SFMM 1/5 - finally got on X, empty park
Associated parks:
Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, California, USA
I'm not going to bore you with all the details of what I did when. I did get my credit on flashback finally (which wasn't as bad as some make it out to be, but still nothing to write home about).
Everything was a walkon (most notably Goliath which was running half empty trains and which I poached rides on a few times) 'cept Deja Vu which was 20 minutes, and X which started with about an hr. in the morning and dropped to about 10 minutes in the afternoon (sorry to all those folks who've waited 5 hrs for it). Never had to leave the station, except to switch sides. 14 rides in all. Oh, I didn't check on S:TE, and Ninja was down.
I did, however, get to ride X on my third trip to MM since it's been built (don't get me started). I was expecting a major case of anticipointment, so I didn't let my hopes get too high. Rode in front first (first end out the station) and it was pretty darn good. Definitely met my expectations and I knew I wasn't in for anticipointment. Rode in the back and I am still in awe. Cresting the top of that big drop and looking straight down 200+' of drop, with no one below you (because they've moved out of the way a bit) and getting this huge negative G before flipping over....wow. Left me speechless every time. The rest of the layout was fun, but it was kind of anticipointing after the 10th time or so (Save the second raven turn which was pretty good). So I don't know if X has the re-ride factor (like a good airtime hyper), but for one day, it was definitely at the very top of my list. The ride was running a bit rough on one of the trains, especially in the outside seats and my friend did end up punching herself in the lip somehow. The restraints were quite nice, however.
I can't wait til we see another one of these bad boys.
One thing that really surprised me was the number of people that got on the ride having no idea what they were in for. I got on the back row with a guy and just to chat I asked him if he'd been on it, as we were rolling out.
He said, "I saved it for last, but I figure if I drive a semi for a living, I can handle this thing backwards."
I kind of smiled and nodded and said, "We'll see."
At the top of the hill when we started pitching forward, I hear, "Oh yeah...yeah...whoa....WHOA.....OH S**T!" He was speechless by the end of the ride. Even at the end of the day, last train of the night, I rode with a different guy who had no idea what he was in for. He also thought it was just backwards. I wonder if this was just because the line was so short, people weren't paying attention to ride itself.
Anyway, the trip was a nice break in the offseason. Next time I'm going to get to ride is going to GAdv's opening day. Happy offseason.
-----------------
Be polite and ignore the idiots. - rollergator
You must be this dumb to ride Viper. -SFGAdv.
*** This post was edited by ApolloAndy on 1/8/2003. ***
*** This post was edited by ApolloAndy on 1/8/2003. ***
-----------------
Top 5 coasters in no particular order: Nitro, S:ROS (SFA), Medusa (East), Talon, Batwing
I've found the misconceptions people have about X basically fall into these 2 categories:
1] those who do not know the seats rotate, or
2] those who think the seats rotate freely
Moosh
-----------------
Sig under construction!
The rest of the layout was fun, but it was kind of anticipointing after the 10th time or so (Save the second raven turn which was pretty good).
I don't think you can be a victim of "anticipointment" after your initial ride. After 10 laps the ride may have been familiar, uninspired, or even boring - but it certainly wasn't disappoinment as a direct result of your own heightened expectations.
Sounds like a good day. I'm now 90% sure I'll get there around the end of the month and hopefully my day is a lot like yours.
-----------------
www.coasterimage.com
*** This post was edited by Lord Gonchar on 1/8/2003. ***
LG - if you can, keep some of us So Cal Buzzers in the loop when it comes to your plans. Perhaps we can meet you at the park.
Moosh
-----------------
Sig under construction!
2 trains.
Well, the novelty wore off pretty quickly after the first few rides, which is what was disappointing. I thought it would be more fun and stand the test of time, like PR's airtime which never lets me down. I guess I was just expecting a little more from the layout and a little less from the drop.
-----------------
Be polite and ignore the idiots. - rollergator
You must be this dumb to ride Viper. -SFGAdv.
*** This post was edited by ApolloAndy on 1/8/2003. ***
The deal is pretty much done, Moosh. However, everytime I say I'm definitely visiting a park it seems to backfire. I had three "definite" trips lined up this past summer for Knoebel's and never made it due to something else going down that couldn't be overlooked. With that said I'll be in Vegas the last week of Jan with plans to hit KBF on the 31st and SFMM on the 1st.
But that's what we have planned, actual results will possibly (probably?) vary.
-----------------
www.coasterimage.com
LG - don't expect to ride everything. Even tho the parks are open many rides will be going thru annual or biannual maintenance. I know over at Knott's Ghostrider, Xcelerator, and Timber Mtn Log Flume are all scheduled to be closed sometime in Jan and Feb. I'm sure SFMM will have coasters closed as well.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news....
Moosh
-----------------
Sig under construction!
The only one I'd be angry to miss a shot at would be X. Other than that, while I'd like to ride all the coasters, I could live with myself if I missed any of the others.
Our 2002 Dorney Passes will still be good to use at Knott's so as a freebie I'm not really concerned. I'm more interested in photos to be honest. I'm not expecting much from SFMM either and actually had to talk my wife into going (we've been to 4 SF parks and had a "less than exceptional" experience at every one). I'm wondering if the difference between the 31st and 1st will mean the difference in one ride being up and another being down at Knott's because I'm not totally against cutting out of SFMM a bit early to get back down to Knott's to ride Xcelerator or Ghostrider if one of the two isn't available the day before.
See how my plans are never final? ;)
-----------------
www.coasterimage.com
*** This post was edited by Lord Gonchar on 1/9/2003. ***
It sounds like you had an awesome day as far as the emptiness of the park is concerned. I am almost sure that we will be there in the middle of March and I can't wait!
-----------------
Millennium Force Laps-103
**Vertigo Launches-21**
You must be logged in to post
