SFGAm Coaster Descriptions

We were severly disappointed by the operation of American Eagle on our trip to Great America last year. It was not a capacity issue, as the ride was a walk-on for most of the day with both sides running. The ride operators were just simply too lazy to race the coasters.

Parks that race their coasters are adding to the overall quality of the experience. We have been to 4 parks with racing coasters during the last 2 years, and only 2 of those raced, Hershy and Cedar Point. Both of which are always highly regarded in their operations.

Kings Island and Great America did not race, both parks which notably do not care about the overall customer experience in many aspects.

Every visit this year to Great America they have tried to race the two trains on American Eagle as much as possible. Only when they are having excessive problems dispatching one of the trains would they dispatch the other one on it's own.

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Bob Hansen

A proud CoasterBuzz Member

"So you think your'e really brave, gonna see the DEMONS cave.
You silly dude, your'e only food, for the DEMON"

The American Eagle is a perfect example of why Intamin AG stick to steel coasters. What I detest about this ride is the fack that the two lifts are completely seperated so you cannot slap hands or shake hands with people riding in the adjacent train.(i.e. gemini @ CP) I do not even know why intamin designed a racer with that feature what would be the point. Can anyone explain why they included the dividers in the lift and safety is not a good explanation.

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I love Raging Bull I love Mf I love drachen fire RIP

Shouldnt credit be given to Adam Corolla ala Loveline for "good times"?

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"To summarize, you(willthethrill) are a petty low down weasel and I hope that Jeff removes you from this board for that very reason." Bob Hansen
A proud CoasterBuzz Member (Kick the Sky)

The disaster that is Shockwave inexplicably has very long lines early in the day but is almost always a walk on late.

While I absolutely HATE this thing, it did provide me with my only coaster gray-out to this point. That was pretty interesting. It also gave me my only medically diagnosed concussion several years ago...

super7, Both times I've been to SFGAm, Eagle has raced. All 6 times I've been to PKI this year, The Racer raced all but my opening day visit. I've seen Gemini race twice out of a dozen or so visits. Looks like I caught CP on bad days and you caught GA and PKI on bad days, but I wouldn't completely say CP doesn't care about service since they weren't racing. I don't know about Hershey since I've not had the pleasure to visit yet, but I'm sure they've had their bad days. I know several people have said Gwazi doesn't duel any more, but it did on all my visits, but the last since it was being fixed.

Actually, CP's Gemini is known not to race if crowds are really low. They will run only one train. If one train is having problems dispatching on time, they don't run it.

I've only been to PKI once, and Racer was racing. I agree it makes a "racing" coaster more fun if it's racing, but that isn't a requirement for me. It certainly wouldn't be "severely disappointed". But then, I guess I'm easliy amused.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead

AE racing is hit-or-miss. I've been there about six times this year and it's raced twice.

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Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

When I rode AE for the first time on Thursday it was not racing.

A couple hours later I rode again, and behold... They were racing.

I think it is mostly Hit or miss

CPLady: Here's some pix from Nitro which has the same train as RB:

http://www.rcdb.com/installationgallery1106.htm?Picture=1

Notice how, in every row, you're free to just pick your feet up off the floor and point them in pretty much any direction you want. These are by far my (and I think most peoples'?) favorite trains.

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A rollercoaster? What's that?

WOW, Thanks for the pic of the train. Looks like V2 is going to be down for our trip (pout), but I can't wait to ride Raging Bull.

After reading various reports of crowds, even on weekdays, we'll definitely be going for the fast pass.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead

I dont know CPLady, reports are stating that V2 is up and running again. But aside from all the coasters in the park which I know you want to hit, please use one of your fast passes to ride the Whizzer. You will get your first and last ride on it. Heck, on August 11th, I will probably buy a fast pass for the first time and use all of it on the Whizzer (4 times).

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Ric Flair was hitting on the female host, he told her - "Space Mountain may be the oldest ride in the park, but it has the longest line." WOOOOO!

Gemeni will always race unless they are only running one side. It's not a Racer or AE type of thing where they run both sides but don't bother racing them.

Normally you will only see the blue train on Gemini running from opening until about noon and then the fun is on. Perhaps you have rode Gemini in the morning and not gone back to it later.

Also bar none Iron Wolf is the headbangiest coaster at GAM. If you ride Shockwave in the back and you are tall you most likely wont hit your head at all, same with Demon.

If you are worried about having the most brutal coaster last make Iron Wolf it. It's the bangiest steel coaster I have ever rode. All it's turns are like the evil Arrow turn after the corkscrew on Mantis.

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The Beast and Night, They go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly

*** This post was edited by MagnumForce on 8/5/2002. ***

Iron Wolf lover here. All you have to do is press your head really hard to the right after the flatspin and you will have a great ride all the time. Shockwave on the other hand, is verryyyyy painful and i can't find a way around it.

I tried IW in my usual lean foward pull the seat all the way down on your shoulder don't touch the seat at all position and it racked me worse then anything.

I have yet to find an arrow looper that I find painful. I wish I could figure out how this is as It could help a lot of people out. Maybe it is because I always lean forward. I don't really know. My head is also way above the restraint. Perhaps that is another solution. I haven't had a problem on vekoma' either except for SLC's.

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All I need is 4.5 million bucks and a half a mile long sliver of land and maybe someone could build me my very own Shivering Timbers. ;)

CPLady said:
"Thanks, EchoVictor!....Since you are 6'3", what do you thing my husband's chances are of riding V2 and Deja Vu? He doesn't have a big belly, but all his height is in his body, and he's got broad shoulders."

CPLady,

sorry for the delay in posting, but I had a crazy weekend...

I don't think your hubby will have any problems with either ride. I fit fine on Deja Vu, and while I've not been on V2, I did fit fine on S:UE at SFWoA. I don't think there are any seat differences between the two. To give you a size reference, I'm at 6'3" with an inseam of 34".

BTW, because of my height, I always got my own seat on the Whizzer. Boy, am I going to miss the only coaster with enough room that I could ride with my legs crossed! Ride an extra lap for me!

Later,
EV
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"I want to go up to Detroit, I want to lie in the shade. I want to visit the President, and then I want to get ...."
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Bloc Bloc Bloc

*** This post was edited by EchoVictor on 8/5/2002. ***

I'm sure my husband will get his own seat for Whizzer too. We are also hoping that crowds will thin out tomorrow evening since we plan to stay until close. No fast passes for the few hours we are going to be in the park tomorrow. We'll get them for Wednesday for sure. I do plan to use one of the fast lanes for Whizzer, probably one for V2, and depending on the line, Batman (my husband is especially fond of Raptor so he's looking forward to Batman).

Thanks all who responded! We'll hit the road at 9 am.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead