Six Flags St. Louis (SFStL) Discussion Thread

[coasterbill]

It should also be noted that at SDC you have to worry about temperature limits on the coasters. Six Flags on the other hand ignores them entirely. Nitro was dispatching train after train even when it dipped into the high 20's. They never closed a single ride during the entire event for low temps so if you're into rides, score one for Six Flags.

 

So you are celebrating a company disregarding safety measures put in place by the manufacturer?

 

I give up. It's clear someone pissed in your cornflakes this morning and you'll find a negative response to everything Six Flags does. I have my issues with the chain but good lord...

[DirkFunk]

It should also be noted that at SDC you have to worry about temperature limits on the coasters. Six Flags on the other hand ignores them entirely. Nitro was dispatching train after train even when it dipped into the high 20's. They never closed a single ride during the entire event for low temps so if you're into rides, score one for Six Flags.

 

So you are celebrating a company disregarding safety measures put in place by the manufacturer?

 

I'm sure Six Flags put thousands in imminent danger without first consulting as to whether or not it was OK with the maintenance staff. They ran roller coasters in low temperatures. There's no risk inherent.

 

Right. Because manufacturers just put "don't run below ____ temp" on rides for grins and giggles.

 

What do you think is gonna happen? You get on American Thunder when its 30 and it blows up like Space Shuttle Challenger? Log off, brah.

[coasterbill]

Just because they're the manufacturer's suggestions doesn't mean the suggestions are related to safety when they could be more related to maintenance and reliability?

 

I know I said I was leaving but while I'm no expert and I'm becoming what I hate by speculating with no knowledge of what I'm talking about (though hopefully I at least get some credit for admitting that unlike most people), but I think this is 100% accurate.

 

Nitro struggled to get going quite a bit during Holiday in the Park. Early in the day (especially on windy days), the ride was laughably close to valleying. We went the Saturday before Christmas and it was in the high 30's with high winds (small craft advisory, gale warning, 50 MPH winds... you name it) and we had already assumed Nitro would be closed. When we pulled in we saw them sending trains because that's how Six Flags rolls, and they were front loading them and only allowing riders in the first 4 rows.

 

The ride crawled, so much so that on most cycles the ride ops would watch the train until it reached the midcourse (often laughing or looking deeply concerned, there was no in between) before even loading the one we were in. On a few cycles we probably hit the midcourse at 1 or 2 MPH. The issue is probably valleying and the low temperatures causing the rides to run slow. This was only noticeable at Nitro. All the rides had a fast set of wheels on them (per Ryan, a ride op and TPR's resident Great Adventure coaster expert) and Batman, Green Lantern and Superman all seemed to be running normally (except Batman which was running at ludicrous speeds even with near empty trains, it was awesome). Once the rides warmed up though and ran for an hour or so they ran much faster, usually at night even when the temps got really low Nitro got up to the point where the midcourse kicked on.

 

So I'd assume that the reason for the temperature limits is mechanical and has to do with the trains completing the circuit. The absolute worst case scenario would have been that they went out and had to evacuate the first few rows of riders off the train which isn't a safety issue. I'm 100% guessing but based on what we saw they seemed to run much better as the day went on, and in the case of SFSTL if they use the same wheels on Batman you're in for a treat.

 

And once again, I acknowledge that I'm speaking out of my a**. This is nothing more than an assumption, but I can guarantee that if safety was an issue then the park wouldn't do it. To suggest they would is ridiculous.

[TNT]

Deleted 

[Password121]

Also I think it would be a crapload of fun to valley on Nitro in the pullout. That's probably unlikely to happen because there's literally like 300 feet of track for friction and wind to slow down the ride enough from its typical operating speed but going up and down the first hill and drop until you stop sounds like my kind of fun

 

*Assuming I'm wearing appropriate clothing.

[prozach626]

And assuming you don't have to pee.

[coasterbill]

Also I think it would be a crapload of fun to valley on Nitro in the pullout. That's probably unlikely to happen because there's literally like 300 feet of track for friction and wind to slow down the ride enough from its typical operating speed but going up and down the first hill and drop until you stop sounds like my kind of fun

 

*Assuming I'm wearing appropriate clothing.

 

That hill was a problem was very slow a few times but a valley would be the most likely on the helix up to the midcourse or the previous hill. The helix is an upward helix and there were a few times by the top of it we weren't sure if the train was still rolling forward. We did at one point see them grab it with those brakes as it started rolling back but the front of the train was in the brakes. I guess at that point they winched it. That was actually on opening weekend last year though, not during Holiday in the Park. I'm not sure how they did that... maybe with an Estop that (I would think) would just activate all the brakes.

 

Honestly that park has some pretty clever "valley prevention" techniques. On El Toro at the end of the night they roll a train almost all the way out of the station but stop it on the last drive tire as it's heading downhill. Then they park the next one in the station (with riders) which puts it just a few inches behind the other train, then they roll them both backwards into the brakes and the station to avoid sending an empty train at the end of the night. I'm pretty sure they just learned that trick recently.

[Password121]

And assuming you don't have to pee.

Ive only been "stuck" on one ride before and that was a rollback on Volcano at Kings Dominion that actually takes the better part of 30 minutes to reset and evacuate. But yes, that too. And no kids flipping out and throwing a tantrum either.

 

^And Bill that would make sense to me, I imagine the wind would affect the ride most on the helix because it's traveling much more slowly at that point but I couldn't say for sure. That must be a weird feeling because I've only ridden Nitro on decent April days or warm summer days and I'm used to greying out in the helix (which I know not everyone does, but I've never ridden I305 without greying out so it varies person to person) so riding that thing to a crawl must be strange.

 

Sorry to get so off topic from St Louis lol.

[prozach626]

But yes, that too. And no kids flipping out and throwing a tantrum either. .

 

Hah. Or teenage girls yelling "OMG we're going to die!"

[Danrarbc]

But yes, that too. And no kids flipping out and throwing a tantrum either. .

 

Hah. Or teenage girls yelling "OMG we're going to die!"

My nephew usually likes yelling "THE WHEEL FELL OFF" on coasters - he decided not tofor a while after Boomerang had its senior moment.

[prozach626]

^Hah! That's actually pretty funny.

[9Armgeddon4]

My friends and I are planning to do a Saturday day trip in August (not sure of what Saturday yet). How busy does the park usually get on a Saturday in August? We all have season passes and parking would be free because I have a gold pass. Our biggest conflict is going to be the drive there because we live 5+ hours away. Were planning on leaving for the park very early in the morning, most likely between 4 and 5AM. I know what the hours are for the park already so that won't be a problem. This will be our first visit to SFStL.

[LiftThrill]

A Saturday in August sounds like about the busiest possible day you could go, but luckily there's not very many "must-do's" for the park. I did everything I wanted to in 3 hours and that included a 90 minute wait for Justice League (although I didn't ride any of the clones, flats, or Ninja). Late in August is probably the best bet as school might be back in at that point (?) and any Saturday in late summer is probably going to be packed. Like I said you can totally "complete" the park even on a super busy day as the amount of rides isn't all that large.

[9Armgeddon4]

Well thanks for answering. I don't think lines will be a big issue for us. Our home park is Six Flags Great America so we're pretty used to waiting in long lines. It's just a matter of picking a date.

[castaway_kid]

My friends and I are planning to do a Saturday day trip in August (not sure of what Saturday yet). How busy does the park usually get on a Saturday in August? We all have season passes and parking would be free because I have a gold pass. Our biggest conflict is going to be the drive there because we live 5+ hours away. Were planning on leaving for the park very early in the morning, most likely between 4 and 5AM. I know what the hours are for the park already so that won't be a problem. This will be our first visit to SFStL.

Do not go on August 13th. This is a concert day so it will be more crowded than a typical Saturday.

[Danrarbc]

Well thanks for answering. I don't think lines will be a big issue for us. Our home park is Six Flags Great America so we're pretty used to waiting in long lines. It's just a matter of picking a date.

In contrast how do you think lines will be there at Great America this Monday and Tuesday? Because that is when I'll be there.

 

Last time I went was pre-Ragjng Bull. Hope to ride before VR screws up the wait time.

[9Armgeddon4]

The lines shouldn't be too bad. Nothing should be more than 2 hours expect for Justice League. However, Justice League along with Goliath and Superman have single rider lines so use them. The VR has yet to start so no need to worry, yet. That's all I got so I hope you enjoy your visit.

[prozach626]

Last time I went was pre-Ragjng Bull. Hope to ride before VR screws up the wait time.

 

Enjoy one of my favorite drops! The dive into the massive tunnel is awesome.

[Mr. Corn]

If anyone here has acutally ridden the Ninja with VR, what did you think of it? I rode it at SFMM and while it was good, it was a one and done, mainly becuase even with full trains, I would guess that they were hitting 300pph. And that would be a stretch. I thought 5 minute dispatches were bad at Magic Mountain, but I heard that at Over Texas they were running 12-15 minute dispatches. How bad are the dispatch times here?

[Danrarbc]

The lines shouldn't be too bad. Nothing should be more than 2 hours expect for Justice League. However, Justice League along with Goliath and Superman have single rider lines so use them. The VR has yet to start so no need to worry, yet. That's all I got so I hope you enjoy your visit.

Well SFSL is my home park so I can skip Justice League., So two days sounds like plentyof time.

[VegasBaby]

Well thanks for answering. I don't think lines will be a big issue for us. Our home park is Six Flags Great America so we're pretty used to waiting in long lines. It's just a matter of picking a date.

In contrast how do you think lines will be there at Great America this Monday and Tuesday? Because that is when I'll be there.

 

Last time I went was pre-Ragjng Bull. Hope to ride before VR screws up the wait time.

 

If you have the Gold Pass, they will let you in 15 min early (entrance on the far right) and I would head straight back to Goliath. I was there a few weeks ago and they let me in at 10:15 and I was on the first Goliath train at 10:20. I got four rides in before 11am, so that's the strategy I would suggest. Raging Bull is tons of fun and one of the better B&M hypers. The day I was there, it was running 3 trains and the crew was hauling on dispatches. It doesn't have seatbelts like Diamondback, so they get the trains out quick. Plus, I hardly felt the trim and we cruised right through the MCBR.

Edited July 22, 2016 by VegasBaby

[GCI Wooden]

Last time I went was pre-Ragjng Bull. Hope to ride before VR screws up the wait time.

 

Enjoy one of my favorite drops! The dive into the massive tunnel is awesome.

Especially in the back row. It's incredible.

[Baelfael]

Boss has an "operating temperature" of 58-60 degrees, I have ran that ride during Fright Fest below 45 degrees. The ride had no issues since it ran all day and was well warmed up. We just kept one train full and the other leaded. Operating temperature for most rides is only the temperature that is need to get them going.

 

For some reason, I get a kick out of seeing late-season Boss trains sunning themselves on the lift hill. It's like a cat, just needs to warm up a bit. :3

 

If anyone here has acutally ridden the Ninja with VR, what did you think of it? I rode it at SFMM and while it was good, it was a one and done, mainly becuase even with full trains, I would guess that they were hitting 300pph. And that would be a stretch. I thought 5 minute dispatches were bad at Magic Mountain, but I heard that at Over Texas they were running 12-15 minute dispatches. How bad are the dispatch times here?

 

It's fine. I'm a big proponent of putting VR onto otherwise unappreciated coasters (I have no idea what they're thinking with Raging Bull), but even I recognize that there's only so much lipstick on a pig will help. The Ninja is a mediocre at best roller coaster, and the VR is temperamental enough to absolutely wreck capacity.

 

I still think it's worth riding, especially if you've enjoyed your VR experiences in other parks, but don't expect to be blown away. To be honest, my desire to ride it again plummeted after getting Google Cardboard. Now I can enjoy phone quality VR in the comfort of my own home!

 

By the way, a lot of people here will (loudly and repeatedly) say that the Ninja gives them headaches/snapped their neck/killed their parents, leaving them with no option but to become a vigilante to ensure such a thing never happens in their city again, but I think it's a bit overblown. Ninja is a rough ride, but I think as long as you know it's coming, it's nothing unbearable...unlike The Boss on one of its moodier days.

[prozach626]

I agree that I really don't have a problem with the chain putting VR on rides that could use a little more excitement or something new. I do however hate that they're putting VR on rides like Raging Bull.

 

I agree with you somewhat on Ninja. It's really not nearly as much of a pain machine as a lot of other coasters I've been on. Anyone who had ridden Shockwave at Kings Dominion can appreciate that... I think most of the dislike for Ninja comes with the moderate amount of discomfort combined with the uninspiring layout. That, and it's ugly as sin.

[9Armgeddon4]

Alright I know when we're doing our day trip now. We're going the first Saturday in August (6th). We chose a date when the park closes at 10 to ensure we have enough time to spend the day since we got that 5 hour drive from Illinois. ^ I'm just as upset as you are about Raging Bull getting the VR treatment.