SFStL help

Turns out that our HWN trip got extended a couple days because my husband has work in Evansville on Monday, so we decided to trek over to SF on Sunday. It's been years since I was there (they still had their parachute drop) and Steve and Jordan have never been.

Our focus, of course, will be the coasters but I know they have some other rides we shouldn't miss, Scooby Doo being one. For those of you who have been there or call this your home park, do you think a FlashPass would be warranted on a Sunday and what other rides are not to be missed?

Any tips are welcome. Thanks in advance.
Lori

No worries, Lori. It should be a good time to visit.

I personally like there Chance Falling Star. It's in the Illinois section, and it's called Rush Street Flyer. They have an Evolution called Xcalibur, but that is boring to me. It's like an Enterprise that goes completely around. You might want to go on that. Other than those two, I don't see what other flats would interest you.

Other flats include a Yo-Yo (swings), bumper cars, scrambler, log ride, white water rafting ride, Intamin Generation Drop Tower 2, Enterprise, Carousel, Scooby Doo (as you said), and a back and forth dry boat ride themed to Joker, Antique Cars, and a huge ferris wheel.

I really like Screamin' Eagle, Mr. Freeze, and the River King Mine Train. Enjoy, and have fun. Mr. Freeze, or Tony Hawk would be the smartest to run to first. Most likely, Tony Hawk would be the better choice because it's a mouse.

SFSTL's Scooby-Doo is the best of the Sally Darkride shooters I've been on. It has all the same scenery as the other Scooby-Doo's, but I liked the little boats you ride in and the course was better.

I personally liked Xcalibur quite a lot. It's not overly exciting--and that's a very good thing, but the g-forces are fairly strong. My friend said it's been tamed down since its Great Adventure days when it ran a longer program that would make many a person revisit their lunch. It doesn't stop at the top anymore which is where the ride got to many a Gadv. rider. I wouldn't know as it was never open when I would visit! It's a very strange ride to say the least.

Their backwarrds Batman is probably the tamest of the bunch that I've been on (Gadv., Gam, SWSanAntonio, SFOT being the others) if that's ever been an issue for you.

Superman Tower of Power is very cool. The former Dungeon Drop from Astroworld breathes new life, and hopefully you can get a seat facing the inside of the park. It's a very nice view from up on the hill. One of the unusual things about it is that you never quite know when your car is going to fall.

Spinout--a back and forth dry boat ride? In my neck of the woods, it's a called a pirate ship.

And don't forget about my personal favorite, The Boss. ;)

IMO, All of the Batmen inverts are on at least 10. Some seem to go to 11, but to call SFStL's one of the tame ones is kind of silly.

Tame or not it's one of the few that are mirror images. I was so used to the "normal" versions that riding SFStL's version made it all feel new again.

To answer the flashpass question. No needs at all, sunday's at the park on a weekend before normal operations (and before schools are out) is typically pretty slow. If there is excellent weather, the crowds might peak up a little bit. But nothing to worry about.

The only times that a flashpass is really warrented at SFSTL is on the bring-a-friend for free days, concert days, and other "special" days which draw thousands.

Mamoosh and AV, I hope you didn't think that I was insulting their Batman, or that I was insinuating that it was not up to snuff. I was just saying that compared to say Great Adventure's Batman--which feels like you're being pile-driven through your seat at times and can produce gray-outs-- it was much more relaxing. I hope that makes sense.

Acoustic Viscosity, I know I'll never forget your personal favorite, but that's a dead horse I beat last year. All I'll say is that if you hate really rough wooden coasters and Gerstlauer trains, The Boss is not for you.

Not at all, Ifan ;)

Skip Ninja unless you like your brain scrambled

Chuck

Ride Ninja for the headchopper.

Lori's gonna love The Boss. ;)

^In other words, Matt knows I'm not going to like it but he also knows that I'm not going to pass it up either. He knows how much I love...er...loath G trains.

Chuck, I figured Ninja was going to be a headbanger, but I'll ride it once. Jordan even said "If it's like Ninja at SFoG, I'm not riding it. I did not like that ride. Banged my head too much" Gotta love it when an 8 year old knows how crappy Vekomas can be, hehe.

Between the Boss and Ninja, I'll definitely have my migraine medicine with me.

I didn't ride Xcalibur when it was at SFGAdv so I'm looking forward to riding it. I'll also have my Dramamine on hand for that ride.

It's good to hear that we won't need to worry about FlashPass. Thanks for all the input.

Lori

The only "comparably intense" rides that I've ridden with G-trains - Villain and HC5. Thankfully, Boss is a little more of the former, a little less of the latter.

DO wait for the front, Lori, it really is a remarkable ride (and the front's as smooth as it gets) - shame about those trains though... ;)

I will be there on Saturday (first time) and the first coaster I ride will be #150.

Now what should I make #150?

Whichever one you see first. If you get there at opening, you might want to make a run to the spinner since it's limited capacity and the new ride everyone will want to try.

^

too funny, actually the park opens a hour early for season pass holders on Saturday so that should be very nice

I don't like to plan the order of rides at a park or my track record. I generally just ride them as I see them or go to whatever I'm anxious to ride first, as long as the line looks reasonable. It may not be an efficient way to "do" a park, but I'm there to have fun and leaving things to chance is part of the fun. However, if there is a coaster I want to ride and it's prone to breakdowns, I may make a priority to ride it first just in case it's not operational later.

Somehow me and Rob got 40 rides on Boss and didn't have any thigh bruising.

Lori, I had ridden Orient Express the day before Ninja and my comment after Ninja was that Toomer was trying to kill me. Little did I know it was Vekoma as it runs Arrow trains.

Chuck

The one thing that I particularly enjoy about SFSTL is that it is a park you really can relax at, and take your time strolling around. You can easily pass up attractions as it will only take 5-10 minutes to get to the other side of the park. The lines are always very short (in comparision to mega parks like CP or SFGAdv).

I particularly love the Boss, probably working there for 2 years on that ride specfically doesn't help though, haha. But definitly wait for the front. That ride still blows me away with the sheer power you feel in the front. The ride has been retracked some more this year and from what I have heard it has improved the ride a lot, I didn't get a chance to ride it yet this season, as I was there on opening day, but was only able to stay for a short period of time; been at college finishing up my semester ever since.

However I will be at the park doing my department training and doing general ride training, either on Tony Hawk or Mr. Freeze. If you are looking for me, I got a huge white-man fro, kinda hard to miss, heh heh.