Photo TR: Southern California Trip 2009

[PKI Jizzman]

I haven't laughed this much during a TR in quite a while.

 

 

You're lacking on turnstyle photos....not IN DEPTH enough! This should be a TR about strictly turnstyles!

[Six Flags Enthuseast]

You and your family look like you've had a great time and a fun trip. Love the Maliboomer control panel nerd shot. More nerd shots please?

 

Does Maliboomer still have those "Puke Guards"? If so, do they really take away from the whole experiance of the ride?

 

How did you like Goliath? I have never ridden it but I've ridden it's brother Titan. Made me sick but still fun. Did you catch any air on that first drop? I didn't get any on Titan's for some reason.

 

Agh...Can't resist...Some of those food pictures are making me hungry!

 

~ Jess "Going to grab a snack before I continue reading on TPR" Chan

 

More nerd shots? You got it! Also, the 'puke guards' (actually, they're supposed to be 'scream guards'; since the park is in the middle of Anaheim, all of the new high rides build into DCA would've broken noise violations, so they had to retrofit California Screamin' and Maliboomer with sheilds to keep screams from going into town. For Maliboomer, they simply fitted the plastic, for CS they put the tunnels over higher parts of the ride) don't really take away from the experience. It simply makes it feel like having a larger version of a racing-helmet windsheild in front of you. Goliath is almost the same Titan (except for the famous extra helix before the brake run), so you can expect a thrilling ride no matter where you sit. For airtime, I'd suggest you sit in the back. When you're there, you get a little off the first drop, a little over the airtime hill, and a slightly more intense ride in general. Goliath and Titan really make me sad about Giovanola's fate. R.I.P. Giovanola

 

I haven't laughed this much during a TR in quite a while.

 

 

You're lacking on turnstyle photos....not IN DEPTH enough! This should be a TR about strictly turnstyles!

 

Thank you! And don't worry, I have another turnstile photo...

Sorry PKI JizzMan, this is the only turnstile shot I took. =(

What's that big blue thing at the bottom??

Bolts & Beams!

Notice how the connectors for each train are deep red in color.

Dark ride transfers For The Win!

Classic S&S Ascend shot.

These pressure guages are VERY important. If they don't read correctly, you're screwed! (Perfectly original, eh?)

Didn't think I had this many nerd shots, didja? You did? Why am I not surprised?

More of the same.

Ohhh, more nerdy piping!

Notice the crap beneth the car.

Oh yeah, look at all of the pnumatic piping! If that doesn't give S&S fanboys (like me) orgasims, I don't know what will!

For Maurer mouse exit-staircase fanboys.

[Crazy_Behemoth_Lady_Jess]

The Scream Guards may not take away too much of the experiance for you but more fore me thanks to my claustrophobia. I hate not being able to feel the wind rush over my face. But again that's just me.

 

I have only ridden 1 Giovanola and despite the temporary damage it did to me I still loved it. The intensity is really what puts the "G" in Giovanola. Mind the pun.

 

How did you like Tatsu? Intense as Goliath?

[Six Flags Enthuseast]

Tatsu is MUCH more intense than Goliath! In terms of intensity (and of general comparability), they are in different worlds. Tatsu is a B&M Flying Coaster, which are well known for their intensity. Even the smaller ones tend to have a lot of G force, especially in the pretzel loop. On Tatsu, many people tend to grayout because of the intense force on the Pretzel loop. Imagine: It's like a dive loop on a B&M Sitdown coaster or a B&M Floorless coaster. Now think of being on your back while at the bottom of it... Personally I'm not a big fan of Tatsu because of the overly intense pretzel loop, but most everybody else loves it. The rest of the ride is good, but the pretzel loop just gets me. If you are ok with intensity (get ready for a very light headache after riding) you're good to go. Otherwise, only ride if for the credit.

 

The Scream Guards actually don't make you feel the wind as little as you think. You feel a small breeze on the launch up. However, I do suggest with your claustrophobia that you don't ride. Disney recommends it too.

[atem122]

The blue things under California Screamin are blue lights that make the structure glow blue at night, it looks pretty cool

[Crazy_Behemoth_Lady_Jess]

Thanks for the nerd shots.

 

I hope Firehawk doesn't do that to me on my Ohio trip next year. If I am ever riding anything intense again, I'm going to make sure I have alot of extra sugar beforehand as it helps to prevent fainting. I think that 2nd cup of frozen lemonaide before Medusa (west) saved me. Hopefully I'm also healthier by then too.

 

Anyways most of SFMM's looping coasters + Goliath seem to be high G rides. I'll make sure I steer clear of Tatsu if I go to SFMM.

 

Also, what do you think of DeJa Vu having Aftershock in your home park? Probably not anything special.

[Six Flags Enthuseast]

^You're welcome. Actually, Aftershock is actually a little different than the other Vekoma GIBs. I rode it when it was Deja vu @ SFGAm, and after my more recent rides on it, I really think Silverwood did something magic to make it better. Have you been on a GIB? If so, you'll probably know that they are very intense (not overly, though), but are also very rough. Silverwood added a 2nd seatbelt to the ride, and somehow, that has made it feel slightly smoother than when it was Deja vu. I've also ridden the one @ SFMM, and the difference is clear. Silverwood also has made it more reliable; It's only had 1 major accident since opening. I really like it because it's the only 'world class' coaster in the Pacific Northwest. (I personally don't like Tremors, so I wouldn't count it as world class)

[Crazy_Behemoth_Lady_Jess]

I really like it because it's the only 'world class' coaster in the Pacific Northwest.

 

What about the Vancouver Playland Coaster?

 

The 2nd seatbelt is added to pretty much every GIB that I know of. Not sure about Stunt Fall in Spain though. I have never ridden a GIB before but I really want to. Depends on if I visit SFMM or Silverwood first but either way I will ride one eventually. I thought they're not that rough compared to regular boomerangs. Would it be like say, SLC rough?

 

And why no love for Scream? It's a clone of my number 1 coaster at the moment.

[Six Flags Enthuseast]

^Never been to Vancouver Playland, but I hope to go sometime. And are you talking about the Vekoma Corkscrew they have, or a different coaster there?

 

I didn't know that they added the second seatbelt to all GIBs. I don't remember it on SFMM's Deja vu. When did they add them? The first time I rode a GIB (Deja vu @ SFGAm) they didn't have them. The roughness isn't as bad as an SLC (the only SLC I've ridden is Kong @ SFDK; by what I remember it was pretty smooth, but I'm basing my statement on what most people would consider SLC rough). The GIB's I've been on are a little rougher than Boomerangs, but not ase rough as SLCs. If Vekoma were to redesign the trains like they did with Boomerangs, riding a GIB would probably be one of the most intense and smooth experiences I could think of.

 

Don't worry, Scream! will get a little love. I just didn't ride it the first day.

 

DAY 4: SFMM TS:TR Media Day

 

I'll get right to the photos.

Mmm... Dodge Challenger!

 

Part 2 of DAY 4 soon to come. Don't miss it!

Lot's of red in this photo!

3 VERY tall rides are in this photo.

Note the very nice Thrill Shot drawing inside the ticket booth.

See 'ya later Robb and Alabama Twins!

Hmm... Never really noticed that cone shaped thing ontop of Sky Tower.

Dad's a big fan of the Army Vehicle type things.

Robb got to talk with all of the awesome Terminator Army people!

Awesomeness on a stick!

"Who's that guy behind me?"

Faint........

"How's it going, Mr. 'Doesn't know how to spell Enthusiast' Carnahan?"

The *LEGENDARY* Alabama Twins! (according to them, Robb was babysitting them while they were down in Valencia)

Ladies and Gentlemen, I was 5 ft from the filming of the TS:TR Media Day video!

HOLY CRAP! It's Mr. TPR himself AND the Alabama Twins!

Whoosh.... Hey wait, who's that to the right?

Yes, TS:TR!

Sexy Arrow track!

"Can YOU spot the SFMM employee?"

I saw the stairs and was like "Ohh, somebody dropped a whole bunch of M&Ms!"and I ran over, but then I found out they were just stickers...

Looking good today, Tatsu!

Peekaboo!

Flashpass entrance or ride exit?

According to the preceding sign, your 'cactus garden' should look something like this.

NOTED!

Jahan is having a fit right now!

NOTED.... Whatever it says.

Classic Revolution Helix Shot.

AKA the Pretzel Loop of Death!

AKA My dad's favorite ride @ SFMM.

Funny Story: Later on in the day, I decide to ride Revolution. My parents stay behind and quickly find Elissa! They say that KidTums was complaining that she only got 2 rides on the Carousel. She's growing up very much like her parents!

Mr. Six was going to play live, but, sadly, we had more important things to do.

The entrance gates are very much like the ones on RCT2... Or the RCT2 SFMM's gates are like the real ones.

NOTED!

"Note the green roofs, exclusive to SFMM's security scanning terminals and Chicago, Illinois!"

Yay! Viper is operating!

The tram is VERY rough! Almost as rough as X2.

Sigh... Wish both tracks would operate again. =(

You can easily hear Colossus running throughout the whole parking lot.

Hello Parking Lot: The Ride!

X2 has always had the coolest looking half-half barrel roll.

This park has the only 400ft ride in California.

The last time I saw this baby, it was still Magenta and Yellow. While Red and Black is cool, the Magenta and Yellow was always one of the cooler and more unique coaster schemes.

Robb and Elissa get this view every day!

NOBODY is on the highway!

[Crazy_Behemoth_Lady_Jess]

No, I'm not talking about the Vekoma Corkscrew there. I'm talking about the old school woodie loaded with crazy drops.

 

Speaking of Kong, I didn't find it that bad either. It was better than I expected to be both in the front and middle-near-back seats.

 

Looks like a great day, and you got to meet some other TPR members too. Terminator is like perhaps the most themed ride there complete with staff costumes. Very Disney like I must admit.

[Six Flags Enthuseast]

^Yes, by far, it is the best themed ride @ SFMM. They really did a great job with it, it's my current favorite woodie. By far the smoothest one I've been on.

[Six Flags Enthuseast]

Part 2 of DAY 4.

"I approve of the only floorless coaster I've ever been on!"

 

I'm going to Iowa tonight to attend my grandma's funeral. I'll be back by next weekend to post Part 3. See ya later, and thanks for reading!

This is how it looks to be waiting in the station before you ride.

These seats are awesome! And they've still survived many years of California sun abuse.

Weird plate thingys...

Scream! was pretty busy today.

There's too much parking lot in this photo, don't you think?

Jeez, it isn't that bad!

Here's the Scream! love you've been waiting for!

Mmm... Goliath lift!

"You didn't just diss me in the face, did you?"

It's a bear with a Batman symbol on his chest.... What kind of idea is that? That makes NO sense whatsoever!

I wonder why they don't have the photobooth anymore...

Random, unrelated junkyard pic or Batman queue themeing?

My hair was pretty blown back after riding B:TR.

I wonder what this big, red, flashey light does....

This area of the queue needs WAY more AC than just this little vent, especially while going up the stairs!

The zero-g roll is one of the best parts of the ride.

The loops on this ride are a little too small for me. Intensity is good, but this almost overdoes it.

Now that I think about it, a 270ft Intamin Gyro Drop like the one @ Kings Island seems pretty short if you compare it to S:TE.

All they need to do is spiffy up the station paint, check the operating systems, and cut some tree brances and Metro would be good to go!

Even from here, it's pretty loud.

"So far, the first upcharge attraction I've been on!"

This is my Facebook picture. Obvously, you can tell that I liked Thrill Shot! (Although I'm a little sad I couldn't ride it as it used to be, with the really unsecure restraints and nothing to hold onto and all)

I even managed to get Jg's autograph!

Mmm.... Thrill Shot's car has all 3 of my favorite colors!

Thrill Shot's control panel is the shizz.

I thought I didn't get a shot of Jadagrace, but I DID!

Apparently, Jadagrace and her family were riding Thrill Shot!

This is why they put Thrill Shot and Dive Devil so close!

"On a hot day like this, an ice lemonade sure helps!"

NOTED!

Can you see the SFMM staff memeber who's trying to be crafty?

28 more happy riders getting ready to experience a kick A$$ B&M ride.

"Now I've been on a standup I can lick.... AND ride!"

The intensity kept my face in this position for a while.

It's nose is a little sharp, but that's cool with me.

"The only other B&M Standup I've been on sucked. Hope this one isn't as bad!"

B&M Wheel Assembly shot for those B&M Wheel Assembly fans.

Another shot for Rollerman87.

The smooth wind noise generated by the trains is one of the coolest things about Riddler!

Random blue thing??

"Riddler's Revenge was one of the last B&M Standup Coasters ever built. But I hear it's REALLY good, so that makes me wonder a bit."

This space looks surprisingly quiet...

Next up is Riddler's Revenge!

Next time you're at SFMM (Robb's gonna hate me for this), buy a frozen lemonade. It's delicious.

Hi Goldrusher!

Well I can surely tell you what's sexier!

Which is shinier, the new paint on Ninja, or the sun?

[Crazy_Behemoth_Lady_Jess]

That's too bad about your grandma... My condolences to her.

 

Anyways back to the happy SFMM stuff (because big girls don't cry...NOT). Thank you for giving Scream! some love. Yep, that frozen lemonaid is really good alright. Did they have the strawberry flavour too? That's my favourite, frozen strawberry lemonaid. Best medicine for "post high acceleration exposure" symptoms too as I find it.

 

As for Thrill Shot, how is the airtime on one of those things? I have never ridden one before, let alone your standard slingshot ride.

 

By the way, about Batman's photobooth, the one at SFOT when I went this year was gone too. I personally am a big fan of on ride photos but I know alot of people don't even bother looking at theirs. The reason parks remove them is because it's just too costly to hire all the people to run them when not enough people buy them.

 

Thanks for more nerd shots. I love the control pannel ones.

[Six Flags Enthuseast]

^I don't think they had strawberry lemonade at the stand I went to, but I'm not a big fan of strawerry, so I was ok with it.

 

Thrill Shot has a little bit of airtime, but the launch and the 45 degree free fall facing straight down are the main thrills on it. Next time you go to a park with one, you should definitely try it, they are awesome! I wish Cedar Point and Knott's wouldn't have taken theirs down, and I wish S&S would have kept the original seats, because they seemed to be much more free and exiting for the riders. Still, even with the new restraints, it's a fun and rare ride.

 

I still look at some of my ride photos, and I remember the rides better by doing so. I bet I would've liked my Batman photo if I would've bought one. Then again, it would've been $10-$20 we didn't really have to spend.

[Crazy_Behemoth_Lady_Jess]

Being launched facing downwards...Kinda reminds me of Deja Vu/Aftershock. Do you feel like you're being "folded" in half when being launched? Meaning that your nose tries to touch your knees due to the effect of gravity.

 

I always look at my ride photos. Because that creates the chance that I may buy it, which helps keep the park in buisness.

 

~ Jess "Take the ride photo and keep the park in buisness" Chan

[Six Flags Enthuseast]

^It doesn't actually launch you facing down, it only tilts you forward on the first 2 descents. I could imagine it feeling like that if it did launch you while facing down. When the original seats were being used, it had a mode where it faced you up on the launch and faced you 180 degrees (headfirst) into the descent. But, along with the seats, the customizable modes left.

[triggernel]

Now there you go, good PTR you have there.

[The Disneylander]

You've improved a helluva lot from your first TR...but I'm still waiting on the turnstile photo!

[Six Flags Enthuseast]

^Gone.

[Six Flags Enthuseast]

Final part of DAY 4.

Flashback sign...

 

I have to go to bed shortly. I'll finish the update soon, there's only a few photos left. Thanks for reading!

NOTED!

BIG shadow!

Meh, these are just pimples compared to what we have in Washington!

National Lampoon's Vacation, anyone?

Viper before the tall cactus grew all the way.

Nerdyish technical drawing. Cool!

Lot's of rides visable from here. Well of course, it's the parks 2nd tallest ride, the tallest making you unable to see anything but silver Intamin track and a guy in red, yellow and blue tights!

Flying cheeseburger>1991 Dinn coaster (just make sure to take off the tomato)

RIP Flashback, the only Intamin/B&M Spacediver ever built... Now just steel, fiberglass, and wheelnuts that many TPR nerds have hastily aquired.

I find it odd that 2 B&M standups have traversed this park...

Hah, opened 18 years and 2 months before now.

Revolution's loop topping and Metro when there were only 2 trees blocking its path!

Old black & white crap, some still here, some gone.

The 'upcharge' side of the park, as well as RR, Ninja, and Jet Stream.

The awesome RR ride op shirt!

Deja vu and the remains of Psy....coughcoughcough.... TS:TR.

B:tR when it was first advertised.

And Spin Out.

RIP GGP and Free Fall.

Erection pictures of Sky Tower.

They had a nice lil' GASM model.

Why do I look so weird in this photo?

Almost there...

Hmm.....

Nostalgia nerds rejoice!

...that gets VERY close with B&M Flyer!

300ft Hexagonal Intamin tower ride.....

Yay! It's open this time!

For you B&M nerds, you get a nice shot of the transfer track on Tatsu near the top of Orient Express.

Proof of Austrian Awesomeness!

Z00M!

Almost at the top...

We decide to take Orient Express up to Samurai Summit so I can get my Sky Tower Museum credit.

Mr. Six FAIL!

For some reason, Metro's queue was completely open Even though this technically doesn't count as 'backstage' due to the lack of blocking (I swear, there were NO gates, NO ropes, NOT a single sign that had anything to do with blocking). , my better judgement kicked in to ensure I had many more years of TPR joy to come.

I remember when we first visited here in 2005, we had a really hard time trying to get the whole GOLIATH in the picture. Now, with improved digital camera technology, it's a breeze!

"I'm standing next to this thing that Robb is confused about classifying. What do YOU think it is?"

Goliath trains; still awesome as ever!

I'm out. Peace!

Patrick-approved ride op who says "Oh Yeah!" like Kool Aid Man! In fact, he says he used to do local commercials for them.

Hmm.....

OMG, Q-Bot!

Those Giovanola trains are the coolest! If only Giovanola had lasted a little longer... =(

NOTED!

Well, I can't drink and conquer Goliath at the same time...

NOTED!

It really is amazing how little supporting the whole ride has...

How do those staff people stay up there while sitting 5 feet from the 3rd loudest noise ever generated??

NOTED!

"Make sure that you ride Colossus in the back next time you ride, there's actually a little bit of airtime!"

I swear I don't remember the restraints being orange last time I saw this ride... curse you, RCT2!

We see you under those tarps, Psyclone trains!

Patrick also approves that Colossus is getting some attention, since it was my first 'major' coaster credit.

Patrick approved first-time-on-right-side credit.

NOTED!

[1pizza14]

WOW SFMM was DEAD! i have never seen it that empty. What was that monday, tuesday, Wednesday?

[Six Flags Enthuseast]

^Thursday. Actually, it wasn't that dead, I guess I didn't get that many pictures of people.

[Six Flags Enthuseast]

DAY 5: Knott's Berry Farm

 

What's amazing is that I was just at Knott's about 1 month ago, but the last time before that was 11 years! We originally weren't planning on hitting Knott's up, but surprise, surprise, we did! As most people would say, Xcelerator is the standout and really one of the only reasons for going to Knott's. However, for those who haven't visited, you should certainly make an effort to try a little bit of everything.

 

On to the photos!

Cool Silver Bullet other-than-pink-&-white-K-B-F-trash-can trash can.

 

I'll end this part of the update for now. Thank's for reading, and I hope that circle thing didn't give you a seizure!

Vlad the pharmacist..... is back.

After a crappy ride like that, I could sure use some food.

Tehehehehe.... Colossal Buns.

YOU SUCK CCI!

Today, Ghostrider went from being 'up there' to being possibly worse than Mean Streak! No, Mean Streak is worse. Still, it was pretty crappy.

Ok, I've never really thought coasters were tempermental, but OMG I will never doubt it again! My FREAKING SPINE! OWWWOWWWOWW!! Ughhh...... I feel like I just rode my bike at 60mph down a gravel rode without tires....OW!

Ready to ride!

Meh, close enough.

Bronze colored CCI train.

"Yay, Ghostrider!"

Meow!

Turtle! (My DSi camera can't zoom in, so you'll have to look by the rock with the supporting pole to find him)

Hah, I just came from the place where this originated.

Dad disapproved bench.

"What used to stand here was MUCH MUCH MUCH better than what stands here now!!!"

Bad grammer.

"Another Lucario/Patrick approved S&S tower that 'almost' matches my fur color!"

"It almost matches my fur color...."

Right about there it makes a cool popping noise.

Like before, the yellow tower wasn't operating. (but I learned that yellow wasn't a launch side, so I wasn't that disappointed)

I finally get my Supreme Scream credit.

Xcelerator block of approval.

"Unfortunately, the ride op saw me hiding in Patrick's pocket, so she told me to sit in the bin. Missed Intamin credit = FAIL!"

This time, my hands are NOT blocking my mom's face!

Patrick approved Intamin ride.

Intamin wheel assembly/train hitch shot for my fellow Intamin nerd friends!

NOTED!

Well shut up, I've got plenty more where that came from! (Note the guys in the front seat)

Getting tired of the Intamin shots??

Mid-launch Intamin shot!

These chicks are about to say hello to my good ol' pal Rick! Rick is going to accelerate them from 0-80 mph in less than 2.5 seconds.

...and this train will have a huge dent in the front of it.

In about 4 months, these brake fins and all this track will look like shredded beef.....

Z00M!

Not going to get my purple train credit today.

These brake fins hiss a lot quieter than the ones on Top Thrill Dragster. The ones of TTD are deafening!

I give permission for anyone to lick their screen with all these Intamin track pictures! But I assume no liability for damages done to you if your computer screen shocks your tongue.

NOTED!

Mmmmmm......... More Intamin track!

Look's like KBF's trying for some 1950's Batman queue themeing.

Mmm..... Intamin track!

The green and purple section of the park is doing fine today.

Xcelerator makes a dull roar when it goes by.

And this photo (if you look at the black dot in the middle of each circle, stare for a second, and look at another one) makes most people go nuts!

This photo makes Xcelerator look purple....

Now that I like S&S rides, I think I'll try Supreme Scream.

Delerium: The Year-After

The hammer game for people with arthritis.

Mack really makes sexy rides!

The park's other S&S Tower.

Been there, done it, got the DVD.

Robb's right: It is the most 'family like' B&M Invert. Not forceless, but not B:tR.

Hello "Thomas".

America's 1st Theme Park? That belongs to Lake Compounce!

IDK why lots of California woodies have tunnels. Popular demand? Low wood costs?

"Note Knott's groovy purple trash cans! Yeah, can't beat that, SFMM."

The next thing Knott's needs to do is repave the parking lot!

"We are NOT going to make the same mistake we did last time!"

I was happy looking at Ghostrider to begin with. Little did I know I would be feeling way different a few hours later!

This looks awfully familiar....

One of the better themed BK's I've ever seen.

It's only 10 minutes from DLR (near where we were staying) to Buena Park! TWO awesome parks within short driving distance from each other, something unavaliable where I live...

[tedten]

Sorry if I missed it, but what type of camera are these taken with?

[atem122]

^His Nintendo DSi

That was a preeetty cool update, lots of Xcelerator LOL, but, while Maurer does make cool rides, I think you mayyyyy wanna check the manufacturer of Sierra Sidewinder

Oh, and spell it "Lick," not "Like"