Six Flags Fiesta Texas (SFFT) Discussion Thread

[Mrlittle]

The zig-zag ramp isn't too bad

 

That's the part I wish they could redo. On a hot day, I always hate waiting on that ramp. But its doubtful they will do anything.

[texcoaster]

In general, I like ramps better than stairs, but I agree that the ramp there is very narrow.

 

The station is very roomy, but they've filled it with switchbacks and created a situation that plagues a LOT of coaster stations: the feed into the area where the individual seat queues are comes in at the end. In Rattler's case, it enters at the back seat queue, but I've seen a lot that enter at the front seat end.

 

This creates a big problem when the folks waiting for the front or back seat stack up and block the main queue. Astroworld's Viper was the worst offender I've ever seen of this, as there were stairs leading right up to the station at the front seat queue. When the front seat line backed up, other people in line were a couple of steps down and couldn't see that the people in front of them were waiting for the front seat, so they stayed put rather than maneuvering around them. This led to many instances where the queue would come to a screeching halt and multiple trains would dispatch with empty cars in the middle of the train, despite having a long queue for the ride.

 

In Rattler's case, SFFT has "solved" this issue by putting an employee at the end of the main queue and funneling people into the individual queues with assigned seating. Whether or not you'll be able to wait for a specific seat is entirely up to the person staffing that spot in the queue. I don't mind having assigned seating on a coaster (it makes the queue go faster), as long as I understand from the beginning that it will be that way. I hate being able to choose a seat in the morning, then waiting for an hour later the same day with the intention of riding in the opposite end of the train from my earlier ride, only to be told that now I don't get to choose. Pick a policy, state it clearly at the entrance to the ride (ala Blue Fire) and stick to it.

[biker7766]

^ El Toro at SFGAdv has that as well... It's very annoying even though I know to go around people, but for those who don't, it just makes the line longer.

[narkitty]

I actually really like the ramps in the Rattler queue. I do agree about the switchbacks at the top being way too crowded and claustrophobic, though. Even though the ramps are narrow, I've always taken it as a "if you're too fat to get up to the station, you're too fat to ride" type of thing. The trains on Rattler weren't very roomy, especially with the divider in the middle of the seats. Still, I was always amazed at people who would have to walk SIDEWAYS all the way up the ramps, and then get upset/offended when they couldn't fit into the seats.

 

I'd really hate to see them do too much renovating to the queue just because I think it's a neat design. I love the way that they have the on-ride photo uh....room? set up.

[cstrfrk67]

I actually really like the ramps in the Rattler queue. I do agree about the switchbacks at the top being way too crowded and claustrophobic, though. Even though the ramps are narrow, I've always taken it as a "if you're too fat to get up to the station, you're too fat to ride" type of thing. The trains on Rattler weren't very roomy, especially with the divider in the middle of the seats. Still, I was always amazed at people who would have to walk SIDEWAYS all the way up the ramps, and then get upset/offended when they couldn't fit into the seats.

 

 

yeah, AMAZING isn't it; how folks can't get a clue? I've always thought that the queue was made "skinny" to inhibit line jumping (which happens anyway, of course). As far as the remaining helix, maybe they figure they can tear that down anytime, but this refurb has a deadline (spring 2013), so maybe they are concentrating on the CONstruction, not the DEstruction.

[disneyfan1313]

I think the queue was just designed in a time before much thought was put into queues into theme parks. Comfort and accessibility wasn't thought of as much as it is today.

[ArizonaGuy]

I'd say the queue is fine with the exception of the switchbacks in the station. It would be nice if they could split it up like Riddler's Revenge where the queue splits up for the front half and the back half of the train.

 

Any updates this week on construction???

[MayTheGForceBeWithYou]

I'd say the queue is fine with the exception of the switchbacks in the station. It would be nice if they could split it up like Riddler's Revenge where the queue splits up for the front half and the back half of the train.

Riddler's station is AWFUL. I haven't been on Rattler ever, so I don't know how bad its queue/station was...but I can bet it was better than Riddler's design.

[narkitty]

Went to the park today for a little while before closing and managed to get a couple of pictures from the La Cantera parking lot. Not sure if there are any noticeable changes or not.

[cstrfrk67]

Any updates this week on construction???

 

Wife and I went to the park today to get some coaster time in. It was a beautiful day, and my Cowboys had just pulled out a win, so I figured, "why not?". Here's a few shots from inside the park @ Crackaxle Station and The Gully Washer. It looks like all the work up to this point has been concentrated in the helix area.

iRat's soon to be Barrel Roll

Nothing happening yet around the station to indicate what may be in place after the "toaster oven tunnel".

Gonna be a lot of extra wood after they remove all this from the first drop. The first drop used to go all the way down the the 1st or 2nd row of horizontal timbers......and it will again...SOON

[thrillrideseeker]

I must say, I am super excited for this!! With SFFT being my new home park, it will be great to get to go ride this coaster often! Hopefully it is as good as, or better than New Texas Giant!

~Matt

[ernierocker]

Thanks for the photo updates, guys! Looks like there are some good locations to get some photos during the off-season which is always good.

[boardwalkbullet91507]

Any updates on construction?

[narkitty]

Drove by the park yesterday but couldn't get a good look at Rattler. I'll be going Saturday, Sunday and Monday, though (gotta love Fright Fest) so I'll hopefully be able to get a better look at it. Anyone else planning on being there for Fright Fest opening weekend?

[youngforever]

How is Fright Fest at Fiesta? Is it decent, bad, good? I'm going down there in a couple weeks and I can't seem to find anything on how it is.

[narkitty]

I really enjoy Fright Fest because of the shows (which are consistently good), the much smaller crowds during the day, and the cooler weather. Decorations/scare actors/etc can be hit or miss. Last year I thought they did a fantastic job with the Rockville section of the park. Lots of creepy 1950s zombies walking around and really nice decorations. I've never been through the haunted house so I can't give any opinions on it, but, for what it's worth, the line to get in is always incredibly long.

[narkitty]

Sorry for the double post. I went to the park earlier and took some pictures. The park looks great for Fright Fest this year! The biggest surprise today at the park was finding out that they have two haunted houses this year: Monster Mansion and RockKILL High. I believe the houses are $7 each or $12 for both. There are three scare zones this year, as well. Main Street in Rockville has zombies, Crackaxle Canyon has creepy scarecrows, and the bridge from Los Festivales to Spassburg has some trolls lurking under it. I apologize for the blurry Rattler pictures. I didn't realize they were fuzzy until I got home.

Mayor Slayer's tomb is quite Steampunk-y this year.

One of the monsters in the main square.

Cliche Goliath shot #1

....and #2

A good portion of the track is missing.

Back view of the missing tracks.

No more helix!

This is going to look so sexy once the new tracks are in place.

And here's one of me cheesin' just for good measure.

[larrygator]

Thanks for the update on Iron Rattler

[coasternut]

^^ Thanks for the Iron Rattler update. It looks like it was nice in San Antonio. I'm here at SFOT in Dallas ,and never saw the sun today and very cold. Your ride is my most 2013 anticipated ride. I got to get back there...

[Christopoll]

^ Thanks for the update! Iron Rattler looks awesome. Can't wait to see an actual POV (because sadly I don't have a chance of going at SFFT).

[narkitty]

You're welcome, everybody! I'll be posting updates more frequently now that demolition/construction is starting to move along faster. I can't wait for this coaster to be finished!

[jray21]

Can't wait to ride it. Really excited to see the completed product and hope it delivers!

[ArizonaGuy]

Any reports from inside the park? I recall someone a few weeks ago saying parts leading to the transfer track had also been removed. Anyone ride RRExpress to confirm anything going on around the station area???

[zentanker]

I am SO stoked for the Iron Rattler! The Rattler was just a waste of space, IMO. We tried to like it, but it simply WAS NOT FUN.

 

TNTG is our probably our favorite ride in both SFOT or SFFT, so if the new rattler is even half as good as the giant it will be a HUGE improvement over the old one!

 

 

Thanks for the update pics. I'm not sure if I'm going to make FF this since I have other travel plans

[bert425]

Went today for FrightFest, and the park was the most packed I've seen it in a long, long time. They were running all 3 towers on Scream. 1st time I've seen that in at least a couple of years.

 

HUGE waits on every ride, with the exception of Goliath (which we rode twice back to back with almost no wait whatsoever). I guess it's odd placement just off the entrance plaza threw some folks off, and they simply missed that it's to the left.

 

I mean, the wait on Poltergeist and Superman were hour+ easily.

 

and leaving at 8pm?. . took us over 40 minutes to get out of the parking lot! (I don't know if there was an accident at that 4-way stop or what. . but sheesh, traffic did not move for 10 minutes at a time!)

 

went to two shows, both of which were completely full. . but we stood in the back anyways, since someone we were with was in a wheelchair, so that worked out just fine.

 

We were disappointed at the lack of decoration, the FrightFest stuff was really, really weak with the big exception being the "troll bridge" going from the main plaza into Spassberg, that was really well done.

 

but almost no decoration in Fiesta Bay, the Western area, or Spassberg.

 

Rockville had the same zombie theme as last year. Waterpark entrance also had the same "spider" theming as last year.

 

no update on rattler, tho they have now walled off where Wagon Wheel was (and blocked the queue building).

they *do* have a few Iron Rattler signs up, and they put up a small pavilion showing pics, and the animated display of the "new" coaster.

 

I did ask the employee that was manning the pavilion if he knew if the station fly-by was going to be kept, or if it would just go into the station after the tunnel? Of course, he had no idea, but at least he admitted that much.