Rumors of the removal of GL's X-Flight
I don't see PKD - you forgot to mention they just got Italian Job Turbo Coaster.
If they really want to use the ride to make a big impression, give it to WoF since there is no flyer in that entire region. Would there be enough room where Python Plunge used to be?
X Factor *** Edited 11/23/2006 3:04:53 AM UTC by X Factor***
It's a great business move. This sends a definite message as to the direction that Geauga wants to move themselves and it's great to see a decision that's 2 years in the making finally start to materialize. X-Flight's a great coaster in my opinion, but it was ugly, difficult to find, and intimidating as heck on that skyline. Move it to a place where it's right on the midway, has a nice landscaping/theme package (PKI) and pack it away where it can be found if you want it found, but it's not going to scare the 3-10 year old kids and their non-riding parents who are coming to a park for waterslides. This definitely will benefit all parties involved.
And if you doubt that this park has a master plan going (albeit slowly), just look at where all of the "movement" has been in the rides side of the park. If you want, call it up in Google Earth, they're "clearing" an impressive piece of property. You figure, X-Flight's out, the monorail's going, the tower is a piece of crap that could be removed, Hanna's should be demoed, Hyde is gone. That leaves an easily movable bungee/trampoline upcharge, a go-kart track which would probably be better suited to be back in the waterpark area (all waterparks I've seen have very nearby go-kart tracks ... the two just seem to go together), and two coasters which are rather "mobile" and would be nice attractions as "new" rides at other parks in the coming years. All of a sudden, there's a chunk of land from the entrance gate, along Big Dipper and out to the property lines which is about 1/3 the size of the entire rides side which could be re-developed into an area that caters DIRECTLY to the kind of audience Geauga's looking for, while still maintaining some thrill rides back in the "untouched" part of the park.
That's how I see it, take it or leave it.
I'd bank on a late spring - after they open - opening at PKI.
Coasterbuzzer said:
Raven-Phile, I never waited for more than fifteen minutes for X Flight and that was at the height of the season.
Ok, so then justify the presence of such an expensive-to-maintain ride at a park with declining attendance when it's clearly not a draw.
--Greg
"You seem healthy. So much for voodoo."
--snip--
PKI makes a lot of sense. (and I don't mean that sarcastically).
First, transportation costs of the pieces will be significantly lower across state than across country to a lot of the other CF parks. I know that's a drop in the bucket, but when you have a 1.24billion debt from buying some parks, you take the gimme's where you can (yes, I know there's an extra .76billion in there, but that wasn't directly the sale of the parks).
Second, it's only going 2-3 hours away (drive depending on traffic and how you feel about the speed limit). So the die-hard fans of the ride out there don't have to go too much further to ride it. It may actually generate some business for PKI. Left Pocket-Right Pocket deal for CF since they're going to PKI instead of Geauga Lake until you consider that many of them driving the 2-3 hours may have never been to PKI before, so they will a) stay longer, and probably b) buy food, souvenirs (including the *NEW* PKI X-Flight shirts and paraphernalia) c) pay parking (or get the higher-cost ohio pass and MAXX pass to get into GL and PKI)
Third, it may not be a people-mover, but many of PKI's guests will have ridden it (or seen and not want to have ridden) it at GL. They do pull off many of the same markets after all. So the lines won't be as catastrophic as if it were completely new to the Ohio parks as a concept. Also, there are quite a collection of other outstanding coasters (and non-coasters) at PKI for people to choose from, so the "horrible lines" will shorten themselves. People will simply say "eh, too long for me" and move on to something else. Not everyone is credit-whoring the park and *NEEDS* to wait *HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES* to get on. Heck, I've witnessed this at Dorney with a 15-min wait for Talon, Hydra, and Steel Force.
Fourth, they're trying to go for the family niche -- that which made Geauga Lake what is was before SF -- and in order to do that, unfortunately for us geeks, some things have to go. So, trim down some of the mega non-family rides (i.e. X-Flight) move them nearby (for reasons stated above) to a THRILL PARK where they fit in. I wouldn't be surprised so see Dominator go to CP within 2 or 3 years (although I think the lake adds to the ride, IMO) and/or Steel Venom to go to PKI either (although this wouldn't be as ripe a move when considering my reason #5 below, since it would offer a similar experience -- SV and WT -- at both parks)
Fifth, Cedar Point doesn't have any type of flying coaster, regardless of the manufacturer so this will help differentiate PKI from Cedar Point when people who are torn between the 2 for thrills make a decision. There's a unique ride experience that will be available that you can't get at the point. Now that they own both parks, it's ok. If Joe Q. Public chooses CP, they win. If he chooses PKI, they win. If he decides to go to both, they up the dividends. :)
Thoughts on my thoughts?
Edit:
Reason 6: on Geauga Lake Today, the surveyor van was from outside Cincinatti, IIRC... which isn't too far from PKI if they wanted them to do some consulting/surveying work on both sides of the install -- removal from GL and installation to PKI
- Ryan - http://www.tideblue.com/painter/
Ok.
"Second, it's only going 2-3 hours away (drive depending on traffic and how you feel about the speed limit). So the die-hard fans of the ride out there don't have to go too much further to ride it. It may actually generate some business for PKI."
And....how many people is this going to amount to? I don't think there are many "die-hard fans" of the ride even here on Cbuzz, how many are actually in the GP? I just can't fathom more than a handful of people actually making a special trip down to PKI just a ride a mediocre coaster that CF decided to move.
"Third, it may not be a people-mover, but many of PKI's guests will have ridden it (or seen and not want to have ridden) it at GL. They do pull off many of the same markets after all."
Not really. Even if there were a large overlap in the parks' markets (and really, I don't think it's that large at all) I don't think it will factor largely into the popularity of the ride at PKI. Even if there *were* a large group of park goers at PKI who had already ridden the coaster at GL, it's not like that guarantees that people will even realize it's the same exact coaster. I'm sure some people will see the coaster and realize it's the same or at least very similar but again - this is going to signifigantly impact lines? I don't see it.
"Not everyone is credit-whoring the park and *NEEDS* to wait *HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES* to get on. Heck, I've witnessed this at Dorney with a 15-min wait for Talon, Hydra, and Steel Force."
Isn't this true for like, every park though? It's true, not everyone is credit-whoring, but that's not exactly unique at PKI, and it certainly doesn't explain the short lines at Dorney, of all places.
Just because a park has a large selection of popular rides, doesn't mean that they can use that to pass on high capacity new additions. The argument just doesn't add up - other wise places like the Disney parks, Cedar Point, etc. would be long-line nightmares. See - SFGAdv.
I think it's highly likely that the ride WILL be going to PKI but your reasoning just seems way too thought-out and enthusiast-centric. The GP just doesn't make decisions the way you're describing. *** Edited 11/23/2006 3:03:08 PM UTC by matt.***
X Factor said:I would not be surprised if Steel Venom and Dominator were next on the chopping block, leaving Villain and Beaver Land Mine Ride as the last remnants of the SF conversion.
Thunderhawk and Head Spin would still classify as family type coasters.
Steel Venom I can see going bye-bye after it's breakdown back in the summer, but I can't see Dominator going anywhere. It the best thing they got going for them steel-wise. It gives a pretty smooth ride, offers plenty of excitement, and to me, a pretty well run queline.
Head Spin: That piece would go even before Thunderhawk would. One of the worst beatings I've ever received...even though I went on the ride knowing it was going to beat the crap out of me. I did it for the credit...and I'll never do it again!
My X-Flight vote still stays with MiA.
It appears it's headed here to PKI and will open next spring.
Chuck, who's eaten crwo before but is pretty sure now.
Also, I have a 2007 WOF map and operating hours in front of me and I see nothing new.
Fever
SVLFever said:Also, I have a 2007 WOF map and operating hours in front of me and I see nothing new.
Wow. That must be some time machine you have since the 2007 maps have not even been drawn yet. Yes the hours have been released, but the maps have not and will not until after the new year.
If the ride were being moved to PKI I believe there would've been "rumors" of it's closure long before the season ended,much like we saw when PGA announced the early closure of stealth so they could have time to take it apart & ship it out to PCAR.
In this case I believe CF,after reviewing the attendance figures for GL this season simply decided that the park's poor performance no longer justified the expense of the ride being there.
Now regardless of which park recieves the ride in the future they're gonna have a real maintenance nightmare on their hands,the 2nd gen vekoma flyers have proven very problematic due to the electronics built into the trains.They're also gonna have to put up with poor throughput,mainly due to the restraint systems of the ride & the narrow station design.
You know....they should somehow build a platform over the station track on one side so they can actually put switchbacks in so they no longer have to hold guests at the steps,regardless of where the ride ends up I doubt that it'll see much multi station operation.The only problem with that station re-design however would be that you'd still have the exit steps running the entire length of the center of the platform to deal with.
It's just not as profitable as they want it to be, or as it could be.
Swoosh said:
SVLFever said:Also, I have a 2007 WOF map and operating hours in front of me and I see nothing new.Wow. That must be some time machine you have since the 2007 maps have not even been drawn yet. Yes the hours have been released, but the maps have not and will not until after the new year.
C'mon Swoosh, you should know me a little better than that. I wouldn't make something up. I received the group event registration packet today and it, along with the 2007 hours is a map of the park.
I suppose the map could change, but, last year's packet mentioned Patriot. Why wouldn't this year's packet mention something new if something new was to be had?
Besides, don't you think I would be doing something a little more creative, like getting the Powerball numbers if I had a time machine? I'd buy us all our own coaster if I did! :) *** Edited 11/24/2006 4:54:27 AM UTC by SVLFever***
dannerman said:
I wouldn't call the park a poor performer. It is still profitable, isn't it?It's just not as profitable as they want it to be, or as it could be.
Good question. It would be interesting to find out if GL is actually profitable or not.
But, I still predict that 2007 will not see an increase in attendance, in fact, I see it probably dipping, possibly sharply. With the loss of two rides (a major ride and the monorail), an increase in admission, an even shorter operating season, and the possibility of no new attraction for 2007, you can't help be pessimistic for the park, at least for the near future, and possibly longer!
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