Six Flags St. Louis (SFStL) Discussion Thread

[prozach626]

Just for clarification, this is a question and not an argument:

 

Is Six Flags sustaining enough attendance during slow off-season weekends to keep up with the longevity of their rides? Common sense tells you that rides have limited life spans. When you run them more frequently, they'e running the clock on the shelf-life. For example, when Mr. Freeze finally gets too rough or too costly to maintain, is Six Flags drawing in, or considering, long term financial growth to replace these high dollar attractions? When it finally bites the dust, will they just replace it with a less expensive attraction?

 

By no means do I think Mr. Freeze will be gone within a few years, but it has gotten to the point where my wife, and not myself, considers it too shaky to comfortably ride. She doesn't like it anymore, because it gives her a headache. The worst part is that it's right by that bar and it taunts me. First they reverse blast the coaster and now when I start to warm up to its lesser form (I said it. Eat shit.) my wife doesn't want to ride it. Tragedy.

 

Either way, I'm asking if anyone thinks the park is considering that the more you use the roller coaster, the quicker they will wear. Wooden coasters can be maintained, but steel will fatuge. Everyone turns to the Phantom's Revenge argument, but that ride had other issues to begin with.

 

I've wondered if Cedar Fair considers this, since they limit their attractions during winterfest. From a personal percpective, it doesn't 'seem' like the attendance in cold weather is comparable to June-August, even on the weekends.

[coasterbill]

If Mr. Freeze is running rough it's probably not a permanent thing. The train just probably needs refurb or it's running on sh*tty wheels which it probably is because it's Six Flags and that's how they (pun not intended) roll.

 

I'm not going to pretend to be an expert and answer your question, but parks like Busch Tampa and Knott's have coasters that are butter smooth that have operated for like 40 years in parks that are open every day of the year. I feel like Six Flags will be fine if they care enough to make the necessary investments, which is debatable.

[Danrarbc]

If Mr. Freeze is running rough it's probably not a permanent thing. The train just probably needs refurb or it's running on sh*tty wheels which it probably is because it's Six Flags and that's how they (pun not intended) roll.

 

I'm not going to pretend to be an expert and answer your question, but parks like Busch Tampa and Knott's have coasters that are butter smooth that have operated for like 40 years in parks that are open every day of the year. I feel like Six Flags will be fine if they care enough to make the necessary investments, which is debatable.

Heck Freeze might just come down to the material used on the wheels. Summer vs winter compounds, not to mention temperature swings can actually cause the layer to fracture - which wouldn't be dangerous as long as they're small but might make the ride rougher.

 

I haven't noticed a significant change in Freeze's overall roughness - but I have noticed changes from visit to visit. Not every launch is the same either, so it'll carry more speed on some runs. I really don't think there's an age or maintenance issue here - it just responds to external variables differently than some of our other steel coasters.

 

Knott's, Magic Mountain and Busch Gardens generally have different temperature swings to contend with BTW. This HITP we had days in the 50s right next to other days it never made it out of the 20s.

[teacherkim]

I think staffing could be a serious issue as well if they tried to do year round here, because of the inconsistency of the weather. There are lots of days during the current HITP that staff is sent home after just a couple hours because of weather and/or low crowds. While obviously somewhat inevitable it's a real drag to get ready for work, drive in, potentially spend 5 or 6 bucks at the employee cafeteria and only work long enough to make $20. While that is alright for a month at the end of the season, I'm not sure it's viable for the entire winter. Of course staff makes no money for about 2 and a half months as it currently stands, they at least know that when hired and can plan accordingly.

 

Also, with less rides available and no draw of holiday lights, shows, food, etc.....will the people even come. Cold weather is kind of cute in December when everyone is in the Christmas mood but gets old real quick by mid January. Add to that the issue of ride maintenance and I don't see it happening.

[Danrarbc]

Ride maintenance isn't really an issue. You create a ride maintenance schedule and then just stick to it. Every single year round park has already had to do this. Down in Over Texas it looks like it might be Batman and Joker currently undergoing their maintenance downtime - but the park isn't open until Saturday so the app will be more help then. Here in STL they already use HITP for Eagle and Boss work.

 

Staffing is always a problem though even in the other cities. They're going to have to figure something out on that front.

[SteveStL]

for you fulltimers at SFSTL, anything exciting happening around the Park lately??

[castaway_kid]

Construction is starting in the front mall area to improve flow and appearance.

[HWFan]

The park has all new internships opportunities currently posted that are new this year, which is in addition a cornucopia of other positions available (including a couple full-time salaried roles). The full list of current openings can be found at www.SixFlagsJobs.com.

[SteveStL]

Construction is starting in the front mall area to improve flow and appearance.

that's cool. Inside or Outside of the Park? ...or Both?

[Danrarbc]

All I know is it would be cool if we duplicated the Six Flags Over Georgia member entrance. Members get their own metal detectors, and a soda fountain to be able to fill their drinks as they enter the park. Even just implementing part of that experience.

[gnucksjr]

All I know is it would be cool if we duplicated the Six Flags Over Georgia member entrance. Members get their own metal detectors, and a soda fountain to be able to fill their drinks as they enter the park. Even just implementing part of that experience.

 

SFOG's treatment of Diamond and Diamond Elite members was over the top! My son and I were in the "Membership Entrance" line on the parking lot side, and one of the survey team saw our badges, said "Come with me", and took us over to the side building. This and the members welcome center inside the park really made the visit nice. I thought SFStL was going this way when they remodeled Guest Relations, but no such luck (at least not yet)!

 

SFOG Diamond / Diamond Elite entrance building

[gnucksjr]

From what we've seen, Great Adventure and (to a lesser extent) Magic Mountain both have preferred treatment for the top membership levels too, but SFOG is the best of the bunch (that we've personally experienced). SFOT and Fiesta Texas are on our 2020 itinerary... we'll see how they do!

[RollerManic]

It’s about time! I’m very happy to see them do something with the outdated entrance. Hopefully this means the end of the temporary security setup.

 

Source

 

The only unfortunate bit about this is that we are losing a few of the gas lanterns that were originally from the 1904 World’s Fair.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Oh that's awesome. They've wanted to do this for a while, and needed to for even longer. Hoping this means that guests can use the path on the right side of the fountain again.

[SixFlagsAstroworld]

Great news! Can’t wait to see the new entrance when it reopens!

[Danrarbc]

Wow that's actually more than I expected. I half expected asphalt being layered over everything cause it is cheap. This actually looks like some design is going into it and there are new details being added.

[prozach626]

I think the entrance is going to look great. It will be nice for us all to approach a gate that doesn't look so worn down, with security pieced together.

 

The only unfortunate bit about this is that we are losing a few of the gas lanterns that were originally from the 1904 World’s Fair.

 

I guess there's a chance the park will recognize that and use them elsewhere.

[Woodie Warrior]

The gas lanterns will still be there. The plaza will be simple but a lot more open and cleaner.

 

A few other areas of the park will be receiving some TLC as well. Very excited to see how everything turns out!

[Danrarbc]

The gas lanterns will still be there. The plaza will be simple but a lot more open and cleaner.

 

A few other areas of the park will be receiving some TLC as well. Very excited to see how everything turns out!

Where is guest relations moving? The old spot is now for tickets and memberships, and the old ticket booths that are gone were the new location.

[RollerManic]

The biggest question is where is security moving? That’s great to hear about lanterns also.

[castaway_kid]

My understanding is security might not be moving this year. The new designs look incredible, but I think it is a 2 year upgrade. The amount of rehab going on around the park is pretty awesome.

[SixFlagsAstroworld]

A few other areas of the park will be receiving some TLC as well. Very excited to see how everything turns out!

 

Thats great to hear! I hope they finally add shade to some much needed areas like Studio Backlot

[Woodie Warrior]

Where is guest relations moving? The old spot is now for tickets and memberships, and the old ticket booths that are gone were the new location.

GR will be in a new building to the far left side of the plaza.

Thats great to hear! I hope they finally add shade to some much needed areas like Studio Backlot

I wouldn't get my hopes up for that, but you never know. The TLC I was referring to is some shops/restaurants getting overhauled.

[Danrarbc]

Where is guest relations moving? The old spot is now for tickets and memberships, and the old ticket booths that are gone were the new location.

GR will be in a new building to the far left side of the plaza.

Thats great to hear! I hope they finally add shade to some much needed areas like Studio Backlot

I wouldn't get my hopes up for that, but you never know. The TLC I was referring to is some shops/restaurants getting overhauled.

Not that it matters but I'm guessing Colonnades is one. I had noticed the ceiling peeling. There was some patch work that I could see I imagine the park wants to clean that up.

[prozach626]

The biggest question is where is security moving? That’s great to hear about lanterns also.

They're probably relocating to the right side of the fountain and they will rope off the left side.