Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (SFDK) Discussion Thread

[alejon]

Have you read the previous page?

 

Yes, I have. My question was more why you should keep running rides which might have a fault on them, it seems pretty stupid to me and I'm glad that parks are putting safety first and waiting for parts before running again.

[Intimidated305]

So do we know for sure the status of the trains? So we know that there's a good chance that the train on the transfer track isn't operable. That, or they just didn't bother to put it on, which seems a bit unlikely for lines like that. The train in use, do we know if it has been fixed or not?

[singemfrc]

So do we know for sure the status of the trains? So we know that there's a good chance that the train on the transfer track isn't operable.

Probably, but we don't know why. Any speculation is just that.

That' date=' or they just didn't bother to put it on, which seems a bit unlikely for lines like that.[/quote']Hi, I'm Six Flags. Have we met?

The train in use' date=' do we know if it has been fixed or not?[/quote']Sure doesn't seem like anything has been fixed on it, its temperamental as hell. Anyone know which train was running Saturday? If it was green then you can pretty safely say nothing has been done since the announcement, not that it really matters.

 

BTW that reminds me - ride ops in the Joker station today were really harping on people to not even get near the air gates. They kept saying "Joker's gates are very touchy and if you press on it the ride will go down for a while, you don't want to be that person." Anyone who got within arm's reach of the gate was getting scolded.

 

Which also reminds me - there was an employee there named Matthew who I thought was doing an outstanding job today. He was basically running around doing everyone else's job because no one else was doing it. He was grouping, he was answering questions, he was maintaining the switchbacks, and he really seemed like he cared about the ride operating as efficiently as he had control to make it. Pleasantly unusual for Six Flags, I really noticed and appreciated it. Forgot to stop by guest relations on my way out, maybe I'll call the park later and let them know.

[JGuy]

BTW that reminds me - ride ops in the Joker station today were really harping on people to not even get near the air gates. They kept saying "Joker's gates are very touchy and if you press on it the ride will go down for a while, you don't want to be that person." Anyone who got within arm's reach of the gate was getting scolded.

 

Well, public humiliation IS a great deterrent.

When you say that the restraints were being temperamental, do you mean that the sensors monitoring them were giving false warnings?

[singemfrc]

BTW that reminds me - ride ops in the Joker station today were really harping on people to not even get near the air gates. They kept saying "Joker's gates are very touchy and if you press on it the ride will go down for a while, you don't want to be that person." Anyone who got within arm's reach of the gate was getting scolded.

 

Well, public humiliation IS a great deterrent.

When you say that the restraints were being temperamental, do you mean that the sensors monitoring them were giving false warnings?

Not false, just that they were constantly reading unsecure and causing rechecks and walks of shame. The ops were telling people who had to get off not to feel bad because apparently the sensors were requiring the restraints to be at a very small size to read ok to dispatch. Sounds like they need some adjustment, especially as it seemed to be more prevalent in certain rows.

[JGuy]

BTW that reminds me - ride ops in the Joker station today were really harping on people to not even get near the air gates. They kept saying "Joker's gates are very touchy and if you press on it the ride will go down for a while, you don't want to be that person." Anyone who got within arm's reach of the gate was getting scolded.

 

Well, public humiliation IS a great deterrent.

When you say that the restraints were being temperamental, do you mean that the sensors monitoring them were giving false warnings?

Not false, just that they were constantly reading unsecure and causing rechecks and walks of shame. The ops were telling people who had to get off not to feel bad because apparently the sensors were requiring the restraints to be at a very small size to read ok to dispatch. Sounds like they need some adjustment, especially as it seemed to be more prevalent in certain rows.

 

Well, that worries me. Most of my bulk is in my legs, and I'm still not large enough for a walk of shame. I hope this is fixed quickly.

[singemfrc]

Well, that worries me. Most of my bulk is in my legs, and I'm still not large enough for a walk of shame. I hope this is fixed quickly.

It was mainly I believe rows 5 and 6 on the green train having that problem, so avoid those. I have kinda big legs too and I sat in the back row without a problem, so aim for that. It's the best row anyway.

I don't think the purple train has the same issue for whatever reason because when I was there last time I never saw it once happen on purple but even that day I heard ride ops talking about restraint issues with the green train.

[JGuy]

Well, that worries me. Most of my bulk is in my legs, and I'm still not large enough for a walk of shame. I hope this is fixed quickly.

It was mainly I believe rows 5 and 6 on the green train having that problem, so avoid those. I have kinda big legs too and I sat in the back row without a problem, so aim for that. It's the best row anyway.

I don't think the purple train has the same issue for whatever reason because when I was there last time I never saw it once happen on purple but even that day I heard ride ops talking about restraint issues with the green train.

 

Oh, that's a relief. I've only ridden in the back row and loved it, so it's good to know that it's functioning.

If I recall correctly, the purple train had a row or two in the middle unavailable during the Season Pass previews.

[scooterdoug]

At the park now. One train operation on the Joker. Roughly 40 minute wait. I haven't really noticed any restraint issues. A couple of big guys needed a second check, but it was quick, and they got to ride. People have been leaning on the gates in the station all day. No ride ops have said anything, and the ride seems to be unaffected. As has been noted before, the purple train is sitting on the transfer track, no employees have gone to it all day. Waiting on replacement parts? And the first drop is completely insane in the back left seat.

[singemfrc]

At the park now. One train operation on the Joker. Roughly 40 minute wait. I haven't really noticed any restraint issues. A couple of big guys needed a second check, but it was quick, and they got to ride. People have been leaning on the gates in the station all day. No ride ops have said anything, and the ride seems to be unaffected. As has been noted before, the purple train is sitting on the transfer track, no employees have gone to it all day. Waiting on replacement parts? And the first drop is completely insane in the back left seat.

Sounds like the purple train is non-op then since it hasn't been used all week. If they were just choosing to use one train they'd probably alternate.

 

Agree on that first drop, I think Joker cracks my top 3 list for best first drop. 1. X2, 2. Maverick, 3. Joker.

[coasterfreak101]

Very intrigued to see what's going on with these new RMC trains...has anything changed since the ones they built last year? They had such a good track record before this season, and now three of their four new rides have been delayed.

[JGuy]

Very intrigued to see what's going on with these new RMC trains...has anything changed since the ones they built last year? They had such a good track record before this season, and now three of their four new rides have been delayed.

 

A cylinder that they use for the restraints has changed since last year's model. It was apparently found that a manufacturing defect occurred on on Lightning Rod's trains, and based on the issues Joker's been having, it might be affecting Joker's trains, too.

[singemfrc]

Very intrigued to see what's going on with these new RMC trains...has anything changed since the ones they built last year? They had such a good track record before this season, and now three of their four new rides have been delayed.

 

A cylinder that they use for the restraints has changed since last year's model. It was apparently found that a manufacturing defect occurred on on Lightning Rod's trains, and based on the issues Joker's been having, it might be affecting Joker's trains, too.

I don't think that's an accurate analysis. SFDK must know about the recall, and that being true they wouldn't intentionally keep running a train with a part they knew to be recalled when RMC specifically said to shut down all affected rides. If it were the same part, Joker would be closed. The fact that it's still open proves that whatever issue Joker is having, it's not the same that caused the recall.

[Fire2box]

Very intrigued to see what's going on with these new RMC trains...has anything changed since the ones they built last year? They had such a good track record before this season, and now three of their four new rides have been delayed.

 

A cylinder that they use for the restraints has changed since last year's model. It was apparently found that a manufacturing defect occurred on on Lightning Rod's trains, and based on the issues Joker's been having, it might be affecting Joker's trains, too.

I don't think that's an accurate analysis. SFDK must know about the recall, and that being true they wouldn't intentionally keep running a train with a part they knew to be recalled when RMC specifically said to shut down all affected rides. If it were the same part, Joker would be closed. The fact that it's still open proves that whatever issue Joker is having, it's not the same that caused the recall.

 

Only place i've seen RMC order coasters to be shutdown is dollywood saying that all of the ride's they made should be shutdown. I rode it four times on that friday opening last month across both trains and I never truly felt unsafe on it. I'll be at the park today and I'll ride it if it's open.

[singemfrc]

Only place i've seen RMC order coasters to be shutdown is dollywood saying that all of the ride's they made should be shutdown. I rode it four times on that friday opening last month across both trains and I never truly felt unsafe on it. I'll be at the park today and I'll ride it if it's open.

Dollywood and Kolmarden both referred to a notice from RMC that ordered all coasters down until they installed a replacement part. Many people assumed all coasters meant all coasters, but since a lot remained open, apparently only certain ones were affected, and since it was never confirmed people have speculated on what the part was or what coasters were actually affected.

 

I just don't think any Six Flags park would allow an affected coaster to keep running when a part was recalled. SF can be lazy at times, but they're not likely to be that lazy when it could cause a lawsuit.

 

Also both Dollywood and Kolmarden have said that they found no problems and that they had no reason to believe the rides were unsafe at any time, but they're following the recall for safety anyway. It's kind of like when an automobile manufacturer recalls a part that could cause a problem at a later time but hasn't caused a problem yet. There's no problem yet, but you should still replace the part asap so that the problem doesn't occur.

[The Geek Mojo]

Is SFDK running two trains on The Joker now? It's still not listing Joker on the flash pass on the website. Has anyone see it offered on the pass at the park yet? I'm sure if they do add it though, it'll probably be an additional fee like they're doing at some of their other parks. I swear...Six Flags has the worst pass system...it's so freaking confusing at all their parks.

[singemfrc]

Is SFDK running two trains on The Joker now? It's still not listing Joker on the flash pass on the website. Has anyone see it offered on the pass at the park yet? I'm sure if they do add it though, it'll probably be an additional fee like they're doing at some of their other parks. I swear...Six Flags has the worst pass system...it's so freaking confusing at all their parks.

It has been running green train only since last week. I heard it is platinum only but I havent tried it.

 

In other news, from the newsletter:

 

I think I might check out the behind the scenes shark exhibit event, that might be interesting.

[RAWKIN_coaster38]

Joker was closed before the part recall even was announced. The fact that it's running now doesn't necessarily mean the issues were different, it could just mean they took care of it (on at least green train) before LR or Wildfire.

 

But we really don't know, all we know is it's running now (albeit one train) and that's good enough for me to trust that things are alright.

 

So I'll be there some time in July to get some of those sublime back left rides, anyone who doesn't trust that Six Flags has the issue handled can go ride Medusa.

[Fire2box]

Went to the park today and rode the joker 3 times today. It didn't open up until like 11:15 am if not longer. I saw at least two mechanics working on a sensor or camera at the curve in the brake-run when you pass trough the transfer station. I got in as the first public rider and that first ride on the front left seat, well it wasn't painful but you could clearly hear at least one of the wheels having issues and feel some level of jerkiness too it. however later on in the day i rode the back left side and while I heard it, the ride was more or less smooth. Same with riding the front right of the green train for my final ride of it for the day.

 

There weren't too many people in the park but due to single rider line the wait time was easily half a hour. Also on that first ride of the day. When I buckled in I looked back and there was no less then 4 people doing a walk of shame with bags.

[Fire2box]

Is SFDK running two trains on The Joker now? It's still not listing Joker on the flash pass on the website. Has anyone see it offered on the pass at the park yet? I'm sure if they do add it though, it'll probably be an additional fee like they're doing at some of their other parks. I swear...Six Flags has the worst pass system...it's so freaking confusing at all their parks.

 

it's still only running the green train and it's only valid on the platinum fastpass and only once at least acording to the flash pass sales person when I talked to them on Joker's season pass holder opening day. SF:DK is molasses like slow in updating their website. I saw two people use it on the joker today. Didn't ask which level they bought.

[JGuy]

It has a single rider line now? Do they still manage to dispatch the train with half of the seats empty?

[Fire2box]

It has a single rider line now? Do they still manage to dispatch the train with half of the seats empty?

 

oh god I wish it had a single rider line. The grouper at the top of the stairs was bummed out when I told him "one" and that "I'd like to ride in back please." He called out the the staffer below the stairs but either they didn't find a single rider or they simply just didn't look which is the likely scenario.

 

However the train's I saw were around 96% full on avrage. maybe 2-3 empty seats. but those add up when you only run a single 24 person train.

[JGuy]

However the train's I saw were around 96% full on avrage. maybe 2-3 empty seats. but those add up when you only run a single 24 person train.

 

Well, it's better than nothing, I guess. Last time I was there, trains were constantly leaving half full.

[JGuy]

Apparently, management wants to make up for the Joker's lackluster opening.

[singemfrc]

Well now they need to feel bad for making the park busy when I planned to visit by myself on Sunday.