Opinions wanted: SFKK's Twisted Twins

I've heard very little about this/these coasters. Maybe its because people seem to generally dislike SFKK and would rather not talk about it. Or maybe its because Thunder Run is in the same park?

Seriously... what's the deal with this ride? From the little that I have heard, it features great airtime on the first drops, and one side has good laterals while the other side has some decent air. Is it a good racing coaster, or is it more of a gimmick ride with the whole "dueling" thing? Do the Gerstlauer trains detract from the ride, or is this one of those coasters where that stupid lap bar design doesn't affect the ride? I understand that SFKK is one of the better parks in the chain when it comes to coaster maintenance, so are these woodies well-maintained?

If you've ridden, I'd love to hear about it!

I wouldn't use the word GREAT anywhere on this ride. It isn't the worst, nor is it anywhere near CCIs top tier rides, but they are interesting layouts, and they are quite different, to me at least. I prefer Stella, honestly, although I couldn't tell you why now. ;) I just remember feeling that way in May.

To me, the main "issue" with the ride is the steel structure. I feel the same about Villain. Fine, but not great, and I prefer wood, so........ eh. I don't like G trains, either. I just don't. I didn't like 'em on RWB or Legend back in 2000. I would rather ride RWB at SFWoa with the new retracking than the sisters at SFKK. The only rides I like at SFKK are Thunder Run, and the Intamin drop tower (my first of that era).

I went to SFKK twice this year and the Twins were running better than ever, even with the G-Trains. It was running smoother than years past.

I am not sure what they did to it, if anything.

Ah yes Rob, the Hellevator! Sweet!

-Tina

<--who think Thunder Run is the most underrated coaster on earth!

*** Edited 12/27/2003 6:50:47 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

TT was well maintained when I was there last in September. Infact they had already taken one side down to do major retracking work on the ride. The G-Trains IMO do not detract from the ride. The airtime is plentiful. When I was there in September the ride was greesed up to no tomarrow and it was flying.

I road the ride in its 1st year of operation and I found the dueling gimmick fun while screwing around with friends. Now it barily races when I go so its not really that great of an effect. But the line is ALWAYS short and its a good ride.

BTW I think its just the wood coasters in the park that are well maintained. Quake and Chang felt like they were going to fall apart.

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nasai said:I wouldn't use the word GREAT anywhere on this ride. It isn't the worst, nor is it anywhere near CCIs top tier rides, but they are interesting layouts, and they are quite different, to me at least. I prefer Stella, honestly, although I couldn't tell you why now.

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Not the worst CCI? Hmmm....have you ridden HC5 Rob, cause even WITH the dueling reinstated, I tend to think of TS/TT as "bottom of the barrel" for CCIs. Certainly even the worst CCI's are still good coasters, and my last rides on TS/TT were better than previoius, but the only real *forces* IMO are the laterals, which for me at least run absolutely contrary to G-trains....with some M-Flyers, I think the ride might even be a good *complement* to TR...

I also thought Stella had the better layout of the two though...

I have ridden HC5, in its opening season, and I thought it was ok, although the layout lacked, IMHO.

I have yet to ride Sky Princess, which I haven't admittedly heard too much negative about, although it sounds like a family ride, ala Timberhawk? I think Mooshie claims it to be in his top 20?

Yeah, TT seems to have decent laterals (it did in May), but where was the air? Nowhere, that's where.

On closing day of 1998, a group of us ended up riding the coasters 113 times between the both of them. They were flying, smooth, and provided some great rides.

After that year though, things started looking bad for the coasters. Since 1998, they haven't exactly given the same rides IMO, but I have heard they are working on it. I didn't visit the park this year so I don't know how they were running.

-Sean

I was able to ride one side of TT (formerly Twisted Sisters) the year it opened. A huge lightning storm apparently damaged some of the controls that were left uncovered the night before so even the one side I did ride (the side closest to the street) was late opening. Anyway, I was able to ride it about 3 times. There were 2 very nice moments of airtime but I was unimpressed with the rest of the layout. BTW, HC5 nearly cracked my spine back in October. Having ridden this coaster plenty since it's opening in 2000, I plopped right down in the backseat without knowing the severe problems this coaster had incurred over the past year. It was so bad that I actually complained to Pavilion management. Something I never do. It was THAT bad! I hope 2004 will prove to be better for HC5.

TT was fun, but as Rob stated, no air to be found.

Thunder Run was the crown jewel of SFKK. I also enjoyed Chang and of course my old buddy Greezed Lighnin'.

Due to lack of time, I have only riddent he coaster once. I thought it to be pretty lackluster, little airtime, and because of the G-trains, painful laterals. I am a bigger person, so those U-bars on the G-trains make for a tight ride for me. I think the ride would fair much better were it to be running PTC's, as I feel they are the biggest detractor to the ride.

I rode Sky Princess back in its first season and have not been back since, so I guess that pretty much sums up my feelings for that ride.

Actually, it was good for what it is- a family ride. Its light on the thrills, but being close to Dorney and Hershey, I can understand why Dutch Wonderland wanted something along those lines. Looking at pictures, I still think that it is one of the most beautiful wooden coasters around... it has nice lines. Plus, I think it was the last new wooden coaster installation to be painted white? (someone can check me on that)

How does TS/TT compare to Great White? I love that ride, but it seems like many have the same "love" of that as they do HC5, which is a shame.

I rode the Stella side this fall (Lola was not in operation), and have ridden both sides in previous trips to SFKK. Sitting near the back on Stella, I have never heard so much whining from a train. I don't know if the wheels needed greasing or what.

I really think its not a bad layout and design as I prefer a twisted dueling coaster over a side by side out and back racer. I just feel the ride could be so much better with PTC trains and a wooden structure.

I found the sisters to be pretty exciting in 98 as well, unfortunately I haven't been back since then. However, HC5 has gone to hell this year lol. I have ridden HC5 every year since opening, and it was fine until this year, but good god it hurts SOOO bad this year. Through the helixes the U-Bar feels like it's going to crush your knees and the side of the train feels like its going to crack your ribs. Hopefully 2004 will help this ride as my 6 rides this August left me in PAIN.

I rode the Twins earlier this year, and to be honest I was nonplussed overall. Thunder Run's a much better ride.
-R

Anyone else, other than me, ridden CCI's Outlaw? It is very GCI-esqe because Mike Bodely(sp?) was on CCI's team at the time. A ton of air time in the back. It also has good laterals, and a few great pops of air. You can get an idea of it's layout here:

http://coastergallery.com/2002T/Adventureland.html

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coasterwiz said:
Anyone else, other than me, ridden CCI's Outlaw? It is very GCI-esqe because Mike Bodely(sp?) was on CCI's team at the time. A ton of air time in the back. It also has good laterals, and a few great pops of air. You can get an idea of it's layout here:

http://coastergallery.com/2002T/Adventureland.html[/quote]

I rode Outlaw in 2000 and had a blast on it! At the end of the day there was no one back at Outlaw and a group of us had an unofficial ert for two hours without getting off. It was well worth the trip! I think we're going to head back there this year to give it another ride!

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coasterqueenTRN said:
<--who think Thunder Run is the most underrated coaster on earth!

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Ahh , totally agree. One word:Insanity.

The only TT I rode was Stella , because Lola wasn't operating. The ride kind of sucked. I had to ride by myself , and at one point during the ride , I fell over the seat divider and landed sideways in the other seat , with my seatbelt gouging into my stomach. The ride had plenty of those awful things you people call"lateral-Gs." It also didn't have any good air ,so it didn't do anything for me.

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$188.72 I'm friggin' rich!

Personally, I'm a fan of laterals, so I actually enjoyed Stella (again, Lola was not running when I was there--the day after SRM '03). Definitely a mediocre ride overall, though. It's fun, but not something I'd reride more than once or twice. I don't think many people disagree that Thunder Run is the true gem at SFKK...so I'm not so sure it can be considered the most underrated coaster anymore. There have been quite a few threads praising TR on the 'Buzz.

SFKK's second best coaster is Greezed Lightnin', IMO. :)

When I was at SFKK this year they were running both sides and I found Twisted Twins to be a great ride. It was really smooth, had great laterals, and had a few good airtime spots. Also the ride ops were great interacting with people when they were waiting. I would say that this is a good ride and shouldn't be overlooked if you go to SFKK. Not the best woodie ,but it's definatly not a bad ride on either of the sides.

When I was there, both sides were running, and there were no lines so I just sat on the trains as they went through the station. I liked the pink (stella?) side better. For some reason, I didn't think Thunder Run was that great, but that's just my opinion.