Gotham City Gauntlet Media day SFNE

I was lucky enough to be invited through ACE New England to take park in the media event for Gotham City Gauntlet: Escape from Archam Asylum. This was my 4th media day for SFNE and 5th for a Six Flags park. We arrived at start time 10 am and I noticed after parking that the parks hasn't done anything to detheme Mr six’s Splash Island While the 2 flats rides were removed from Thomas town. The track is still installed and I could even hear the fountain for the water feature operating.

We checked in and headed down to the DC area we were detoured a bit since Thunderbolt is getting retracked. This brought up by the former wiggles world area now called Kidsopolis. The rides red void of their former themeing and outside of a couple attractions getting new paint jobs it’s the same attraction with no themeing.

I made my way back to the coaster helping a few people get photos on the way. The event was reasonably well attended but lighter then previous events. Weather for it was better than any of the other media event I have attended. Like all event there was some morning ERT which was them fallowed by the speeches and the official opening.

Lunch was after the speeches but I grabbed a quick ride while there was practically no line. In fact the line for lunch was the longest of the day. IT was an impressive spread. Johnny Rockets had their hamburgers and Chicken fingers, added to that were Mac and Cheese, Baked Ziti, backed Brisket, and plenty of sides. There was also a cake, cup cakes, and candy apples for dessert. I filed up and never even made it to any dessert. I drank soda at lunch but grabbed a milk shake before they closed up shop.

The rest of the day was spent riding Gauntlet and Since my brother and sister in law brought my nieces and nephew, I watched them while they rode. In all I got 6 rides in on the new coaster. I also spend time getting photos and videos of the new ride. Catwoman's Whip was also open and I took one ride on that attraction.

Gotham City Gauntlet: Escape from Archam Asylum is a An interesting addition to the park. The intensity of the ride is similar to the mouse like Pandemonium spinning coaster they added in 05. I guess if you're not comfortable with the spinning this will be a good option. In all I was glad to get on it but I would not wait more than 30 minutes to ride it. There is some interesting themeing around the ride. I do like the mist filled tunnel and the piping leading to the top of the hill that offers another shot of mist.

In all the day was good there was only one big aggravation. The park has raised the height limit on Catwoman's Whip. The park now requires a minimum of 42 in if accompanied by an adult. This is 10 in higher then Rudy's Rapid Transit at Santa's Village which also operates a Zierer Double figure 8. This proved to be upsetting to my nieces who have ridden Rudy and didn't understand why they couldn't ride the one at SFNE.

A link to photos will be posted soon

Gotham City Gauntlet Escape from Arkham Asylum is one hell of a ride name! Are there many changes, is it in the same colours as it was at KK?

Do they have a full set of cars for it? Those Maurer rides can move a fair few people with a full number of cars.

The coaster was completely repainted and the track is 3 different colors.

There is a full set of cars but 2 were kept aside all day. won't be surprised if that is the case during the season.

Hard to say how bad the wait will be. The media day was not as busy in years past. The longest line was for Lunch. But the queue is literally along the outside of the ride around the coaster so it's a 3 minutes walk around the ride, and full likely a hour + wait.

here are a few photos I took with my phone
http://s1181.photobucket.com/albums/x439/mrceagle/Gotham%20City%20Gauntlet%20-%20media%20day/

I will post more soon form my better camera.

I really think it was dumb for them to get a wild mouse coaster especially after already having Panda which is a great ride.
I would have loved for them to install a Intamin Zac Spin or a Euro Fighter instead. :)

Well with Canobie beating them to a Euro Fighter that wasn't going to happen. I agree a zac spin would have been great allowing for more of the field to be used for multiple attractions along with plenty of grass/Green space.

The DC area which is not totally dominated by Villains except for the justice league arena has 3 coaster an only 1 flat.

Here is the Photo albums for this trip report.

http://photos.newwhalom.com/Trip%20Reports/SFNE_GCG_MD/GCG%20Media%20Day.html

I hope you enjoy them

Well, except that the cost to install this mouse, given that it was relocated and that they already had a spot surveyed and prepped for it was way lower than a new custom or even stock ride.

Your right this was the cheapest move they could have made. add to that that the queue is using the outer portion of the existing concrete pad and the themeing is very minimal. They managed ot ad an attraction at a minimal cost that will get minimal attention along with minimal lines.

In the long run it will cost them more because a 10th coaster means nothing if people don't care about it.

take a look here, It's the line for lunch spanning out into the side room, and this is after any people got their food. it was the longest line of the day during media day.

You're thinking like an enthusiast. You don't have to have an "-est" ride in order to be a successful park. Heck, Dorney seems to be doing just fine getting other parks hand-me-downs. In fact, last time Six Flags went for installing all kinds of "-est" rides all over its parks...it went bankrupt.

It was a super cheap installation with fairly minimal maintenance that kids and families can ride. Even if it doesn't grab headlines, it won't hemorrhage cash either and I cannot imagine a situation in which a park could have gotten any coaster for a cheaper price relative to its new price.

That's a good looking mouse. Thanks for sharing the pics.

ApolloAndy said:
You're thinking like an enthusiast. You don't have to have an "-est" ride in order to be a successful park. Heck, Dorney seems to be doing just fine getting other parks hand-me-downs. In fact, last time Six Flags went for installing all kinds of "-est" rides all over its parks...it went bankrupt.

It was a super cheap installation with fairly minimal maintenance that kids and families can ride. Even if it doesn't grab headlines, it won't hemorrhage cash either and I cannot imagine a situation in which a park could have gotten any coaster for a cheaper price relative to its new price.

I'm not as much a Coaster enthusiast as I am a park enthusiast. I spend far more tiem visiting well kept parks with coasters under 40 ft. So you dont have to tell me that a coasters doesn't have to be a record braker to be enjoyable.

Gauntlet is not a kiddie coaster in fact until a child is around 6+ they won't be tall enough to ride it. and that's the minimum with an adult. So whiel it dose cover a fair range a good chunk of the family can't ride. I have been watching the lines and talkign to people who visit the park often. The coaster is not exaclty a full blown flop but it's not anywhere near a hit. but the conman complaint by even non enthusiasts. is it;s no more intense then catwoman's whip and pandemonium and both the other coaster are better.

But given that they had a site ready for it, land surveyed, etc. etc. etc. and all they needed was a permit, you can't tell me it was a bad investment.

^^Imagine how King's Dominion feels ;)

Andy, the only reason they had all that prep work done was because they had already made a mistake a few years ago in thinking The Dark Knight was a good idea. ;)

Exactly they build all that without a building permit they were lucky they were only required to remove the building.

Just because something is convenient and cheap dose not make ti the right move. TGE also has a open spot in nightmares building. Not to mention they don't have a nearly identical ride like SFNE dose with Pandemonium.

MRCEagle said:
Just because something is convenient and cheap dose not make ti the right move.

Uh, why not? What is the possible downside?

Lets see, a ride addition should be what is the best move for the park. Lets lookat thsi one. Did the need a 10th coaster, No! the highest coaster count from a competing park is 4 (tie between Canobie and LC) so what is a 10th coaster really doing for them. the there is no bragging rights when most of the coaster count is clones, 3 of which can be found in another park in New England alone.

was it the best fit for the park. no! They have Pandemonium a spinning coaster that contains a mouse like sections and is a similar coaster intensity wise. They also have catwoman's whip which is also similar in intensity. they had a spot ot fit it so it was conveniant but they already have coaster that fit this guest rang.

Was it good for the space. again no! They are 2 coaster in this small section of the park already and only 1 flat. the park overall is short of usable space so a coaster that hogged the middle of one of the only open location was not a good move. there is queue path, extra space that was tobe building, etc that are siting idle with easy way to use them because of the way the coaster sits.

The reception has been light at most. Lines bairly along the side when ever other coaster is seeing longer lines. Media day wise I saw Canyon blaster at TGE with more attention and a bigger crowed then Gauntlet.

Honestly I think the only reason SFNE got this over TGE is bacause SFI wanted to save some face with 2 local parks adding coaster. Quassy added wooden warrior and Canobie added Untamed a Euro fighter which SFNE wanted.

Cheap, pre-approved, land cleared, convenient, etc. doesn't necessarily make it the "right' move per se....but it sure reduces the possible downside (consequences) if you end up being wrong. ;)

MRCEagle said:
Lets see, a ride addition should be what is the best move for the park. Lets lookat thsi one. Did the need a 10th coaster, No! the highest coaster count from a competing park is 4 (tie between Canobie and LC) so what is a 10th coaster really doing for them. the there is no bragging rights when most of the coaster count is clones, 3 of which can be found in another park in New England alone.

was it the best fit for the park. no! They have Pandemonium a spinning coaster that contains a mouse like sections and is a similar coaster intensity wise. They also have catwoman's whip which is also similar in intensity. they had a spot ot fit it so it was conveniant but they already have coaster that fit this guest rang.

Was it good for the space. again no! They are 2 coaster in this small section of the park already and only 1 flat. the park overall is short of usable space so a coaster that hogged the middle of one of the only open location was not a good move. there is queue path, extra space that was tobe building, etc that are siting idle with easy way to use them because of the way the coaster sits.

The reception has been light at most. Lines bairly along the side when ever other coaster is seeing longer lines. Media day wise I saw Canyon blaster at TGE with more attention and a bigger crowed then Gauntlet.

Honestly I think the only reason SFNE got this over TGE is bacause SFI wanted to save some face with 2 local parks adding coaster. Quassy added wooden warrior and Canobie added Untamed a Euro fighter which SFNE wanted.

But who cares? I just got home from GameStop and got an old PS2 game pre-owned for $2. Even if it's complete and utter garbage and doesn't even boot, what am I out? $2. I'm not expecting the next Halo or Final Fantasy, but if I can wring 30 minutes of entertainment out of it, it's already a win.

Granted, if it doesn't boot I will be disappointed and probably even a bit pissed, but it's not even worth my gas to go back to the mall to complain at that point.

If SFNE spent less than 10% of the cost of a new actual coaster installation on this thing, they really have absolutely nothing to lose.