SFO (5/29) - Long and Not Pretty
Associated parks:
None
So far this year I have been to SFO twice and SFGrAm once. While I give both parks high marks for having a nice assortment of good world class rides, that only goes so far. Bad ride ops, bad, slow service and the handling (more like the lack of) of idiot guests (I'm being very nice compared to what I would like to call them.) have really ruined these parks. And the problems are much more prevalent at SFO. It completely ruined what I was hoping to be a nice afternoon.
I can only hope that the powers that be at SFO might read this and start to clean up the act.
Problem #1 - If you are going to make rules that a guest should follow, please do one thing - ENFORCE THEM!! The complete lack of security within the park has allowed too many of your so called policies to be ignored over and over again.
Problem #2 - Smoking in the queues was a constant problem. And it wasn't confined to just the kiddies. Several times I saw plumes of smoke rise into the air.
Problem #3 - Line jumping was also a constant problem especially at Batman. It was a great idea to create an area of the queue wide enough so you could drive a bus thru it. And yes I'm being sarcastic. I just hope that the impatient brats don't try to jump in line in front of me and then start mouthing off when I tell them about it. Otherwise their next ride might be on a stretcher. And of course you have to love the amount of sewage that flows from their mouths. Its really the stuff that you want you young child to hear. Great family atmosphere!!
Problem #4 - And speaking of garbage. You really have to like the amount of it floating in the lake next to Batman. I wasn't sure if I was at an amusement park or a landfill. Of course you have to overlook all of the phlegm floating on the surface of the water. Are we at Geauga Lake or Geauga Spitoon?
Problem #5 - Then of course there is the vandalism and grafitti. If you have been there, you know what I'm talking abou⸀㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀倀爀漀戀氀攀洀 ⌀㘀 ⴀ 䄀氀猀漀 䤀 眀漀甀氀搀 氀椀欀攀 琀漀 欀渀漀眀 眀栀礀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 ⠀洀漀猀琀氀礀 欀椀搀猀⤀ 愀爀攀 愀氀氀漀眀攀搀 琀漀 猀琀愀渀搀 漀渀 琀栀攀 眀愀氀欀眀愀礀 漀甀琀猀椀搀攀 琀栀攀 甀渀氀漀愀搀椀渀最 猀琀愀琀椀漀渀 眀栀攀渀 琀栀攀 爀椀搀攀 椀猀 椀渀 漀瀀攀爀愀琀椀漀渀⸀ 䤀琀 洀愀欀攀猀 愀 渀愀爀爀漀眀 眀愀氀欀眀愀礀 攀瘀攀渀 洀漀爀攀 搀椀昀昀椀挀甀氀琀 琀漀 渀愀瘀椀最愀琀攀⸀㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀倀爀漀戀氀攀洀 ⌀㜀 ⴀ 䠀漀眀 挀愀渀 礀漀甀 挀愀氀氀 愀 爀椀搀攀 愀 ∀䘀愀洀椀氀礀∀ 䌀漀愀猀琀攀爀 眀栀攀渀 礀漀甀 栀愀瘀攀 椀琀 爀攀猀琀爀椀挀琀攀搀 琀漀 爀椀搀攀爀猀 戀攀琀眀攀攀渀 㐀㠀∀ 愀渀搀 㘀 ∀㼀 圀栀愀琀 洀攀洀戀攀爀猀 漀昀 愀 昀愀洀椀氀礀 搀漀 礀漀甀 欀渀漀眀 琀栀愀琀 愀爀攀 䄀䰀䰀 戀攀琀眀攀攀渀 㐀 愀渀搀 㔀 昀攀攀琀 琀愀氀氀㼀 䄀渀搀 䤀✀洀 琀愀氀欀椀渀最 愀戀漀甀琀 刀漀愀搀爀甀渀渀攀爀 䔀砀瀀爀攀猀猀⸀ 䄀 猀漀 挀愀氀氀攀搀 昀愀洀椀氀礀 挀漀愀猀琀攀爀⸀㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀倀爀漀戀氀攀洀 ⌀㠀 ⴀ 圀栀礀 爀甀渀 愀 ㌀ 琀爀愀椀渀 漀瀀攀爀愀琀椀漀渀 眀栀攀渀 琀栀攀 漀瀀攀爀愀琀漀爀猀 栀愀瘀攀 琀栀攀 琀爀愀椀渀猀 猀琀愀挀欀攀搀 洀漀猀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 琀椀洀攀㼀㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀匀漀 愀猀 礀漀甀 挀愀渀 猀攀攀 匀䘀伀 栀愀猀 愀氀漀琀 琀漀 氀攀愀爀渀⸀ 䤀 栀漀瀀攀 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀礀 眀椀氀氀 挀氀攀愀渀 甀瀀 琀栀攀椀爀 愀挀琀 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 琀栀攀礀 搀漀 栀愀瘀攀 猀漀洀攀 最漀漀搀 爀椀搀攀猀⸀㰀戀爀㸀ⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀ㰀戀爀㸀䄀椀渀琀 椀琀 渀攀愀琀 琀漀 戀攀 昀氀漀愀琀椀渀最 椀渀 礀漀甀爀 猀攀愀琀㼀ഀഀഀ ⨀⨀⨀ 吀栀椀猀 瀀漀猀琀 眀愀猀 攀搀椀琀攀搀 戀礀 䴀愀砀䄀椀爀吀椀洀攀 漀渀 㔀⼀㌀ ⼀㈀ ⸀ ⨀⨀⨀
I can only hope that the powers that be at SFO might read this and start to clean up the act.
Problem #1 - If you are going to make rules that a guest should follow, please do one thing - ENFORCE THEM!! The complete lack of security within the park has allowed too many of your so called policies to be ignored over and over again.
Problem #2 - Smoking in the queues was a constant problem. And it wasn't confined to just the kiddies. Several times I saw plumes of smoke rise into the air.
Problem #3 - Line jumping was also a constant problem especially at Batman. It was a great idea to create an area of the queue wide enough so you could drive a bus thru it. And yes I'm being sarcastic. I just hope that the impatient brats don't try to jump in line in front of me and then start mouthing off when I tell them about it. Otherwise their next ride might be on a stretcher. And of course you have to love the amount of sewage that flows from their mouths. Its really the stuff that you want you young child to hear. Great family atmosphere!!
Problem #4 - And speaking of garbage. You really have to like the amount of it floating in the lake next to Batman. I wasn't sure if I was at an amusement park or a landfill. Of course you have to overlook all of the phlegm floating on the surface of the water. Are we at Geauga Lake or Geauga Spitoon?
Problem #5 - Then of course there is the vandalism and grafitti. If you have been there, you know what I'm talking abou⸀㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀倀爀漀戀氀攀洀 ⌀㘀 ⴀ 䄀氀猀漀 䤀 眀漀甀氀搀 氀椀欀攀 琀漀 欀渀漀眀 眀栀礀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 ⠀洀漀猀琀氀礀 欀椀搀猀⤀ 愀爀攀 愀氀氀漀眀攀搀 琀漀 猀琀愀渀搀 漀渀 琀栀攀 眀愀氀欀眀愀礀 漀甀琀猀椀搀攀 琀栀攀 甀渀氀漀愀搀椀渀最 猀琀愀琀椀漀渀 眀栀攀渀 琀栀攀 爀椀搀攀 椀猀 椀渀 漀瀀攀爀愀琀椀漀渀⸀ 䤀琀 洀愀欀攀猀 愀 渀愀爀爀漀眀 眀愀氀欀眀愀礀 攀瘀攀渀 洀漀爀攀 搀椀昀昀椀挀甀氀琀 琀漀 渀愀瘀椀最愀琀攀⸀㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀倀爀漀戀氀攀洀 ⌀㜀 ⴀ 䠀漀眀 挀愀渀 礀漀甀 挀愀氀氀 愀 爀椀搀攀 愀 ∀䘀愀洀椀氀礀∀ 䌀漀愀猀琀攀爀 眀栀攀渀 礀漀甀 栀愀瘀攀 椀琀 爀攀猀琀爀椀挀琀攀搀 琀漀 爀椀搀攀爀猀 戀攀琀眀攀攀渀 㐀㠀∀ 愀渀搀 㘀 ∀㼀 圀栀愀琀 洀攀洀戀攀爀猀 漀昀 愀 昀愀洀椀氀礀 搀漀 礀漀甀 欀渀漀眀 琀栀愀琀 愀爀攀 䄀䰀䰀 戀攀琀眀攀攀渀 㐀 愀渀搀 㔀 昀攀攀琀 琀愀氀氀㼀 䄀渀搀 䤀✀洀 琀愀氀欀椀渀最 愀戀漀甀琀 刀漀愀搀爀甀渀渀攀爀 䔀砀瀀爀攀猀猀⸀ 䄀 猀漀 挀愀氀氀攀搀 昀愀洀椀氀礀 挀漀愀猀琀攀爀⸀㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀倀爀漀戀氀攀洀 ⌀㠀 ⴀ 圀栀礀 爀甀渀 愀 ㌀ 琀爀愀椀渀 漀瀀攀爀愀琀椀漀渀 眀栀攀渀 琀栀攀 漀瀀攀爀愀琀漀爀猀 栀愀瘀攀 琀栀攀 琀爀愀椀渀猀 猀琀愀挀欀攀搀 洀漀猀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 琀椀洀攀㼀㰀戀爀㸀㰀戀爀㸀匀漀 愀猀 礀漀甀 挀愀渀 猀攀攀 匀䘀伀 栀愀猀 愀氀漀琀 琀漀 氀攀愀爀渀⸀ 䤀 栀漀瀀攀 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀礀 眀椀氀氀 挀氀攀愀渀 甀瀀 琀栀攀椀爀 愀挀琀 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 琀栀攀礀 搀漀 栀愀瘀攀 猀漀洀攀 最漀漀搀 爀椀搀攀猀⸀㰀戀爀㸀ⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀ㰀戀爀㸀䄀椀渀琀 椀琀 渀攀愀琀 琀漀 戀攀 昀氀漀愀琀椀渀最 椀渀 礀漀甀爀 猀攀愀琀㼀ഀഀഀ ⨀⨀⨀ 吀栀椀猀 瀀漀猀琀 眀愀猀 攀搀椀琀攀搀 戀礀 䴀愀砀䄀椀爀吀椀洀攀 漀渀 㔀⼀㌀ ⼀㈀ ⸀ ⨀⨀⨀
I feel your pain. I've had the same experiences and it's disappointing when you're surrounded by shiny new B&M, CCI and Intamin rides.
I would like to think that it's not a universal Six Flags thing, because Darien Lake wasn't that bad last year (though running one train on Superman with an hour wait is fairly irritating). The park formerly known as Geauga Lake has a long history of this kind of indifference dating back well before the Premier Parks purchase. I get the impression that they have no corporate QA program, which is surprising given the properties (WB 'toons and DC Comics) that they license.
Here's hoping they get a surprise visit from the corporate office and the heads start to roll!
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
I would like to think that it's not a universal Six Flags thing, because Darien Lake wasn't that bad last year (though running one train on Superman with an hour wait is fairly irritating). The park formerly known as Geauga Lake has a long history of this kind of indifference dating back well before the Premier Parks purchase. I get the impression that they have no corporate QA program, which is surprising given the properties (WB 'toons and DC Comics) that they license.
Here's hoping they get a surprise visit from the corporate office and the heads start to roll!
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
In all fairness, I've noticed several of the problems at Cedar Point as well, particularly the vandalism, foul language, smoking in the queue, loitering, and line jumping. This was brought into glaring relief when the Teenage Horde From Outer Space invaded the Point a week ago.
The big difference between CP and other big parks, such as PKI and SFO, is the attitude of their ride ops. CP ride crews are taught very early on that Capacity Is King. Fast dispatch times increase line movement, *increase customer satisfaction*, increase a park's total capacity, and allow customers to spend less time in queues and more time in the park (and buying things). And dispatch times there never flag, whether there are 5,000 or 50,000 people in the park. Full capacity is almost always honored, which leaves a very good taste in one's mouth if one is lucky enough to be there on a low-crowd day.
CP learned this a long time ago. PKI has never, and probably will never, learn it. Six Flags in general has had a very hit-or-miss policy about rideop attitude, but it's still better, in many cases, then Paramount.
The big difference between CP and other big parks, such as PKI and SFO, is the attitude of their ride ops. CP ride crews are taught very early on that Capacity Is King. Fast dispatch times increase line movement, *increase customer satisfaction*, increase a park's total capacity, and allow customers to spend less time in queues and more time in the park (and buying things). And dispatch times there never flag, whether there are 5,000 or 50,000 people in the park. Full capacity is almost always honored, which leaves a very good taste in one's mouth if one is lucky enough to be there on a low-crowd day.
CP learned this a long time ago. PKI has never, and probably will never, learn it. Six Flags in general has had a very hit-or-miss policy about rideop attitude, but it's still better, in many cases, then Paramount.
Jeff,
I will agree with you about the differences in the various Six Flags Parks. These problems were much more predominant at SFO than at SFGrAm. But then again, I didn't have to walk thru a metal detector at SFO. I just hope that SFO gets their you know what together, and soon. I really enjoy the rides and the general appearance of the park but it is quickly deteriorating.
By the way, I think you will enjoy the rides at SFGrAm when you go there. Raging Bull and Viper are awesome coasters. And RB has some of the most comfortable seats found on any coaster and the airtime is incredible!! I personally think the seats on RB are more comfortable than Millennium Force but then I also have very long legs. I am usually "stuffed" into most trains.
And Arch, while no park can eliminate all of these problems, CP far and away does much more to actively deter these kinds of activities from taking place at all. All of the problems that I mentioned at SFO happened within 3 hours of walking in the park. Pretty sad, don't you think?
I was at CP last friday for a day of full day of fun but yet I only saw a small fraction of these problems actually take place. Also know that the park was fairly full. And of course the CP ride ops did a fantastic job of not only doing their job well but also showed that they had fun doing it.
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Aint it neat to be floating in your seat? *** This post was edited by MaxAirTime on 5/30/2000. ***
I will agree with you about the differences in the various Six Flags Parks. These problems were much more predominant at SFO than at SFGrAm. But then again, I didn't have to walk thru a metal detector at SFO. I just hope that SFO gets their you know what together, and soon. I really enjoy the rides and the general appearance of the park but it is quickly deteriorating.
By the way, I think you will enjoy the rides at SFGrAm when you go there. Raging Bull and Viper are awesome coasters. And RB has some of the most comfortable seats found on any coaster and the airtime is incredible!! I personally think the seats on RB are more comfortable than Millennium Force but then I also have very long legs. I am usually "stuffed" into most trains.
And Arch, while no park can eliminate all of these problems, CP far and away does much more to actively deter these kinds of activities from taking place at all. All of the problems that I mentioned at SFO happened within 3 hours of walking in the park. Pretty sad, don't you think?
I was at CP last friday for a day of full day of fun but yet I only saw a small fraction of these problems actually take place. Also know that the park was fairly full. And of course the CP ride ops did a fantastic job of not only doing their job well but also showed that they had fun doing it.
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Aint it neat to be floating in your seat? *** This post was edited by MaxAirTime on 5/30/2000. ***
Jeff: I brought up Cedar Point because a) SFO is also an Northern Ohio park and CP's closest thing to direct competition now, and b) because it's pretty much the standard bearer, at least to me.
MaxAirTime: Yes, I do agree, CP does at least make a conscious effort to supress guest stupidity. It's really a shame that all that money was poured into basically rebuilding Geauga Lake, but that they skimped on competent staff, particularly security. If they really want to bring attendance up to the level of their other parks, they better deal with the crowds' misbehavior in a hurry. It's that or people, once they experience the new rides, won't be quick to be repeat customers.
Course, if certain groups of people (most notably teenagers, but many adults as well) didn't insist on acting like poster children for population control, park visits would be more enjoyable anyway. But that's a topic for another thread. *** This post was edited by ArchTeryx on 5/31/2000. ***
MaxAirTime: Yes, I do agree, CP does at least make a conscious effort to supress guest stupidity. It's really a shame that all that money was poured into basically rebuilding Geauga Lake, but that they skimped on competent staff, particularly security. If they really want to bring attendance up to the level of their other parks, they better deal with the crowds' misbehavior in a hurry. It's that or people, once they experience the new rides, won't be quick to be repeat customers.
Course, if certain groups of people (most notably teenagers, but many adults as well) didn't insist on acting like poster children for population control, park visits would be more enjoyable anyway. But that's a topic for another thread. *** This post was edited by ArchTeryx on 5/31/2000. ***
OK Yambo, Lets say it is Freshman troubles. But then they shouldn't be charging Senior rates for admission. Its funny, I hear alot of excuses being made (some valid, some not) as to why the park continues to have operational problems. But I haven't heard one mention of getting any kind of refund on admission for poor operations. And I don't see SFO ready to hand them out.
This has been my driving force as to why I get so irritated with the excuses. Don't get me wrong. I understand that a park is going to experience it share of headaches and stubbed toes along the way, but when it happens on a such a frequent basis, the excuses get old when they appear to be taking no corrective action. But yet they continue to charge the going rate (in comparison to other parks). If they are going to continue to do this, then my options are simple. Either quit going altogether or shut up and continue to fork out my money. The truth of the matter is that I would like to see SFO become another great park. I enjoy the rides there and its the closest to home. And I enjoy going to all amusement parks. But by paying my admission, I do expect a certain level or service. I do believe in getting value for my dollar spent. If they continue to come up short, then I know where my dollar will get a better value.
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Aint it neat to be floating in your seat?
This has been my driving force as to why I get so irritated with the excuses. Don't get me wrong. I understand that a park is going to experience it share of headaches and stubbed toes along the way, but when it happens on a such a frequent basis, the excuses get old when they appear to be taking no corrective action. But yet they continue to charge the going rate (in comparison to other parks). If they are going to continue to do this, then my options are simple. Either quit going altogether or shut up and continue to fork out my money. The truth of the matter is that I would like to see SFO become another great park. I enjoy the rides there and its the closest to home. And I enjoy going to all amusement parks. But by paying my admission, I do expect a certain level or service. I do believe in getting value for my dollar spent. If they continue to come up short, then I know where my dollar will get a better value.
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Aint it neat to be floating in your seat?
max air time, those problems are not enough to get a refund.As I will say again and again I am now not talking about SFO but astroworld.But a couple of years ago my dad and I had a visit to astroworld. We waited in line for an hour and when we get to the front a person with a broken leg gets to ride the ride over and over again for 5 rides( not exagerating).The point is my dad was dying in that line, literally, he had tumer in his brain killing him and he waited in that line for an hour.Can you immagine that a person with a broken leg gets to ride it over and over again while you are dying. Well we ended up getting a pass to walk through the exit on everyride without waiting. But we got that through big time complaining. I mean going to the manager and cussing hem out continuously,ect. Im not saying to cuss thats that a bit overboard in this situation. But to complain like youve never complained before. That is the key in which I know for a fact.
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