Six Flags Great America announces Buccaneer Battle

^well, when I said "if it was operated efficiently" is was a big if. I haven't been to that park in many years to see how things go, but you're probably right. It still sounds like a great ride, although I'm not sure how a pirate theme fits into that little corner of the park!

Incidentally, yesterday was National Talk Like a Pirate Day. Haaaaargh!

Keep in mind that new rides tend to have longer lines, especially the first year. It is probably very difficult for a park to judge the popularity of a ride after it isn't new anymore. In saying that, why can't they be prepared for busier days in the future?

(Up to) 800 people per hour sucks at a large park whose daily attendance is probably about 30,000 per day average. This ride will be most popular when the weather is hot, and that's also when the park will be the busiest.

Why would SF want to have high capacity? High capacity would hurt flash pass sales.

Then maybe they should turn it into a straight up-charge attraction and be done with it.

If they don't fill every boat that will also reduce capacity. There probably will be many boats going out with 5-6 people instead of 8. Not every party in the park is going to be dad, mom and 2 kids.

Definitely out of theme where it is being placed. The overall theming of this park continues to become more hodge podge. I agree it would be better in the water park area where people are already wet!

It looks like the theming (although MAY be out of place in County Fair) looks AMAZING, as seen in the Six Flags Construction update site:

http://www.sixflags.com/greatAmerica/rides/BuccaneerBattleConstruct...pdate.aspx

Although the size of Buccaneer Battle is on a small scale, the theming and detail that's gone into this ride is GREAT and quite outstanding.

I think Great America made a great decision with this ride. Family friendly, it's got a strategy game built into it (scoring points on targets), and a great spectator attraction (in which they can also participate with water cannons).

I love how it even has "people dryers" at the exit of the attraction.

See the completed ride here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=78146&id=10583866355&page=3

I really hope this makes it into other Six Flags parks. The typical log flume, shoot-the-chutes, rapids rides are so mundane compared to something like this. This is totally the future of water rides!

I can't imagine the capacity on this thing is good.