Six Flags Great Adventure announces 382-foot tall Bakunawa spinning roller coaster

It wouldn't be a new coaster thread of CB without complaints about the name and capacity of the ride.

MDOmnis:

"The Bakunawa is a giant, serpent-like dragon from Philippine mythology known as the moon-eating dragon, the bringer of eclipses, and a sea-dwelling monster."

Nothing fits a boardwalk theme in an inland New Jersey amusement park like a mythological moon eating dragon from the Philippines.

Honestly, I'm probably hating on the ride because it's Six Flags Great Adventure. I really do hope they are getting their crap together. I'm jaded, I know. Let's just say every time I chose Great Adventure over other parks, I have been extremely disappointed, to the point that I expect mediocrity from them.

But it's a new day, so...

Yea - that's fair. I visited there for the first time in probbaly 20 years earlier this season and it really does seem like they are TRYING to right the ship. The park was clean, the landscaping and food had improved, the ops were so so. There wasn't much in the way of families in there though. It was mostly overrun with obnoxious school kids and they clearly either waive or ignore their chaperone policy for them.

Was "Flight Deck" not available?

Was "Spinnerhawk" not available?

In all seriousness I like the name. But I'll concede it's a questionable choice for a boardwalk themed area.

Better or worse than Medusa in the wild west?

I think that is why we got the teasers of the crate landing on the shore, being found then creature escaping. I hope they use that through the queuing and it seems like the guy who did the redo of Mr Freeze (Texas) for this season has a hand in the ride queue and area theming. So we just might get something to really tie it to the Shoreline Pier.

Park reps last night had a Q&A with Coliwood Studios and they dropped some things that should really keep the park moving forward for the rest of the year. A Brass Band on the Boardwalk until Fright Fest while Heroes and Villians is over in MovieTown, a Jason themed maze by Plague Productions for FrightFest and the return of Dead Man's Party but they don't know where it will be so as to not cause the clog it used to cause, then Holiday in the park will be totally new areas and one is a beach theme at the Shoreline Pier and it seems like that is where St Nick will be for a Meet and Greet.

ScreamWave was considered for the name....

Out of curiosity, what specifically needs improvement with park operations at Great Adventure that someone mentioned?

They didn't have Batman running until the last month. El Toro is still running one train. Plus others being up and down.

Gotcha. So these issues with rides being closed when parks open for the season, non-op due to parts required, limited ride units available, etc. is a direct result of decisions being made at corporate SIX and the fiscal spending policies that are in place. It is a system-wide issue, not park specific, so at the park level it’s kind of out of their hands. Until the executive management and corporate board members have a change of heart, I’m afraid this is the new normal now.

That's the way I see it. It isn't Great Adventure dropping the ball as much as corporate handcuffing. I mean they literally got approval to move the rides from America by corporate at the beginning of 2026 and they got the land prepared and rides opened in the new area in like 5-6 months from start of concrete.

Of course HydroTwister (the Nebulaz) is now awaiting a part... DOH!