SFWoA is a good park but needs something to give it a kick. All of the rides are fun but most not worth going on again. The Villian definanly has an exception though.(Note-I went to this park last year-2000)
Arrrival- My and my family entered on the seaworld side. In 2001, Six Flags bought Seaworld being that is right across the lake form Six Flags. We didn't know this so we were stuck for a half-an-hour trying to figure the place out. The map was no help and neither were the directions. Finally, me and my friend found how to get there. The trail seemed to go onand on until we ran into Raging Wolf Bobs.
After that we walked straight past RWB and went to double loop. The ride is ok and good to get warmed up on but is very short. Next we went to the villian. The ride is awesome and worth going on more than once. After that we headed towards the serial thriller. That ride gave me and my friend a headache. We decided not to go on it again. Next we went to the water park. We didn't do much but it was ok. Not much to brag about.
Next we went to the Batman ride. That ride was awesome to but not really worth going on again. After that we went on the big dipper. That ride is very unsafe. Being a small14 year old kid, the lap bar didn't even touch my lap. Sad, very sad.
The next hour or so me and my friend went on the villian and the double loop, alternating after every ride. Finally, it was the big moment:X-Flight. The line wasn't very long but it moved v-e-r-y slowly. Finally we got on the ride. When we flipped over at the top of the lift hill. I thought I was going to X-Fly out. I held on for dear life not letting go one.NOT ONCE! That was the end of the day, with the mile-long walking journey back to Sea World. What a Day!
Overall, the park needs some kind of speedy transportation around the park. There is a ferry but in the time you've wasted getting on, crossing the lake, and getting off, you've wasted a day.
The park also needs to make the Big Dipper safer. I know it's a classical wooden roller coaster but do you think six flags should get new cars for it or risk some little kid's first roller coaster ride. Huh, Huh?
I give the park a rating of 2.5/5. My reasons are stated above
Go back and ride X-Flight again, you'll like it more the second time. I was terrified on my first ride too, but after one ride, you realize you are not going to come out.
Also, how would they make Dipper safer?
Its perfectly fine.....
Good report, but they better never change the Big Dipper. Even though the cars are too small for someone my size to sit in comfortably, I wouldn't have it any other way. I seriously doubt that there was any risk of you flying out. The coaster has been around eighty years and I can not remember one accident on it (although I am sure that someone will come up with one). Its very safe. Lets hope they don't ruin this classic like CP nearly ruined Blue Streak by modifying the trains.
CHOCOLATE STARFISH said:
"After that we went on the big dipper. That ride is very unsafe. Being a small14 year old kid, the lap bar didn't even touch my lap. Sad, very sad.
(SNIP)
The park also needs to make the Big Dipper safer. I know it's a classical wooden roller coaster but do you think six flags should get new cars for it or risk some little kid's first roller coaster ride. Huh, Huh?"
Now, either this kid just wanted to hop on the bandwagon and find something to pick on @ SFWoA (but why would he want to do that?) or this goes to my arguement that the average park goer actually
likes individual restraints etc. All those things that you so-called "traditionalists" feel is disturbing your coaster riding...what a croc...
lata,
jeremy
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"Nobody writes about the planes that land." Steve Salerno
Washington Times 7-10-01
I thought this was the BEST Six Flags park outside of SFMM. Batman was clearly my fav floorless, those high-banked turning sections ROCK! The Big Dipper was a great old woodie, fantastic air, and I felt perfectly safe on it - although I'm not a small 14 y.o. anymore. S:UE was unique, fast, and scary (esp. on the twisted spike). X-Flight, as with all flying coasters and stand-ups, needs a second ride before you can truly feel comfortable with the restraint system.
And the Villain - the best wood-tracked steel-support coaster I've been on, fast and furious. Why anyone would want to re-ride the Double-Loop at that park is beyond me, though. The only ride there that disappointed me was RWB - that's the ONLY wooden coaster I didn't want to ride again, and I've been on quite a few.
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rollergator - intent on improving the "guest experience" - coming soon to a park near you
It is in your best interest to stay away from SFwoa. The park needs a major overhaul.
2Hostyl said:
"...or this goes to my arguement that the average park goer actually likes individual restraints etc. All those things that you so-called "traditionalists" feel is disturbing your coaster riding...what a croc..."
Right on brother... The alleged criteria that makes a "classic," and the changes made to some rides that go against that hardly distract me from enjoying those rides.
If they added seat dividers to Thunderbolt at Kennywood, would it "suck?" I think not. At least you could then ride solo.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
Like they said before, you just want to bash SFWoA. I mean, those lap bars are what make Big Dipper so good! The airtime is awesome! Many other coasters have lapbars just like this, and why aren't you bashing them? I don't mean to be coming down on you but your dising one of the best/classical wooden coasters around!
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This post was posted by Bubba, who is chillin' at the Villain!
Man, at least you actually got to do something at SFWoA! All I had time for was the RWB, BKF, and BD. I waited for two hours on X-Flight before finally giving up.
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http://expage.com/rollercoastersurvivor The ONLY website dedicated to Roller Coaster Survivor! Goliath is gone, and now it's time to vote off a wood coaster. Come vote for which one you want voted off! VOTE NOW!
I've never been to SFWoA. Does the Big Dipper have seatbelts?
I know that it has been stated in another discussion that PTC considers the seat belts to be the primary restraint, and not the lap bars. So, if there are seat belts, the ride should be pretty "safe." On the other hand, if there aren't seat belts, Six Flags should add them.
Hey are there any differences between -Flight and Batwing? Because i am constantly hearing about X-Flight's line always moving slowly, and SFA Batwing never seems to have that problem, (althought Batwing got stuck at the top of the lift hill once, i saw it)
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The only truly great roller coaster: Six Flags America's Superman Ride of Steel
Alpengeist,
THey are the exact same ride. It is the Ops.
Yes, I am taking a cheap shot, as a rideop on X-Flight left the computer company I work at, and we miss him. :)
Scotty
The park does need something to give it that kick! and that would be a gigga coaster of course - SFWOA is a nice family park given that they have a sea life/water/and ride side, also what other park has all that? and you don't have to pay any additional money to do all (3) but the fact still remains they need a tall coaster that'll do it just wait until next year
HOW WAS YOUR RIDE
ALP/BAT -
There the same coaster I've been to SFA and SFWOA is my home park and the only difference is the color
O ok. Does anyone think that the scenery might make any difference? i.e. the trees around batwing
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The only truly great roller coaster: Six Flags America's Superman Ride of Steel
I know the kick that SFWoA needs, how about, park operations! I wish that SFWoA could get their act together, trash, line jumpers, transportation together before the add new coasters. If SFWoA could run all of their coasters at full capacity and go a day without a coaster breaking down, and open the rides when the park opens, then it would be awesome. Don't worry man, the Big Dipper is safe.
(This post was made only based off of the gathered opinions of other park goers, not my own opinion.Not been there yet, in two weeks.)
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CDNSN
Scotty said:
It is the Ops.
I'm an X-Flight ride op and its not us, it's the people because they don't take off their glasses, hats, fanny packs etc. until one of us comes and tells them to.
Which is why other parks have the gate jockey at the start of the queue telling people to secure the stuff, or in some more strong-armed places not to bring the stuff in the queue period.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"From the global village... in the age of communication!"
The BD is totally safe. I remember being about 6 and riding this coaster, not once did I fall out, so your statement was total BS.
Seems to me he wanted to do the "popular" thing and bash WoA. That's ok though, since it means shorter lines for me!
One thing I can't figure out is that for all the people that bash WoA, they keep going back. Must be something in the water.;)
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"Villain-Once You Drop, The Fun Don't Stop!"~SFWoA Rules In 2001~X Marks The Spot In 2001(SFWoA)~With SFWoA ANYTHING Is Possible!
Jeff said:
The alleged criteria that makes a "classic," and the changes made to some rides that go against that hardly distract me from enjoying those rides.
If they added seat dividers to Thunderbolt at Kennywood, would it "suck?" I think not. At least you could then ride solo.
The question is not whether they would "suck" as you so eloquently put it. It is whether they are as enjoyable as they were before the "butchering" In the one example I know of, Blue Streak, the answer is sadly no, not nearly as enjoyable. Plus those head rests look ridiculous on taht classic coaster! Blue Streak is proof that even the almighty CP has, does, and will make mistakes. I wouldnt complain if they added seatbelts to the Big Dipper but i don't think they are needed, either. Hopefully Six Flags will be smart enough to protect the only ACE classic in its entire chain. (fingers crossed)
Grant