Six Flags America (SFA) Discussion Thread

[SFA Regular]

If not that, maybe it would good for them to start approaching SFI about a signature attraction. I've always had an idea for a Riddler themed coaster. Think of something about 175 feet, that takes you up to the top backwards but drops you back down a different way than what you came in a forward position. It could be built by the same people who made Hollywood Rip Rockit coaster. As your going up your hear the Riddler tell you a twisted riddler, and before you drop down the opposite way of what you came, he gives you the answer to your riddler and you plummet down the course through a series of tight twist, and inversions.

[atem122]

I think they should make a Megan Fox without gross thumbs first.

[djbrcace1234]

^^

 

Although a nice idea, SFI is too dumb to invest into ACTUALLY theming coasters/ parks. SFA is not the only park in the chain that looks run down, and it just shows how much SFI gives a shit about thier own properties. SFI Mangement needs to realize that thier mission statement is flawed. "If you build it, they will come" does work, but it should be done better than just ploping down a big coaster. If SFI actually took the time to be unique in the theme park business, prehaps the whole chain would look better.

 

EDIT: It just shows you that SFI is not going to stay in business if they continue take out what doesn't work, and then build something bigger later. That was the mentality during the last mangement reign, and it doesn't seem to have changed.

[SFA Regular]

I think they should make a Megan Fox without gross thumbs first.

 

Wow, that would be very interesting.

 

One thing I am hoping that our new CEO does is invest more time in making movie attractions. If you ask me it's about time that Six Flags parks started doing that. Six Flags is partnered with Warner Bros which is owned by Time Warner. Time Warner has rights to New Line Cinema, Hanna-Barbera, and Cartoon Network. It would be nice to get them in the game more so that Six Flags parks would turn into semi-movie parks like Universal is. With New Line Cinema being in the mix, they could easily do some kind of Nightmare on Elm Street 4D attraction in the style that Shrek was in. If they want to be on the themed coaster side, they could make some sort of Final Destination coaster that fools riders into thinking that the ride will lead them to their dooms.

 

Six Flags Inc is partnered with one of the best motion picture companies in the business. It would be nice to see a CEO actually make use of that and turn the parks into tourist destinations or at least a music do things in their particular region.

[KDCOASTERFAN]

If not that, maybe it would good for them to start approaching SFI about a signature attraction. I've always had an idea for a Riddler themed coaster. Think of something about 175 feet, that takes you up to the top backwards but drops you back down a different way than what you came in a forward position. It could be built by the same people who made Hollywood Rip Rockit coaster. As your going up your hear the Riddler tell you a twisted riddler, and before you drop down the opposite way of what you came, he gives you the answer to your riddler and you plummet down the course through a series of tight twist, and inversions.

 

If they were to install Chang they could use the riddler theme,but alas that's probably not going to happen.

 

I'd like to know what this "source" is that you keep talking about? Seasonal staff(ie ride ops) don't know & aren't given information on future attractions that are in the planning stages.Unless the park removes renegade rapids then there's no way for them to complete a full loop around the park as there's not enough space between ME & RR to allow for a path to go between the two rides.

[SFA Regular]

You do have a good point KDCOASTERFAN.

 

What would you do to the park if you were corporate? Meaning what improvements would you make? Let's hear your specifics.

[Capitalize]

I don't see the "loop" ever being closed between Batwing and Coyote Creek, at least not with out entirely removing the rapids or something along those lines.

 

Quite frankly I'd rather see money invested into a ton of other things before they bother building a massive 1/2 mile path connecting those two points of the park... On that note, as far as maintenance is concerned a great deal of the trouble there is financial. The budget set aside for maintenance is not enough to acquire all of the parts needed to be replaced, so instead you see a lot of old parts being cleaned off and re-used. Unfortunately this leads to a ton of fault lights and break downs. Just look at Tower of Doom for an example of this, the park couldn't get new parts over the years so they simply close down one of the three sides and take parts from the closed one to keep the other two operating.

 

There is no way FoF launches faster than 60, let alone 65 MPH. Darkness enhances the sensation of speed. JJ travels at a fine speed, no big deal.

 

 

If not that, maybe it would good for them to start approaching SFI about a signature attraction. I've always had an idea for a Riddler themed coaster. Think of something about 175 feet, that takes you up to the top backwards but drops you back down a different way than what you came in a forward position. It could be built by the same people who made Hollywood Rip Rockit coaster. As your going up your hear the Riddler tell you a twisted riddler, and before you drop down the opposite way of what you came, he gives you the answer to your riddler and you plummet down the course through a series of tight twist, and inversions.

 

If they were to install Chang they could use the riddler theme,but alas that's probably not going to happen.

 

I'd like to know what this "source" is that you keep talking about? Seasonal staff(ie ride ops) don't know & aren't given information on future attractions that are in the planning stages.Unless the park removes renegade rapids then there's no way for them to complete a full loop around the park as there's not enough space between ME & RR to allow for a path to go between the two rides.

Exactly, good point about that path.

 

As far as seasonal staff goes, they have limited knowledge... For example, it was common knowledge within the park that Ultra Twister was likely too damaged thanks to the deconstruction crews in Houston to be put back together.

[SFA Regular]

There is clearly no darkness enhancement in speed. Go there, ride it right now, and you will see what I mean. If Joker is set at 60 mph as we speak, then Flight of Fear is faster. I just rode Flight of Fear over 10 times the other day. Other people in line commented on the same thing when I was talking with my buddies. If Joker's Jinx was inside, I would still notice the difference in speed between the two. Just look at what I posted on the other page. Flight of Fear rips through it's versions, while Joker takes it's easy time. Even the dude in the video I posted of it said "Could be faster".

[KDCOASTERFAN]

There is clearly no darkness enhancement in speed. Go there, ride it right now, and you will see what I mean. If Joker is set at 60 mph as we speak, then Flight of Fear is faster. I just rode Flight of Fear over 10 times the other day. Other people in line commented on the same thing when I was talking with my buddies. If Joker's Jinx was inside, I would still notice the difference in speed between the two. Just look at what I posted on the other page. Flight of Fear rips through it's versions, while Joker takes it's easy time. Even the dude in the video I posted of it said "Could be faster".

 

FOF uses a five car train while JJ uses a six car train,other factors include friction from wind resistance...which on FOF is reduced due to the fact that it's indoors.There's nothing wrong with JJ the way it is now so that issue is a dead horse that we need to stop beating over & over.

 

Capitalize is right about the maintenance budget being severely cut resulting in increased ride downtime,this has been a problem that's been slowly building over the past decade as corporate has no doubt shifted funding for maintenance to cover the cost of new rides which is hurting the chain in the long run.

[SFA Regular]

There is clearly no darkness enhancement in speed. Go there, ride it right now, and you will see what I mean. If Joker is set at 60 mph as we speak, then Flight of Fear is faster. I just rode Flight of Fear over 10 times the other day. Other people in line commented on the same thing when I was talking with my buddies. If Joker's Jinx was inside, I would still notice the difference in speed between the two. Just look at what I posted on the other page. Flight of Fear rips through it's versions, while Joker takes it's easy time. Even the dude in the video I posted of it said "Could be faster".

 

FOF uses a five car train while JJ uses a six car train,other factors include friction from wind resistance...which on FOF is reduced due to the fact that it's indoors.There's nothing wrong with JJ the way it is now so that issue is a dead horse that we need to stop beating over & over.

 

Capitalize is right about the maintenance budget being severely cut resulting in increased ride downtime,this has been a problem that's been slowly building over the past decade as corporate has no doubt shifted funding for maintenance to cover the cost of new rides which is hurting the chain in the long run.

 

You are correct. I did notice that with FoF. It only has 5 cars so it's a lot easier for it to pick up speed and if the launch is hard, it will have more.

 

As for the shifted funding to cover the cost for maintenance; are you saying that the money should be shifted in order to cover the cost for new rides?

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

^I'd say yes, Why buy new rides if what you have now isn't running right?

[SFA Regular]

^I'd say yes, Why buy new rides if what you have now isn't running right?

 

Because you still need to get people occupied into coming back to the park. You may get your rides working, but if it's nothing new to market then you will still be short of attendance. I like getting the rides and then fixing them as you go. You can't really re-market a coaster that you just now figured out how to fix.

[BeemerBoy]

Maybe they could just shut the park down for a couple of weeks and send the troublesome rides to Beaches or something. You know, to unwind a little, clear their minds, and maybe come back with a little better attitude. That way, SFA could market themselves as "new and refreshed." Your thoughts on the probability of this happening under the new CEO?

[SFA Regular]

Maybe they could just shut the park down for a couple of weeks and send the troublesome rides to Beaches or something. You know, to unwind a little, clear their minds, and maybe come back with a little better attitude. That way, SFA could market themselves as "new and refreshed." Your thoughts on the probability of this happening under the new CEO?

 

Very interesting for you to bring that up. Well here is what I had in mind for something like that. If the new CEO actually thought that, the park needed to shut down for some time, while they fixed things; that could be a solution. Let's say for the 2011, the CEO said at the press conference that SFA would remain closed for 2011 season to under go serious renovations and re-training. That could work. During that whole season, new park management would be hired. Like I have said before, I would not mind if he hired a lot of management staff that he was familiar with at Kings Dominion and Kings Island back when they were owned by Paramounts. Once that is put into effect, the new park management would hire the correct staff needed to fix rides and man them during operation hours. New prices for season pass and tickets could under go change and park renovations could be over seen by the new park staff. This way, the new park management is familiar with the way the park is and how things work. For all we know, park hours could become a lot better during the summer. Very possible for SFA to see closing at 10 o'clock on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays like it use to.

 

Over all, I think a lot of things could improve under former Paramounts park staff managing SFA. One thing I think would be a top priority is getting people coming back to the park during Fright Fest. There are so many temporary spaces that a former Paramounts park management could use for scarier Fright Fest attractions. Having rides under go scary add-ons for Fright Fest would be kind of cool.

[willh51]

Couldn't they fix everything over an off-season if they were given enough resources? I guess employee hiring and training might be more difficult.

[SFA Regular]

Couldn't they fix everything over an off-season if they were given enough resources? I guess employee hiring and training might be more difficult.

 

They've tried fixing everything in the office season and it never works. Every time they open up for the season things start having delays yet again. What was worst was for the 2009 season, Mark Shapiro went on the news and said that ride delays will not be a problem. What happens? Come time for 2009, there were just as many delays as last year. Not to mention Superman was closed for a about a week and half during the 2009 season to get a new lift hill chain. Then on 4th of July of 2009 it witnessed the longest ride delay every. It opened in the morning, then didn't open till about 6:30 pm.

 

I would vote for closing the park for the 2011 season to under go renovations and reappoint experienced park management.

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

I agree that park managment needs some fresh minds. Changing your CEO can only do so much, getting some new executives at the park level would do wonders and get some new ways of thinking in.

[SFA Regular]

I agree that park managment needs some fresh minds. Changing your CEO can only do so much, getting some new executives at the park level would do wonders and get some new ways of thinking in.

 

Thanks for agreeing. Look at how Kings Island and Kings Dominion turned out. They had good minds behind managing the park. Think of what could happen if a lot of those former minds were brought to SFA. Not to mention SFA has loads of open space to build on. There is no telling how good the park could get.

[Wes]

The management staff at the individual ex-Paramount parks are probably still in place. Just because Weber resigned when Cedar Fair took over doesn't mean the staff of the individual parks leaves. You're operating under the assumption that everyone exited at the same time, when it reality probably a good majority of these people are still in their same exact positions.

 

Six Flags corporate is also the one who doles out the money to the individual parks for refurbishments and maintenance. It's a cold reality that SFA probably doesn't deliver the attendance numbers and revenue where they would get priority over more profitable parks. Magic Mountain is more likely to get more money for upkeep than SFA. SFA will have to deal with what it gets as a bottom-rung park on the SF totem pole.

[terdferg]

first post on TPR! CHEA!

 

anyways, i have been reading through the SFA thread for a while now, and i don't know why people feel slighted by the ride selection. Sure SFA does not get large attractions like many other six flags parks, but they have a really well rounded selection.

 

i live in jersey, so sfgadv is my home park, and all i have to ride is coasters and ONE water ride. i personally feel that superman is better than nitro, batwing better than superman ultimate flight, and wild one blows rotting lumber out of the water. i have been to both parks this year and can have more fun with non-enthusiasts at SFA. SFA has more water rides, a nice water park, and a great selection of rides for everyone.

 

the only thing that i feel is a downside to SFA is maintanance as others have said. for a smaller park, SFA has enough for me to drive 2 hours a few times a season. its come a long way since i was there 3 years ago, a very long way.

 

PS...

i would trade you guys ka for jokers jinx, nitro for supes, superman for batwing, rolling thunder for wild one.

[SFA Regular]

first post on TPR! CHEA!

 

anyways, i have been reading through the SFA thread for a while now, and i don't know why people feel slighted by the ride selection. Sure SFA does not get large attractions like many other six flags parks, but they have a really well rounded selection.

 

i live in jersey, so sfgadv is my home park, and all i have to ride is coasters and ONE water ride. i personally feel that superman is better than nitro, batwing better than superman ultimate flight, and wild one blows rotting lumber out of the water. i have been to both parks this year and can have more fun with non-enthusiasts at SFA. SFA has more water rides, a nice water park, and a great selection of rides for everyone.

 

the only thing that i feel is a downside to SFA is maintanance as others have said. for a smaller park, SFA has enough for me to drive 2 hours a few times a season. its come a long way since i was there 3 years ago, a very long way.

 

PS...

i would trade you guys ka for jokers jinx, nitro for supes, superman for batwing, rolling thunder for wild one.

 

Well I'm glad you like our park. A lot of of us have been there sense it was Wild World, then Adventure World and now SFA. I will say we have a good ride selection, but the park won't grow if we don't get new rides. I see what a lot of people are saying about SFA being lowest park on the pole. But you can't always look at it that way. Bottom line is, SFA is only going to get higher attendance if they add new attractions to it. People don't see old rides being refurbished as new attractions. You can't go on tv and make a commercial for an old ride like Superman and advertise that we fixed all the problems. People would think that it was pointless and why they are not advertising for a brand new ride. See what I mean?

 

Some people say that SFI, just owns too many parks and will always have to treat the smaller ones with less care. If thats the case, whats stopping them from selling the non-profitable ones to another theme park companies? If companies like Merlin Entertainment Group were willing to expand into the US, the smaller Six Flags parks would be in good hands.

[KDCOASTERFAN]

The management staff at the individual ex-Paramount parks are probably still in place. Just because Weber resigned when Cedar Fair took over doesn't mean the staff of the individual parks leaves. You're operating under the assumption that everyone exited at the same time, when it reality probably a good majority of these people are still in their same exact positions.

 

Six Flags corporate is also the one who doles out the money to the individual parks for refurbishments and maintenance. It's a cold reality that SFA probably doesn't deliver the attendance numbers and revenue where they would get priority over more profitable parks. Magic Mountain is more likely to get more money for upkeep than SFA. SFA will have to deal with what it gets as a bottom-rung park on the SF totem pole.

 

When it comes to safety SFI should NOT be short changing the park just because of it's performance attendance wise,that's how accidents happen & is probably one of the reasons why two face kept malfunctioning.

 

I checked out SFA's facebook page recently & quite a few people in the area are indeed asking for a new coaster to be installed but unfortunately SFA says in response that they don't know when the next coaster will be installed yet so it's not just SFA Regular & I who are complaining,it's alot of people.

[rcg19]

Deleted by user

Edited December 29, 2010 by rcg19

[Wes]

When it comes to safety SFI should NOT be short changing the park just because of it's performance attendance wise,that's how accidents happen & is probably one of the reasons why two face kept malfunctioning.

 

I checked out SFA's facebook page recently & quite a few people in the area are indeed asking for a new coaster to be installed but unfortunately SFA says in response that they don't know when the next coaster will be installed yet so it's not just SFA Regular & I who are complaining,it's alot of people.

 

Wasn't implying that they were giving up safety. But, for example, maybe they couldn't run Two Face because they didn't have the budget to keep it running in a reliable fashion. Maybe Jokers Jinx is launching slower because it keeps maintenance costs down. Adding more big coasters is only going to muddy those waters, and unless SFA's attendance and revenue can support the additional capital expense it takes to add these new rides, don't expect any B&M's or Intamins popping up soon.

[netdvn]

I checked out SFA's facebook page recently & quite a few people in the area are indeed asking for a new coaster to be installed but unfortunately SFA says in response that they don't know when the next coaster will be installed yet so it's not just SFA Regular & I who are complaining,it's alot of people.

 

You have to consider...

1) Whatever SFA has in store for the future, chances are it's all under wraps. Most parks don't like leaking details unless the time is right. Even if the page were run by the park president, chances are he's not gonna tell you when the park is getting their next big attraction until the time is right.

 

2) People living near parks ALWAYS ask for a new coaster. People on BGW's fan page are asking for coasters as well. Same probably goes for any other major park that doesn't add rides year after year with their own Facebook page.