California trip...

Well, I have my reservations and am heading to California for a long Labor Day weekend. Flying into Orange County on Thursday morning. We're planning on hitting Magic Mountain on Friday and then driving to San Francisco that night. I know it's a 6 hour drive, but we only have a few days! lol We are going to SFMW on Saturday and PGA on Sunday with the long drive back Sunday night so we can sleep in before our flight on Monday.

Anyone have suggestions for strategies at any of these parks? I know there is no way of ever predicting crowds, but is Labor day usually a busy time for any of them?

Does anyone know why SFMW and PGA are closed the week before Labor Day? That really threw a wrench into our plans having to split up our time in LA so we could hit all 3 parks.

I'm looking forward to the trip, and buckling down on my diet as I am worried about both Stealth and V2. I can ride all the B&M's with just a slight push from the op, anyone who has ridden either one want to comment on the restraints and how tight (or loose) they are. I'm about 6'0" and 275#.

Labor Day is the worst my friend....Good luck!
Be careful on the drive...police are everywhere. (Keep your eye on the sky) You might have some trouble on Stealth, but I think they can handle your size. Keep your patience in check, and you will have a great time. Have fun!

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;)Rollercoasters are like parrots...if you take care of them, they should outlive you;)

SFMW isn't closed the week before. They just changed the hours. They're open from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. It was closed because traditional schools have that as their first week of school in the area. *** This post was edited by Coastration on 8/4/2001. ***

lone star go on a 5-10 pound diet b/c you might not be able to go on stealth, i don't know your frame so all my advice is to lose 5-10 pds

I rode Stealth at the same weight, but I am 6'4". I had plenty of room, my largest measurement is at my chest, not the gut. The 260 weight limit is more a guideline than a hard and fast rule. You should be OK.

Medusa has "big boy" seats, but the standard ones should be fine.

As far as I know, all parks will be open.

No time for Ghostrider, shame on you! ;)

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"X" marks the spot in 2001!

You shouldn't skip out KBF, tsk tsk on you! I went to SFMM last year labor day, and to my incredible suprise it wasn't as full as i thought it would be. Goliath was only a 45 minute wait, longest wait was for Riddler's Revenge at 2 hours
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The SFMM Salvi:
"Goliath Jr. looks to intense for me"
"I want to go on something more exciting than X"

Yes, I know I should be flogged for not hitting KBF for Ghostrider. I have been to KBF in the past and Ghostrider is the only ride there that I would not have experienced that would be unique. I want to be sure to hit some parks that I have not been to or in the case of MM added several new coasters since I was there in 1987.

I am prepared for the harsh reality of not getting on Stealth, but I will squish as much as I can lol I don't have problems on rides like Medusa or any B&M, just a slight push from the op and I am fine in the regular seats.

Thanks for the input!

If you haven't ridden Ghostrider, than chances are you haven't ridden the other great newer ride...Supreme Scream. Boy, I sure would try to fit that park in. Things have changed. SFMM has really changed since '87, though. Perhaps you are right in your choices. Your only problem there might be the obvious long lines, but usually the only terribly long line is for Riddler's Revenge. A lot of rides are walk-ons now. Viper, Psyclone, and Revolution all typically have very short lines, if at all.

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;)Rollercoasters are like parrots...if you take care of them, they should outlive you;)

Thanks for the advice! I think we are planning on hitting RR and S:TE first to avoid lines, then Goliath and B:TR seems to be the most logical plan I have come up with based on what I have read on thie board. But then again, if by some unforeseen miracle that X opens up, we are all over that. I'm not planning on it being operational, I sure would wait however long it takes to get on since I have no idea when I will ever get back to CA again.

The good thing is I have ridden Titan here at SFOT so I know what to expect with Goliath, but I definitely want to up my track record as much as possible. I won't be able to hit the 100 mark with this trip, but if I can get to Virginia and NC next summer I will be able to do that easily.


I also knew about Supreme Scream too, but I have done Power Tower earlier this year at Cedar Point. The only S&S ride I am drooling over at this point is the Big Shot in Vegas, just don't know when I'll make it there to ride.


*** This post was edited by LoneStarGator on 8/4/2001. *** *** This post was edited by LoneStarGator on 8/4/2001. ***

At SFMM the plan you really need to do is take Orient Express to S:TE then down hill to RR, THEN B:TR BEFORE Goliath because its on the way and Goliath will have a much longer line, I would count on X opening and I think it will open that weekend, its gonna be VERY crowded at SFMM, as for PGA it shouldn't be. I went on Memorial day and it was not crowded at all, this season has not seen large crowds at all! Here is the plan for you: There will probibly be an ACE walkback that day, if so get there at 9:30 for your free rides on STELTH! If not still get there at 9:30 and head to Stelth quick. Then to Invertigo, even though you pass right by Drop Zone and Pyscho Mouse, ride Invertigo then go back and do Drop Zone and Pyscho Mouse, then to Demon. You should now ride the simulators if you plan on doing that they get real bad lines after this time. Any more ?'s email me at airtodd23@earthlink.com!

[Signature too long. Deleted. -L] *** This post was edited by Lynch on 8/6/2001. ***