Hey for you that will attend the ACE Regional Event, Rip Roarin' Rampage, here is the schedule again on this flyer. I am sure you guys will enjoy your rides on Zoomerang as well.
In regards to the employees, I feel that you get what you pay for. Unfortunatly, you do not get the most skilled/talented employees for minimum wage. The employee definitly needs reporting to mgt. I do not want anything happening to an innocent person just trying to have a good time at VL and VL getting more bad press. It is just now starting to get a positive image in the BHM area. I have noticed that the employees are a lot more friendly this year. At least it is a start in the right direction.
needless giant quote removed -J
The reporting part is as good as done, I just left the park today. Not the news I was looking forward to hearing, but thanks for the info. *** Edited 5/31/2005 4:18:54 AM UTC by Jeff***
I went to Visionland for the fourth time this season, as I mentioned earlier, and I will have my trip report, pictures, and well as other news up as soon as possible.
BTW, the park was not busy on Memorial day due to weather. I took a chance to come to the park b/c I called my relatives who live in B'ham and they said the weather was moving out. I also looked at the radar to see the cloud cover.
Smeldar said:
Godsentone- How is the new Zoomerang cmpared to the Rampage?
To answer this question, I would have to go with the obvious--Custom-designed rides, IMO, always beat out clones. Rampage is the main draw, and Zoomerang is just an added bonus.
*** Edited 5/31/2005 6:29:48 AM UTC by Godsentone***
I'm glad I went because I got some awesome pictures while I was there. I just got a new lens for my camera and got some really good shots of the Rampage. I also was able to get some pictures of the refurbished second train. Its cars are different shades of blue and instead of flames they have lightning. Hopefully the refurbished train will provide a better ride. Its starting to get a bit bumpy. Its still not so bad for a woodie though.
As for Zoomerang, I don't know what's going on but I've been there every weekend since the park opened and Zoomerang is almost always closed. Even when its running it seems a little slow. I think it has trouble making it up the back spike far enough. I don't know what's going on but they seriously need to figure it out and make it more reliable. They have tv commercials, newspaper ads, magazine ad, billboards and signs all over the place really playing up this coaster. A lot of people have been disappointed to find it closed so often. I hope they figure out the problem soon or having this new coaster may do them more harm than good. *** Edited 5/31/2005 1:55:44 PM UTC by Kryten6000***
What time were you there? I was there from 3:00 to about 5:30 pm. I know that wasn't a long time, but I got more useful information in that short period of time than I have gotten all season.
When will you posts those pictures? It would be interesting to see what shots you got to compare and contrast with the ones I got.
Rampage was running great to me. I even rode the back and it didn't seem bumpy. The other train did look great though. Can't wait for the new logo shirts.
Zoomerang is having the usual concerns that these type of rides have. Some of the slowness has to do with the wheels and how much friction they allow. The less friction allowed, the faster it will go.
If you visit the group link below, you will see more news and other speculation on Zoomerang.
I'll have to scale my pictures down because right now they're huge. I also don't reallly have anywhere to host them. Where did you host yours? If I can find a decent place to host them I have some pretty awesome shots and I'm hoping to get some good night shots this weekend. I haven't been to the park after dark in years.
Smeldar, I agree with you that the prices do seem a bit steep for the season passes but you have to consider that you get access to the amusement park and the water park. That may be a business mistake to do it that way because some people don't care about the waterpark and only want to go to the amusement park or vice versa. I think they should drop the price about $10-15 and open the whole park back up. The way it is now you have lots of rides that are off by themselves because they used to be on paths that led to the water park. They need to take down all the fences and open those paths back up.
I would say if you like the water park that the passes are worth it. If not I would go once to check it out and then wait until they grow a bit. Hopefully they'll get Zoomerang working more consistently. Its not really a great coaster but its fun for what it is. I hope they get it working before it gives the park a bad reputation. I
As far as crowds go, so far this season has been a little more busy than any season I've seen so far. Most people flock to the water park. That side stays packed. People around Birmingham are just more interested in playing in the water. It gets really hot and humid around here and I have to admit that around noon you wont see me on the Rampage. I'll be over at the beach or in the lazy river.
When there's gloomy weather you can usually get on the Rampage and stay on it for quite a while. You may have to get up and move to a different seat if someone is in line for your seat but they let you stay on as long as you want. When its sunny and lots of people are there you can still usually get off and walk back around and only have to wait for the train to go once or twice before you get back on.
I'm hoping the second train will be nice and smooth when they start using it. It looks pretty good. The paint jobs on both are a bit cheesy but they look nice.
Zoomerang seems to get stuck right after the loop. I think it doesn't make it far enough up the back spike and it rolls back. I think they may have a problem with weight distribution. It seems like people flock to the back and when the ride goes through the loop it slows down and can't pull the weight thru the loop fast enough to get up the hill. It seems to go really slow after the cobra roll. It just doesn't pick up enough momentum. I've been able to ride it several times so far and its fun for what it is. I hope to see it running this weekend. I fear if its down much longer it could be bad for Visionland. They're really playing this thing up and its disappointing a lot of people. *** Edited 5/31/2005 4:26:51 PM UTC by Kryten6000***
Now for your second question, Smeldar, I believe that they are delaying the announcement b/c the log flume is not yet finished. I don't know if it is a delay in the company they bought the ride from or something on Visionland's end, but Bosshawk would be the man to hear about that first.
Kryten6000, I guess I am crazy b/c I sure didn't see you. This is what I did: I went straight back to Zoomerang upon entering the park after stopping by the logo/souvenir shop. I went the Marvel City route to Zoomerang and noticed that they poured a cement pathway in between the Barn Stormer (kiddie planes) and the Marvia Mania (kiddie coaster). I guess they got tired of people cutting through there anyway and decided to make it easier for them. Great PR response on their part. I noticed that there wasn't any activity up at Zoomerang so I went in closer and found that it was closed. I went to Rampage and hung out up there for a few talking to the ride ops, before I rode the back seat which turned out to be my only ride of the day. Left there and decided to get a ride on the Sky Wheel so that I could take a few shots of the park from up high. I could have sworn I got a shot of the layout of the Log flume, but I guess I didn't. Anyway, I headed over to Splash Beach, where I got the majority of my pictures for the day. By this time, the crowds had really thinned out to almost noone. I went back to Celebration Street and talked with one of the team members, I worked with back in 98 and 99, for a few minutes and around 5:30, I was walking out the front gate.
I also can't wait to ride the second train to see if it is broken in good enough. My favorite quote of the day is when I was up at the Rampage, one of the ride ops said, "Man, the Zoomerang has a mind of its own." I am beginning to think the same about it.
Oh, BTW, Kryten6000, here is the site I hosted my pictures on:
I am looking forward to seeing your pics soon.
*** Edited 5/31/2005 6:58:15 PM UTC by Godsentone***
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