California Great America (CGA) Discussion Thread

[djbrcace1234]

^

 

You're right about the whole staduim nosie issue. I think it is a shame this park has been dwindling from what I have heard. Granted, my last visit there, Stealth was still there. The park then was great, but I see the discouragement now. This park does need something new to keep intrest.

[John Peck]

Stealth's removal didn't bother me because they built that massive waterpark there. Tidal Wave on the other hand.. that was sad.

 

I don't know what will happen with Great America, but waiting in limbo for Cedar Fair to either invest again or shut it down is getting tiresome... and I'm not even a local!

[djbrcace1234]

^ stealth wasn't the best ride, well now I can see this. But as a 12 year old at the time, that ride was so fun! I know how you feel. I live down in co cal and since I first heard of this staduim dispute, I knew it would be somewhat neglected. I do hope that Cedar Fair can show some love to this park, even if it is a small addition as well. Anything new generally brings in curious guest.

[KDCOASTERFAN]

They could always throw another B&M in there and fill it with sand like Medusa, the trains on that ride glide so silently along the track. Ah screw the neighbors! They need to just put in something big and loud! Since the stadium, if It does get built, would be a lot closer to the residential area, won't the noise from it from games and events bother the neighbors? If a big, noisy, lousy stadium can be built they then I see no excuse for not allowing more coasters.

 

Flight deck & vortex aren't sand filled & yet they were permitted to be installed....I just don't get why there are complaints now when the park has been in business for well over 30 years without any problems concerning noise.

[Angry_Gumball]

And Invertigo's still cycling...I saw it running off and on today with water dummies. I asked one of the attendants standing at Invertigo's entrance how soon the ride will be back up and running but they weren't sure. I just hope it's soon, those water dummie'd trains cycling kept teasing me.

[Sunfire]

^Yeah, you and me both. I'm waiting for it to open just so I can test ride it in the morning.

[djbrcace1234]

Now I realized how much I missed this park. lol.

[greatamerica1990sfan]

I went today & was shocked at how the retracking changed the Grizzly! It turned it into a new ride! It sure doesn't seem like the worst woodie anymore. I even went on it 3 times it was that enjoyable. I think the Tidal Wave may have a chance returning. The Orbit returned so why can't Tidal Wave? & Too bad no coaster for next year either-no markings or news would have heard by now. I have a huge feeling CGA will see one in 2012 which will make up for the Tidal Wave which got taken out in 2002 & hopefully will see another one in 2013 since 2003 Stealth got taken out. I have a feeling next year the Spongebob 3d movie will be gone & 2 brand new 3d movies will be there. I hope the park doesn't shut down due to the 49ers taking over & cause Cedar Fair not to build any new coasters.

[DOCTOR DOOM!!!]

^ Tidal Wave was cannibalized for parts to keep Greezed Lightnin' at SFKK running. Greezed Lightnin' even uses the top half of CGA Tidal wave's loop IIRC!

[greatamerica1990sfan]

It's actually both Tidal Wave's from both Great America parks. But can't Cedar Fair buy the whole ride from Six Flags? & Doesn't anybody else think CGA will finally see a new coaster in 2012?

[haydn12]

We thought Grizzly was smooth when we rode it last month. The problem with the ride is that is had no force to it and it was slow.

 

Jim

[Homeboy23]

^ See that is what I thought of it when I rode it a couple weeks ago. I didn't feel any roughness, the problem I had on the coaster was that I almost fell asleep on it.

[greatamerica1990sfan]

What are the wait times like on a Mon/Tues in July/Aug?

[rcdude]

^Almost non-existent. I've been twice on Mondays in July and on both times the longest line was about fifteen minutes. With the exception of Logger's Run, Barney Oldfield Motor Speedway, Invertigo, and the three large slides in the waterpark, everything was practically a walk-on for all but a two hour period in the midde of the day.

[Angry_Gumball]

^Being as I typically go on Sundays, the longest lines I've waited were no more than 10 minutes. I'm sure Invertigo would be much longer (If it were running) as well as Psycho Mouse as it seems only 1 car is dispatched at a time. Weather obviously plays a huge factor on the water park, though last Sunday and typically, I've only waited max 15 minutes for the 3 raft slides.

 

Anyone notice that it seems only half of Drop Tower seems to be working? They've even gone as far as only using the Cabins 1-3 side of the tower, and completely blocked off the Cabins 4-6 side of the tower. I believe 4 cabins are running out of the 6 total it has.

 

And about Grizzly, it still has it's rough spots but it is more enjoyable now. The ouchy roughness changed to more of just a bouncy roughness which is kinda fun!

[greatamerica1990sfan]

I went on Sunday the 11th & the lines were moderate but Vortex had a wait since it was only running 1 train. I saw the Demon testing so it didn't open until around 12:30. I too noticed on Drop Zone only one side to wait in line was open & had 3 cabins open. 2 weren't operating. Love the Grizzly now. I'm even going again in a couple weeks. Will Cedar Fair finally end up building that giant woodie for 2012? They can put it somewhere else for the complainers. & Any chance Great America will see a launch like Top Thrill Dragster?

[Tmcdllr]

They could always throw another B&M in there and fill it with sand like Medusa, the trains on that ride glide so silently along the track. Ah screw the neighbors! They need to just put in something big and loud! Since the stadium, if It does get built, would be a lot closer to the residential area, won't the noise from it from games and events bother the neighbors? If a big, noisy, lousy stadium can be built they then I see no excuse for not allowing more coasters.

 

Flight deck & vortex aren't sand filled & yet they were permitted to be installed....I just don't get why there are complaints now when the park has been in business for well over 30 years without any problems concerning noise.

 

 

EXACTLY!!! The park was there first so screw everybody else!

[greatamerica1990sfan]

Right on! Cedar Fair needs to show them who's boss!

[Columbia]

They could always throw another B&M in there and fill it with sand like Medusa, the trains on that ride glide so silently along the track. Ah screw the neighbors! They need to just put in something big and loud! Since the stadium, if It does get built, would be a lot closer to the residential area, won't the noise from it from games and events bother the neighbors? If a big, noisy, lousy stadium can be built they then I see no excuse for not allowing more coasters.

 

Flight deck & vortex aren't sand filled & yet they were permitted to be installed....I just don't get why there are complaints now when the park has been in business for well over 30 years without any problems concerning noise.

 

Vortex installed 1991 - located along the central core of the park

 

Top Gun installed 1993 - located along the side of the park - neighbors didn't complain due to distance from housing and berms already built that shielded the noise.

 

Plus, at the time these were built / installed, there were no developments along the western side of the park, (the office buildings were built early 2000's) except for the building with the large fountain at the corner of Great America Parkway and Mission College Boulevard - hence no complaints. The company that supposedly held up the new woodie is actually not even located closest to the noise area of the proposed attraction - go figure.

 

Don't hold your breath for a large capital project - that stadium will hold up ANY new large capital investment from CF, which is actually a business decision (and unfortunately a good one) I wouldn't dump millions into something that may not be there in 7-10 years. Not to mention, politics are in full play too. (Something to the effect of, if you sue the City to stop this stadium, some may not approve plans for new attractions as, "retaliation").

[Justice]

Hi, I am Justice. I do frequent updates every two or three weeks. On my last visit, as I was waiting for the rest of my party who were on the Demon, I turned around and Invertigo was testing. It now has water dummies on the trains. It looked like it was running great. However, there was a strange noise as it came through the cobra roll backwards. Here is the video:

 

Also, I heard a rumor that next year will not bring a new Maze, but possibly a new scare zone:

Haunt is just a few months away, and I have done some investigating to see if there is any new attractions this year. After speaking with a Park Exec, I did gather this small bit of information:

 

The park has not gone over Halloween Haunt 2010 with it’s employees yet (as of 7.11.10). But this year will NOT bring a new maze. This is debunks the rumor I recieved last year from a park employee who stated that 2009 would be a Doll Factory (ended up being a Toy Factory) and 2010 would bring the Asylum.

 

While there will not be a new maze, there may be a new scare zone. Personally, I rather see a Scare Zone since a new one hasn’t been introduced since the initial Halloween Haunt back in 2008.While the Park Exec, did it directly, it sounds that the money that would have gone into a new attraction, instead went into offering Haunt on Sundays. Which does sound reasonable.

Edited July 14, 2010 by Jew

[Angry_Gumball]

It now has water dummies on the trains. It looked like it was running great. However, there was a strange noise as it came through the cobra roll backwards.

 

The strange noise you're referring to, is it the squeaky noises? Or more of that clicky kind of Noise? I think the clicking noise is just the looseness between the track and wheels (typical Vekoma-ness), my guess is that the squeakiness is from new urethane rolling on metal. I've heard that sound on other coasters, like V2 @ SFDK when it was new...I could be wrong though.

[Justice]

It now has water dummies on the trains. It looked like it was running great. However, there was a strange noise as it came through the cobra roll backwards.

 

The strange noise you're referring to, is it the squeaky noises? Or more of that clicky kind of Noise? I think the clicking noise is just the looseness between the track and wheels (typical Vekoma-ness), my guess is that the squeakiness is from new urethane rolling on metal. I've heard that sound on other coasters, like V2 @ SFDK when it was new...I could be wrong though.

Its the squeaky noise you hear in the video around 0:35 in the video. The other "clicky kind of Noise" was there previously.

[Angry_Gumball]

Seeing your earlier post, and checking out Park Thoughts, I'm going to take a guess that you're the one who runs that site?

 

About the squeakage, I noticed in a POV of Kong, you can hear the same/similar squeaky sounds on the first 2 and last 2 inversions. Regardless, let's hope Invertigo opens soon...it seems like it's around the corner from opening yet it has a long way to go at the same time.

 

Edit: Video removed. No illegal POV's are allowed to be posted to the site.- Joey

Edited July 15, 2010 by Jew

[Justice]

Seeing your earlier post, and checking out Park Thoughts, I'm going to take a guess that you're the one who runs that site?

I am one of the blog writers for Park Thoughts yes.

 

About the squeakage, I noticed that this POV of Kong, you can hear the same/similar squeaky sounds on the first 2 and last 2 inversions. Regardless, let's hope Invertigo opens soon...it seems like it's around the corner from opening yet it has a long way to go at the same time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTh8v6gmy78

Edit: It may help if I post the video!

Well this seems like unfortunate news. Kong is easily the roughest ride I have ever been on, with Invertigo being one of the smoothest. I would hate to see Invertigo turn out rough when it does return.

[gforce532]

So how would crowd levels on weekends in september be? Right now I have a vist planed on saturday september 11. I expect not bad at all, because it is the week after labor day and also it's 9/11. But any way I assume Invertigo usually has the longest line so I plan to get that out of the way earily in the morning. This will actually be my first ever visit to the park despite being a coaster enthusiast living in southern california, I just never had the oportunity to swing by. Though I had visted Santa Cruz a few years back for a few hours on a family road trip. I also have a plan to stop by Discovery Kingdom the next day so I can get both parks down in one trip.