Has your homepark inproved since SF took over?
DWeaver said: "I agree that most SF parks do need serious improvement, but I'm not quite ready to think of life *without* them either."
SF has brought us many MANY new coasters, and even some new flats too. I think the *point* to be made is that these additions, by themselves or in combination with a deteriorating *atmosphere*, are not really enough to make a park THRIVE.
To continue to grow, SF is going to HAVE to come to this realization....a place I go once a year to check out the new attraction, have a *meh* time, and don't return to (and most importantly don't recommend), those places have LIMITED possibilities...
Don't think for a second that I don't enjoy all the new rides as much as, or more than, anyone else....but the atmosphere, that is KEY.
...but the atmosphere, that is KEY.
Which is precisely why many people on here, myself included, would rather frequent park like Holiday World or Knoebels (just to name a few) than your typical Six Flags Coaster Metropolis on any given day.
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-Mike B.
Son of Hulk
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Tease Alert!
*Something* wicked this way comes...to the west coast in 2004!
Shoot, I'm even *ecstatic* over the relocations of older rides like SFKK and SFStL have done...
DWeaver said:
If some of you really expect a corperate monster like SF to run like Knoebels or Holiday World, you've got a screw loose.
I don't think that's what anyone wants. What is sad to me is that one of the chain's 'flagship parks' is seemingly run at a level lower than other 'regular' parks in the chain (SFWoA, SFoG, SFStL, etc.).
When I went to SFMM for the first time I expected an efficiently run, clean and beautiful park on par with SFGAm (another 'flagship park'), but I certainly didn't expect to have a HW-like experience. Instead I found a park with huge potential that reminded me of SFKK with more stuff. I'm not saying that it physically reminded me of SFKK, but the vibe was the same.
No-one is whining or singing the same sad 'SF Sucks' song. We're just pointing out that SFMM has some serious problems that need to be addressed that can't be fixed by plopping a new coaster down in the parking lot.
*** This post was edited by chris 7/16/2003 12:11:12 PM ***
You're missing the point. I've been to three Paramount parks, and certainly none of them are on the same level that the small family parks are in terms of atmosphere and friendliness. However, I've never been blatantly annoyed by overall park operations as I have at a few Six Flags parks. Why is it wrong to expect a little more than just a new ride every year? I would gladly sacrifice some new additions for some good old fashioned improvements in customer service.
DWeaver said:
If some of you really expect a corperate monster like SF to run like Knoebels or Holiday World, you've got a screw loose. What would make those parks special if they all ran the same?
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-Mike B.
Son of Hulk
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I agree with you on the improvements needed at SFA. Interestingly enough, SFA management agrees with us. I know that they would like an improved waterpark. The addition of Penquins Blizzard River was a move towards adding more family rides that the park could use. The water park may be hard to do unfortuantely, The current water park is kind of landlocked over in one corner of the park. A major addition would require building an entire new water park from what I understand. That would be a major capital expense that I can't see SF doing at this time.
As for the discussion being "obvious and overstated" have you noticed what the topic of this thread is? If you're bored with it then I ask you to go find another thread.
mOOSH - wondering if DW is actually reading and comprehending my posts....
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A random Mooshter's Dawntionary listing: Rectitude [n.] the formal demeanor of a proctologist just before he exams you.
Of all of the big "corporate" parks I have been too, none have really had that Knoebels (or even Kennywood) atmosphere, but they did have a nice atmosphere and I really enjoyed just walking through them. Parks included here are PKD, BGT, BGW, Hershey (yeah, even though it is only one park, it is still Corporate to me), Dorney, IOA, and Sea World Flroida. The two SF parks I have visited... SFA and SFDL... while not the pure hell that many make them sound like, I did find them a bit lifeless and sterile. The two SF parks did offer a good coaster selection (with the two SM:RoS and WildOne being the stand outs), but there was something big lacking in the atmosphere department. Will I go to them again... SFA is a 2 hr drive so it is a yearly (or every other year) trip. SFDL I will make no special attempt to get to, but would stop in if I was near by and had the time. The other parks that I mentioned (PKD, Hershey, etc etc etc) I would go back to just for the sake of going back to... even making a special trip for those that are 2hrs+ away.
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Kind of hard to take a post as objective if a park or coaster name is part of the "user name"
I am very happy that SF bought Enchanted Village here in the Seattle area. I have seen nothing but stellar improvement. It is apparent that they realize this particular area is in GREAT need of entertainment. They have updated the flats selection (I think we have more than SFMM!), and add Timberhawk. There is talk of it becoming much more competitive up here with the tribal lands, so I can only see improvement continuing. That is ALL GOOD for us! :) My hope is that they will update the waterpark into a Hurricane Harbor, but they are stuck with a smallish area to work in. It's all in the vision, I do believe though. I don't think Six Flags intends on "screwing" its patrons over, however, they do seem to get WAY ahead of themselves in regards to their ability to take care of what they already have.
I understand this thread wasn't started to bash or defend Six Flags, but the deserve both sides of the coin. SFMM is a terrible park. Perhaps the worst in the country, but it was always Six Flags right? Darien Lake has seen nothing but wonderful improvements, and Six Flags didn't take the regional mistique out of it. As an enthusiast, I love Six Flags. As an enthusiast, I loathe Six Flags.
God Bless Holiday World. When I don't need to be impressed, I always am.
Rob-who just loves those silly things called rollercoasters, but wants to have an experience every darn time I go to the parks no matter how corporate they are, or if I have a season pass, and don't feel they owe me anything today.
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Join MY coaster club! - It's absolutely FREE!
No. When Newhall Land & Farming and Bally's owned the park it was simply Magic Mountain. Bally's sold the property in the early 80's and the park became Six Flags Magic Mountain.
Again, just to clarify: I don't hate the park. If I did I wouldn't go there *at all*. I go 2-3x a year but find myself having a better time at Knotts [a park that is far from perfect as well].
Lastly, I am not bashing Six Flags as a whole. They have done a lot of good and we'd have a lot fewer coasters to ride if it wasn't for them.
mOOSH
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A random Mooshter's Dawntionary listing: Willy Nilly [n.] - impotent.
2. If I visit KW, CP, PKI, IB and HW, then go to SFKK, obviously I'm going to make some comparisons which are not very positive. However, we have to be fair here. KK was poorly conceived, poorly located, poorly managed from the start. We've listed its ailments before, but just to review a few of the worst, it was built on a parking lot with a four lane highway bisecting it, the underlying strata do not permit any significant excavation, the adjacent airport runways impose height restrictions, it is hemmed in all sides so expansion is not an option, and it was planned as a once a year midway for the state fair which for some insane reason would simply stay open the rest of the year. I don't care if Kennywood, Holiday World, Paramount or Disney took it over, any new owner was going to inherit some serious problems. It would actually be cheaper and easier to relocate the park to a larger site out in a rural area where designers could start from scratch, as the old Cinc. Coney Island did when they moved to Kings Mills and created Kings Island. However, given all this, I tend to give SF the benefit of the doubt, because they have invested a huge amount of money and they have assembled a decent ride lineup. They get a lot of criticism about their employees, but Kentucky is worse than almost any other state for its web of regulations on hiring. Since SFKK is still on state property, it must abide by an unending list of obligations involving equity for one special interest group or another. Firing someone because they are surly or don't perform as asked can be tougher than other places.
Now consider that most Louisville attractions rely on Lexington, Northern Ky and Southern Indiana for their crowds. But Lexington and Northern Ky people will go to Kings Island, thanks to the interstate. And Southern Indiana people will go to Holiday World. So SFKK does not have a lot of surplus cash accumulating from the gate.
Despite all of this, the park slowly improves, year by year. It has one great wooden coaster, one pretty good wooden coaster, and several steelers worth a visit. Some of its other rides are fine examples of their genres, such as that superb Giant Wheel and the classic Carousel.
I think KK gets a bad rap. It should be rated higher among its own SF family than it is, and it should be rated higher among all parks than it is. One of its problems is that its within a reasonable interstate drive from HW, IB, PKI, CP, and KW. That's pretty tough competition for a parking lot operation.
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Join MY coaster club! - It's absolutely FREE!
It's all good ;)
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A random Mooshter's Dawntionary listing: Willy Nilly [n.] - impotent.
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A random Mooshter's Dawntionary listing: Willy Nilly [n.] - impotent.
Take it from someone who knows.
mOOSH - now someone who knows, too ;)
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A random Mooshter's Dawntionary listing: Willy Nilly [n.] - impotent.
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Don't ever underestimate the psycho factor in my head
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