SFGAM needs to follow some SFMM polices!!

[Bob O]

http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/200805/752/

We need this guy from SFMM at our park, where he touts no part of the park opens late and that they will try whenever possible to run rides at full capacity at the start of the day.

[tp41190]

Why cant we have good managment like them?

There was a time when I though that SFGAm was a better "quality" then say SFGAdv, and even SFMM after I visited those parks along with other Sux Flags Park. Now its going the opposite direction.

And even with that, the SFGAm Fan Boys will always be closed minded about what the park does. I agree with BobO 100% about what he says about the park. And until you visit other parks you wont see that. I mean, we cut out 3 major rides...two were family rides. Then they dont open 2 family coasters until 11:00am. Yet isnt the park supposed to be a "family" park now?

With the price going higher, and the value going down it really makes me nevous about the parks future.

[batcave]

Wow, just wow. Great America has one of the best fulltime teams assembled. Wow, I am uterly speachless, just the thought of Magic Mountain's fulltime staff being better than Great America scares me. The fulltime staff was rude at Magic Mountain, and does not care about efficency. GAH, im soo angry. HULK ANGRY, HULK SMASH!

[viper1988]

Well said Batcave!

[Danhockey04]

SFGAms operations have been sup-bar so far this year because of Six Flags Inc's "Real Time Operation Plan," not because the park management, and all the parks have similar parameters. Jay Thomas has done a good job helping SFMM's situation but needs a reality check, SFGAm is still putting way more people through their rides than SFMM is dreaming of.

Listen to the conference calls.

[batcave]

What in the world is real time operations?

[CoasterDude12-2]

SFMM is cheaper, and more enjoyble than GAm. Their management is focused on guests and wait times, our management is focused on money.


I think my head might eplode.

[DejaVu2001]

^ SFMM cheaper!?!? Um, SFMM One-Day General Admission = $59.99 and doesn't include Hurricane Harbor. SFGAm One-Day General Admission = $54.99 and includes Hurricane Harbor.
How is SFMM cheaper?

[batcave]

Focused on money? SFMM focused on ride times, LOL! The people who really know anything about theme park operations are finally coming out.

[w00dland]

There are three types of people on this board.

1. The 15 year old fanboy. SFGAm is awesome yay I love roller coasters. Probably where we all started.

2. The grown up fanboy. Starts realizing some of the parks flaws. Seems that SFGAm doesn't do everything right all the time, and could take advice even from other parks in the chain. Crazy to think about, I know.

3. Employees. People who believe since they work/worked at the park they know all about the SFI chain. Just because you worked at one Six Flags park and got gossip with fulltime employees doesn't make you a theme park analyst. And we also know who you are, so when you back SFGAm 300%, it makes you seem biased and unbelievable.

Sorry, I just needed to get that out.

[superflybri]

^Very well put wOOdland! Except I don't think I fit into any of those categories! But I defiantly feel where you are going with that.

[Chitown]

This is why Shapiro transferred Jay Thomas from SFKK to SFMM when it was decided to keep this park. This guy genuinely cares about what goes on at the park he operates.

As far as SFGAm opening County Fair at 11am, I am pretty sure that decision was made by corporate but I don't know for sure. Maybe an employee of the park could chime in on that one.

SFMM has alot to do to turn around its reputation. It's not looked at favorably by alot of people. Lets hope SFGAm doesn't go in the opposite direction.

[batcave]

I get where woodland is coming from, since I am not in any of those categories I can give my opinion. I have had extensive encouters with fulltimers from many parks, and you will not find any fulltime staff more passionate than at SFGAm. The best fulltime team I have seen is at Dinseyland, but that is expected from the amount of $$ they recieve. Six Flags Magic Mountain was the worst theme park eperience of my life, I encountered some good frontline team members and leads(in which I maintain contact with), and their number complaint is that they can not get anything done because their fulltime staff is afraid to push their team members too far.

[Mr.SIX]

I think SFGAm has lowered its quality. Its something I've noticed last season and already this season. The gate security have a horrible attitude and I've seen 2 instances where the employees haven't followed the line cutting policy and let people just cut in line. And the food in the food court is going down hill too.

[yamcha]

speaking of the food when i went i was disappointed that some of the food i used to eat isn't there anymore. I know i am in the minority but i don't like Panda express, or that pizza stand they have by Dark Knight. What ever happened to hotdog stands and all the food i expect form a park?

[Bob O]

I'm sure SFMM is following these new policies for that park in a attempt to get rid of the negative image they have had in the past, and if they follow thru on what they have said, I think it will be great for that park. From what I have read on different sites it does seem the new management does care and is trying to turn things around. So kudo's for them.

And while SFGAM is a very good park, for a SF property, I havent seen the same mindset that you get from the management team at SFMM, and of the changes, be it lockers/opening parts orf the park late/screwing guests by closing park early/rip off parking prices/more closed rides than new ones to take there place/not being able to have all the trains for RB/AE open at the start of the season, i'll stop there, it doesnt seem our management is as concerned about the guest experience in the park. I hope things improve as the season goes on, but things havent started out well. It seems the current management wants to get by on past positive experiences at the park, and not enhance that experience.

As for food, Johnny Rockets is a positive from what i have seen, but not worth the price and I will eat outside the park. And for the pizza, it just SUCKS!!!!! How I miss the slices of pizza from the Firehouse pizza which was much better, and far cheaper by the slice than the combo's they try to force you to buy, so again I will eat outside the park and give someone else my money, rather than SF.

[UWW-10]

^
1 section opens an hour late...from past employment, I can say that the most riders on a coaster in the back of the park in the first hour is about 100 people (if that)...I'd say that's an estimate as half of them re-ride 2-3 times and only passed through the turnstyle once. As far as Wiggles, it isn't too busy at 10am either (or 10:30 for that matter)

And I'm pretty sure Magic Mountain has a few "open" gaps right now too without attractions to fill them. I don't understand what people don't get with the idea of "future developments"

And train-wise...I don't think it was necessary to really have all 3 trains run on RB opening day...it never is really needed...and I'm sure AEB would have been done prior if it wasn't for the extreme winter weather they had literally up to Mid-April...because I'm certain the GAm maintenance team can control weather

[batcave]

It seems the current management wants to get by on past positive experiences at the park, and not enhance that experience.

I am more than 100% sure SFGAm management knows the #1 rule of hospitality management. Exceed expectations.

[Bob O]

Batcave, If SFGAM management knows the rule, they are showing no evidence of that fact!!

When you dont open rides to the full capacity from the get go you are causing longer lines to start right away, then cause downtime later on when you add the train and shut down the ride, of course this does help the park sell fastlane passes.

So I guess a offseason from Late Oct/late April isnt enough time to properly rehab trains???

[w00dland]

I never agree with Bob O, but I think I'm agreeing with Bob O.

If SFGAm wants to exceed expectations of a normal guest they should be running rides at the highest capacity possible, because a guests expectations are to stand in a fairly shortish line. The shorter the happier the guest.

A normal guest expects their 13 dollar a plate food to be DELICIOUS, and there is no reason it shouldn't be. Raising food prices and decreasing quality doesn't exceed my expectations.

A normal guest expects to be able to store their items somewhere for free, not pay a buck for each ride they go on. Exceeding expectations would be something that Universal does, allowing the lockers to be accessed for free for an hour.

But on the other hand Raging Bull's paint is very nice, and the locker deal is there to try and increase capacity. I just feel like they could be doing a better job.

[tp41190]

^And about the lines. Even if the line is huge, like Raging Bull full que, and as long as the line keeps moving it will make the quests happier.

Another thing I think needs to be a little better are the groupers. Theres no point of grouping if the station is full after the grouping. Like for V2, there is no point of only sending say 28 people at a time per dispatch if the station is full anyway.

[CoasterDude12-2]

^ SFMM cheaper!?!? Um, SFMM One-Day General Admission = $59.99 and doesn't include Hurricane Harbor. SFGAm One-Day General Admission = $54.99 and includes Hurricane Harbor.
How is SFMM cheaper?

SFMM has tickets for $26.99 online, compared to $39.99 for us online, and since I only go to Hurricane Harbor about once a season, the free water park does nothing. Of course, I have a season pass, so it's the same price for me..free. But MM has been in rehab ever since Tatsu opened, and continues to make strides in cleanliness and ride operations, which is good because the last time I went there, six coasters out of sixteen were open.