The Offseason

[Iron Wolf 90-11]

So now that the 2014 operating season is officially over, what did you think about the season overall? What was good and what was bad? What would you like to see improved? What were the highlights of your time at the park this season? Also, what does the 2015 addition all consist of, besides Hometown Park coming back?

[CoasterCale]

Every Season is overall pretty good. Dispatch and Capacity has been pretty bad. I enjoyed the BOGO Flash Pass Coupons. I would like to see improved Single Rider Lines. I've heard people say that they shouldn't be there if they're going to be poorly run. Don't give the park a reason to get rid of them, the first time they've listened to their guests since Whizzer was saved. I got first ride of the season on X-Flight with a buddy who I didn't know would turn out to be a familiar face in the park later on. I've also been pretty good with getting first rides of the day on Goliath when I visit. (after all I do get there 2-2.5 hours early) I thought the improvements in HomeTown Square is all they're doing for next year.

[Jodon]

This was the first season in a long time where I made multiple visits to the park. I will say that I enjoy the park. It has good variety in it's coasters and flats. However, it seemed like the park had more downs than ups.

Operations in this park can range from decent to awful. I was at the park yesterday and the crew at Raging Bull was doing their best to maintain good dispatches. The majority of the times where they missed their goal was because someone needed assistance fitting in their seat. However, earlier in the season, the Raging Bull crew was not so good and only met their dispatch goals after the park closed and they wanted to get home. Food operations are some of the worst I've seen in a park. It can take over 1/2 hour to get food when the line is not that long. Plus the food is insanely expensive and generally not very good.

I also think that it is a positive step for the park to consider single rider lines, but the implementation of the lines is awful. The groupers have little to no clue how to use them, plus at Raging Bull and Superman, it is very easy to show up to the grouper as a regular rider and request where to sit. Goliath's single rider line is a bit better, but there is no reason to make a single rider stand in the over flow queue. The purpose of a single rider line is to fill empty seats and I cry a little as a frequent single rider when I see a train with an empty seat that I could be filling. Single rider lines should be queued in the station right next to the grouper so they can pull from the single rider line whenever there is an odd numbered group. Merging the single rider line and the regular rider line before the station is not the way a single rider line should operate.

The park also got a bit of a bad rap when TPR visited. I realize that the park does not have to cater to any group, but it seems like most parks try to put their best foot forward when hosting an enthusiast group. In full disclosure, I am a TPR member, but was not on the trip and I think that the owner can be a "bit" heavy handed. Great America got a lot of bad press from the TPR group in the enthusiast world that could have easily been avoided had the park gone a little out of their way.

I have done a lot of traveling to different parks, both big and small this year and I have seen that Great America could be so much better. Smaller parks like Silver Dollar City and Holiday World give excellent guest experiences, with good food and operations with out making you feel like you've been nickel and dimed to death (both offer free parking, $25 dollars to park your car is stupid expensive). Cedar Point does a great job of having efficient ride ops and they hand out awards to crews that are doing well. The crews take ownership in their rides and seem to be proud to work there. There is no reason Great America can't show this pride as well, but it starts with management. The management needs to hold their staff to a higher standard. Without those standards set by the engagement, the park will continue to seem lackluster and frustrating.

I'm sure I'll come up with other stuff to say, but this is long enough for now.

[DejaVu2001]

However, earlier in the season, the Raging Bull crew was not so good and only met their dispatch goals after the park closed and they wanted to get home.

That actually has very little to do with wanting to go home, and a lot more to do with the fact that once the park closes, there are no more disability pass riders. Since they cut the position responsible for the exit when they added grouper, the ride pretty much grinds to a halt any time there is a disability pass.

The park also got a bit of a bad rap when TPR visited. I realize that the park does not have to cater to any group, but it seems like most parks try to put their best foot forward when hosting an enthusiast group. In full disclosure, I am a TPR member, but was not on the trip and I think that the owner can be a "bit" heavy handed. Great America got a lot of bad press from the TPR group in the enthusiast world that could have easily been avoided had the park gone a little out of their way.

I think at this point, everyone in the enthusiast world that is not a TPR member knows enough to not give two craps what Alvey thinks

[tp41190]

The park also got a bit of a bad rap when TPR visited. I realize that the park does not have to cater to any group, but it seems like most parks try to put their best foot forward when hosting an enthusiast group. In full disclosure, I am a TPR member, but was not on the trip and I think that the owner can be a "bit" heavy handed. Great America got a lot of bad press from the TPR group in the enthusiast world that could have easily been avoided had the park gone a little out of their way.

I think at this point, everyone in the enthusiast world that is not a TPR member knows enough to not give two craps what Alvey thinks

The forums are a dead zone with only a few dozen real posters left. Most parks have started to realize that he doesn't haven't that much pull in the enthusiast community anymore, so a few bad words from him are not going to change the overall image of the park.

If enthusiasts make up less than 0.5% of the guests, only about 1/10 of those people will actually follow TPR.

[Stoogie]

No park needs to cater to enthusiasts. They only do it to make themselves look good. Alvey don't deserve anything. Who does he think he is. He's not a God.

[Jodon]

^you are correct, no park "needs" to cater to enthusiasts, but why wouldn't Great America want to make them selves look good. No other park on their trip seemed to have a hard time with it. I just think that it reflects poorly on Great America. I'm no Alvey apologist, he does some weird/stupid stuff and is a shameless self promoter, but TPR is still one of the most visual enthusiast clubs out there besides ACE.

I was at media day for Goliath being invited through TPR, and an ACE'r came up to me and started trashing my "leader." I found that to be incredibly distasteful. I'm not one to look down on anyone because they are part of one club or the other...that is just juvenile and ridiculous. The comments on here aren't much better. Sure he's a blowhard and can be quite egomaniacal, but that shouldn't prevent a park from trying to present themselves in the best light possible.

The other aspect of this that no one seems to remember, is that TPR was at Great America a couple years ago and the park welcomed them with open arms. They were given backstage tours to American Eagle, ERT on Viper to name a few. The expectation was set by Great America on that prior trip and I can understand why TPR was disappointed when Great America did not live up to their prior reputation.

Like I said, I'm no Alvey apologist, but you all are a bit ridiculous with the hate towards him.

[Tardis1972]

I'm already planning my first visit to the park next year. May 23(Sat) for two reasons. 1st is it my 21st and 2nd its Eagles annversiay as well.

[Guy_With_A_Stick]

^ 34th anniversary, woo hoo...?

Sent from my VS840 4G using Tapatalk

[Jodon]

FWIW, the park's twitter account said that opening day will be May 2nd. Only 179 days away!

[Iron Wolf 90-11]

FWIW, the park's twitter account said that opening day will be May 2nd. Only 179 days away!

Exactly 6 months from the day the park closed.

[onyxhotel08]

The offseason flies by right after the holidays are over.

[Guy_With_A_Stick]

So, anyone know how a backyard coaster permit can get approved?



Sent from my VS840 4G using Tapatalk

[Tardis1972]

Anyone else have a birthday that's on the same day a coaster opened?

[tp41190]

TPR is still one of the most visual enthusiast clubs out there besides ACE.

That isn't the case anymore, and hasn't been for sometime. There is a reason why the site only has a few dozen posters on the forums. All of those "thousands" of members are just bots.

I was at media day for Goliath being invited through TPR, and an ACE'r came up to me and started trashing my "leader." I found that to be incredibly distasteful. I'm not one to look down on anyone because they are part of one club or the other...that is just juvenile and ridiculous. The comments on here aren't much better. Sure he's a blowhard and can be quite egomaniacal, but that shouldn't prevent a park from trying to present themselves in the best light possible.

You just pointed out the reason why the park has decided to not cater to him. He lacks any professionalism himself and with his site. The park does not want to deal with someone who is "Blowhard" and an "Egomaniacal".

TPR was at Great America a couple years ago and the park welcomed them with open arms. They were given backstage tours to American Eagle, ERT on Viper to name a few. The expectation was set by Great America on that prior trip and I can understand why TPR was disappointed when Great America did not live up to their prior reputation.

This was because Rob was able to flex his views/members at that point in time. Notice how Rob and his members will talk down a park that they don't like? Remember his last tantrum during the visit to SFOT? They were mad because they got to a park late and were upset that some of the foodcarts were closed. Then they complained about NTG being closed (because of the death), and put all the blame on the park. They eventually realized that it wasn't worth it to cater to his site anymore, it was better to just not associate with the group at all.

Like I said, I'm no Alvey apologist, but you all are a bit ridiculous with the hate towards him.

You keep rationalizing his actions, so I am pretty sure that you are.

NOTE: To unsubscribe from the TPR Forum mailing list, TOO BAD! You can't!
You signed up for it so you can deal with it! lol!

Ok, seriously, though, log into your account, go to:
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7 year traffic record?




As far as the offseason goes, I am a huge skier and winter backpacker.

Skiing is the best way to get a snowy adrenaline rush. Does anyone else like to ski?

[Guy_With_A_Stick]

^ My family has had a history of skiing accidents, so I don't really ski. I'd rather go sledding/tubing.

If you all want a good ski/Winter Recreation place near the Chicagoland area, I'd recommend Wilmot Mountain Ski Resort.(Starting from SFGAm) Just go North on 94, then west on 173. Then make a right onto Johnsburg Wilmot Rd. Go up for about a mile, and it should be on your right. It's just over the Illinois-Wisconsin border. The total trip should take about 30 minutes. And this is from SFGAm, so times should vary depending on where you live.

[Jodon]

TPR is still one of the most visual enthusiast clubs out there besides ACE.

That isn't the case anymore, and hasn't been for sometime. There is a reason why the site only has a few dozen posters on the forums. All of those "thousands" of members are just bots.

I was at media day for Goliath being invited through TPR, and an ACE'r came up to me and started trashing my "leader." I found that to be incredibly distasteful. I'm not one to look down on anyone because they are part of one club or the other...that is just juvenile and ridiculous. The comments on here aren't much better. Sure he's a blowhard and can be quite egomaniacal, but that shouldn't prevent a park from trying to present themselves in the best light possible.

You just pointed out the reason why the park has decided to not cater to him. He lacks any professionalism himself and with his site. The park does not want to deal with someone who is "Blowhard" and an "Egomaniacal".

TPR was at Great America a couple years ago and the park welcomed them with open arms. They were given backstage tours to American Eagle, ERT on Viper to name a few. The expectation was set by Great America on that prior trip and I can understand why TPR was disappointed when Great America did not live up to their prior reputation.

This was because Rob was able to flex his views/members at that point in time. Notice how Rob and his members will talk down a park that they don't like? Remember his last tantrum during the visit to SFOT? They were mad because they got to a park late and were upset that some of the foodcarts were closed. Then they complained about NTG being closed (because of the death), and put all the blame on the park. They eventually realized that it wasn't worth it to cater to his site anymore, it was better to just not associate with the group at all.

Like I said, I'm no Alvey apologist, but you all are a bit ridiculous with the hate towards him.

You keep rationalizing his actions, so I am pretty sure that you are.

NOTE: To unsubscribe from the TPR Forum mailing list, TOO BAD! You can't!
You signed up for it so you can deal with it! lol!

Ok, seriously, though, log into your account, go to:
User Control Panel > Board Preferences Tab > Mark NO under "Please add me
to the mailing list"

Very professional.

TPR Forum Members! We are actually very close to breaking a 7-year traffic
record on the forum! Please join in the discussions and help us out!
Thank you!

7 year traffic record?

If you read my post again, I do not rationalize any of his behavior. My point is that Great America could have done more to be more accommodating to TPR when they came through on one of their trips and that it reflects poorly on the park when Great America is the only park on their trip that did not do something "special" for them.

I still believe that TPR is one of the more visual clubs out there. There is a reason why only ACE and Club TPR were the only enthusiast groups invited to Goliath's Media Day. If the park truly did not like Robb or TPR, why would they invite them to the Media Day? I don't think that there was anything that happened during the day that would have soured the Great America Management, but I could have missed something. Now, with what happened at the park when TPR was there on their trip, I could see how Great America's relationship with TPR and Robb would be strained now, but not before the trip.

Regardless of what you or I think of Robb and TPR, I want my home park to gave a good reputation of a quality park in the area and nationally. I do not think that Great America has a very good reputation right now and the parks handling of the TPR trip did not help them at all. I want to be proud of the park, but sometimes the operations and other odd stuff that happens in the park make it difficult to be proud of the park.

[Chitown]

Why should a park care what .5 % of the park attendance is especially when they don't want to deal with a tool such as Alvey? It is not worth it and the rest of park attendance do not know or care about TPR.

Alvey is notorious for throwing fits if he doesn't get his way. If I were Salemi or any other upper management at the park, I would tell him not to return. They will NOT suffer because of it.

[tp41190]

As far as media day goes, it isn't really an invitation from the park. Any site with enough viewership can ask for a media invite. Coaster Force was another site that was there...also what about SFGAnWorld? Rob had to go out of his way to ask the park if he could send members. Any coaster site with enough traffic can ask to come.

The park realized that it is better to not give him anything, instead of giving him something, and it not being good enough. ERT, walk backs, meals, etc are all very expensive. I can guarantee that the park looses money whenever they offer something like this. Rob probably tries to negotiate ERT and tours at a lower price then what the park is willing to offer. In most cases, parks are generous to clubs or organizations because it will help raise their image.

With TPR, there is no raising of the parks image. It's either you are OK, or you are flushed down the toilet. SFGAm doesn't care what some enthusiasts think, they have better things to worry about, so they chose to just not play his game. In the end, it seemed to work. A few days after Robs tantrum, words of his visit became irrelevant, and people still came into the park.

[chicagoperson]

The park also seemed extremely busy this year. Goliath is an obvious reason, but i've never seen the park be so consistently busy, like they were parking cars down the Washington street entrance on Oct 25th...

[Chitown]

One thing that aggravates me about SFGAm, is the lack of tram service. If the park is not crowded, I can understand not offering it, but when you have to park in the back lot all the way near the tollway, that is a long walk to the main gate.

Marriott used to offer it. No reason why Six Flags can't do it.

[Iron Wolf 90-11]

One thing that aggravates me about SFGAm, is the lack of tram service. If the park is not crowded, I can understand not offering it, but when you have to park in the back lot all the way near the tollway, that is a long walk to the main gate.

Marriott used to offer it. No reason why Six Flags can't do it.

Honestly, it would be an accident waiting to happen with the way half of the idiots drive and walk. Also, if they were to offer a tram service for free, that would mean less profit for Six Flags and as we all know Six Flags is all about profit.

[FParker185]

People are used to not having it, and it costs a ton of money to operate, besides the fact they'd have to buy new trams at this point and reconfigure the parking lot

[Chitown]

It is not like SF doesn't do tram service. SFMM has it and from what I heard SFA has it also.

Why would they need to reconfigure the parking lot? From what I remember, the lot is pretty much the same as when Marriott had it.

[CoasterCale]

It is not like SF doesn't do tram service. SFMM has it and from what I heard SFA has it also.

Why would they need to reconfigure the parking lot? From what I remember, the lot is pretty much the same as when Marriott had it.

I'm not positive on the layout of SFMM's lot. I don't remember SFA specifically offering it. I do remember it at SFNE and SFOT. SFNE is pretty obvious as to why it's offered. The layouts of the parking lots at SFA and SFOT have lots that aren't as deep but wrap around one side of the park. I think that could be apart of it but SFOT is in Texas, so who knows?