Vonni Posted July 14, 2018 Share Posted July 14, 2018 I've never been to the park, so I'm curious how Zumanjaro and Kingda Ka alternate operations? Do the ride opps communicate via walkie talkie, or do they just watch each other to know when to launch each ride? Or some other form of sophistication that I couldn't begin to speculate lol! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterbill Posted July 14, 2018 Share Posted July 14, 2018 I believe it’s actually programmed into the ride system at this point. Kingda Ka generally runs 2-3 trains with one load platform. It doesn’t impact operations all that often. Ride ops can basically dispatch trains whenever they want, they just sit on the launch block and the holding block before that and don’t actually launch until Zumanjaro cycles and the roof retracts. Operations at Kingda Ka are sort of slow anyway so it’s rare that they have a third train loaded and ready for dispatch with the two blocks ahead of the station occupied. They can easily launch both trains between Zumanjaro cycles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_s Posted July 15, 2018 Share Posted July 15, 2018 ^^-- Right, when they're using half the trains and a fourth of the load stations, Zum doesn't slow things down that much. The obvious question is: did they ever use all the stations and trains and did it help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterbill Posted July 15, 2018 Share Posted July 15, 2018 They haven’t used multiple load platforms or more than 3 trains in probably a decade anyway. It’s way less staffing this way, and they claim that it improves reliability which is also probably true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_s Posted July 15, 2018 Share Posted July 15, 2018 Oh I get it. Double throughput, breaks down twice as fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillrider Posted July 15, 2018 Share Posted July 15, 2018 Oh I get it. Double throughput, breaks down twice as fast. Well...it is an intiman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesman Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 supposedly runaway train is down because a tree fell on the track Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boldikus Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 You're welcome everybody. My years of whining on every single last survey that Great Adventure has sent me asking for them to put in a beer garden have finally paid off. "Ale House", a new boozy spot (and also a location to get soda refills and pretzels) has opened in the old Liberty Pub spot next to Flash Pass/across from Johnny Rockets. I always enjoyed Liberty as a quiet spot to get a beer tucked away from the crowds, but this is much better. Photos courtesy of Coaster Crew. Some takeaways: 1. Frozen Jack & Cokes. 2. I'm counting at least 10 taps. 3. No red lines/beer jail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillrider Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 That looks really nice. It was still being worked on when we were there. Now I have another excuse to return. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 (edited) ^^It took longer to build then most of the parks recent ride additions. Edited July 17, 2018 by larrygator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B&MIntaminGCI Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 I was there today and it was a SCORCHER. Nothing really had lines at all. Got my best ride on Cyborg, was decent but I still find it mediocre at best. (Give us our frisbee and throw in a Top Scan for good measure ) Also got my best ride EVER on The Joker, it was fun as hell, 4 flips on the park side. Actually enjoyed it a lot and wish it was like that most of my rides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deguy123 Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 You're welcome everybody. My years of whining on every single last survey that Great Adventure has sent me asking for them to put in a beer garden have finally paid off. "Ale House", a new boozy spot (and also a location to get soda refills and pretzels) has opened in the old Liberty Pub spot next to Flash Pass/across from Johnny Rockets. I always enjoyed Liberty as a quiet spot to get a beer tucked away from the crowds, but this is much better. Photos courtesy of Coaster Crew. [attachment=0]Ale House.jpg[/attachment] [attachment=1]Ale House2.jpg[/attachment] [attachment=2]Ale House3.jpg[/attachment] [attachment=3]Ale House5.jpg[/attachment] Some takeaways: 1. Frozen Jack & Cokes. 2. I'm counting at least 10 taps. 3. No red lines/beer jail. Looks great!! I really need to get there this year at some point! I wish US parks were as relaxed as overseas parks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B&MIntaminGCI Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 I also must note that they were now asking if people had cell phones at the entrance to Nitro now. Not sure if they were telling people to put them into a locker (we do regardless, it's easier and I was one that complained about the policy at first ) but they were definitely asking. Every train dispatch on all the rides they were also announcing that "Now is your last chance to secure your cell phone, if we see you take your phone out on the ride you WILL be escorted out of the park with a 5 year ban and a fine" or something similar to that. I don't think they're playing any games anymore because it was on almost every coaster we were at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillrider Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 We have been to 4 different six flags parks over the last few weeks, and can confirm that they are really cracking down on cell phones. I took my kids on the kiddy balloon ride at great America, and they announced it over the pa system before the ride started and during the ride that if you had a cell phone it must be put away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterbill Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 Surprise! The park is closing early today due to low attendance. They gave a solid 6 minutes of advanced notice, most likely because they realized in a panic that it was about to stop raining and they might have to eat it for 4 hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OmnipotentSeal Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 I have never used flashpass before, or queuebot for to matter, and was watching videos of how to use flash pass on YouTube. Basically people bring the device through the line and into the station. But, I also know that SFGadv has a super strict loose articles policy on KK, el toro, and joker and keep you from having any loose articles. So I am confused about where to put the flash pass device when I am on these rides. Do they have special flash pass bins in the station? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singemfrc Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 I have never used flashpass before, or queuebot for to matter, and was watching videos of how to use flash pass on YouTube. Basically people bring the device through the line and into the station. But, I also know that SFGadv has a super strict loose articles policy on KK, el toro, and joker and keep you from having any loose articles. So I am confused about where to put the flash pass device when I am on these rides. Do they have special flash pass bins in the station? Flash pass devices have a heavy duty carabiner type clip that will clip to your pants, as such you can bring them on most anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterbill Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 You can bring a Flash Pass on every ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canobie Coaster Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 I love when parks ban loose articles yet they let you bring Q bots or those flimsy locker bracelets on rides. As long as you have a zippered pocket or belt loop, you'll be able to safely secure the Q bot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Geek Mojo Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 In regard to the cell phone convo in this thread at SFGAdv...They're not cracking down at every Six Flags park on loose articles. Every time I go to SFOG which I go to regularly, people have their cell phones out on coasters all the time. The ride operators even see people with cell phones in their hands and check their restraints and don't say anything. The only coaster that they really make an announcement on about loose articles is Twisted Cyclone. Personally, I feel if more parks allowed secured gopros, cell phones flying through the air and injuring people would be a thing of the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
appel Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Surprise! The park is closing early today due to low attendance. They gave a solid 6 minutes of advanced notice, most likely because they realized in a panic that it was about to stop raining and they might have to eat it for 4 hours. So when did they actually close, at 6pm? Well, we thought about going to Six Flags Great Adventure during our yearly US-Coastertour, but hearing that they often close early makes us drop Six Flags and go for Carowinds instead...(we have been to Great Adventure 2016 and 2013). Cannot understand their policies, seems like a common Six Flags problem as New England does this as well quite often I guess. We are flying over from Germany and would be bummed if the park closes much earlier. After all these years we prefer the Cedar Fair parks over Six Flags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeyItsKrabs Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 During the summer, they rarely close early, actually. Usually due to "inclement weather" which could mean the weather itself... or that the rain is keeping crowds away and making it unprofitable to keep the park open If it's a normal day, however, they'll almost always keep it open no matter how many people are in the park. I'm not sure I agree with dropping this park just because of potential rainy days, but Carowinds is a great park anyway that you'll enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterbill Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 The park won't ever randomly close early. They close early due to "inclement weather" if the park isn't busy. "Inclement weather" can include rain, a brief thunderstorm or mildly cool temperatures. The best way to avoid this is to ensure that you go on a day where it's absolutely gorgeous and the park will have to eat it if nobody shows up or on a weekend during a busy time of year. The same park that will close early due to inclement weather when it's 49 degrees the first weekend in November due to cold temperatures will happily open on a Fright Fest day a few short hours before a hurricane destroys most of the Jersey shore (yeah, that totally happened) or run their 80 mph hypercoaster on a 19 degree night during their busier Christmas event. Go to Great Adventure, but have a flexible schedule. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeyItsKrabs Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 ^^^ 19 degree Nitro and Batman was a blissful experience, other than almost getting frostbite on my hand! Early closures at this park seem to be related mostly on whether or not it's profitable to run the rides - that 19 degree day actually had some decent crowds for HitP, while the 49 degree closure, the park was basically abandoned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ytterbiumanalyst Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 That Ale House looks really great! Multiple taps, pretzels, relaxing atmosphere, hell yes! * It's moments like this that I realize I am actually an adult now. That's semi depressing, but on the other hand, beer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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