Its getting late, but I did want to get something posted tonight about closing day.
Got to the park at opening, and got on all the coasters before noon. Saw the 1st showing of LAFF and then noticed that lines were getting longer. But, then most people started to leave around 6-6:30 pm.
For those that were in the Season Pass processing center, you probably saw the 3 or 4 new concept photographs of the ride. I have pictures to post, and will do so tomorrow (unless someone else does first).
The other thing I found out has to do with opening day 2009. Most full time staff that I spoke with all said the same thing: The park is looking to move opening day to be earlier in April then in years past. I was also told by a few people that Saturday, April 4th would be opening day. Others said to keep your weekends free in April.
So, nothing official at this point, but all signs point to an early April opening in 2009. So, that's something good to look forward to.
Again, I'll post some pictures tomorrow or on Tuesday.
EDIT
Sorry it took longer then a few days, but I finally got around to uploading more of the concept art of the ride.
BB Fact Sign
Concept Photo's
--Brian
Last edited by BrianPlencner on November 7th, 2008, 7:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
That early opening is good for you and I but not a good thing for the park.
That means they are losing companies buying out the park for private events on April weekends which is a guaranteed amount of money for the park. If they just open to the public, they are going to lose big time as the place will be dead.
I finally retired the Sarah Palin signature because she is now 100% irrelevant.
Sat . April 4th 2009 is the weekend before easter sunday so it can be some kind of event like Spring break-out during that week. Sponsor by_________? Since, some school district have off that week. Other parks around Six Flags do that past years. Fixed!
Last edited by rico28 on November 3rd, 2008, 5:10 am, edited 2 times in total.
Yep, I went today also and had a great time. The crowds were not terrible, but definitely much more crowded than Halloween night.
I think an early April opening would be great. So many times there are nice weekends in April, and the park is sitting there closed. With many larger companies cutting costs, I can definitely see buyouts getting cut.
I think it's a great idea for us, but there are many weekends in April when it's still cold. Why does Fright Fest survive during the cold? It's mostly for teenagers, and they really don't care about the cold. Secondly, the park is transformed with decorations, and haunted houses. Even the shows are different.
Kiddieland always is ready to open up earlier in the season, but at the moments notice, they won't even let you in the gate if it's past a certain temperature or raining. Six Flags are the people that let you in and either will keep it open even if there is 100 people in the park. If there is a 100 people in the park, and it's raining than they have an excuse to close it down do to weather.
I think the better idea to extending the season would be in September. They could open the park everyday (except Saturdays, and Sundays) at 4:00 pm, and close at 10:00 pm. However, in order for this to work, you would need the admission to not be so high (maybe half price) because these people would only get 6 hours, instead of 12. However, it's probably not going to be open past August next year because of that 200 million they don't have.
Last edited by Ilovthevu' on November 3rd, 2008, 11:02 am, edited 1 time in total.
"I've been staring at the world, waiting. All the trouble and all the pain we're facing. Too much light to be livin' in the dark. Why waste time? We only got one life. Together we can be the CHANGE. So go and let your heart burn bright"
And I wouldnt be owrried about the park losing money, if someone offers a buyout that will make the company money, they will change the schedule to in a heartbeat. And will likely run with as small a staff as possible to save costs and incease the amount of money they make.
Are they trying to get rid of all the water rides except Roaring Rapids? This is ridiculous especially since the Clipper and Logger's Run are next to each other. They both are still very popular and the park just took down one water ride.
^ keep in mind that they are adding a water attraction next year bringing the count back up.
I can't see them keeping Clipper down all season. It may become a ride that's only operated when the need arises (i.e. the hot summer days). Running both flumes on days where the wait for each is about 15min is wasteful. I just remember working on the crew on specific days and we'd call the other station just to see how many people were in line. In most cases, people were able to stay on and re-ride (those that wanted to) quite a bit because the lines were almost minimal...and it almost didn't pay to have both open. Keep in mind the minimal amount of boats/logs were on each one (which is 12).
The early open thing may become more of a "Spring Break" fling, which other parks have done (such as Great Adventure, Texas, and Georgia), but I just can't see maintenance having everything ready to go in March, which would also mean the park would have to start all the employee training/orientation earlier as most of that takes place in March-April.
As someone else mentioned, if they did happen to open early, and a company with the means (and money) wanted to buyout the park for a specific day, I'm sure the park wouldn't turn them down, although it would seem strange to have the park open 2 weekends in April to the public and then close the last 2 weekends so people could have private events.
Oh, is it a secret government mission? That is why you can't say? Why not just take it down if they don't want to operate it unless they absolutely have to. It will be another case of a ride being at the park and never being open. Not everyone prefers Logger's Run and not everyone will be flocking to Buccaneer Battle. If BB has long lines (New rides always do), having Clipper open would help with the crowds.
I dont think it would sit an entire season, but considering Shuttle was idled and will probably sit idle again I wouldnt be surprised about anything. But there definitley IS a high demand for water rides during the summer months and having it closed when it would be guarenteed a long line is kind of a slap in the face.
...then again they did it in 02/03, so once again nothing would surprise me. And in 2008 Loggers Run and Roaring Rapids opened at 11, and Yankee Clipper opened at 12 and typically when there wasnt anyone riding it would go back to 1 flume at night. So for a large portion of an average operating day the ride was SBNO anyway. Its like checkout counters at Target, you got no line you close the ride .
If one of the flumes would get the axe it would be Loggers Run. They have used it so much more. It has a lot more damage done to it. It leaks a lot more water than Clipper down the drop.
All I heard this year was where's Logger's Run? I never heard where's Yankee Clipper. I always felt that Yankee Clipper gets you less wet anyway. We probably have had that discussion 10,000 times already though.
In regards to it standing even if it doesn't operate in 2009, they are too cheap to take it down. This year, and probably next year will remind of the Orleans Place area before 2004. They can paint every building in the park, put paint on roller coasters, have trash cans everywhere, add new signs, have employees carry sweepers, but the thing I still see is a junked area near Splash Water Falls, and an abandoned building (Technically, I guess it's not really abandoned, but you get my point.) that is the Spaceship America.
"I've been staring at the world, waiting. All the trouble and all the pain we're facing. Too much light to be livin' in the dark. Why waste time? We only got one life. Together we can be the CHANGE. So go and let your heart burn bright"
( hopewe get a neww bm wingrider for next year!11!
