SFGAm, short TR with pics, 04/24/2004

Nice photos-and in the park early! We had to go down to Kentucky Kingdom and PKI for some pre-season rides. And--Deja Vu was running?! Even holding season passes we don't get to ride it much!

Seat belts on Viper! That is weak... did they adversely affect the ride?

On the other hand, DV running is great news.

Thanks for the TR Chitown, it makes me more excited to countdown the days to CoasterbuzzCon.

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Zero-G said:
I've heard of themeing disappear, but this is rediculous!

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May I ask what theming disappeared besides a junkyard and a grafitti wall? If that's what you are referring to, I don't see the big deal.

Kevin Max: You had to figure the seatbelts would be installed on the woodies sooner or later. It doesn't affect the ride one bit.

Coasterqueen: Deja-Vu ran all day. It looks as though we might actually get a full season of operation out of this thing.

*** Edited 4/26/2004 5:45:02 PM UTC by Chitown***

Great pics!!!!! And good report!!
But i agree that adding seat belts to Viper is bad news!!!! If they kill the air time you get it will take alot of the enjoyment of the ride!!!

Bob. It doesn't kill the airtime. I was still flying out of my seat this past Saturday.

The belts installed are the one across belts. You dont have to deal with individual belts. It's alot easier to latch and easier for the ops to check.

Glad to hear that Chi-town!!!!
I would hate to see a great coaster ruined and i think it is one of the most under-rated wooden coasters!!!

Chitown - Did it look like they fixed Deja Vu's "camouflage"?

I think removing the junkyard theme needed to be done if they were repainting the ride. The brand new looking yellow track would look horrible next to a junkyard IMO.

Most of the time people complain about Six Flags parks looking like trash. This park gets rid of the trashy looking stuff to make it look nice and people still complain.

I like everything the park has done this year in an effort to make the park look nicer. They have repainted rides, buildings and even Eagle’s station. Lot of things look brand new, and I’m sure guest will notice the difference.

Chitown,

I sent you mail through the goofy web interface - but I'm not sure if you received it.

Just wanted to say thanks for posting those photos. It's never fun to schlep a camera around while at a park, so your work is greatly appreciated!

Also, is it still possible to walk to Batman through Orleans place, or is that all closed because of construction?

Thanks again,
Cameron.

I have a friend who attended as well. He claims that they also added seat belts to Raging Bull, and are doing a 2 stage restraing check similar to Deja Vu, where they check the belt once, then you lower the restraint and they check a second time. He also said that they added seat belts to the carousel. Is there any truth to his claims or is he just trying to scare me?

I don't believe RB got seatbelts. While I can't verify that because we didn't end up on it, I seriously doubt it.

The 2 stage restraint checking on DV has been going on for the last couple of years. And yes, seatbelts were installed on the carousel toward the end of last season.

Cameron: Yes , you are still able to walk through the area. In fact, the Cirque Electrique arcade and the entrance to Roaring Rapids are unaffected by this new area. When walking from the train tracks to the Yankee Harbor bridge, everything to your right is fenced off and under construction.

Oh, and your quite welcome with the pics. If any day warranted bringing the camera into the park, it was this day. :) *** Edited 4/26/2004 10:21:08 PM UTC by Chitown***

I know about the 2 stage loading on Deja Vu. My friend claimed that with the new belts on RB that it also has 2 stage checking.

Of course since you didn't ride it you wouldn't know. *hopes that my friend is pulling my leg*

My fault, I read your statement wrong.

Yay, the wheel covers are back. Batman looks spectacular. I seriously have to make it to this park someday....someway..somehow.....

I don't know how many of you guys were there opening day last year, we were--but everyone into coasters knows what I'm talking about...That being said-did you know that all SF parks now state "no gum or candy". I talked to-grr-can't remember which ride at SFKK, but anyway he said that is now policy at all SF parks. Still sad--everyone who knows us thought it was my daughter. My email and answering machine were full when we got home that night.

Also, on the events of last year at HW, is the big seatbelt campaign. I've been on many different ones with them and the ride is just as good. Raging Bull has to be a rumor--my kids have been riding it for a while-my son was tall enough at 8 yrs old. The restraint design is very good. That would be over doing it and very paranoid on the park. The only thing that would be different adding seatbelts to RB would be wait time.

Great pics, Chitown. The new Mardi Gras section seems to be coming along quite nicely. Were any of the new rides operational? Obviously, that would be a no for Ragin' Cajun and Big Easy Balloons but King Chaos, Jester's Wild Ride and Revolution sure look ready to go!

Batman looks outstanding. Lovin' me some yellow track! The Viper line really needed some shading so that's a welcome addition.

I was a bit surprised to read that each flat was staffed by two ride ops. SFGAm has nice, long ride cycles but the load-unload time was always lengthy due to the one op operation. Of course, last Saturady could have been an "all-hands" training day in anticipation of Opening and won't be the norm during the regualr season? We'll soon find out.

From your pics it looks like Big Easy and King Chaos are in the old Power Dive spot, south of the train overpass? Did Revolution replace the Carousel in County Fair? Guess I'll get the answers on Opening Day this Saturday!

There were not two ops at all of the flat rides.

IBSteve, I cannot answer about Big Easy, but yes, Chaos is in PD's old spot.

Also, Revolution is in the carousel's location. They said at NoCoasterCon that they were planning on keeping it and placing it elsewhere in the park next year..

Raging Bull DID NOT get seatbelts.

i was there, i rode it and there are no belts and no two-stage checking.

tellyour friend he's full of bull-puckey.