SFA 2002?

I think part of the park layout problem at SFA has to do with the fact that this park was sort of "pieced" together over the years, and not planned out on paper before it was built like most other parks, say like PKI.  You have to remember that SFA started out as a drive through safari attraction in the mid 1970's. When that failed and closed in the late 70's, it was a few more years before it opened as a water park, Wild World. After the Wild One was added in the mid 1980's is when it finally began to take shape as an amusement park and became Adventure World.  SFA has it's faults, as do other parks. Is there room for improvement at SFA? Of course, but only time will tell what SF will do with the park. In the meantime, let's just enjoy it and have fun.

Well, Ravenguy98, I used CP as an example because it is the benchmark to which other parks are compared. Am I not aware of some of the problems that the park has? Hell no. But, I didn't need you to tell me about the problems. I was there at least once a week during last summer, so I'm well aware. So you don't like the layout. Who cares? What are they supposed to do, take multi-million dollar rides and replant them elsewhere just to make it easier for you? Many of the layout problems were started before the changeover to SFA. By the way, most of the rides at the park don't have one-train operation on most days, save for Batwing and ROS at one point during the summer. It is mindblowing however that many of my enthusiast friends at SFA (which there are many) always seem to have a pretty good time and we work around the problems. Maryland has one themepark and SFA is it. I try to make the best of it. If you don't like it, then don't return. It's that simple.

And sorry, Number 9, the part about wanting a fight is a figure of speech. I don't fight with my fist. There's was nothing ignorant about that statement. I will defend the park if it is attacked. It is no different than what anyone else did when I made Trip Reports about their parks and had criticisms. By the way, when did Sam Marks say anything about this year? That's right, he hasn't said anything.-------------
If you have to figure out how to ride a coaster to be comfortable, then that's not a coaster worth riding.

*** This post was edited by Intamin Fan on 1/20/2002. ***

Since when is sfa six flags no.1 prority? Are they trying o compete with bgw and pkd?
-----------------
3.2.1 launch

SFA is actually one of their better second-tier parks in terms of rides.  My opinions on their operations and GR have been plentiful, so I won't go into that again.  The criticisms here are pretty honest and well-stated.  I don't think any park is perfect, nor is that an achievable goal, but a park that STRIVES is going to be a whole lot better off in the long run...

I had heard somewhere along the line that SFA had a competition where they were giving away a Hyundai (or some similar car) to the best employee in '01...not sure how that was to be determined.  Anyone else ever hear about that?

-----------------
PoTP acolyte - remove fear to reply
Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

Actually Rollergator, it was a black Pontiac Grand Prix/AM (which ever one is still made).

B&R, SFA is a priority, although I wouldn't call it number 1. Ever since Premier took over in the 90's, the park has had a steady diet of new attractions every year. And when you're talking competition, don't forget Hersheypark and Six Flags Great Adventure.

I wouldn't neccessarily {sp?}consider SFGr8ADV to be a major competitor for SFA that would in effect put SF into competition with itself.I think the main problem for SF is they have too many parks to manage and only so much money per year,the only parks that are a top priority for them are those that are making a big profit from attendance.Does anyone notice why SFGR8ADV gets a slightly higher attendance than SFA and why they keep getting all the bigger rides? it's because of the big rides like Nitro that their attendance goes up.SF's CEO said back in 98 that they want to make SFA one of their "finest SF parks" but so far we have not been getting the big brand name coasters like SFGR8ADV.and look at La Ronde,this year they are getting at least one B&M ride so far SFA has only gotten 2 Vekomas,1 intamin and one premiere LIM coaster,not that those are bad additions but SF could provide the same variety to most of their parks.I actually believe that CF and Paramount parks are doing a bit better than SF because they only have 5 or 6 parks each to manage while SF has 20+ parks in the US to manage.

---

BATWING FAN SFA said:
Has anyone driven by the park recently? and if so are there any signs of construction?......I'm having my doubts as to weather the announcement date is accurate,

---

The location of any likely construction is such that it would not be visible without trespassing.  Anyway, no permits seem to have been filed which would be required for any major work.

Historically, SFA's announcement dates have been in the range of February 15 to April 15.  Usually word gets out earlier than the announcement date on any major construction as the park obtains the building permit before they make the announcement.

*** This post was edited by Jim Fisher on 1/21/2002. ***

GAdv gets a *much* higher attendance than SFA NOT because of bigger (argueably) better rides. NO! Adv has more people because it's the closest Six Flags to NYC, Philly and Jersey City. Do you have any IDEA how many people live *in* NYC alone? B-more and DC are 'small potatoes' compared to that.

SFA *benefits* from SF owning so many parks. If SFA was independantly run, I do not belive that you would ever see rides the caliber of S:ROS, Batwing or Iron Eagle in that park, especially not that soon from one another. There is NO WAY that SFA alone could pay off those investments that quick. If SFA was a CF park, they might have gotten ONE of S:ROS, Batwing, and Joker's Jinx. OKAY, they would have also gotten a ****load of trash cans too, but the ride line up, at least coaster-wise, would be drastically different. Dont believe me? Look at Dorney Park...
jeremy
--who went all the way to NYC and didnt even think to go by Coney Island

Great Adventure is absolutely competition for America, if you live in Northern Maryland. The time to get to either park is about the same.

I live in northern Maryland (Bel Air), and I can still get to SFA in about half the time that it takes to get to SFGAdv.  ~1:10 vs ~2:15.  Hershey is also closer than SFGadv, and as such is more competition for SFA.

This also shows in the adds that we get on television in season.  PKD, SFA, and Hershey are the advertisers.

Ah, but 2hostyl, n SF's adverserial business model, SFA actually benefits from PKD being nearby, as does SFWoA from it's proximity to CP...and Dorney's really picked up since the CF acquisition, but CF isn't trying to "pick a fight" with SF.  Man am I jealous of you guys come summertiime...so MANY great parks...
-----------------
PoTP acolyte - remove fear to reply
Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

Yes Jim, but I've also seen many ads for Great Adventure on the local Baltimore stations. They're not stupid. Most Balti-morons are aware of Great Adventure, because for years it was the closest Six Flags. When I said Northern Maryland, I was thinking about Cecil County. I have to question your time to get to SFA also. It takes me 50 minutes from Catonsville, and you're at least 45 minutes further north of me.

yeah, but you drive slow rob!

If PKD is a big competitor for SFA ,which it is then SFA should be getting something this year,PKD is getting Ricochet and a flat ride so if SFA doesn't want to lose guests to PKD then the've gotta offer more competition than just a ride upgrade on an existing attraction.If I hadn't already purchased a season pass for SFA I probably wouldn't have,I would much rather give PKD my money instead .At least they are getting something,it may be a wild mouse but at least it's something.

Well Hostyl, let's just say I'm not crazy about speeding tickets. My car insurance payments are high enough as it is. And compared to your driving, a Nascar driver would be slow:) [I'm still trying to figure out how we made it back from BGW to DC in 2 hours].

*** This post was edited by Intamin Fan on 1/22/2002. ***

I was just checking the SFA website and the schedule is now up.Opening day is April 13th 10:30 am to 6:00 pm,perhaps an announcement is not too far  from now.Also the poll results are up as well,Batwing got 69 % of the vote while Joker's Jinx got only 8 % and Two Face got only 4 % of the overall votes.

I'm surprised that SFA isn't opening until 3 weeks after PKD. 

Intamin, you are starting out considerably west of SFA, while I drop due south.  I go down 95 to the old tunnel then straight down 97 and 3 to the park.  57 miles, only 1 mile with a speed limit below 50.  Not hard to make the 50 mph average it takes to get there in 1:10 if traffic is reasonable.  Now if I could just get the lights on 3 to stay green for me, I could really roll.

How many times did Hostyl's wheels touch the ground between BGW and DC?  I move along pretty decently, but that's flying.

Ok Jim, you take the old tunnel. That makes a lot more sense to me. I've only driven through the Harbour Tunnel once, and it scared me badly. So I think I'll stick to the Ft. McHenry Tunnel. By the way, GoWithGravity and I had a fight about taking the 97 bypass (my way) versus taking 3 (his way), and it turned out to be about the same time either way.

SFA always opens later than PKD, although considerably earlier than the midwest parks. I agree they should open at the same time, but getting enough employees at SFA is probably a problem because of school.

I wasnt even going that fast. It was late @ night on a Sunday if I recall correctly, but in any case, there was no traffic at all. I was only doing about eighty....
jeremy
--"My moto is sleep late, drive fast, and not take any of this $#!+ seriously": Kevin Space Camp

I take 97 to exit 12? then go down 3 because it lets me stop at McDonalds or somewhere and get breakfast on the way to the park.

I'm not bothered by the horrible tunnel since I commute through it every morning half awake.  But then maybe I'm why it scares you.