SFGAm 5/13/05

[chiatrain]

I got to the park at about 9:10 am, and I was one of the first cars there this morning. The buses, full of students for Physics/Marketing/Journalism Days, soon followed.

The National Anthem seemed to play a little bit early today, letting people in at about 9:20 - 9:25. I waited under the HomeTown Square bridge, waiting to get to Viper and Raging Bull. The chain drop was chaotic, where people were jumping over the chain at 10:00 am.

Whizzer was closed for most of the day, opening up at 3:15 pm (where I got the first ride of the day). Some flats, including The Orbit, opened up in the afternoon. Ragin Cajun did not open today, and Superman got a late start. Apparently, Superman got struck by lightning the night before. And, B96 was broadcasting from the park this morning, near Superman.

Sky Trek Tower still did not have its spiel, but around 4:00 pm, I did see King Chaos testing, with water dummies, from the STT.

American Eagle: Blue was not running today. Deja Vu also did not operate, along with Revolution. Other than that, the crowds were pretty light/moderate. The rain held out for most of the day, where there was only a brief sprinkle or two.

[Maggie&meSFGAm?]

Do you think that many of the rides were closed because of staffing? Did D Vu' test during the entire day? Were mechanics working on any ride that was closed? Was anything else closed that you remember?

[chiatrain]

I believe that ride closures may have been due to staffing, but the sign outside of Deja Vu, Ragin' Cajun, and Whizzer stated that the rides were closed due to the weather. Throughout the day, most of the flats closed one time or another for break periods.

Rides that were closed include: Scenic Railway, Hometown Fun Machine, Condor, King Chaos, Ragin' Cajun, Deja Vu, Revolution, Ricochet, American Eagle: Blue, Roaring Rapids, Loggers Run, Great America Raceway, Stargate, the Pictorium, and perhaps more.

[DejaVu The Ride]

Very low staffing. Don't worry, most of those rides weren't actually broke.

[Danhockey04]

The rides were closed due to staffing, only full time and leads and sups were running the rides. Today was a great day, despite all the closures, the place was pretty dead.

I got first rides on RB (I won the race) and Whizzer.

On STT, ask them to play the music, it is only the music no spiel, but makes it better.

[CoasterDave316]

I won the race to spacleys . First dispatch, front row!! woo hooo .

Here's the list I came up with of rides closed for a extended period of time:

Superman - closed all morning
Ragin Cajun - Never opened
Deja Vu - Never opened
Eagle: Blue - Never opened
Whizzer - Opened with a hour and a half left
Condor - Closed all day for obvious reasons
Triple Play - Closed most the day
Hometown Fun Machine - Closed most the day
Orbit - Closed Most the day
Trailblazer - Closed most the day
Ricochet - Closed most the day
Revolution - Closed half the day
Whirligig - Closed most the day
Jesters WR - Closed all day
King Chaos - closed all day, they were putting the test dummys in it.
Roaring Rapids - closed all day
Ice Mountain Splash - closed all day
Loggers Run - closed all day
Splashwater falls - closed all day
Stargate Sg-3000 - closed all day
Train - closed all day

I actually think more rides were closed then running today.

[w00dland]

Must have been staffing because yesterday Eagle: Blue was running with one train still and Deja Vu also ran during the daytime.

[Bob O]

If they are going to run the park with so many rides not operating they should either not even open or if they do, then give the guests a free pass to be used on another day or fastlane passes for season passholders to show appreciation for guests putting up with a park run in a slipshod manner!!!!!!!
If you dont have enough employee's to properly run the park, then dont open it. As for rides still being worked on(like Condor), they have had all winter too fix them and there is no excuse for a seasonal park not to get all rehabs done before the season opens.
I guess with SF parks being run in this manner we shouldnt be surprised that they have massive debt !!!!!!!

[Danhockey04]

First, they have been busy painting and building a waterpark all winter. They really cant do much in the cold winter months to improve the park's rides externally, Vu did not get painted till 1 week before it opened. AEB's lift hill got retracked about 3 weeks before opened. Condor's birds are there, they are right behind the ride, they just havent reattached them yet, like what happened to TP last year, it will be a while.

Next, they should have the park open on days that they have listed. They had most of the coasters running, and there was no need to have any of the flats open since most of the guests that day were teenagers for Journalism Day and Marketing Day. Most of the people there wanted to ride coasters, not flats. Lastly, the park was not crowded at all, it was very empty, exception of Bull.

[Bob O]

You have all winter/spring to get rehabs done so there is no excuse not to have the work done by opening day.
Yes, they should be open on scheduled days, and they should be open with most rides operational and if they cant achieve that they shouldnt be open or should lower the admission price to reflect the fact that a good portion of the park is not operational. Not everyone, even teenagers like to ride roller ocaster and some perfer flat rides.
Companies that are run in this manner lose hundreds of million dollars a year which is what SF, has done the past few years and is not showing that they want to improve if this i any indication.

[Galvan]

Bob get off your soap box.

Id say 50% of the staff at Great America is teens. Many of whom are still in school. Secondly, Why have everything open when the park is only open for a shortened day 10-5pm?

Like previous posts above stated, there was alot more work to be done during the offseason then just repairing condor.