SFA 2005 Trip Reports (Starting 4/17)

Don't hold me to it, but I've heard from several reliable sources at SFA that Mr. Six WILL be at SFA for opening day of Hurricane Harbor. Now this means one of a couple things...

1. Mr. Six Really will be there, instead of SFGAm whose HH opens the same day
2. There are really two Mr. Sixes and one will be at each park on May 28th
3. The employees at SFA don't know what they're talking about and Mr. Six won't be there

You can make your own decision on whether you think Mr. Six will be there or not, but I'd say the odds are pretty good.

I just got back from the park. Wasn't a big crowd since the weather said severe thunderstorms, but never happened. I went with five other people.

Overall ride count

ME - 3, TSC - 1, PBR - 1, S:ROS - 2, Batwing - 1, TF - 1, JJ - 1, WO - 1, etc.

Employee Status

Most of the employees were very nice. We said hi to most of them and asked them how was their day. Most of them replied as others looked at us like we were stupid. Some employees even asked how our day was before we even asked them. Even though some were Nice or Mean, they did their job.

My standings for employee position

Ride Ops - 5/10, they can do better. Half of them were very rude today, but the other half were excellent and took pride in where they worked.

We did report one employee that yelled at my sister and made her feel real bad. JJ was closed and she wanted to know why it was closed. Unfortunately before she got to ask a particular employee another employee said THE RIDE IS CLOSED!!!! GET OVER IT!!!! He wasn't nice at all yelling at people when they approached the ride.

Best Ride Ops - TSC and Roar

Worst Ride Ops - JJ and some TF employees

Games Crew - 11/10, These people are VERY Friendly. I didn't have to ask them once how their day was. In fact my friends and I meet new friends in this department. They really enjoyed us entertaining them as they liked entertaining us. THESE PEOPLE HAVE PERSONALITY!!!! I enjoyed them. They even called my name on the intercom, when I passed their game because I told them my name. They were GREAT!!!! Talk to them once and you will love them!!!!

These are the only Employees I really got to today. Stay tuned for Food Crew, First Aid, Life Guards, etc.

Overall Day: A-

Hurricane Harbor

Tornado and Bahama Blast construction is moving very quickly. The funnel on Tornado is almost done, looks very massive. As for the ground work of the waterpark, its not done. I can see it from ME, WO, and S:Ros. I can see Tornado done by next week or earlier, but waterpark construction is moving FAST!!!!

I also just got back from SFA after a fun filled day. Let's just say JJ down was a disappointment and the ops were not too cordial when asked if it would open as said. S:ROS was awesome as always. My group was the group having fun with the on ride cameras... one ride we acted like we were beating up one guy in our party, another we all acted like we passed out we walked in to the camera room and laugh and the one lady at the camera asked what picture we wanted brought up on the screens and we gave her the numbers and she laughed also. Nice to see we can make someone's work a little more enjoyable. One fun thing was being front row for the first train of batwing for the day. Wild One and Roar did not disappoint and Mind Eraser was well Mind Eraser (thanks for the headache, lol) since I decided not to ride defensively. And if anyone on here was on the TF crew did it rain and close the park or do I need to come back and tell our friendly op in the cage that we were right? We left at about 6 since we had a 2 hour ride home plus dinner stop... and then I95 north decided to make it a 3 hour trip!

Overall a good day I'd give it an A- also.

Ops were friendly all around to us. And food service people were good also. Games people were definitely having a good time at their posts.

I was at the park until 6:15 and it wasn't raining and there was no signs of them closing early.

On Sunday I noticed something about Alpine Bobs. This ride time was now shortened because it doesn't go backwards no more. Everyone asked why the ride doens't go backwards no more because it ended to fast. The young lady said were not allowed to run it backwards anymore.

Soo annoying. Thats what made the ride more enjoyable. IMO, I always thinked that this ride was only temporary. SF just seemed lazy to rename and rethemed the ride. They could call it Mr. Freeze. You can also tell it came from a carnival. Its not as fast as the other versions that I've been on but its less enjoyed now, because you can't ride it in reverse anymore.

I also seen the Wild West Show. It was Amazing!!!!

Another thing I forgot... If you want Ice Cream go to the Homemade Ice Cream Store in Coyote Creek. it's on the right after you pass the Wild West show as you head towards Mind Eraser. That Ice Cream is Awesome and the flavors are interesting. Flavors my group got were Bluberry Bash, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, and Chocolate Frosted Doughnut. As of what the others said their ice cream was equally as enjoyable as what I had (chocolate frosted doughnut).

Lol, ya, never eaten there per-say, but I've had more than enough free samples from there. If nothing else, you can really get a lot of free samples if you know where to look around SFA... the icecream place in CC, the fudge place in CC, Chick-fil-a, the Hawaiian Fruit Smoothie place in Skill Island... ya, lots of free samples.

As for the Wild West show, if there's anything SFA knows how to do, it's that Wild West show. Most of the stunt team is back year after year and they're really starting to get the act down to a science. They've spiced up the Batman show year by year, but with a prerecorded soundtrack and such, you really can't do too much. They really need to just redo the whole Batman stunt show like they did at SFGAdv or SFMM, or even just change it to the one at SFNE that uses almost the same set, but has Batman, Robin, Two Face, and the Riddler. I really can't comment on the rest of the shows, but come Fright Fest, if they bring back the magician Joe Ramono,which they have for the last 3 years or so, DON'T miss that show! He is absolutly amazing and not in a cheese clown magic kind of way, but more of a David Copperfield or Lance Burton kind of way.

As for Alpine Bobs, it's tough to think what's up with that ride. It sits on wooden blocks and really doesn't have a queue at all. It was called Penguin's Polar Express until PBR opened, yet they name on the ride has always said "Alpine Bobs." It's a bummer that it is no longer running backwards. If I remember right, Rodeo over in CC ran backwards at one point too, but that has also since changed.

---

Coaster Lover said:

As for Alpine Bobs, it's tough to think what's up with that ride. It sits on wooden blocks and really doesn't have a queue at all. It was called Penguin's Polar Express until PBR opened, yet they name on the ride has always said "Alpine Bobs." It's a bummer that it is no longer running backwards. If I remember right, Rodeo over in CC ran backwards at one point too, but that has also since changed.

---

Correct you basically answered everything on that. I do remember the name Penguin's Polar Express but people only seen it as always Alpine Bobs since the sign is on the ride.

Batman Show?

This year SFMM are fortunate to have been able to collaborate with Warner Bros. Pictures, so it will be a blast. I've seen some construction pictures and its coming along nicely. They also put up signs on the park lights advertising the new show along with the new movie.

As for the other Batman shows?

Remember when Time Warner Corp operated the previous parks before Premier (now SFI). Well I don't know if they made the previous Batman show's movie magic like the new Batman Begins show. If it didn't happen then SF should collaborate with WB Pictures to redo the other Batman shows to make them as spectacular as the new one, but just with the old villians.

As for our Batman Arena? I've always thought as our Arena to be very small (compacity) compared to SFGAdv and SFNE. *** Edited 5/18/2005 1:47:12 AM UTC by SF Critic***

The Rodeo (Breakdance) has never run backwards, and isn't capable of doing so according to the Huss website. I did however find it interesting that there are five built-in ride programs and five customizable ride programs. *** Edited 5/20/2005 4:49:36 PM UTC by Intamin Fan***

Did anyone go to the park today?

no but im going on may 28th! WHEN HURRICANE HARBOR OPENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!but besides it being memorial day the water park is going to be open and tornado is probably gonna be more filled up then bahama blast but im gonna ride other water rides of course if it is too long a line i bought my season pass online

Was thinking of going today, but it was really cold and rainy. Usually these Fridays are really good time for lots of Ride Time - if you can put up with lots of school kids. But, did see that Mr. Six is coming to the park on June 2. Apparently, that is their media day and you can enter to "mingle with Mr. six" as the website says by sending an email. Go to www.sixflags.com/america and click on their events page for more details. I may just do try to do it to see the old geezer. He is really cool.

Um Supes was running the red train today Guts so I guess that puts yor memorial day theory out to pasture.

Still waiting to get my

Batwing Fan,

Wasn't my prediction, the ride mechanics prediction.

I'll be heading to the park May 29th, we thought about the 28th but thought it would be way to crowded, but being memorial day weekend, all the days will be crowded, but we figered that sunday would probably be the least crowded. See you there if anyone goes ;)

-CoLiN-

Come on guys, we need a TR of this week (5/21-22) to see how things are the WEEK before HH opens!

*** Edited 5/22/2005 12:14:19 PM UTC by Colin Fisher***

Sorry, I'm home... no longer in College Park so the park is a bit farther away so I can't go every weekend. I WILL be there on the 28th though so look for a LARGE photo update by late that night.

Well, I did go to the park today and your wish is my command. The largest photo update (and there are several photos) since opending day can be see here.

Also, there is a new family entertainment center opening in New Market, MD, just east of Frederick. I snapped a few pictures when I drove by the other day. You can see those pictures here. The second phase of this Family Entertainment Center is suppose to have water slides.

*** Edited 5/22/2005 10:52:13 PM UTC by coasterguts***

Nice pics. I also noticed that you said they are laying down astro turf in the waterpark but where is it being laid? Personally I would like to see astro turf again, unless there on the steps leading to the slides.

I was looking at SFGAm pictures of HH (looks amazing) and I didn't see any astro turf. There media day is Wednesday May 25, so I'm guessing our is when?

Is Krypton Comet operating yet? *** Edited 5/23/2005 1:58:37 AM UTC by SF Critic***

Krypton Comet and Cyclone were both closed today. In fact, Superman seemed to was down most of the day today. In fact, it was still down but testing when I left at 3:00. The red train is running and without the Superman logo.

I'm pretty sure, but not 100% they were laying astroturf down around the wave pool again, or maybe their pulling it up. However, I'm pretty sure I saw they pulled it up earlier this season and what was going in around the wave pool was pretty fresh looking. Our wave pool for some reason is the only one I've encountered with astro turf. Our media day is June 2nd and if you look at the scroller at the bottom of the screen you will see a contest being advertised about spending the day with Mr. Six in the waterpark and you have to consent for the commercial.

Well hopefully im suppose to be going to SFA May 29. Since your going to a wedding I'll try to get to snap shots of the waterpark (unless someone gets shots of it first b4 me). But I doubt it.

Please no astro turf Hurricane Harbor. *** Edited 5/23/2005 2:32:15 AM UTC by SF Critic***