Six Flags America (SFA) Discussion Thread

[SFA Regular]

Hello everyone. It's been some time sense I have been on this site. How are you all. For those who don't know me, I'm from (coaster-net) so if you get some time, check my profile and you will see I'm a regular to Six Flags America.

 

I see you all have begun talking about the (Chang) rumor. I also agree that (Chang) will be coming to SFA. We were one of the three rumored parks for this ride. Three reasons, why I believe we are getting it Chang, is one, we have not gotten a new coaster sense Batwing, so at the end of this year it will have been 7 years. Two, what would Great Adventure want with (Chang)? They already have Batman:The Ride, Medussa, and Nitro, which are very good B&M Coasters. Three, its only fair to give it to Six Flags America with us being rumored one of the parks to be sold. It;s much better for the company to take the chance now, with a ride being up for grabs. A lot cheaper than paying for a brand new one and if they make it into a (Bizarro) themed ride, it will attract a lot of people.

 

Getting that out the way, lets talk about the park. SFA's new management knows that they are in competition with Kings Dominion and without the doubt the park has been losing people to Kings Dominion. Part of that is because SFA has lacked new attractions and entertainment for a while now. So it's time for them to get back on track. (Thomas Town) with out a doubt, is a response back to Kings Dominion's (Planet Snoopy). (Superman) on the other hand will have to bow down to (Intimidator 305). But the park could answer back to (Flight of fear) with installing a indoor building structure around (Joker's Jinx). People tell me that the park will never do it because they would have to spend money to install a sprinkler system inside the building, but in the long run it would be worth it because additional theming could be added to the ride in order to enhance the experience. Add a fog system and strobe lights, and you have a good indoor ride that is just as good as Flight of Fear.

 

I have many other speculations about SFA, but I want to hear from the rest of you first.

[CoasterLover]

So it's time for them to get back on track. (Thomas Town) with out a doubt, is a response back to Kings Dominion's (Planet Snoopy).

 

Thomas Town has been in the works for several years and is certainly NOT being built "as a response to" Planet Snoopy. Thomas Town was informally announced opening day this year at SFA, Planet Snoopy was just announced a couple weeks ago. Thomas Town will be a completely new area of the park, Planet Snoopy is a necessary re-theme so the park can get rid of the Nick characters. If anything, Planet Snoopy was a response to Thomas Town.

[kingsdominionlvr]

In response to "SFA Regular"

 

Well, I believe someone has already pointed out the whole Planet Snoopy, Thomas Town thing. But, I would also like to add another reason SFA could be getting Chang. I have heard the reason Kings Dominion got Dominator is because of a contract with B&M and Busch Gardens to not allow B&M to make any coaster for Kings Dominion OR Six Flags America. Dominator was a loop-hole in the contract due to it being relocated, not built new for Kings Dominion. If you apply the same example to another park that badly needs a B&M (Six Flags America), I could see how Chang ends up at Six Flags America.

 

Here comes the part where I disagree with you. Six Flags America is not competing with Kings Dominion, to compete they actually have to be somewhat close to Kings Dominion in attendance numbers, comparable in number of rides, OR SOMETHING. Now, say Six Flags America does get Chang (which I doubt, even though my example proves it could be true)... They will have 8 coasters compared to Kings Dominion's 15. Their attendance may be affected positively which would help them, but it is still highly unlikely to see a situation with them competing with Kings Dominion seeing as Kings Dominion's attendance will increase as well with the addition of Intimidator 305. Finally, to address a few things you had said about Joker's Jinx and Superman. First, Superman is 100 feet less tall than Intimidator, so to imagine it blowing Intimidator away would be almost an impossibility. As for Joker's Jinx, I would say it would be more likely to see it removed then to see them make it indoors, especially because it is in such a cramped space. To foresee them competing with any park in the area, I would have to see them do the following...

 

1. Add at least 2 more coasters

2. Add at least 2 more major flat rides

3. Remove unreliable, outdated rides

4. Improve theming

5. Improve Staff attitude

6. Make general improvements to the park (i.e. scraping all of the gum of the queues and sidewalks)

[KDCOASTERFAN]

In response to "SFA Regular"

 

Well, I believe someone has already pointed out the whole Planet Snoopy, Thomas Town thing. But, I would also like to add another reason SFA could be getting Chang. I have heard the reason Kings Dominion got Dominator is because of a contract with B&M and Busch Gardens to not allow B&M to make any coaster for Kings Dominion OR Six Flags America. Dominator was a loop-hole in the contract due to it being relocated, not built new for Kings Dominion. If you apply the same example to another park that badly needs a B&M (Six Flags America), I could see how Chang ends up at Six Flags America.

 

Here comes the part where I disagree with you. Six Flags America is not competing with Kings Dominion, to compete they actually have to be somewhat close to Kings Dominion in attendance numbers, comparable in number of rides, OR SOMETHING. Now, say Six Flags America does get Chang (which I doubt, even though my example proves it could be true)... They will have 8 coasters compared to Kings Dominion's 15. Their attendance may be affected positively which would help them, but it is still highly unlikely to see a situation with them competing with Kings Dominion seeing as Kings Dominion's attendance will increase as well with the addition of Intimidator 305. Finally, to address a few things you had said about Joker's Jinx and Superman. First, Superman is 100 feet less tall than Intimidator, so to imagine it blowing Intimidator away would be almost an impossibility. As for Joker's Jinx, I would say it would be more likely to see it removed then to see them make it indoors, especially because it is in such a cramped space. To foresee them competing with any park in the area, I would have to see them do the following...

 

1. Add at least 2 more coasters

2. Add at least 2 more major flat rides

3. Remove unreliable, outdated rides

4. Improve theming

5. Improve Staff attitude

6. Make general improvements to the park (i.e. scraping all of the gum of the queues and sidewalks)

 

Not true because SFA DID have plans to install a standup coaster from B&M back in 99 along with several other rides that the park never recieved due to corporate's lack of attention given to the park's cap ex plans following the 01 season.The standup was cancelled when batwing was built in it's place simply because KD had passed on the flying dutchman coaster in favor of hypersonic after the prototype,then known as stealth was such a disappointment for CGA.

 

Next year will mark 10 years since the last coaster was installed at SFA,does this give them a chance at getting chang? I'm not entirely sure because SFI tends to favor their larger parks over SFA lately but they do need something big to bring people back so who knows? they just might get lucky & recieve the ride but I'm just not getting my hopes up yet.

[CoasterLover]

Based off the rumors floating around, I'm about 90% certain that SFA will be receiving a major steel coaster next year... though if it will be Chang or something else, I'm not sure...

[Capitalize]

The rumors say 2011, no way they get a new coaster in 2010.

 

Jokers Jinx being enclosed would be completely pointless.

 

 

Of course KD and SFA are in competition. They compete for the DC market every season, KD currently dominates that competition, but it is a competition.

[kingsdominionlvr]

Not true because SFA DID have plans to install a standup coaster from B&M back in 99

You don't think there could have possibly been a deal between 99' and 09'? I mean why else have both Six Flags America and Kings Dominion not got a new B&M in their collective histories? Why else would Cedar Fair and Six Flags opt for Intamin Giga/Hyper Coasters for Six Flags America and Kings Dominion over a B&M? I cannot say it is true for sure, but it is the most logical reason considering Busch Gardens has three B&Ms built specifically for them and SFA and KD combine for 0.

 

Of course KD and SFA are in competition. They compete for the DC market every season, KD currently dominates that competition, but it is a competition.

Can it really be a competition when one park has been dominating for so long? Maybe in the technical sense of the word, but not really when I think about it. It would be like a football team going up 48-7 in the fourth quarter, can it really be considered a competition anymore? I don't know where you draw that line, but in my opinion it is when the other side is so far behind, they cannot be considered to be competing with the other.

[SFA Regular]

And I still think Joker's Jinx would be a better ride if it were inside. That's the way it was suppose to have been when it was first built, but for whatever reason they canceled it. Not only that, but it could be themed more and advertised as a new attraction for 2011. It would go well with a (Chang)/(Bizarro) theme ride, along with a highly themed indoor Joker's Jinx. The way I see it, Joker's Jinx has nothing on Flight of Fear. Flight of Fear feels a lot faster and suspenseful when your riding. Part of that is because it's in the dark. I would love to see Joker's Jinx have the same thing.

[DBru]

I don't see how anyone could think that enclosing/renovating Joker's Jinx would be "pointless"...

 

It would be a much cheaper way to market a new coaster in the park. Maybe in fanboy/enthusiast-based logic, it wouldn't make any sense, but in the minds of marketing departments...well, it's no different than the Bizarro and Avalanche Run/Disaster Transport transformations.

[JEAPUgrad]

Back around 1998-1999-ish around the branding of SFA, a master plan was presented to the PG County Planning Board and the documentation was posted to PG County's website.

 

I know for a fact that this master plan, as publicly released by the county, was widely discussed on all of the coaster enthusiast forums.

 

There were plans for a stand up coaster, a ferris wheel, an unknown indoor attraction that would've been in a 60' tall 100' long, a water attraction, a 200' tall roller coaster, and about five or six other items.

 

That list is from memory.

 

Supe was the 200' tall coaster, Batwing filled the Stand Up Coaster's spot on the plan. PBR was the water attraction. All those years ago, everyone speculated the unknown indoor attraction was going to be a wild Mouse based on the dimensions of the building. This was way before SF brought out the Dark Knight coasters.

 

Repeat: Batwing filled the Stand Up Coaster's spot on the plan. Who said that *IF* a stand up was built at SFA it would be a B&M. Intamin has been building stand ups for years and Togo was still in business at turn of the millennium.

 

As far as the 2011 coaster is concerned, there has been a handful of people around that have had the same conversation with a certain individual (and I'm not giving up the source so forget it) who has made mention that SFA will be getting a STEEL thrill sized coaster in 2011.

 

No one knows for sure whether it will be a new ride or a relocated ride. When I asked this individual this question, there was a smile before the question was dodged.

 

I have absolutely no doubt that Chang is coming to SFA.

 

For the life of me I can't remember if Chang's rails were filled with sand. If not, that's one good reason why Chang could be coming down so early if it's being erected in 2011.

 

Noise is a concern in the permitting process for SFA. The park is surrounded by neighborhoods to the immediate south, east, and north of the park.

 

Whether or not the rumors about Busch Gardens having an exclusivity contract with B&M that limits where they can build new coasters (ie King's Dominion and potentially SFA), have no doubt that any B&M coaster placed in SFA would need to have its rails filled to lessen the noise.

 

Chang would be a very marketable coaster for SFA. This would be a unique attraction to the area. Comparing Chang to Shockwave is like comparing apples to oranges. They're two totally different ride experiences despite the fact that they are both stand up coasters.

 

I'd love to use to argument that Chang isn't going to SF Great America because they already have a stand up but with La Ronde's recent announcement that they are installing Serial Thriller, I guess we can throw that argument right out the window.

 

I doubt Chang will go to SFGAdv because SFGAdv always seems to be ahead of the curve when it comes to installing the latest fad coaster trick.

 

While not being the first park to install the type of coaster, they've kept up with the Jones'.

 

GASM ('89), Batman ('93), Chiller ('98), Medusa ('99), Nitro ('01), S:UF ('03), KK ('05), El Toro ('06) may not all be prototypes but they've been installed about the same time frame, 1-3 years, of the prototype being built.

 

GASM was the first 7 inversion Arrow-looper and is just 27 feet shorter than the non-looping headliner from the Class of 1989.

 

Batman was built before we saw the truly great B&M inverts were created and the Vekoma SLC wave.

 

Chiller was just two years after the Flight of Fear coasters.

 

Medusa was the prototype.

 

Nitro was the third B&M Mega Coaster just two years after both Apollo's Chariot and Raging Bull opened in 1999.

 

S:UF opened one year after the first B&M flyer opened.

 

KK was just three years after Xcelerator and brought the height and speed records back to the Six Flags chain.

 

Using my stated argument, El Toro really doesn't fit but it was the first of it's kind in the United States.

 

I think SFGAdv will be first if not second to SFMM to receive B&M Dive Coasters. It's only a matter of time.

 

SFGAdv already had a stand up and Chang isn't exactly new technology. It's pretty dated.

 

Some rumors have surfaced that Batwing may be leaving the park *IF* Chang gets installed and I find those hard to believe. The park has made great strides this season getting Batwing to not only utilize two train operation, but also making sure they use both sides of the duel loading station.

 

CoasterLover has posted pics of where Chang could fit at SFA but I'll let him share those if he wants. I don't want to steal his thunder.

[JEAPUgrad]

And I still think Joker's Jinx would be a better ride if it were inside. That's the way it was suppose to have been when it was first built, but for whatever reason they canceled it. Not only that, but it could be themed more and advertised as a new attraction for 2011. It would go well with a (Chang)/(Bizarro) theme ride, along with a highly themed indoor Joker's Jinx. The way I see it, Joker's Jinx has nothing on Flight of Fear. Flight of Fear feels a lot faster and suspenseful when your riding. Part of that is because it's in the dark. I would love to see Joker's Jinx have the same thing.

 

I'll agree that I like that FOF models indoors over the outside Joker's Jinx/Mad Cobras/Poltergeists of the world but enclosing JJ at this point in time does not make any sense.

 

There is another park 90 miles down the interstate with practically the same attraction.

 

Back when JJ was first announced, there were several special effects listed in the press release that were eventually scrapped and I really don't want to give SFA a second chance to do this.

 

Not to mention the cost to build a building to surround the coaster. I think they could spend what cash that they have to build while going through the reorganization a little better. Don't you?

 

Some have said that there is not a water line that runs out that far. The relevance if this is true? PG County requires sprinkler systems and emergency exits for all publicly enclosed spaces.

 

Personally I don't believe that there isn't a water line that runs out to that part of Gotham City because there are a couple of food stalls and they are required to have running water in order to operate.

 

My personal "claim to fame" was once talking a city official in allowing an event I was running to continue for 300,000 people despite us not having running water on site.

[SFA Regular]

I don't see how anyone could think that enclosing/renovating Joker's Jinx would be "pointless"...

 

It would be a much cheaper way to market a new coaster in the park. Maybe in fanboy/enthusiast-based logic, it wouldn't make any sense, but in the minds of marketing departments...well, it's no different than the Bizarro and Avalanche Run/Disaster Transport transformations.

 

I agree. It is a much cheaper way to market a new coaster. Think of how scary it would be in the dark for newer people coming to the park? The tunnel could be filled with fog and strobes to create a spooky effect. And all through the twist and turns could be completely dark so that you cant see where your going. I don't care what people say. It would be one of the best transformations that the new SFI management has done. This could possibly shatter the Dark Knight indoor coasters.

 

Superman on the other hand could receive some sort of Fortress of Solitude ride transformation. This kind of theme would work well for the station. The ride definitely needs new trains because the ones they have always have seats that don't work, causes the train to have problems, and also can be rough in certain seats. Not to mention, it needs a paint job.

[kingsdominionlvr]

It one thing to re-theme Bizarro, which was a reliable and popular ride at both parks even before the re-theme, but it is another to re-theme a ride that does not have the greatest reliability and normally has a 15 minute queue at most. If Chang comes to SFA, I think one of their older unpopular coasters will go and perhaps be relocated (if SF is really trying to bring back ride relocation). That points to two prime suspects for me, which are Joker's Jinx or Mind Eraser. In reference to Jinx being enclosed I think JEAPUgrad said it the best. Why in the world would you enclose a coaster that already has the same layout as a coaster 90 miles away and then on top of that copy it's theme? I have a feeling it would be a waste of cash and be considered a cheap ripoff of Flight of Fear by the GP.

[coasterfreak101]

^Or, it could not be themed to aliens at all and have its own theme--a funhouse of some sort, a la the Joker? Seriously, no GP knows that JJ and FoF are the same exact layout, and, quite frankly, FoF sucks. I see no reason to say that the JJ rebranding is unreasonable or unmerited.

 

Either way, I don't think it's going to happen. I don't have much faith in our getting Chang either, but that's just bitterness from the last eight coasterless years.

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

^Or, it could not be themed to aliens at all and have its own theme--a funhouse of some sort, a la the Joker? Seriously, no GP knows that JJ and FoF are the same exact layout

You kind of just killed your own arguement. Yes, to someone who makes a hobby of amusement rides, they'd know that the two rides are clones, and despite the "holier than thou" attitude most enthusiasts tend to have, GP only need to know simple surface things. If this were to be a revamp of sorts, people would notice:

 

A) They both go fast

B) They're both indoors

 

For most people, JJ being outside is a distinguishing enough factor to not compare it to an identical ride nearby at another park, something I think Six Flags is fine with.

 

Can it really be a competition when one park has been dominating for so long? Maybe in the technical sense of the word, but not really when I think about it. It would be like a football team going up 48-7 in the fourth quarter, can it really be considered a competition anymore? I don't know where you draw that line, but in my opinion it is when the other side is so far behind, they cannot be considered to be competing with the other.

If you follow sports, you would know that no matter how lopsided the score gets, you keep going until the clock reads nothing but zeros. I get what you're saying in the sense that KD has had the upperhand for so long that you might as well rule out SFA, but in the same sense that there's more than one game in a season, you have to keep going at it, even if you come in second, you keep gunning for first.

[Capitalize]

And I still think Joker's Jinx would be a better ride if it were inside. That's the way it was suppose to have been when it was first built, but for whatever reason they canceled it. Not only that, but it could be themed more and advertised as a new attraction for 2011. It would go well with a (Chang)/(Bizarro) theme ride, along with a highly themed indoor Joker's Jinx. The way I see it, Joker's Jinx has nothing on Flight of Fear. Flight of Fear feels a lot faster and suspenseful when your riding. Part of that is because it's in the dark. I would love to see Joker's Jinx have the same thing.

 

I feel the exact opposite, if only because FoF has that ridiculous mid-course brake run that completely stops the train. It just seems like a waste to me, but who knows, I thought re-theming Medusa and SROS was a bad idea and Six Flags apparently liked it.

 

 

I don't see how anyone could think that enclosing/renovating Joker's Jinx would be "pointless"...

 

It would be a much cheaper way to market a new coaster in the park. Maybe in fanboy/enthusiast-based logic, it wouldn't make any sense, but in the minds of marketing departments...well, it's no different than the Bizarro and Avalanche Run/Disaster Transport transformations.

 

When you have the exact same ride enclosed an hour to the south, and most GP recognize that the rides are very, very similar (if they don't realize they are essentially identical), throwing a building around it and saying its new I personally think would not be a draw for the park. Seems like a lot of wasted capital to build a structure like that around Jokers Jinx all things considered.

 

I don't see why you think its so crazy to call it pointless. Bizarro at SFGAdv is far worst to me now then it was back when it was Medusa; Disaster Transport is a pretty lousy ride, and the theming is hardly its strongest feature. Jokers Jinx is a far better ride then FoF already as far as I'm concerned, and wasting money to throw a building around it, some bad theming, and probably add some bad audio would not make it better. Thus, those changes would be pointless as far as I'm concerned.

[kingsdominionlvr]

If you follow sports, you would know that no matter how lopsided the score gets, you keep going until the clock reads nothing but zeros. I get what you're saying in the sense that KD has had the upperhand for so long that you might as well rule out SFA, but in the same sense that there's more than one game in a season, you have to keep going at it, even if you come in second, you keep gunning for first.

 

If you noticed, the subtitle to this topic is "Yes, Somehow this park still functions". Just wanted to point that out.

 

^Or, it could not be themed to aliens at all and have its own theme--a funhouse of some sort, a la the Joker? Seriously, no GP knows that JJ and FoF are the same exact layout, and, quite frankly, FoF sucks. I see no reason to say that the JJ rebranding is unreasonable or unmerited.

 

You seriously are undermining the GP. They will notice they are both launched, they are both indoors, and they both are generally fast. I seriously don't get the superiority some enthusiasts feel they have over the GP. Flight of Fear does not suck by any means, that will be proven when it has 1-2 hour lines next year due to it being on the way to I305. You'd have thought Superman would have done the same thing for Joker's Jinx, but it did not. Curious how this happens. Point is, I don't see them paying all that money for a Jinx re-theme when they can put that money into a new ride or rides.

[SFA Regular]

Kingsdominionlover is right. How can you say that Flight of Fear sucks. On a saturday you can wait up to 1 hour and 30 minutes each time in line. Jokers Jinx barely ever has a wait. Even on a Saturday you will never see Joker's Jinx line as long as Flight of Fear's. And how can you possibly say that both rides are generally fast. One keeps its speed pretty much throughout the whole ride, disregarding the mid-break run, while the other lacks constant speed. And like I have said, Flight of Fear creates more suspense because it has good theming and it's in the dark. Just think about it. If I can see everything in the ride, before I ride it, I'm not going to be as scared. Let alone, Joker's Jinx gives itself away before the launch with the little dispatch sound. Flight of Fear on the other hand has a very faint dispatch sound before the launch so with all the people talking in line, amongs the subwoofer rumble, its very hard to tell when its going to take off. And some of FoF's ride attendants dont say anything before the launch. On top of that Flight of Fear cannot be seen before getting on the ride. Even before the launch, the darkness down the tunnel hides the ride. And for first time rider's this is very suspenseful. And when the ride slows down to a dead stop, it also adds a feeling of suspense. With the ride slowing down at the top to a dead stop, some people think that aliens are going to pop out of the dark, but nothing happens. Part of this mind set in people is created by being in complete darkness and not being able to see where they are going. When really all the breaks were put there for was to slow the current train down in order for three of them to be able to run.

 

Again so many aspects as to why Flight of Fear has done much better than Jokers Jinx.

[kingsdominionlvr]

Kingsdominionlover is right.

 

And how can you possibly say that both rides are generally fast. One keeps its speed pretty much throughout the whole ride, disregarding the mid-break run, while the other lacks constant speed.

 

First off, I believe these statements contradict themselves, as it was I that said they were both generally fast. Anyway, Six Flags America's website puts top speed for Jinx at 60mph, which I would consider a bit inflated, but I think it is still a good marker to prove it is fast, at least to a member of the general public who seldom rides roller coasters.

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

^Who seldom ride rollercoasters? Then why would they go to parks?

It certainly ain't the ambience bringing the crowds in to the park...

[kingsdominionlvr]

^If you did not understand what I meant, I am talking about the general population of the US. Not everyone goes to amusement parks, in fact a lot of people have never even been on a roller coaster. So, when they do finally make it to any amusement park and ride a coaster (such as Joker's Jinx), they will most likely consider it fast, more thrilling than it really is, etc. because they have never experienced anything like it. Just remember back to your first coaster, now do you think it is as thrilling as you did back then?

 

Joker's Jinx is still pretty fast, just by riding it multiple times, I would guesstimate the top speed at around 50-55mph. I think SFA's number is a bit inflated. Anyway, that is still pretty fast, I mean it is no kiddie coaster in speed terms. It has about average speed I would say. But, back to my point on the GP, A person who had never ridden a coaster before would probably consider it the best in the world, around 80mph top speed, etc. Your perspective changes after you gain (for lack of a better word) experience riding coasters.

[JEAPUgrad]

I just posted a min-TR as a new thread is anyone cares to read.

[Capitalize]

Kingsdominionlover is right. How can you say that Flight of Fear sucks. On a saturday you can wait up to 1 hour and 30 minutes each time in line. Jokers Jinx barely ever has a wait. Even on a Saturday you will never see Joker's Jinx line as long as Flight of Fear's. And how can you possibly say that both rides are generally fast. One keeps its speed pretty much throughout the whole ride, disregarding the mid-break run, while the other lacks constant speed. And like I have said, Flight of Fear creates more suspense because it has good theming and it's in the dark. Just think about it. If I can see everything in the ride, before I ride it, I'm not going to be as scared. Let alone, Joker's Jinx gives itself away before the launch with the little dispatch sound. Flight of Fear on the other hand has a very faint dispatch sound before the launch so with all the people talking in line, amongs the subwoofer rumble, its very hard to tell when its going to take off. And some of FoF's ride attendants dont say anything before the launch. On top of that Flight of Fear cannot be seen before getting on the ride. Even before the launch, the darkness down the tunnel hides the ride. And for first time rider's this is very suspenseful. And when the ride slows down to a dead stop, it also adds a feeling of suspense. With the ride slowing down at the top to a dead stop, some people think that aliens are going to pop out of the dark, but nothing happens. Part of this mind set in people is created by being in complete darkness and not being able to see where they are going. When really all the breaks were put there for was to slow the current train down in order for three of them to be able to run.

 

Again so many aspects as to why Flight of Fear has done much better than Jokers Jinx.

 

SROS and Wild One have no wait at all most days I go but I find both those rides to be far better then anything at Kings Dominion. A rides line length doesn't make it by default better or worse. FoF isn't "terrible", I never said it was, I said Jokers Jinx was better. Why? Lets go through your own post.

 

"One keeps its speed pretty much throughout the whole ride, disregarding the mid-break run, while the other lacks constant speed."

 

Uh, yeah. One keeps its speed throughout the ride more then the other. That would be Jokers Jinx, aka the one that has NO mid-course brake run at all. How on earth do you think FoF has anything resembling "constant speed" when it literally comes to a complete stop on the brake run? That's just ridiculous. If you think the UFO theme and somewhat darkness makes the ride better then that's fine, but seriously, trying to say FoF has better pacing, continuous speed, or is better simply because the line is longer, is really ridiculous as far as I'm concerned.

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

^^Unfair comparison. My first coaster was Viper at SFMM...a coaster that I still think kicks ass...but I get what you mean. You just picked a very odd way of wording it.

[KDCOASTERFAN]

Kingsdominionlover is right. How can you say that Flight of Fear sucks. On a saturday you can wait up to 1 hour and 30 minutes each time in line. Jokers Jinx barely ever has a wait. Even on a Saturday you will never see Joker's Jinx line as long as Flight of Fear's. And how can you possibly say that both rides are generally fast. One keeps its speed pretty much throughout the whole ride, disregarding the mid-break run, while the other lacks constant speed. And like I have said, Flight of Fear creates more suspense because it has good theming and it's in the dark. Just think about it. If I can see everything in the ride, before I ride it, I'm not going to be as scared. Let alone, Joker's Jinx gives itself away before the launch with the little dispatch sound. Flight of Fear on the other hand has a very faint dispatch sound before the launch so with all the people talking in line, amongs the subwoofer rumble, its very hard to tell when its going to take off. And some of FoF's ride attendants dont say anything before the launch. On top of that Flight of Fear cannot be seen before getting on the ride. Even before the launch, the darkness down the tunnel hides the ride. And for first time rider's this is very suspenseful. And when the ride slows down to a dead stop, it also adds a feeling of suspense. With the ride slowing down at the top to a dead stop, some people think that aliens are going to pop out of the dark, but nothing happens. Part of this mind set in people is created by being in complete darkness and not being able to see where they are going. When really all the breaks were put there for was to slow the current train down in order for three of them to be able to run.

 

Again so many aspects as to why Flight of Fear has done much better than Jokers Jinx.

 

SROS and Wild One have no wait at all most days I go but I find both those rides to be far better then anything at Kings Dominion. A rides line length doesn't make it by default better or worse. FoF isn't "terrible", I never said it was, I said Jokers Jinx was better. Why? Lets go through your own post.

 

"One keeps its speed pretty much throughout the whole ride, disregarding the mid-break run, while the other lacks constant speed."

 

Uh, yeah. One keeps its speed throughout the ride more then the other. That would be Jokers Jinx, aka the one that has NO mid-course brake run at all. How on earth do you think FoF has anything resembling "constant speed" when it literally comes to a complete stop on the brake run? That's just ridiculous. If you think the UFO theme and somewhat darkness makes the ride better then that's fine, but seriously, trying to say FoF has better pacing, continuous speed, or is better simply because the line is longer, is really ridiculous as far as I'm concerned.

 

SROS & WW have virtually no wait? That can't be unless it proves my theory that attendance has dropped so low in the two years since I last went to the park that both rides are virtually empty.Next to batwing superman would usually be a multi-train wait mainly because they would deliberately reduce capacity on the ride by allowing flashpassers to ride one train & if no flashpassers were around they were required to send it out completely empty.

 

As for the standup that was cancelled it WAS to be from B&M as neither togo nor intamin built their standups to a height of 140 feet & the dimensions for the project were listed on the PG county planning board document as being 3,000 feet in length & 140 feet in height .