California Great America (CGA) Discussion Thread

[rolercstrluvr]

Now that I look at the sign, as you said it could have fallen but what if it's the park hinting at something.

[gromithere]

Tiki twirl is still down, stuck in the far end. I'm going to have to see that sign, heading to Demon next. Been a really good day earlier. Random note: couldn't do more than 2 back to back rides on FD as I was informed that it's not good for my body. If only she heard of ERT...

 

Update: must be a new policy they have to follow as we were informed about this again on Grizzly.

And the ramp situation, they have to keep it clear for accessibility reasons. New stair case is still yet to be completed, which I think we will be using.

 

Not to mention Coasting for Kids...I wonder how they justify allowing this if that is their new policy.

[robman]

I actually heard that this rule has been around for quite some time it just was never enforced like it was yesterday. I have a feeling that it will eventually wear off.

[Angry_Gumball]

Chances are (100% speculation by the way) that they finally buckled down and began to enforce this rule as it seemed to be 'neglected' the past several seasons that Cedar Fair owned the park, or all of the new guys are following this rule. I'm going to go with the first guess though as I was informed about this rule later in the day via Patman, who works the Grizzly coaster, formerly worked Invertigo. I know he's been working several seasons now at the park.

 

I'm sure a lot of this comes down to guest complaints of "Ow, that ride hurt me" or "Oh...I don't feel good," guests who don't know their limits. However, when I rode Vortex (Which ran smooth-ish in the front center seats), I heard a ride op comment to a guest asking them if this was their 5th cycle now, as though they were cool/cheering them on for marathoning the coaster.

 

Anyone who works at another CF park want to chime in on this?

[JJnCFL]

When I worked during the Paramount years, we were always trained to only allow guests to ride twice and that they must go back in line afterwards, but it was rarely enforced.

[robman]

Here is the parks new commercial for this year, lots of people on the parks fan page have been complaining about it saying it is loud and obnoxiousness .

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErtEzkS1haU&feature=youtu.be

[Tmcdllr]

People are stupid and bitchy, there is nothing wrong with the commercial. Loud?...It's for a themepark.....duh.....whatever!

[Angry_Gumball]

Probably the same type of people who complained about noise from the GCI several years back.

 

I like the dad's scream, didn't expect that, lol.

[MrSum1_55]

The commercial may be annoying, but those people need to understand one thing:

 

You can stop CGA from building a new ride, but you can't stop a business from making use of freedom of the press rights.

 

Really, the marketing department is the thing keeping GCA alive now. I wonder what those same people complaining about commercials and new rides would feel if GCA closed.

 

On another topic, wasn't it also mentioned that CGA may be getting a new waterslide? The park should probably have no problem getting a permit for that, as slides only make a fraction of the noise that coasters do, and that area of the park is the farthest you gan get from the residential areas. Two screaming people cannot make nearly as much noise as 28 screaming people...or thousands of screaming fans.

[Angry_Gumball]

The commercial may be annoying, but those people need to understand one thing:

 

You can stop CGA from building a new ride, but you can't stop a business from making use of freedom of the press rights.

 

Really, the marketing department is the thing keeping GCA alive now. I wonder what those same people complaining about commercials and new rides would feel if GCA closed.

 

On another topic, wasn't it also mentioned that CGA may be getting a new waterslide? The park should probably have no problem getting a permit for that, as slides only make a fraction of the noise that coasters do, and that area of the park is the farthest you gan get from the residential areas. Two screaming people cannot make nearly as much noise as 28 screaming people...or thousands of screaming fans.

 

1 thing that commercial says right: Thrills Connect. As noted, Sunday felt like a reconnection with fellow coaster fanatics from TPR, Facebook, and even Youtube. So in this sense, their new motto(?) applied to my visit.

 

I agree 100%. The marketing dept seems to be really holding down the fort over the past few seasons. Since it's hard to promote your park with no major capital, creative solutions have to be made to draw people in. Sure, they don't produce the commercials or do any of the graphic stuff (otherwise, I would probably be seeking a position in graphic design and whatnot) as that's done via corporate but they do spread the word via their social networks (You've seen their humorous Haunt videos featuring the Underlord and Iggy Mack), and variety of deals/packages through AAA and whatnot.

 

And about the water slide attraction...they are, from what I read. I mentioned this on the previous page, probably buried in the sea of my trip report from opening day but from Logger's Run, I did notice some 1.5-foot metal stakes with neon orange tips scattered about under the Didgeridoo Falls (Blue raft slide). I'm not sure if they're for landscaping purposes or something else. They weren't those little red/whatever color flags we saw in the Invertigarden, but what looked like metal stakes about as thick as re-bar material. I did notice 1 lone stake/marker on the other side of DownUnderThunder, approaching the lift so it could just be landscaping. One can only hope though, right?

 

I'm not sure what the other markers were that Robman saw, tried looking for them when I read his TR (Love having the iPhone and reading people's trip reports while still at the park, can then go on a quest to look for what they spotted )

Edited March 28, 2012 by Angry_Gumball

[deathbydinn]

I know at least Worlds of Fun and Kings Dominion have the same commercial, so CGA's marketing department might have had nothing to do with it.

[robman]

^ ^I forgot to go and get a picture of them. ( Remembered as I was leaving) I plan to go back this weekend and I will take a picture of the ones I was talking about and ride Loggers Run to see the ones you were pointing out.

[Angry_Gumball]

Oh yea, tomorrow Part II of Archetictural Review meeting resumes. I guess we'll see what happens from there, will check the minutes/agenda later tomorrow as much as the last agenda didn't have any real detail.

[XYZ]

I saw the commercial, and in my opinion it is MUCH better than those pathetic "Dear [insert name here]" commercials.

[thrillgeek]

Nothing what so ever is wrong with the commercial. As far as a new waterside is concerned how long would that take to built compared to say a small coaster? Could it possibly ready by summer even with no formal announcement from the park? I'd love for something new to be there by the time coasting for kids comes around.

[154bmag]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Translation: I don't hate this commercial, but I don't really like it either.

[invisibleinthedark]

http://santaclaraca.gov/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=7016

 

March 28th agenda, the woodie in on top of the list.

[Tmcdllr]

Revised plans....hmmm...

[UrbanLegend]

Staff Recommendation: Approve

 

Good words to hear, even if they are 'subject to conditions'. Wonder what the revisions in the plan are.

[Tmcdllr]

Approve it already!

[Angry_Gumball]

[APPROVED]

There...now if only it were that easy!

Now, the whole "Subject to conditions" thing... I'm guessing this relates to the noise issues, height, etc. Curious what the next step is in the process.

 

Revised plans...originally noted back in February, so I'm not surprised. My guess about the "Revised Plans" is that perhaps the coaster may take on a slightly different layout, different material (are the wood/steel hybrids just as noisy or are they quieter?), or perhaps a different location altogether (also forcing the coaster to possibly have a different layout). Last I knew back in 2008/09, all of the noise issues were ironed out but deadlines were missed, so I don't think we'll really see the same noise issues if the same solutions are used during the first attempt. I'm really curious about the actual details of the meetings that had taken place on the 7th, and today, rather than a basic agenda.

 

Oh, and I've officially heard the infamous screaming commercial on TV just now, heard screaming as I was leaving a room...definitely an attention getter!

[Manic Monte]

I knew some revisions would be in order with this coaster. Hopefully that turns out to be a good thing.

[Tmcdllr]

Im dying to know what happened in the meeting.

[Angry_Gumball]

On a different topic, remember the parking structure to be built? I almost forgot that I had a photo of it, with its few levels it has. Actually, I wasn't intending on snagging a photo of this, just snapping photos of the nearby showers that did not touch us. I believe this car park is to have 7 levels to it. I'm not sure when this started but they seem to be moving along quick. If I read right, this is to help with parking for the stadium and the park.

 

And speaking of parking, this photo was taken I believe around 2:00PM. Notice how empty the lot was.

New parking structure in yellow circle

[Tmcdllr]

Get a new coaster in there and that lot would be full!