Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (SFDK) Discussion Thread

[UbiDubi]

They had this one guy tending a fire and that was kinda nice to stop near for some quick warmth but the whole time I was thinking, wow if you guys had a dude making smores right there you could make a killing!

 

The s'mores making area is by the main plaza. S'mores kits and several fires.

[ABW]

Kong is so much better now with the yellow train. 7/10 would recommend

[JGuy]

Kong is so much better now with the yellow train. 7/10 would recommend

 

I wouldn't know. It's either been closed or running with only one train everytime I've been there since it reopened.

[MrSum1_55]

^^Most times I have gone, Kong has been running only the yellow train. Thing is, Kong can be a VERY moody coaster. I have gotten some truly awesome rides on it, but have ridden later in the day in the exact same seat of the exact same train and experienced a very rough ride. I actually think time of day matters more than which train or where you sit. (It is much better to ride earlier in the day than later).

 

Kong is usually bad for me no matter where I sit, but I have gotten the occasional good ride on it. But I have also had rides on it that made me wish I was riding New York, New York. (I actually think that New York, New York is overall a better coaster than an SLC. Average roughness for me is about the same, but at least NYNY has a cool location and an original layout).

[coasternate]

Haven't been to the park in a while. Has there been any progress on the new Wonder Woman ride?

[JGuy]

Last I checked, the ground was flattened. Although, that's been that way since the opening of Joker.

[scooterdoug]

Haven't been to the park in a while. Has there been any progress on the new Wonder Woman ride?

I was there yesterday. I saw no discernible difference at the soon-to-be construction site.

 

On a side note, don't go to SFDK on "Roller Coaster Race" day and the Las Posadas celebration. Yesterday was the only day I could go this month, so I decided to go, hoping that the cold temperatures and cloudy skies would cancel out the potential crowds of these two events. Nope, didn't happen. Lots of people, long lines throughout the park. They're still assigning seats on the Joker as well. I understand the reasoning for it, but I would really like to just be able to choose my own seat. Roar operated 16 years without groupers, why not Joker?

[RAWKIN_coaster38]

They're still assigning seats on the Joker as well. I understand the reasoning for it, but I would really like to just be able to choose my own seat. Roar operated 16 years without groupers, why not Joker?

Roar \neq Joker. Older GCI \neq new RMC.

 

They were assigning seats at Wicked Cyclone earlier this year, and that was on a quieter day almost a year after that coaster's opening. Roar's station is only somewhat larger than that one (although there is space for people to wait for the front and back).

 

Wicked Cyclone crew was doing really well pumping them out. And SFDK crowds are really dumb and slow (all stoned?) when it comes to finding a row. So it's probably better for throughput, but not for us. (I know I always talk about WC, LOL. The other RMCs I've been on haven't been so stickler about assigning rows).

 

THey don't allow requests?

[ALT2870]

They're still assigning seats on the Joker as well. I understand the reasoning for it, but I would really like to just be able to choose my own seat. Roar operated 16 years without groupers, why not Joker?

Roar \neq Joker. Older GCI \neq new RMC.

 

They were assigning seats at Wicked Cyclone earlier this year, and that was on a quieter day almost a year after that coaster's opening. Roar's station is only somewhat larger than that one (although there is space for people to wait for the front and back).

 

Wicked Cyclone crew was doing really well pumping them out. And SFDK crowds are really dumb and slow (all stoned?) when it comes to finding a row. So it's probably better for throughput, but not for us. (I know I always talk about WC, LOL. The other RMCs I've been on haven't been so stickler about assigning rows).

 

THey don't allow requests?

 

I requested a row when we were there without an issue. (Back row)

[scooterdoug]

They're still assigning seats on the Joker as well. I understand the reasoning for it, but I would really like to just be able to choose my own seat. Roar operated 16 years without groupers, why not Joker?

Roar \neq Joker. Older GCI \neq new RMC.

 

They were assigning seats at Wicked Cyclone earlier this year, and that was on a quieter day almost a year after that coaster's opening. Roar's station is only somewhat larger than that one (although there is space for people to wait for the front and back).

 

Wicked Cyclone crew was doing really well pumping them out. And SFDK crowds are really dumb and slow (all stoned?) when it comes to finding a row. So it's probably better for throughput, but not for us. (I know I always talk about WC, LOL. The other RMCs I've been on haven't been so stickler about assigning rows).

 

THey don't allow requests?

 

I requested a row when we were there without an issue. (Back row)

Row requests are hit-or-miss. Requests for the front are out of the question. Usually, I've been able to request any of the empty rows (I choose the back, obviously), but sometimes they don't even allow that. This was the case yesterday. Only half the train was full, I requested the back. I was politely told "No preferred seating", and that was that. I'm hoping they relax the policy as the novelty of the new ride wears off and the crowds aren't as hefty. Like I said, I completely understand the rationale for assigning seats. My desires are selfish, pure and simple. I WANT THE FRONT!

[RAWKIN_coaster38]

They're still assigning seats on the Joker as well. I understand the reasoning for it, but I would really like to just be able to choose my own seat. Roar operated 16 years without groupers, why not Joker?

Roar \neq Joker. Older GCI \neq new RMC.

 

They were assigning seats at Wicked Cyclone earlier this year, and that was on a quieter day almost a year after that coaster's opening. Roar's station is only somewhat larger than that one (although there is space for people to wait for the front and back).

 

Wicked Cyclone crew was doing really well pumping them out. And SFDK crowds are really dumb and slow (all stoned?) when it comes to finding a row. So it's probably better for throughput, but not for us. (I know I always talk about WC, LOL. The other RMCs I've been on haven't been so stickler about assigning rows).

 

THey don't allow requests?

 

I requested a row when we were there without an issue. (Back row)

Row requests are hit-or-miss. Requests for the front are out of the question. Usually, I've been able to request any of the empty rows (I choose the back, obviously), but sometimes they don't even allow that. This was the case yesterday. Only half the train was full, I requested the back. I was politely told "No preferred seating", and that was that. I'm hoping they relax the policy as the novelty of the new ride wears off and the crowds aren't as hefty. Like I said, I completely understand the rationale for assigning seats. My desires are selfish, pure and simple. I WANT THE FRONT!

You can have the front, I'll take the back

 

I'll hopefully be checking on how it's aged (July --> December) in just a few weeks! Will hopefully get my mom on it too! She convinced me to ride my first big coaster (Medusa) and years later, I'll hopefully convince her to ride her first RMC and get her first real airtime!

[FolsomFan]

I went on Saturday and it was probably the best experience I have had there. It was raining when the park opened at Noon and the weather really kept the crowds away.

 

We walked on just about everything. Joker was first and after waiting 45 minutes in the heat several months ago to ride it, walking on when it was overcast and 60 degrees was awesome. Superman was next and we even got to stay on for a second ride.

 

I went on V2 several times ... one time I was the only one on it! That was amazing. The ride operator said "Good afternoon, Sir!"

 

We also walked on to Sky Screamer and Medusa. We actually had to wait one cycle for Tazmanian Devil when it finally opened. For whatever reason, I LOVE that ride. I wonder if Lasso of Truth will be somewhat similar.

 

We went on the seasonal iWerks thing and it was not very entertaining. I think we were supposed to be an ice cube ... still not sure.

[JGuy]

We went on the seasonal iWerks thing and it was not very entertaining. I think we were supposed to be an ice cube ... still not sure.

 

At this point, I'm willing to take anything over Pacific Rim.

[CrazedZooChimp]

Oh woah, I hadn't realized that Pacific Rim had been replaced. Is that just for Holiday in the Park?

[FolsomFan]

Oh woah, I hadn't realized that Pacific Rim had been replaced. Is that just for Holiday in the Park?

 

As far as I know, it is temporary.

[jray21]

I think I'd prefer Pacific Rim than bouncing around as an ice cube.

[JGuy]

Just the fact that the film was made specifically for motion simulators instantly makes it better than Pacific Rim 5-minutes-of-your-life-wasted.

[jeffkal]

Anybody heading to the park today? Quite chilly in the Bay Area (frost!). Assuming the rides on Joker won't be as fast than when it's 80-90 degrees outside.

[coasterbill]

Quite chilly in the Bay Area (frost!)

 

Oh no! Frost!?!?!?! With a high of only 53? Wow, you Californians are some hearty souls.

 

... Bisch Please

[jeffkal]

LOL. I had that coming. In my defense, it was in the lower 30s in the morning (thus the frost) but yes, probably upper 40s/lower 50s when noon came around for opening.

 

I didn't end up going, though. Wayyyy too cold out there! I have a 2016 comp ticket, so time is running out! Looks like there are some expanded hours this week before Christmas arrives.

[ALT2870]

Still, the high yesterday here was 27 and when we opened the Alpine Coaster (still amazed that happen) it was 10 with a wind chill of -11 on it. Then again at 80 MPH at 30 degrees, yep, that is cold. I would go to Six Flags in a heartbeat at 30 degrees, I envy you Bill.

[The49er]

Went for Holiday in the Park today, and crowds were very light. Joker, Superman, and Medusa's lines were maybe 20-30 minutes tops...V2 was down all day but not posted as closed. The lights were nice, but we didn't stay long after dark because it got down to about 46 degrees and we're wimpy Californians

[coasterbill]

LOL. I had that coming..

 

LOL Yes you did. Bundle up and ride some coasters.

 

Still, the high yesterday here was 27 and when we opened the Alpine Coaster (still amazed that happen) it was 10 with a wind chill of -11 on it. Then again at 80 MPH at 30 degrees, yep, that is cold. I would go to Six Flags in a heartbeat at 30 degrees, I envy you Bill.

 

Those Alpine coasters can run in everything. We rode the one at Camelback in PA when it was -2 degrees out and the upper ski runs were on a wind hold. The lift hill (that went on forever) parallels one of the green runs and we were getting hit in the face with wind-blown snow the entire way up. The ride itself was great though. Nobody was riding it so we didn't touch the brakes until we reached the end.

[chickenbowl]

Rode Joker for the first time on Saturday - The cold did not slow this coaster down - WOW!

[CrazedZooChimp]

Went for Holiday in the Park today, and crowds were very light. Joker, Superman, and Medusa's lines were maybe 20-30 minutes tops...V2 was down all day but not posted as closed. The lights were nice, but we didn't stay long after dark because it got down to about 46 degrees and we're wimpy Californians

 

I was also there on Sunday, but only in the evening. Joker was running great and didn't have a line that was too bad. Also got a couple rides on Medusa, but Superman broke down while we were in line and didn't seem to come back up. SFDK really can't afford to have two coasters go down. Luckily it was cold and empty enough we were OK with just Joker and Medusa, but it was annoying having V2 down all day.

 

The lights were nice, but a lot of the park is still pretty dark. And sadly the Drench! show didn't seem to have any holiday twist to it, which was a little sad. I also wish there had been a few more fire pits and hot chocolate stands, but the hot chocolate was pretty tasty. I need to get down to Winterfest at CGA to see how their holiday theming matches up.