2011 Schedule Posted. Opening Day May 7th, 2011

[monsterfan99]

^I'd argue it should be outside of every park. Depending on the line the entire process runs 5-25 minutes. On the higher end, that is a decent chunk of the day.at least if it's outside, those that are earlier risers do not loose any park riding time.

[Necropolis]

I usually wait until I am about to leave the park or wanna take a break from riding anything during the day. At least I can take advantage during the first couple of hours before the crowds REALLY start pouring in. Plus since the pass processing center is in the back, more people will have to flock over there. Maybe they are trying to get more people in the back of the park so certain areas get crowded more, get more attention and attract more people so the area where pass processing is right now, doesn't get crowded with people. Plus whenever I had to renew my pass, it was kinda annoying with how it got packed and you had to make a line and you had to watch where you went because it got so crowded. At least with the new processing center, more computers can become available and shorter lines and more breathing room while you're waiting. Gaah!

[RagingFanatic]

^ I thought the pass processing center was right in hometown square...am I wrong? Aren't the flash pass and season pass processing ones right there?

[Necropolis]

^Well according to some of the previous posts, im not 100% sure if the pass processing center will be relocated to where Magiquest used to be?? IDK yet.

[Paradise]

^I'd argue it should be outside of every park. Depending on the line the entire process runs 5-25 minutes. On the higher end, that is a decent chunk of the day.at least if it's outside, those that are earlier risers do not loose any park riding time.

Agree 100%.

[6Flags4Evr]

I know this may be a little of topic considering it isn't SFGAm but have any of you read the reports of SFOG's opening day? Apparently it was beyond horrible. The park was reported beyond packed, half of the rides were closed, and the coasters that were running only had one train running. Monster Mansion was said to have over a 90 MINUTE WAIT . Hopefully this isn't a sign of what is to come for our opening day .

GET IT TOGETHER SIX FLAGS!!!

[monsterfan99]

^Monster Mansion hits 90 minutes and a full queue daily. First time I ever went there the wait time on the Flash Pass was listed at 2 and a half hours with the line extending to the kiddie coaster. Actually, the only time I've ever seen it at a decent was is during the first hour and last hour of the day.

The rest sounds the same as last spring the two times I went a week apart.

[FParker185]

That sounds like any standard opening day for Six Flags [insert park here]. traditionally SFGAm has been about the only park to have their stuff somewhat together in that department.

[6Flags4Evr]

Has anyone been past the park latley? Just curious if STT cabin was still parked at the top and if the Christmas tree was still up. Cosidering there is now less than 40 days till' the park opens, they should be moving into the park soon and getting rides ready for testing.

[DejaVu2001]

^ Sky Trek Tower still has the tree lights, and Eagle has its tree up still as well. It is impossible to tell whether or not Sky Trek has run or not because the cabin is always parked at the top when not in use. Giant Drop has all 6 cars on the ride. The other rides, it is too hard to see cars/trains from off park property.

[RobSFGAm]

They do not take the lights off of Sky trek Tower till a few days before the park opens. I believe that the Eagle tree comes down around the time they start testing the coaster. I pass the park multiple times a day and occasionally I see a crane up and around the park. Last time was last week by Giant Drop and now those trains are on track/Rail. They seem to be on the last two rail of inspection on GD.
THere seems to be some light work on the American Eagle (probably track checking from the prior winter before they start testing.
The Carousel is still covered (the openings) and not much else is visible at this time.
The next few weeks should pick up with activity since thy usually have park buy-outs a few weeks before the park opens, so that would leave them less then 4 weeks, not counting in training before the park opens on the rides.

[6Flags4Evr]

I just past the park early today and I was very happy to see that STT cabin was infact not parked at the top (for the time being i'm sure). I also was very excited to see Gaint Drop was being worked on as well. There were 4 ride vehicles parked at the top of the tower and the other 2 were parked half way up with the little baskets above them.

I'm sure some of you don't think it's that big of a deal but it got me really excited. 2011 season is almost here!!!

[Necropolis]

Going with the laws of physics here, but wouldn't it make more sense to keep STT's cabin at the bottom of the ride instead of the top?? IDK it just makes more sense to me. I can't see any reason for keeping the cabin up t the top all off-season long.

[BP317]

When the cabin is at the top the cables are inside the tower protected from the elements. When the cabin is at the bottom the cables are outside the tower being exposed and blown by the wind/hitting the tower.

[FParker185]

Also the counterweights are probably quite a bit heavier than the unloaded cabin.

[RobSFGAm]

On the topic of Sky Trek Tower. I have always wondered why at the base if looks like the cabin could actually go down lower than ground level (basically in the bricked hole at the base). Is that the case and of so, what is it used for?
I can only think it is to put the cabin lower and load stuff on top of the cabin to bring to the top (gorilla for FF) and the American flag.
I know that there is a cubby hole door in the cabin that brings you to the middle near the tower above the cabin that maintenance uses.
It's late so go easy if I am not making total sense.

[FParker185]

And I am utterly trashed, but Im pretty sure the cabin cant go down into the pit. Honestly I think its there just for the hell of it. I think only Waagner-Biro or Von Roll(whoever actually designed and fabricated STT, probably Waagner-Biro) can say why it's there, but the the handles to open each door, the cabin can;t fit down there.

[Necropolis]

^wow you were trashed man haha lmao

[FParker185]

even sober no idea on the pit, I know for sure the cabin doesn't fit down there. If Waagner-Biro was still in the ride business I'd say someone should ask, but we may never know(or care).

[Coaster Justin]

Wow, the Almighty FParker doesn't know the answer to a Question. Zoinks.


I Would guess it's for 1 of 4 Things:
1- Structural to keep the Thing there and Reduce Maitenance
2- Ride Mechanisms are the Backup down there if the ride Breaks Down Mid-Tower
3- Easier Access to the Ladder/Stairs Inside
4- Computer Area for the Sensors


I Think it's Von-Roll and Not Waagner-Biro

[FParker185]

Well, as long as we are throwing wild guesses out into the wind, I think it's just a way to have extra tower for a buffer area for the counterweights for both the top and bottom, so the cable can be a little longer and not have to have the counterweight right at the very super tippy top of the tower when the cabin is lowered and when the cabin is raised, not have them basically resting on the ground.

Also I'm 99.9% sure it's Waagner Biro, nearly every VonRoll tower was a double decker, and the changeover was in the 70's, and Sky Whirl the previous year was already Waagner Biro.

[Necropolis]

Woo!! Looks like opening day the weather will finally cooperate. The forecast calls for a high of 55 degrees and a 10% chance of rain. But then again whenever I go to the park, the ticket booths always have a sign posted saying that the chance of precipitation is 10%, even on a perfectly, cloudless, sunny day!

**This is my 300th post!!!**

[6Flags4Evr]

Ok, so we all know that today was the buyout and I just couldn't stand being away the park any longer and since the parking lot gates were open, I was totally going to head into the park (parking lot) and walk around and check things out around the entrance plaza. No security guards means free sneak peek. Who could pass that up?

I must say that the entrance plaza certainly has a different feel and look to it with the expasion literally right near the entrance. It was quite shockng in person how close it really was and how big it was. Most of you will be also happy to hear that they have brought back the original theme music in the entrance plaza. Man it was so great to hear that music again .

As far as rides go, I know for a fact that all the coasters (visible from the entrance plaza) were in fact running. The only thing I was a little dissipointed to see was that superman was only running one train. I couldn't see if the second train was in the storage shed or not but lets hope both trains are ready for opening day.

I was also searching for a park map to take with me and take a photo of it and post it on this site but sadly was not able to obtain one .

I am very sorry to say that i dont have any photos because I was in Gurnee Mills and the idea just came to me to stop by the park.

If you want to yourself, stop by the park tommarrow and walk around the entrance plaza. There are no security guards directing parking or at the parking booths so no one can stop you.

Well......What are you waiting for? HEAD OUT TO THE PARK A.S.A.P

[Necropolis]

As far as rides go, I know for a fact that all the coasters (visible from the entrance plaza) were in fact running. The only thing I was a little dissipointed to see was that superman was only running one train. I couldn't see if the second train was in the storage shed or not but lets hope both trains are ready for opening day.

It was advocate day so the park had to of been almost empty. Of course they will run only one train. lol. I'm sure they will have at least 2 if not 3 trains running on opening day. I think I'm sure that Raging Bull had 3 trains running last year opening day because I think Bull gets full quickly at opening time any day. I mean it is the most popular ride at the park.

[BP317]

As far as rides go, I know for a fact that all the coasters (visible from the entrance plaza) were in fact running. The only thing I was a little dissipointed to see was that superman was only running one train. I couldn't see if the second train was in the storage shed or not but lets hope both trains are ready for opening day.

It was advocate day so the park had to of been almost empty. Of course they will run only one train

I've been at SFGAm during those Advocate days the week before the park opens for the public quite a few years and SUF ran 2 trains for all of them, sometimes the line got back to the entrance even with 2 train op.