coasternate Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 I know it was a while ago, but I went to the second night of filming for the Winterfest commercial shoot and had a lot of fun! We met some cool people and hopefully will be in a few shots. We got to drive through some cool back areas of the park (and even drove through the park at one point). They kinda herded us around from shot to shot, and we did a lot of things in different areas of the park. They did a good job of keeping us entertained. It was a really cool experience; now I want to do a ride opening commercial shoot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayCool64 Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 Also, completely agree that I'd love for them to add a second Mass Effect to the other side and have it be a different trip. That is the big thing its missing is the variety of like a Star Tours (although getting different actors at different times of day helps with that). If I were to guess (especially from what my friend told me), the reason they probably didn't do randomized ride sequences was because it would give the actors a hard time to know which script to go off of (unlike ST where everything's already programmed in). However, the Mass Effect series was known for its branching storylines, so why wouldn't there be different ride experiences? The only variation there is comes from the live actors and the improvisations they give. I remember hearing that they were interested in adding more experiences to the ride (I could totally see them doing a "Holiday Getaway" version for next WinterFest), so refurbishing and reopening the unused theater would be a total benefit both content wise and capacity wise. I mean if the ride's theme is based around a space travel agency, why not have the other side serve as a gate to a spaceship travelling to somewhere else in the ME universe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazedZooChimp Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 Good point with the live actor (and I assume having enough actors might also make adding a second one tricky). I guess the easy solution for multiple trips without making it too hard on the actor would be if it was like two alternating rides or a sequence (1,2,3,1,2,3) so it was easy to remember to move on to the next one, but a lot more material to memorize. Of course, a nice benefit of screen based attraction, they can always change or add to it without having to rebuild the ride. Â I wonder if when the new Mass Effect game comes out in a couple months it could be a good reason to update things... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayCool64 Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 I wonder if when the new Mass Effect game comes out in a couple months it could be a good reason to update things... I have heard from a few sources that New Earth was supposed to be a connecting bridge between ME3 and Andromeda, and there were a few ads for it being played on the queue TVs. It would be an interesting idea to do something based around the new game. I mean Star Tours did add new scenes when TFA released in 2015. So I could see CF/EA do something similar to promote Andromeda. Â I assume having enough actors might also make adding a second one tricky Probably. I mean I remember back in 2006 (the last year the other side was open) during one of my trips to the park, they didn't have enough staff to have the other side open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XSupremacy Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 Apparently Firefall came down today or sometime earlier in the week. https://www.instagram.com/p/BPaoVrCDdkJ/?taken-by=coasterdemon  Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VegasBaby Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 Not surprised to see Firefall removed, these Top Spins are maintenance nightmares. The Top Spin at Knott's (Riptide) was removed last year as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WolfBobs Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 Don't forget this, I believe was the first permanent installation of a Top Spin at GL in 1994(?) as Texas Twister. It most likely just reached the end of it's life. Kinda bummed I was hoping to take a spin on it this season or next and relive some GL memories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayCool64 Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 I'm not surprised by this either. It was one of my least favorite rides, most of the effects barely work nowadays and you can't ride it unless you're carrying absolutely nothing (they don't have any special place to store your stuff). If I were to guess (coming from the recent expansion presentation and the ride's location), they might either use the space for the hyper coaster, or IMO, they could use that space (plus the space in between ME and Patriot) for the launched coaster that was in the plans, and maybe call it Tidal Wave as a throwback to the original coaster was in that same spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Risky Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 Let's hope for something better being built in its place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillseeker4552 Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 There goes another one. It's unfortunate since top spins are fun rides, but with all the expansion this park has planned, I'm sure it won't be missed much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Peck Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 Geauga Lakes Texas Twister was 1993. It was the first permanent installation in the country. Â It lasted a lot longer than many of the others. I know Dorney's is gone and I "Think" Worlds of Fun's is, too. That would make the last remaining HUSS models at Cedar Fair be at Kings Dominion and Valleyfair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnlloyd Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 Geauga Lakes Texas Twister was 1993. It was the first permanent installation in the country. It lasted a lot longer than many of the others. I know Dorney's is gone and I "Think" Worlds of Fun's is, too. That would make the last remaining HUSS models at Cedar Fair be at Kings Dominion and Valleyfair.  Yes, Worlds of Fun's Top Spin known as Thunderhawk was removed during the 2015/2016 off-season. It's a shame to see many Huss Top Spin rides removed over the past few years but, it is for good reason as many have become "mechanical nightmares" and cost the parks a lot to maintain. Hopefully an amazing ride replaces Fire Fall at California's Great America. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillseeker4552 Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 Geauga Lakes Texas Twister was 1993. It was the first permanent installation in the country. It lasted a lot longer than many of the others. I know Dorney's is gone and I "Think" Worlds of Fun's is, too. That would make the last remaining HUSS models at Cedar Fair be at Kings Dominion and Valleyfair.  Yes, Worlds of Fun's Top Spin known as Thunderhawk was removed during the 2015/2016 off-season. It's a shame to see many Huss Top Spin rides removed over the past few years but, it is for good reason as many have become "mechanical nightmares" and cost the parks a lot to maintain. Hopefully an amazing ride replaces Fire Fall at California's Great America.  That's how I felt when Riptide was removed from Knott's last year. I figured it's just one more step to them removing Boomerang and using that space for a new thrill ride/coaster! They are fun rides, though.  It looks like CGA has a bright future, so I guess the park has to take a couple step backs before moving forward. Bring on that Hyper coaster! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarmart Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 I was thinking they could use part of the Fireball area as the queue for the launched coaster that could be placed in the old Tidal Wave spot. But if it's for the hyper, I would be A-OK with that too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laqueefa Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 So apparently the rezoning passed!  Santa Clara City Council voted unanimously to approve the rezoning of Great America, allowing the park to proceed with their Park Master Plan project. The rezoning will allow the park to build more, and larger rides, adopt a year-round operating schedule, and construct a dining and shopping complex outside of the gates of the park. Concerns from the public and council regarding increases in noise and traffic were alleviated, thanks in no small part to the strong working relationship and trust Cedar Fair has developed with the City and its residents since taking stewardship of the park in 2006. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ytterbiumanalyst Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 Sweet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterbill Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 Great news! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfrosaurusWrecks Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 Very exciting to see this pass. Super happy to see the park getting some love. Looking forward to seeing the expansion come together, and bring on the hyper!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenbowl Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 I hope the B&M Hyper is closer to 2018-19 than 2035 on the 20-year timeline. I don't think the plan specified dates for these proposed additions, but it's still very exciting for this park to expand so heavily! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loco Posted January 25, 2017 Share Posted January 25, 2017 Very excited about this! As my homepark growing up, I'm happy it's finally getting some love soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazedZooChimp Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 Nice, that's great news (and faster than I would have expected)! Â Where did you see the info about it passing? I'm having a horrible time trying to navigate the city of Santa Clara website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillseeker4552 Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 This is fantastic news! I'm most excited for that B&M Hyper. If Knott's never gets one, at least we'll have one in California! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laqueefa Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 Pipe Dream: keep the demon tunnel and rock formations, add LED light FX, and put the new launched coaster there. I love that nostalgic ride, but it's time to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfrosaurusWrecks Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 I love the idea of using the old train tunnel...It reminds me of the plans paramount had to put in the elevator lift hyper coaster that was supposed to do something similar. Having something like an impulse in that spot would be a cool idea, and it would fit the space well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarmart Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 So I was watching the council meeting video ( ) and noticed something in one of the slides being shown. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the pdf on the Santa Clara website so I just took a screenshot. Is that a red coaster track I see over Rip Roaring Rapids? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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