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Postby rct2wizard360 on January 24th, 2008, 12:04 pm
Coasterboy, I think you need to realize how the budget for these parks works.

Sure, they have enough money to add rides every year, and some years they don't. But you have to remember, that it's not all about adding rides, they still have to upkeep the park.

Some of your ideas are so out there, you're treating this like it's an RCT2 park.

Seriously, just choosing a random idea.
"The park should make a DVD."

Alright, think about this. How much would it cost to make a REALLY good DVD. Maybe not even that, a mediocre video. That's still going to cost quite a bit of money. Now they put it out on the shelves. Honestly, how many people do you think are going to buy it? The GP really isn't going to buy a video of a park they visit once a year.

Reality check, come on.
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Postby bigb7965 on January 24th, 2008, 12:47 pm
^ agreed
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Postby traincrossing9 on January 24th, 2008, 2:33 pm
A new coaster where dejavu and splashwater falls would be awesome. Either go underground or over the path. What kind? It has to be compact yet pack a punch. What coaster has that?
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Postby Demon_07 on January 24th, 2008, 4:04 pm
Was Cajun Cliffhanger to the rotor ride? Can't remember.
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Postby bigb7965 on January 24th, 2008, 4:25 pm
traincrossing9 wrote:A new coaster where dejavu and splashwater falls would be awesome. Either go underground or over the path. What kind? It has to be compact yet pack a punch. What coaster has that?



something like poltergeist at SFFT?

just suggesting
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Postby FParker185 on January 24th, 2008, 4:31 pm
Cajun Cliffhanger was a Chance Rotor (relocated from Riverview no less).

Gerstlauer Eurofighters pack a hell of a punch and take up next to no land. Also they are comparatively cheap and very well built.
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Postby Demon_07 on January 24th, 2008, 4:54 pm
cool.
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Postby BrianPlencner on January 24th, 2008, 5:49 pm
I've took a long look at what Coasterboy has suggested. We all have "wish" lists for the park, so this is no different. Some of his ideas may be out there. However, some have merit. There are also a few that have been done before, and I've noted them and why they failed the first time (at least from what I was told or found out about said thing). Finally, there are things that were in place in 2006, so not sure what happened to them in 2007. I was only at the park 1 in 2007.


Make the Entrance to Hurricane Harbor In this area instead of Southwest Territory


As other have said, this may not be a bad idea. If the water park entrance was closer to the front gate, it may be easier to find. My other thought is that if it was moved out of Southwest Territory, you could make the entrance more "island" themed to fit the theme of Hurricane Harbor. You really can't do that now where it is, as Palm Trees and other tropical decor don't fit well in the Southwest theme. Bottom line is if they did move it, they could "theme" the entrance and walkway better then it is now.

Add a Sally Interactive Dark Ride with an Old West Theme to where Trailblazer was


This is another good idea. While we will now have a "dark ride" with the addition of TDK, I feel a good Sally dark ride would be a wonderful thing to have in the park.

Add an Arcade next to Chubasco


While I'm not a fan of the redemption games that give out tickets, I would like to see the park put more Pinball machines back in the park. At one time, they did have a lot of them. However, I know that my likeness to pinball is probably not common with everyone at the park, so this will probably not happen.

Fill the Lake at River Rocker


It HAD water in it when it first opened. I'm not sure the exact reason, but I thought someone said that the pond was leaking, and it was not able to keep water in it. Hopefully, the park is able to fix this problem. With a name that implies water, it kind of loses its theme when there is no water around the ride.


Southwest Territory
- Maybe replace the Trains on Viper with PTC’s new Single Bench seating
County Fair
- Add Intamin Trains to American Eagle


Funny story with the trains on both Eagle and Viper. I was having a conversation with Tom Rebbie from PTC back in 2004 when he was at the park for the ACE Convention. He told me that his visit in 2004 was the first time he has seen the trains on Eagle since they were shipped to the park back in 1981! :shock: The same was true with the Viper trains. Again, I don't know the full story, but I know that "most" parks that have PTC trains have worked out some kind of maintenance schedule with PTC. In this way, a train is sent back to PTC every winter for over-haul and maintenance. In any case, it appears that SFGAm is not part of that program, and they do their own maintenance on these trains. While I don't remember everything that Tom and I talked about, he seemed to indicate that they (SFGAm) made changes to both sets of trains that Tom did not recommend (or feel should be changed), so I think there is a lot of friction between PTC and SFGAm. In any case, both sets of trains, if properly maintained, are perfect for these rides. Knowing that the trains are PTC, I would THINK that PTC would be the best company to do the upkeep and maintance on them. Not that I'm saying the maintance staff at SFGAm is bad, they are not (In fact, they are very good). I'm just pointing out the fact that PTC does offer this service, and maybe it is something that SFGAm should look into.

Add a New Lighthouse or Enclose V2’s Line with It


There was a Lighthouse in the area that V2 is now in. When the park removed it, they removed more of the theme of that section. If they do put one back in, I am not sure it would be a good idea to put V2's line it in or not. But, to have a lighthouse back would add more of the "Yankee Harbor" theme back into the park.

- Remove King Chaos or make it flip 7x Minimum and Splash Water


Before that ride was put in, one of the "selling points" of it was the fact that it had water effects. I've visited World Of Fun, and rode a similar version that had a LOT of water being sprayed on the ride / guests. If you look in the pond, the plumbing "appears" to be in place. Why they don't use it is beyond me. I also feel that the ride should run a better program then it does (more flips, both forward and backward), and more hang time with water effects.

Have a Fright Fest day for Season Pass Holders Only


Back in 1991 they tried this. That year they had what was called the "Gold" Season pass upgrade. There were "perks" that were only offered to people who upgraded their pass to "Gold". One of them was an exclusive night in the park for Fright Fest, before it opened to everyone else. This took place on the Friday night before it opened to the public. There were other cool things about having a "Gold" pass during the season. I forget what it was to upgrade your pass to "Gold", but I think it was in the $20-40 dollars range. I actually took part in this, and upgraded my pass to “Gold”. However, in 1992, that program no longer was around. I asked the park why that program did not come back, and the reply I got was "It was not that popular". I think at the time, no other parks (Cedar Point, Kings Island, etc) were doing it, so SFGAm may have been the first, and there was no market for it. However, if you look around at the other parks today, a lot of them have Season Passes, and they have different levels with them (Joe Cool Club, for example), and they are very popular. I think if SFGAm tried a version of their "Gold" pass program again, it may work out. They have done "Coasters After Dark" for a few seasons now, and from what I have seen, has been a very popular event. I think the reason the park has not done an event for Season Pass holders is due to the fact that people with Season Passes generally come to the park, and spend no money (just ride rides over and over). If they open the park up, and 4,000 people show up, and no one buys anything or pays to park, then the park loses money. If there was some way that the park would know that Season Pass holders who go to an event just for them would spend money on food, games, etc....then the park may try this again. It’s the same reason that "Last Blast" never happened again…the park did not make money off of it.


Somewhere add a Music Express/ Himalaya Ride


The park had one back in the late 70’s and early 80's. It was called Industrial Revolution, and was next to the demon (almost where the Giant wall climb is at today). Not sure why it was removed, or why the park has not replaced it. But, putting one back in the park would add to the diversity of the rides and attractions that SFGAm is known for.


Extend Hurricane Harbors hours to 8pm


I think the reason to close at 7 PM is due to the lack of lights in the water park. While it does stay "light" past 7 PM in the summer, I think it would be a safety issue if it was not light enough outside, and the lifeguards would not be able to do their job.

Buy or Build a Hotel near the Park


With Keylime Cove going in, this should meet this need. There is also a Holiday Inn just up the street (has been there for 30+ years), and there is also some kind of Hotel across the street (behind the Oberwise Dairy).

Have a Separate Lane at the Entrance for Season Pass Holders Only


As I said, I was not at the park but once in 2007. But, in 2006, I remember them having such a line, as I would use it when I went to the park at opening. Unless, they ONLY have it for opening, and then after a certain time, it turns into a "normal" line. Again, it probably comes down to cost. Most people who have season passes go in the morning, so the attendant at that line at 4 PM would probably not be doing anything but standing around. Outside of the cost, I don't see why the park could not leave the morning "Season Pass only line" up all day.


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Postby Demon_07 on January 24th, 2008, 6:08 pm
I've never had trouble getting through the lines.
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Postby traincrossing9 on January 25th, 2008, 9:38 pm
bigb7965 wrote:
traincrossing9 wrote:A new coaster where dejavu and splashwater falls would be awesome. Either go underground or over the path. What kind? It has to be compact yet pack a punch. What coaster has that?



something like poltergeist at SFFT?

just suggesting


Poltergeist totally packs a punch but I hate it when Six Flags parks copy each others rides. It would be nice if we could pay tribute to dejavu by including a butterfly element in the coaster.

FParker185 wrote:Gerstlauer Eurofighters pack a hell of a punch and take up next to no land. Also they are comparatively cheap and very well built.


The only thing i'm worried about their is ride capacity. I've never been on one but they seem really fun. But one car? Not so sure. We need something new and innovative like Batman, the first inverted coaster. Just throwing this out, but what about a wooden coaster launched by LIM's or4 seats instead of 2? I think it's time that someone experimented with steel elements on a wooden coaster. (besides loops, Son of Beast faled at that)
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Postby Demon_08 on January 25th, 2008, 9:43 pm
You mean like with a steel structure? By the way, like my updated username
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Postby BP317 on January 25th, 2008, 10:12 pm
It HAD water in it when it first opened. I'm not sure the exact reason, but I thought someone said that the pond was leaking, and it was not able to keep water in it. Hopefully, the park is able to fix this problem. With a name that implies water, it kind of loses its theme when there is no water around the ride.

There is a major plumbing issue under Giant Drop that would require a lot of that land to be removed to fix. Its something thats on the parks "list" every year of things they want to fix, though its highly doubtful they will get the budget approved to do it.

I remember back around 2000 Wintrode and GAm wanted to build a Six Flags Entertainment Village including a waterpark and hotel and the plan was presented to the Village of Gurnee. There were issues regarding the funding for it and eventually the idea was dropped and the land was sold.

If you look in the pond, the plumbing "appears" to be in place. Why they don't use it is beyond me. I also feel that the ride should run a better program then it does (more flips, both forward and backward), and more hang time with water effects.

The reason it doesnt run a better program is because the maintenence personell are afraid to touch it, considering how many problems the ride has now, running a different program would cause major structural damage. Remember the ride is quite old and bought at an auction and is pretty much defective.

- Replace the Trains on Demon with new Lap Bar Trains

If your wondering why rides have more restraint than they need, insurance companies wont insure unless the park complies with what they want. Hence why Revolution SFMM among other rides will never have lapbars [again]. The parks not going to run a ride uninsured.

- Increase Theme Park Capacity by like 4,000 People due to Huge Fright Fest Crowds

They have to comply with what the fire dept says their capacity is/what is sane. They let in as many people as they can before having to cut admission.


Heres a few things I think should be priority:

-Cosmetic renovation to the interior of STT's cabin. The ride got a major electrical upgrade last season and now really could use some touch ups. New fiberglass and repainting the inside of the cabin a darker color to start as well as remove a lot of the queue rails to make a wider path and put some more landscaping there as well as a new sign.

-Many parks have done this whole locker thing at their most popular rides (Busch, Cedar Fair, even SFGAm with SUF when it opened). It never works out well when people are charged extra to store their bags and I cant see this policy lasting very long for a variety of reasons. There are better solutions to the issue that SF actually had planned last year and im unsure of why it wasnt put through. This was where there were seperate bins/drawers for each train, a ride op would open/close that trains bin so nothing would get stolen.

-Fans in queue lines, roof over Ragin Cajuns.
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Postby cycamps on January 26th, 2008, 1:00 am
A roof over Ragin Cajun's line would be nice...
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Postby FParker185 on January 26th, 2008, 1:16 am
Eurofighters capacity is up to the park that buys it, the stock model that Bobbejaanland has 8 cars and capacity up around 1,000 pph. Mystery Mine runs 7 cars and also is around 1,000 pph. The new one at Nick Universe will run 4 cars and should be fairly decent capacity. It's a very flexible system.
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Postby traincrossing9 on January 26th, 2008, 4:52 pm
A hybrid steel structure would be nice just because I don't think that there would be enough room for a normal wooden structure.
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Postby Demon_08 on January 26th, 2008, 8:51 pm
^I agree.
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Postby Coastermonkey61 on February 9th, 2008, 12:20 pm
Sorry for bumping this, but I just have a few ideas and I've been here for a day.

-Remove the brakes on the incline of the first camelback hill on Raging Bull.
-Fill the lake next to River Rocker (seriously, why this hasn't crossed the mind of SFGAm officials before is just dumb).
-Roof over Ragin' Cajun line.
-Lower food prices.

And now my big one:
-Get rid of Iron Wolf. I would love to create a huge twister coaster here, but obviously there isn't much in the way of room here. Iron Wolf is just outdated, doesn't pack a punch anymore, and frankly, is ridiculously painful.
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Postby traincrossing9 on February 9th, 2008, 12:47 pm
Coastermonkey61 wrote:Sorry for bumping this, but I just have a few ideas and I've been here for a day.

-Remove the brakes on the incline of the first camelback hill on Raging Bull.
-Fill the lake next to River Rocker (seriously, why this hasn't crossed the mind of SFGAm officials before is just dumb).
-Roof over Ragin' Cajun line.
-Lower food prices.

And now my big one:
-Get rid of Iron Wolf. I would love to create a huge twister coaster here, but obviously there isn't much in the way of room here. Iron Wolf is just outdated, doesn't pack a punch anymore, and frankly, is ridiculously painful.


I've read before some answers to these questions.

Brakes are on rides for a reason. To slow down the train. Everyone agrees that those trims should be removed but removing them would change the rest of the ride. For that to happen they would have to rearrange all of the brakes or do something.

Six Flags has always had problems with plumbing. Splashwater Falls was leaking and River Rockers plumbing is messed up to. Apparently the plumbing goes right under Giant Drop (nice planning)

Everything else I agree with. Iron Wolf is old news by now and isn't one of the parks icons. It would be cool if they could replace it with a new floorless coaster.
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Postby Coastermonkey61 on February 9th, 2008, 12:53 pm
Another minor thing on V2. I understand that the ride ops need to say "Clear For Launch," but then the ride operator always says "Goodbye" right before you launch. Create some more suspense by NOT saying "goodbye."
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Postby Demon_07 on February 9th, 2008, 3:56 pm
Coastermonkey61 wrote:Sorry for bumping this, but I just have a few ideas and I've been here for a day.

-Remove the brakes on the incline of the first camelback hill on Raging Bull.
-Fill the lake next to River Rocker (seriously, why this hasn't crossed the mind of SFGAm officials before is just dumb).
-Roof over Ragin' Cajun line.
-Lower food prices.

And now my big one:
-Get rid of Iron Wolf. I would love to create a huge twister coaster here, but obviously there isn't much in the way of room here. Iron Wolf is just outdated, doesn't pack a punch anymore, and frankly, is ridiculously painful.


I think Iron Wolf could be spared if it got new trains. Otherwise, yes, a big, bad twister could be built where Iron Wolf is and also where Camp Cartoon Network is. As far as River Rocker, I was thinking the same thing. It must be doing something to the pool. The brakes taken off of bull would be nice, too but it would be nicer if they were taken off of eagle.
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Postby zmorris on February 9th, 2008, 4:01 pm
I still think Iron Wolf 'packs a punch' and on days it still has a full line. Maybe to create more attention to it, repaint it, rename it, and get new seats to it. OR would it be possible to change it to a floorless? One reason i would not want to get rid of it, is because it was B&M's first ride ever, correct?
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Postby ttd rox on February 9th, 2008, 6:00 pm
It definately packs a punch where you don't want to be punched at!!! :lol:
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Postby Demon_07 on February 9th, 2008, 6:47 pm
zmorris wrote:I still think Iron Wolf 'packs a punch' and on days it still has a full line. Maybe to create more attention to it, repaint it, rename it, and get new seats to it. OR would it be possible to change it to a floorless? One reason i would not want to get rid of it, is because it was B&M's first ride ever, correct?


Correct. A floorless.......hmm, that's an interesting idea but I could see it. And yes, it does pack a punch in some spots!
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Postby rasslin on February 10th, 2008, 12:17 pm
I think the parades are nice. I thought the parade the year before last was o.k.
I still have a piece of the red confetti in my wallet from the confetti canyon. I look at it in the doldrums of winter.
Will they still have parades this upcoming season?
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Postby Demon_07 on February 10th, 2008, 12:38 pm
^I think so. I always liked the float in the parade at the end with the porky pig character.
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