SFWoA- 6/20
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Overall it was an OK day at an OK park. I went with three of my non-enthusiast friends. We got to the park at 9:30 am and quickly headed towards X-Flight, we waited for them to open the pathways and we were off. We were on the first train of the day in the front row.
We were very confused going into the queue because there were too many ways to get up into the station, none of them were really blocked off, and the queue area is just a big open space... anyways the ride was great. It was my first flying coaster, and it was pretty sweet. I found it to be pretty smooth, and intense (especially in the loop). Later in the day we went on it two more times once in the front and once in the back. Both waits were around what seemed like 30 minutes due to slow loading, and one train operation.
After X-Flight we went to Superman. I have already been on Wicked Twister so I knew what to expect. Superman is a good ride (especially with only a one train wait), and I liked the unexpected launch, but the ride seemed lacking.... The holding break was a unique element, but nothing to write home about. We rode it twice but all agreed that WT was the definate winner.
Next, we tried to go on Mind Eraser but it was down, so we headed on over to Serial Thriller. This was my first SLC and I sat in the front row (One train wait). I got my restraint to a "comfortable" position, until the ride-op came around and completely stapled me in to the point to where I yelled out in pain. I had no room to move, almost not enough room to breath, but she did not care.... The ride started, and I would have really enjoyed it if I wasn't in extreme pain the entire time. The layout was pretty cool, forces were great, and those leg choppers.... needed to be a little bit longer, and roomier... the other people in my party did not like it, and said it was "too compact." I did like the setting however.
Next we went on to Batman (my first floorless). We had a two train wait for the front seat. I commended the ride ops for noticing that they were stacking the two trains, and actually working faster. The ride was great. It seemed a lot taller than it actually is. The first drop is definately meant to be experienced in the back. The loop had good Gs and so did the other parts of the ride. I enjoyed the drop of the mid-course brakes and the last ground level turn, and especially the hop up into the breaks while in the front seat. All in all this was everybody elses favorite ride in the park we ended up going on it four times, all with very short waits.
After Batman, we (I) noticed that Villain was not yet open, so we went to Raging Wolf Bobs. Not too much to say about this coaster since I only rode it once. That was enough for me. The layout was good, but something is horribly wrong with this ride. Maybe the track, probably the trains. It had one train operation, and a two train wait. Tied for my least favorite coaster at the park.
Next, we took a little hike over to Sea World (or wild life side, whatever.) We first stopped into see the sharks, which were pretty cool. The moving walkway wasn't moving, but the moving walkway recording was, telling you to be careful when you stepped off of the walkway. We then tried to go on Pirates 4D, and Mission Bermuda, but Pirates didn't start for another hour (1230 show, but it was 1140), and Mission Bermuda was "temporarily closed". Quick question, what is Pirates 4D? Is it an action show, or is it a 3D movie with water effects?
We stopped at the dolphin exhibit where my friends girlfriend felt very sick, and she wanted to rest for a while, so me and my other friend decided we would get lunch and meet them back around the Villain at 3:00. We were now in search for a restaurant. Mandarin Buffet was the winner. Thanks for the heads up to somebody here at Cbuzz for pointing that out. I though it was great. There was a great selection of authentic food, even crab legs. Very filling, and I especially enjoyed playing with the "High Fibre Jello" catfish.. lol.
We then hit the ferry to the other side of the park. First stop was X-flight (30 minute wait). Next stop was Superman (one train wait). Then we went to Big Dipper. One train operation and a three train wait wasnt too fun. My legs are so long that they touched the front of the car, and I was forced to sit straight up. The ride would have been fun if it wasnt for the jarring that occured at the bottom of each drop. The airtime was phenomenal though, many unexpected drops, and a pretty long ride. However, I left the ride with a headache, and turned out to be tied with RWB in my book.
We then headed off towards Villain. Very first CCI for me. There was a one train wait with two train operation. However it seemed much longer. When we were suppose to be getting on, the employees were loudly arguing about how hot the were, who should drive the ride, and who gets to go on break next. Literally five minutes later after everybody in the station had had enough the opened the gates and let everybody on. A kid behind me asked the ride op if she was riding on this train because she was standing in his seat, and she went off on the kid. Needless to say she was the first one to go on break. The ride was great, but I knew it was meant to be ridden in the back. I was suprised to see the relentless speed, and numerous steep drops. Mega laterals, great airtime, definately my favorite ride in the park. (Number 2 woodie, after WildCat @ HP)
Next, we hit Villain again in the back and in the middle, went on Batman two more times, hit X-Flight in the back (Its the place to be for that loop, wow), and sat down. The time was 4:55 pm. And everybody was ready to go, we were bored. We already did everything, and the whole park just seemed to lack enthusiasm. My friends (remember, non-enthusiasts) even noticed that this park didn't focus on capacity, and that the employees were not professional. We all had a good time, but won't come back until they get a new big ride (which looks to be next year, but I didn't tell them about a hyper.)
All in all, I wasn't disappointed, but I wasn't all too thrilled. I enjoyed a new park (for me), and realize that it has a lot of areas that it can improve in. I feel they need more big thrill rides...a big Intamin hyper and drop tower would be nice. I had an OK day, at an OK park, that one train operation was killing me.
Ugh... you Villain experience is exactly the kind of thing that bothers me at that park. Even when it isn't that crowded, I still like to be served quickly. It's not any different than going to buy "fast food" at BK and waiting ten minutes to get it. I hate that feeling!
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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"
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I must be missing something on Villain. I've been to SFWoA twice with six total rides on Villain (front and back). And everytime I've had the same experience: slow, little air, a train that seemed to be fighting itself around every turn and that squeaked so bad my ears hurt.
Maybe I'm just unlucky. :(
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Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
Favorite Wood: Viper(SFGAm), Legend (HW)
Favorite Steel: MF (CP), Mamba (WoF)
No, you're a victim to a ride that isn't taken care of. I'll never forget my first ride on media day. I was absolutely blown away. It was so insane, start to finish. By last year, it had changed quite a bit, with some really nasty spots in the track that bled off enough speed to make the rest of the ride far more tame.
By the last few weekends last year, it ran like crap. I mean, it was really a shadow of its former self. Imagine, if you would, the ride in Holiday World's hands... I promise you it would be one of your favorite woodies anywhere.
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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"
Jeff, weights have recently been added to the silver and red train, now people say it runs just like it did opening day 2000, and that it goes through the course 8 secs faster.
It seems like you had a wonderful time but you still say it was an ok time. Oh well.
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Six Flags Worlds of Adventure Online
Team NL
NITRO ~ The most EXPLOSIVE coaster on the planet!
Jeff said:
"No, you're a victim to a ride that isn't taken care of. I'll never forget my first ride on media day. I was absolutely blown away. It was so insane, start to finish. By last year, it had changed quite a bit, with some really nasty spots in the track that bled off enough speed to make the rest of the ride far more tame.
"
This is where I will have to respectfully disagree with Jeff. On the contrary SFWoA takes MUCH care of their wooden coasters. For what they were when they opened, and what they bought from the old GL era, they have done many nice things to their wooden coasters. Could they do more? Yes. But all parks could (ie Mean Streak). They have numerous times replaced TONS of track on Big Dipper, painted big dipper, painted Raging Wolf Bobs, replaced track also on this ride. Replaced the bad transition on Villain (after the first drop into the pull up). They have mechanics that have been working on Villain's trains day in and out trying to get the right weight on them to give us the enthusiasts and the guests the great ride that Villain is made for. It's not like they just just built it and tighten a few bolts every now and then. I personally have found some of the top wooden roller coasters in the world to be SF owned. So in short, I do believe SFWoA takes good care of their coasters and is well aware of what they have and what they need to do in the future
Oh, and the Pirates 4-D is a movie with a lot of effects that "enhance the movie" ie. water, rumble seats, fog, etc. Rumor has it Mission Bermuda Triagle might get a new movie next year? I too got the impression that you had a good time but did have a few problems that gave you a bad outlook on the day. It should have never happened. But I know where that feeling can come from I had it happen up at CP this year to me and some friends. Glad you loved the Villain as it is giving some GREAT night rides this year! Enjoy ALL the parks!!
"The Future of Roller Coasters"
-RollerCoasterGod
http://OhioThemeParks.com
*** This post was edited by RollerCoasterGod on 6/21/2002. ***
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Six Flags Worlds of Adventure Online
Team NL
NITRO ~ The most EXPLOSIVE coaster on the planet!
Disagree all you want, Villain runs like crap. Weight has nothing to do with it. Not a single thing. I've been on that ride with two other people on media day and it kicked my ass start to finish. The problem is all about track care and friction. They're the same trains from the day it opened. If you're adding weight to the train you're not addressing the problem, you're making it worse. It's like putting weights on your skis to get over the rough spots on the run instead of the resort making more snow.
Don't take my word for it, take the word of a bona fide coaster engineer that would know. Just such a person has detailed problems for me and they're all track related.
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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"
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www.EverythingRollerCoaster.com
~I rode my first coaster June 2001 and since then I have ridden 43 different coasters!
*** This post was edited by CoasterCrazyOne on 6/22/2002. ***
I think the Villian is running better than it was last year but not as good as it was in its first year.
I wonder what it would be like with two PTC trains.
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Coaster Grotto - Save your Top 20 Coasters and Track Record Online!
Jeff said:
"Don't take my word for it, take the word of a bona fide coaster engineer that would know. Just such a person has detailed problems for me and they're all track related."
I have talked to CCI engineers (just yesterday as a matter of fact). Yes there is/was track problems. Like I said, SFWoA has fixed some and will continue to do so down the road. But as any engineer knows, trains can make or break a coaster also. Not to mention it's not very economical to start changing the track in the middle of the season and it's a lot easier to adjust the trains and wait for the off season.
As for beinga "Bona fide coaster engineer" give me 5 more months at AU and one BIG test and I will be So I do have quite a bit of experience. But nothing like those who have YEARS upon YEARS.
"The Future of Roller Coasters"
-RollerCoasterGod
http://OhioThemeParks.com
*** This post was edited by RollerCoasterGod on 6/22/2002. ***
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""To be the man, WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!, You got to beat the man""!!!
*** This post was edited by Chitown on 6/22/2002. ***
The Holiday World gurus fix and tweak track all season long. As soon as you start making excuses in the name of economics, you remind me just where the ride is and why it runs so poorly.
Bottom line: Holiday World CCI's: Run well all season. SFWoA CCI: Ran well the first few months, waiting for it to feel like it should.
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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"
You want an answer over what should be ideally done, over what can be realistically done. Both parks have diffrent 1 yr and 10 yr plans. Apples to oranges. They are both great rides and parks and each park has to deal with the coasters according to how they can address the situation.
Like I said before it can be done but it won't, at least not at this time. As the "excuse of economics" That's the way parks run. CP, SFWoA, Holiday World, etc. We might not like it, but that's the way it is.
-RollerCoasterGod
aka: One who is always up for a friendly debate.
*** This post was edited by RollerCoasterGod on 6/22/2002. ***
Jeff said:
"I mean, it was really a shadow of its former self."
Wow. I wish I could have experienced it in its prime, as it was probably insane. I rode for the first time last Monday and was blown away, as were the rest of the people I was with. We all agreed that Villain was our favorite ride at the park. I only noticed a little bit of screeching on one turn, and the speed was consistant up to the final break run.
*** This post was edited by chris on 6/22/2002. ***
I like the park better than some people since both of my trips I actually had a good time and wasn't nitpicky like several seem to be about the park. I've had worse times at a Cedar Fair park and a Universal park.
*** This post was edited by Koaster King on 6/22/2002. ***
Koaster King said:
I like the park better than some people since both of my trips I actually had a good time and wasn't nitpicky like several seem to be about the park.
*** This post was edited by Koaster King on 6/22/2002. ***
Have to agree with you there Koaster King. SF really cleaned up the park from the first year they bought it. My dad and I are both very happy about this. And also Villian is my number 1 wooden coaster.
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Enjoy your ride to the sun on the wings of Apollo's Chariot!
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SFWoA ATL in 2002!
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