Six Flags Darien Lake (SFDL) Discussion Thread

[coasterkid124]

I doubt it because Herschend has a close relationship with RMC. However, at a press conference last year, the parks former GM never ruled GCI out who works with Skyline. GCI wants to build a looping coaster to compete with other companies from what I heard.

[coasterchitchat]

I doubt it because Herschend has a close relationship with RMC. However, at a press conference last year, the parks former GM never ruled GCI out who works with Skyline. GCI wants to build a looping coaster to compete with other companies from what I heard.

 

That's true if you look on TPR's youtube channel, they have some IAAPA stuff and it's on there. No one has bought one from them yet.

[Shavethewhales]

These projects take longer than a few months to slap together. If the Lake Monster concept ever got greenlit and is planned for next year, then it is already designed or mostly designed and about to be issued for construction within the next few months. With multi-million dollar projects there's surely a lot to prepare for with details such as permitting, hiring a proper erection crew, and even park operations such as accounting, so the actual deal with the vendor would have to start long in advance. I think RMC was pretty obviously their choice when they hinted at the project last year.

 

I'm still holding out hope that the Lake Monster project will come through, but nothing has since been hinted about it, and DL obviously has a lot of problems to sort out still before they dive into another huge expenditure. It sounds like a lot of the management changes DL announced earlier this year aren't coming through... sounds like there's trouble brewing behind the scenes to me. It's worrisome that an HFEC-controlled park is doing so poorly at managing a major intamin coaster and living up to their publicly announced promises.

[coasterchitchat]

These projects take longer than a few months to slap together. If the Lake Monster concept ever got greenlit and is planned for next year, then it is already designed or mostly designed and about to be issued for construction within the next few months. With multi-million dollar projects there's surely a lot to prepare for with details such as permitting, hiring a proper erection crew, and even park operations such as accounting, so the actual deal with the vendor would have to start long in advance. I think RMC was pretty obviously their choice when they hinted at the project last year.

 

I'm still holding out hope that the Lake Monster project will come through, but nothing has since been hinted about it, and DL obviously has a lot of problems to sort out still before they dive into another huge expenditure. It sounds like a lot of the management changes DL announced earlier this year aren't coming through... sounds like there's trouble brewing behind the scenes to me. It's worrisome that an HFEC-controlled park is doing so poorly at managing a major intamin coaster and living up to their publicly announced promises.

 

The management at Darien Lake is pretty bad from what I hear. I think they next to get there acts together before a new coaster, non other than an RMC. Silver Dollar City is doing so well keeping up Outlaw Run because of excellent management there. If Cedar Fair took over the park, then all the management issues would be resolved over time, even though Cedar Fair has not bought any parks after Paramount.

[Matman-TheRide]

Hey shavethewhales, not only would an August 1st announcement give them plenty of time to build, but the old Cuda Falls site (the big dirt pile) is an eyesore demanding some use. And the space behind the Cuda Falls site could also be used. There is room, there is time.

[Shavethewhales]

^Yes, there's enough time to build something, which is why I said I hope the Lake Monster project has been still in the works, but there is not enough time to completely design something from scratch from a company that just came into existence today. My point was that whatever Darien Lake has planned for 2015 has already been planned far in advance and the idea that Skyline Attractions is involved is highly unlikely.

[coasterkid124]

For me as one of the most active visitors to the park every year (and yes I can back up that fact), something needs to be done and quick.

 

If the park doesn't build something they won't get visitors. If people don't visit the park will not build big.

 

The idea keeps contradicting itself and nothing gets done besides tearing down of rides and new shows. No park has been able to build itself up without taking risks. Cedar Point never had 16 coasters when they opened. They took the risk and were awarded with markets from all different areas.

 

As for Darien, they do have the potential and big enough of a market, they just need to do something. Most parks of similar size haven't had such big of coaster droughts. The only other one I can think of is Cali's Great America until it built Gold Rusher.

 

It seems like this thread always comes down to me harping on the same idea but it's true. High risk but high reward is the way to go.

[Matman-TheRide]

So then.... a Mystery Mine almostbutnotexact clone for 2015 at Darien? It would help Darien Lake's transition of becoming a "Hershcend Standard" park, and a project of that size could fit in the old Cuda Falls site and the space behind it. Do you guys think this is possible?

[Sk610]

I do think thatsomething either needs to be done with management or ownership i personally think that HFE has great ideas, but cCNL will not fork over the money to do the things HFE wants to do. with that said i would let HFE buy the park outright and make a go of it. i really think that is where the parks problems are rooted. None of the other major parks are owned by a company and managed by another. its too many hands in the pot.

 

On the subject of next year, i think predator just needs som major retracking, and not a complete overhaul. i would much raher see a new coaster than to see predator get a RMC treatment

[Geauga Dog]

It seems like this thread always comes down to me harping on the same idea but it's true. High risk but high reward is the way to go.

 

High risk but at what cost? Doing anything that would be deemed "risky" comes with a high price and if they aren't going to recoup that cost in as short a time as possible it's not going to happen. I'd consider adding RoS when they did was a big risk for a park the size of DL and though the "reward" was finally putting DL on the map you didn't see much major investment afterwards.

 

I do think thatsomething either needs to be done with management or ownership i personally think that HFE has great ideas, but cCNL will not fork over the money to do the things HFE wants to do. with that said i would let HFE buy the park outright and make a go of it. i really think that is where the parks problems are rooted. None of the other major parks are owned by a company and managed by another. its too many hands in the pot.

 

I don't think it's a management issue but more ownership though reading that the park is still running coasters with single trains and slow intervals is disappointing. Do you think Darien Lake didn't see the bump in attendance they hoped for with the addition of Rowdy's Ridge and Blast Off and that's why they haven't pushed forward to add something larger?

[coasterkid124]

Well a family area and a used launch tower probably won't bring many people in. This season was more of a disgrace than anything yet. I hope this is all part of a planned beginning to major investments for the future.

[DarienLaker]

Well a family area and a used launch tower probably won't bring many people in. This season was more of a disgrace than anything yet. I hope this is all part of a planned beginning to major investments for the future.

 

And you can this year's lack of variety in shows lineup feautring Nik Wallenda and his family. in years past they pretty much had some variety in show lineups, but I don't really think a family area, a used Space Shot tower, or whatever show they have going on in the Grand Theater, Midway Stage, and Galaxy Theater is going to draw in much people!

[Sk610]

Yes i do think something like mystery mine is just what DL needs. Heavy themeing and not too big or intense so the younger crowd won't ride. That would be ideal along with some new flats. I actually figured out last night that MFI has better flats than DL. How sad is that?

[SbSteveZ]

^ I've been saying that for quite some time now! Sure, some of the rides the park buys are on trailers and meant for fairs, but they're fun rides and they're thrilling! And not to mention MFI is adding something new EVERY SINGLE YEAR and if I remember correctly, its locally owned and operated. Ever since they built the Crazy Mouse, I've been heading out there to see what they had the potential for and in a matter of years they increased their ride collection massively! Full Tilt, Flight, Disk'o, Devil's Hole, Mind Warp, Nitro (Removed though), Dragster Drench, Rockin' Tug, Max's Doggy Dog Coaster, Over the Falls, and even Jack and the Giant Beanstalk! What has Darien added since (I believe) 2004? A motocoaster prototype, 3 kiddie rides, and a used drop tower? Since when is the "Largest Park in WNY" out done by a cute little park out on Grand Island that doesn't even stay open later than 7 (Which is a shame because the rides would probably look pretty cool at night...)? It's a shame if you ask me, but I'm not usually one to complain.

[DarienLaker]

Yes i do think something like mystery mine is just what DL needs. Heavy themeing and not too big or intense so the younger crowd won't ride. That would be ideal along with some new flats. I actually figured out last night that MFI has better flats than DL. How sad is that?

 

That's kind of embarrassing in my opinion that the two closest competitors to Darien Lake, Fantasy Island and Seabreeze which are smaller parks have better rides than Darien Lake. That's pretty much sad, Darien Lake really needs open up a can of "whoop A$$" on Fantasy Island and Seabreeze if they ever want to stay in business as a theme and water park!

[Geauga Dog]

Darien's strengths are the coasters, which MFI and Seabreeze can't compete with even though Silver Comet is better than most of what Darien offers (Jack Rabbit isn't bad either). Darien also has the better water park but if MFI continues to expand the way they have been that could change things. They did remove their log flume thus opening up more land to expand the water park if they wanted to.

[SaraAB87]

I have been to Waldameer and it's worlds ahead of any park in this area, I will be returning this year. Almost everything is rideable, they have thrilling, clean rides, the view of Lake Erie, Free Admission, free parking and extremely reasonably priced food, tons of shade (literately shade everywhere except in a few tiny spots) and benches everywhere to sit down. Did I also mention one of the best wooden coasters anywhere.. I would have to dig really deep to find a complaint about this park, there is none.

 

MFI now has a very expensive and thrilling ride if you are into that, they also have a very diverse selection of unique flats which basically no other park has. MFI is just a little expensive on admission and food, and they have a very restrictive no glasses policy on their rides the last time I checked ( may have changed) even if you wear them with a secure strap. The rides are carnival rides which some may criticize them for but I don't see it as a problem, the rides are clean and well kept. They are good on the benches and shade as far as I can remember.

 

Neither of these 2 parks have the 60-90 second ride cycles that Darien seems to have on their rides which is the worst.

 

With Darien's extremely restrictive weight limits in place I might never go back, I may reach 198- 200lbs some day but that will take me at least another year and that depends on when and if my body decides it wants to stop dropping weight. As of right now I might be better off at CP which is known to be one of the least fat friendly parks out there ...

 

But somehow they seem to be less restrictive than Darien as of now. Given the fact that there are plenty of people that go to DL that are much larger than myself and larger than 200lbs they are only shooting themselves in the foot by posting arbitrary weight limits for their rides on their website. Whether these limits are enforced in the park or not they are posted on their website as a maximum and when people see it they won't come to the park because when they see it on the website they will assume they won't be able to ride. Less people coming to a park is a bad thing. Why would people pay $34.99 or more plus parking when they think a lot of the rides will be unavailable to them?

 

The customer will just go elsewhere, as far as I know there isn't a single weight limit posted at other local parks, and I have never felt like rides were unavailable to me because of my size. I can ride everything at the Erie county fair including the aka at fireball without question same with Waldameer and probably Seabreeze. In fact when I went to Waldameer I felt like most of the rides there could probably hold someone much larger than myself.

 

I have been to Seabreeze but it's been a long time, I don't see any problems with it though.

[Sk610]

I do agree that DL does have a great variety of coasters. how many other smaller parks have the variety that they do? i cant think of one they have a hyper, sit down looping, inverted looping, wooden, launched, and the boomerang shuttle. those are variety that you see at major parks. I really think that where DL needs major work is in the flat ride department.

 

To be very honest, if they skipped a new coaster next year and went with a good collection of 3-4 modern flats i would be very happy with that. Yes people come to ride the coasters, but they need other things to ride as well. Thrills come in many shapes and forms, including flats.

[DarienLaker]

I wish Mind Eraser and Boomerang would get new type Vekoma restraints.

 

I wish that Mind Eraser would get a new paint job, it's looking old and faded!

 

 

Let's be honest, Every coaster except for Motor Coaster could use some a new color scheme.

 

Let me see, here are my wild guesses for new color schemes!

 

Viper - Red (tracks) and black (supports)

Boomerang - Orange (tracks) and purple (supports)

Mind Eraser - Yellow (tracks) and blue (supports)

Ride of Steel - Gray (tracks) and orange (supports)

[XYZ]

Ride of Steel - Gray (tracks) and orange (supports)

 

Eww...

[DarienLaker]

Ride of Steel - Gray (tracks) and orange (supports)

 

Eww...

 

Well, I thought the gray and orange color scheme for Ride of Steel sounded cool!

[GigaG]

Grey and orange would look good with the TRACK as a bright orange and the supports as a grey. Think Bat at KI.

[DarienLaker]

Here's my alternate choices

 

Viper - White (tracks) and red (supports)

Boomerang - Teal (tracks) and gray (supports)

Mind Eraser - Orange (tracks) and green (supports)

Ride of Steel - Black (tracks) and yellow (supports)

[djboss302]

Boomerang - Teal (tracks) and gray (supports)

 

[coasterkid124]

Here's my alternate choices

 

Viper - White (tracks) and red (supports)

Boomerang - Teal (tracks) and gray (supports)

Mind Eraser - Orange (tracks) and green (supports)

Ride of Steel - Black (tracks) and yellow (supports)

 

What does this have to do with anything? An idea like this should go in the crazy idea thread. Just like your various Pandemonium and Galaxy Theater ideas. It's starting to get kinda annoying. No offense.