Six Flags Great America (SFGAm) Discussion Thread

[GigaG]

Unforgiving restraints? How would it compare to Intamin t-bars in terms of unfriendliness to large riders?

 

There is friendliness on Outlaw Run and Goliath vs Intamin T-Bars. My cousin always struggles to go on MF or Top Thill, he didn't on Outlaw Run. The lap bars are designed more to form to your leg where the T-Bars seam to be flatter. I hope this helps you!

 

Ah. I fit on MF and TTD with little trouble, so good.

[SingleRiderWill]

I don't know if anyone beat me to this, but I saw a picture of the train and the shin guards clearly had grooves in them instead of just a bar.

[diggerg56]

I don't know if anyone beat me to this, but I saw a picture of the train and the shin guards clearly had grooves in them instead of just a bar.

There was some discussion a couple pages back with pictures. Goliath has the new style restraints. Outlaw Run was also fitted with the new style before the start of this season. Night and day difference with the newer style.Much more comfortable than what I experienced with outlaw Run last year..

[Iron Wolf 90-11]

So, was anyone at the park when the tornado sirens went off today? We drove through the storm coming home from Indiana.

I was there and the park handled the situation very unprofessionally and honesty did not even care about the park goers and their safety. They did not tell you anything or where to go for safety. Very sad.

[DanM64]

It is almost impossible to inform EVERY guest where to go. Just use common sense. Go into a PERMENANT building/structure.

Edited June 22, 2014 by DanM64

[coasterbill]

One thing to remember is that a lot of people from all over the country were probably at the park to ride Goliath. In most parts of the country nobody would know what a tornado siren was if they heard one or what to do (though heading for a building would be common sense if it looked like it was going to storm even though if it were a serious Tornado a building wouldn't be much help).

 

As someone from New York I would have no idea what the siren was for and with a ride bringing in people from all over the country / world I would hope they would have clear instructions either over a PA system or from employees like Cedar Point does.

[DanM64]

^That's a great point, Bill. I guess I didn't really think of that.

 

I would THINK that PA announcements were made. If not that is really unprofessional and inexcusable.

[tororific]

We all have our own opinions. I see no reason to question someone over their opinion.

 

Imagine how boring the world would be if we all agreed with this opinion.

[Jojo19799]

So, was anyone at the park when the tornado sirens went off today? We drove through the storm coming home from Indiana.

I was there and the park handled the situation very unprofessionally and honesty did not even care about the park goers and their safety. They did not tell you anything or where to go for safety. Very sad.

 

I worked at the park many years ago, and there were a few times that we had some very severe weather (rain, thunder, lightning, tornado sirens going off and the sky did turn green). Several announcements throughout the park were being made and all employees were advised by their supervisors where to direct guests to in order to seek shelter. Sad to hear that it wasn't the case yesterday.

[GreatAmerican2234]

http://iconosquare.com/p/748035919359976329_823138015

 

This surprised me VERY much

[aesthyrian]

Does Six Flags want more PR problems? I don't understand....?

[ilrider]

^^If that is a place that is off-limits to the general public, though, I could see a difference from if they were told to leave, say, a store or public restaurant in the park. They should have helped them find a particular shelter, though. As it ended up, no tornado ever touched down, as it was a rotating storm but no tornado ever dropped.

 

It sounds like there definitely needs to be better communication on the PA and using employees to guide patrons to seek shelter in the nearest building open to the public, because as was mentioned, some people never hear tornado sirens in their part of the country (or world). I think most Midwestern patrons are smart enough to just find the nearest building. There really is no great place to shelter in place at the park, but a solid structure is better than outside, for sure.

Edited June 22, 2014 by ilrider

[thefatman22]

Goliath is currently down just got off it!!

[GoBears]

Goliath has been down at least once per day every day since it opened Thursday. That's 4 days or 5 days if you include media day on Wednesday. I realize it's new so hopefully everything gets sorted out soon.

 

As for the tornado situation, this isn't the first time a severe storm has struck SFGAm and the park employees don't know how to react to the situation or the park isn't prepared to deal with the storm. They should have a few areas to house guests during severe storms in addition to different buildings like stores and restaurants in the park. Tornadic weather is frequent in northern Illinois (as is most of the central states) so the park should always be prepared for situations like this. Kind of repeating what "ilrider" said but since there are people who don't know what tornado sirens are, the PA system and all park employees should be prepared to inform guests to take shelter immediately.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Goliath has been down at least once per day every day since it opened Thursday. That's 4 days or 5 days if you include media day on Wednesday. I realize it's new so hopefully everything gets sorted out soon.

Outlaw Run broke down constantly its first couple months as well. This year is significantly better, and its reliability is better than Powder Keg's now. So I wouldn't worry too much; these rides are finicky, and they'll figure out how theirs runs best in time.

[GoBears]

Goliath has been down at least once per day every day since it opened Thursday. That's 4 days or 5 days if you include media day on Wednesday. I realize it's new so hopefully everything gets sorted out soon.

Outlaw Run broke down constantly its first couple months as well. This year is significantly better, and its reliability is better than Powder Keg's now. So I wouldn't worry too much; these rides are finicky, and they'll figure out how theirs runs best in time.

 

Outlaw Run broke down 3-4 times total during the 2 days I visited back 2 months ago. Bad timing I guess.

[The Great Zo]

http://iconosquare.com/p/748035919359976329_823138015

 

This surprised me VERY much

 

So far, there has been no confirmation of a tornado near the park, though it's possible one hit about 10 miles to the west. The park was also never actually in a tornado warning, though Gurnee was in a severe thunderstorm warning.

[ilrider]

^You are correct; the tornado warning box ended just west of Gurnee, and it was a severe warning technically for the park. The sirens did sound in the area, though, so the park still needs to have set procedures in place when the sirens sound. I still think those people complaining about not being allowed in an employee only area overreacted. Probably took them 10 seconds to find another shelter.

[diggerg56]

^^If that is a place that is off-limits to the general public, though, I could see a difference from if they were told to leave, say, a store or public restaurant in the park. They should have helped them find a particular shelter, though. As it ended up, no tornado ever touched down, as it was a rotating storm but no tornado ever dropped.

 

It sounds like there definitely needs to be better communication on the PA and using employees to guide patrons to seek shelter in the nearest building open to the public, because as was mentioned, some people never hear tornado sirens in their part of the country (or world). I think most Midwestern patrons are smart enough to just find the nearest building. There really is no great place to shelter in place at the park, but a solid structure is better than outside, for sure.

I've been to several different parks over the years and in most cases the other parks aren't any different than SFGAm for storms. You're pretty much on your own to find shelter once the announcements. Holiday World is about the only exception I can think of. We were directed to specific buildings depending on where we were in the park. None were employee areas.

[ilrider]

^I think the big issue was whether there was any announcement to seek shelter at all, so that those who are not familiar with tornado sirens know what it means. I did not say employees or the park need to guide patrons to a specific shelter, but announcing over the PA to seek the nearest shelter and having employees echo that would be good. Keep it very general and let patrons make their own decisions. I could see them avoiding announcing specific locations for liability reasons in case people were injured where they were told to go.

[Iron Wolf 90-11]

I could see them avoiding announcing specific locations for liability reasons in case people were injured where they were told to go.

At least it would've been better than telling you to go where you feel safe, but then they don't allow you where you and many other patrons would feel safe, in the pictorium.

[ilrider]

I could see them avoiding announcing specific locations for liability reasons in case people were injured where they were told to go.

At least it would've been better than telling you to go where you feel safe, but then they don't allow you where you and many other patrons would feel safe, in the pictorium.

 

That might just be a matter of since the Pictorium is currently closed, the park couldn't afford to waste the resources for a staff member to supervise patrons in there. They certainly would not want to leave anyone unsupervised. Or, if there is any kind of work being done in the theater, it might not have been a totally safe place to be.

 

Since it sounds like you were at the park, was there an announcement there was a tornado warning in the area at all beyond the sirens?

[anewman35]

If a person understands what a siren means or not, can't they still tell when weather is rapidly getting very bad?

[ilrider]

^Yesterday they should have, yes, but in some cases a tornado can come with no warning, meaning stormy weather preceding it. It happened many years ago when I worked in Gurnee, near the park. The sirens went off, with only a typical gray sky and no storm, due to a tornado in western Lake County, and there was a customer who asked me what the sirens were and did not understand the concern, being from non-tornado country. Those are the people who need an announcement.

[Iron Wolf 90-11]

I could see them avoiding announcing specific locations for liability reasons in case people were injured where they were told to go.

At least it would've been better than telling you to go where you feel safe, but then they don't allow you where you and many other patrons would feel safe, in the pictorium.

 

That might just be a matter of since the Pictorium is currently closed, the park couldn't afford to waste the resources for a staff member to supervise patrons in there. They certainly would not want to leave anyone unsupervised. Or, if there is any kind of work being done in the theater, it might not have been a totally safe place to be.

 

Since it sounds like you were at the park, was there an announcement there was a tornado warning in the area at all beyond the sirens?

Yes, many announcements were made but they were not loud enough, many people could not hear them. They said there was an F3 tornado warning for the area and to seek shelter for safety.