Six Flags Magic Mountain announces Terminator: The Coaster

I'll go on record as saying that this is the dumbest licensing tie-in I've ever seen.

And it makes me giggle that even PR people can't figure out that "queue line" is redundant.

I think all movie tie-ins are idiotic. Once the movie has come and gone, the impact of the reference is lost and the park is left with an attraction with a lame name. The Hurler? How long did people care about Wayne's World? Five minutes? Italian Job? No one cared about that movie when it was out, and it hasn't exactly reached cult status since its release.

I think the idea is that the Terminator advertising team probably dumped a fair amount of cash into the coaster itself just to get the name. In these times, anything to help get a coaster built is fine by me.

But the Batman tie in seems to be lasting.

Rob Ascough said:
I think all movie tie-ins are idiotic.

Let's qualify that...(cough)Disney(cough)...

Anyway, I don't really like product tie-ins with things like stadiums or coasters...Pepsi Max? Qualcomm Stadium? I liked Jack Murphy better thank you very much.

I just want to say that it seems Six Flags has hit bottom with coaster name ideas! I mean I will concede that movie themed rides are awesome in some cases, but a WOODEN COASTER named "Terminator" ? Come on ?!?!?! If it were some new steel monster coaster, then by all means apply the name. But this is nearly as bad as Six Flags Fiesta Texas naming its 13 year old B&M inverted coaster "Goliath".

Also Im curious to know why Magic Mountain opted for a coaster with a SHORTER track length than Psyclone ? Im under the impression that whoever is in charge of ride operations is a bit on the clueless side. I am fairly confident that given the space in that area of the park, a coaster the size of El Toro would fit nicely back there. And anyone who has ever ridden El Toro will tell you that a coaster of that style would be a wicked addition to Magic Mountain's arsenal. El Toro is only an additional 1600 feet in length and it would certainly give Magic Mountain bragging rights to all wooden coasters in the area. A certain lil place in Buena Park, CA would no longer be able to boast about the Gh________er! Alas, though what do I know?? Im just a visitor and not an executive in the company....

Also, you have not ridden the coaster or experienced the on board audio or seen the lighting package they will use or seen what the station will look like...

The Batman ride made sense in terms of theme and execution. This is almost laughable if it deserved any of my attention.

By the way, looks like some nice spots of airtime will be had on this ride.

Coasterhound36 said:
I just want to say that it seems Six Flags has hit bottom with coaster name ideas!

Also Im curious to know why Magic Mountain opted for a coaster with a SHORTER track length than Psyclone?

Hit bottom? Nothing will ever hit bottom as long as Flight Deck is still around.

Also, in theory a shorter ride = more PPM. (Unless you're long enough to add additional trains, of course.)

Not only that, but SF is in no position to be shelling out "El Toro" type money right now.

This is a nice coaster addition with a weird theme. What else is new?

I don't know if I'd bring Batman into this conversation. Sure, there were Batman movies but that franchise existed long before Tim Burton's film made Batman wildly popular once again. The IP existed long before B&M started building inverted coasters. I'm sure this is splitting hairs but I think there is a distinction between a Batman coaster and a Terminator coaster... not that I really care since the ride looks awesome and I'm sure it will quickly end up being one of Magic Mountain's better rides.

I dunno. Just call me an optimist. I felt the same way when Magic Mountain opened SCREAM in 2003. A mere 45 feet of track would have given SCREAM the title for world's tallest floorless coaster and yet, Magic Mountain fell short. Now I will concede that SCREAM is my second favorite floorless coaster (and Ive ridden all but 3 in the world), but I think it could have been a bit better. I just think that if Magic Mountain is vying the top park in the chain it should take measures to do so.

Im not much of a fan of the name myself, but the Terminator series has had significant staying power, I mean it is 24 years old right now, with 3 movies made, 1 being made and a TV series as well.

I'll agree with Italian Job and Waynes World and throw in Face Off, Days of Thunder and Drop Zone for short-lasting franchises.

They don't have El Toro money? Well El Toro was 12 mill and this is costing 10 mill i'm sure it wasn't a money issue. Even adjusted for inflation I don't think an Intamin woodie would cost more then 13 or 14 mil, Also it didn't have to be as tall as El toro, I would of been happy with 150 foot Intamin.

Imo this coaster should be terminated, IMO everything about it from the name, to the layout, to the stats is mediocore. This coaster should be getting installed into a famliy fun center not an major amusement park based on major thrills like SFMM is based.

You would think a bunch of coaster enthusiasts would be enthusiastic about a new ride. I am thankful new coasters are being built.

Magic Mountain already has major extreme thrill rides, what they needed was a family coaster and that is what they are getting. I dont understand the complaining. Some of the highest rated coasters are the length of the new Terminator ride at the mountain. Dont understand the complaining here

I think the modest ride design just reflects Shapiro's pledge to be more family friendly. Then again, they're naming the ride after a franchise of R-rated movies. Although the star of three of the movies is the current governor of the state in which the park resides. I don't know... Why must you be so confusing, Caulifourneea? I'm still not sure I understand the strategy for SFMM. Are they trying to lure people away from Disneyland? Are they trying to compete with Knott's? Why did they bother spending $10 million on repainting and adding fire and speakers to X?

I have a feeling that 90% of the people in line for Terminator will either think it's a rebuilt Psyclone or the same old Psyclone, just renamed.

I think we're all thankful that coasters are being built, hoffman. My issue is that somewhere along the line, the people who make these decisions tell us that you can't just build a coaster anymore-- you must built interactive, multimedia experiences. What's wrong with just enjoying riding a wooden coaster? I've never felt sensorily deprived on any other wooden coaster I've ridden. And I didn't feel it while watching the video of this one either.

According to this article and rcdb, Terminator will cost nearly $4 million more than Renegade, and be nearly 300 feet shorter. Looks like Halcyon will be the big winners on this. Around 35% of the ride's cost will go toward theming. Plus I'm sure Halcyon will get a generous cut of any ride related merchandise sold.

BTW, get it right-- the ride's name is Terminator® (emphasis on the registered trademark).