SFGrAdv 9/23

---

rollergator said:
just that I don't feel like I *could* get in a lap on Ka and a lap on Toro without one...

---

Honestly, as slow as the dispatch times for El Toro can be, the line still is never that bad (at least in my experience).

The way the line is setup is there are 2 sets of switchbacks connected by a straight-ish section. If only one set of switchbacks is filled it will be roughly a 5 train wait before you are in the station. If it's filled up through the straight section it will be roughly 7-9 trains. If the final set of swithcbacks is filled I would assume it'd be about a 15 train wait. So even with the usual 5 minute dispatch times you are looking at under an hour and a half with a full queue.

Of course this will vary if there is an insane amount of flashpassers/VIP's slowing things down, but with the 36 passenger trains, things move pretty quickly.

KK on the other hand....

Yeah, the second ride we took had a shorter line (2 of the switchbacks in the second set were empty, compared to spilling out earlier in the day) but the wait was about 20 minutes longer. Many more flash passers were riding the second time.

Perhaps I'm more concerned about crowds than I should be, but I've done the Columbus Day thing for a few years running (skipped last year, sick from the PPP weather). I'd gotten to GAdv with some family in July - missing Ka by a week, argh! LOL! But I have noticed that year after year, people seem to be PACKING the place more and more.

Year before last, all the "good" coasters were running about 1-1/2 hour lines at about 4pm, IIRC, when I decided to bail...I guess I just can't wait over an hour anymore, *certainly* not for a B&M I've ridden many times before... must have gotten old or something... ;)

But the Premier, the new Intamin wood, the tall Intamin steel *credit*, those are hot items for me...shame about Chilla though...probably take a lap on Nitro to see if I can't figure out what everyone likes so much about that thing... :)

*** Edited 9/27/2006 3:46:53 AM UTC by rollergator***

For me Nitro is all about the back row and going with the flow. Fun, fun, fun not Toro air but any air is good :)

Good luck on your trip to my ex-homepark :P Well I might give it a chance with the new General Manager but not until next season. Otherwise I will call the Land of Chocolate and the Home of the Jo-Jo my home parks next season.

Disclaimer: From a person tired of having to use a FlashPass to have a decent day at the park. I have been to enough parks to know Flashpass shouldn't be needed to have a decent day at a park.

---

2Hostyl said:

What was so wrong @ SFNE? [etc etc etc]...

---

I have to agree with that.

My two experiences with Flash Pass came this past summer at SFKK and SFNE.

SFKK's version is the coupon book of Exit Passes. (5 for $10 I believe) This is not the most efficient (have to load Flash Passers before the rest of the train) and can lead to some annimosity amongst riders (no dedicated seats, sit anywhere). I have a season pass, so the $10 was kind of like insurance incase I ran into an extremely long line. Only used it once (for Thunder Run) and then there was no real animosity directed toward me... since I could pick which ever seat I wanted, I chose front, and there just happened to be a single rider waiting to ride that train, so I just happened (unintentionally) to fill in an empty seat.

SFNE's version is the full Qbot version, with dedicated Flash Pass queues that merge with the regular line just before the station. Sure, Flash Passers might be stepping in front of someone in line, but once in the station there is also a chance that the person from the regular line might ride BEFORE the Flash Passer IF the Flash Passer enters a longer line in the station (Front seat, back seat, etc) than does the regular line person.

After using SFNE's version of Flash Pass... and getting in 22 total rides in a "leisurely" 10 hour day(that is NOT running from ride to ride... even taking about 45 minutes of down time at one of the restaurants to recoup and regroup when the heat of the day got really bad around 5pm)... I find nothing wrong with Flash Pass in general and SFNE's operations in particular.

Believe me... next time I visit a park where Flash Pass is available, and if there is even a hint of a crowd, I will pony up the $ and take advantage of that option.

Since I've gotten some extra money and gas prices have dropped, me and my sister are going on Saturday. I'm not expecting miracles, and I'm going to try to be on best behavior this time (no cussing out anyone in (oops, on-line), and that includes the soccer moms! She's missed Nitro, S:UF, KK, and of course El Toro which I haven't gotten yet either.

First off at SFA most times on a busy day we block off the fastlane rows so that people don't wait in line for that 1 row and complain every time they get bumped. Next If the row is blocked off why would we fight to find two people/ 4 on batwing to fill the rows if we can send that one and have a train with all seats ready. Last of all when was this Wild One incident you all speak of SLFAKE, this year wild one usualy has the best crews in the park.

On the loading a train with flash pass at SFA Batwing fan had it right. If we get to many flash passes on the exit ramp it becomes a safety/fire hazard.