vdejarnette Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 (edited) Seems like the rumors elsewhere point to Bizarro getting moved (maybe to SFGAm as a mea culpa for stealing Green Lantern) and building the new entrance to the Wild Safari back in that area, which also preps the area of the park for guest traffic when they inevitably build the drop tower on the side of Kingda Ka. Can't say I'd be too sad about the potential loss of Bizarro. Hindsight shows that Medusa when it was first built was likely B&M's first step down the "forceless wonder" path that would come to full fruition by the early-mid 2000's. Atleast it is glass smooth which is more than can apparently be said about Scream at SFMM. Incidentally, I just bought two $25 tickets to GADv good til October using the online promo code MILITARY. They included free admission to Wild Safari with the Theme Park as well as two extra guest tickets to Wild Safari so it seems like they are really pimping it out before the makeover. Edited August 20, 2012 by vdejarnette Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chroniq Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 ^Which are exactly the reasons I have always skipped it. I really have no desire to have monkey-related damage to my car. In recent years (5 or 6?) the monkeys have been fenced in. By removing the self drive through aspect of the attraction and requiring guests to take a guided tour, I see this as having the potential to make the safari a low budget version of killimanjaro safari at ak. A themed spiel, closer contact to the animals (currently the tigers are fenced off, monkeys are fenced off, bears are kept far away), a host who can point out animals and share information, and a more intimate setting (possibly removing all the asphalt) is exactly what this attraction needs. From a revenue standpoint it also allows the hundreds of people that arrive via bus to take advantage of the upcharge attraction without paying for an expensive vip tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidcoaster 2 Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Glad I got to do this back in May thanks to ClubTPR when I used the discount they gave me free safari tickets. However on my visit I seen alot of people breaking the simple rules that have and watched someone almost hit a giraffe. So this change doesn't surprise me but i'm looking forward to seeing what happens for next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tk2012x Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 I think this will be for the animals best. With employees guiding you they will have control an supervision as to what people do and avoid situations like feeding animals batteries. This could also be an insurance move as well like some people have mentioned. I'm excited! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RideofSteel Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Yesterday, as I was going through the safari I saw some people climbing Kingda Ka. Is this common? The ride opened as soon as they finished. Is this common? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJeXeL Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 The track is inspected periodically. Not sure exactly what the interval is (daily, weekly, monthly etc) but if they were doing it in the middle of the operating day, then yes I'd say that's a little suspect and not a normal occurrence. That's an awesome job by the way. I'd love to do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterbill Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Seems like the rumors elsewhere point to Bizarro getting moved Yes, but this doesn't necessarily validate those rumors at all. I think the only reason that Bizarro has low ridership is because of it's awful location. Hopefully if they put some kind of drop tower or Safari Entrance back there they keep Bizarro because it will probably get a huge bump in ridership. Bizarro is a great coaster and it would be a real shame for them to remove it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vdejarnette Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 For whatever reason, Bizarro doesn't draw people and now with Green Lantern (despite one being a standup and one being floorless) the park has a big multi-looper drawing big lines, so Bizarro feels almost extraneous which is why I am prone to believing these rumors. I haven't waited longer than a few trains to get on it since probably the year it opened as Medusa, even the Bizarro transformation barely made a blip it seems. It would probably be more appreciated in another part of the country and I would bet SF feels similarly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bebes Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww GIRAFFE INVASION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megametal Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Glad I decided to drive through the safari when I was there a few weeks ago. Wasn't planning to when I got there, but something told me I should. We did get to see the lions having sex in various positions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dj snow Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 ^Which are exactly the reasons I have always skipped it. I really have no desire to have monkey-related damage to my car. In recent years (5 or 6?) the monkeys have been fenced in. Yes, and even before that, you had the option of bypassing the drive-through monkey enclosure, so there really was no monkey-related reason not to participate. I never drove my car through the monkey area, but I always enjoyed seeing the destruction that they could unleash upon other people's cars. I shed a tear when the monkeys were permanently bypassed. Hopefully every now and then they leave a car in there for old times' sake and for enrichment purposes--you know, so the monkeys have something to rip apart and pee, poo and masturbate upon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECZenith Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 I'm not surprised at all. I've been through this safari at least a dozen times over the years and saw many people in front of me feeding the giraffes and other wildlife cheetos and such. I remember the monkeys loved to rip antennas off of cars and would run off with them screaming in victory. Good times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 ^The best part of Medusa used to be the lifthill...cause you could watch the monkeys ripping parts off of cars! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strwrse1 Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Ok, I may be in the minority here, but I think I have visited this park for the last time. Driving thru the Safari was the ONE thing I always looked forward to. I'm tired of having to go to parks, pay admission, & then be expected to fork over more money for Rides and Attraction located inside the gates I just paid to enter. If this is going to be the case, how about parks become like Knoebels & go back to the ticket system & offer free admission. I had the pleasure of visiting with TPR on August 1 & I won't be spending 4 hours on the road to visit this park again, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moose Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 I'm glad I drove through this the last time I was there. The monkeys had already been fenced off so there was no damage. It was definitely unique and a bit frightening driving through there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougMJr Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 ^^But they haven't even announced what they are even doing to the Safari yet. This could be a good thing, we just have to wait. As far as the price of theme parks go, I feel like most are still reasonable. Except for food and parking, food is always expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heelsfan25 Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Hey guys, I'm making a first time trip to SFGAdv next Monday, the 27th. Any ideas of how the crowds may be? It seems as it most public school in NJ start after labor day. Will the park be busy on a Monday? Any recommendations for a plan of attack for the coasters? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KoasterDan Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Chances are a lot of people will be making their last trips to the park, but it shouldn't be as bad as it would on a weekend. I suggest that you start off going to Kingda Ka, then cutting through the animal exhibit and going to El Toro. Those are probably the rides that'll have the biggest lines for most of the day. If you are staying all day, I suggest taking the skyway to the other side of the park, so that you can do Nitro and Batman, before the crowds thicken on that side of the park. Superman will ultimately have a slow moving line no matter when you go, unless you were to go to it first thing, which I wouldn't suggest. Save Green Lantern and Superman until later in the day, like around 6 or 7, and by then the lines for those shouldn't be to bad, maybe 30 minutes. Sorry I can't help out too much, I've only visited a few times. Regardless, have a Six Flags day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molemaster43 Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Glad I decided to drive through the safari when I was there a few weeks ago. Wasn't planning to when I got there, but something told me I should. We did get to see the lions having sex in various positions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meteornotes Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 ^The best part of Medusa used to be the lifthill...cause you could watch the monkeys ripping parts off of cars! This was amazing entertainment. Instead of the stupid and pointless Bizzarro makeover, they should have just brought in more monkeys! dt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UrbanLegend Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Screamscape keeps posting rumors about Bizarro leaving the park. While it would make business sense, I would hate to see it go. I'm one of the five people in the world that still enjoy the ride; maybe it's still nostalgia 'cause I remember how totally awesome it was (in my humble 8-year-old opinion) opening year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jynx242 Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 ^ Rode it at night several times last summer and REALLY enjoyed it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rollercoaster Rider Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Screamscape keeps posting rumors about Bizarro leaving the park. While it would make business sense, I would hate to see it go. I'm one of the five people in the world that still enjoy the ride; maybe it's still nostalgia 'cause I remember how totally awesome it was (in my humble 8-year-old opinion) opening year. I don't get why they would put the safari part in the Frontier area. Wouldn't it make more since to put it in Golden Kingdom? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brassinthegrass Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 I agree, if anything it would be a way to get people to head over to the back of the Kingda Ka Tower for the Drop Tower installation... we could add a few flats on the way and then open up the Wild Safari area right behind Bizzaro and Kingda Ka for expansion.... I love Bizzaro, its my first ride every time I go to the park cause you can usually get 4 or 5 rides in without getting back in line! Plus it was my first big ride, so it has a special place in my heart! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okinawaboy11 Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Personally, I love Bizarro. If it is going to be removed and sent to another park, I think SFA would be a good contender. Although, I think they definitely need more flats before they add another coaster. As for the Safari side, I can see them adding a guided Jeep/off road tour, or some sort of mass transportation ride with guides or a spiel. My partner and I would purposely avoid the Safari when we visited due to the fact that we did not want to acquire animal related damage to our car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now