SFFT, SFoT, WoF, SFsL & SFgAm PART 2
Associated parks:
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After a crazy night at Fossil Rim Wildlife Reserve and a morning of feeding Zebras, Giraffe’s and other various animals we headed to Six Flags over Texas.
The park was an hour drive from the reserve and it allowed the anticipation of “Six Flags the Original” to build. We stopped at a Pizza Hut along the way due to overpriced Six Flags food. Besides, Pizza Hut kicks Papa John’s a** (We later came to find out it also beats some ethnic Chicago deep dish a** as well, more to come on that).
We arrived in Arlington around 4:30 pm. The parking lot didn’t seem that packed and judging from the crowds inside the park it wasn’t. The sky was clear, which meant it would be very hot (luckily Six Flags has spraying mist all over the park, very nice!). Also, I would be riding my 100th coaster at SFoT!
Upon entrance we headed through the Spanish section and stopped at La Vibora (#93). This would be my second bobsled coaster (Disaster Transport being the first). The color scheme of the half pipe added a nice color. Overall, the “Spain” area theming was done quite well with rides like Conquistador and El Sombrero only adding to it. As for the La Vibora, it was a little rough into those break runs, but definitely a fun ride. Does anyone know why the bobsled trains are different on La Vibora as apposed to Disaster Transport?
Our next stop was Runaway Mountain (#94). The queue length was about the same as La Vibora, 15 minutes. While waiting I came to realize little things Six Flags DOES do right. For example, wooden queue rails underneath sun blocking trees (Much different from the stainless steel hand rails throughout Maverick, a premiere attraction in a frontier themed area). Stuff like this really adds to the experience and seemed to be a regular practice of Six Flags.
While stepping into RM's train I didn’t really know what to expect. I didn’t do my research on this ride and had no clue what the thing did. I knew it was a Premiere ride and was bracing myself for a launch. I was wrong! It was a fun little coaster and the darkness enhanced the enjoyment.
Next was Mine Train (#95). A historic ride and a walk on. What a neat little ride! Better than CCMR at CP in my opinion. Travelling through the house before the last drop was very different (reminded me of a stereotypical action sequence where the car/motorcycle goes off road through a shopping mall or something). That final drop was unexpected!
Mini Mine Train would be closed for the day so we would miss a credit there. We would also be denied a credit at Wile E. Coyote’s Canyon Blaster due to height restrictions.
We did Roaring Rapids and El Aserradero next. RR was probably the least exciting rapids ride on our trip (minus Fury of the Nile at WoF since we didn’t partake). The layout was shaped like a typical NASCAR track, and like NASCAR, was boring. El Aserradero was the first log flume ever and it felt like it: loud, shaky and void of water.
Now I’ve heard both good things and bad things about Texas Giant (#96). Having ridden Dinn/Summers’ Mean Streak a number of times, I was inclined to lean towards the bad things. However, I liked it! The walk to the station was incredibly long (like MS), but luckily there was absolutely no wait. Ryan and I sat front row with Kyle behind us on a wheel. This ride is fast, has more curvature, looks beautiful and is an overall better experience than MS. Kyle hated it while Ryan and I had a blast. It’s amazing how a wheel seat can affect your review.
After that, we headed toward the Gotham area. Got Flashback (#97) out of the way. Here’s my review: Yuck! For some reason it had Arrow trains, anyone know why? Being 6’ 3” I don’t fit well into Arrow restraints. So rough! The worst boomerang I’ve ever experienced.
Next was Judge Roy Scream (#98). Off on its own, the ride has a unique name, but was an average out-and-back woodie. There was no wait and they were running two trains.
We jumped on the Texas Chute Out after JRS. It was terrifying. I’m used to free-falling after a slow climb to the top of a lift. I was so afraid it would happen. The cord directly in front of our view, pulling us to the top, didn’t relax the nerves either.
Our second Batman clone of the trip was next. I enjoyed Batman: The Ride (#99) more than Goliath at Six Flags Fiesta Texas (see part 1). It was probably due to the fact that we sat front row. It was a walk on for every other seat except the front. Operations here were a little on the slow side, but hey, it’s Six Flags.
My 100th coaster would be Mr. Freeze. For the most part I’ve enjoyed every Premiere coaster. And Mr. Freeze was no different. Unfortunately, they were only operating one side of the station. This really slowed things down (do they ever operate both sides anymore?). We sat near the front. Danny Elfman’s dramatic Batman score was a nice touch to go along with the anticipation of a launch. It’s not the ideal choice for #100, but at least it wasn’t Titan.
After Freeze, it was the world’s second consecutive looping roller coaster: Shockwave. The station had a two train wait that felt like a 30 train wait. Not because of poor operations, but because the ride op thought it was funny to sing R. Kelly’s “I Believe I Can Fly” really, really loud. I’ll give him props for effort, but it was kind of annoying. Shockwave’s track shakes a ton! Kind of scary, but still fun. The force on those loops was very intense.
Next up, SFoT tallest and fastest coaster: Titan. I recommend riding this early in the day or staying away from it all together. My brain was somewhat scrambled by the time we got to Titan and that forceful helix didn’t help at all. Overall, Titan is uncreative. The only surprise is that first turnaround. The MCBR is a major let down. The twist and turns near the end are uninspiring. I wasn’t expecting much and it was still a letdown.
Our final ride of the night was Tony Hawk’s Big Spin, the exact same coaster we rode at Fiesta Texas a day earlier. The only difference: a night ride. Half hour wait. Very fun ride. Every park should have a spinning coaster like this. (Lots of typos on the informational posters throughout the queue.)
After THBS we got some pictures with the Warner Bros/DC characters. Kyle wouldn’t stop flirting with Robin for some reason. We didn’t purchase any food in the park, but did stop at a local Steak N’ Shake on the way back to the wildlife reserve. The only food-related purchase we did make was the Six Flags Sports Bottle refills for a dollar.
Over Texas was a nice experience. The coasters aren’t amazing, but they are a somewhat unique collection. I would describe the park the same way. Its an eclectic park thats definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area.
To be continued…
*** Edited 8/24/2008 4:49:34 PM UTC by d_port_12E***
What are you smoking?
My favorite MJ tune: "Billie Jean" which I have been listening to alot now. RIP MJ.
Coaster Junkie from NH
I drive in & out of Boston, so I ride coasters to relax!
d_port_12E said:
Six Flags Over Texas – August 13th
Upon entrance we headed through the Spanish section and stopped at La Vibora (#93). This would be my second bobsled coaster (Disaster Transport being the first)... Does anyone know why the bobsled trains are different on La Vibora as apposed to Disaster Transport?
The first three Bobsled rides had the vehicles with inline seating, and so did the one at Efteling which opened a year later. CP opted for larger vehicles presumably to increase capacity. Two of the bobsleds have since gotten larger vehicles, SFOT's is the only remaining Intamin with inline seating.
After that, we headed toward the Gotham area. Got Flashback (#97) out of the way. Here’s my review: Yuck! For some reason it had Arrow trains, anyone know why?
For the first several years all the Vekoma coasters had Arrow trains. They started building their own trains in the 90s. I think Hersheypark's Sidewinder (Boomerang-1991) was the first adult coaster to open with a Vekoma train. (They built a Roller Skater in 1989 but I'm not sure if the train is Vekoma or from another manufacturer.)
*** Edited 8/24/2008 11:34:21 PM UTC by Jeffrey Seifert***
The overall impression of the Gino's East on Superior Street though is a dump. Find another one in a suburb like St. Charles, and you will enjoy it a lot more. It's an old fire station.
For SFOT, I would think that La Vibora's track is much smaller than Cedar Points because it's a bigger bobsled. It's about capacity. From rcdb.com, La Vibora came from Magic Mountain. They probably removed it because of not having high capacity. Everyone knocks SFOT, but that's like my favorite SF park if the waterpark didn't count at SFGAm.
I think the reason that make SFGAm so great is the addition of the waterpark. If that's separate admission, I will count that as two parks, and other parks like Dorney Park, SFOT, SFMM, and SFOG are moving up while SFGAm would be moving down. *** Edited 8/29/2008 2:08:15 PM UTC by Spinout***
Spinout said:
For SFOT, I would think that La Vibora's track is much smaller than Cedar Points because it's a bigger bobsled. It's about capacity. From rcdb.com, La Vibora came from Magic Mountain. They probably removed it because of not having high capacity.
The trough is the same size. The other two Intamin bobsleds that converted to larger vehicles also have the same size trough. The bobsled was moved from Magic Mountain because Six Flags used to rotate rides back then. Magic Mountain's Sarejevo Bobsleds moved here, and SFGAd's Sarajevo Bobsleds moved to Great America where it got larger vehicles from B&M--their first coaster project. That one is now at the Great Escape.
*** Edited 8/29/2008 2:55:40 PM UTC by Jeffrey Seifert***
d_port_12E said:
I just don't get it. If Gino's is the measuring stick, Cleveland has better pizza IMO.
So when's Part 4 coming of this mutha'??? I'm sort of looking forward to reading your SFStL TR as someone who had never been until this year, I'm kind of interested to see how you rate it?!
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