2 walk-ons for repiV in the morning then a station wait. Lines got bad around 12:30. Eagle's line was right by the DDD pad, 1hr+ for Goliath, repiV, Superman, Joker. Batman had "Gotham City Park" 2/3 full with all the swithcbacks open. Seems weird that these lines were not present in July but they are in August.
Been to may theme parks, in many countries. However, SFGAm is my home park and I love it!
Favorite @ SFGAm - Eagle ~ Favorite Steel - Skyrush ~ Favorite Wood - El Toro 35 Rides on Eagle in 2015 68 Rides on Eagle in 2016 102 Rides on Eagle in 2017 9 Rides on Eagle in 2018
I was planning on going Friday but then realized this is BAFF week. I've read that attendance is down this year. Anyone been to the park this week? How are the lines compared to other years? Would Sunday be better? Also wondering if Viper is still running backwards. I know they said one week but I was hoping they would just keep it through Fright Fest.
In Spring, someone mentioned a Goodwill line for entry. Anyone try that? Front gate entry is one of my biggest complaints.....last year was a mess.
^BAFF has had little impact on lines this week (park is pretty much dead). There are now cattlegates at the front entrance. Skip the Goodwill thing and get to the park at 9:30.
HIGHLY suggest the Goodwill line. There is like no one there. I have nothing but positive things to say about it.
Favorite @ SFGAm - Eagle ~ Favorite Steel - Skyrush ~ Favorite Wood - El Toro 35 Rides on Eagle in 2015 68 Rides on Eagle in 2016 102 Rides on Eagle in 2017 9 Rides on Eagle in 2018
All you need is the card to show. They don't scan it or anything like that.
Favorite @ SFGAm - Eagle ~ Favorite Steel - Skyrush ~ Favorite Wood - El Toro 35 Rides on Eagle in 2015 68 Rides on Eagle in 2016 102 Rides on Eagle in 2017 9 Rides on Eagle in 2018
Ok 1 how does one get into the goodwill line? And 2 WTF was up with those food and drink lines on FF opening day?! They were atrocious! I think the park needs several self serve drink stands. What they could do is have a barcode or on the glass itself and have scanners at the drink machines so the only way to get a drink is to have either the all season refillable mug or a wristband, or even integrate it onto the season pass. I would also like to see a quick service/cafeteria style set up in a restaurant or even in the County Fair Food court. Meaning instead of placing your order and waiting you just take what you want Ie Burger platter and take it to a cashier and check out. I don't think the food would be stale or soggy in fact I think it might be the freshest in the park because it would have such a high turn around. Concerned about cold food have it in the Little Caesars hot and ready boxes open on both the kitchen side and the sales floor side. Have a cash lane, credit/debit lane, and season dining lanes. I think this could really work out well, if done right.
Viper 88 wrote:Ok 1 how does one get into the goodwill line? And 2 WTF was up with those food and drink lines on FF opening day?! They were atrocious! I think the park needs several self serve drink stands. What they could do is have a barcode or on the glass itself and have scanners at the drink machines so the only way to get a drink is to have either the all season refillable mug or a wristband, or even integrate it onto the season pass. I would also like to see a quick service/cafeteria style set up in a restaurant or even in the County Fair Food court. Meaning instead of placing your order and waiting you just take what you want Ie Burger platter and take it to a cashier and check out. I don't think the food would be stale or soggy in fact I think it might be the freshest in the park because it would have such a high turn around. Concerned about cold food have it in the Little Caesars hot and ready boxes open on both the kitchen side and the sales floor side. Have a cash lane, credit/debit lane, and season dining lanes. I think this could really work out well, if done right.
The self serve drink stands is a good idea. SF doesn't even track your drinks with minimum intervals of refills like other parks, so there is no reason to not have them. Even parks that track just have several stands/coke free style machines where the person just scans your pass and lets you walk by to the machines. Much quicker than a employee filling 1 customers cup at a time.
Quick serve cafeteria style is not really conducive to how essentially all the food places are set up. It would require major renovations/changes and would cost money. Spending money on food services lowers profit. Also, how often many people with season passes go to the park the margins on some season dining passes is little or none.
Multi lane checkout cash,debit, passes cost money with more staff. I think a better use of more staffing might be to actually have people prepping/making food. Most food centers are short staffed in my opinion. The "atrocious lines" are likely to get worse in the future as SF is trying to push more season dining passes. They claim season dining has relatively low penetration among season pass holders.
I think they should redeploy people from the photo booths to the foodservice. How many people actually buy the ride photos? Also, redeploy the photo takers at the front entrance to foodservice. They just create a roadblock to entering the park, and again how many people are actually buying their entry photos? People can just take their own photos with their phone in front of the fountain!
Single Day Ride Count Record
50 rides 8/17/2018 (Without Flash Pass - Coasters After Dark)
The park has departments for a reason. Everybody is trained for their own department. Until cross training is available. That suggestion is not feasible.
It seems like the other side always wins on American Eagle Also, I've ridden Goliath 23 times in one day. HBU? (Sorry in advance for unnecessary commas and parenthesis every where)
Viper 88 wrote:Ok 1 how does one get into the goodwill line? And 2 WTF was up with those food and drink lines on FF opening day?! They were atrocious! I think the park needs several self serve drink stands. What they could do is have a barcode or on the glass itself and have scanners at the drink machines so the only way to get a drink is to have either the all season refillable mug or a wristband, or even integrate it onto the season pass. I would also like to see a quick service/cafeteria style set up in a restaurant or even in the County Fair Food court. Meaning instead of placing your order and waiting you just take what you want Ie Burger platter and take it to a cashier and check out. I don't think the food would be stale or soggy in fact I think it might be the freshest in the park because it would have such a high turn around. Concerned about cold food have it in the Little Caesars hot and ready boxes open on both the kitchen side and the sales floor side. Have a cash lane, credit/debit lane, and season dining lanes. I think this could really work out well, if done right.
To use the Goodwill line, you have to have a Goodwill rewards card. We use that line and love it. They have actually checked for the card, too.
on a somewhat unrelated note, I was at goodwill yesterday and I found a coaster shirt... I think it was Magnum but I don't remember. It was a small so I didn't even bother. Ive found like 5 coaster shirts over 15 thrifting trips, so I would suggest y'all keep your eyes open you might find a gem. I have a retro Dueling Dragon shirt that is amazing! Get a card to cut the entrance line and find some sweet coaster shirts! (and 200 DRose shirts)
Sucker for a launch, custom audio and Viper | Coaster Count: 511
CoasterCale wrote:The park has departments for a reason. Everybody is trained for their own department. Until cross training is available. That suggestion is not feasible.
Cale, when I said redeploy I actually meant permanently (eliminate the position). So instead of having say, 2-3 people at X-Flight photo booth, have 1 person there and take the extras and put them in food service.
Single Day Ride Count Record
50 rides 8/17/2018 (Without Flash Pass - Coasters After Dark)