Gwazi Dueling No-More

Yes it's true. Gwazi is no longer running at the same time. Busch Gardens rec'd a lot of complaints about the loading times on the coaster and decided to let them go seperately instead.

That was strike to for Busch Gardens and strike 3 was right behind it. The only give 1 free beer per visitor instead of 2. This just started about 2 weeks ago as well! What's next???

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

You're kidding! That really stupid.

*** This post was edited by bluesoccer on 9/3/2001. ***

That sucks! The whole point of a DUELING coaster is for it to DUEL!
-------------
www.geocities.com/six_flags2002
New site coming Sept. 15th!

I've never understood how people can actually complain about free anything.

-------------
Matt Lynch
Co-Webmaster : Kennywood Boulevard

I got two free beers last time (~ 2 wks. ago but they had already stopped dueling. Overall I'd trade the beer for the dueling. It requires well-trained, motivated, and attentive staff on both sides. (Maybe they could move it to CP...J/k). I love the Gwaz, but racing and dueling coasters MUST do so- see variable speed lifts on DD at IOA for additional fixes to this problem). Otherwise, I'd just as soon have ONE LONG coaster instead of a short ride with asnother short ride sitting idle right next to it! When coasters like Gemini, or Kennywood's Racer, or HP's Lightning Racer run both trains simulataneously, the artwork of the coaster (see previous thread} becomes noticeable. Guests who don't even ride- I call them heretics, LOL, but they'll often sit on a bench and watch coasters race/duel for quite awhile. Beauty of the park, etc. I understand that SFKK doesn't run Lola AND Stella on most days. If you can't afford to staff these rides appropriately (for more, see Batwing), don't build them that way. I must defend the ride-ops, what a pain in the butt having to check all guests' restraints twice every time (Train arrives in station, laps come up, some guests can't figure out "push down, pull up", others can't undo seatbelts, etc. Finally, riders exit, slightly impeded by the narrow exit. Oncoming riders enter, do their seat belts., check, release laps, check OK, run). I know some ride-ops (none from BGT, that I know of) are on cb, how much time do you figure for all that? Restraints are cool, but let's not get carried away on our only non-inverting coaster. Kills the timing of the ride, and the experience itself suffers...
-----------------
rollergator - intent on improving the "guest experience" - coming soon to a park near you

I agree with Rampagelover, although I felt that it did'nt add much to the ride, that's is the whole point of building two coasters.
-----------------
Top 5 Steel:
1.Montu
2.Hulk
3.Kumba
4.S:ROS @ SFNE
5.Ice Dragon

Top 3 Wood:
1.Excalibur @ Funtown
2.Gwazi
3.Cyclone @ SFNE

They should get rid of the seatbelts, and just have lapbars. It would make it a lot faster to load. Im glad I got on it when it was duelling. It had some great effects to it.
-----------------
Nitro: The Most Explosive Coaster on the Planet explodes at Six Flags Great Adventure in 2001.

gatorwoodie said:
When coasters like Gemini, or Kennywood's Racer, or HP's Lightning Racer run both trains simulataneously, the artwork of the coaster (see previous thread} becomes noticeable.

Exactly. And on top of that, all of the paintstaking tweaking and retweaking by the designers of the coaster to the get two intricate tracks, each with completely different circuits, to intersect and pass each other at the right moments, all goes down the drain.

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

I think all wooden coasters and non-looping coasters should have a re-straint such as Villain's. A lap-bar that goes up auto-matically. No seat belt, just lap-bar. I think it would cut down on load time alot and it is still very safe.

Might be a little better if they used an MF style lap-bar only without the seatbelt. I cannot wait to ride M-Force again during Halloweekends.

-----------------
"Villain-Once You Drop, The Fun Don't Stop!"~SFWoA Rules In 2001~X Marks The Spot In 2001(SFWoA)~With SFWoA ANYTHING Is Possible!

So, in effect, not only will they still have slow dispatches, the whole effect and purpose for these coasters being built has been eliminated?

Go Busch!

All they gotta do is tweak their loading procedures and voila! faster dispatch. I don't see why Busch feels they are special in the sense that they have "special" trains that need "special" procedures when there's 10's of 100's of these types of trains running around the world.

*sigh* Whatever.

I have a feeling that the ride will start to duel again. I mean, the crews will still be slow as ever, just at different times.

I just returned from there, and occasionally both left at the same time but was very rare. I must say that ruined the coaster for me, being my first time. And the loading otherwise was quite slooow.

-----------------
ULTIMATECOASTER.com - In Search of the "Ultimate" Thrill
http://www.ultimatecoaster.com/

They would most likely race the trains on off-peak times. But during busy summer days, they need to move the lines as quickly as possible. Regular park guests complain about long lines, they dont complain about duelling/not duelling coasters. I'm sure the experience is much better when they are dueling, but if you poll the people waiting in line, I GUARANTEE the majority will choose quicker lines.
-----------------
My other car is a Giovanola!

This sucks because I am making my way to Florida for the first time in two weeks. I really wanted to see the coasters duel. Maybe I can convince the ops to try and time it right so where I can get at least one dueling ride going. ;) Yeah right. This plus the fact that I just read that JtoA is down the week I'm there for refurbishment is making me a little p'oed. Oh well, the IOA coasters, RnR, Montu, Kumba and Kraken should be enough to keep me occupied for awhile! ;)
-----------------

That sux, I went a couple of weeks back and i missed it for the queue. 1hr wait. I suppose it doesn't seem that long but it was considering Montu and Kumba were both 10min.

-----------------
My way, my way or the highway.

What is JtoA?

I'm sure I won't be disappointed by this, that is of course if you've been on Twisted Sisters at SFKK when only one side is running. Which I'm sure most of you have. Yes, it makes no sense to have a dueling coaster and not duel them, but at the same time if you're not willing to motivate employees to get interval times quickly, then there's not much you can do about it. There were more guest complaints on capacity, so they moved to not duel. Perhaps if they receive enough guest complaints about the non-dueling dueling coaster then perhaps they may go back. Yes, seatbelts would help speed this process up as they are not required on any wood coaster, save perhaps Colossos.
Criss

*** This post was edited by Chief Roberts on 9/4/2001. ***

It's not that they can't motivate their employees to hit interval times. They are hitting interval times. But the interval times suffer so bad because the park set incredibly asinine policies on how they check restraints and dispatch the trains!

The fact that they duel is not the problem for capacity. The ride's capacity issues are directly related to the absurb operation prolicies that no other park in the world has. Now if only Busch would see that, then they would have a very high capacity attraction that does what it was built to do, duel.

-Steve

JtoA is Journey to Atlantis, a dark ride/flume/ (hidden)coaster at Sea World Orlando. Fun, but a little over-hyped for the amount of coaster-track, IMO.
-----------------
rollergator - intent on improving the "guest experience" - coming soon to a park near you

That, is a shame! Gee has anyone that has a dueling coaster in their park ever even think that maybe the two sides are more excting when they duel? DUH!

-----------------
My daughter BEGGED me to ride the kid coasters(blantant lie)HEHEE..lol.