When I look into the future I see this thread getting back on track starting right now.
Is Bizarro a really popular ride at SFGAdv? I would think it is and I would definitely love to have it at SFGAm. However, I'm not too fond of the whole "ride rotation" program even though I realize it's just rumors of it returning. I think V2 would benefit the park in many ways if it leaves. As mentioned, it's costly and it's no longer a ride you hear about as much since the Deja Vu days.
I would love to see them either update or re-theme the Yankee Harbor area. I would like to see a newer flume ride replace the existing two and possibly a new flat ride in Yankee. When was the last time they updated BTR's theming or has it been the same since it opened?
Top 3 Steel Coasters: 1. The Incredible Hulk 2. Maverick 3. Dragon Challenge (Fireball)
Top 3 Wood Coasters: 1. The Beast 2. American Eagle (Red) 3. Hades
^^ Medusa underwent the transformation into Bizarro because ridership was down. I was there on a dead day (the way I like it) so nothing was busy. From talking to employees El Toro, Kingda Ka, and Nitro are the 3 most popular rides and have other major coasters by them. It is also outclassed by these 3. Bizzaro is in a corner of the park that really feels family like. The mine train ride is right by it, along with a flume, outdoor arena, skyride, one of the parks best restaurants, and has very good landscaping. Other than Bizarro, everything in the area look like it was built together back in the 70's. It was a quiet, serene feel when I was eating lunch there. If the park removed Bizarro, it would be a perfect fit to blend it all together with the theme, a family coaster, some flats and maybe a kids area. Bizarro could probably be better served by going to Atlanta or St. Louis. The problem though, is GRADV has a hard time building anything in an undeveloped area. Jackson, NJ doesn't like to see trees cut down. So they would probably would put their next big coaster there.
I played around on Google maps and a mirrored clone of iSpeed could fit in iron wolf and the wilderness theater area. I dont think it would ever happen but it sure as hell would be cool. I would love to see pretty much any non zac spin intamin come to the park one day. I dont think that will happen either but who knows.
V2 wont be leaving. It far to popular of a ride and it is running every time I go there. The log flume rides are also really really popular too. We probably wont see a coaster for 2013 but I wouldnt be surprised if we saw a GCI for 2014.
^The flumes are nowhere near as popular as when I was a kid. In 1979 they combined for over 4 million riders, the highest ridership in the park. Lines were consistently at 2 hours if it was even remotely warm. The que lines were a lot longer back then too. Boats and logs were end to end with no gaps between them and Marriotts was stuffing them with 5 riders each if possible.
^That's great an ispeed can fit there. Launch technology can make a footprint much smaller.
I still think we will see a skyscreamer for 2013 and possibly a new stage show in the Grand Music Hall. Hopefully the park will also repaint some of the rides that have been needing new paint for a long time now (V2, Batman, Eagle, etc). I also think that we won't be seeing V2 leave. We just exchanged Iron Wolf so V2 should be safe for a while. I really hope we don't lose V2. Still one of my favorites to this day. I love getting to the park early in the morning and just being able to re-ride it over and over again, never gets old for me.
I could see a year with general upgrades next year. Batman, Superman, and V2 all need paint BAD. Batman could use an update of its queue as well. If the park also plans on keeping Demon long term.....That could use some work as well. This is all just scratching the surface here.
I have a feeling Demon isn't going anywhere. It's seemed to get some of it's popularity back over the past few years. For me, it's still one of the best (if not the best) Arrow looper out there. I rode Loch Ness Monster last year - and although it looks GREAT and is a very good ride - it rode the rails with a very 'dry' feeling. It squeeled all over the place. Our Demon runs in top shape all the time it seems.
I wanted to submit an idea/plans to the park a couple years ago. Open up a small area in front of the American Eagle, on the other side of the tracks. Right near the Eagle blue helix - move the Iron Wolf train station there. Put in some old fashioned carnival type rides; a Tilt-A-Whirl, ferris whell - and a very cool new ride - maybe one of those screaming swings. And for gods sake - put the Eagle entrance over there. There is plenty of room for queuing around and under the Eagle's station. This would also eliminate the serious annoyance of walking all the way past the sky coaster, over the bridge to the Eagle - to find out only one side or one train is operating, etc.
Figured it was a great idea. Of course, there is always the ROI aspect of things. I have some good ideas... I think we all come up with great ideas as park/coaster enthusiasts. I've looked at it from all angles, etc, and I think that would make a nice little section to help the park. Putting a few bucks into the Eagle - re-marketing it a bit, would be a big deal. Until the end of last year (when the brakes were back on, leaving the barrel/big helix - why? they had been off for years..) the Eagle was running like a champ for the past few years. Probably a top 10 ride. Maybe some Timberliner trains (think about how high the capacity would shoot up) ... some paint and a little TLC. So many pass holders I know don't even want to go "way over there." As good as the ride can be, that hike is obnoxious.
If I were the park, the next coaster I would remove would be Demon, but of course it wouldn't be for a little bit because Iron Wolf still needs replacing. The reason I say Demon is because the line is short most of the time. For kids, I hear them complaining at a lot about the ride. The older you get, the more ride able it is, and it sort of defeats the purpose. And don't get me wrong, I really like the Demon. I'm not saying get rid of the Demon because I hate the ride because it's the opposite.
It's just the park really should get another company to put in a 2 or 3 loops coaster.The dilemma however with getting another roller coaster that has loops is that most of the roller coasters today with inversions have gone up with the height requirement. I think it's warranted though even for a ride like Demon. Demon's smallest riders are only 42 inches, and the reason why a lot of kids hit their heads on this ride is because they are lower in the seat, and thus hit the harnesses more towards the bottom.
And thus, I think the only reason the park is going to keep Demon is because of the low height requirement. If you look at Dark Knight which is just a mouse roller coaster, that's a 48 height requirement, and that doesn't even have inversions.
What's weird though is that California's Great America has the Demon at 48 inches, and Six Flags Great America is 42 inches.
"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"
^ I'm pretty sure Demon is the only Arrow Looping coaster anywhere with a height requirement lower than 48 inches. And to be honest, I think Demon's height requirement should be 48 inches. Those harnesses are not restrictive enough for small children.
Put aside the facts that some things on this list may seem [generally]crazy with finances, land etc. Just think of each item I list as a profit for the park, how it would "complete" our collection, how we would benefit or market [it], or why it wouldn't be a good asset to our park. Pick & choose from the list, not that all these would go in at once cause well, thats %$@&* impossible.
I have said this a hundred times, but IF a park wants a ride & theyre land restricted, they WILL find a way to make it fit. Look at Gronalund, SFOG, or IB just to name a minimal list.
RIDES I could see us having/benefiting from for an array of reasons:
B&M Giga, Dive, or new gen standup(Yes I said standup cause we all know the GP would have eaten up Chang)
GCI woodie - needs no explanation esp if a mega park like SFMM can make one such a perfect addition.
Intamin hydraulic launch(stratas out sadly) much like Stealth/Xcelerator but giga status maybe, New 12 inversion coaster(record), Vertical Freefall coaster (fam/Th13teen), or their new water coaster concept(Divertical).
Maure Sohne Xcar coaster (Abismo style).
Gerstaluer Mega Eurofighter custom with the 121degree+ drop (Takabisha)
Flats... Ferris Wheel, Windseeker(not skyscreamer), or S&S Giant Swing.
^ I'll take that Intamin Launch coaster or GCI any day. Both would be great. I think the GCI is possible but I dont think the Intamin will happen because six flags doesn't buy to much from Intamin.
V2 restraints would be so cheap I don't know you could consider that part of the capex budget. Literally you take the current ones off, ship them off to Ralph Alberts Inc in Hatfield, PA or someone else of the same nature, and they'd get them back in Jan or so looking brand new at quite a minimal cost.
Favorite Wood Coasters: The Voyage, Ravine Flyer II, Thunderhead, Balder Favorite Steel: Voltron Nevera, Steel Vengeance, Expedition GeForce, Olympia Looping Parks visited: 232, Coasters Ridden: Steel: 894, Wood: 179, Total: 1073
Ilovthevu' wrote: And thus, I think the only reason the park is going to keep Demon is because of the low height requirement. If you look at Dark Knight which is just a mouse roller coaster, that's a 48 height requirement, and that doesn't even have inversions.
What's weird though is that California's Great America has the Demon at 48 inches, and Six Flags Great America is 42 inches.
The Dark Knight is 42", not 48. My freakishly tall son first rode it last summer when he was only 2, and the attendant measured him first. Ragin' Cajun is 48", however.
^I was looking at wikipedia. With adult it's 42 inches, and without it's 48 inches.
"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"
