More shade coming to Great America

[Ron/Wolf]

I was just on the phone with a Great America Spokesperson, I commented about the new shading on Viper. Well, Giant Drop will be getting shading, as well as The Queue Line for the Go Carts. All of this is in response to guests requests. But I was assured when all is finished this spring I won't hardly recognize many things. Now I find that interesting considering I have visited the park 35 times last year. I never missed one of it's 29 seasons. I'll tell you though I could hear the new excitement in his voice. This will be a Great year for all of us. Yes seatbelts on Viper and Eagle (One very stupid act last year has not only changed our park but the industry.) The wall of Batman will remain black to go with the cleaner look. I also turned this person on to this site which he really seemed to enjoy. Also he was quite surpised it even existed. So, I can't wait to see whats in store for 2004 now more then ever. Yes,
The Revolution and Stargate will be open May 1st.
I am as big a fan as it seems many of you are of ShockWave. Reality is only Corparate Six Flags Knows it's fate. I really don't see it coming back to Gurnee.
As for Comparing Great America to Kings Island well I go there all the time too. Ask my friends what's their favorite Ohio Theme Park and Kings Island is the answer. Did you know Vortex was built just one year before Shockwave? At the time several friends and myself purchased Kings Island Season Passes to ride Vortex because The Demon just didn't
cut it. Well ACE ran a story at the time Harold Hudson V.P. Six Flags read about us passing up his park on the way to Kings Island. All of us received phone calls and then met and discussed what we would like to see here in the future. The great man he is acted quickly and BAM ShockWave was born. Between the two bang for the buck Shockwave won me over. But I still am so glad I can visit Kings Island and ride Vortex. Also it's true that Great America Officials have listened and this is the begining of the big spruce up.

[SFGA 11]

Sounds good...

[Great America Guy]

Well Im glad that Revolution will be open.

[Chitown]

Yep, that's right.

All you Shockwave lovers can thank Ron/Wolf and his buddies for the creation of Shockwave.

Dude, while I am glad you are excited for the park, dont flatter yourself with being personally responsible for Shockwave's existence.

Coasters are planned years in advance.

[SFGA Bob]

I thought the big story of Shockwave was it wasn't planned years in advance. hence the parking lot placement. I'm sure I read that somewhere...probably CBuzz. and while I doubt one person or a small group of people have the power to influence a park's decision, a small group can turn into a large group and drastically alter a park's plans.

I don't know who SFGA was listening to when they decided to spruce up Orleans or install all the new flats, but I've been hearing lots of people complaining about it for a while. shade in Viper's queue is something that I've been complaining about for a while, though never to anyone besides my friends.

don't underestimate the power of the suggestion box.

[Chitown]

Suggestions such as shade in Viper's queue is understandable to accomadate.

But when a person says he got a personal phonecall from the higher ups asking what they want for a ride, I find that hard to believe.

And yes, Shockwave's original home was supposed to be SFGAdv from what I heard. They weren't ready for this coaster at the time so SFGAm got it.

Nothing to do with some enthusiasts saying they wanted an Arrow Megalooper.

[FParker185]

As for Shockwave over parking lot, originally it was going to be part of the Ride Rotation Program and would only be at SFGAm for 3-4 years(hence Arrow's first use of Bolt Together construction vs. all welded), after that it would have moved to another SF park (same story for SFGAdv GASM), after SW was removed it'd have gone back to Bus Parking, though the program was promptly ended and we were stuck with the king of all parking lot coasters, and with it being extra-reenforced bus parking lot, it woudl have been exceedingly hard to tear up, especially with the coaster in the way.

[rctfan1556]

Ron, if you did help in the creation of shockwave, I say thanx! It is a shame it had to be takin down.

Seatbelts on Eagle and Viper?! NO!!!!!!!
I don't want seat belts. That'd mean less airtime(I think).

Everything else sounds good!

[RagingBullFan]

ACE helping create shockwave most likely didn't happen, like Chitown said about its original destination, I've read in many places that it came here because GAdv couldn't get the permits in time. And not to mention that Six Flags has the habit of not listening to ACE ro anyone else really, they know how they want their parks to be run and they are trying to cater to everyone to bring in the most profits, they are not building rides because someone wants to have the biggest, tallest, whatever you want to call it.

However you can thank ACE for those seatbelts. Just look around, and you'll eventually find why they put them on, and why Holiday World is no longer having ACE events.

[Geno21K]

While I don't mean to insult the dead, it always amazes me just how careless and foolish some people can be. I've seen people riding irresponsibly in the past, and I've always reprimanded them and/or told the ride ops when I've gotten off. Unfortunately, on most rides there really isn't much that can be done after the train leaves the station. Once the ride is cycling, in most cases, the rider is the one in charge. You would think that people would be smart enough to realize that extra air time or a quick rush would not be worth risking your life. Then again, people do a lot of other ridiculously stupid things in the name of a rush or high, so it's not that suprising. I think the seatbelts and zero tolerance policy are appropriate. We don't need anyone else losing their life in an amusement park.

[Papas]

Seatbelts on Eagle and Viper?! NO!!!!!!!
I don't want seat belts. That'd mean less airtime(I think).

What's the difference? The intervals are long so it most likely will not really affect the load times and if your wearing any type of apparell related to coasters you wouldnt be getting any air anyway.
One more thing, look at Ghostie, Cornball, Timbers, the list goes on. Do those rides lack in air?

[Galvan]

Well, i just called Six Flags Corprate, and they put me on hold for what seemed like 6 hours, while i was on hold i heard the "Its Playtime Theme" about 6 dozen times, Finally i got a hold of the man at the top the CEO of Six Flags Theme Parks, and he explained to me that I was the real true creator of Shockwave, and that it was ME all along that decided where and when the ride was to be built. He then told me that thanks to me quick wittied ideas i.e Shade for Viper and Ragin Cajun that id be President of Six Flags one day. Then the phone got disconnected, and then i woke up.....

The notion that a couple of ACErs had anything to do with anything remotely close to the design,the planning and the building of a ride is so ridiculous that its even funny to think about. Let me guess, you had your hand in planning the building of Giant Drop too? Or was it Raging Bull? American Eagle?

[Papas]

Legend actually.

Although for the basic part your right, building a coaster just because a couple enthusiasts request it is retarted.

[SfGaMownz]

Ron/Wolf you must be a higher up on the enthusist ladder then me because I put that I wanted a 4D in the suggestion box and they didn't build it . I guess I'll have to wait til next year to see if it happens .

Did you hear any word on if theres a slight chance that any of the rides in Mardi Gras will be open on May 1st?

[RagingBullFan]

Because this has gone horribly OT, I'm closing this, and about MG being open. No its looking like none of it is going to be open. Don't expect anything to be open until sometime around May 20th.