SFGAm 2013 Updates 9/14 Update

[PfightingPolish]

... sorry. I know I lost it for a second there. It just seemed so out of the norm to see something being left to rot at the park actually being fixed up.

I went back and looked at some recent pictures of American Eagle, though. Back to feeling like up isn't down and left isn't right again.

[Goku1910]

I'm actually a little sad they're painting it. That building needs to be taken down. No one like a theater that plays low-res DVD's.......

Last I was there, I went to see Screams and Dreams 3 and the sound kept going out.

[DeathbyDinn]

^ The sound went out for a few seconds when I saw S&Ds on opening day as well. I would like to see Pictorium upgraded with a better projector and sound. It's a great asset to the park that doesn't seem to be used to its full potential.

[Goku1910]

Agreed, upgrade it or scrap it. Not to mention it smells weird in there.

[JimPanky]

Saturday I saw them testing Orbit alot near the end of the day. Was anyone there on Sunday to see if it was running yet?

[DejaVu2001]

May 12th Update


The time wait sign still has Glow In The Park on it.


X Flight's wheels were outside on Raceway early in the day. By the end of the day, most of them were on.


Looks like everything except car 1 has wheels


All the cars seem to be fully assembled except car 1 as well


The only part I can see that all cars are missing are the seat backs which are hanging on the wall


Orbit was running for crew training today. I would expect it to open Wednesday.


Ricochet also has retractable seat belts


igNight


The walls around Camp Cartoon have been replaced


There is now a Discover entrance for the security checkpoint


East River Crawler now has all 5 arms attached


Hometown Fun Machine has opened and has a brand new control panel


The ride also has a diagnostic screen now.


The old maintenance white board from Deja Vu is at TDK right after you leave the station

[PfightingPolish]

Agreed, upgrade it or scrap it. Not to mention it smells weird in there.

A more-than-fair assessment. Honestly, I'm surprised they haven't just done away with it.

Once upon a time, when IMAX was a novelty, it served its purpose, or when the park was owned by Warner Brothers. But now, why pay to go to the park to essentially see a movie that isn't good enough to be in theaters? I also wonder what's going in there after Screams & Dreams. That series is the first time since I was a kid that I had any desire to go into the Pictorium and I can't imagine they're going to spend the money on anything truly impressive once it ends. Maybe some sort of pseudo-tourist film about Chicago and Milwaukee.

If you consider some of the other open land around there, it's a ripe plot. I once did an, admittedly pie-in-the-sky, mock-up of how the rumored-to-be-moving Great Adventure Bizarro could possibly fit in that space with some major landscaping. The hill and train tracks make it awkward, but something could go there.

If you're going to have it, though, at the very least don't have it look like absolute crap on the outside. I recognize no one pays full-price on a ticket, but for what the face value is, you expect a park that doesn't look like it's falling apart or something from downtown Detroit. I don't expect Marriott-era groundskeeping, but I at least expect not to see peeling paint on buildings and fences, which there's been way too much of through the years. If a business isn't going to treat its own facilities with care, why should I think they'll care about me as a customer, either? The move just strikes me as good business.

[cab0218]

Agreed, upgrade it or scrap it. Not to mention it smells weird in there.

A more-than-fair assessment. Honestly, I'm surprised they haven't just done away with it.

Once upon a time, when IMAX was a novelty, it served its purpose, or when the park was owned by Warner Brothers. But now, why pay to go to the park to essentially see a movie that isn't good enough to be in theaters? I also wonder what's going in there after Screams & Dreams. That series is the first time since I was a kid that I had any desire to go into the Pictorium and I can't imagine they're going to spend the money on anything truly impressive once it ends. Maybe some sort of pseudo-tourist film about Chicago and Milwaukee.

If you consider some of the other open land around there, it's a ripe plot. I once did an, admittedly pie-in-the-sky, mock-up of how the rumored-to-be-moving Great Adventure Bizarro could possibly fit in that space with some major landscaping. The hill and train tracks make it awkward, but something could go there.

If you're going to have it, though, at the very least don't have it look like absolute crap on the outside. I recognize no one pays full-price on a ticket, but for what the face value is, you expect a park that doesn't look like it's falling apart or something from downtown Detroit. I don't expect Marriott-era groundskeeping, but I at least expect not to see peeling paint on buildings and fences, which there's been way too much of through the years. If a business isn't going to treat its own facilities with care, why should I think they'll care about me as a customer, either? The move just strikes me as good business.

This is why I think they need to re paint American Eagle it really needs it.

[PfightingPolish]

This is why I think they need to re paint American Eagle it really needs it.

A paint job at the very least. We could talk about refurb, too, but the debate between going full Rocky Mountain, topper track or maintaining the classic wood feel is something for another thread and may involve holding up your lunch tray to avoid the food fight it will cause.

[Goku1910]

^Please no Rocky Mountain....That would make for a very boring ride, American Eagle simply doesn't have a good layout to add any inversions etc. A good candidate for Rocky Mountain would be Mean Streak at Cedar Point...That ride needs it since it sucks.

Only thing I want for Eagle is a one-year closure for extensive rehabs.....Just completely retracking the barrel and helices will fix that ride. Even then, I don't feel it's necessary as of now because it's not half as rough as Mean Streak at CP, Mean Streak is at the point where I won't even think of riding it.

[Ilovthevu']

I agree that the Pictorium probably should have been replaced awhile ago because the movies have gone downhill except for these Scream & Dreams movies which are great. However, to me I think the park made a HUGE mistake before taking away Theater Royale for the Dark Knight coaster. I like the Dark Knight Coaster, but that should have went - maybe into the Pictorium instead. To me, now the park really has ONE great stage / musical place to go to, and that's Grand Music Hall. The Looney Tunes one in Mardi Gras is small, and it's outside (rain / heat), and the one in Mooseburger Lodge (or IF they call it something else now) is inside, but it is just too small in there. For Fright Fest, they are trying to cram in people that used to be in the Theater Royale place along time ago into that dinky place. They can expand the Mooseburger Lodge because they have more room there, and that would better, but I think one of the worst decisions they made is taking Theater Royale shows out of there.

The Southwest Ampitheater also has become a waste because the only things they have there are the cheerleaders, bands, and once and awhile a concert. If they would have kept Theater Royale, they could have had the cheerleaders in there for a day. Oh well.

[PfightingPolish]

^Please no Rocky Mountain....That would make for a very boring ride, American Eagle simply doesn't have a good layout to add any inversions etc. Only thing I want for Eagle is a one-year closure for extensive rehabs.....Just completely retracking the barrel and helices will fix that ride. Even then, I don't feel it's necessary as of now because it's not half as rough as Mean Streak at CP.

Eagle, to me, is the park's biggest quyzbuk since the whole Whizzer/Shockwave thing.

We've gone 'round and 'round on this. You can't knock it down or replace it, but it was the second-biggest eyesore in the park after the Pictorium, and now they've fixed that. It's time to do something to restore some glory to it, but what, exactly, is the problem. On the one hand, part of the reason it's iconic is its classic, throwback nature, so anything other than the classic wood coaster experience seems wrong. On the other hand, it's also iconic for being big and fast, so topper or an all-out steel experience would make it a lot faster and also a lot smoother, which is the only knock on the ride right now other than appearance and the crazy walk to get to the station. (I think we all agree an inversion would be ridiculous, though.) The "meet me in the middle" option would seem to be topper track, but again, even that seems like taking a classic ballpark and putting in FieldTurf.

Face it: No matter what you do, there will be one segment of the population that's unhappy because there will be people in favor of all three manners of refurb.

My personal opinion: Clear out the Kidzopolis tent, put all three camps (full Rocky Mountain, topper and classic wood) in the tent and let 'em go at it Anchorman-style to decide. Seems legit.

[PfightingPolish]

However, to me I think the park made a HUGE mistake before taking away Theater Royale for the Dark Knight coaster. I like the Dark Knight Coaster, but that should have went - maybe into the Pictorium instead. To me, now the park really has ONE great stage / musical place to go to, and that's Grand Music Hall. The Looney Tunes one in Mardi Gras is small, and it's outside (rain / heat), and the one in Mooseburger Lodge (or IF they call it something else now) is inside, but it is just too small in there. For Fright Fest, they are trying to cram in people that used to be in the Theater Royale place along time ago into that dinky place. They can expand the Mooseburger Lodge because they have more room there, and that would better, but I think one of the worst decisions they made is taking Theater Royale shows out of there.

The Southwest Ampitheater also has become a waste because the only things they have there are the cheerleaders, bands, and once and awhile a concert. If they would have kept Theater Royale, they could have had the cheerleaders in there for a day. Oh well.

Harsh reality: Shows aren't an emphasis at Six Flags parks anymore, nor do I think they should be. Why pay all that money to go see what I watch for free on American Idol each week? Also, the shows nowadays? For whatever reason, they ain't that good. The ladyfriend and I met swing dancing. We decided once to check out the show at Mooseburger, thinking, "If the music's good, we can dance in the back." We decided against it because we felt like we'd be showing up the talent. Kinda sad.

I think two theaters, now, would be too much. The Dark Knight is a pretty weak effort for a park that already had Ragin' Cajun, but it serves its purpose and, to me, serves a better purpose than another theater.

If they had decided to do away with the Pictorium, it would have freed up room for a front-of-the-park, signature-style ride like what California's doing with Gold Striker.

Then, thinking creatively, if you want a movie experience, take the Wilderness Theater or Iron Wolf's land and turn it into an old Drive-In Movie theme, with 50's-style cars for "seats" and a big screen. Heck, get Chevy to sponsor it. That's something hard to find nowadays but would be a nice value-added draw. Then, if you don't have anything great to sell in terms of a movie, just show Looney Tunes movies at night like Space Jam or Daffy Duck's Quackbusters and sell the experience moreso than the film. Plus, Fright Fest: Just show bad, cheap, 50's B-movies and have monsters roaming the cars to randomly scare people during the show.

[Goku1910]

Great America needs to give you a job.

[MForce4ever]

Harsh reality: Shows aren't an emphasis at Six Flags parks anymore, nor do I think they should be.

That's your opinion, but I can tell you that's not true.

Why pay all that money to go see what I watch for free on American Idol each week?

It's not like you're paying extra to go to the shows, nor do you see the parks using the shows as a main draw.

Also, the shows nowadays? For whatever reason, they ain't that good.

That's your opinion and a rather subjective statement.

The ladyfriend and I met swing dancing. We decided once to check out the show at Mooseburger, thinking, "If the music's good, we can dance in the back." We decided against it because we felt like we'd be showing up the talent. Kinda sad.

Audition for the entertainment department...

I think two theaters, now, would be too much. The Dark Knight is a pretty weak effort for a park that already had Ragin' Cajun, but it serves its purpose and, to me, serves a better purpose than another theater.

Yeah who would want another opportunity to sit in air conditioning for 30 minutes during read to succeed?

If they had decided to do away with the Pictorium, it would have freed up room for a front-of-the-park, signature-style ride like what California's doing with Gold Striker.

Well, Superman certainly doesn't meet those qualifications

Then, thinking creatively, if you want a movie experience, take the Wilderness Theater or Iron Wolf's land and turn it into an old Drive-In Movie theme, with 50's-style cars for "seats" and a big screen.

Right because a night time only theater that has to compete with the noise of an amusement park and is reliant on weather conditions would be really efficient.

Heck, get Chevy to sponsor it. That's something hard to find nowadays but would be a nice value-added draw. Then, if you don't have anything great to sell in terms of a movie, just show Looney Tunes movies at night like Space Jam or Daffy Duck's Quackbusters and sell the experience moreso than the film.

Right because having a bunch of reels (and the rights to show them) is cheap.

Plus, Fright Fest: Just show bad, cheap, 50's B-movies and have monsters roaming the cars to randomly scare people during the show.

Well that one's okay if we can accept the proposed circumstances.

[JimPanky]

Shows are a big priority for the park. They are bringing back 2 popular shows: Dancin in the Streets and Reflections and they are doing igNIGHT which looks like it could be really awesome. And what about Love at First Fright? It is very well done and very popular.

[PfightingPolish]

Harsh reality: Shows aren't an emphasis at Six Flags parks anymore, nor do I think they should be.

That's your opinion, but I can tell you that's not true.

OK, I will give you that. I was thinking more relative to the Marriott days, I guess, but when I think about it, they have done a better job lately of bringing back the classic shows and getting some better talent than they did in, say, the dreaded Snyder years. Nonetheless, for the reason below, I still don't think they should be a priority. And yes, that's an opinion, but really, opinions are all these boards are for. I'm OK with agreeing to disagree.

Why pay all that money to go see what I watch for free on American Idol each week?

It's not like you're paying extra to go to the shows, nor do you see the parks using the shows as a main draw.

I beg to differ on that. I am paying, even if I don't see the shows. They have to pay the talent somehow, and to build the sets, and buy the music rights, and all of that. That comes out of my admittance fee, however it is I pay that (one-day, Twicket, season pass, etc.). So I am paying for it, and believe me, I wouldn't mind my season pass costing $5 less. Plus, to be honest, I'd rather not pay for it since I don't really go to see them. But I also think a show upcharge is ridiculous, too. So ... conundrum. I think some shows are valuable, but I kind of feel like the number is right where it is, with no need for more, much less a whole different theater to show them in.

Also, the shows nowadays? For whatever reason, they ain't that good.

That's your opinion and a rather subjective statement.

Yup. And I'm entitled to an opinion, just as you're entitled to tell me it stinks. Fair enough.

The ladyfriend and I met swing dancing. We decided once to check out the show at Mooseburger, thinking, "If the music's good, we can dance in the back." We decided against it because we felt like we'd be showing up the talent. Kinda sad.

Audition for the entertainment department...

Too far of a daily drive. Plus, I kind of already work in entertainment, albeit of the sports variety.

I think two theaters, now, would be too much. The Dark Knight is a pretty weak effort for a park that already had Ragin' Cajun, but it serves its purpose and, to me, serves a better purpose than another theater.

Yeah who would want another opportunity to sit in air conditioning for 30 minutes during read to succeed?

To watch a so-so show with not-ready-for-TV-level talent or to ride a so-so ride that's at least a so-so ride? Yes, the ride is just so-so ... but I'd rather have the ride. Both are air-conditioned. And, if you're smart, you don't go during Read To Succeed.

If they had decided to do away with the Pictorium, it would have freed up room for a front-of-the-park, signature-style ride like what California's doing with Gold Striker.

Well, Superman certainly doesn't meet those qualifications

[NotSureIfSerious.jpg]

Then, thinking creatively, if you want a movie experience, take the Wilderness Theater or Iron Wolf's land and turn it into an old Drive-In Movie theme, with 50's-style cars for "seats" and a big screen.

Right because a night time only theater that has to compete with the noise of an amusement park and is reliant on weather conditions would be really efficient.

If it's raining, the park's closed anyway. Yes, there would be noise, but the "Drive-In" part partially conquers that — the speaker is in the car (either truly old school like this or just built into the car). It's a novelty thing, yes, but it's more of an experience than a generic theater, and if it's set back enough from the rest of the park, or barracaded by trees or whatever, it wouldn't be an issue.

Heck, get Chevy to sponsor it. That's something hard to find nowadays but would be a nice value-added draw. Then, if you don't have anything great to sell in terms of a movie, just show Looney Tunes movies at night like Space Jam or Daffy Duck's Quackbusters and sell the experience moreso than the film.

Right because having a bunch of reels (and the rights to show them) is cheap.

That's something I don't know a lot about, so you might be right that it's cost-prohibitive. But I will say this: Other than the occasional movie, I do feel like the Looney Tunes properties aren't something a lot of kids know as well nowadays as they did when The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show was on Saturday mornings on ABC when I was a kid. If you're Six Flags, I would think it would be a pretty easy pitch to Warner Brothers that this is a nice value-add to the already-existing deal to have the characters in the park and to expose their material to new generations in a way at no huge extra cost, other than residuals. They had segments of CN's The Looney Tunes Show showing on Six Flags TV two years ago and they got me to watch the full program. I would think getting those properties would be a lot easier than showing first-run or second-run films, or trying to produce your own material.

It's all just ideas, thoughts and opinions. None of us actually work for the park in a position to make any such decisions; we can all just theorize. No need to get too worked up.

[Radical-Illusion]

This isn't really on the subject of the Pictorium, but does anyone feel that since we lost a kid area that we should rebuild one that brings back the looney tune theme that we once had? I know that the Southwest amphitheater really isn't that useful in my opinion. But how about turn that into a kid area? It could easily be themed around Wiley E. Coyote, and road runner. Maybe even theme it for kids a little older, but not too old. Kidsopolis is for ages around 2-5 and the same with Camp Cartoon. How about make it for kids 5-10 or so. Have some thrilling but not so thrilling flats and maybe a coaster that is a little scarier or faster than spacleys sprocket rocket? Just my opinion. I know that people argue that there is already too much to do for kids and not a lot for thrill seekers, but i mean come on. Also, as far as the outdoor theater. I honestly think that is a great idea! Maybe they could redo the inside of the Pictorium and but some cars in there and turn that into a "outdoor" Theater. Then that way it could be used throughout the day.

Who am I kidding, I could only hope that this would happen...

[PfightingPolish]

This isn't really on the subject of the Pictorium, but does anyone feel that since we lost a kid area that we should rebuild one that brings back the looney tune theme that we once had?

Personally, if I were a kid, I would have preferred the one-kiddie-ride-per-themed-area plan they sort of had (not exactly, but sort of) back when I was little. Separate me from one of my two parents and the rest of my family for most of the day in a big, scary park with big, scary rides that, to the untrained child's eye, look like they could kill someone and my four-year-old self probably would have spent most of the day scared crapless if I couldn't see everyone in my party to make sure they were OK on occasion. I was probably more sensitive than the average kid in that regard, though.

For that 5-to-10 range, though, I honestly feel the park has a good gradient of thrills. Kids in that range might not be coaster-ready yet, and I'm not quite sure exactly what the height requirements are so I might be in the wrong, but I would think the move to flats that get more and more exciting — from Jester's Wild Ride (thrilling at no age), up to Hometown Fun Machine and Fiddler's Fling, then to rides that go in the air like Triple Play and East River Crawler, all the way up to Revolution and King Chaos, which I think are OK for most 10-year-olds but even a decent thrill for adults — nicely makes that leap.

[JimPanky]

I would think 5-10 might like the small coasters (rockets, little dipper, rajun cajun) and the flat rides (hometown fun machine, ricochet, etc.)

[Radical-Illusion]

I guess I lost sight of the already existing kid rides and flats that we already had. but I mean I still think they should bring back some sort of Looney Tune theme somewhere in the park other than the character meet and greets and the couple of themed stores around the park.

[Goku1910]

Since we were on the topic of pictorium and blah blah blah......What do you see happening if pictorium and whizzer were removed? And HTFM would be moved. We all know Whizzer won't last forever, but I just want some input. What do you think Great America would do with that space?

[JimPanky]

O yeah! I totally agree that it would be great to have more Looney Tunes theming! I do like all the tv's that show the classic cartoons. Mel's voice will live on for-eva!

[Radical-Illusion]

Since we were on the topic of pictorium and blah blah blah......What do you see happening if pictorium and whizzer were removed? And HTFM would be moved. We all know Whizzer won't last forever, but I just want some input. What do you think Great America would do with that space?

Well, I don't know for starters where they would even move HTFM, and If they did they would have to rename it or keep it in Hometown. And If Whizzer was to go, I don't think they would tear down the Pictorium the same year, Or if they even would tear it down. Im guessing that we would get another coaster, or who knows that could be another HH expansion.

[PfightingPolish]

O yeah! I totally agree that it would be great to have more Looney Tunes theming@

I think all of us old enough to remember when Space Jam came out agree this would be cool. I think that's up to Warner Bros., though, to decide how much they want to do with those characters. And given their WBshop.com site headlines with Harry Potter (Universal Orlando), the Hobbit, LOTR, Batman and Superman, I sense it's not a priority. The CN series has been clever and well-written, but frankly, I think it's aimed more at adults than at kids since it essentially drops the characters into a sitcom. With all the superhero movies being produced in the last 15 years, I think that's where their priority lies.

What do you see happening if pictorium and whizzer were removed? And HTFM would be moved. We all know Whizzer won't last forever, but I just want some input. What do you think Great America would do with that space?

First off, I'd call the odds of that slim, unless you know something we don't. I think Demon will fall before Whizzer, based off ridership alone, and you don't generally paint a place in preparation to remove it.

Nonetheless, I'll play your game, you rogue, just for kicks. Since there's been that launched rumor, that's the first thing that comes to mind, maybe with something like that newfangled Full Throttle ride at Magic Mountain, but that space would seem to beg for something more traditional. A GCI? I could see one there. And how about this for a name/theme, given the placement in Hometown Square and, essentially, at the front of the park — a familiar name to the chain and an idea I know some of you will absolutely hate, but an opportunity to continue a Six Flags tradition with … The New Great American Scream Machine. Seems like it would make sense to have a ride with "Great American" in the name at, you know, Great America.

All pie in the sky, of course.