Kingda Ka Status

Hello, new here. I rode Kingda Ka Friday the 26th, and it was amazing. I had to wait all day for it to open, there was a slight chance it would open (50-50) in the afternoon that day, so I waited from 10:15 to 5:30 at the entrance of Ka, and when I saw the first test train rocket up the tower, I had a heart attack. My waiting paid off, and a few minutes later, I was in the front seat. If you haven't ridden this or dragster, it's something else.

You hear a horn, then see the brakes lower from the launch track. Your heart is racing. Then, you start moving,and time stops. You rocket down the track, faster and faster, all the while trying to keep your eyes open from the sheer force trying to close them shut. Then, next thing you know, you're facing skyward. Now, if your still concious at this point, you'll see the 90* spiral coming, and then you crest the hill. I looked down at the waterpark, and the biggest slide there looked like toy, and people looked like ants. Now, we were cresting the hill, and I looked into that 270* spiral. I threw my hands up, and we went through the best drop I've ever been on. We leveled out, went over the bunny hill, and into the brakes. I was pumped. I yelled out and hollered at the people in line, who had a 5 hour wait ahead of them. I got off, bought a tee shirt, kept the Ka hairdo (the hairstyle the wind provides for you), and left the park.

Would I wait that time again? In a heartbeat. Thing was, since I was first in line, I didn't have to worry about a major breakdown while waiting. Me getting to the park and going right to the entrance ensured me that if the King opened, I would ride it. Those who get in line with a 5 hour wait are not guarenteed the ride won't breakdown during their wait, and they don't get a chance to ride.

Anyway, I loved it. If you are anywhere near SFGA, call the park, check to see if it's open, and ride Kingda Ka. No matter how long you wait, riding it will make you forget how long you waited.

I had my fights with the guest relations booth the day before though. They said it was closed because a hat got jammed in the gears. I wasn't buying the coverup story, so I argued with the lady for 10 mins. But, I got on, and that's all I care about. It beat out X, but couldn't beat out Millennium Force for my #1 spot.

Oh, BTW, it was closed the next day, and I haven't heard any different. I think I got lucky and caught it on one of it's 10 operating days this year.

Nice ride review.

My first experience on TTD was incredible, but after you ride TTD or KK 3 or 4 times it's not nearly as thrilling or exciting.

I agree with you that Millennium Force is #1 ;)

Rockets are fun rides but it's not worth the struggle of getting on them in their first year.

you stood there for over 7 hours waiting for Kingda Ka to open? Wow! I'm glad you enjoyed your ride.

You argued with Guest Relations because their roller coaster was broken? Get over it! Employees in amusement parks are specifically told what they can tell patrons regarding rides being down, and confronting them isn't going to change anything. Kingda Ka isn't going to reopen because you won't believe that a hat got jammed in the gears.

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italianstallion said:

Oh, BTW, it was closed the next day, and I haven't heard any different. I think I got lucky and caught it on one of it's 10 operating days this year.

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Not it wasn't. I rode it 3 times that day and two more the next day. It's running great right now.

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Matthew said:
you stood there for over 7 hours waiting for Kingda Ka to open? Wow! I'm glad you enjoyed your ride.

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Hey I did it for 5 hours, the same way he did. Waited 5 outside that gate, then another half hour or so in line while it had about 3 breakdowns (this was a week before the big shutdown), before finally getting on in the 2nd row. Was a blast!

I guess my seven hour day at the park with one ride on KK as the only ride of the day was a typical thing except that it was 3 hours wait... ride the ride... eat lunch... then get back in line for 3 hours to have it shut down for the night.

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Ride of Steel said:
Nice ride review.

My first experience on TTD was incredible, but after you ride TTD or KK 3 or 4 times it's not nearly as thrilling or exciting.

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I have to question how that is possible. When I went to KBF on the first Monday in April and was able to walk on Xcelerator I rode it like 15 times until I realized I had forgotten that there was someone outside the park waiting for me to ride the coasters and come back. I'd have stayed there all night if I could have. And Xcelerator isn't even close to as high or fast as TTD/KK nor does it have the vertical spiral. *** Edited 9/1/2005 12:34:28 AM UTC by SnakeEyes***

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PhantomTails said:
You argued with Guest Relations because their roller coaster was broken? Get over it! Employees in amusement parks are specifically told what they can tell patrons regarding rides being down, and confronting them isn't going to change anything. Kingda Ka isn't going to reopen because you won't believe that a hat got jammed in the gears.

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Well, you couldn't feel my frustration. I followed construction of the thing since July of last year, every day I got on the computer, and checked everything I could about it. We decided to drive 5 hours last thursday and Friday just to ride it. I'd already been to the park before, and this was the only ride I was interested in riding. Thursday was one bad day. I was in the park for 8 hours and got on 3 rides, Nitro, Superman, and Rolling Thunder (got some great pics of KK while on RT). I was P.O.ed for waiting so long in those lines, and the fact that KK was busted made me even more mad. If you were at the park that day, everyone felt the exact same way. There was a show on the history channel the night before with a 10 min segment on KK, and there were many local advertisements about it. So, tons of people went that day to ride it, and when they got there, to hear KK was down because of a hat, the breaking point was about to be reached. Think about it. How can a hat land in such a way it's gonna bust such a huge ride? Regardless of how many things go wrong, how can that happen? If it did, then KK will see tons of down time in fall, when all the leaves start falling on the track!

Seriously, what would you do if you were me? I did get some exit passes for Nitro and Superman for trying though!

Oh, I heard it was closed the next day, but I guess the source was incorrect. Sorry about that.

I was there the saturday before the big breakdown. for 11 hrs all we did was get a day/night ride on Ka (we even got a qbot but me and my bro had the slightest clue how to use it at that time) watch the tiger show, dolphin show and a 3 pm lunch. We were frustrated, because Ka broke down at least 3 times after our three hour wait first ride, which pushed our time 90 mins. It was well worth it though. Out of the two rockets that I've been on, my vote still goes to Storm Runner. SFGadv may not be the best at anything, but it will always be my home park.

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my vote still goes to Storm Runner

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AMEN! Better than all of the rest indeed (Xcelerator and TTD - I can't image KK being THAT much different than TTD).

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italianstallion said:

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PhantomTails said:
You argued with Guest Relations because their roller coaster was broken? Get over it! Employees in amusement parks are specifically told what they can tell patrons regarding rides being down, and confronting them isn't going to change anything. Kingda Ka isn't going to reopen because you won't believe that a hat got jammed in the gears.

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Well, you couldn't feel my frustration. I followed construction of the thing since July of last year, every day I got on the computer, and checked everything I could about it. We decided to drive 5 hours last thursday and Friday just to ride it. I'd already been to the park before, and this was the only ride I was interested in riding. Thursday was one bad day. I was in the park for 8 hours and got on 3 rides, Nitro, Superman, and Rolling Thunder (got some great pics of KK while on RT). I was P.O.ed for waiting so long in those lines, and the fact that KK was busted made me even more mad. If you were at the park that day, everyone felt the exact same way. There was a show on the history channel the night before with a 10 min segment on KK, and there were many local advertisements about it. So, tons of people went that day to ride it, and when they got there, to hear KK was down because of a hat, the breaking point was about to be reached. Think about it. How can a hat land in such a way it's gonna bust such a huge ride? Regardless of how many things go wrong, how can that happen? If it did, then KK will see tons of down time in fall, when all the leaves start falling on the track!

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Why would Six Flags shut down a ride that didn't need to be shut down? It's not like their purpose in being in business is to piss people off. Believe me, they want that thing to run more than you do.

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It's not like their purpose in being in business is to piss people off.

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Really? Could have fooled me. One doesn't have to look and farther than SFMM to show that they are in DEFINITELY in the business to piss people off.

italianstallion, I think the point was even if the hat part was not true, it wasn't going to open regardless. Nor were they going to tell you what really happened. Maybe that hat thing was true, maybe not. Either way:closed. B@#ching at Guest Relations was really uncalled for. And, contrary to what Swoosh believes, SF is not in the business to make guests unhappy or angry. That would make absolutely no sense at all. I'm so sure that they intentionally tick guests off just so you won't come back and spend money there again. Now, where's that roll eyes smilie?

I drove 5 hours and went to the park Tuesday. Ka was closed. All they kept saying was that they didn't know when it would open. They did a successful test run, but still didn't open it! I guess it was because it was cloudy? Someone at guest relations told me that they won't run it if rain is in the forecast and blah blah. She said they wouldn't run it even if it's raining in Philadelphia! WTF? Oh well. At least I rode Superman for the first time. I may be taking another trip up there by the end of the season.

Wind conditions at 456' are far different than on the ground. Wind, rain, and the threat of a storm (lightning) will all shut down the ride.

Anyway, to save people more frustration, they have updated sixflags.com once again...

http://www.sixflags.com/parks/greatadventure/

So don't go tomorrow expecting ERT on Ka ;) Well, actually, don't go expecting to ride Kingda Ka at all tomorrow.

I was there on Thursday 9-1-05. KK was closed all day. Guest Relations said something about the air tank being broken or something. I drove 4 hours to get to the park. I didn't really expect to ride it anyway. Maybe the next time I visit the park, say around 2010, it will be open.

I don't think SF tries to piss people off. They just don't try hard enough to NOT piss people off.

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Swoosh said:

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It's not like their purpose in being in business is to piss people off.

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Really? Could have fooled me. One doesn't have to look and farther than SFMM to show that they are in DEFINITELY in the business to piss people off.

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Well said Swoosh!

Hey guys,
Just got home from a quick trip to SFGAdv. KK was open all morning. Got in line around 1015 waited front front seat (as this would be my first KK experience -FINALLY). Completed one amazing ride at 12pm. No too bad, 1 hr 45 minute wait for a front seat ride. Turned right around for a quick 2nd lap on the monster!!! Waited another 45 minutes. Can't beat that... 2 laps on the record breaker in a total of 2.5 hours. It was a good day!!!
But anyways. KK was open and didn't miss a lap until about 2pm. Running nicely all morning. Left the park about 330, KK still not running. But it has it's ups and downs.
I was finally able to get my first two laps on it.

GREAT RIDE!!!

Now you see, THAT pisses me off. I went on freekin' THURSDAY, the first day of school for PA kids, so the lines would be short, and I may have had a chance to ride KK. The lines were unbearably long, and KK was closed all day long.

Mr. Shamrock goes on a freekin' Saturday, Two days after me, and gets TWO rides on KK by 12:45. :(

(Grumble-grumble)

It would have much more convenient for me to go today (Saturday) too, but when I was choosing what day I wanted to go, Thursday seemed like a less busy day. I was wrong.

And the point of this little hissy fit is that you never know. *** Edited 9/3/2005 9:50:39 PM UTC by dexter***