How about Six Flags!!
So now that we have seen Six Flags explode into a buying frenzy, what does everybody think will happen?
Increased attendance?
More crowded, dirty parks?
I love the new rides, but I think people would really appriciate if Six Flags added a little "class" to their parks. Maybe a little more scenery, happy employees.
15 coasters is great, but not many Six Flags parks win awards.
The ultimate question:
quantity or quality?
(This post is in no way a bash Six Flags post. I just want to see what people think about Six Flags huge spending spree.)
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Coasters- a little slice of heaven
Increased attendance?
More crowded, dirty parks?
I love the new rides, but I think people would really appriciate if Six Flags added a little "class" to their parks. Maybe a little more scenery, happy employees.
15 coasters is great, but not many Six Flags parks win awards.
The ultimate question:
quantity or quality?
(This post is in no way a bash Six Flags post. I just want to see what people think about Six Flags huge spending spree.)
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Coasters- a little slice of heaven
I find it strange that a company in debt is spending so much. I was not a business major so maybe I wouldn't understand!
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When the ride comes to a stop.......please stand up - please stand up - please stand up!
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When the ride comes to a stop.......please stand up - please stand up - please stand up!
I think they are always adding rides and coasters because they claim that they want to THRILL you. Yes, scenery, employees, and park maintanance such as cleaning, ride support etc... are needed in a park, but SF most concentraits on rides and coasters. Which for me isn't bad, because that's what I love!!!
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"4 Seats are better than 2"
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"4 Seats are better than 2"
I really do not care if a park is dirty as long as they thrill me.
But on the spending I do think that they went a little bit overboard by adding 2 major coasters to two parks one of them a year after they just got a major coaster(SFMM) when it is apparent that some parks are not getting anything and haven't got anything for a few years.(That was for you SFEG fans). I think that quantity is good for a park but not to an extent where you have to neglect some parks and treat others like the golden child. I think if you could say that every six flags has ten coasters is better than saying one has more than any other park in the nation.
But to the point I would not be upset if my homepark said they wanted a new coaster so they decided not to hire additional people to operate their existing coasters. The fact is you still get to ride another coaster even though you may have to wait a little longer to ride them. Thats what my love for coasters is about is riding them i do not care if it were located in a landfill i would still go ride it.
One more thing
Almost anybody here would have to agree that if you had two parks in your hometown both with a great variety of coasters. You have already been to both parks and been on all of there coasters.
In the same year one park built a new coaster.
The other park decided to hire additional handymen to clean the park up and do some landscaping to make the plark look better.
But you only have the oppurtunity to go to one park that year.
Wich one do you go to!!!!!!
The one with the new coaster...
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#1 Steel-Incredible Hulk
#1 Wood--Timber Wolf *** This post was edited by T-Wolf on 1/7/2001. ***
But on the spending I do think that they went a little bit overboard by adding 2 major coasters to two parks one of them a year after they just got a major coaster(SFMM) when it is apparent that some parks are not getting anything and haven't got anything for a few years.(That was for you SFEG fans). I think that quantity is good for a park but not to an extent where you have to neglect some parks and treat others like the golden child. I think if you could say that every six flags has ten coasters is better than saying one has more than any other park in the nation.
But to the point I would not be upset if my homepark said they wanted a new coaster so they decided not to hire additional people to operate their existing coasters. The fact is you still get to ride another coaster even though you may have to wait a little longer to ride them. Thats what my love for coasters is about is riding them i do not care if it were located in a landfill i would still go ride it.
One more thing
Almost anybody here would have to agree that if you had two parks in your hometown both with a great variety of coasters. You have already been to both parks and been on all of there coasters.
In the same year one park built a new coaster.
The other park decided to hire additional handymen to clean the park up and do some landscaping to make the plark look better.
But you only have the oppurtunity to go to one park that year.
Wich one do you go to!!!!!!
The one with the new coaster...
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#1 Steel-Incredible Hulk
#1 Wood--Timber Wolf *** This post was edited by T-Wolf on 1/7/2001. ***
I'm not going to pretend to know what the current financial status of Six Flags is, and all the ins and outs of where their cash flow is.
So, from an enthusiasts stand point I'm always pumped for more rides. Yeah, I think matainence and customer service is important. But can't we just have everything?
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Randy Hutchinson
You build it, I'll ride it...eventually
So, from an enthusiasts stand point I'm always pumped for more rides. Yeah, I think matainence and customer service is important. But can't we just have everything?
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Randy Hutchinson
You build it, I'll ride it...eventually
Before you run around saying maintenance isn't important, that a dirty park is OK, consider: if the park doesn't bother to clean up the places the public sees, do you really think they're going to bother to clean the kitchens the public doesn't see? Do you really want to eat food prepared in a kitchen that is probably filthy? It's not as glamorous as adding 4 new coasters in a season, but it's still important to spend money on cleaning and maintenance.
T-Wolf:
That scenario may work in the short term, but after the novelty of the new coaster wears off, people may be drawn back to the better maintained park. There are many people who don't ride coasters and visit parks for other experiences. The run down coaster-filled park would suffer and the spanking clean park would gain. I believe that one should make sure they can maintain and take care of what they have before they get something else. (applicable to other aspects of life as well).
That scenario may work in the short term, but after the novelty of the new coaster wears off, people may be drawn back to the better maintained park. There are many people who don't ride coasters and visit parks for other experiences. The run down coaster-filled park would suffer and the spanking clean park would gain. I believe that one should make sure they can maintain and take care of what they have before they get something else. (applicable to other aspects of life as well).
Speaking of Maintenance at Six Flag's, all I hear is bad things about it. Here is a piece of journalism I found about the River Raft Ride at SFOT.
http://www.fwweekly.com/archives/June_17_1999/cover.shtml
The reporter did site sources, and even found the former Maintenance worker for the ride. It appears to be a solid piece of journalism, a nice lead included. Though you are supposed to show an unbiased point of view in reporting, this guy has a side. It is the longest article I have ever seen on an accident.
If the article is true, then it just shows how Lackadaisical SF has become on the subject of Maintenance. Firing experienced employee's for probably cheeper one's and poor operator training is no good. Just the thing I want when I am drowning, someone telling a lifeguard not to get in.
http://www.fwweekly.com/archives/June_17_1999/cover.shtml
The reporter did site sources, and even found the former Maintenance worker for the ride. It appears to be a solid piece of journalism, a nice lead included. Though you are supposed to show an unbiased point of view in reporting, this guy has a side. It is the longest article I have ever seen on an accident.
If the article is true, then it just shows how Lackadaisical SF has become on the subject of Maintenance. Firing experienced employee's for probably cheeper one's and poor operator training is no good. Just the thing I want when I am drowning, someone telling a lifeguard not to get in.
Wow... what a terrible story that is. That's the worst example of PR I've ever seen! "Our little friend Wendy?" Please! That woman prevented several people from dying!
The worst part is that if they really did an E-stop, that thing would have emptied out in a few minutes. I've seen Thunder Canyon at Cedar Point fill and empty (also an Intamin ride), and it only takes a couple of minutes, probably less to get the water to a safer depth.
After the near drowning at Six Flags Ohio in the water park (not to mention the floorless accident and the obvious safety violations I've seen there and at other Six Flags parks), I've reached a point where I feel obligated to create my own contingency plan in the event something goes wrong. I start noticing things like phones, fire extinguishers and such.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
The worst part is that if they really did an E-stop, that thing would have emptied out in a few minutes. I've seen Thunder Canyon at Cedar Point fill and empty (also an Intamin ride), and it only takes a couple of minutes, probably less to get the water to a safer depth.
After the near drowning at Six Flags Ohio in the water park (not to mention the floorless accident and the obvious safety violations I've seen there and at other Six Flags parks), I've reached a point where I feel obligated to create my own contingency plan in the event something goes wrong. I start noticing things like phones, fire extinguishers and such.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
I agree that a park should keep clean but it is not like it is unbearable to go to a six flags. I have not been to a six flags that i did not enjoy because its cleanliness or operation of the park and its rides. However i have been to IOA in the dragons que line and said to myself they really need to clean this place up. But i still think that IOA is hands down the best park that i have been to.
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#1 Steel-Incredible Hulk
#1 Wood--Timber Wolf
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#1 Steel-Incredible Hulk
#1 Wood--Timber Wolf
I never said there weren't good employees. What does that have to do with anything? Being nice isn't going to save someone's life if they're not qualified to do the job. Just ask child who lost his or her mother on that rapids ride.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
Jeff.. You are no the only one who does that when they go to SFO. I did not ride S:UE because I did not want anyone affiliated with the same park that can't fill up an inner tube right messing with the launch system. I am sure Intamin designed it so the max it can go up to is that certain height, but still the thought of it (as well as the line) told me no.
I also closed the park once (to myself) because I knew it was going to storm. I told myself I was not getting on any rides because it was dark out at 3 in the afternoon. Of course they did not know that, they kept them running. Getting in my car right as it started to hail I could still hear The ol' Big Dipper running. They must not have THOR, they probably have a meteorologist. Be it Ellie McPherson, Susan Davies, or Mark Kootnz I don't know.
I also closed the park once (to myself) because I knew it was going to storm. I told myself I was not getting on any rides because it was dark out at 3 in the afternoon. Of course they did not know that, they kept them running. Getting in my car right as it started to hail I could still hear The ol' Big Dipper running. They must not have THOR, they probably have a meteorologist. Be it Ellie McPherson, Susan Davies, or Mark Kootnz I don't know.
That is deplorable the way that situation was handled. I still believe though, that generally each park is very safe, and the rides are inspected properly most of the time. However, there are mishaps and improperly trained employess at each park, or these kids that are working there for just a short time and really don't care what kind of a job they do. I believe that there needs to be some form of regulation of the safety measures each park must maintain also. That way, there would be less screw-ups and a lot more fun going on. I hate to hear about someone dying because of the inability of the staff to act properly. It really hurts to read something like that. :( I feel very deeply for the family of the woman that died. I think it's time for the safety aspect of this business to have some form of proper regulation. Accidents happen, no getting around it. But it's time to start trying find better ways to prevent these things from happening. Just an opinion. Peace.
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Medusa at Marine World: the best in the west!
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Medusa at Marine World: the best in the west!
Geez Six Flags better get with it. I can't beleive them. I am happy they are adding new rides (VERY HAPPY) but I think they need more employees and the have to be better trained. I agree that there should be safety regulations. This is a problem now, think how bad it will get as the rides get older and less reliable...
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Warning: Coasters are faster than they appear
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Warning: Coasters are faster than they appear
IMO, Six Flags has expanded too quickly. You start spreading out your qualified people too thin, they get stressed and quit. Then the "field" promotions start and you wind up having people with less and less practical experience running things. On the job training if you will. I have been to several SF parks in the last two years. My opinion of them ranges from mediocre to total disgust. They need to stop this spending spree and step back and take a close look at how things are being run at ALL of their parks.
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