SFNE's new rides

SWAT and Diablo Falls are both in the parking lot for SFNE. This is yet another pretty good move to improve the park. SFNE has been needing a good new flat for a while, and Diablo Falls should be pretty good. The only dissapointing part is that Poland Springs Plunge, the parks flume ride is being removed. It was a pretty good flume, but the operating costs were becoming high, and he capacity wasn't very good. Chaos is also being removed, but that was expected. Overall, SWAT and Diablo Falls for Poland Springs Plunge and Chaos is a pretty good deal.

Pictures1

http://sfne.com/index.php?cat=updates&id=9&p=1

What is Diablo Falls? Is that just a shoot the chutes?

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eightdotthree said:
What is Diablo Falls? Is that just a shoot the chutes?

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Same ride as Penguin's blizzard river at SFA.

BATWING - your answer only helps if 8.3 is familiar with Penguin's Blizzard River.

8.3 - try this:

http://www.coaster-net.com/rg/diablofalls.php

And next time, perhaps try a Google search? I found that link in less than 15 seconds.

Wow, all I can say is, they got there fast. I mean, SFAW closed only about 2 weeks ago, and already parts are arriving at SFNE, which is quite a drive from Houston, TX. You all will enjoy Diablo Falls, but I'll warn you, prepare for long, slow moving lines. Getting in those rafts is awkward, and trying to fill each raft to capacity is near impossible, and it all adds up to big back-ups. Either way, it's a lot of fun, and if you're a fan of spinning attractions, you'll love it. Unlike Pandamonium, all the turns are in the same direction, so once the raft starts spinning, the spinning only intensifies until the splash down at the end.... but I don't really know why I'm telling you all of this. I'm sure there are plenty of TR's describing PBR @ SFA or DF @ SFAW...

i think it ashame to see this happen. Astroworld been their for 37 years and its all going to end cuz of parking. It was the damn stadium that made astroworld go down is what i think. But for the people who got swat and diablo falls you are lucky cuz those rides are really fun, swat was my fav. so injoy

Looks like some good news for me. Not to stray away from the tragic end of AstroWorld, but i go by SFNE everytime i see my brother who lives in Maine. Next year, its a definate stop since we didnt go up there this year. Wow, i always wanted to try swat and now its looking very good to me. Plus ROS ill take all that. So hyped now!

Also is that the only Swat in the US currently, just wondering? Cause i know of no other ones, and now its only 11 hours away! *** Edited 11/14/2005 4:05:08 AM UTC by MagnunBarrel***

As far as I know, Thorpe Park in England has the only other S&S Sky Swat around. The ride looks amazing. I was hoping CP (homepark) would've put on in, but Skyhawk looks just as fun.
*** Edited 11/14/2005 4:23:22 AM UTC by gomez***

A little more detail on Diablo Falls/Penguin's Blizzard River... http://www.negative-g.com/SFA/SFA-2005-4.htm

I'm still bummed over SFAW's closing, but at least some other parks are getting a pretty good deal on rides out of it. Both of these seem like excellent additions to SFNE. *** Edited 11/14/2005 4:26:28 AM UTC by BBSpeed26***

Swat would have been a perfect ride for Darien Lake to add.

With SWAT there next year, you will see how good your maintenence staff is. SWAT was very touchy, and somewhat needy of attention.

AW guys had is down very good where it became very reliable. It will be interesting to see what happens up North. The plot SWAT was on is cursed. Last time a ride left the plot, the ride never ran properly at it's new location. It will be interesting to see if the curse of AW follows SWAT. I have to admit I hope it does.

Have to admit I'd have liked for SWAT to *spin* a little faster. Not nearly the shortcoming of the ride cycle issue with the Screamin' Swing, but the slow speed of rotation did mean there was a little more *sustained pressure* against the restraints than I was comfortable with....

A real good way to get those rafts on DF spinning is to get everyone onboard to lean back during the ride.....works for me & gets the thing spinning so much & so fast you'd swear your gonna puke before you even hit t he splash pool.

SWAT is an interesting ride. I actually like it a lot.

However that view puts me in the minority. It never had a long line or drew a crowd.

The majority of people are either intimidated by watching it, or bored by riding it. AS I said, I enjoyed it but probably mostly because I liked dangling my hands and feet upside down to amuse people below.

I wonder if SFNE will keep the SWAT name or if they will change it at all?

I would expect the same name and themeing.

It's only 3 years old, in good condition, and the AW art department did some nice sun theming and signage.

If it were my choice I would paint the paddle supports white, while painting the actual paddles yellow on one, and blue on the other. So it resembled a fly swatter. All day long on the midway you would heard people call it that " Big Ole Fly Swatter"....

*** Edited 11/14/2005 4:36:48 PM UTC by Markieb***

Good news for SFNE. I usually visit there a few times a season. Too bad about the loss of the log flume though. I always wished SFA had a regular log flume ride instead of the Typhoon Sea Coaster, which for the last few seasons has been hit or miss as far as operation. What were the issues with the flume ride at SFNE that caused its removal?

low capacity?

Both of these are really pretty low capacity due to the amount of time it takes to load. SWAT never had very long lines at AW which made up for this, but Diablo Falls wait time could easily exceed an hour with only a moderate crowd.