It'll probably be too cold on opening day. I won't be back from Iowa until early may or mid-may (depending on if I travel with track team at the end of outdoors), so I probably won't make it anyways.
For April 3, it's a sure bet all water rides will be closed, if only so maintenance can focus on getting at least 1/4 of the coasters ready for opening day, besides the fact it will be way to cold to even operate water rides let alone having people ride them.
Favorite Wood Coasters: The Voyage, Ravine Flyer II, Thunderhead, Balder Favorite Steel: Voltron Nevera, Steel Vengeance, Expedition GeForce, Olympia Looping Parks visited: 232, Coasters Ridden: Steel: 894, Wood: 179, Total: 1073
For first hand experience, you can run a flume in 43 degree weather... and people will ride it. Did it myself at Six Flags St. Louis this year on closing weekend. We were not the only people either. Was even colder on the last day and it was running for an hour or 2.
I don't usually like water rides in the first place, let alone if it was that cold. It's supposed to be a bad winter this year, so they could get behind schedule like they did with TDK...
I think water rides are fine as long as it is not windy and some sun is out. I hope we won't have to wait till May to see them reopen but I am predicting that we will since I know after a late start to spring 2008 never say never. It could be 60+ degrees and it could be 34 F.
While the pictures are certainly better than nothing, it would be a lot better if they would actually start taking pictures from angles where you actually have an idea of how much is done.
I'm just happy to see actual themeing being built on a attraction at sfgam. The ride should look really nice with all of the rock work and stuff instead of just a concrete basin like the one at indiana beach.
As to the question of whether or not this will be open for opening day:
It is certainly POSSIBLE. Dollywood had their Splashbattle open in the middle of March on a day that was so cold that Mystery Mine vallied on its testrun around noon. I rode it. It was freezing, and practically noone else rode it the rest of the day, but it was still open and working.
Will it be open? Please, this is Six Flags were talking about, I would bet a Memorial Day weekend opening for the ride at best. The mechanics/all full time are going to be crapping their pants enough because of the fact that they need to have the park ready an entire month earlier than usual.
Top 5 wood-5-Goliath 4-Ravine Flyer II 3-Phoenix 2-Voyage 1-El Toro Top 5 Steel- 5-Velocicoaster 4- Maverick 3- Fury 325 2-Steel Vengeance 1-X2 Coaster Count: 444
Thought i mentioned it a few months ago in this thread, but maybe not, anyways, Buccaneer Battles Grand Opening is May 15. So will be before memorial day and definately after opening day.
Favorite Wood Coasters: The Voyage, Ravine Flyer II, Thunderhead, Balder Favorite Steel: Voltron Nevera, Steel Vengeance, Expedition GeForce, Olympia Looping Parks visited: 232, Coasters Ridden: Steel: 894, Wood: 179, Total: 1073
They should open it right along with Hurricane Harbor. May 13, 2008 was freezing but before Memorial Day it warmed up nicely. Just do it with HH. The three other water rides should be up by late April if it is even a little nicer than spring 2008.
Anyone going up to Gurnee anytime soon? Please take a pic or two or three! It is still about 4 months till the park reopens please try and take some photos in the coming weeks.
There really isn't much to see from outside the park this year. The only thing visible from outside the park is some retracking on the final helix on Eagle Red (hopefully Blue too). Certainly won't be able to see any BB stuff from outside the park