SFGAM Trip Report: Sunday May 2, 2004(long)

[sixflagsdude]

Sorry I haven't posted on here since Fright Fest, but here is my first visit of the season:


So I woke up today at 7:30am on instinct because that is usually what time I get up for work. I went "bah" and pulled the covers over my head and forced myself to go back to sleep again. By 10:00am the phone was constantly ringing so I decided to finally get up. A couple of co workers were supposed to go with me but they wigged out because it was too cold out, but it was sunny. It was 40 deg.

Got up, and got ready. I put on my Raging Bull hoodie, a pair of jeans, slammed down a Yoohoo and was on my way. The traffic was really good and I got to the park in about 20 mins. Dang, there were so many unmarked cop cars pulling people over so I had to slow down.

Once I got to the park I showed the parking attendant my sticker for my parking pass and got a new map for the 2004 season and a really huge hotel book and guide. I parked between lots 25 and 22 which was really close to the entrance so yay. Made it through the security gates quickly and my day began.

I walked past the Columbia Carousel and they were blasting that song by the Venga Boys really loud (the same one they play on the Six Flags commercials with the annoying old geezer). Then I went to get my Season Pass processed. Normally it is such a mess to get this done but luckily there was only a few people there. I got my pic taken (which turned out awful as always) and also got a cool coupon book with great deals for this year.

My first ride of the season was Raging Bull. This coaster owns. I sat in the back seat which is my fave spot and rode on the Red Train. They were only running 2 trains and the Teal one was on the transfer track. I only waited about 10 mins for this one.

My next ride was Giant Drop. Only a 5 min wait. They were operating all 6 cabins on this one for the first time in a few years. About time. They also added some structure to the second set of switchbacks which looks like it might be for shade.

Then I headed over to The Revolution. This is a Huss™ Frisbee clone( I think) that more parks are starting to get. I have never been on one before. This ride will do great because it has a high capacity for riders. You start out swinging back and forth on a pendulum and eventually the entire cabin starts to rotate. It goes fast and high and is pretty neat. The second part of the ride is what is intense. After the rotation stops for a moment, you suddenly switch directions and spin so fast that you have no clue where you are. I can see alot of people getting sick on it because its got a high nausea rating and you all face each other so Im sure people will get "hit" at some point. I enjoyed it though.

Next, I headed to The American Eagle. The first time I rode the Blue Backward side in the 3rd row and then the second time, the Red Forward side in the back row. Great ride. I like the forward side better though because the hills between the first drop and helix(and the return hills) are much better. They kept the trim brakes on the mid-helix portion which sucked because it takes away from the speed of that part. They also took the photo booth down for this one.

Then I went potty.

Next it was off to Deja Vu. Other that a few mishaps in the early part of the day, it actually ran consecutively for the rest of the day. This is one to avoid if you don't go to the park often because you sometimes have to wait over 2 hours and then it is almost bound to break down a few times while you are waiting(I also notice alot of "cable cool-down breaks"). I only waited about 20 mins for this one and got on Row 7a. This one is intense but I am getting sick of all the headbanging on the batwing. I also banged my elbow on it too.

Then I went on The Demon. This one ROCKS!! I ALWAYS have to ride this one when I go there and will never get sick of it. I rode in the Red train in the back seat. I walked right on and didn't have to wait in line. They also repainted this one this year and it looks awesome and shiny again (they still didn't paint the turnaround before the corkscrew though). I could ride this all day.

Then I was really hungry so I got a cheeseburger at the County Fair Grill in the Farmer's Market Square. It was awesome! I totally inhaled it. Much better than the nasty one I got at Cedar Point.

Next, I went on the Revolution again RIGHT AFTER EATING! Go me. Didn't get sick at all.

After that, I headed to Iron Wolf. I used to HATE this one because of all the headbanging and also the one I wrenched my neck on. I have finally mastered this one though and can ride it with a minimal of headbanging. The only part I still bang my head on is that short turnaround right after the corkscrew. I only waited about 5 mins for this one. It was really wierd seeing most of the line queue empty because last year it was a good hour and a half wait on some of the days where I went. When I was on the lifthill, I noticed that the pieces of Shockwave were still on the same hill and saw some track pieces for Ragin Cajun in the back parking lot. I also saw the old Tweety bird cages for the Sky Whirl. Guess the park just can't part with those(even though I saw them as part of the Fright Fest theming last season.

Next, I went on The Fiddlers Fling. I used to love this as a kid but now it's more painful when you get squished to one side. Still a great ride though.

Then it was off to Vertical Velocity. Once again, a very short wait. I sat in the second row. Fun ride! The brakes on the vertical back tower made a funny noise today like it was really straining to hold the train up. They extended the supports to both towers and it made the ride look different.

Next, I went on my FAVORITE coaster, Batman: The Ride. The track was painted yellow now and it looked like a completely different coaster. The supports were repainted also and were a really neat deep violet blue. They also changed the graffiti wall to a solid grey. The paint job actually changed the sound of the ride and the usual "roar" was more subdued like how it is on Superman: Ultimate Flight. I especially miss the big roar right between the in-line spin and the second loop. I rode this once in the front seat to see how the new track looked and then in the back seat since the line was only a 5 min wait. The new look was nice but will take some getting used to.

Then I rode on The East River Crawler. I had to wait a couple of ride cycles but I finally was able to get my car to spin fast (I think the trick is to sit in the middle of the car).

I walked around for a bit to check out some of the new rides in the Mardi Gras section. The rides I saw(but not working yet) were:

Ragin Cajun. There was alot more track put up today and it looks like the coaster will be green and yellow. It is finally going vertical!

Jester's Wild Ride. Which is a tug-and-pull ride? I was on one of these in Canada once and it was pretty neat but has a low ride capacity. They built this where the Cajun Cliffhanger used to be.

Big Easy Balloons. I think this is a clone of a Zamperella Balloon Race ride, but I have no clue what it does or how it looks when it is operating. It looked almost finished today.

and finally

King Chaos. It's about time they put something where Power Dive used to be. Hopefully this will actually run and not sit there like the previous rides in its location (Power Dive and The Edge). It is too bad that they put such a small ride there since there was plenty of space for future coaster expansion. I have been on a ride like this at both Summerfest (Flipper) and The Wisconsin State Fair (Space Loop).

Next, it was off to Superman: Ultimate Flight. I walked right onto this ride and rode in the back seat. Even when I went on opening weekend last year, there was an hour wait and the park was dead like it was today. I never see it this empty. Fun ride. That first pretzel loop is insane! I also like the first drop and the final in-line twist is fun if you are sitting on the outer left side. They had new on-ride camera monitors in the photo station. They were large flat panel displays.

Then I went on The Condor. This one scares me a bit because the cars are pretty open and they seem to hang too loose from the structure. I do love that ride though. It is the neatest looking one there because of the reflective condor eyes. And it looks amazing at night. I noticed the cars for Tripple Play when I was on there, they were all painted 3 different colors(bright green, red and yellow). I wonder when that one will open because it is one of my faves.

Walked past the bumper cars because I hate them.

Next, I went on The Sky Trek Tower. I always like going on this in the beginning since you can gauge how busy the park is and where the crowds are. It is also nice when it is a million degrees outside since it is air conditioned. I didn't have to wait at all for this one. They kept it at the top alot longer which was cool.

Then I went on StarGate 3000. This is a motion simulator theater inside a large space shuttle. The movie they used to play was Space Shuttle America. It was ok but I hated that robot lady that played the villan. She got on my nerves and I can see how people would get irritated by her if they rode this thing multiple times. Someone in our row pushed the lapbar down really hard(before it got remotely released) and the hydraulics got strained and the lapbar came crashing down on us, lol. I sat in the front row. I still miss when they played Elvira: Superstition, in there for Fright Fest. That was my fave!

I went on The Hometown Fun Machine next. This had no line at all. This is just like the Scrambler ride that they have at carnivals.

Next, it was off to The Whizzer. I waited about 10 mins for this one. I sat in the back seat. I had fun on it except all the pollen and junk from the surrounding trees were blowing all over us during the ride and that got annoying.


After that, went on The Orbit. I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS RIDE!!! It is so much fun and I could ride it all day. This was one of the first rides I went on as a kid and I was scared but excited at the same time. By the time you are upsidedown, you feel like you are about to completely fall out.

Then I went on The Viper. Everyone I know loves this coaster. I think it is one of the neatest wooden ones I have ever been on. It is filled with so many sudden drops and turns and you have no clue what is coming up next. I walked right onto this ride and rode it 4 times in a row, without even getting out of my seat! They also added some shade things to parts of the line queue where you normally fry when it is really hot out.

After that I went on the following rides in Southwest Territory:
TrailBlazer
Chubasco
Ricochet
and
River Rocker

All of them were fun, had no wait.

The rest of the night I did the following:

-Rode Raging Bull again (back row, yellow train)

-Road Giant Drop again

-Rode Deja Vu again (back row)

-Rode the Demon 3 times in a row (front seat, w00t!). The only reason I left is because I was freezing from all the wind(especially from inside the lighted tunnel where it felt like a reverse vacuum)

-Rode the American Eagle once on each side again. First time on The Blue Backwards on the back(um, front) car. The second time was on the Red Forward side: We got stuck on the TOP of the lifthill for about 5 mins!! Since I was in the front seat, I was half hanging over the track. Then we heard a loud buzz and they got our train started again. I was freezing again from the wind.

-Rode Revolution 3 TIMES IN A ROW! There were only a few of us on there and they said we could stay as long as we wanted but I wanted to hit other coasters since it was 30 mins till the park closed.

-Rode Iron Wolf again, front seat! I had a pretty nasty headache by this time from the cold wind but I'll take it over heat exaustion.

-Rode Vertical Velocity again. This time in the back row. Some of the ride op's jumped in the train with us, cool!

Ended the night with 2 more rides on Batman!!! Front Seat!!! My hands were so numb by this point but it was worth it.

I had the heat cranked in my car the entire way home and was shaking, lol.

[Aero737]

Dang, there were so many unmarked cop cars pulling people over so I had to slow down.

Thats why we have a brand new passport radar detector.

Then it was off to Vertical Velocity. Once again, a very short wait. I sat in the second row. Fun ride! The brakes on the vertical back tower made a funny noise today like it was really straining to hold the train up.

I acually thought it was holding the train very easily. The LIMs were acually pushing the train backwards up the tower instead of holding the train there (There was also only 5 people on the train so weight might of been an issue), but I think it's running very well.


Anyways, very nice trip report. I like it when people post a very detailed TR, you can picture yourself at the park. Always better than a standard list of what you rode.

[Great America Guy]

Good TR sounds like you had an excellent time. I just cant believe these 5 min waits on opening weekend.

[EVOed8]

Thats why we have a brand new passport radar detector.

Screw that dude... I see red and blue in my rear, I downshift and jam the gas!

Nonetheless, I'm going to invest in a Valentine One... for obvious reasons.

Interesting TR... I was there for the later part of the afternoon, I wonder if you saw me? I was one of the 4 making fun of Brad on Demon. Good times.

[Papas]

I was one of the 4 making fun of Brad on Demon.

Yeah I really appreciate that.

[EVOed8]

I was one of the 4 making fun of Brad on Demon.

Yeah I really appreciate that.

It's all in good fun.