Namtab 2013 at Great America

I guess if you're going to attempt this stunt, it makes more sense to do it on an out-and-back layout.

Mehnometer readings still off the charts.

On a hyper, makes total sense. On an invert with plenty of inversions? Maybe the kids will like it, and I'd try it once given the chance....provided there's no cobra roll, like a B:TR.

If they were to try it on an invert with a cobra roll - I'd just hang out with a video camera.

I don't get the big deal. Vekoma already did this over a decade ago. : D

Sounds like b&m will once again take something proven by Vekoma and actually make it enjoyable.

B&M coasters are typically just fine the way they are. I don't see the need for this.

I would consider riding this once, but I was not a fan of going backwards first on Stinger, and I won't ride it again backwards first. It made me kinda sick, actually, so I think an intense ride like Namtab would make me blow chunks.

When it comes to cobra rolls on inverted coasters, Vekoma seems to have that down pat (taken forwards or in reverse). Never had any problem with their Invertigo or GIB coasters.

The Swarm at Thorpe Park is also jumping on board going backwards, but only 2 rows per train.

http://www.coasterforce.com/news/park-news/2056-back-from-the-dead-...rsed-seats

LostKause said:

Tekwardo said:

When was the last time you actually witnessed this yourself?

I haven't been to a Six Flags branded park about seven years, but I do read the CoasterBuzz trip reports on a regular basis.

And when was the last time someone posted a trip report about excessive closures?

Tekwardo said:And when was the last time someone posted a trip report about excessive closures?

He hears it from me across facebook all summer.

And you're not totally biased at all.

If I hate vanilla ice cream yet I continue to eat it and complain about it on Facebook, that isn't really a fair assessment.

Six Flags parks have enjoyed a Resurgence and customer satisfaction is high. I've been to all but two of the branded parks since the dreaded regime almost a decade ago was ousted and I've had nothing but great visits.

It's tiresome to continue to see the same tired complaints about stuff that hasn't happened in almost a decade.

PS he specifically said he reads trip reports here. I'd love a link with all of the negative reports.

I'm surprised how controversial this is, I don't get what the big deal is. I got to ride Goliath at SFNE this past year and it was quite thrilling. This is a marketing ploy, it'll be backwards for a while and then go back to normal. I think it's quite novel.

samosuband said:

The Swarm at Thorpe Park is also jumping on board going backwards, but only 2 rows per train.

http://www.coasterforce.com/news/park-news/2056-back-from-the-dead-...rsed-seats

Wow. I can't imagine the lines for those seats.

Just for the record, when going to check who voted up the post Travis made about Six Flags operations, I accidentally hit "Vote Up."

I wouldn't have voted at all considering I've only visited a Six Flags park once.

ApolloAndy said:

Wow, I can't imagine the lines for those seats.

I can't imagine what brought them to conclude that this is what a popular <1 year old ride needed. Wouldn't you want to let the paint dry first?

:shrugs:

I'm not going to go through and link to all the trip reports of Six Flag parks with ride closures. They are always there. One that stands out the most is a Magic Mountain TR within the last few months. Another one that is very vivid in my head is one that Screamscape linked to, telling of an pretty terrible incident at Fiesta Texas. There are more all the time, but that's what is fresh in my mind right now.

Every time I went to SFGAdv, I had a pretty bad time there. The park was always just so frustratingly crowded when I went. They always had one train operations and one or two hour long lines. I always think I will outsmart the crowds and go when it is not busy, and somehow end up going when it is packed with half the rides closed. I would love to go when all the rides are open and the lines are short.

It takes a lot of time, money, energy, planning, and wear and tear on my vehicle to visit a park. Because of that, it better be worthwhile. If I can't be assured that it will be worthwhile, I will visit another park that I know will be. I have a great time when I visit Dollywood, Cedar Point, Kings Island, Busch Gardens, Carrowind, ect.

But this topic isn't about me or how much SF sucks at operating an amusement park. It's about "mantaB". Isn't there a Batman villain named Mantab? Or is that Man Bat? :p

Tekwardo said:And you're not totally biased at all.

No, sometimes I am biased. I accept it.

Tekwardo said:If I hate vanilla ice cream yet I continue to eat it and complain about it on Facebook

But the vanilla ice cream is still good - and I do point that out. But the ice cream across town at that mom and pop place is *so* much better, all their flavors are in stock every time I go, their bathrooms are clean and their employees are interested in making sure I have good service.

I will still go to the local place that isn't as good. It's still good and I enjoy going with my friends. It's closer and cheaper than the mom and pop place. Also, they have things the mom and pop place doesn't have. It's all about trade offs. It's not a black and white issue where I must pick either extreme of the continuum.

Tekwardo said:that isn't really a fair assessment.

A somewhat true statement, depending on definitions and point of view.

Tekwardo said:Six Flags parks have enjoyed a Resurgence and customer satisfaction is high.

I agree with you Clint. For the most part, the operations are much much better than they were 10 years ago. My comment was somewhat facetious.

Since we're admitting guilt for voting-up Travis's post, I plead guilty as well, if for no other reason than I just got a chuckle out of it.

Sirloindude, SF season passholder for years and happy about it.

I vote up posts that I don't fully agree with all of the time. I'm such a buttkisser. :p

LostKause said:

I'm not going to go through and link to all the trip reports of Six Flag parks with ride closures. They are always there. One that stands out the most is a Magic Mountain TR within the last few months.

I looked at 7 months worth of Six Flags TRs. The only one that I even saw that mentioned a ride closed was mine. Do you know why Superman was closed? Because of full throttle construction. But, like, that's totally unacceptable on Six Flag's part. News Flash, I read plenty of TRs about other parks with closed rides.

As far as the business with the Ultimate Roller Coaster webmaster that was posted on Screamscape, I considered the source, and how it was presented, and I dismissed that, knowing the source.

Every time I went to SFGAdv, I had a pretty bad time there.

...a decade ago...

It takes a lot of time, money, energy, planning, and wear and tear on my vehicle to visit a park. Because of that, it better be worthwhile.

Oh, I get that. I do. But if you don't want to put your time, effort, and money into it, then why do you put so much time and effort into complaining about it? Especially since it's been like 8 years since you went to a Six Flags park, when they were under a completely different regime.

If I can't be assured that it will be worthwhile, I will visit another park that I know will be.

It's delusional to think you're ever going to be guaranteed anything at an amusement park. They all have bad days. For the record, I've been to the following parks with major rides down, or at one train operation:

I have a great time when I visit Dollywood, Cedar Point, Kings Island, Busch Gardens, Carrowind, ect.

Yup. All of those parks.

But I don't come here and complain about it constantly 10 years later in a thread that had nothing to do with capacity...

Walk-Off HBP said:

I can't imagine what brought them to conclude that this is what a popular <1 year old ride needed. Wouldn't you want to let the paint dry first?

Definitely something I'd consider as well....then again, SheiKra went....about 2 years before having the new floorless trains installed.

*shrug* indeed...LOL.

In all fairness to Travis, I DO remember seeing some recent trip reports or threads where operators were PSYCHO, rides were down, etc. at Six Flags parks. However, it really DOES just depend on the day. Cedar Point on my first visit was pretty bad. Maverick was down most of the day, TTD as well, MF, and Wicked Twister. Also only got one ride on Blue Streak before it broke down for the day. Each wait for Maverick and Millennium Force was between 1.5 and 2 hours. Single rider lines were poorly utilized. The lockers were set up to be SO difficult to utilize. Employees were not helpful or pleasant (last two things were both MF issues).

My Kings Dominion trip had a bunch of annoying little things too. It just unfortunately depends on the day.

Not going to go on about this, but perhaps a solution to this problem: if it is far away, stay in the area for a few days. I stayed in Sandusky for about three days total, and eventually rode everything I wanted to ride (and except for Maverick, got to ride multiple times). It is more expensive to stay at a hotel, yes, but if you find a cheap enough one, it kinda balances out because you're (usually) gonna have a season pass that makes your admission paid for (or free...by the time I usually get to far away parks, I've been to Dorney seven or eight times and my pass is totally worth it.

But Namtab: meh. I think it is a dumb gimmick.