July 4 PKI

Great day to be at the park. I skipped out of work early (around noon) and headed home to change into appropriate clothes and run some errands, then headed to the park. Got there about 2:00, and there was a fairly small crowd. I went straight back to Vortex, because I hadn't been to the park in quite a while, and was ready to ride it. As I walk back, I see a train sitting on the first hill. I couldn't tell if anyone was in it, until I got up and saw another train in the brakes before the station full, and the train in the station. Then I saw maintenance doing a walk-down with riders. I decided to go ride the Beast. Waited about 15 minutes, sat back seat. Good ride, except the midcourse brakes were on hard! Still was moving pretty good, though. Next I headed over to ride Reptar, but it was closed. Asked the attendant when it would be back up, he said it was probably closed for the day. I didn't ask why, though I should have. Went from there (I did a lot of walking, I need the exercise) to Face Off. about 25 min wait there, then over to Drop Zone, also about 25 min. Then it was on to SOB. I waited there for about 25 to 30 min. I was surprised at the short wait! Then it was on to FOF. I couldn't believe it, the entire queue inside the building was full! Waited around 45 min there, sat front seat. With the new restraints, and sitting by myself in the front, what a ride! It was very disorienting, I couldn't seem to figure out which way was up! Then I headed over to Vortex, but it was closed again. I asked the big wig there (nice dress shirt, not a white polo like everyone else) and he told me "we'll be up in 1/2 hour. We're replacing a camera." I then asked about the walk down earlier, at which he replied "A guest was trying to climb out of the restraint, so we hit the e-stop. But when the situation was fixed, we couldn't get the ride back up," all while making the motion that the e-stop button wouldn't disengage. I was tired after walking around for a while, and being at work earlier in the day, so I decided not to wait and head home. it was around 7:30 or so. All in all not a bad day. Weather was perfect, crowds were light.

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UCSigep
"Did you make a copy? Because if you made a copy, we could watch the copy." *** This post was edited by ucsigep on 7/5/2001. ***

I waited an hour for Flight of Fear on Monday. Two trains. The word is out about this ride among the general public. It is the best steel (if not overall) coaster at the park. A real winner I wouldn't mind seeing cloned over and over again!

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

I wish SFFT's Poltergeist had redeived those lapbars. It was bad news. Maybe that was why it was only a 2 train wait while FoF's gets so long!

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"X" marks the spot in 2001!

I agree, Jeff! I've always been a fan of Vortex because of the awkward feelings after getting off, but FOF is so much better now with the new restraints. I think it's right up there in my book, if not ahead of Vortex.

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UCSigep
"Did you make a copy? Because if you made a copy, we could watch the copy."

FOF is awesome - are the midcourse brakes still off? The ones at PKD were on and it wasn't quite as good.

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Parks done 2001: BPB, PKI, SFWOA, CP, KW, HP, DP, Knoebels, Astroland, SFGAdv, SFNE, SFA, LC, Moreys Pier, PKD, PCW, BGW, DMP.

Yes, the midcourse is off. However, I speculate that they've backed off the speed on the launch a little bit. It's a little slower through those first inversions than it was. However, no stop at the mid-course, and that thing absolutely flies. It's amazing how fast it takes that Corkscrew at the end!

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

Midcourse brakes are off! :) the back seat is awesome because you get thrown through those loops. I still like the vortex better but FOF is a great ride now.