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California Great America (CGA) Discussion Thread


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Well, it looks like CGA's 'Game-O-Rama' arcade is being converted to a sports bar. Seems a bit random to me but I guess it will work. I guess it can't be any more random than the 'Thrill Seekers' store selling name brand merchandise you'd buy at the mall.

 

Pics and info...

http://cfpl3.cagreatamerica.com/public/fun/blog/index.cfm?entry=b3042f6c-4f2e-42b0-8588-0c601ed0804d

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Tomorrow is the Joyfest, which Switchfoot headlines. And if the lines are anything like they were when I went to the park last year on the concert day, there will even be lines to play the games. The entire overflow for Vortex was full. Flight Deck's line went to the bumper cars. Every ride in the park had a line. It was ridiculous, but great for the park.

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CGA had lines like that last year? Last time I saw long lines for Flight Deck was back when the ride first opened...stretched all the way to the carousel.

 

Yeah, usually the lines are short, but I do remember last year someone saying that lines on Spring Celebration were HUGE! I remember just a few years ago on weekends, the lines used to be somewhat sizeable. Now, there aren't many lines at all.

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^Yeah, tomorrow's Spring Celebration should bring A LOT of guests into the park. Unless you are going for the concert, try to avoid the park. Most popular rides will probably use all their overflow switchbacks (last year Invertigo's was nearly full).

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^Yeah, tomorrow's Spring Celebration should bring A LOT of guests into the park. Unless you are going for the concert, try to avoid the park. Most popular rides will probably use all their overflow switchbacks (last year Invertigo's was nearly full).

 

I think I might be going even though I know it'll be crowded. Since I go there so much I really don't mind crowds.

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So I went today and it was crowded, but not really on the midways. A lot of people in the lines. I'll write a short report:

 

My friend and I got there around 11:30 and we processed our Gold Passes. The line for the season passes was not long at all. Then we saw that Vortex's line was completely full so we skipped it and went to Invertigo (Demon's line was VERY long). Even though the line was a little long, the crew was cycling trains really quickly and it only took like 20 minutes. Good job Invertigo crew!

 

Then we rode Drop Tower with only a 5-10 min wait. Even though most of the coaster lines were over 30+ min, Drop Tower's line never seems to get long. Grizzly's line was all the way out to the entrance so we skipped that too. Survivor only took about 20 minutes and we got good seats.

 

We rode Spongebob's Boatmobiles and ate at the Nicktoon's Cafe. Next up was Endeavor, which never has a line, but we had to wait a ride cycle. Delirium was down so we kept going. We stood in line for Firefall for like 20 minutes (they were SLOW) and then one ride cycle, it flipped like 6 or 7 times (which is way more than it's supposed to) and it got stuck at the top. So we hit up the Orbit instead, which surprisingly had a semi-long line.

 

Then Firefall opened back up and we walked right on, but the fire effects weren't working. Still a great ride! We kept going around the park to Flight Deck, which had a surprisingly short line because it apparently had just broken down. But we got in line and it started up right then. A quick ride in the 2nd row and by the time we got off, the line had doubled at least!

 

Next was Rue le Dodge which was alright. Then we decided to brave out the line for Vortex which was still huge. After 45 minutes and many switchbacks we rode. The reason for such a long line was that they were only running 1 train....I'm not sure why though considering today is one of the most busy days of the season, but w/e.

 

Overall it was a fun few hours. Not much has really changed since last season. The new sports bar is going to be a good addition. Some new paint here and there, and the new yellow uniforms for the groundskeepers looks good. Other than that, it was great seeing the park busy and doing well.

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Yeah...not gonna lie, it's really not the greatest park. SFDK is much better. I've never seen CP or KI, but I don't think CGA live's up to the standards of those parks. CGA has Top Gun (Flight Deck? Please....) That's about it. They foolishly dumped Stealth, and their latest coaster addition was 2003, Psycho Mouse. Wild Mouse? Really? lol, I just don't see much of a future for this park, especially if SFDK adds another big coaster.

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^CGA can not and will not compete with SFDK. SFDK clearly has better rides and on top of that adds all of the shows. With that said, I still think there is room for both parks in the market. Obviously in order for CGA to survive it will need new rides and like someone said before, with the park on the chopping block, who knows if Cedar Fair will spend the money for that. (They aren't in the best financial position.)

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I lived in Northern California till I was about twelve years old, and despite it being only twenty minutes from my house, I only went to the park twice. Marine World (as it was then) was well over an hour, yet I went there easily ten times (I wasn't as into coasters then as I was now, so that was a lot).

 

Point being: Marine World is a much better park on nearly every level, and it has much better "word of mouth".

 

People still talked about Great America as "the gang park" when I lived there, and I'm not sure if that has changed or not.

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While SFDK is definately the better park (IMO), I actually think CGA is nicer, prettier, cleaner, and more family friendly. I can't imagine it ever being a "gang park" but the first time I went to the park was last year, so it very well could have changed.

 

I'm so confused about this new coaster. I couldn't even get excited while reading that article, because I have no idea if it's even true/being built or not. I think the plans for this new woodie started in Fall of 2007? Plans still on in 2008, but no footers or construction seen by the Sky Tower (or Star Tower or whatever). Then noise questions...and eventually, coaster fail.

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