SFMM 3/28 - Better? Yes, and no.

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rollergator said:
I have to admit wondering why THIS is the park that needed Scream!

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After the fiasco of X and Deja Vu, the park needed something reliable that can assure a high rider capacity.

No, DW...didn't go anywhere near Riddler.

FP....considering the number and variety of new flats that could've been installed, spending the kind of $$$ that Scream! cost just wasn't justifiable....although I agree that DV and X weren't models of consistency.

IF Scream! had truly been able to PULL people to that corner of the park, then it would have done its job...maybe if Colossus were a decent ride...;)

IF it were MY $12 (estimate), I'd have purchased a kiddie coaster (*cough* MILER!) and a reliable shiny new super-sized flat....the rest of the loot would've gone to doing something about Colossus...maybe more steel track for mOOSH...;), and some general park improvements...

Ironically my favorite Six Flags Park is now not a six flags park. I agree with you mOOSH that I'd rather go to Knott's any day. SFMM just doesn't have quality coasters like Knott's, not to mention they have GhostRider, do you hear it Magic Mountain, Knott's has a GOOD wooden coaster! *** Edited 3/29/2004 3:54:52 PM UTC by coasterkid16***

I can't believe that X is still down so much. For all the praise it gets, it's not much good if the ride is never or rarely open. Kind of my feelings about Dragster (though admittedly that got better late season).

Not having things open and operating is the thing I will never understand about some parks, especially signature rides. It's just no way to run a park, especially if you have competition.

Jeff - while it's no excuse I'd be willing to bet the reason for the late openings were staff-related.

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Jeff said:
I can't believe that X is still down so much. For all the praise it gets, it's not much good if the ride is never or rarely open. Kind of my feelings about Dragster (though admittedly that got better late season).

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Agreed, but I guess we have to cut Dragster some slack since it hasn't even entered it's second season yet. X is in it's 4th season now.

Well, lately I’ve heard X has had less and less downtime. And if it happens to be closed for 2 hours or so at the beginning of the day...your telling me there isn’t anything else you can do during that time?

Of course there is, but by this point (4th season) it seems reasonable that the top coaster at SFMM be ready for passengers at opening.

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your telling me there isn’t anything else you can do during that time?

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There sure is. Drive to Knott's.

I find it hard to believe that someone can’t find one ride in that entire park that they enjoy.

I think Brian was just joking man. Of course there's other stuff to do, but as I said, I think it's reasonable that the top coaster at the park be ready for passengers at opening. *** Edited 3/29/2004 7:18:20 PM UTC by Peabody***

Okay, it's just sometimes hard to tell if someone’s joking through a computer or not. ;) I mean, was coasterkid joking when he said SFMM doesn’t have any quality coasters? Probably not.

Of course the park should have their big ride open by opening, but I simply think that it’s just not a big deal.

"I find it hard to believe that someone can’t find one ride in that entire park that they enjoy."

You certainly didn't get that from my trip report.

No Moosh, I certainly did not. But I did from coasterkid and Brian (who was yes, probably joking).

SFMM is a park that would greatly benefit from an off season. Close the park for 4-6 months, and rehabs all the rides. I've heard that the park is more expensive to run in the winter months than having the park open justifies. BGT has some of these same problems(with less coasters).

That said, I have noticed improvements this year, but the park has a long road to get back to an exceptable level of operations. They've let it slip too far. This is the park they used to take the most pride in.

I kid because I care.

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coasterkid16 said:
SFMM just doesn't have quality coasters like Knott's

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Well personally I'd consider X, Goliath, Riddler, Superman, Batman, and Deja Vu all quality, and Viper and Ninja aren't bad for their kind either, that outnumbers ALL of knotts's coasters, and I'd hardly call Boomerang and Jaguar quality. Yes Ghostrider knocks socks of MM's wood, come to think of it most wood. Xcelertor is not exactly the most reliable coaster either (well it wasn't when I was there).

Peabody - X is in its 3rd season not 4th, it opened to the public in January 2002. Prior to that it opened christmas eve and after for seasons pass holders, which hardly constitues a "season". but I agree, it would be nice if it was running more reliably.

Oh yeah.....just remembered it was supposed to open in '01. Didn't remember it didn't open until '02. Oh well....3 full years (minus all the downtime) I still think it should run semi-reliably.