Well, if you are really into flat rides, go to Fiesta, Astroworld, well, really lacks in the flat ride department. If you want coasters to ride, go to Astroworld. Fiesta doesn't really have a great coaster lineup to choose from, as of right now. Fiesta, with a Boomerang, Poltergeist, a rough 2 year old Beemer, and well, a RCCA woodie.
Astroworld, well has the one of the smoothest TOGO's in North America, a world class woodie, one of Intamin's first stand-ups, that in my eyes, runs pretty well, for being 15 years old. A Flywheel Schwarzkopf Shuttle loop, that is still running at full speed, with no brakeing while you are on the ride. A Schwarzkopf Looping Star, that still runs great. A Vekoma SLC, well, for an SLC, its somewhat smooth. Mayan Mindbender, don't really bother with this one, unless it starts to thunder, and shut down the rides, but Mayan Mindbender stays open during lightning. Just don't get your hopes up on it, since it really isn't anything fancy. Serpent, a kiddie coaster, and Texas Tornado, but that hasn't operated in 2 years.
Bottom line: if you want coasters, go to Astroworld. For flats, Fiesta Texas.
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Nessy: Ride of Steel
Webmaster of Digital Coaster - http://digital-coaster.com
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I got kicked off, but I'm back!
But if you want to RIDE, I'd go with Astroworld. Now granted, we went in the spring so crowds were light and temperatures great. I'm sure being hot and crowded makes a difference. But SFAW had the most caring folks working there out of all the parks. And I could have spent a day just riding Greezed Lighting, UltraTwister and Texas Cyclone (a top 10 woodie for me). For someone that claims to be an "enthusiast' and only has time for one, I think that SFAW is the more unique experience.
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"To get into this head of mine, would take a monkey-wrench, and a lot of wine" Res How I Do
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Superman: Krypton Coaster----Just Ride It
1.) Millennium Force 2.) Superman: Krypton Coaster 3.) Steel Eel 4.) Raptor 5.) Mantis
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"You can't kill what's stronger than death" - Zakk Wylde
Go to Astroworld. It's not a pretty or clean park, but neither is the city of Houston. Ok it's a flat city without much greenery and dirty. Hey I live here I should know.
But it does have coasters and plenty of them. If you want to debate and talk about this coaster is bad because...... or that coaster is old and used .....and ........then waste your time doing so, becasue that's just the way it is, and it's not going to change.
But if you are like me and just enjoy the thrilll of a good ride without being over analytical and critical , you will have a great time. No there are no height records. No there are no speed records. Sorry but all we have is 9 coaster without records for your enjoyment.
As far as the layout it's really easy. It a circle. Very easy just follow the path around. A detour to your circle will be Batman the Escape and Greazed Lighting. Walk to them then walk back to the circle and continue around.
Astoworld aint Disney true , but it's not as bad as many claim it to be.
Go have fun ride the ride and have a great time, and definately go see the show called " Industrial Movement". It's the best show I have ever seen at any Six Flag's.
*** This post was edited by Markieb on 8/12/2002. ***
Fiesta Texas has the flats and the shows. Fiesta Texas has a very large selection of flats and if you like flats, you should go there. FT has a couple of coasters that I would recommend, but they also have many good shows, so if you're not going to ride coasters, go there.
However, if you are going just to ride coasters, I'd pick AstroWorld. They have 9 coasters, 6 of which I would recommend. Compared to Fiesta Texas, AstroWorld is lacking in the scenery department, but if you're only there to ride coasters, AstroWorld is the better choice. AW has a couple of good flats and a good show or 2.
Nessy: ROS said:
a rough 2 year old Beemer,
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What Krypton Coaster did you ride? It was smooth as glass when I rode it.
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Top 5 steel: 1)S:UF, 2)S:ROS(SFA), 3)Alpen.BGW) 4)AC(BGW)5)Hypersonic; wood 1)Rampage, 2)Roar SFA, 3)Grizzly PKD, 4)G Cyclone SFOG, 5)Wild One SFA
CCI 1992-2002, 36 rides.
Never been to Astroworld so my opinion might be worthless but I had the opportunity to spend about 6 hours at Fiesta Texas last fall and I can't wait to go back. It's a beautiful park, great themeing, stunning location, very good flats. Although the park was quite crowded, it was clean and the guests and ride ops were pleasant.
SKC remains my only floorless but is at the top of my favorite steel list and, obviously, my favorite B&M. I would love to give Poltergeist another shot without the OTSR's. The Rattler is a disaster, IMO, at the bottom of my woodie list - by far.
kRaXLeRidAh said:
How about ditch both and head over to the one in Arlington?
I think that's the best suggestion yet! SFOT it is...
But if SFOT isn't a possibility, I'd have to say SFFT hands down. SFAW is an icon of poor park management. Not all of the rides will be running and there will be very long lines for most, if not all, of them. SFFT, on the other hand, has a reputation for good theming and management as well as great rides. But check out some recent trip reports for more info (if you haven't already), they don't leave much room for doubt on which park is worth the time and which one is a waste of gas to drive to.
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PLEASE READ: This post wasn't meant to offend or anger anyone; I apologize in advance if it does. So please don't post a reply just to rant about it. :)
How DARE you even ask this question? :) To put Astroworld and Fiesta Texas in the same question is a great embarrassment to Fiesta Texas.
And I'm only half kidding.
As yourself if you'd rather go to a park who's signature rides are a Vekoma SLC, Intamin Stand-up (bad), and a bunch of rides that may, or may not, actually work. Maybe you'd rather ride a B&M floorless coaster, Premier mad cobra (lap bars at no extra charge) and the best drop ride at any Six Flags park. (Scream is an S&S combo tower. Both a shot, and a drop, in the same SEQUENCE!)
I'm done venting. Go to San Antonio. See that many rides do not an excellent park make.
That said I just returned from Astroworld this weekend and I have to say that it gets a bum rap. I went in expecting the worst and was pleasantly surprised. The only ride that wasn't operating was TT. Every other coaster was operating with multiple trains. The park was clean and the staff was friendly. Texas Cyclone is the best woodie I have ever rode, B:TE was rough (really rough) but exciting, Greazed Lightning was awesome, and the other coasters weren't half bad. This park has the most shade of the Texas parks which isn't a bad thing considering the heat. I have a trip report posted from our trip on Saturday for more info.
SFoT, while the park I visit the most, isn't all that it is hyped up to be. The coaster selection is the best of the bunch. Mr. Freeze is just awesome with lap bars. Titan is a decent hyper but just doesn't do it for me. Shockwave is a great Schwarzkopf double looper, and I like Texas Giant on one of its good days. TG really has different moods, when it's good it is great, but when it's bad it is terrible. I find SFoT the hardest of the parks to escape the heat in, and usually the most crowded. Twice this year I have done "lunch" the ride, or you would think it was when you were queued up for an hour and fifteen minutes to be served standard theme park food. If you want to get in the most rides possible this isn't the park.
Enigma13 said:
That said I just returned from Astroworld this weekend and I have to say that it gets a bum rap. I went in expecting the worst and was pleasantly surprised. The only ride that wasn't operating was TT.
That's pretty typical. I bet I have been about 20 times this year and only 3 of those times was a ride down beside Tornado. We all know that mechanical breakdowns do happen. He even some of the world class coasters have off days.
One thing I will promise you! SFOT will be extremely crowded regardless of what day you go. If you go to Astoworld during the week it will be a pleasantly smaller crowd. Just go right when they open and you can have everything rode by 3:00 if you don't putt around.
Make sure to take advantage of the FREE fast pass sytem and you will make you day even more enjoyable.
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1. MForce 2. Volcano 3. S:Ros(new england)
No, I think SFKK sitll holds that title. I wasnt planning on making this available here, but if you all want to know how I *really* felt about the two parks you can read my reviews: SFAW ( http://zerognetwork.com/cgi-bin/ikon/ikonboard.cgi?s=3d5916d12602ffff;act=ST;f=7;t=198 ), SFFT ( http://zerognetwork.com/cgi-bin/ikon/ikonboard.cgi?s=3d5916d12602ffff;act=ST;f=7;t=426 ), both of which are overwhelmingly positive.
toodles,
jeremy
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"To get inside this head of mine, would take a monkey-wrench, and a lot of wine" Res How I Do
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