SF StL Trip Report 3/25 Opening Day!

Six Flags Trip Report
3/25/2005
Opening Day

Showed up at Six Flags about 9:45, and noticed an increase in parking first off. Last season it was 8$, now it’s up to 10$. I got my front row parking spot, maybe 25 other cars there prior to me arriving. Got out of the car to meet the non-windy, cloudy, mid-40 degrees weather. One of the first things I noticed was the new Pro-Slide Tornado Slide. It’s near completion, and I attached a few picture of the current construction.

Pictures: http://www.enternetcoders.com/sf/tornado.html

Once I went through the metal detectors, I met the entrance. I think 95% of the people there were season pass holders. As we waited for the park to open, they had about 25 employees there, along with who I assumed was the park manager, all greeting us. They had a microphone and speaker’s setup, and prior to the “opening”, welcomed us and had us count down to the official open.

I came into the park, and couldn’t avoid the 10 employees with camera’s just waiting to take a picture of me and the girlfriend. After getting into the park, all the employee’s were welcoming us a lot, and being very friendly. We headed toward the Season Pass Processing, stood there for about 5 minute sin a little line, and they came out to announce the computers were messed up, and to return later.

So we headed to The Boss. When we got to the station, it was completely walk on, so we sat up front. I notice some re-tracking boards throughout the ride, made it a little bit smoother in my opinion. Got back to the station, and since it was “Spring Scream Squared” weekend, we were allowed to ride again if we choose, so we did.

Since The Screaming Eagle is just a little walk from The Boss, we headed there next. I noticed while walking, the big “Screaming Eagle” logo on the coaster had been removed, maybe for a new paint job or something? We arrived at the Eagle, and found it to be closed for the time, not a big deal to me, so we walked down the path a little and rode the Mine Train, another ride on the Spring Scream special. While walking to the Mine Train, I couldn’t help but notice but a little new paint on Rush Street Flyer. It wasn’t on the ride, but in front of it. I added a picture of it to show you.

Rush Street Flyer: http://www.enternetcoders.com/sf/rushstreet.html

The Mine Train seemed for the most part the same, one thing I wish they’d get going would be the lights prior the final drop into the tunnel. Also they had all the lights inside the tunnel on, so it wasn’t dark. Leaving the Mine Train, he headed to Mr. Freeze. It seems as we approached Mr. Freeze, it was closing down for some reason. Since we were there at DC Comics, we headed to Scooby Doo.

Not much to say about Scooby, other then “inside the house” they have put a wall up where it used to be some empty space with a couple blue lights. Scooby Doo was fun as normal, I kicked in 63000 points on it, and the girlfriend about 30000. I found it funny the Marine in front of me racked in about 36000 points.

Leaving Scooby Doo, they had the photo booth up, but as usual I didn’t but a picture, as I look stupid with a serious scooby blaster gun face, something not even a mother would buy. Outside in DC Plaza, a local radio station Z 107.7 was setup giving a couple Season Passes and T-Shirts away.

We then decided to head back to the front of the park to ride Batman. Batman was also on the Spring Scream Squared special, so we got to ride it 2 times also, it was intense as also, but after 4 months with a highly intense coaster, it made me feel a little dizzy.

We broke for lunch after Batman, and went to Steak-and-Shake right down the road. I got a free parking pass from the hospital my GF’s aunt works at, which is convenient if you’re in the mood for cheaper food then the parks.

When we re-entered, there was 4 rows of parking filled, which I guess would be about 120-160 cars, which is where it peaked out at for the day. Once we got back into the park, we went back to the Screaming Eagle before the Spring Squared Special ended. This was the first line I met the entire day, I had to wait about 5 minutes to get on the ride. The Eagle had got A LOT of re-tracking over the break. The last 2 hills have all new wood, and they have another stack of wood off to the right ready to get put on. The ride is a lot smoother at the end with all the new wood.

Once we got into the station for the Eagle, we were unable to get to the last “stop” on the stopping sequence. All power to the ride seemed dead, as the training going up the chain lift stopped. We waited in the train for about 30 minutes until they determined that they wouldn’t be able to fix the problem fast, and they finally started manually opening up the trains so we could get off. They did us in the station first, and then headed up the lift to get the people up there off. I added a picture of the train on the lift that I was able to take after getting off.

Screaming Eagle: http://www.enternetcoders.com/sf/eagle.html

We then headed to the Ninja, and took a recommendation I found somewhere to sit in the second to last seat. I must say, that it was one of the better rides on the Ninja I’ve personally had. Still banged me around a little bit, but overall it was fine.

We ended the day with another ride on Batman, and some ice cream from the ice cream store, which is a tradition of mine. Every time I leave, I get some ice cream in a waffle cone.

Overall the trip was a good one, love the short/no lines, I’d also like to say I’m happy they had all TV’s in queue working, they were playing some decent music, along with some Looney Tunes, which is also enjoyable. I also enjoyed the fact that they had some other songs playing throughout the park that wasn’t the Vega Boys. I’ll probably return to the park again in the next 2-4 weeks.

Nice report. I'm really hoping on heading over there before mid-May, but the park has just become "ho-hum" to me without anything new to pique my interest.

Thanks. I debated about buying the Season Pass this season, but I think I'm goign to SFGA on my way to Cedarpoint this summer, so I figured, what the heck, if nothing else is going on during a wekeend for the next 8 months I can just go ride some coasters =). I plan on hitting about 4 different parks this season, and hope to write reviews for all of thems.

Here are the planned ones:
1. Six Flasg Six Louis
2. Six Flags Great Adventure (Around July 4th)
3. Cedarpoint (July 4th & 5th)
4. Silver Dollar City (Late July)

Good report, I was also there today, checkout my report in this section. It was an okay day I guess. I missed the re-ride offer by 30 minutes. Oh well, everything was walk-on for the most part.

I read your report, nicely done. I agree on the employees standing around. They seemed extremely over-staffed today, but I think it was to make an impression to the Season Pass holders that they wouldn't be short staffed.

The eagles sign was removed before last season. It is currently sitting in the employee parking lot. Which is not a good place for a sign, especially if it gets hit by cars and steped on by employees.

Also thsoe entering the par at open will notice employees greeting everyone infront of there rides and shops shortly after opening.

Also anyone know of any IT jobs or Internships in the STL area. Looks like i might be quiting SF soon, still need to pay for colege though :-/.

Hey, I was in the last car on the train when it got stuck on the lift. Fortunately I had my handy digital camera with me, and I made a mini video of me and the group I was with walking down the lift. It was the coolest experience I've ever had! Nice TR!

I think one weekend we should all meet up. When we got to SFStL. Also SFSL_Guy07, I was in the train infront of you where you had to wait like forever on the brakes why these people behind me decided that they wanted to get off after we started to go.

I'd be up for metting, just let me know when and I'm game =)

SFSL Guy07, I was one of the ones on your left getting you guys off, Matt. Good TR. Real sucky weather we had though. All those extra employees were either getting trained or completing certification. And yes we had a lot. There was alos more paint than just that then what you mentioned. Especially towards the front of the park and the giant wheel. Also Screamin Eagles sign is down for a reason that you will hopefully see later in the season. And yes over the off season they replaced every single Que line TV.

It is nice to see that you enjoyed your day at SFStL. I too noticed many things looking good for the '05 season... *** Edited 3/28/2005 3:36:10 AM UTC by CoasterMatt***

^^^ was that supposed to be sarcasm?

I'm betting on a typo.

Boz, were you the first to walk up the lift? And said that you wanted to ride TTD when me and the guy in the car in front of me where talking about it? I was sitting with the blonde in the last row. . .

Yep that was me

I saw somebody videotaping BTR by the exit of the ride and was wearing a Cedar Point hat. Does anybody have any idea who that was?

That would be me, lol.