Six Flags Darien Lake (SFDL) Discussion Thread

[dgkallday49]

I rode the twister earlier this year so the ride hasn't been broken down for 2 or 3 years . If we could get a frisbee ride or a Screaming swing rife that'll help darien lake out a lot . Finish painting mind eraser and superman and the park will look a whole lot better (:

If darien lake could add a Rollercoaster in a year or two things will be looking great

Keep up the good work

I only get to the park about 5-6 times a year aside from our yearly camping trip, each time twister has been closed. Same last season, and if I remember the second half of 2013. I love top spins, so I hope it can be fixed but it just seems like it's never open, ever. And if it opens for a couple days, something goes wrong and it's down again. Constant maintenance issues. Maybe doug can fill us in on the issues?? If they can save the ride, maybe even repaint it and move it over by ROS.

 

As for ranger, maybe I'm thinking of earlier in the season but I'm positive at one point it was just overtaken by 2 feet of grass and weeds. Glad to hear it's taken care of now.

 

If really like to see the water park keep growing, but there really isn't anywhere to expand. Now Darien lake owns a TON of land across the street,,, maybe move parking to across the street, move the park entrance, and build a footbridge or a tunnel under the road and use the old lots for park expansion, both theme and water park. Or move the campgrounds to across the street, and same idea, build a footbridge or tunnel. Obviously this isn't realistic for next year, and it would probably take a couple years to completely move the lots or campground and park entrance and everything else. But it could work in the future.

[Geauga Dog]

I like the idea of moving the parking lot to across the street (which could be done by next year) since the turn off to cross Route 77 to the current parking entrance is already in place.

 

Sunshine Lake would make a nice centerpiece to a new entrance. Put in a small fountain to keep the water from getting stagnant.

[Tackleberry]

Waterpark could expand if the catered picnic area were moved.

[bluestreak]

I don't know if this question has been answered already and if it was, sorry for asking it again, but anyways What coasters are running two trains this year? I've gathered that Viper is but I'd like that to be confirmed and I'd like to know of any others.

[coasterkid124]

I don't know if this question has been answered already and if it was, sorry for asking it again, but anyways What coasters are running two trains this year? I've gathered that Viper is but I'd like that to be confirmed and I'd like to know of any others.

 

Only Viper at this point.

[skiburkesurfjay]

I don't know if this question has been answered already and if it was, sorry for asking it again, but anyways What coasters are running two trains this year? I've gathered that Viper is but I'd like that to be confirmed and I'd like to know of any others.

 

Only Viper at this point.

ROS will next year.

[SbSteveZ]

^ obviously they're completely retracting the ride and setting up a 5 block course for 3 train operations! Complete with MCBR on the hill following the first helix.

 

Come on now, no one said for sure that RoS was getting its second train next year. Doug said that the managers and the big wigs are looking into adding more two train operations next year. Assuming that would be RoS could be true, but my thought is RoS is the BIGGEST ride in the park, it's also the most expensive. The trains on RoS are MUCH more complicated than the Zamperla Motocoaster or the SLC trains. Not to mention there are already parts for Mind Eraser's second train on site.

 

All We have as of right now is an assumption based on a brief statement, and a new RUMOUR that RoS may be getting a re theme and new trains for 2016. For all the kids keeping track at home - a rumor does not by any stretch of the imagination prove anything in any circumstance. If this was CP we were talking about, they had trademarks and invoices and leaked apps and as of this morning they have actual dive machine track on site. I don't see any fancy schmancy new intamin trains at Darien just yet. And not to mention I haven't heard anything about premier or Darien or any potential buyer of the park filing for any trademarks (though I'm not sure they'd have to...). Darien has the element of surprise right now. 2016 could blow us away. Or it could be something minor. We have no idea yet! And in all honesty, I like that.

 

Though I hope it's something cool like new trains for RoS - which wouldn explain why they chose Viper and Predator to start 2 train operations over the biggest ride in the park... None of us - except Doug perhaps really know what's in store for Darien Lake in 2016.

[skiburkesurfjay]

^ obviously they're completely retracting the ride and setting up a 5 block course for 3 train operations! Complete with MCBR on the hill following the first helix.

 

Come on now, no one said for sure that RoS was getting its second train next year. Doug said that the managers and the big wigs are looking into adding more two train operations next year. Assuming that would be RoS could be true, but my thought is RoS is the BIGGEST ride in the park, it's also the most expensive. The trains on RoS are MUCH more complicated than the Zamperla Motocoaster or the SLC trains. Not to mention there are already parts for Mind Eraser's second train on site.

 

All We have as of right now is an assumption based on a brief statement, and a new RUMOUR that RoS may be getting a re theme and new trains for 2016. For all the kids keeping track at home - a rumor does not by any stretch of the imagination prove anything in any circumstance. If this was CP we were talking about, they had trademarks and invoices and leaked apps and as of this morning they have actual dive machine track on site. I don't see any fancy schmancy new intamin trains at Darien just yet. And not to mention I haven't heard anything about premier or Darien or any potential buyer of the park filing for any trademarks (though I'm not sure they'd have to...). Darien has the element of surprise right now. 2016 could blow us away. Or it could be something minor. We have no idea yet! And in all honesty, I like that.

 

Though I hope it's something cool like new trains for RoS - which wouldn explain why they chose Viper and Predator to start 2 train operations over the biggest ride in the park... None of us - except Doug perhaps really know what's in store for Darien Lake in 2016.

 

I hate to be a know it all, but I know RoS is getting new trains. I've been there since Friday, and I had a Q&A session with upper management and talked to multiple mechanics. Apparently the park is working with Intamin to create 2 new trains. I'm 100% sure RoS is getting 2 new trans.

[SbSteveZ]

^ in that case, it wouldn't have been all that difficult to mention that in your previous post. That was my bad for assuming you were saying that based on things said previously on this thread. I hope there aren't any hard feelings. Anything else fun come up in your Q&A?

[coasterkid124]

Getting new trains would be the perfect time to retheme the ride and spruce up the area. An RoS paintjob has been in the works for at least 5 years, but has fell through because of management changing hands and money issues. That's why some of the track/supports near the station looks new. It was supposed to be repainted in stages, but never past stage 1.

[dgkallday49]

^ obviously they're completely retracting the ride and setting up a 5 block course for 3 train operations! Complete with MCBR on the hill following the first helix.

 

Come on now, no one said for sure that RoS was getting its second train next year. Doug said that the managers and the big wigs are looking into adding more two train operations next year. Assuming that would be RoS could be true, but my thought is RoS is the BIGGEST ride in the park, it's also the most expensive. The trains on RoS are MUCH more complicated than the Zamperla Motocoaster or the SLC trains. Not to mention there are already parts for Mind Eraser's second train on site.

 

All We have as of right now is an assumption based on a brief statement, and a new RUMOUR that RoS may be getting a re theme and new trains for 2016. For all the kids keeping track at home - a rumor does not by any stretch of the imagination prove anything in any circumstance. If this was CP we were talking about, they had trademarks and invoices and leaked apps and as of this morning they have actual dive machine track on site. I don't see any fancy schmancy new intamin trains at Darien just yet. And not to mention I haven't heard anything about premier or Darien or any potential buyer of the park filing for any trademarks (though I'm not sure they'd have to...). Darien has the element of surprise right now. 2016 could blow us away. Or it could be something minor. We have no idea yet! And in all honesty, I like that.

 

Though I hope it's something cool like new trains for RoS - which wouldn explain why they chose Viper and Predator to start 2 train operations over the biggest ride in the park... None of us - except Doug perhaps really know what's in store for Darien Lake in 2016.

 

I hate to be a know it all, but I know RoS is getting new trains. I've been there since Friday, and I had a Q&A session with upper management and talked to multiple mechanics. Apparently the park is working with Intamin to create 2 new trains. I'm 100% sure RoS is getting 2 new trans.

 

As I said before, I really hope these new trains get rid of the side bars for your legs, and I hope they are a larger seat to accommodate larger guests. I am not that large, albeit i'm defintley not "skinny" but I can not comfortably fit in the current seats. I can fit, but i'm in pain the whole time. My guess would be that if Darien and Intamin are creating custom trains, putting that much time and effort into it, ROS will get a re paint and re theme. Why would you custom build and paint trains to fit a theme that is just a cover up of six flags' work? I'd really like to see over the shoulder restraints on these new trains. Not like boomerang or viper over the shoulders, but like king da ka restraints. In my opinion I believe these are more comfortable, and more safe. Plus you'l still get airtime, as there's a significant gap between your shoulders and the top of the restraints. Maybe we'll see the return of the mist at the first drop, or some fire effects and cool stuff like that like Six Flags New England did turning S:ROS into Bizzaro.

 

Did anything else come to light during this Q&A?? If there is a re theme happening, and if Twister is salvageable, I think it'd be awesome to move Twister over to the ROS plaza. Not only would that kinda of get that area of the park going in the right direction as far as development, it'd also create room for future projects near the back of the park where the go karts currently are.

 

IF YOU COULD RE THEME ROS, WHAT COLOR SCHEME WOULD YOU CHOOSE, AND WHAT NAME/THEME WOULD YOU CHOOSE?? GO

King Da Ka Restraints

[Geauga Dog]

Not sure I would approve of those style of restraints for RoS. If anything we'd see something along the lines of Intimidator 305 or Skyrush.

[coasterkid124]

Bizarro and Expedition GeForce were two of the early Intamin Hypers, and their new trains were lap bar only design. My money would be on those. I've heard too many people complain about both the OTSRs and Skyrush's restraints.

[dgkallday49]

In my opinion the restraints on intimidator 305 looks very similar to the King Da Ka ones I posted above, and the ones on Skyrush would require a very large train to be able to fit the chunkiness of those lap bars, and since ROS has very narrow track I don't know if that large of a train would be possible. You can see in the photo below how large those seats and trains are, I don't think the narrow track will support something that large, and that overhangs the track. The trains now really don't have much, if any, overhang at all.

Skyrush Restraints

[Tackleberry]

Millenium Force has the same cars and restraints without the side bars. Not sure if it has the airtime of ROS though.

 

The snack stand in the ROS plaza was painted this year so there is some movement there.

[GCI Wooden]

Why don't they just give it normal Intamin hyper trains like the ones on Millennium Force, Expedition GeForce, Thunder Dolphin, etc.

[coasterkid124]

That's what I've been saying this whole time. Some people are overthinking this too much.

 

The only differences between Intamin's first and second gen hyper trains are the addition of a zero car, a slightly flatter design, and some other minor mechanical features. Of course, Intamin will pop whatever restraints the park wants onto the trains, but why do away with the lap bars? They have been a safe and effective form of restraint on multiple coasters for years now.

 

Besides, an OTSR like restraint will be even less comfortable to some larger riders and I can already see the complaints happening from most of the GP.

[Tackleberry]

Could go with Bizarro style restraints

 

[coasterkid124]

Good god, has Six Flags let those trains go to hell or what? And they were only two years old when that photo was taken.

 

The restraints could be a possibility though. They still have the side brackets, but no center post. That could allow for some more freedom and leg room.

[timetrial3141592]

Good god, has Six Flags let those trains go to hell or what? And they were only two years old when that photo was taken.

 

The restraints could be a possibility though. They still have the side brackets, but no center post. That could allow for some more freedom and leg room.

 

Oh hell no. Those restraints focus all the force onto a very narrow band of your thighs. The central box also takes up all the legroom.

[dgkallday49]

Those don't look too bad, just wish there was a way to make the bars attach to the sides of the yellow cushion and bow out a little bit instead of underneath and straight up like that, that way you'd have a bit more leg room. My issue with ROS's current restraints is that with the middle bar and side bars my male parts get crushed from my legs being forced so close together and held in a certain position with a bar pushing into my crotch and one on each side of my legs forcefully holding my legs together and not only digging into my knees but forcing the inside of my legs against the middle bar. its just a HORRIBLE setup. So many un-necessary, uncomfortable features. I remember when it just had a simple T bar, and even then it was still a little rough for male riders. On the current ROS trains, there is a middle black box that holds the middle T bar, that box also digs into my shins. Maybe I am just built too big for this ride, idk, does anyone else have these issues?? What about some hydraulic OTSR's that sit above you and just come straight down to hold you in, the kind that you don't pull on, they literally just come down onto your shoulders. They look similar to King Da Ka's restraints. I've seen these on rides, just cant think of what ride at the moment.

Edited August 20, 2015 by dgkallday49

[coasterkid124]

I still think these would be perfect:

 

Source: http://www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/display/1332897

 

 

No brackets, simple T bar.

[dgkallday49]

I still think these would be perfect:

 

[attachment=0]expedition-geforce-874798de-b121-4b86-97c3-07c3da20d6b2.jpg[/attachment]

 

 

No brackets, simple T bar.

 

If that was an option i'd take it, but I believe that the simple T bars have been basically outlawed due to safety, or lack thereof. ROS had those originally and look at the mess of a restraint system they've turned them into now. They'd also have to make the train cars a little longer IMO for these to work because there would still be that middle black box that holds each T bar that would dig into peoples legs like the current trains.

[coasterkid124]

^That's right, I do believe that some states have them officially banned. I know for sure that Massachusetts did after an accident they had at SFNE. Then all three Superman models got the new restraints. I'm not sure about NY, but it may be banned here too after our two incidents, which did not have anything to do with the restraints not working really.

[JRice92]

I still think these would be perfect:

 

[attachment=0]expedition-geforce-874798de-b121-4b86-97c3-07c3da20d6b2.jpg[/attachment]

 

 

No brackets, simple T bar.

 

If that was an option i'd take it, but I believe that the simple T bars have been basically outlawed due to safety, or lack thereof. ROS had those originally and look at the mess of a restraint system they've turned them into now.

 

From my understand it from ROS incident in New England that the state of Massachusetts banned t-bars but they're still fair game everywhere else.

 

One thing to note, those t-bars on expedition GeForce are the newer design of t-bars. (The only coaster in the U.S. With that style t-bar is top thrill dragster). while Darien Lakes ROS has the old style t-bars (the same Millennium Force has but with those awful brackets added.) If indeed it's true they're getting new trains I hope it's the newer style t-bar. I haven't ridden Bizarro but I've only heard bad things about those restraints, and as far as standard Intamin hypers go those are the only 3 types of restraints I know of. (Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong)