Deja Vu: Sweet - CoasterBuzz

Finally got my first ride on Deja Vu tonight at SFGAm. 6-7 minute loading times contributed to a 2 hr, 15 minute wait. The ops were competent and doing a nice job, however.

I must say that I was very impressed. The first lift is frightening, both drops are outstanding, and the ride is not rough in the least. (Actually, the only rough spot seemed to be at the bottom of the first drop). I prefer these restraints to V2's -- not quite as tight. It did seem odd, however, that I could not help but kick the car in front of me because of its close proximity. Overall this is a great addition --very close with V2, maybe slightly better because it has a little more variety.

If this park could get all its rides operating simultaneously, it's coaster lineup could stack up against anyone's.

I'm glad you finaly got to ride it...... I know what you mean about it being smooth, except at the bottom of each tower. I think it's because at the bottom the train "converts" to the road wheels?

What were you wearing. I was working Deja Vu tonight. I might have seen you.

Glad they had it running considering how chilly it was out tonight. I give SFGAm credit. They are trying to have this coaster running the best they can considering the cool temperatures we have been having lately. Kudos to SF.
-----------------
=========================
"The Peoples Elbow" or "The Spinaroonie?. Cant decide which is the most electrifying move in sports entertainment!!! LOL

Bull Fan, Glad to hear you got your first ride and glad you enjoyed it, but you missed out! Your comment about kicking the train in front of you suggests that you sat in the inner seats. The outer seats hang you out alone, and the nearest seat in front of you is about 10 ft away. I have ridden both areas and the outside is Twenty times MORE frightening than the centers. Further back the better too. Next time you ride, MAKE SURE you sit in the outer seat, unless you're too frightened. :)

-----------------

Loaded G: I was initially assigned to an outside seat, third row from the back. However, the girl in charge of assigning seats came up to me and asked me if I would mind switching to the third row from the front on an inside seat. Of course, inwwardly I wanted to stay, but I didn't want to be a jerk, so I accepted. I can't wait to ride it again...but that will probably be next May!

ALF: I was a tall, relatively thin guy, 20's, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.

I would also like to comment that there ought to be some effort to contact Six Flags management to persuade them to remove the orange seatbelts. It seems to me that they double the loading time, so what should have been just over an hour wait was converted to 2 hours, all in the name of an illusory sense of security. I think most people would find the experience more thrilling (hence enjoyable) without the seat belts.

Chitown, it should be noted that the ride was temporarily shut down when it began sprinkling just the tiniest bit, and I do mean the tiniest bit. Wondering if the shutdown was due to the sprinkles or a different reason ( I've heard that this ride should not run in the rain). Still, I agree -- kudos to SF for having it operating. All in all, the ride is a blast.

Thoughts from others on how it compares to V2? I would say favorably.

Well, I think Deja Vu is kind of equal to V2, in terms of thrills, enjoyment etc. I love the second tower on Deja Vu, the drop is incredible. On V2 I also prefer the back (2nd) tower over the first. I'm glad SF added these two rides instead of anything else.
-------------
-Defender of Shockwave

Well i'm off to the park in 8 or 9 hours, cross your fingers for me :)

I rode it Friday as well.....I will completely agree with everything that Bullfan said. Deja Vu is an awesome addition to the park. However the loading times will kill this rides popularity rather quickly (well at least I can hope this so I can be selfish and get more rides on it.)
I can only hope that they devise a way to get the loading times shorter. I happened to get in line just before they started letting people into the queue area. I only waited about 40 min.....and my girlfriend and I got the LAST row! It seemed to take forever to get up that lift hill. I was freaking. Not too many roller coasters do that to me anymore! :) Personally I can see why the second seat belt is there. At least from a GP point of view I would not want the harness to pop while I have all my body weight on it only to go SPLAT on the seats in front of me. LOL!
OH WHAT A RUSH. Move over V2. IMO the top rides at SFGAM are Raging Bull, Deja Vu, V2, Viper, and (for nostalgic value) Whizzer.
-----------------
Yes, I want my Deja Vu and eat it too!

*** This post was edited by beast7369 on 10/22/2001. ***

The easiest way to speed up the load time would be to remove that extra orange seatbelt they added. But of course one you add a restraint you can't take it away, cuz the GP will remember and get all scared. Which is kinda why they added the seatbelt in the first place. The GP didn't "feel safe" in the harness...because of all the room there was in it. Which may be true because many bigger people find it easier to get on Deja Vu than say....Batman or v2.

Bullfan, the only place you as a guest can really go to make a comment on a ride would be Guest Relations at the front of the park.

I rode the one at Magic Mountain yesterday. I'm not much of a steel fan, but it was quite a thrill. I think they need a drill sargent in the station to "hurry things along" though. ;)
-----------------
Yeeee Haaawwww!

I rode SFMM DejaVu BEFORE they added the orange belts and the load time was already too long. The real problem is that they line people up in rows of two. As if the people in seats 1-2 sit together and the people in seats 3-4 sit together. Unfortunately, after riders 1-2 sit down, rider 3 sits and rider 4 has no idea how to get to their seat(on the other side of the train). Then they try going between the rows, making guests 1-2 have to move again so they can get through, or they have to walk all the way around the train, then cant find the seat anymore. Simple solution: Close off every other loading line and load up as a staggered row of 4, what it really is to begin with. Rider A goes to the far outside, Rider B takes the far inside, Rider C takes the near inside, and rider D takes the near outside. Another solution would be to redo the queue and load from both sides. Other than that, its up the the riders to get their harness down and belts fastened quickly so the ride ops dont have to do it for them. It will NEVER have adequate loading times, but can certainly be sped up. I might expect to see a redesigned train soon (more like a traditional 4 across inverted train).

BullFan--- nice to hear how you were considerate to others. Kudos!
-----------------
My other car is a Giovanola!

*** This post was edited by LoadedG on 10/22/2001. ***

Yeah, that silly "Sleek V-shaped seating" is odd to say the least. It slows things down quite a bit, and if you have a group of 2 and get the outsides, you cannot see your friend, well, just barely. I still really like the ride, but the loading times and strange seats make it easily the lowest capacity ride with a 32 passenger train.

-------------
"X" marks the spot in 2001!

What the heck is the purpose of the new sleek V seating?

-----------------
Beer,coasters and Hooters. Is this a great country or what?

And what meakes it "sleek"? I think the idea is that everybody feels they are on an "outside seat" in the sense that nobdy as a person directly on both sides of them. (Then why not just have rows of 2-across, might I ask?)

Stoogemanmoe said:
What the heck is the purpose of the new sleek V seating?

Compacity, although it seems to be a big hassell.

I think the "V" seating allows for a row of 4 in a narrower space than feasible straight accross. A narrower train probably saves cost on the overall structure. Still, loading is awkward.
-----------------
Yeeee Haaawwww!