SFMM PTR 5/3/09

[CreditCrazy]

I took my every-other-month-ly SFMM visit last weekend and am finally getting around to posting my PTR...

 

...but the TR comes first.

 

I got there at about 11:00ish and went to get my season pass. The line looked pretty long and miserable, but I was out of there in less than 10 minutes. They were pretty fast, with a printer right next to them, and 3 picture booths running. I don't know if this is really good, good, just average, or even bad, but it was by far better than Knott's with 1 photo booth running, and a slow printer across the room.

 

Once I was out of there, I headed to X2. I figured its line would already be huge by now, but I went for it anyway, wanting to get a ride on it before sudden wind would come and it break down. (Luckily that never happened today).

 

X2's whole line was filled, and it spilled out of the entrance a few feet back. I got on in a little less than 90 minutes. Pretty fast moving line, and quick operations from what I saw.

 

I got 2nd row, inside seat. A great ride on X2. I could keep waiting in that 80ish minute line. It's definately worth it.

 

Quick stop to Viper next, and I have one word for my ride: rough! I'm the guy that laughs at everyone for calling Viper rough. I'm the guy that doesn't mind Boomerang's and SLC (s). But on my Viper ride last week, my head would not stop banging back and fourth! (I was in the 1st car, 2nd seat, btw). Viper had its usual great elements and ride parts. I love the speed and intense inversions, but it just wasn't as enjoyable this ride.

 

Looking for a more...mild ride, I went to Revolution next.

 

I sat in the back and had a fun first-half on Revolution. It's been really smooth lately, IMO, just with a few shakes coming up on hills. You can tell that this ride would be butter smooth without the OTSR's. The second half? Horrible as always. Nearly everytime I've been on Revolution, during the loop, my restraint tightens one lock tighter. It's to the point where I can't even breathe! I don't know what to do about this...it constantly happens, and it makes my ride miserable.

 

I walked by Tatsu. The line was pretty long. Definately "waitable" but I really didn't want to wait at all for it (not worth it, plus I know that it gets down to a walk on later in the evening). I went to Deja Vu and the line spilled out of the Queue (spelling?). So where do you go when lines are long?

 

Gold Rusher! Walk-on, but I waited for the front. About 5 minutes. A fun ride on Gold Rusher. And if anyone has a problem with Gold Rusher's roughness, the front is definately a lot smoother.

 

Walked over to Riddler's, walked away from Riddler's. I'm not a big fan and the line was a good...while.

 

My friend and I were getting hungry so we went to Jonny Rockets. Twas good. Jonny Rockets is starting to become an Amusement Park tradition at Knott's and SFMM for me. I seem to always eat there at some part of the day .

 

So...we're pretty close to Riddler's. Should I check the line again? Nah. Head over to Scream...nah...Colossus...nah...Goliath...nah...back around the park to X2...oh yeah.

 

I get in the line and it breaks down. After waiting about 10 minutes, I figured I would just catch it later. Tatsu? Still pretty long. Deja Vu? Even longer.

 

So I just went for Jet Stream. When you see Jet Stream, you're like "Log Ride on a hot day, sweet!", "No line, even sweeter!". No. Jet Stream is just really bad. The boat can't even stay still on a piece of straight track! Roughest log ride...boat ride...evah.

 

Over to the side of the park I hadn't done yet...

 

Colossus was first. Colossus is really just an okay ride. It's not really rough, but its layout just sucks. The first couple hills are nice, and surprisingly pretty big (I can imagine this ride being terrifying when it opened) and the headchopper is fun too, but it just gets boring.

 

I passed Scream, not feeling the best. (I don't know, just not in a vibrating 7 inversion mood, Viper was enough), and went to Goliath.

 

Goliath, the only ride I saw running 3 trains that day and also the 2nd best ride at Magic Mountain, IMO. I got a ton of air-time, and rode twice in a row. I could have gone for a 3rd time, but was in the mood for...

 

...Yosemite Sam! Waited about 15 minutes. It was fun as usual but it seemed a lot slower than the last time I had ridden it.

 

While in line for YSSF, I saw X2 running, so I went over there after.

 

This time, the whole first set of switchbacks was empty, and the 2nd set was closed off, so it was just a big straight line...and yet I still waited about an hour or a little less. The operation's seemed a lot slower this time, and unfortunately my ride sucked.

 

First worst ride on X2. I was hoping I would never feel the roughness that some had complained on it, but I got it. And...it was because this was my first ride sitting on the outside seat. Front row too! Oh well...at least my friend got a good ride on the inside seat.

 

Finally, it was that time of day when Tatsu is a walk-on, but so was Roaring Rapids. I really wanted to finally ride it, since its line is always huge and I've still never ridden it, and well...I wish I went to Tatsu instead.

 

Worst Rapids evah. It was:

A) Short.

B) Slow.

C) Unexciting.

D) Completely miserable-ishly-tizing.

No drop, no. Just endless water pouring into your raft, soaking you, your phone, your money, your shoes, and your socks. And I stayed soaked the rest of the day, along with my phone, my money, my shoes, and my socks.

 

 

At least I finally rode it, and I don't have to ever ride it again, and everyone can be warned to not ride Roaring Rapids at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California.

 

Trying to keep my mind off of the fact that my shirt is now a new, drenched color, it was time for Tatsu.

 

About a 15 minute wait. Good, fun, dizzying ride. A lot better than at WCB.

 

Now it was about 7:00, and you know what that means.

 

Cram in as many rides as possible before closing because everyone is leaving now and everything is a walk-on!

 

I was able to get in Deja Vu, Batman (back row, awesome), and Goliath. Sadly, no Riddler's or Scream, but at least...no, not but at least. Just didn't get those rides in. Oh well. I've ridden each one multiple times anyway.

 

My rides on Deja Vu, Batman, and Goliath were all good. Batman being the best. The back is so intense. You just got flung and yanked over each element. So much fun.

 

And then everything started to close and people started to leave, so I figured "The park is closing, maybe I should leave" and left.

 

Pictures:

 

 

 

Six Flags California?

SFGAdv?

SFoT?

A freshly painted Colossus or my awesome camera?

Okay nevermind, we're at SFMM.

Just a pretzel loop. What? What's so weird?

 

 

This is why some people don't like Goliath.

Oooh turn.

The worst but also the best part of Viper.

A fence. X2's theming.

I think Viper is also supposed to be part of X2's theming.

Put Viper

An awesome first drop

And a fence together

And you get X2!

Time for some Batwing action.

A pretty cool element overall (And Viper's drop inside of it).

"OMG shot".

You can run,

But you can't hide.

It awakens.

It flies.

It turns.

It inverts.

It is X2. Wait...Viper.

[CreditCrazy]

Gold Rusher.

A Rip Roarin' Rolle... sorry I can't say that with a straight face.

Our Roller Coaster Train Mining Car awaits.

Ahh, you got the vertical loop.

Ahh, you got the first dive loop.

Ahh, back to that vertical loop .

Some more elements that I took pictures of but they came out bad, then a forceful turn.

And then an air-time hill...on a Stand -Up...WTF, I know.

Best clone evah.

Got Deja Vu?

On Deja Vu you hear:

"%#%@#**&$#@#*&*&*$#$@#&@$#%$#****".

Got Deja Vu?

Got Deja Vu?

Got Tatsu?

"Wait, so you're like, flying?"

 

"Well...

...Yeah pretty much, basically".

"Oh".

Better than X2 and Goliath? Nah...

Goliath! It heard me!

Brakes...brakes...everyone, get in position.

Viper overview.

And X2 overview. Together, they make red Arrowland!

With Ninja just a little bit too far away.

Tight turns

And swinging. What I like in a coaster.

[CreditCrazy]

Hello?

I love you, but not your evil stalker trash-can sent here from Cedar Fair.

SFMM Update time Part 1: Ben & Jerry's!

SFMM Update time Part 2: Metro!

SFMM Update time Part 3: Terminator! Terminator Salvation: The Ride: The Sign.

It's the "New ride".

And it smells good.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Fun Job?

Station

And The Ride.

 

The End.

[adeuce02]

Nice photos but im confused are u mad the rapids got you soaked. Call me crazy but dont they have signs saying warning you will soaked

[WFChris]

Interesting as always, thanks for showcasing some of the lesser photographed rides. And some fun new angles!

 

Chris.

[ZeroG001]

You had some pretty nice photos in there. How long were the lines for Scream and Riddler that you considered too long? I've never been on the rapids, so I don't know how soaked you got. I love getting wet on rides, though, so I'd probably really enjoy it. Nice TR.

[FitchCoaster]

I love Roaring Rapids, it's so mellow. But yeah, it does get you SOAKED. You can't see exiting riders from the queue, so you kind of underestimate how wet you get. When I got off, there was pretty much no dry spot on my body, hahaha.

 

Anyways, awesome TR. I always love Tasu pictures, that ride is so photogenic. BTW, did you visit on May 3rd? I don't recall the lines being long at all.

[hobbit]

now they making the brakes house at SFMM's Terminator...?

the pictures are great sixflags magic mountain foto's ar

i like your first Tatsu picture!

[CreditCrazy]

adeuce02: Yeah, I was mad that I got soaked, but more mad at myself really. Roaring Rapids didn't make me ride...although that line looked so short it was impossible to pass up. It ended up being about 20 minutes, but I took it anyway.

 

WFChris: Thanks.

 

ZeroG001: Thanks, I don't know how how long Scream's line was. I never really checked it, I wasn't really feeling a ride on Scream. Riddler's line was pretty long, but I don't know how long. I actually went to the Single Rider line like I always do but I was denied. All Single Rider lines really are gone . I checked the station line and it was completely filled (which whoever has waited in it knows it can be miserable and crammed), and the line went out of the station, down the stairs, and past where you go for the lockers. I've waited in a line like this before, and it was a little over an hour. I figured I'd rather wait in a line like that for X2 then Riddler's.

 

FitchCoaster: Thanks, yeah when I went to SFMM right when Tatsu opened, I was actually scared to ride it but I watched it all day. Oh and the name of the topic does not lie .

 

hobbit: Thanks.

[Crazy_Behemoth_Lady_Jess]

Haha I love all your captions! Is Revolution really one of the worst coasters out there as I hear it is?

 

X2 looks fun!

 

I can't wait to go to the park after Terminator opens!

[CreditCrazy]

Haha I love all your captions! Is Revolution really one of the worst coasters out there as I hear it is?

 

X2 looks fun!

 

I can't wait to go to the park after Terminator opens!

 

Thanks! X2 is fun, and I bet Terminator will be too.

[FitchCoaster]

FitchCoaster: Thanks, yeah when I went to SFMM right when Tatsu opened, I was actually scared to ride it but I watched it all day. Oh and the name of the topic does not lie.

 

LOL, stupid me. Well yeah, what was the longest wait you waited in? We hit all the major rides while never waiting more than 20 minutes for any ride. Weird.

 

Regarding the roughness of Revolution, I don't think it's bad at all. There are spots though that are pretty jerky and you do end up slamming your head into the OTSRs quite a bit.

[CreditCrazy]

FitchCoaster: Thanks, yeah when I went to SFMM right when Tatsu opened, I was actually scared to ride it but I watched it all day. Oh and the name of the topic does not lie.

 

LOL, stupid me. Well yeah, what was the longest wait you waited in? We hit all the major rides while never waiting more than 20 minutes for any ride. Weird.

 

Regarding the roughness of Revolution, I don't think it's bad at all. There are spots though that are pretty jerky and you do end up slamming your head into the OTSRs quite a bit.

 

About 80ish minutes for X2. I don't wait much for anything else because I pretty much just hit the busy rides before closing. But if I wanted to, I probably could have waited 2 hours for Deja Vu and 90 minutes for Riddler's Revenge.

[Manic Monte]

^ I'm curious as to how the park is handling the flashpass lines, and if their seems to be a big demand for them. I haven't heard very many reviews of the system yet.

[CreditCrazy]

^ I'm curious as to how the park is handling the flashpass lines, and if their seems to be a big demand for them. I haven't heard very many reviews of the system yet.

 

It seemed like quite a few people were using them. I especially saw a lot for X2 (surprisingly) and Riddler's Revenge. While I was in the Flash Pass line for Riddler's (which used to be the Single Rider line, and I didn't know it had changed) there were a lot of unhappy people waiting 10-15 minutes+, right there, with their Q-Bot, to get on. I don't know how the operator's work it, but it seemed like they waited longer than they should have.

[atem122]

Great ptr. it's amazing at how that ben and jerry's (can't shorten it to an acronym for obvious reasons ) popped up so fast. Looks like you got some great pics of viper from x2's line too. Hell you got good pics all around, I'm proud of ya!

[Mr.Six]

there were a lot of unhappy people waiting 10-15 minutes+, right there, with their Q-Bot, to get on. I don't know how the operator's work it, but it seemed like they waited longer than they should have.

 

This is because the park implemented the new q-bot system and kept operating procedures the same on all attractions with the exception of X2. You can add in a fancy new system, but its nothing if you don't redo the way your guests are divided and boarded. Not to mention for it to effectively work you'd need new positions along with new training; which simply won't happen there.