So...with the 2016 ride announcements in the books, are we in the new era of the Six Flags ride share program? I understand that physical rides are not moving between parks very often, but if you look at the announcement from 2014 and today's announcement, a lot of the rides are the same: 1 RMC, 1 S&S 4D, 2 JLBFM, too many Larson Super Loops, and some flat ride packages. I suspect that the announcements for next year will likely be the same until most parks have a Larson Super Loop, a JLBFM, an RMC, and S&S 4D coaster...
Personally, I'm a tad disappointed in the lack of innovation from last year to this year. Do I think that most of these additions make sense, yes, but that doesn't change that I think that SF is taking the cheap way out. I realized that SF is a business, but when you see how CF properties are managed and how they spend their money on capitol projects you realize that there is another way to do business that includes dark rides, full length coasters, flat rides, etc. I mentioned it yesterday, but it's a really good thing that SF has a relationship with RMC, because without their RMC creations, SF coasters the last 4 years have been extremely lacking.
I think that SF needs to change the way they add rides. I'm not a huge fan of this year's lack of innovation, but they're all solid rides. Larson Loops are good flats, but I don't like how they're called coasters. The flat ride packages I really like. It's good to see how SF is starting to move away from just coasters and other stuff to actual flats. RMCs are always welcome. The S&S is a good fit, but really lacking any innovation. It's an exact clone of Batman: the Ride at Fiesta Texas. I'm fine with the ride, but I'm too afraid it'll be the "New Batman". Waterpark expansions are ok, I guess. As long as they're worthwhile, I'm fine with it. Kiddie areas are great for any park. However, if Six Flags decided to be more like Cedar Fair, and add 1 major roller coaster, 2-3 medium-sized rides(ala medium-small coasters, dark rides, flat packages, etc), and a bunch of other, smaller additions, that'd be great. Only if they don't neglect any parks, that'd be a great ride addition pattern.
Didn't Six Flags say they would never spend more than $23 Million on a coaster again? (Tatsu at SFMM). I think that Cedar Fair parks are so well rounded now compared to Six Flags. I mean practically all the big Cedar Fair parks have a Giga, (minus Kings Island). Now that Six Flags is pretty much playing catch up... they're doing an ok job with almost all the parks having an RMC. However it seems like they need to come up with something innovative quickly, because once their done adding RMC's to pretty much all of their parks Larson Loops won't cut it. And yes, I know I'm just talking out of my A** right now but it is wishful thinking I guess. They will hopefully spend $23 Mill + eventually on a quality roller coaster. Maybe when they're even more financially stable?
Favorite Coasters I've Ridden: Steel:1.Maverick2.Steel Vengeance3.X24.StormChaser5.TwistedColossus Wood:1.The Voyage2.Renegade3.MysticTimbers4.TheLegend5.The Beast Great America:1.Maxx Force2.Goliath3.Raging Bull4.Batman: The Ride5.X-Flight