SFGAm Opening Day 2014

First off...If you don't recognize the screen name I've been gone for a couple years but I'm back in the Coasterbuzz fold now.

I decided to drop in on SFGAm opening day to get my pass processed, take a look at Goliath, and maybe catch a ride or two.

I understand SF wanted to simplify things for the future with the new fingerprint scan thing but getting into the park was nothing short of a nightmare. I got to the park right at noon to find a huge mess of people waiting to even get through the metal detectors.

It took roughly 40 minutes to get through that mess and to the turnstiles. With the new season pass/membership system you have to scan your voucher, then put your right index finger on a scanner, then wait for the host to scan your new card in and send you on your way. Before they send you on your way, they tell you that you now have to go to the "Pass Activiation Center" in Hometown Square to have the proper benefits loaded onto the card.

Off to that place I went only to find another huge line to get the pass activated. 55 minutes later I was finally able to get into the activation center. Once inside it was fairly painless but my god what a screwy process just to get an already purchased Gold Pass activated.

I don't know if they truly expected this volume of people on opening day. With limited food stands open the lines looked terrible just to get a drink.

Ride dispatch times were all over the map with Raging Bull running very well but X-Flight but pushing 5 minute dispatch times.

I did a couple rides but really just wanted to take a tour of the park and see what was changed. Tomorrow is dedicated ride time.

I haven't seen Goliath, other than pictures and the construction cam, since being here for a construction tour in January. I've seen and ridden RMC work before (Silver Dollar City) but this thing just looks absolutely insane. Lots of folks taking pictures and peeking over construction fences and very excited about Goliath. There was activity all over the structure with lots of work centering around another of the lift support towers and the station. I still think they're going to have to really scramble to get this thing ready for media day/opening.

They think they still have a workable schedule but testing will have to go well to meet the deadline. (Just my opinion)

I'll throw on an update tomorrow.

The front gate was just a mess yesterday!

It will be interesting to see if this biometric system actually holds up. I bought and processed my membership (gold) last year at the end of FF and had all the stuff taken care of. When I went yesterday, the parking worked but my scan of my index finger did not. The guy tried it twice before asking, "Is this your card?" and then let me through.

The park almost needs a separate area for guests who only have one-day tickets to enter because I can see this taking forever, especially now that they went with the separate security checkpoint last year.

They did actually have a couple lines on the far right side of the entry gates dedicated to one day tickets today (Sunday) which helped a bit. Much less crowded today. Still very inefficient operations today overall with lines, food, and ride ops. It's early, I know.

Great Adventure has portals at the entry gate designated for Season Pass vouchers, day tickets, and already-processed Season Passes.

If you enter one of those portals, do you enter a magical land where you always get to sit in the backseat of El Toro and win lots of pencils?

Only the ones where the leprechauns dwell.