Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (SFDK) Discussion Thread

jray21 · April 12, 2016

We had a really good visit this past weekend. I was really surprised that they do run almost everything in the rain. Only a few were closed, like V2, due to the rain. The crowds were also very very light. That was good, but also bad. Great because lines were short, but bad because they closed early due to "inclement weather," but it was probably due to the super low attendance. Also, a lot of the kids ride were closed. Jacob still had fun, but there were only about 4 rides he could do. They had a couple more open for the bigger kids, but his favorite ride, the Jumping Frogs, was closed. Of course he couldn't care less, but he still had a fun time. This is still one of my favorite Six Flags parks. The operations are pretty good, and the employees were really friendly.

The crepes and doughnuts are still the best thing in the park, and the food is generally pretty good. The BBQ place has a good pulled pork that doesn't have a lot of fat, which is good.

There was nothing terrible or bad, but some annoying things. My sister was thinking of going, but she has an infant and was wondering if they had a mother's lounge. There was nothing online, and no one answered any calls, so I asked when I got to the park. I asked two front gate employees and a security guard (not the metal detector ones) and they just said, "not sure." When guest services opened we asked them, and they said no. Later, I saw this post,

the nursing area is inside the first aid station apparently, which is behind the exit to boomerang.

. Oh well. Also, I asked an employee about the early entry for Gold Pass and they said there wasn't any that day, it's only special days during the summer. So I walked around a little bit before rope drop. I headed over to Medusa about 10 minutes before rope drop and see a sign for Gold Pass entry. I ask the employee there if it is early entry time and she said yes. I asked her how often they do it and she said every day. I figured out later that the first employee got it messed up with the Discover card extra ride time. You know, Discover Card, Gold Pass, they sound the same.

I only took a few pictures, and none of Joker. Nothing really new there. Just a few dumb pictures below.

Jacob loved his new umbrella.

Here's where the sports bar will be.

At the rate he's not growing, It'll be another 10 years until he can ride this.

Completely gutted for the new sports bar.

Got to love the grammar in the first ride rule.

Jacob waves hi to the "piggy."

Had to visit the best attraction there!

scooterdoug · April 12, 2016

^Thanks for the update. Sucks that things didn't go exactly as planned, but I'm glad that you didn't have to wait in long lines. I'm curious about progress on the Joker. You said that there was nothing really new there. Last I went (3 weeks ago), they had completed the overbank turn next to the bottom of the first drop and were beginning to lay track on the double airtime hill. Have they done anything else beyond that? Was there any new track in the parking lot? Just curious, as I want to go next Sunday and take pictures. If they haven't made any progress since my last update, then I don't think I'll bother. Thanks!

jray21 · April 12, 2016

I should have re-phrased it. There's probably been a ton of work done, but I'm not following it in detail so I have no clue what they've done. There was still track in the parking lot, I'd say about 12 pieces? I toes look great, and they were even working on it in some pretty strong rain!

scooterdoug · April 14, 2016

^Thanks for the clarification. I assumed that, since trains are on site, track work was completed. I guess not. I'm hoping to go either this Sunday or next in order to get some pictures for an update. Thanks again for the update.

Fire2box · April 15, 2016

We got video of trains!

^Thanks for the clarification. I assumed that, since trains are on site, track work was completed. I guess not. I'm hoping to go either this Sunday or next in order to get some pictures for an update. Thanks again for the update.

video above clearly shows some track is still not in place.

PixelRush · April 15, 2016

The HA HA HA! part is a pretty cool detail, though I would have liked more. I'm very excited to see the zero-car...

JordyC · April 15, 2016

Thanks for the video! The trains are looking good, and it is nice to see the track is almost completed. I am sure this will be one hell of a ride!

RyanTPM · April 15, 2016

Good looking train so far, hope that the zero car is just as good as it looked in the renders once it's shown, if not better!

RAWKIN_coaster38 · April 15, 2016

I literally said "What about the lead car?" just before the video said "Do you notice what's missing?" The rest of the train looks amazing, though!

Great to see this video! Things are coming along, but I'm still waiting for the track to be finished!

TCM · April 16, 2016

I went to SFDK today and they are very close to completing Joker!

As it is rather difficult to see from the pictures I took, here's a visual representation of Joker's Current State:

As you can see, it only needs a few more elements (Overbank, Barrel Roll, Turn)

Overview of the ride, It looks fantastic when walking into the park!

Drive wheels and other mechanisms are now in place, looks like testing will start very soon after track-work is completed!

That's gonna give some nice airtime!

Trains look fantastic in person! No front car yet

Photo booth is under refurbishment.

Station building is being renovated, Perhaps those white lines are there to stay?

Old cameras still in place, I wonder if they will stay there.

Those are all the Joker Pictures I got. From the rate it is being built, I wouldn't be surprised if it is done within the next 1-2 weeks.

PixelRush · April 17, 2016

^ I see your location now, sorry for being unaware on NL2 Forums

RyanTPM · April 17, 2016

Thanks for those pictures, looks like it shouldn't take them much longer to get trackwork done, looking forward to seeing some testing soon!

SixFlagsAstroworld · April 17, 2016

It's no joke.

The Joker looks awesome!

scooterdoug · April 17, 2016

Just got back from a pleasant trip to SFDK today. I met up with ABW for some rides. It was quite warm today. The park was busy, but the lines for the coasters stayed reasonable. I got 10 rides on Superman in the morning, then a few rides on Medusa, which remained a station wait all day. Of course, I took some pictures of progress on the Joker. It's looking good, of course, and I was able to get some good (and some not quite as good) shots of where we're at in construction right now. So, on to the pictures!

An overview of the construction site. My apologies for the trucks and container in the way. I figured that they would have removed them in honor of my visit. I was sorely disappointed to find that wasn't the case.

A closer shot of the double airtime hill. Let's be honest here: it looks good, but the garbage container looks better.

Final airtime hill.

Here are the same elements from another angle.

I'm very much looking forward to this double airtime hill. It might very well be responsible for the demise of my marriage.

Another shot of the final airtime hill. I predict that this will make me scream like a little girl.

The first overbank turn after the banked airtime hill.

Final brake run. It looks like there'll even be airtime there.

The train, minus the front.

Close up.

RideofSteel · April 18, 2016

LOVE the details on the side of the train. The two color track is looking pretty great too.

Mater · April 18, 2016

It's insane how much prettier the California RMC's are than the rest.

Noobitizer · April 20, 2016

https://vimeo.com/163595262

RAWKIN_coaster38 · April 20, 2016

I'm very much looking forward to this double airtime hill. It might very well be responsible for the demise of my marriage.

If it's anything like the double-down on Wicked Cyclone, it might be responsible for the demise of my future marriage

But seriously, after riding Wicked Cyclone this weekend, I am SO MUCH MORE EXCITED for this coaster! That ride was unbelievable and this one looks like it will be as well!

Fire2box · April 21, 2016

https://vimeo.com/163595262

holy hell that's a loud video.

alpengeist04 · April 21, 2016

I love everything about this coaster so far. It's too bad I'll miss it by a few weeks. Oh well, just another reason to head back in the future.

laqueefa · April 23, 2016

Hey, everyone! It was a very wet day in Vallejo (and it wasn't just in my pants), but we braved the thunder and lighting for a special hard hat tour of the Joker! The construction is nearly complete, and we had a special unveiling of the front train! I will say this much, the rendered pov video does not do this thing justice. It looks insane in every great way possible.

Thanks for sending me out, Robb!