I always here the fact that a place like Disneyland has 85 acres, but a park like Six Flags Over Texas is so bigger with 212 acres. Of course, you think automatically that Six Flags Over Texas, you will walk tons more than Disneyland because of that fact. Are you sure about that? I find the walking at both parks pretty substantial. Why is that if one park has so many acres than the other. I just want to say that Six Flags Over Texas could have some land that is not used yet, and that contribute ot the high acres also, but that's not the point I want to make.
Disneyland seemed somewhat crowded when I was there, but it wasn't that bad. Six Flags Over Texas felt the same way, but rides weren't hour lines at either park. So, this is what I think. Disneyland has a lot of smaller attractions that can fit in tiny buildings. On the other hand, you have gigantic roller coasters at Six Flags Over Texas that take up huge space.
They usually don't have the lines of the roller coasters under the rides because you never know what the riders might throw from the rides. Disneyland doesn't have that many roller coasters compared to Six Flags also. They also run many more trains for the roller coasters than Six Flags. However, Disneyland bigger roller coasters are just Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and the Matterhorn. Disneyland has an Alice in Wonderland ride which is a smaller space, and gets a remarkable 800 guests per hour. What Batman the Ride at Great America is 990 which is only 190 off from a smaller dark ride at Disneyland. That is a wow thing to me.
It's a Small World at Disneyland gets an outstanding 3200 capacity. Nothing gets that at Great America. Nothing is even close to that. Is Small World really that huge? I don't think it is that big. Six Flags Over Texas has a lot lower capacity rides in Tony Hawk spinning coaster, Flashback boomerang coaster, Runaway Mountain, Mini Mine train, the other kiddie coaster, Mr. Freeze, and some other non-roller coaster rides. They still take up quite a big space for the capacities they get.
I kind of believe that more than ever that you need these trains as big as possible, and get enough of them. Who cares if they trim an unimportant parts of these rides (Don't trim rides before an airtime hill, but after.) just so they can fit more trains, and more passengers on these rides. You get this huge ride, and you just don't have enough trains, or capacity for these rides. Mr. Freeze is a real awesome ride, but it only launches 20 people out at a time, and it has one train. It has two trains, but it's more like one loads when the other one goes, and so on.
Wouldn't it have be been better to make it have at least 32 people instead even though you would have to add more LIMs? Maybe, even make it 20 feet smaller to lessen the speed, but the point is that the capacity is that much higher.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Goodbye Deja Vu - Get It Out While You Still Can Remember
Deja Vu was removed after the 2007 season. Deja Vu will be missed by me because it was worth the wait even though it was mostly a 40 minute line. Deja Vu sadly was removed because it had low capacity (The target capacity was around 440.), and it had mainteance problems. Six Flags Magic Mountain has one, and it is probably going to be closed after the 2008 season. Deja Vu at Great America is going to Silverwood in Idaho, and might open in July of 2008.
The ride was introduced for the 2001 season. It didn't open till way later in the season in October. I was on it in October. During that season, I would see painters taking there time painting the fences. The train wasn't even on the track even though the whole structure was up until way later in the year.
The first ride on it was really memorable as I was wearing a knitted hat. It was either Eagles, or Steelers hat, and it was going off my head until I stopped it from going off my head. It was colder, and windy on that day.
This ride is the most unique roller coaster I have ever been on. On the first tower, I felt like I was falling out of the seat. That is with the B seats. This ride had a very different seating layout. It had 2 seats together, (next row) it had 2 seats far apart from each other, 2 seats together, and so on from there. It had 8 rows of 2, and not 4 per row like a Batman the Ride even though people that have never ridden it before felt like it did.
For B seats on tower 1, I always felt like I was falling out of the seat. For A seats which I never liked whatsoever unless maybe I get the front row even though I never cared about getting it, there was this stupid metal square in front of you to hold the other seats, and you could barely stretch your legs. They even had warnings to not do it, and it bugged me the heck out of me. It didn't feel like you are falling out on these seats because you felt safe that you had this thing in front of you.
Those people that rode it in A seats could have thought, this ride isn't that much of a big deal because of that. I thought the A seats were for chickens, and the B seats were people that were a little braver. Some people didn't know the difference, and it was evident. They rather ride next to the person they were with rather than be stranded alone.
So, on tower 1, you felt you were falling out of it with B seats (Not with A at least for me). For tower 2, you felt like you were being pushed back in the seat, and it's a different feeling. I liked the falling out feeling better than the pushed back feeling as I liked going more towards the back on this ride.
Before, I talk about the layout, I want to talk about how the train gets up the towers. In the station, there is a square box with wheels that is called the catchcar. It's above the 6th row. It's called a catchcar because it catches the trains when they go up the tower. The catchcar goes up the tower by a cable and pulley system.
The ride layout is this. So, the catchcar is connected to the train. The floor lowers in the station, and you go backwards up this 178 foot tower. The catchcar is going up the tower too. This tower is a 90 degree tower. The catchcar goes up to a certain point, and than the catchcar let's the train go. Sometimes, it would wait a second or two to release, but other times it would release right away. At this height, you can see over the Demon, the waterpark, and so on. This is pretty tall, at 90 degrees.
So, the ride let's go (You are facing forward), and you go through the station fast, go through the cobra roll, than go through a big loop, and than the catchcar catches the train in the air, and than are going up tower 2 which is the same height and it's a 90 degree tower. The catchcar on this tower catches the train on a different row. It's like 3-4 rows on the second tower instead of 5-6 rows on the first tower. Now, you are facing forward up the tower, and you feel like you are pushed back. After the catchcar pushes the train up the tower, the catchcar let's go of the train like the first tower did.
Now, you go backwards through the entire ride again. That is after the second tower, you go through the loop, cobra roll, station, and than on tower one, a catchcar catches the train in the air (Not all the way up the tower, lower), and than it lowers slowly down into the station forwards. It catches it on the 5-6 row.
Why does the catchcar catch it on different rows? The reason is because you want to get the highest part of the train to release. So, on tower 2, the highest part of the ride is rows 3-4 instead of rows 5-6 which are lower because you are going up the second tower forward, and it's going to release backwards.
The biggest problem this ride had as in maintenance was called miscatching. This is when the catchcar didn't catch the trains on tower 1, or tower 2. It would be down for quite awhile especially in the first years because they had no idea what to do with the ride. Soon, they got better though. After the train wouldn't hook up with the catchcar, the train would go backwards.
For tower 2, it would go backwards on the bottom of the loop in which there were brakes that would stop it from going anywhere. For tower 2, it would go into the station, and the brakes would be be turned on. For either way, they would shut the brakes off once it was stopped, and you would go back and forth until it stopped more.
Another problem that happened on tower 2 was called a retraction. This is when the catchcar on tower 2 caught the train, but it wasn't in the right place. So, the catchcar went down the tower. I wonder if this also could be the fact that tower 2 lost power, and thus that's why. It could of been an overheating problem. Eventually, they fixed it,
Too be CONTINUED
The ride was introduced for the 2001 season. It didn't open till way later in the season in October. I was on it in October. During that season, I would see painters taking there time painting the fences. The train wasn't even on the track even though the whole structure was up until way later in the year.
The first ride on it was really memorable as I was wearing a knitted hat. It was either Eagles, or Steelers hat, and it was going off my head until I stopped it from going off my head. It was colder, and windy on that day.
This ride is the most unique roller coaster I have ever been on. On the first tower, I felt like I was falling out of the seat. That is with the B seats. This ride had a very different seating layout. It had 2 seats together, (next row) it had 2 seats far apart from each other, 2 seats together, and so on from there. It had 8 rows of 2, and not 4 per row like a Batman the Ride even though people that have never ridden it before felt like it did.
For B seats on tower 1, I always felt like I was falling out of the seat. For A seats which I never liked whatsoever unless maybe I get the front row even though I never cared about getting it, there was this stupid metal square in front of you to hold the other seats, and you could barely stretch your legs. They even had warnings to not do it, and it bugged me the heck out of me. It didn't feel like you are falling out on these seats because you felt safe that you had this thing in front of you.
Those people that rode it in A seats could have thought, this ride isn't that much of a big deal because of that. I thought the A seats were for chickens, and the B seats were people that were a little braver. Some people didn't know the difference, and it was evident. They rather ride next to the person they were with rather than be stranded alone.
So, on tower 1, you felt you were falling out of it with B seats (Not with A at least for me). For tower 2, you felt like you were being pushed back in the seat, and it's a different feeling. I liked the falling out feeling better than the pushed back feeling as I liked going more towards the back on this ride.
Before, I talk about the layout, I want to talk about how the train gets up the towers. In the station, there is a square box with wheels that is called the catchcar. It's above the 6th row. It's called a catchcar because it catches the trains when they go up the tower. The catchcar goes up the tower by a cable and pulley system.
The ride layout is this. So, the catchcar is connected to the train. The floor lowers in the station, and you go backwards up this 178 foot tower. The catchcar is going up the tower too. This tower is a 90 degree tower. The catchcar goes up to a certain point, and than the catchcar let's the train go. Sometimes, it would wait a second or two to release, but other times it would release right away. At this height, you can see over the Demon, the waterpark, and so on. This is pretty tall, at 90 degrees.
So, the ride let's go (You are facing forward), and you go through the station fast, go through the cobra roll, than go through a big loop, and than the catchcar catches the train in the air, and than are going up tower 2 which is the same height and it's a 90 degree tower. The catchcar on this tower catches the train on a different row. It's like 3-4 rows on the second tower instead of 5-6 rows on the first tower. Now, you are facing forward up the tower, and you feel like you are pushed back. After the catchcar pushes the train up the tower, the catchcar let's go of the train like the first tower did.
Now, you go backwards through the entire ride again. That is after the second tower, you go through the loop, cobra roll, station, and than on tower one, a catchcar catches the train in the air (Not all the way up the tower, lower), and than it lowers slowly down into the station forwards. It catches it on the 5-6 row.
Why does the catchcar catch it on different rows? The reason is because you want to get the highest part of the train to release. So, on tower 2, the highest part of the ride is rows 3-4 instead of rows 5-6 which are lower because you are going up the second tower forward, and it's going to release backwards.
The biggest problem this ride had as in maintenance was called miscatching. This is when the catchcar didn't catch the trains on tower 1, or tower 2. It would be down for quite awhile especially in the first years because they had no idea what to do with the ride. Soon, they got better though. After the train wouldn't hook up with the catchcar, the train would go backwards.
For tower 2, it would go backwards on the bottom of the loop in which there were brakes that would stop it from going anywhere. For tower 2, it would go into the station, and the brakes would be be turned on. For either way, they would shut the brakes off once it was stopped, and you would go back and forth until it stopped more.
Another problem that happened on tower 2 was called a retraction. This is when the catchcar on tower 2 caught the train, but it wasn't in the right place. So, the catchcar went down the tower. I wonder if this also could be the fact that tower 2 lost power, and thus that's why. It could of been an overheating problem. Eventually, they fixed it,
Too be CONTINUED
Capacities on Flats Sadly Not Helping
At Six Flags Great America, these are the target capacities. These are what they are supposed to get compared to the unrealistic maximum capacities that manufacturers say:
Superman Ultimate Flight: 800
Batman the Ride: 990
Demon: 840
V2: 610
American Eagle (one side operating): 670
Flat Rides:
Triple Play: 340
Ricochet: 330
Rue Le Dodge: 300
How long when you go to a Six Flags park, or a Cedar Fair park do you wait in line for more than 5 minutes for a flat ride to get on the ride? The ride itself might be a good 2-3 minutes, but I'm not talking about that. Whereas for a roller coaster like Batman the Ride, you are always seem to be waiting a good 40 minutes unless the park is empty, or Superman Ultimate Flight is around an hour or more the whole day.
So, are flats really helping the capacities at these parks at all? Sure, there might be 20 people in line for Condor, but that's at one time during the day, and it's a walk-on type of ride. So, for the next 4 minutes goes by, and there is another 20 people. It only handles 20 people at a time in line while Superman has 800 people in line (Not the same people) for that line. It's always 800 people in that line, but Condor only has some 20 people in line at a time.
The problem is that the flats aren't up to standards to make long gigantic lines. Get some more thrilling flats unlike the Condor even though I do like the Condor, but I think it's a good ride, and it can be skipped unlike a KMG Fireball which I don't believe should ever be skipped.
Think about this. Two flats equal one Vertical Velocity roller coaster, and 2.5 flats equal Superman Ultimate Flight roller coaster as in capacity, but yet the roller coasters have the longer lines. I don't think that high capacities mean diddly squat than. Deja Vu target capacity was like 440, and you wait in line a good 40 minutes or something whereas Six Flags flats people aren't willing to wait.
The flats also aren't advertised as the roller coasters that has something to do with it, but still. Are the flats really helping? I'm not talking about the water rides either like Roaring Rapids, Yankee Clipper, and Logger's Run because they do get the people in the lines.
I believe that old flats should be replaced, but I think they need to be replaced, and not just removed for nothing like what Six Flags Magic Mountain did. These flats have to exciting though that you replace, and they don't have to be Max Air, or Skyhawk. They just need to be thrilling.
They can't be like the Enterprise that it doesn't even feel like you go upside down. They can't be the Huss Top Spin where it hurts your chest, and it hardly flips you upside down because they are afraid you are going to puke. That's like a baby ride.
Superman Ultimate Flight: 800
Batman the Ride: 990
Demon: 840
V2: 610
American Eagle (one side operating): 670
Flat Rides:
Triple Play: 340
Ricochet: 330
Rue Le Dodge: 300
How long when you go to a Six Flags park, or a Cedar Fair park do you wait in line for more than 5 minutes for a flat ride to get on the ride? The ride itself might be a good 2-3 minutes, but I'm not talking about that. Whereas for a roller coaster like Batman the Ride, you are always seem to be waiting a good 40 minutes unless the park is empty, or Superman Ultimate Flight is around an hour or more the whole day.
So, are flats really helping the capacities at these parks at all? Sure, there might be 20 people in line for Condor, but that's at one time during the day, and it's a walk-on type of ride. So, for the next 4 minutes goes by, and there is another 20 people. It only handles 20 people at a time in line while Superman has 800 people in line (Not the same people) for that line. It's always 800 people in that line, but Condor only has some 20 people in line at a time.
The problem is that the flats aren't up to standards to make long gigantic lines. Get some more thrilling flats unlike the Condor even though I do like the Condor, but I think it's a good ride, and it can be skipped unlike a KMG Fireball which I don't believe should ever be skipped.
Think about this. Two flats equal one Vertical Velocity roller coaster, and 2.5 flats equal Superman Ultimate Flight roller coaster as in capacity, but yet the roller coasters have the longer lines. I don't think that high capacities mean diddly squat than. Deja Vu target capacity was like 440, and you wait in line a good 40 minutes or something whereas Six Flags flats people aren't willing to wait.
The flats also aren't advertised as the roller coasters that has something to do with it, but still. Are the flats really helping? I'm not talking about the water rides either like Roaring Rapids, Yankee Clipper, and Logger's Run because they do get the people in the lines.
I believe that old flats should be replaced, but I think they need to be replaced, and not just removed for nothing like what Six Flags Magic Mountain did. These flats have to exciting though that you replace, and they don't have to be Max Air, or Skyhawk. They just need to be thrilling.
They can't be like the Enterprise that it doesn't even feel like you go upside down. They can't be the Huss Top Spin where it hurts your chest, and it hardly flips you upside down because they are afraid you are going to puke. That's like a baby ride.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Ride Rotation Program – Stupid or Not??
The ride rotation program might have not been a real program at all. That’s not what I’m going to talk about. I don’t care if it was real or not. What the ride rotation program or not was about is the fact that Six Flags would trade rides from park to park. Sarajevo Bobsleds at Six Flags Great Adventure went to Six Flags Great America as Rolling Thunder, and than it went to Great Escape as Alpine Bobsled. Corporate also did this with a shuttle loop called Tidal Wave, an Intamin Space Diver ride called Z-Force, and so on.
The thing is this. Why did the company remove a particular ride at a Six Flags park? Why did Six Flags Great America remove Z-Force? It was there for 2 years, and they just moved it to Six Flags Over Georgia. Was it a horrible ride? If so, why would you move a ride if it absolutely stunk? I have never been on this ride, and I can’t tell you whether it was horrible or not. I haven’t even been on it at Magic Mountain as Flashback with it’s final resting place.
If the ride stinks at one park, what is going to make it so much better at another park?? The only thing I can think is that they are trying to correct the ride, and thus they feel new people will like it better because they correct. How would they fix a ride? Well, they can give it new trains, or new harnesses so the person’s head doesn’t hurt bad.
For the Sarajevo Bobsleds, it went to Great America as Rolling Thunder, and than moved to Great Escape. Rolling Thunder was a low-capacity ride, but didn’t they realize this when it was at Great Adventure? Why in the heck would you give it to a park, and than move after only 6 years. The thing is now that Great America has a new section in the place where Rolling Thunder was. Than, why would you put a ride that big in a place in which you were going to expand. It just makes no sense whatsoever. The ride had a line definitely. It wasn’t a walk-on type of ride at all.
Why would you give a ride from a particular park to another park? As soon as the next park gets it, it’s going to be rough, or old technology. If Six Flags Great America dumped Demon, and sent it Six Flags Great Adventure, don’t you think that the people at Great Adventure will either think it’s too short of a ride, or it’s too rough of a ride? How much popularity will it really gain at Great Adventure? You also have to pay for removal of the ride, and putting it in another park. There is a reason why it would leave Six Flags Great America. It’s not because it’s spectacular, or brand spanking new. I don’t think this “program” works.
The only time when I think rides should be sent to another park is if they can fix them. Iron Wolf at Great America is really rough in one spot. Let’s say they buy a new train for the ride. It’s not going to help Great America because people associate that ride with roughness. You would have to put a new name on the ride, and they probably rather buy a new ride instead of fix an old ride. Let’s say they send it to SFStL with the new train, and the SFStL people really love it. I also think they could try to persuade B&M to get more track for that ride, and add other inversions to it. Heck, that’s worthy of SFStL getting it, and advertising it, and getting a lot of people interested in it.
Let’s say you have a park that’s closing for good, and you want to move them to other parks. Why did that park close is the first question I would want to be answered? Six Flags Astroworld was closed. It had a lot of roller coasters. It didn’t do that great according to the numbers I have for that park. It should have done much better.
Heck, that was one of the first parks. Six Flags gave that park a lot of used stuff, and I think, that the particular park didn’t do too good because the rides don’t look that great. I have never been to that park, but I could guess on the rides not being spectacular. So, distribute those rides to another park, and what’s the point. If they stink, they stink. No other park is going to want them.
I personally believe that Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom isn’t doing good. What rides are worth taking if it does close? The wood wouldn’t be sensible to move. I don’t even think they are that good. The SLC in my opinion stinks, and than you have a mouse, a stand-up coaster, and Greezed Lightnin’ which is a used ride that’s been passed from park to park. If Greezed Lightnin’ is failing from park, why save it? Mice are good, but they are very low capacity. It takes a long time to get on them. I think it’s okay to have a couple low capacity rides at a park, but I don’t think they should have that many. Than, you have the stand-up coaster which I think is worthy. Two rides out of a whole park I think are worthy?
So again, I think this “program” was stupid what they actually did. They didn’t do much to the rides when passing around the rides from park to park. If the ride stunk at one park, it stunk at another park. If a ride was low-capacity, it was low-capacity at another park. So, why redistribute it to another bunch of people if it’s a bad ride to redistribute? I think they only should pass around rides that people will like. They also shouldn’t be really old technology, the rides aren’t short, and the rides aren’t rough. Otherwise, just sell them off. If they were to rotate Revolution, I go what the heck is Six Flags thinking if they ever did this. That ride has only one loop, and it’s supposed to be painful. What other Six Flags park would love to get that ride?
It’s POINTLESS to rotate the rides unless it’s from a park that is being sold to another company, and the park has something great or good left, or you fix the rides somehow! There is a reason why rides leave a park!! If they were still great, or mechanically sound, than they wouldn’t leave.
Source:
Help from rcdb.com
The thing is this. Why did the company remove a particular ride at a Six Flags park? Why did Six Flags Great America remove Z-Force? It was there for 2 years, and they just moved it to Six Flags Over Georgia. Was it a horrible ride? If so, why would you move a ride if it absolutely stunk? I have never been on this ride, and I can’t tell you whether it was horrible or not. I haven’t even been on it at Magic Mountain as Flashback with it’s final resting place.
If the ride stinks at one park, what is going to make it so much better at another park?? The only thing I can think is that they are trying to correct the ride, and thus they feel new people will like it better because they correct. How would they fix a ride? Well, they can give it new trains, or new harnesses so the person’s head doesn’t hurt bad.
For the Sarajevo Bobsleds, it went to Great America as Rolling Thunder, and than moved to Great Escape. Rolling Thunder was a low-capacity ride, but didn’t they realize this when it was at Great Adventure? Why in the heck would you give it to a park, and than move after only 6 years. The thing is now that Great America has a new section in the place where Rolling Thunder was. Than, why would you put a ride that big in a place in which you were going to expand. It just makes no sense whatsoever. The ride had a line definitely. It wasn’t a walk-on type of ride at all.
Why would you give a ride from a particular park to another park? As soon as the next park gets it, it’s going to be rough, or old technology. If Six Flags Great America dumped Demon, and sent it Six Flags Great Adventure, don’t you think that the people at Great Adventure will either think it’s too short of a ride, or it’s too rough of a ride? How much popularity will it really gain at Great Adventure? You also have to pay for removal of the ride, and putting it in another park. There is a reason why it would leave Six Flags Great America. It’s not because it’s spectacular, or brand spanking new. I don’t think this “program” works.
The only time when I think rides should be sent to another park is if they can fix them. Iron Wolf at Great America is really rough in one spot. Let’s say they buy a new train for the ride. It’s not going to help Great America because people associate that ride with roughness. You would have to put a new name on the ride, and they probably rather buy a new ride instead of fix an old ride. Let’s say they send it to SFStL with the new train, and the SFStL people really love it. I also think they could try to persuade B&M to get more track for that ride, and add other inversions to it. Heck, that’s worthy of SFStL getting it, and advertising it, and getting a lot of people interested in it.
Let’s say you have a park that’s closing for good, and you want to move them to other parks. Why did that park close is the first question I would want to be answered? Six Flags Astroworld was closed. It had a lot of roller coasters. It didn’t do that great according to the numbers I have for that park. It should have done much better.
Heck, that was one of the first parks. Six Flags gave that park a lot of used stuff, and I think, that the particular park didn’t do too good because the rides don’t look that great. I have never been to that park, but I could guess on the rides not being spectacular. So, distribute those rides to another park, and what’s the point. If they stink, they stink. No other park is going to want them.
I personally believe that Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom isn’t doing good. What rides are worth taking if it does close? The wood wouldn’t be sensible to move. I don’t even think they are that good. The SLC in my opinion stinks, and than you have a mouse, a stand-up coaster, and Greezed Lightnin’ which is a used ride that’s been passed from park to park. If Greezed Lightnin’ is failing from park, why save it? Mice are good, but they are very low capacity. It takes a long time to get on them. I think it’s okay to have a couple low capacity rides at a park, but I don’t think they should have that many. Than, you have the stand-up coaster which I think is worthy. Two rides out of a whole park I think are worthy?
So again, I think this “program” was stupid what they actually did. They didn’t do much to the rides when passing around the rides from park to park. If the ride stunk at one park, it stunk at another park. If a ride was low-capacity, it was low-capacity at another park. So, why redistribute it to another bunch of people if it’s a bad ride to redistribute? I think they only should pass around rides that people will like. They also shouldn’t be really old technology, the rides aren’t short, and the rides aren’t rough. Otherwise, just sell them off. If they were to rotate Revolution, I go what the heck is Six Flags thinking if they ever did this. That ride has only one loop, and it’s supposed to be painful. What other Six Flags park would love to get that ride?
It’s POINTLESS to rotate the rides unless it’s from a park that is being sold to another company, and the park has something great or good left, or you fix the rides somehow! There is a reason why rides leave a park!! If they were still great, or mechanically sound, than they wouldn’t leave.
Source:
Help from rcdb.com
Thursday, April 3, 2008
What I think parks should do when in big debt?
Six Flags is in a huge debt, and thus had to sell some parks last year. CF is debt, and wants to sell the company.
So, why are these things happening?
The obvious thing to me is that these theme parks are buying too many high-priced rides. I mean not only do we have roller coasters that have a high-priced tag, but there are flat rides that are the same way. Yes, they also bought too many parks that were unprofitable, and they had to sell them. Power Tower is priced around $10 million while Max Air costs $7.5 million. The Huss Top Spin costs $3 million. This is just ridiculous for those rides.
Obviously, good roller coasters are going to cost a lot more money than bad ones. At SFGAm, why does the park need a roller coaster every other year? In 2001, they got 2 coasters. In 2003 and 2004, they added two more. This is just spending like anything.
Of course, attendance is going to go down if you don’t add anything. The reason is because people get bored of the rides they have already (some people). They want something new. Thus, why not try exhilarating flat rides that don’t cost an arm and a leg. You could add Flying Bobs, KMG Fireball, KMG Spin Out, Tivoli Orbiter, Wisdom Gee Whiz, Hi-Lite Scat, Chance Zipper, Dark Rides, Zamperla Disko’, Chance Yo-Yo that tilts, Eyerly Spider, Chance Wipeout, Zamperla Power Surge, Tilt-A-Whirl, Himilaya, and so on.
You don’t have to add them every year either. If there is a carnival, and they have the same rides year after year, they will eventually get bored of it (Maybe, they will.), but 2 years or even 3 years in a row is not a big deal. The people will still come back, and they will enjoy the rides.
To solve the debt problem, go to the exciting cheaper rides that the carnival can provide, and so can the amusement park. Yes, get new coasters, but don’t get them for 5-6 years unless you are park that doesn’t have the many roller coasters like SFStL, or SFFT.
So, why are these things happening?
The obvious thing to me is that these theme parks are buying too many high-priced rides. I mean not only do we have roller coasters that have a high-priced tag, but there are flat rides that are the same way. Yes, they also bought too many parks that were unprofitable, and they had to sell them. Power Tower is priced around $10 million while Max Air costs $7.5 million. The Huss Top Spin costs $3 million. This is just ridiculous for those rides.
Obviously, good roller coasters are going to cost a lot more money than bad ones. At SFGAm, why does the park need a roller coaster every other year? In 2001, they got 2 coasters. In 2003 and 2004, they added two more. This is just spending like anything.
Of course, attendance is going to go down if you don’t add anything. The reason is because people get bored of the rides they have already (some people). They want something new. Thus, why not try exhilarating flat rides that don’t cost an arm and a leg. You could add Flying Bobs, KMG Fireball, KMG Spin Out, Tivoli Orbiter, Wisdom Gee Whiz, Hi-Lite Scat, Chance Zipper, Dark Rides, Zamperla Disko’, Chance Yo-Yo that tilts, Eyerly Spider, Chance Wipeout, Zamperla Power Surge, Tilt-A-Whirl, Himilaya, and so on.
You don’t have to add them every year either. If there is a carnival, and they have the same rides year after year, they will eventually get bored of it (Maybe, they will.), but 2 years or even 3 years in a row is not a big deal. The people will still come back, and they will enjoy the rides.
To solve the debt problem, go to the exciting cheaper rides that the carnival can provide, and so can the amusement park. Yes, get new coasters, but don’t get them for 5-6 years unless you are park that doesn’t have the many roller coasters like SFStL, or SFFT.
Tower of Terror - MGM (Hollywood Studios) vs California Adventure
How do they work so different? DCA Tower of Terror VS MGM (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)
I found out that the drop sequence is about the same amount of time for both of them. It's about a minute:
MGM: http://youtube.com/watch?v=9ZGYPvlcX-E&feature=related (about 3.45 minutes)
DCA: http://youtube.com/watch?v=r1J_c1EkKzQ (2 1/2 minute ride)
I find those two rides interesting. For MGM (Hollywood Studios), the ride is sort of built like a square while DCA (I don't think is.). For the MGM one, you are in the basement when you get off, and than it moves sideways (when no one is on it), and than it goes up to the floor where you board. Than it raises up, and than it goes sideways. After it goes sideways, it's ready to drop. Than, it empties, and goes sideways when there are no people in at the bottom floor. There are 4 elevators for this ride.
For the DCA one, I believe that it just goes up and down, and it doesn't go sideways. I think there were only 3 elevators instead of 4. If it did go sideways, than they would have that story, but they don't. Also, I believe that this one takes a lot more time to board. There is a bottom floor, and a top floor to board the elevator. They have have 2 elevator vehicles in each shaft. They can just move the elevator vehicle that's boarding forward more so that the other elevator can go up and down through the shaft. Remember, that these elevator vehicles can turn, and move on the track. The one at DCA is like an inverted F.
So, you board on the bottom floor. This elevator vehicles departs. After maybe the minute and a half mark, the elevator vehicle on the top floor opens up. It's moved forward so it's not in the shaft. People start loading the ride. The other elevator vehicle is finally done, and it goes to the bottom floor where it belongs. It's sitting there waiting until this top floor elevator vehicle is done with. Remember, there are two elevator vehicles.
For the other MGM tower, there are 4 elevator vehicles. I imagine is has to clear a certain section in order for it to work properly. If you are in the drop section, than you can't have an elevator right near the drop section. If the people taking there time on the bottom aren't out of the vehicle, than it can't drop. It's too close to the other vehicle. Through the sideways part story, there are 2 tracks, and 4 up shafts. There are only 2 shafts that go down also. Obviously, they spent more money into MGM than DCA. It shows.
I found out that the drop sequence is about the same amount of time for both of them. It's about a minute:
MGM: http://youtube.com/watch?v=9ZGYPvlcX-E&feature=related (about 3.45 minutes)
DCA: http://youtube.com/watch?v=r1J_c1EkKzQ (2 1/2 minute ride)
I find those two rides interesting. For MGM (Hollywood Studios), the ride is sort of built like a square while DCA (I don't think is.). For the MGM one, you are in the basement when you get off, and than it moves sideways (when no one is on it), and than it goes up to the floor where you board. Than it raises up, and than it goes sideways. After it goes sideways, it's ready to drop. Than, it empties, and goes sideways when there are no people in at the bottom floor. There are 4 elevators for this ride.
For the DCA one, I believe that it just goes up and down, and it doesn't go sideways. I think there were only 3 elevators instead of 4. If it did go sideways, than they would have that story, but they don't. Also, I believe that this one takes a lot more time to board. There is a bottom floor, and a top floor to board the elevator. They have have 2 elevator vehicles in each shaft. They can just move the elevator vehicle that's boarding forward more so that the other elevator can go up and down through the shaft. Remember, that these elevator vehicles can turn, and move on the track. The one at DCA is like an inverted F.
So, you board on the bottom floor. This elevator vehicles departs. After maybe the minute and a half mark, the elevator vehicle on the top floor opens up. It's moved forward so it's not in the shaft. People start loading the ride. The other elevator vehicle is finally done, and it goes to the bottom floor where it belongs. It's sitting there waiting until this top floor elevator vehicle is done with. Remember, there are two elevator vehicles.
For the other MGM tower, there are 4 elevator vehicles. I imagine is has to clear a certain section in order for it to work properly. If you are in the drop section, than you can't have an elevator right near the drop section. If the people taking there time on the bottom aren't out of the vehicle, than it can't drop. It's too close to the other vehicle. Through the sideways part story, there are 2 tracks, and 4 up shafts. There are only 2 shafts that go down also. Obviously, they spent more money into MGM than DCA. It shows.
Are waterparks really that packed as we think they are?
Think about this when you think the waterparks are crowded, and the amusement parks aren't. How much attendance does SFOG White Water waterpark get, and how much attendance does SFGAdv get? SFOG White Water water park is the most attended Six Flags water park of them all. Basing this on the attendance I can get (inaccurate by a little), it gets 464,000 compared to SFGAdv 2.73 million.
Let's look at why water parks seem like there are more people in them than there really are. Everyone says that water parks are always really packed! At SFGAm, it looks like the water park at Hurricane Harbor is really packed. Let's look at the slides first. Tornado is really packed. Why? Is it really packed or not? You need at least 2 people per raft.
They bring the rafts up the stairs, and those rafts take up a lot of space. On water slides, you only can send one raft down at a time, and you have to wait until the other people are out of the water, and the raft has been cleared until you send the other person down the slide.
These are what I get for Tornado: (4 people per raft)
12 people for 1 minute and a half
24 people for 3 minutes
36 people for 4 minutes and a half
48 people for 6 minutes
In a minute and a half, maybe you can send out a wooden roller coaster with 24 people. Who knows? There could be a lot of two people riding the Tornado, or 3 people. It's not always 4 people. So, that's why the Tornado seems packed.
http://flickr.com/photos/rollerfan/1389975462/
For a wooden coaster with 2 trains, it should take about 4.5-5 minutes to get on the ride within 3 cycles. A 5 minute ride for a wooden coaster is NOT a long line at all. For the Tornado in which it looks like it's packed, it's only a 10 minute line with about 20 rafts on the stairs in that picture.
For a wave pool, people are spread out in a wave pool. A roller coaster line however is not spread out. One person is back of another person. I would love to know the capacity of a wave pool at one time though.
For the Skull Island, I don't see many people on that thing. They are usually just under the bucket. For the slides in the back, the line is usually not long at all. These are dark slides in a tube. They have 4 slides, but they don't always usually all 4 because they have to hire more workers. The area in the water park isn't that big, and thus it looks more packed than it is. The waterslides are very close to one another, and there isn't a lot of walking room. So, people are squished. They have a family raft ride which does have a long line. It's a long course of both sides (of the ride), and it is a whole lot harder to get out of than your typical smaller tube raft slide.
Than, there are the bowls, the 2 tube slides, and 2 body slides. Those aren't that packed usually. Usually, they are only 5 minutes with the bowl slides being a little longer. When the water park is really “packed”, they don't have enough tubes (because they you want you to buy them), and the line can be a little bit longer.
For the lazy river, they don't have enough tubes, and thus it makes the line longer than it is. The lazy river does have people in it, but tubes aren't on top of each other at all. They are well spread out until you bump into someone. Remember, that each tube only carries one person, and thus I would imagine the capacity might only be 300 people at most. They never have enough tubes on purpose. This is maybe a 10 minute ride. For Raging Bull with 3 trains they run, there are 108 people on that ride alone, and it could be a 30 minute wait.
There is that mat racer slide, and that's never that long. It's the same thing with the other water slide though. They don't have enough mats.
The point is that the water park fools everyone. You think the Tornado is “packed”, and compared to roller coaster, it's not. A Enterprise can do better than a Tornado (Enterprise has 21 cars with maybe 2 people in each car under a 2 minute ride.)
Is the water park a smart addition at all? It's not open all year, it's only open from 12-8, and sometimes it's only open from 12-6, it takes up a lot of space, and the rides have low capacities. Sometimes, not even all the rides are open in the water park. It's also pumping that water all the time. It also adds a lot of employees. I think there are 14 employees just for the wavepool. The lazy river also has a lot of employees. I would say at least 10.
Let's look at why water parks seem like there are more people in them than there really are. Everyone says that water parks are always really packed! At SFGAm, it looks like the water park at Hurricane Harbor is really packed. Let's look at the slides first. Tornado is really packed. Why? Is it really packed or not? You need at least 2 people per raft.
They bring the rafts up the stairs, and those rafts take up a lot of space. On water slides, you only can send one raft down at a time, and you have to wait until the other people are out of the water, and the raft has been cleared until you send the other person down the slide.
These are what I get for Tornado: (4 people per raft)
12 people for 1 minute and a half
24 people for 3 minutes
36 people for 4 minutes and a half
48 people for 6 minutes
In a minute and a half, maybe you can send out a wooden roller coaster with 24 people. Who knows? There could be a lot of two people riding the Tornado, or 3 people. It's not always 4 people. So, that's why the Tornado seems packed.
http://flickr.com/photos/rollerfan/1389975462/
For a wooden coaster with 2 trains, it should take about 4.5-5 minutes to get on the ride within 3 cycles. A 5 minute ride for a wooden coaster is NOT a long line at all. For the Tornado in which it looks like it's packed, it's only a 10 minute line with about 20 rafts on the stairs in that picture.
For a wave pool, people are spread out in a wave pool. A roller coaster line however is not spread out. One person is back of another person. I would love to know the capacity of a wave pool at one time though.
For the Skull Island, I don't see many people on that thing. They are usually just under the bucket. For the slides in the back, the line is usually not long at all. These are dark slides in a tube. They have 4 slides, but they don't always usually all 4 because they have to hire more workers. The area in the water park isn't that big, and thus it looks more packed than it is. The waterslides are very close to one another, and there isn't a lot of walking room. So, people are squished. They have a family raft ride which does have a long line. It's a long course of both sides (of the ride), and it is a whole lot harder to get out of than your typical smaller tube raft slide.
Than, there are the bowls, the 2 tube slides, and 2 body slides. Those aren't that packed usually. Usually, they are only 5 minutes with the bowl slides being a little longer. When the water park is really “packed”, they don't have enough tubes (because they you want you to buy them), and the line can be a little bit longer.
For the lazy river, they don't have enough tubes, and thus it makes the line longer than it is. The lazy river does have people in it, but tubes aren't on top of each other at all. They are well spread out until you bump into someone. Remember, that each tube only carries one person, and thus I would imagine the capacity might only be 300 people at most. They never have enough tubes on purpose. This is maybe a 10 minute ride. For Raging Bull with 3 trains they run, there are 108 people on that ride alone, and it could be a 30 minute wait.
There is that mat racer slide, and that's never that long. It's the same thing with the other water slide though. They don't have enough mats.
The point is that the water park fools everyone. You think the Tornado is “packed”, and compared to roller coaster, it's not. A Enterprise can do better than a Tornado (Enterprise has 21 cars with maybe 2 people in each car under a 2 minute ride.)
Is the water park a smart addition at all? It's not open all year, it's only open from 12-8, and sometimes it's only open from 12-6, it takes up a lot of space, and the rides have low capacities. Sometimes, not even all the rides are open in the water park. It's also pumping that water all the time. It also adds a lot of employees. I think there are 14 employees just for the wavepool. The lazy river also has a lot of employees. I would say at least 10.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Prices for Six Flags Coaster or Other Attractions over a 7 year period
This is ridiculous as how much these rides cost. On some of these, I am taking an educated guess like Raging Bull. Goliath costed 21 million, and Raging Bull was the first of these, so you would guess that it is somewhere around that number. This was in an article that Six Flags has spent somewhere around 750 million in rides for 7 years. So, I was seeing what each park got, and this was the result of what I got. I got 807 million, but it's close enough tp 750 million.
Six Flags still today spends around a 100 million each year in capital expenditures. This could be new rides, fixing stuff, painting, or putting up new signs. That's way too much money!! NOW, they only have 12 regular theme parks. The rest are water parks which don't require a lot of money. Here, and there, they will put in a 2 million dollar water slide.
Raging Bull 20 million
Deja Vu 12 million
V2 8.5
Hurricane Harbor 25 million
Mardi Gras 8 million
Superman 15 million
Tornado 3 million
Six Flags Great America
100 million
blackbeard 4 million
Kingda Ka 40 million
Medusa 15 million
Roadrunner 500,000
Superman 15 million
El Toro 6 million
Flats 40 million
Six Flags Great Adventure
120.5 million
Canyon 500,000
Scream 15 million
X 14 million
Deja Vu 12 million
Tatsu 21 million
Goliath 13 million
Six Flags Magic Mountain
75.5 million
Goliath 20 million
Vampire 20 million
Spinning Mouse 4 million
La Ronde
44 million
Goliath 20 million
Deja Vu 12 million
Superman Ultimate Flight 15 million
Skull Island 2 million
Canyon Blaster 2 million
Georgia Scorcher 11 million
Six Flags Over Georgia
62 million
Boss 4 million
Scooby Doo 1 million
Water park 10 million
Six Flags St. Louis
15 million
Titan 13 million
Canyon Blaster 2 million
Batman 11 million
10 Flats (Some Used) 2 million
Six Flags Over Texas
28 million
Boomerang 4 million
Poltergeist 11 million
Superman 14 million
Six Flags Fiesta Texas
29 million
Boomerang 4 million
Flying Coaster 6 million
Half Pipe 7.5 million
Elitch Gardens
17.5 million
Superman 12 million
Darien Lake
12 million
Batwing 15 million
Great Chase 2 million
Joker's Jinx 11 million
Two-Face 9 million
Superman 12 million
Six Flags America
49 million
Batman 15 million
Flashback 4 million
Mr. Six 4 million
Poision 3 million
Six Flags New England
26 million
Cobra 3 million
Medusa 15 million
Roadrunner 1 million
V2 8.5 million
Roar 4.5 million
Six Flags Marine World
32 million
Batman 13 million
Tom and Jerry 3 million
Stunt Fall 12 million
Coaster Express 4 million
Superman 15 million
Madrid Spain
47 million
Cobra 4 million
Loup Garou 4 million
Six Flags Belgium
8 million
Batman 11 million
Jester 20,000
Six Flags New Orleans
11.2 million
Road Runner Express 4 million
Water Park 7 million
Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
11 million
Batman 10 million
Medusa 4 million
Superman 10 million
Six Flags Mexico
24 million
Beaver 3 million
X-Flight 15 million
Steel Venom 8.5 million
Dominator 14 million
Villain 4 million
Six Flags Ohio (Worlds of Adventure)
44.5 million
Serial Thriller 10 million
Astroworld
10 million
Road Runner 1 million
Great Escape
1 million
Flying Dutchman 4 million
Goliath 12 million
La via Volta 4 million
Robin Hood 4 million
Superman 10 million
Six Flags Holland
34 million
Klondike 4 million
Timberhawk 4 million
Wild Waves
8 million
809 million for all these rides in 7 years!!!
Six Flags still today spends around a 100 million each year in capital expenditures. This could be new rides, fixing stuff, painting, or putting up new signs. That's way too much money!! NOW, they only have 12 regular theme parks. The rest are water parks which don't require a lot of money. Here, and there, they will put in a 2 million dollar water slide.
Raging Bull 20 million
Deja Vu 12 million
V2 8.5
Hurricane Harbor 25 million
Mardi Gras 8 million
Superman 15 million
Tornado 3 million
Six Flags Great America
100 million
blackbeard 4 million
Kingda Ka 40 million
Medusa 15 million
Roadrunner 500,000
Superman 15 million
El Toro 6 million
Flats 40 million
Six Flags Great Adventure
120.5 million
Canyon 500,000
Scream 15 million
X 14 million
Deja Vu 12 million
Tatsu 21 million
Goliath 13 million
Six Flags Magic Mountain
75.5 million
Goliath 20 million
Vampire 20 million
Spinning Mouse 4 million
La Ronde
44 million
Goliath 20 million
Deja Vu 12 million
Superman Ultimate Flight 15 million
Skull Island 2 million
Canyon Blaster 2 million
Georgia Scorcher 11 million
Six Flags Over Georgia
62 million
Boss 4 million
Scooby Doo 1 million
Water park 10 million
Six Flags St. Louis
15 million
Titan 13 million
Canyon Blaster 2 million
Batman 11 million
10 Flats (Some Used) 2 million
Six Flags Over Texas
28 million
Boomerang 4 million
Poltergeist 11 million
Superman 14 million
Six Flags Fiesta Texas
29 million
Boomerang 4 million
Flying Coaster 6 million
Half Pipe 7.5 million
Elitch Gardens
17.5 million
Superman 12 million
Darien Lake
12 million
Batwing 15 million
Great Chase 2 million
Joker's Jinx 11 million
Two-Face 9 million
Superman 12 million
Six Flags America
49 million
Batman 15 million
Flashback 4 million
Mr. Six 4 million
Poision 3 million
Six Flags New England
26 million
Cobra 3 million
Medusa 15 million
Roadrunner 1 million
V2 8.5 million
Roar 4.5 million
Six Flags Marine World
32 million
Batman 13 million
Tom and Jerry 3 million
Stunt Fall 12 million
Coaster Express 4 million
Superman 15 million
Madrid Spain
47 million
Cobra 4 million
Loup Garou 4 million
Six Flags Belgium
8 million
Batman 11 million
Jester 20,000
Six Flags New Orleans
11.2 million
Road Runner Express 4 million
Water Park 7 million
Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
11 million
Batman 10 million
Medusa 4 million
Superman 10 million
Six Flags Mexico
24 million
Beaver 3 million
X-Flight 15 million
Steel Venom 8.5 million
Dominator 14 million
Villain 4 million
Six Flags Ohio (Worlds of Adventure)
44.5 million
Serial Thriller 10 million
Astroworld
10 million
Road Runner 1 million
Great Escape
1 million
Flying Dutchman 4 million
Goliath 12 million
La via Volta 4 million
Robin Hood 4 million
Superman 10 million
Six Flags Holland
34 million
Klondike 4 million
Timberhawk 4 million
Wild Waves
8 million
809 million for all these rides in 7 years!!!
Are Six Flags prices really that expensive?
You can get great discounts online, and it's not expensive as regular price suggests. Is Six Flags charging enough money to get in with these huge discounts? I think not. What about the season pass prices at Magic Mountain? They are underpricing themselves way too much!
$54.99 Six Flags Great America - really charging $40.00
$45.00 Six Flags St. Louis- really charging $37.00
$40.00 Kentucky Kingdom -really charging $31.00
$50.00 Six Flags America really charging $40.00
Great Adventure $60.00 really charging $40.00
Magic Mountain $60.00 really charging $40.00 In my opinion, I think they should charge: $54.00 - $7.00 discount
$30.00 Hurricane Harbor- $5.00 discount (However, you give Hurricane Harbor something new.)
Season Pass Today is-----$60.00 for Magic Mountain which is STUPID
I believe it should be: $110.00 Six Flags Magic Mountain
$60.00 Hurricane Harbor
$150.00 for Hurricane harbor + Magic Mountain
I believe it should be:
Great America - $54.00 - $7.00 discount
I think parking at all parks should be $10.00. Admit that they were stupid, stop giving maps, and parking has gone down!!!
Over Texas $45.00 really charging $40.00 (Wow, that's cheap either way!)
New England $50.00 really charging $40.00
Fiesta Texas $49.00 really charging $34.00
Great Escape $40.00 kids free
Six Flags Mexico $25.00 HUH???
La Ronde $36.00
$54.99 Six Flags Great America - really charging $40.00
$45.00 Six Flags St. Louis- really charging $37.00
$40.00 Kentucky Kingdom -really charging $31.00
$50.00 Six Flags America really charging $40.00
Great Adventure $60.00 really charging $40.00
Magic Mountain $60.00 really charging $40.00 In my opinion, I think they should charge: $54.00 - $7.00 discount
$30.00 Hurricane Harbor- $5.00 discount (However, you give Hurricane Harbor something new.)
Season Pass Today is-----$60.00 for Magic Mountain which is STUPID
I believe it should be: $110.00 Six Flags Magic Mountain
$60.00 Hurricane Harbor
$150.00 for Hurricane harbor + Magic Mountain
I believe it should be:
Great America - $54.00 - $7.00 discount
I think parking at all parks should be $10.00. Admit that they were stupid, stop giving maps, and parking has gone down!!!
Over Texas $45.00 really charging $40.00 (Wow, that's cheap either way!)
New England $50.00 really charging $40.00
Fiesta Texas $49.00 really charging $34.00
Great Escape $40.00 kids free
Six Flags Mexico $25.00 HUH???
La Ronde $36.00
Wild Adventures- Should I go or Not?
I have never been to Wild Adventures, and I was wondering is the park worth it? mult means I think would love to go on that ride many times during the day. I've never been on a Moser Sidewinder, but I think I would love it. Please leave any comments if you have been to this park.
Rides that look Great/Good!
mult Yo-Yo Cypress Gardens is great
mult Wipeout
mult Power Surge
mult Chance Alpine Bobs (themed Swingin Safari)
mult Boomerang-Rough but awesome
multSidewinder ??? It's by Moser, and it spins around back and forth (Pendulum)
mult Mouse Coaster - It's a mouse coaster. What else can you say about it.
multChance Aviator??? - I've never been on an Aviator before.
Swamp Thing (Vekoma Inverted)-It was good at Cypress Gardens.
Double Shot - once and awhile
Bumper Cars - Remember, you can't hit head to head on these bumper cars which I think is stupid.
Kite Flyer
Pipeline Water Coaster
Tilt-A-Whirl It's a G5!! Boo!! It's just GOOD, and NOT GREAT!
Inverter - iffy at best
Tiger Terror Wisdom coaster (It looks bad like a Dragon Wagon ride.)
SLC = horrible.
Ant Farm Express=Spacely's which isn't good, but stil can go on it.
Rides that look Great/Good!
mult Yo-Yo Cypress Gardens is great
mult Wipeout
mult Power Surge
mult Chance Alpine Bobs (themed Swingin Safari)
mult Boomerang-Rough but awesome
multSidewinder ??? It's by Moser, and it spins around back and forth (Pendulum)
mult Mouse Coaster - It's a mouse coaster. What else can you say about it.
multChance Aviator??? - I've never been on an Aviator before.
Swamp Thing (Vekoma Inverted)-It was good at Cypress Gardens.
Double Shot - once and awhile
Bumper Cars - Remember, you can't hit head to head on these bumper cars which I think is stupid.
Kite Flyer
Pipeline Water Coaster
Tilt-A-Whirl It's a G5!! Boo!! It's just GOOD, and NOT GREAT!
Inverter - iffy at best
Tiger Terror Wisdom coaster (It looks bad like a Dragon Wagon ride.)
SLC = horrible.
Ant Farm Express=Spacely's which isn't good, but stil can go on it.
My Opinions for Worst Flat
These are my opinion:
Worst Flat (Amusement Park & Carnival) Ride (Top 15)
Top 15 instead of 10 due to Some Rides Leaving Parks or Carnivals (Yeah!!)
Mega Bounce (Cypress Gardens) – Roughest Piece of JUNK
Hi Roller
Space Roller
Downdraft- All Star Amusements sold this ride.
Round-Up / Zero Gravity
Soarin’
Twister = Movie (Universal Studios)
Shrek 4D
Wildcatter (SFOT –Intamin Generation Drop Tower 1)- This ride has been demolished, but there is still at Cedar Point.
Trailblazer- Six Flags Great America doesn’t operate this ride anymore. The ride’s arm is partial there, but it’s not open.
X-Scream- I don’t know of any carnival that has this ride. Windy City, and All Around did, but there X-Scream is now history.
1001 Nachts
Pharoah’s Fury (Rocking Boat Ride)
Jester’s Wild Ride
Rodeo (SFOT)
_____________________________________
These rides are hard to find out of all the worst flat rides because not many amusement parks or carnivals have them, or they are really old:
Wildcatter (SFOT –Intamin Generation Drop Tower 1)- This ride has been demolished, but there is still at Cedar Point.
Trailblazer- Six Flags Great America doesn’t operate this ride anymore. The ride’s arm is partial there, but it’s not open.
X-Scream- I don’t know of any carnival that has this ride. Windy City, and All Around did, but there X-Scream is now history.
Hi Roller
Downdraft- All Star Amusements sold this ride. I don't believe they made a lot of this ride. Dartron has the Hurricane, and carnivals like that ride. They were smart enough not to buy the Downdraft.
Worst Flat (Amusement Park & Carnival) Ride (Top 15)
Top 15 instead of 10 due to Some Rides Leaving Parks or Carnivals (Yeah!!)
Mega Bounce (Cypress Gardens) – Roughest Piece of JUNK
Hi Roller
Space Roller
Downdraft- All Star Amusements sold this ride.
Round-Up / Zero Gravity
Soarin’
Twister = Movie (Universal Studios)
Shrek 4D
Wildcatter (SFOT –Intamin Generation Drop Tower 1)- This ride has been demolished, but there is still at Cedar Point.
Trailblazer- Six Flags Great America doesn’t operate this ride anymore. The ride’s arm is partial there, but it’s not open.
X-Scream- I don’t know of any carnival that has this ride. Windy City, and All Around did, but there X-Scream is now history.
1001 Nachts
Pharoah’s Fury (Rocking Boat Ride)
Jester’s Wild Ride
Rodeo (SFOT)
_____________________________________
These rides are hard to find out of all the worst flat rides because not many amusement parks or carnivals have them, or they are really old:
Wildcatter (SFOT –Intamin Generation Drop Tower 1)- This ride has been demolished, but there is still at Cedar Point.
Trailblazer- Six Flags Great America doesn’t operate this ride anymore. The ride’s arm is partial there, but it’s not open.
X-Scream- I don’t know of any carnival that has this ride. Windy City, and All Around did, but there X-Scream is now history.
Hi Roller
Downdraft- All Star Amusements sold this ride. I don't believe they made a lot of this ride. Dartron has the Hurricane, and carnivals like that ride. They were smart enough not to buy the Downdraft.
The Age Old Question- Why is Fright Fest at Six Flags packed?
It’s not just about the “rides.” You can be a chicken, and go to the park, and enjoy it. People like getting scared. In other words, people can go on 4 rides, but still have a fun time because they are enjoying getting scared in the haunted houses, or other stuff.
The teenagers get something else to do. It’s like having more rides in the park. If they are sick of going on Batman the Ride the entire year, they get to walk through Fright Zones, and so on. Sometimes, they have new shows during Fright Fest that teenagers might like also that you can't get any other time.
“Dark girls” unite! Some people really like Halloween stuff, and scary stuff. There is a different type of teenager that likes to attend these events, and they are “dark girls.” You hardly see any of these type of people during the regular season, but they come out now.
It’s a Halloween event. It’s October, and people want to do something Halloweenish, and what’s the perfect way to do so. The rides are themed, and are a little different from how they usually run.
The Halloween event is really only for 8 days open to the general public. Yes, October is the whole month, but the park is only open on weekends. So, have you all these people from the regular season coming to the park during this event because it’s so different.
It’s so darn cheap!! Tickets are $15 off during the last two weeks of Fright Fest, and are $25 off during the first two weeks of Fright Fest. That is really cheap. All you have to do is go online! This for Six Flags.
It’s the end of the end. This is it. The season is coming to a close, and people want to get on there last rides before it closes.
The teenagers get something else to do. It’s like having more rides in the park. If they are sick of going on Batman the Ride the entire year, they get to walk through Fright Zones, and so on. Sometimes, they have new shows during Fright Fest that teenagers might like also that you can't get any other time.
“Dark girls” unite! Some people really like Halloween stuff, and scary stuff. There is a different type of teenager that likes to attend these events, and they are “dark girls.” You hardly see any of these type of people during the regular season, but they come out now.
It’s a Halloween event. It’s October, and people want to do something Halloweenish, and what’s the perfect way to do so. The rides are themed, and are a little different from how they usually run.
The Halloween event is really only for 8 days open to the general public. Yes, October is the whole month, but the park is only open on weekends. So, have you all these people from the regular season coming to the park during this event because it’s so different.
It’s so darn cheap!! Tickets are $15 off during the last two weeks of Fright Fest, and are $25 off during the first two weeks of Fright Fest. That is really cheap. All you have to do is go online! This for Six Flags.
It’s the end of the end. This is it. The season is coming to a close, and people want to get on there last rides before it closes.
What Should Six Flags Magic Mountain do?
I think they should:
Remove one flume water ride. The Yo-Yo looks horrible. It's needs it's siding even if they just call it Yo-Yo. It just looks bad. Restore the Himilaya.
Add 7 more flats (4,229,000) Orbiter 400,000, Used Cliffhanger 129,000, Used Flying Bobs with music, lights, and sound. 300,000, Century Wheel 400,000 -Medium Sized Ferris Wheel, 2 Gee Whizes at 1.2 million, Swing Around 600,000, Used Wipeout that has seatbelts 200,000,
In 3 years, buy a Scooby Doo Dark ride that costs 5 million.
In 4 years, add 5 kids rides ($750,000) 1 Hampton Umbrella Ride, Zamperla Speedway, Fun House, Beetle ride, Fun Slide
Advertise that we are a new Six Flags Magic Mountain. Our roller coasters are Open for business!!!! Buy more roller coaster trains for most of there coasters even if they can't fit on the track like Batman the Ride. Buy more than 2 roller coaster trains because of the non-offseason they have. They should also buy 2 new (non G5) Tilt-A-Whirls because they torn down the other one!
In 6 years: add a KMG Fireball and add a Tivoli Spin Out. These are probably going to cost about $2 million which is nothing compared to a 16 million B&M. If they are really popular, buy 2 more to help with capacity. The bigger version of the Fireball isn't as great as the Fireball, and I think that the park should get 2 instead of it.
Also, add yet another dark ride 5 million. Willy Wonka if they have the rights.
In 10 years, buy a mouse coaster, and replace Viper.
In 11 years, add a Power Surge, add 2 Scats, add more kids rides, and take out the Round Up.
In 12 years, add 2 Zippers.
In 15 years, add a B&M sitdown coaster with Ninja gone.
Remove one flume water ride. The Yo-Yo looks horrible. It's needs it's siding even if they just call it Yo-Yo. It just looks bad. Restore the Himilaya.
Add 7 more flats (4,229,000) Orbiter 400,000, Used Cliffhanger 129,000, Used Flying Bobs with music, lights, and sound. 300,000, Century Wheel 400,000 -Medium Sized Ferris Wheel, 2 Gee Whizes at 1.2 million, Swing Around 600,000, Used Wipeout that has seatbelts 200,000,
In 3 years, buy a Scooby Doo Dark ride that costs 5 million.
In 4 years, add 5 kids rides ($750,000) 1 Hampton Umbrella Ride, Zamperla Speedway, Fun House, Beetle ride, Fun Slide
Advertise that we are a new Six Flags Magic Mountain. Our roller coasters are Open for business!!!! Buy more roller coaster trains for most of there coasters even if they can't fit on the track like Batman the Ride. Buy more than 2 roller coaster trains because of the non-offseason they have. They should also buy 2 new (non G5) Tilt-A-Whirls because they torn down the other one!
In 6 years: add a KMG Fireball and add a Tivoli Spin Out. These are probably going to cost about $2 million which is nothing compared to a 16 million B&M. If they are really popular, buy 2 more to help with capacity. The bigger version of the Fireball isn't as great as the Fireball, and I think that the park should get 2 instead of it.
Also, add yet another dark ride 5 million. Willy Wonka if they have the rights.
In 10 years, buy a mouse coaster, and replace Viper.
In 11 years, add a Power Surge, add 2 Scats, add more kids rides, and take out the Round Up.
In 12 years, add 2 Zippers.
In 15 years, add a B&M sitdown coaster with Ninja gone.
What I think Parks Should do When they are in Trouble.
Six Flags is in a huge debt, and thus had to sell some parks last year. Cedar Fair is in debt, and wanted to sell the company.
So, why are these things happening?
The obvious thing to me is that these theme parks are buying too many high-priced rides. I mean not only do we have roller coasters that have a high-priced tag, but there are flat rides that are the same way. Power Tower is priced around $10 million while Max Air costs $7.5 million. The Huss Top Spin costs $3 million. This is just ridiculous for those rides.
Obviously, good roller coasters are going to cost a lot more money than bad ones. At Six Flags Great America, why does the park need a roller coaster every other year? In 2001, they got 2 coasters. In 2003 and 2004, they added two more. This is just spending like anything.
Of course, attendance is going to go down if you don’t add anything. The reason is because people get bored of the rides they have already (some people). They want something new. Thus, why not try exhilarating flat rides that don’t cost an arm and a leg. You could add Flying Bobs, KMG Fireball, KMG Spin Out, Tivoli Orbiter, Wisdom Gee Whiz, Hi-Lite Scat, Chance Zipper, Dark Rides, Zamperla Disko’, Chance Yo-Yo that tilts, Eyerly Spider, Chance Wipeout, Zamperla Power Surge, Tilt-A-Whirl, Himilaya, and so on.
You don’t have to add them every year either. If there is a carnival, and they have the same rides year after year, they will eventually get bored of it (Maybe, they will.), but 2 years or even 3 years in a row is not a big deal. The people will still come back, and they will enjoy the rides.
To solve the debt problem, go to the exciting cheaper rides that the carnival can provide, and so can the amusement park. Yes, get new coasters, but don’t get them for 5-6 years unless you are park that doesn’t have the many roller coasters like Six Flags St Louis, or Six Flags Fiesta Texas.
So, why are these things happening?
The obvious thing to me is that these theme parks are buying too many high-priced rides. I mean not only do we have roller coasters that have a high-priced tag, but there are flat rides that are the same way. Power Tower is priced around $10 million while Max Air costs $7.5 million. The Huss Top Spin costs $3 million. This is just ridiculous for those rides.
Obviously, good roller coasters are going to cost a lot more money than bad ones. At Six Flags Great America, why does the park need a roller coaster every other year? In 2001, they got 2 coasters. In 2003 and 2004, they added two more. This is just spending like anything.
Of course, attendance is going to go down if you don’t add anything. The reason is because people get bored of the rides they have already (some people). They want something new. Thus, why not try exhilarating flat rides that don’t cost an arm and a leg. You could add Flying Bobs, KMG Fireball, KMG Spin Out, Tivoli Orbiter, Wisdom Gee Whiz, Hi-Lite Scat, Chance Zipper, Dark Rides, Zamperla Disko’, Chance Yo-Yo that tilts, Eyerly Spider, Chance Wipeout, Zamperla Power Surge, Tilt-A-Whirl, Himilaya, and so on.
You don’t have to add them every year either. If there is a carnival, and they have the same rides year after year, they will eventually get bored of it (Maybe, they will.), but 2 years or even 3 years in a row is not a big deal. The people will still come back, and they will enjoy the rides.
To solve the debt problem, go to the exciting cheaper rides that the carnival can provide, and so can the amusement park. Yes, get new coasters, but don’t get them for 5-6 years unless you are park that doesn’t have the many roller coasters like Six Flags St Louis, or Six Flags Fiesta Texas.
Amusement Park Ride Prices
I have gotten these from various sources including rcdb.com, Coastercrew.com, Noah's Ark.com, a King's Dominion Site, and a roller coaster video (I forgot the name.)
These are:
Huss Top Spin - 3.5 million
S&S Screamin' Swing - $6 million
Intamin Impulse Coaster (Vertical Velocity or Wicked Twister) - $10 million and 8.5 million for smaller versoin
Hydra the Revenge - $13 million
Max Air at Cedar Point was around 7.5 million
Bat at Lagoon Park in Utah (Vekoma Suspended Family Coaster)- 3 million
Spider Roller Coaster at Lagoon Park in Utah (Maurer Söhne / Xtended SC 2000)- 3 million
In 1999 a pair of new PTC's went for ~$800,000.
Wiggle's World costs 3 million.
Operation Spygirl Show set was 5 million.
New mouse coaster (Batman Dark Knight) was 7.5 million.
Superman Ultimate Flight was 15 million.
Joker’s Jinx at Six Flags America was 10 million.
Great Bear at Hersheypark was 13 million.
Magnum at Cedar Point was 8 million.
Griffon: 15.6 million
Corkscrew (Cedar Point): 1.75 million
Tony Hawk’s Big Spin: 6.5 million
Tatsu was 21 million.
Goliath @ SFOG was 20 million.
X ^ 2, they are spending an additional 10 million on new stuff for the ride.
Skull Island type of kids water playground area at waterpark This is the place that has slides in the complex, and water buckets.: 1.2 million
Expedition Everest- 100 million
Mission Space – 100 million
Radiator Springs at Disney’s California Adventure (Similar to Test Track I’m thinking) – 300 million
Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror (MGM) – 140 million
Spiderman (Islands of Adventure) – nearly 100 million (Each vehicle costs 100,000.)
Splash Mountain – 90 million
Indiana Jones Adventure – 100 million
Rolling Thunder: 5 million
Rhino Rally: 25 million
Drop Zone @ Kings Island: 10 million
Italian Job Stunt Coaster: 13 million
Flight of Fear: 17 million
Face-Off: 11 million
Rugrat’s Runaway Reptar: 4 million
Racer: 1.2 million
The Beast: 4 million
Son of Beast: 15 million
Vortex: 4 million
Firehawk: 10 million to install at Kings Island. It came with an initial cost at Gaugea Lak to begin with as being called X-Flight.
Adventure Express (Arrow Mine Train): 4 million
Delirium: 4.5 million (Max Air)
Tomb Raider the Ride: A site says around 20 million, but I don’t think that’s true. This is Huss Top Spin with fire effects.
Time Warp (Noah’s Ark Water park)- “over one million dollars to build”.
Black Anaconda (Noah’s Ark Waterpark)- 2.5 million dollars This is the watercoaster.
Hurricane Harbor waterpark at Six Flags Great America -25 million
As you can see, rides are really expensive! Thus, when you go to an amusement park remember that you are paying a lot of money because they are expensive to maintain, and buy.
These are:
Huss Top Spin - 3.5 million
S&S Screamin' Swing - $6 million
Intamin Impulse Coaster (Vertical Velocity or Wicked Twister) - $10 million and 8.5 million for smaller versoin
Hydra the Revenge - $13 million
Max Air at Cedar Point was around 7.5 million
Bat at Lagoon Park in Utah (Vekoma Suspended Family Coaster)- 3 million
Spider Roller Coaster at Lagoon Park in Utah (Maurer Söhne / Xtended SC 2000)- 3 million
In 1999 a pair of new PTC's went for ~$800,000.
Wiggle's World costs 3 million.
Operation Spygirl Show set was 5 million.
New mouse coaster (Batman Dark Knight) was 7.5 million.
Superman Ultimate Flight was 15 million.
Joker’s Jinx at Six Flags America was 10 million.
Great Bear at Hersheypark was 13 million.
Magnum at Cedar Point was 8 million.
Griffon: 15.6 million
Corkscrew (Cedar Point): 1.75 million
Tony Hawk’s Big Spin: 6.5 million
Tatsu was 21 million.
Goliath @ SFOG was 20 million.
X ^ 2, they are spending an additional 10 million on new stuff for the ride.
Skull Island type of kids water playground area at waterpark This is the place that has slides in the complex, and water buckets.: 1.2 million
Expedition Everest- 100 million
Mission Space – 100 million
Radiator Springs at Disney’s California Adventure (Similar to Test Track I’m thinking) – 300 million
Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror (MGM) – 140 million
Spiderman (Islands of Adventure) – nearly 100 million (Each vehicle costs 100,000.)
Splash Mountain – 90 million
Indiana Jones Adventure – 100 million
Rolling Thunder: 5 million
Rhino Rally: 25 million
Drop Zone @ Kings Island: 10 million
Italian Job Stunt Coaster: 13 million
Flight of Fear: 17 million
Face-Off: 11 million
Rugrat’s Runaway Reptar: 4 million
Racer: 1.2 million
The Beast: 4 million
Son of Beast: 15 million
Vortex: 4 million
Firehawk: 10 million to install at Kings Island. It came with an initial cost at Gaugea Lak to begin with as being called X-Flight.
Adventure Express (Arrow Mine Train): 4 million
Delirium: 4.5 million (Max Air)
Tomb Raider the Ride: A site says around 20 million, but I don’t think that’s true. This is Huss Top Spin with fire effects.
Time Warp (Noah’s Ark Water park)- “over one million dollars to build”.
Black Anaconda (Noah’s Ark Waterpark)- 2.5 million dollars This is the watercoaster.
Hurricane Harbor waterpark at Six Flags Great America -25 million
As you can see, rides are really expensive! Thus, when you go to an amusement park remember that you are paying a lot of money because they are expensive to maintain, and buy.
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