Deja Vu's Last Season?

A new train design would definitely be a good start...my *first, easiest, cheapest* soultion to the valleying was to simply remove a row from the train, effectively making the drop just a little longer, and the speed just a little higher.

Of course, since I absolutely HATE the confusion of loading the train (and the resulting reduced capacity) from the staggered rows, a completely new train altogether wouldn't hurt my feelings one bit...although that would be even more expensive.

As far as removing them, not likely, they HAVE figured something out apparently since the valleying was so much improved. Of course, they have *all* vallied by now, right...I'm pretty sure there was mention of the WBMW one "stalling"....talk about ironic naming...;). Operating costs I'd imagine aren't that bad since there aren't LIM/LSM-type launches...which isn't to say that they don't consume maintenance man-hours. John Odum (SFoG) specifically mentioned that theirs opens later simply because they'd prefer to have MORE rides ready at park opening, and that the time required daily for DV meant a *forced-choice* situation. I appreciated his candor AND his decision-making...:):)

Personally, I'm no engineer, we have several *on board* though. It's my guess-timate that the real design problem is that the *pull-out* from the vertical spike to the horizontal run through the station was too *sudden*. This increases the g-forces at that point of the ride, but would also TEND to slow the train. (Hey, it's my economics background). With the current train configuration, I'm guessing that capacity *per dispatch* is maximized, but there leaves a LOT to be desired, in temrs of safety (knees, anyone) and ease of loading. If they can come up with ANYTHING that allows a greater overall capacity (and safety), it would be great...I just don't see how that's possible, although any changed seating arrangement would make sense...they'll (GIBs) still be around, and that's a good thing...:)

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3r1c said:
Does anyone know how much Deja Vu costs per day to operate? It wouldn't suprise me if they removed it because their income is mainly being consumed by DV and they aren't getting much back from it.

-Eric

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There are a lot more coasters out there in operation that cost parks MANY TIMES more than what a GIB pulls from the pocket.

I do hope that those new trains will come with modifed seats! Being a guy on that ride isnt always a joy if you know what i mean. It crushes your nuts...ooooouuuuwwwwhhhhhheeeeeee...
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Surfs up in Hollister, CA! Later Dudes...

Hollister, If you have your seatbelt nice and snug (which I have learned to do, since afterall you don't get that great of airtime), you won't have that problem.

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Rob

"Some people spend an entire LIFETIME wondering if they made a DIFFERENCE. The MARINES don't have that problem." -President Reagan 1985

Again, the trains are not the main issue in the slow loading. It's the seatbelts. Get rid of the seatbelts and you have the loading equivalent to that of an impulse.

Or perhaps checking the seatbelts at the same time they check the OTSRs would improve things greatly, instead of having to sweep through the train twice...

-Nate

Kevin Max, IIRC the one at SFoG opened without seatbelts but the park complaints from riders of "feeling insecure".

Really good signage at loading would help riders figure out where they are supposed to sit and would help somewhat. When ACErs can't find their seats to speed up an ERT session, you know it's *at least* a little confusing...;)

But 'Gator, my question is: Do you think the seatbelts really make you feel any more secure up there? To me, feeling the weight of your midsection pressing against the seatbelt hard is not such a comforting feeling. Maybe they ought to have park management ride the ride without wearing the seatbelt, then ride with the seatbelt, and see if it makes any appreciable difference. Let's face the fact that the seatbelts don't add anything to the safety of the ride (to my knowledge), and the dangling feels creepy, even with the seatbelts. (I feel it's the highlight of the ride)

Do *I* think the seatbelts make me any more secure....only in the vaguest sense, but not really. But as we've noted MANY times over, it isn't about *us*, it's about the thousands of families who come to the parks...and THEY felt insecure with only the OTSRs...so we have seatbelts. Small price to pay for *such* a good ride, but personally for the space and capacity, I'd prefer a V2...:)

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Never go unarmed into a battle of wits...;)
...and for those who claimed I needed a role model: www.comics.com/comics/dilbert/the_characters/html/character4.html#phil

Right....but my point is that they probably feel insecure with the seatbelts as well...let's face it, it's an insecure feeling up there any way you slice it. Does the added illusionary security justify nearly doubled wait times?

And you bring up the classic DV vs. V2 debate at the end of your post...if all things are equal (including loading), I prefer DV slightly. More variety, and more intense. But when you consider all the other problems the ride has...it's a very close call.

The seatbelts are there so the park can cover its proverbial rear.

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CBClub member #30 and #364 (renewal)

I think that they should do a reconstruction of the restraints. Like was previously stated, It's not always fun being a guy and going up that spike backwards(In fact it hurts more than Iron Wolf). The seatbelts do help out a little. I think it would be a lot worse without the sb. I hope that they never get rid of the sb unless there is a redesign in the otsr's.

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It's my time to Fly! - URGE - Titan A. E.
Is it yours?
Superman: Ultimate Flight
SFGam 2003

I assume Magic Mountains Deja Vu is down right now for rehab. I was there on Sunday after Solace and waiting inline for Psyclone you could see the train in the station with half of the chairs and restraints removed and just the supports hanging down. Now if that isn't for just rehab then maybe they are starting to redo the seating arrangment?

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Chris Tyson
Photographer
www.pkiunlimited.com

I honestly don't see the point in doing it. If it ain't broke, why fix it. They just now got them working pretty well. No matter, that ride is gonna take a little bit to load. They won't check both harnesses and seat belts at the same time b/c you'll always have one idiot that sat on the belt and cant't get it and already pulled their harness down. Then you have to unlock the whole thing, then recheck. I like the whole "everyone have an outside seat" thing. All I know is, SFoG's should be opening with the V trains b/c as of right now, i've heard nothing at all about it getting new trains.

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Acrophobia-"So who up there is scared(everybody screams)? I want everyone who is scared to hold their hands out..."DROP

Ok as for the one at SFoG. I have only seen it Valley once. I was not on it this time, I probally would have been a freeked if I was, for a few minutes at least untill I got used to it. The ride has had some breaking problems with the towers on many occasions. This was a major enough problem where emergency hyduralic brakes have been added, before entering the cobra Roll in both directions. (I have been on it from both directions whenthese brakes have been used to stop the train from going into the cobra roll, then they manually unloaded us)

This Way if the tower brakes don't catch this set can, and since they shut DV down over june and july they may have added them then, because the valley happened within the frist month of opening last season. I have not seen it valley since, nor ha s a friend of mind who owns 2 shops in the park.

So I belive a set of emergency brakes were put on SFoGA's Deja Vu' while it was during the season, maybe to see if it helped solve the problems before investing time and money on the other 2 (3 if you coun't "Stunt Fall" at WBMW).
*** This post was edited by Herald Vanyel 3/4/2003 12:40:41 AM ***

The seat belts arent't going anywhere. Gripe, moan, and complain all you want, but they won't be removed.

BTW Herald, the brakes are pneumatic, not hydraulic. ;)

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Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

Alrght let's jsut think about this... After investing millions on this new ride, GA is just going to get rid of it because it doesn't always function properly? I don't think so and not only that but it's only been operating for a few yars now. The removal of Deja Vu would def. effect profits. In a way SF would lose money and then you people would be whining over the presence of a new roller coaster. Plus if this was the case then V2 would be gone already. Deja Vu isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
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Don't Fight It, Ride It, RAGING BULL!!!!!!- Six Flags Great America

I don't see SFGAm removing it any time soon. From what I've heard it has started to work consistently. I, though, am very disppointed. I went in June and it opened halfway through the day. I waited in line for two hours only to see that "fail-safe" breaks give out while I was standing in the station. My last 3 trips, closed all day, one witthout even testing.

Some of us may not remember what a troublesome pain in the neck CP's Demon Drop was during its debut season and perhaps a year or two after that.

Deja Vu's going nowhere. This isn't exactly RCT where you click on the trash can icon.

-'Playa

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The CPlaya 100--6 days, 9 parks, 47 coasters, 2037 miles and a winner.....LoCoSuMo.

I believe all four Vekoma GIB coasters opened with brakes to control valleys. These brakes are located between the station and the cobra roll, and between tower two and the loop (*not* on the cobra roll). These rides opened with these brakes (Boomerangs have had them for years); they were not added mid-season.

-Nate