Magic Mountain passed up SFNE's The Dark Knight coaster

^I think screamscape said Six Flags in Mexico, but thats not a certain thing because it was a rumor.

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Swoosh said:
Even though it fell extremely short of my expectations -- you have to admit it is the best "immersive" on-ride theming job that SFI has done to date and that is saying something.

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I actually thought the BTRs were done pretty well and Mr Freeze at SFOT, but I guess that is just the queue.

^Right, they have done themed queues for rides, but never before have they actually tried to do a "dark ride" coaster.

Skull Mountain! :)

I can tell you this, having just left SFNE a few days ago, all the parts are still on site for the ride at SFNE. One would think that if they knew where they were going to send it, they would have sent it by now (especially with the price of gas going up week by week).... maybe it will be at SFNE after all?

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Parker17 said:
Judging by the POV's people have taken the ride is nothing like the animation was. The animation one actually looked GREAT, but the ride looks like a total bore, even to the younger ones. Short, no drops, just turns, and very little theming.

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How can you judge a ride by a pov? Try riding it before you pass judgement. Yes there was alot of theming left off the ride at gradv because they wanted to make the date that was scheduled for the opening, so hopefully they will add the rest for next season which they have sitting in storage. The whole reason it wasnt put up at SFNE was the state wanted too many changes to the building that would have took alot away from the ride experience and would have cost alot more money to do. So unless they are putting it up without the building you will not see it in Agawam Mass. Most rumors i am hearing is it might end up at SF Mexico for the 09 season.

Oh don't compare my number 1 steel coaster (Space Mountain) to The Dark Knight. ;)

I agree that the problem is the WAY they advertised this ride. The animation looked sick, but this ride apparently has fallen short of all expectations.

Plus, if you really consider what this ride is based on, how could it be good? Batman, while one of the darker comic book characters, is still a comic book character. Thus, you would think this ride would have to be family oriented. However, if you look at it another way, since Batman is INDEED dark, how could you make a family ride based on the later Batman movies without scaring kids? They had to tone it down, I'm willing to bet, making it a mediocre experience for enthusiasts AND Batman fans because to turn Batman into a family friendly attraction, you'd have to make sure the ride wasn't too intense or heavily themed. On the other hand, think about what mot parents these days will let their children see....hmmmm....

I'm not a fan of WM's, but I still want to ride this ride for something a little different. Had I not known what this ride was all about, I'd probably be a little pissed, but knowing what to expect, I'd do it once. It's not like Wild Mice have great loading times or capacity anyway, so a line likely will not deter me either. Plus, I'm a credit ho this year. LOL I have a feeling I will actually enjoy this rodent.

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rct247 said:

I did get the impression that the Dark Knight at Great Adventure was worse than the Dark Knight at Great America. It just seems like I have heard more complaints out of the people who rode that one than the one in Chicago.

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They are the exact same rides. The only difference is that you have people who are used to Kingda Ka's, Nitro's and El Toro's and this little mouse does not compare. They went through the same thing with Skull Mountain in '95. Heavy marketing as "the best new ride" and other worthless superlatives. The first year they had 3 hour lines, the next...only a trickle. I suspect the same will happen for TDK

*** Edited 7/22/2008 4:20:00 AM UTC by Antuan***

Its ashame such an amazing movie shares it's title with these simple coasters...

"Batman and Robin" would probably do it justice. *** Edited 7/22/2008 5:16:29 AM UTC by d_port_12E***

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Antuan said:

They are the exact same rides. The only difference is that you have people who are used to Kingda Ka's, Nitro's and El Toro's and this little mouse does not compare. They went through the same thing with Skull Mountain in '95. Heavy marketing as "the best new ride" and other worthless superlatives. The first year they had 3 hour lines, the next...only a trickle. I suspect the same will happen for TDK

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It also doesn't help the warining sign outside the ride says it is a "high thrill"

I agree about the marketing for Skull Mountain. I remember seeing the commercials and thinking it was a very scary coaster that I wouldn't want to ride. I didn't ride it until years later and remember asking the ops if it went upside down (this was before I knew much about coasters). as I didn't want to go on a coaster with inversions at the time. I remember getting off the ride and thinking how short it was and it was barely anything at all.

Agreed on the misguided promotion the Dark Knight Coaster has been getting at SFGam. There's a better version of the same thing right next door, without the lines, and people are catching on to this after about one ride on TDKC. The concept is great, the execution seems like it was rushed or overlooked. Right size, wrong shape.

Some say that the ride itself should redeem the entire experience because it's an unbraked wild mouse. I contend the GP could care less if it's braked or not, after all, they swarm to a "tamed" Raging Bull in the very same park.

*** Edited 7/22/2008 6:38:12 AM UTC by BullGuy***

Well, that's good news. SFMM doesn't need a sub-par dark ride version of anything with DL, DCA and Universal as local competition.

Plus, the cost of Evil K. was rougly 7 million, Dark Night, 7.5 million. SFMM would more benefit far more from an Evil K. clone than installing a mixed review dark ride.

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Parker17 said:
Judging by the POV's people have taken the ride is nothing like the animation was. The animation one actually looked GREAT, but the ride looks like a total bore, even to the younger ones. Short, no drops, just turns, and very little theming.

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There are drops on this ride, and airtime. One regular drop, and a camel back drop that is really awesome. People don't like this ride because they don't know what it is, and find out what it is. They don't think it's that thrilling, and they don't think it's worth the really long line. Thus, you get that's it for a hour and a half line even though it's not always a hour and half line.

Batman coasters=thrilling. Dark Knight=mouse coaster which to some people like me is thrilling, but not to everyone.

You also have the "two lines" thing which people complain about. They go in a line, see a preshow (They think that's the ride.), and than they go into another line.

My problems with the Great Adventure model was that it came at too high a price...

To lose three family rides (Splash Water Effect, Music Express and a bumper car ride) in addition to a really good thrill ride (Chiller) means there is less return on the "apeal to families" investment.

Batman is going to be the hottest movie of the summer (I saw it, liked it a lot, but agree with the critics that it isn't right for kids). Whoever made the movie connection with this ride at 6 Flags was on-target...but a family ride based on a non-family movie...doesn't really make sense.

Perhaps they could have done something with the Batmobile...simulation style...going through the narrow streets of Gotham City...etc.

Bring back the boat soaker...PEEPS LIKE WATER!

My only question to the Dark Knight ride haters.....why...so....serious?! ;)

"This forum deserves a better class of enthusiast" :) *** Edited 7/23/2008 3:26:55 AM UTC by Chitown***

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tigellinus said:
My only question to the Dark Knight ride haters.....why...so....serious?!

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Nice. :)

If you want to know what the GP think, check out these comments on Digg:
http://digg.com/movies/Dark_Knight_Roller_Coaster_Review_Six_Flags_Joker_in_a_Box

Overall, it seems like people who rode it thought it wasn't very good.

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GoliathKills said:
Overall, it seems like people who rode it thought it wasn't very good.

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It also confirms what some of us suspected.

There's a whole lot of "it's not what I expected" mixed with "too cool for a wild mouse" comments.

I ride a hypercoaster because wild mouses are too quick.

Otherwise, you can't savor all the emotions.

You know what rides are in their last moments.