boldikus Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 Well, not sure how much they test the trains in the morning before opening but it had to have been one of the first trains of the day with riders. Both rides had 85-90% full trains. The drop over RT was still giving great airtime. Last time I rode ET was at Coasters After Dark, at 6:30pm-ish and it just felt slower yesterday compared to the couple of rides we got that night. It certainly didn't make it a bad ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitro1118 Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 Ever since they slowed down the lift, the ride has run noticably slower. However, since then I've only noticed it running slower in the morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boldikus Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 Coincidentally a guy I work with just came in and told me how he was also @ the park yesterday with the wife and kids. Considering how crowded it was its not a surprise that we didn't run into each other. He goes fairly regularly and agreed it was one of the most busy days he's ever experienced, tho he stuck to the kiddie rides and he said they had a great time. He also noted the Catholic Youth Rally kids everywhere. He also managed to last until closing. Well, lesson learned. Next time its that busy I will just have to go for the Flash Pass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Toro_Ryan Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 Ever since they slowed down the lift, the ride has run noticably slower. However, since then I've only noticed it running slower in the morning. This is not true, the ride runs just as fast as it did when it opened. The ride still hasn't hit its full summer time speeds yet this season. We haven't received high enough temperatures and the ride has not run enough. During the summer time, the ride will average about 35mph past one of the last sensors into the break run but we still haven't gone that fast yet. The ride will though as it does every year, just give it some time. El Toro is heavily affected by colder weather (more so than the rest of the roller coasters in the park) and the cold nights we've still been having have taken blows at the ride hitting its full potential. Hope that answers all of your questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitro1118 Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 Ever since they slowed down the lift, the ride has run noticably slower. However, since then I've only noticed it running slower in the morning. This is not true, the ride runs just as fast as it did when it opened. The ride still hasn't hit its full summer time speeds yet this season. We haven't received high enough temperatures and the ride has not run enough. During the summer time, the ride will average about 35mph past one of the last sensors into the break run but we still haven't gone that fast yet. The ride will though as it does every year, just give it some time. El Toro is heavily affected by colder weather (more so than the rest of the roller coasters in the park) and the cold nights we've still been having have taken blows at the ride hitting its full potential. Hope that answers all of your questions. I know all this, you're missing the point. I was referring to the fact that they slowed down the top of the lift by at least 10mph. That definitely hurt the first drop intensity, and also slowed the rest of the layout just a tad bit. Since the change, however, the ride has only run below average is in the morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetsplumber Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 Ever since they slowed down the lift, the ride has run noticably slower. However, since then I've only noticed it running slower in the morning. why and when did they slow down the lift? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 In fairness, the first time I rode El Toro was in 2012, so I've only ever ridden with the lift slowed down at the top. It's still my #2 wooden coaster, if that means anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcjp Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 Ever since they slowed down the lift, the ride has run noticably slower. However, since then I've only noticed it running slower in the morning. why and when did they slow down the lift? I don't know exactly when but I guess they did it to reduce the speed of the ride (especially in the first drop) probably to decrease wear, maybe Ryan knows a bit more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deguy123 Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 The previous pictures of how packed it was is the reason I wait till Gay Day. There are no lines and everything is always open! It also doesn't hurt to be riding El Toro at Midnight! Last ride on Rolling Thunder the day before it closed! It ran good actually which seemed as if it was saying "Please don't knock me down!!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Password121 Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 Ever since they slowed down the lift, the ride has run noticably slower. However, since then I've only noticed it running slower in the morning. why and when did they slow down the lift? I don't know exactly when but I guess they did it to reduce the speed of the ride (especially in the first drop) probably to decrease wear, maybe Ryan knows a bit more. Click back to page 106 of this thread. Looks like it was slowed down at the top of the lift sometime in the summer of 2007, just about 1 year after opening. It's unfortunate, even though it is my #1 wooden coaster, I can only imagine what the first drop could have been in the back rows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Toro_Ryan Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Ever since they slowed down the lift, the ride has run noticably slower. However, since then I've only noticed it running slower in the morning. why and when did they slow down the lift? I don't know exactly when but I guess they did it to reduce the speed of the ride (especially in the first drop) probably to decrease wear, maybe Ryan knows a bit more. That's what I'd guess. I'll ask one of the maintenance dudes next time I work and see what they know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Ever since they slowed down the lift, the ride has run noticably slower. However, since then I've only noticed it running slower in the morning. why and when did they slow down the lift? I don't know exactly when but I guess they did it to reduce the speed of the ride (especially in the first drop) probably to decrease wear, maybe Ryan knows a bit more. That's what I'd guess. I'll ask one of the maintenance dudes next time I work and see what they know. I thought it was to save wear and tear on the motor, but I'll be curious what the maintenance guys tell you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcjp Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 ^The motor works a lot harder when the train is actually going up so slowing it down when the track is already flat wouldn't make much of a difference, I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tea Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 So I'm not sure if I have missed this previously, but it seems that Kingda Ka may be open for a limited run on memorial day weekend... Don't want to wait until June to ride the world's tallest coaster? We are working hard to open Kingda Ka for a special Memorial Day weekend limited run. Check sixflags.com for updates and times. This will mean it would be rideable during our trip that begins next Monday, perhaps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterfreak101 Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 In fairness, the first time I rode El Toro was in 2012, so I've only ever ridden with the lift slowed down at the top. It's still my #2 wooden coaster, if that means anything. I've ridden it before and after, and other than the first drop being *slightly* less insane (still very insane), there's no difference in the rest of the course. Maybe there could be a small one in the morning, but once the thing warms up, it's just as crazy as before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajfelice Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 I figured this random plug would be most fitting for a Throwback Thursday moment.... Last weekend I learned that a piece from the former Haunted Castle dark ride found it's place in Waldameer's Whacky Shack thanks to our dark ride enthusiast and artist who has provided us with many neat updates and restorations over the years. Once you come out of the spinning barrel, you make a right and see an old door guarded by an apparition. Just below the apparition is another "door" (a maintenance access route) with this piece hanging above it. Not sure how long it has been there, but it fits well alongside the other Bill Tracy scenes. I thought it was pretty neat how we have a small piece of history from a storied ride in a Six Flags park lost about three decades ago. Back to the Zumanjaro, El Toro,and Kingda Ka discussions as well as the general Six Flags bashing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Password121 Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 I figured this random plug would be most fitting for a Throwback Thursday moment.... Last weekend I learned that a piece from the former Haunted Castle dark ride found it's place in Waldameer's Whacky Shack thanks to our dark ride enthusiast and artist who has provided us with many neat updates and restorations over the years. Once you come out of the spinning barrel, you make a right and see an old door guarded by an apparition. Just below the apparition is another "door" (a maintenance access route) with this piece hanging above it. Not sure how long it has been there, but it fits well alongside the other Bill Tracy scenes. [attachment=0]IMG_20140522_150912542[1].jpg[/attachment] I thought it was pretty neat how we have a small piece of history from a storied ride in a Six Flags park lost about three decades ago. Back to the Zumanjaro, El Toro,and Kingda Ka discussions as well as the general Six Flags bashing... Sounds good to me! Speaking of... it sounds like Kingda Ka will open for the weekend, then close back down immediately thereafter. This seems to me that they don't think they are close enough to completion/opening of Zumanjaro to keep KK running until then. To me, this sounds like they aren't as close to opening as we all thought. If they were that close to opening, then why wouldn't they just keep KK running through until then? I understand they can't run it while testing Zumanjaro, but couldn't they just close down KK on empty weekdays/nights? Maybe it's just me, but I'm not expecting a media day for another three weeks, if not more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoshiFan Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 Kingda Ka test ran 2 empty trains around 5:20 today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seddy Posted May 23, 2014 Share Posted May 23, 2014 My Coworkers and I are planning a trip to Jersey in June (21st and 22nd). We're hitting the water park on Saturday and Great Adventure on Sunday. I remember Sundays at SFOG being much less crowded on versus a Saturday. Hopefully things are kinda sorta the same way. I also think that is enough time to give them to finish Zumanjaro and have KK running smooth as well. I'm extra excited because I've been wanting to go to this park since they built Nitro! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetsplumber Posted May 23, 2014 Share Posted May 23, 2014 Kingda Ka test ran 2 empty trains around 5:20 today. that's all? just 2? so when is it opening? fri? sat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Toro_Ryan Posted May 23, 2014 Share Posted May 23, 2014 Kingda Ka test ran 2 empty trains around 5:20 today. that's all? just 2? so when is it opening? fri? sat? They could also be testing the ride at night time and the crew was being trained on the ride on Tuesday and Wednesday so it had to make test runs then. I heard someone at minetrain said the ride opens Friday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetsplumber Posted May 23, 2014 Share Posted May 23, 2014 Kingda Ka test ran 2 empty trains around 5:20 today. that's all? just 2? so when is it opening? fri? sat? They could also be testing the ride at night time and the crew was being trained on the ride on Tuesday and Wednesday so it had to make test runs then. I heard someone at minetrain said the ride opens Friday. that's what I heard from a operator from mine train say when I was at the park on sunday. but I haven't heard six flags post anything yet on the website or facebook yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tea Posted May 23, 2014 Share Posted May 23, 2014 Kingda Ka open this evening through Monday according to the tweet below. https://twitter.com/SFGrAdventure/status/469844891452051457 Hopefully I can get to the park on Memorial Day - might be difficult considering we land at 15:30 that day and need to clear immigration, pick up the rental car and drive over there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boldikus Posted May 23, 2014 Share Posted May 23, 2014 According to ACE's FB page: Kingda Ka update: while construction finishes up on Zumanjaro, Six Flags Great Adventure will open Kingda Ka for riders on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Of course, once Zumanjaro opens (now scheduled for June), both rides will operate daily. It's Friday. That means Kingda Ka is running. Right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterbill Posted May 23, 2014 Share Posted May 23, 2014 That means Kingda Ka is running. Right now. In theory, but Kingda Ka is also Kingda Ka. Generally the first few days of the season for Kingda Ka feature a ton of breakdowns throughout the day. Regardless its nice to see the ride open again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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