Magic Mountain to get another coaster in 2010

DBJ said:
Couple of observations.

It could easily be a ride for the "family", i.e, kids under 10. Plenty of coasters fall into that catergory; Pony Express, spinning coastes, zamperla disko coasters, etc. Building toddler attractions at SFMM is a waste of time and resources. Better to focus on the coaster riding kids market.

Consider that they installed a new kiddie land for the last season, and now know the results of the appeal of a toddler attraction at SFMM. If they are putting up another large coaster in 2010, and Wiggles World is a 2nd priority, it's pretty clear that they know what works for SFMM in the socal market.

There's no way they will ever compete with Disney and it's billion dollar makeover of DCA, Universal's Transformers ride, etc., so it's better for them to focus on signature attractions that the other parks do not/cannot build.

I agree. It was stated that a Wiggles World is slated for after 2010, which would make it Magic Mountain's THIRD children's area after Bugs Bunny World and Thomas Town. It definitely isn't like there's nothing BUT roller coasters do there. There's plenty for kids and families to do. But then again, it's not hard to realize that this park's main draw to the local market is roller coasters.

I will say that Thomas Town did absolutely nothing to bring in families. Families in Southern California go to Disneyland Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood. Magic Mountain could build 10 kid's theme areas and it still won't change the majority of its guest demographics (young adult and teens).

Though it's a given that the park is still lackluster when it comes to smaller midway style flat-rides, it looks like the new management realizes the park is and will always be a "coaster" oriented park. However, it seems that they are trying to provide attractions and rides that people of all ages can have something to do (with Thomas Town), even though it's a very roller coaster-centric amusement park.

I'm with the crowd that would love to see Spin Out, Freefall, Sierra Twist, and Circus Wheel replaced with new flat-rides...maybe something along the lines of what Six Flags Over Texas did a few years back (although that was under special circumstances --- immediate possession of a shutdown AstroWorld).

I'm just glad that the park has changed a lot for the better since the Kieran Burke and Del Holland days. It could definitely use much more improvement, but the days of peeling paint on buildings, one-train operations during the summer, and closed rides due to budget cuts are gone.

I was there the past weekend and the place was packed while other themeparks are closed for the season. So it is obvious that the new management team is doing there job right.

Stop the presses! All the So-Cal theme parks were closed last weekend? My sister and her family went to Disneyland...or so they said. I wonder where they really went.

^ I think he was referring to seasonal parks across the country?

I think Mamoosh knew what i was referring too. He just tried to be sarcastic in an unsuccsessful way

AlexInLA said:


Six Flags Management works the way to reward parks that do well, aka Magic Mountain getting two coasters in a row.

I was there the past weekend and the place was packed while other themeparks are closed for the season. So it is obvious that the new management team is doing there job right.

If that is the fact wouldn't that mean that eventually all but one park would remain? If a park is lacking in attendance, you usually add something to bring people in, not give the best performing park all the attractions.

And that last paragraph made absolutely no sense... If other parks are closed by necessity (weather), and one is open because it can be, it will obviously be "packing people in" while the other sits dormant. That's comparing apples to oranges.

Yikes! Looks like Magic mountain going to be hot and heavy for the record holder bragging rights again.

If Shapiro was "rewarding" parks with attractions, then yes, the company is doomed. That doesn't even make sense. You spend cap ex where you get something back for it, not for a job well done.

AlexInLA said:
I think Mamoosh knew what i was referring too. He just tried to be sarcastic in an unsuccsessful way

Um, no. SFMM is in an area that allows for year round operation which is based on climate and the huge market the park sits in, so comparing SFMM to a park where there's freezing temps in October is beyond ridiculous. If anything, you should be comparing SFMM to other parks in their own market, and look at that - those other parks actually stay open year round when SFMM goes to weekends only.

Your other notion that parks get "rewarded" with coasters is also hilarious but I think that's already been pretty well addressed.

I wasn't trying to be a dick when I asked you to fill the rest of us in, but I figured you had better than speculation and anecdotal evidence based on one day's visit.

Another thing to keep in mind is that steel prices are at an all time low right now. So SF would/might be able to build new construction projects for less now than say a few years ago when demand kept the materials cost high. This also could be a case of Shapiro looking as this as a window of opportunity.

AlexInLA said:

Six Flags Management works the way to reward parks that do well, aka Magic Mountain getting two coasters in a row.

Six Flags gave Geauga Lake FIVE coasters in a row (Beaver Land Mine Ride, Domminator, Steel Venom, Villian and X-Flight).

For a park to do well enough to be rewarded with 5 coasters in a row is amazing. No doubt they will soon put CP and KI out of business.

Oh, wait. . .

You spend cap ex where you get something back for it, not for a job well done.

But, in some ways, these are related. If a park has shown it is able to grow its business with smaller investments, and grow it the right way, that helps justify larger investments.