SFNE Media Day

[mrceagle]

SFNE held there Media day on April 13th for there newest rides Catapult and Splash Water Falls. Since Check in was at 6:00 a.m. I was up at 3:00 to get ready. Despite that we got a late start and could you believe it traffic and ended up getting there late. At 6:45 we checked in and got our ACE badges. We entered and noticed the Security guard giving two kids Deputy Security badges (Stickers). Nice little touch for the kids. We maid out way to Catapult and just as we got there we were told everything was starting on the other end.

 

So we turn around and walked al the way to the south end not before letting the security know they are starting on the other side and he might want to let people know. The hole time every employee was wishing us a happy 45th Birthday and welcome to SFNE. Nice to have the employees so enthusiastic but by the end of the day it was getting bit annoying. Likely won’t here it as much when there are a thousand more people for them to say it to.

 

At the south end they had a breakfast buffet. Muffins, Danishes, Coffee, and tea were the main selection. Not as good as last year but who can really complain about a free Breakfast. We ate and went to get on Splash Water Falls but they didn’t have it up. Maintenance was working on the lift and it wasn’t ready. So they suggested we walk over to Catapult. So again we crossed the park to the North end and to the new ride.

 

The new walk way with a ramp or stars that lead to the walkway. From there you will find a slight incline up to the entrances and exits of 3 rides: Cyclone “An American Classic,” Catapult, and Taz Daredevil Dive (The sky coaster). I jumped in line By Brother and his Friend were already on. I took my time so I could get some pics with my new digital camera. Well the ride went up. Well started to at least. Half way op or so it stopped and cam back down. well it was 7:15 and neither of the rides were operating. I stuck around and talked to a few people and an Employee that was at last years media day.

 

Well I got some great info out of him. Seems Houdini will be back, up and running. I guess there is a power back up and a new Basement exit. Well Good news and the rain had stopped. The day isn’t complete waist. Well over the next 3.5 hours I talked and we tried to ride a few times no luck, but more info.

 

Cyclone has been reprofiled and it’s not the old Bill Cob coaster they once had. Just about every thing looks to be changed. The drops, Turns, everything to be seen was higher, lower, more banked, I have no clue how the coaster will be this year. It is literally a new coaster. Another thing about Cyclone is the Entrance exit they both come in and out at the Side of the coaster. The new Entrance path will take you under the coaster, around the supports, back to the side of the station, and up the Exit stars. Yes they changed load unload sides! The exit fallows the old entrance except in sends you under the coaster briefly and out the side to the walkway. There wasn’t a booth for on ride photos and The employee hadn’t any idea weather they were going to still have it or take it out. There is room for it but it wasn’t built. Infect the path light were still waiting to be installed. The new White paint looks great and there a bit more then half done. They were working on it all day. I’m sure it will be finished before they start opening for complete weeks.

 

Seems SFNE inherited a few more things from Astroland Will. A Batman Forever style batmobile will be used in the parade. They also got some things for the sky coaster. Seems a few maintenance and supervisors also came to the park.

 

At 10:45 a maid my way back to south end. Catapult was still malfunctioning. The park planned to start media event and speeches at 11:00. I grabbed lunch. Lunch was simple mostly cold cuts and a few other things which were fine for me. My Brother’s Friend is a vegetarian and found little to her preference. Salads and fruit were about it.

 

I barley got to eat and they announced they were getting started. So I left my food behind and worked my way up to see the show. It was what I expected. Rosevelt Colvin was there again and read this pledge about Adults being kids again and having fun at SFNE. I guess they didn’t take in to mind that most ACE members revolted and went Peter Pan a long time ago. Well the Mayer Cohen, Visitors Bureau President Mary Kay Wydra, GM Mark Kane, and the surprise of the day, CEO Mark Shapiro.

 

After the speeches they introduced the Loony Tunes characters. They danced. It was the Six flags Party they do on main street. There were no new characters at this time. I’m assuming they don’t have the costumes yet. They then brought in the Justice League characters out. They helped through the Switch to officially open the park for business.

 

They had Confetti shooters and Fire works. A few members on the Army National Guard were the first official riders of Splash Water falls. They ran the parade. It has Floats, a 50’s Chevy, Scooby do, the Loony Tunes road in on a trolley, and a few other things. Later they had a marching band.

 

Well the day was started and I got a chance to briefly meat Mark Shapiro. I finished lunch and took more pics. We spent the rest of the day trying to get on catapult and riding Splash Water Falls. They opened Pandemonium around 2:00 as a consolation since Catapult wasn’t cooperating. So I got in 6 rides.

 

One interesting occurrence was I was approached by one of the parks Employees Darlene. She asked my if I was MRCeagle on SFNE central and I said yes. She goes “ I have to show you something, We have this new ride I just have to show you and it’s a big secret.” She leads me to a bench. For you that aren’t on SFNE Central SFNE stinks and I were going on about a bench being the next great ride at the park and it became a running joke. We talked a bit about my view of SFI and the park. I informed her that I want to give SFNE a chance and she discovered that I’m not a local visitor and am A New Hampshire visitor and Canobie is my home park. I think she understood by views of Canobie better after that. I think just about everyone Protects there home park with a passion.

Catapult did get two sets of riders. I think they did it in maintenance mode because when many people run up there to get on they unloaded and said it wouldn’t be operating any more today Please enjoy Pandemonium. Splash Water Falls was also shut down early do to problems. They also Plan to raise the cement on the side because the boats were splashing water up and washing the dirt from the ride into the rides water.

 

The Park - Clean the landscaping is very good and the park looks better then it has in years. The bathrooms were kept clean by the attendants. The staff was friendly. They are making an attempt to be better.

 

Catapult - Well it was always down and I didn’t get on. The Mayan Theme looks a bit odd next to Cyclone and should be reconsidered. The ride looks amazing when its running and the few people that did manage to ride it said it was great. But if the down time persists I think Guests will be turned off quickly. This is the parks new E-ticket attraction it needs to be operating.

 

Splash Water Falls - The ride was a Disappointment. The spinning was enjoyable. The drops are the best park of the slide. The Stream section at the end was honestly the best park. But the ride overall isn’t that great. I though the old Flume was a better more exiting ride. It defiantly got you wet, especially in the last year. The sprinkler mechanism I’m sure you will get wet. There are also Water cannons that people can shoot for a Quarter. The cannons look familiar. I think there used to be on one of the other rides. I got stuck on it my second ride. I don’t recommend you even riding this alone.

 

Food - Papa Jones is coming and should prove to up the quality of food at least on the pizza end. They have signs pointing to were the shops are. The park had a few drink stands open. One was a Dian’s Frozen Lemonade. It’s actually very good. It’s an Icee style drink and tastes like lemonade. Not every sweet. If the Price is reasonable I would recommend them.

 

We stayed until they asked us to leave. They shut things down at 3:30 and we made our way out. I enjoyed the day there were some major downfalls. One person jokingly said “this was the most rides down he had ever seen.” I think last year’s Event was better and went allot smother. This year seemed to be Complete Pandemonium, pun Intended.

 

I will get Photo’s up and ready to be seen ASAP.

[mrceagle]

Here are the Pics I took at the Media day

 

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mrc_eagle/album?.dir=cb0e

[PKIDelirium]

You maid your way??

 

Papa Jones???