Dark Knight Fading?

[onyxhotel08]

People surprise me a lot when it comes to waiting for roller coasters. Why so many choose to wait for rides like Bull/Superman/Batman anywhere between 45 minutes and 2 hours sometimes is ridiculous. I love those babies but when you have rides like American Eagle, Demon, Whizzer, Viper Iron Wolf, etc. and the flat rides with wait times of 10-20 minutes why bother choosing? Obviously, we all prefer the biggies but when you can ride 2 or 3 rides in the time it takes you to ride 1 it seems silly and dumb to say the least. Dark Knight will become a typical 10-15 minute Demon type wait in 2-3 years. You don't get the reviews DK gets without some effects down the line...

[Trailblazer Tony]

^ seriously, what new, major rides don't have long lines??

Any major ride at the Hard Rock Park!

[LAFFfan4lyfe]

I think once the teenage audience realizes that this ride isn't as great as it is hyped up to be, then they'll realize that they shouldn't really need to ride it every time. I don't mean coaster enthusiasts, I mean the rest of the general public. I've heard people getting off the ride and saying that they thought it sucked. Well, that's one ride they won't ride whenever they come back next. I think families will always be attracted to it, but the teenagers and adults with no children, or older children won't keep coming back.

[tp41190]

I teach swimming lessons to kids at the YMCA. I have talked to a lot of kids from ages 7-12 who have been to SFGAm. And pretty much everyone said that TDK was a LONG line "forever", "6 hours" , "all day", "I had to pee and leave the line", "my parents were getting mad". And for the ride they said "was OK", "not really fun", "really dark", "not scary", "boring", "my parents hated it", "not worth the wait". And all of them said that either Eagle, Whizzer, or Demon, Viper and even Raging Bull were there favorite rides.

Goes to show that the "true favorite" thrill/family rides ie (Demon, Whizzer, Eagle, Viper)...instead of Cajun and TDK.

[coasterkidd100]

^I am 15 and I agree with all of the things those 7-12 year olds said about TDK!

[onyxhotel08]

I love the fact that Dark Knight is indoors now that the temps are 30-40 degrees cooler than in the summer months. The weather in October will have no effect on that ride.

[coasterkidd100]

Do they heat TDK building?

[RagingBullFan]

The building itself is only ventilated with outside air, no heating/cooling; The queue area and station do have climate control.

[onyxhotel08]

Good to hear. Better than nothing like the other rides.

[ttd rox]

I went September 11th in the late afternoon and the line took only 15 minutes tops. Total including the pre-show about 20 minutes to get on the ride. I forgot how long the pre-show is so maybe a minute or so longer.

[onyxhotel08]

Have they actually ended up using all eight of the cars? Or are they still just 6? I have a feeling The dark Knight Coaster will still be a Grey color next year...

[coasterkidd100]

^ I heard that they are now running 8 cars.

[onyxhotel08]

About time...

[DejaVu2001]

^^ and ^^^ 10 cars

[onyxhotel08]

^^ and ^^^ 10 cars

I've only been on it once since it opened and can't wait to go back....with my flash pass in hand again

[coasterkidd100]

Finally they are running 10 cars.

[tp41190]

Do they stack with 10 cars? And does it really affect the capasity?

[BP317]

/\ YES im sure it does a lot. When the ride opened with 6 cars it only typically put around 60 people in the preshow and now with 10 it should be around 100.

[monsterfan99]

Just got back from going today. The line on the Dark Knight was only 30 minutes at 5ish and that was with Superman down (whole nothing angry rant waiting there.) The loading time was ridiculously fast and all the families I was around were enjoying it.

[Jerrykoala2112]

Ok i got a couple things to say.

The new ride Evil Knievel at Six flags St louis ws a 5 minute wait, its new, way better than dark knight but it wasn't too special. But the carts are long and the ride was short and it could have way (20 times more) people per hour.

I went to six flags today, rainy, park empty. All rides shut down but The Dark Knight. Was a 3 minute wait before the movie. And after the little movie, went straight on the ride. I think the people hate it cause they waited so long for it. But today, i am like, DEFINATELY WORTH IT !!!!!

I forgot the third thing i was going to say.

[BP317]

(20 times more) people per hour

TDK pulls around 700pph. That would mean Evel puts through 14,000 pph. Now thats impressive.

[Jerrykoala2112]

Thanks for bringing out my point! that is actually how many pph evil knievel serves.

[SixFlagsGuy76]

I'd have to imagine Dark Knight might even be pulling in more people than Evel Knievel now.

[Jerrykoala2112]

The main reason why people don't like the Dark Knight is because

1.They waited a really long time. I don't think it is a problem cause in the main room, there is the new tv's and always fun to watch. Then they show a miniclip of the movie. And the line is constantly moving. Alsways cool to look whats on the wall. And the part about when you face turns to a clown.

2. We already have Ragin' Cajun. I bet than if Ragin Cajun wasn't built, 25% more people would like this.

3.What you would expect. Everyong thinks ooh Dark Knight, sounds cool. But they ride it and say "this sucks". There wasnt a new coaster in the park and people are expecting something thrilling. It isnt too thrilling exept for a a part where there is a sudden drop after a turn and then a flash. Cause you are in darkness and then a flashing light. And then when there are the hairpen turns and the 3rd hallway where your cloths glow. I think the ride is pretty sweet. And so many carts going and you hear screamin frfom sudden drops and the joker's laugh. It has pretty good affects if you think about.

4. The length of the ride. Not much to say, but its a wild mouse coaster, not suppose to be a long ride.


Although I got 2 bad things about the ride.

1. The cart. I sat in the back 2 seats the first time i rode it. The 2nd drop on the ride after the sharp turn made me hit my head on the metal frame in the back.

2. The Flash made me lose eye eight for like a minute. Literally, not joking.

Thats what I got to say. It isnt that bad of a ride you guys. Tell me why you hate it and maybe I will not like it either. lol.

[onyxhotel08]

As much as I am am 50/50 on The Dark Knight Coaster, I will say that on a day like today I am glad we have that ride. You never have to wrry about rain or thunder. Though, the park will not keep the gates open with just one ride running...yeah that's not gonna happen. I mean like on a day when you get a small shower or something. Nothing serious.