California Great America (CGA) Discussion Thread

[JJnCFL]

Parking lot finally getting it's lines painted after being repaved, definitely a new configuration with the horizontal rows now...

Lot new pavement and getting lines painted horizontally

[Angry_Gumball]

Interesting configuration, changing orientation of the lines and doing the rows in smaller sections. Looks to be 'Clench 'n Squish' parking, perhaps to up the capacity. I'm assuming our close up VIP parking will still be there and be pretty similar.

[Double0Kevin]

I'm sure it's configured to allow better flow for the crowds leaving the stadium all at once, helps make them walk down rows rather than through the cars creating more safety issues. Plus this set up will still work fine for the park too.

[Blue Fire Guy]

I just wanna say this because of today's date: Happy 20th birthday Flight Deck! Still an awesome and intense old school B&M invert.

 

As for GS's pair of Millenium Flyers, I'm also very anxious to see what they look like and how they're different! There have been some really cool looking MF trains, like Troy's, both sides of Joris/Draak, and Wodan (only been on this one as far as GCIs with cool trains go), as well as the locomotive front for White Lightning. Hope these trains will join the ranks of the European GCIs and White Lightning!

[Angry_Gumball]

I knew FD's 20th was coming up but forgot the date

So yea, Happy 20th FD!

 

I kind of feel like seeing GS's trains under wraps is much like a kid seeing an Xmas present. We can only see the shape of the package but can't see the details. Can't wait for CGA to unwrap and show off those sexy Millennium Flyer trains!

[XYZ]

I totally forgot today was Top Gun's 20th anniversary. 20 years old and still strong.

[Angry_Gumball]

In honor of Flight Deck's 20th (Sorry to burst all of our bubbles including mine, but just heard from a source,including here, that FD's anniversary is actually tomorrow and not today...so I'll just toot my horn early ), I decided I'd share this back-side photo of FD and it's famous lake finale. I took this a couple weeks ago and forgot I had it on my other memory card

 

Happy 20th!

 

In other news, to add onto what Jeff posted on the previous page, more parking lot lines! Gotta love using the 49er's Stadium webcam/live view for our CGA needs

 

 

Now that I can kind of see what's going on (thanks to more paint), it certainly looks like a tighter 'clench 'n squish' fit but having the parking area in smaller sections should help improve flow when everyone leaves. It just looks a little tight to try turning into the parking slot...top it off with them being set up at 90 degrees rather than diagonal parking. Glad my car has a tight-ish turning radius and is of a smaller width

 

Oh, and check this out (On CGA's site): http://www.cagreatamerica.com/events/things-to-do/special-events/Opening-Weekend-2013

 

Friday, March 29th

Opening Day Festivities

 

Be one of the first 2,500 guests from park opening until 12noon and receive a FREE Souvenir Cup with free Coca-Cola fountain refills on March 29th. Plus, you can use it all season and receive soda refills for just $0.99 each plus tax

Opening Ceremony and ribbon cutting with Snoopy

Double Ride Time on select thrill rides from park opening until 12noon

Prize giveaways in park

 

Saturday, March 30th

Celebration Saturday

 

Pop-up Prize Patrols including Fast Lane passes and rides on Xtreme Skyflyer and Thunder Raceway

Opening Weekend themed prizes

Grand Prizes throughout the day including:

First Rider spots on Gold Striker

Birthday Party packages

Early Ride Time packages

 

Sunday, March 31st

Easter Eggstravaganza from 12noon-4pm for kids 12 & under including:

 

Cupcake decorating

Easter coloring station

Egg dyeing

Meet & Greets with Snoopy the Easter Beagle

Pop-up Prize Patrols from members of the PEANUTS Gang

 

 

Should be a pretty lively opening weekend!

[#1rollercoasterfan]

Wow CGA never had an opening weekend like this before! I guess CGA is jealous of SFDK's opening weekend & thought we'll top SFDK & have an opening weekend just as good. I was going to go but forget it. It would be just as bad as SFDK's. Plus I'd rather wait for GS to open & Boomerang Bay. I know the first 2 weeks of June are busy with schools & camps so I'll wait toward the end of June to make my first visit. & Boy have times changed. New generation. I remember years ago like back in 2002 the park was so dead during the week but now when you go there is no quiet time it seems.

Flight Deck eh Batman is better I have to say.

[jray21]

That sounds like a really good opening weekend! Makes me really want to make it our for that!

[Angry_Gumball]

That sounds like a really good opening weekend! Makes me really want to make it our for that!

Not to mention (Sorry SFDK) the double rides thing is a bit more well thought out. Don't get me wrong; I did enjoy the double rides and really worked out well when crowds were light. But when crowds settle in (after 2 hours into being open) it begins to be a frustration.

[JJnCFL]

The anticipation just got more exciting! Free souvenir cup, double rides, and prize giveaways, Cedar Fair definitely is showing the love!

[Blue Fire Guy]

Definitely gonna arrive super early for that souvenir cup! The double rides sound really awesome too. So excited to get back to the park! I wanna snap those flyers again...

[robman]

Seeing what the park has planned now for opening day makes me very excited. I've been going on opening day since '01/'02 and I don't think something like this has ever been done.

[Angry_Gumball]

^Agreed. CGA seems to have come out with a bang for their opening day this year. All the past years I've been going since opening (2008- Present) opening day just came and went. The park was usually dead as well so this should help attendance-wise. I can say that SFDK's opening day appeared to have quite a turnout, maybe the same could happen for CGA...sans the double wait thing we all experienced last Saturday.

[gromithere]

I am very excited for this season at CGA in general. It seems that they are stepping up their game all around and finally committing to this park! Way to go Cedar Fair!

[Jew]

Good to see CGA trying new things! These small things cost the park next to nothing, yet add a ton to any guests lucky enough to partake in them.

[WayCool64]

Okay, now I'm totally hyped for opening day! I know that I'm gonna get up pretty early in the morning to get the park in time! BTW: since today's the 20th anniversary of Flight Deck/Top Gun, I decided to put this up for old time's sake.

Edited March 20, 2013 by WayCool64

[Swornenemy]

Cga just posted a picture of the station on their Facebook.

[Angry_Gumball]

In honor of FD's real anniversary today...get ready for full throttle thrills! (Word filter strikes again )

[jray21]

It's amazing that Top Gun is that old! Makes me feel super old! It's also amazing that even after all those years, it's still a pretty amazing ride. I'm hoping as a birthday gift they will give the station a roof!

[DJeXeL]

^LOL What's a roof?

I still remember waiting 90 minutes for Top Flight Gun Deck in '93 and it blew my mind. Still in my top 3 inverts along with Afterburn and all the Batman clones.

[TyRush]

What is the most intense part of Flight Deck? It seems that last corkscrew is crazy! happy anniversary!

[Angry_Gumball]

The part I find most intense, causing me to gray out on FD is the turnaround after the first inversion.

[Tmcdllr]

Did you guys miss the pic of GS's station?

 

Beautiful!

[jray21]

I think it's just an optical illusion, or a temporary structure just to protect the construction workers. Everyone knows CGA is not allowed to have covered stations.