but regardless, it's going to sell out Levis Stadium on 3/29 and that will be the first time CGA and Levis are both running full tilt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leqant Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Great America was open when the stadium had it's first event and it caused a big traffic nightmare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leqant Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Sorry. Double Post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singemfrc Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Great America was open when the stadium had it's first event and it caused a big traffic nightmare. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think that first event was a night game and the stadium wasn't completely sold out. 3/29's event will have a crowd larger than a sold out 49ers game (Theyre erecting temporary grandstands inside to add more fans, plus the seats on the field) and the event starts at 3pm, so people will be arriving for the event a good 5 hours before CGA closes..but the worst part is that those events usually last about 4 hours, which means Levis Stadium will be emptying out at the same time that CGA closes, 7pm. I think driving is going to be more of a nightmare than that first night for most people, but I'm hoping I can get there at 9am to do CGA in the morning and either pay for WM parking at the beginning and leave my car where it is and not have to worry about it until later so I can walk over to the stadium and not repark, or even better if the lot is totally mixed perhaps my gold pass will get me free parking through the entire day. If I had to guess I'm sure my gold pass will just get me in, seeing as both things close at the same time, I see no reason why I shouldn't be able to leave my car where it is even if there is a lot just for CGA. The park just replied on Facebook to a post about this and said "The park will be open and it may get busier late in the day so you may want to get to the park early" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jray21 Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 (edited) Not sure if this book has been mentioned in here, but I just scrolled through it after having it for a few months. First off, it's always cool to randomly find a picture of yourself (during Coasting for Kids) when you're flipping through the pages. But the main thing looking through here has reminded me is just how much of the original theming from the park has disappeared. I still love the park for the rides and they have definitely made improvements over the last few years, but there is just a "feeling" when visiting there that isn't the same as it was in it's heyday. Thoughts? Where did you get that book? EDIT: Nevermind, found it on Amazon! Cool find! Edited January 23, 2015 by jray21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeromyL Posted January 24, 2015 Share Posted January 24, 2015 Well, was planning a trip to discovery kingdom next weekend, but I just saw that superman is down for rehab.... anything closed at great america... we are deciding which park to go to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeromyL Posted January 24, 2015 Share Posted January 24, 2015 LOL nevermind... not year round Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gromithere Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Where did you get that book? EDIT: Nevermind, found it on Amazon! Cool find! Amazon is where I got it as well, but I have heard it is also sold at the park when it is operating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jew Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Great America was open when the stadium had it's first event and it caused a big traffic nightmare. I can only imagine it will be 100x worse for Wrestlemania. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singemfrc Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 ^ I'll be doing both, so maybe I'll do a TR, it might be interesting. We're gonna get to the park at opening and then just walk to the stadium, hoping to save $30 on parking (since I have a gold pass). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laqueefa Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 I will be attending WrestleMania this year and I am seriously considering staying closer to the park/stadium, or at least taking advantage of VTA Lightrail or Uber to avoid the insane amount of traffic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
griff270 Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 I do not agree about vortex at all, it can be painful, but i feel that a grizzly removal would benefit the park more. Vortex can stay a while just kick out grizzly. Grizzy vs. Gold Striker No contest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gromithere Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 I do not agree about vortex at all, it can be painful, but i feel that a grizzly removal would benefit the park more. Vortex can stay a while just kick out grizzly. Grizzy vs. Gold Striker No contest From what I have seen, the lines on both of those rides would say otherwise. I have always seen lines for Grizzly, but none for Vortex. Case closed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singemfrc Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 I do not agree about vortex at all, it can be painful, but i feel that a grizzly removal would benefit the park more. Vortex can stay a while just kick out grizzly. Grizzy vs. Gold Striker No contest From what I have seen, the lines on both of those rides would say otherwise. I have always seen lines for Grizzly, but none for Vortex. Case closed. I'm gonna have to appeal that case. Grizzly always has a line because it takes 30 minutes to dispatch each train. It's the only ride I've ever seen where they had to build in entertainment on the brake run because trains stack there so unbelievably long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skaunit Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 Hey guys, just wanted to share something totally FREAKIN awesome in my little world. Today was my first day as the newest ride electrician at CGA! I got to ride the transfer track on vortex and help cycle a train for testing, and helped with the annual electrical rehab on psycho mouse. So anyone else on here that works at the park PM me so we can be buddies!! Yeah, it's still sinking in that I get paid to work on roller coasters... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laqueefa Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 Grizzly has been seeing some love lately with re-tracking over the last couple of off-seasons. From their FB: New track is being laid on The Grizzly in preparation for our upcoming 40th season Even though I do not care to ride it, I see its appeal to families and coaster newbies. Vortex is just horrible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singemfrc Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 Hey guys, just wanted to share something totally FREAKIN awesome in my little world. Today was my first day as the newest ride electrician at CGA! I got to ride the transfer track on vortex and help cycle a train for testing, and helped with the annual electrical rehab on psycho mouse. So anyone else on here that works at the park PM me so we can be buddies!! Yeah, it's still sinking in that I get paid to work on roller coasters... Congratulations, it looks like a fun place to work and from what I hear Cedar Fair is a good company to work for. Now please, help make sure Gold Striker has as little down time as possible PS please direct a middle finger at the Prudential building for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cgavisitor Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 Should be year round I really don't see how great america isn't a year round park it's never to cold even during winter. They really should operate year round and close on staduim events if they have to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jew Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 Bay Area weather is very tempremental in the Winter. It was just a few weeks ago they got hit by a good rain storm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jray21 Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 It's been a super warm winter! Even in Reno, we hit 70 the past two days. As for Grizzly, I don't see them removing it. It's a great ride for families and beginning riders. When I rode it last, it was filled with a ton of kids that were just tall enough for it, but too scared to ride the more extreme rides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cgavisitor Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 2015 hours look great! Love how there open till 10pm all summer. But if u notice it says on the top they will be closed on 49er games. Soo I guess once it's mid augest they will be closed selected Sunday's again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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