Six Flags America (SFA) Discussion Thread

[Canobie Coaster 184]

From what I've gathered from this thread, Six Flags America will keep their rides open in rain.  Does this park tend to close early on a rainy day like Great Adventure?

[MisterBrow 0]

I think it is more of if there is lightning in the area than rain.

[Canobie Coaster 184]

From what I saw today, the only coaster that wouldn't run in the rain was Wild One.  Thankfully, I got a dozen rides on that coaster in between the rain at the start and end of the day.

[jconsolmagno 14]

Would have guessed Batwing myself...

[Canobie Coaster 184]

Speaking of Batwing, the crew working that ride was incredible.  They were averaging 30-60 second dispatches (as long as the ride didn't go down, which was beyond their control).  That's amazing for any ride, let alone that one.  Especially since it usually has dispatches in the 5-10 minute range.

The operations at Six Flags America were way better than usual.  I'm convinced they kidnapped a Cedar Fair staff.

[JG-77 13]

Damn! I've noticed dispatches have been improving in the last few years, but sub 60-second dispatches on Batwing is impressive for any park, especially this place. Great to hear. Would be very interested to see how fast they can move the line if they ever put the 2nd train back on.

[dankeykang 61]

7 hours ago, Canobie Coaster said:

The operations at Six Flags America were way better than usual.  I'm convinced they kidnapped a Cedar Fair staff.

You never know, especially considering Kings Dominion isn't opening for another two months 

[Jason Maier 11]

I never thought I'd see the day where they have quick dispatches on Batwing!

Wonder if they'll ever put the 2nd train for it back on the track (unless it's being used as a parts donor).

As much as I've wondered if it'll ever be gone; I give the park credit for keeping it going!

[disownedpear 3]

As others have noted, dispatches are so much better this year. I talked to a crew member earlier and they said they were practicing for the spring break rush. Where the heck is JJ's second train though that thing gets a line with almost no crowd now. 

 

It is pretty amazing they've kept Batwing this whole time. I've been going for eight years and have never even seen it closed! Bets on who goes first, Nighthawk or Batwing?

 

[JG-77 13]

3 hours ago, disownedpear said:

I've been going for eight years and have never even seen it closed!

Man you've been lucky. I was closed for a very large chunk of 2019 iirc due to needing a replacement part, and I've seen it closed on several other occasions. Still glad they keep it around, as I really do enjoy it, and it is quite a large draw to the dry park.

[jconsolmagno 14]

3 hours ago, disownedpear said:

As others have noted, dispatches are so much better this year. I talked to a crew member earlier and they said they were practicing for the spring break rush. Where the heck is JJ's second train though that thing gets a line with almost no crowd now. 

 

It is pretty amazing they've kept Batwing this whole time. I've been going for eight years and have never even seen it closed! Bets on who goes first, Nighthawk or Batwing?

 

For sure Nighthawk

[CoasterGuy06 12]

^Nighthawk at least got a lot of parts from Firehawk's closure, although Cedar Fair  is more likely to put a big new ride into Carowinds and they could easily replace Nighthawk with one. How about Batwing closes first but Nighthawk is actually removed first 

[jconsolmagno 14]

56 minutes ago, CoasterGuy06 said:

^Nighthawk at least got a lot of parts from Firehawk's closure, although Cedar Fair  is more likely to put a big new ride into Carowinds and they could easily replace Nighthawk with one. How about Batwing closes first but Nighthawk is actually removed first 

I would agree with that, but Carowinds top 3 doesn't include Nighthawk.... SFA's does IMO (Batwing, Superman, Firebird). And I don't rank them based on my enjoyment, I do it based on what I see as far as lines when I'm inside the park. I think Batwing is a key piece of the park for SFA, whereas Carowinds if it closed, noone would care.

If SFA puts in a 15 million $ coaster and removes Batwing, my above point is now void

[bill_s 3]

^^-- That's definitely not SFA's top 3 even by line length on average, but going by lines, I'd say Nighthawk might be the most popular ride at Carowinds. Throughput is poor on the awful, but funny, things though. Anyway, due to SFA being SFA, they'll run Batwing until it dies or they close the place. It may even outlast Mind Eraser as it's a few years younger. 

[jconsolmagno 14]

31 minutes ago, bill_s said:

^^-- That's definitely not SFA's top 3 even by line length on average, but going by lines, I'd say Nighthawk might be the most popular ride at Carowinds. Throughput is poor on the awful, but funny, things though. Anyway, due to SFA being SFA, they'll run Batwing until it dies or they close the place. It may even outlast Mind Eraser as it's a few years younger. 

What would you say is? 

[bill_s 3]

^^-- By quality, Supes and Wild One are the stars. Your personal choice for #3. I might take Roar but Jinx is more popular and good. Batwing for somebody. I enjoy Firebird sometimes but started riding it for shorter lines first. 

[jconsolmagno 14]

I wasn't saying quality, I am simply saying what the GP would view as top 3. I don't think Wild One is an attractive marketing ride. As much as this forum may love it, Wild One is just another wooden coaster with a one train wait.

Personally - I put Wild One in my top 3.

[JG-77 13]

I'd say JJ is more popular than Firebird.

[disownedpear 3]

Harley Quinn announced to be opening in May!

[alilstronger 1]

I have not been to the park in two seasons due to getting really bored of going all the time. However, I was going every year for years. I seem to notice the staff in the beginning of the season is pretty good... its later in the season that it starts to fall off. I get its hot and you are working in the elements but don't take a job you truly don't want. 

Just Google mapped the park and I think Harley Quinn looks good where it is. Definitely better than the smaller swing ride they had.

[disownedpear 3]

Yeah I've never been to a park who's staff quality doesn't decrees by the end of the season, I think it's pretty inevitable as the work becomes more familiar and mundane and the temps rise.

 

I've been going since 2012 and have always hated on Superman for what I feel is it's wasted penitential. Last Sunday though, it was hauling absolute ass like I've never seen before. The first helix felt like i305, the 3rd hill had sustained ejector, and even the second helix pulled some crazy lateral forces. If it always ran like this, I think it would be a top 10 for me. People were clapping at the end of every cycle, which does not happen often at SFA. 

[Jason Maier 11]

Well I'm looking forward to Harley Quinn Spinsanity opening this weekend!

 

[disownedpear 3]

I get to help film its commercial tomorrow! It was running for passholder preview last weekend and looks absolutely fantastic. 

[JG-77 13]

Great to hear, let us know how the shoot goes.

[disownedpear 3]

The shoot went pretty well. I was a complete idiot and forgot to bring my phone so no pictures unfortunately. They were shooting on Wild One and Firebird as well for some reason.

What was interesting is they pretty much had all of Gotham City linked up, so when they started Harley Quinn, the round up, JJ and Wonder Woman would all start staggered so they would line up perfectly for the photos. Was very cool and I've never seen a park do this. 

The ride was fun, pretty forceful, a great fit for the park. Something I noticed is it feels very, like, bumpy when starting and stopping if that makes sense? Anyone experienced something similar on it's clones?