Six Flags Magic Mountain removing Deja Vu roller coaster

Don't care one way or another. Every time I went there it was down.

I have never thought sfmm had the coaster crown because it always seemed like they count the coasters that were sbno, where as cp always has all their coasters running! Its a good thing that it is going to sfne because they will get the ride running like it should be, just like they did with catapult!

Well, there's nothing SBNO as of late. Unless you count occasional down time due to mechanical or annual maintenance. They had Flashback sitting there SBNO for years. But, that was removed and scraped a while back.

I was the only person I know to have ridden all three DejaVus during their first season in 2001. (I also got Flashback in 2001 when I was there...go figure!)

Interesting that SFMM has now removed 3 coasters over the last 5 years and they've all been problematic in one way or another. It really does go against the notion that this new management will hold on to coasters just for a coaster count. And 2 other coasters worth salvaging (X2, Superman)have both been upgraded to run more reliably. This is a FAR cry from old management who just didn't care.

Having never had a chance to ride a "giant" boomerang, how is the ride? I actually get a kick out of boomerangs...inverted or standard. Not an over-the-top thrill, but a lot of fun.

The GIB's are one of my favorite ride experiences ever. The creeping vertical beginning is one of the most effective scary moments on any ride, the blast through the station is exhilarating at such high speeds, the inversions are full of G's, and the way that catch car catches the train (and the way the tower shakes like crazy) is interesting. I really wish they ran more successfully because they rank very highly in my lists. It's also really exciting how the first (reverse) tower catches the train and slowly lowers it into the station, it creates another terrifying hanging moment.

gamerguy said:
I have never thought sfmm had the coaster crown because it always seemed like they count the coasters that were sbno, where as cp always has all their coasters running! Its a good thing that it is going to sfne because they will get the ride running like it should be, just like they did with catapult!

You are so 10 years ago in that statement buddy!!!!!! Welcome to 2006 and beyond!!!!!

Deja Vu certainly has it's detractors, but I find the ride to be quite awesome and scary. Going up that back spike is like heading up a 200ft drop tower facing down, especially in the front seats. The extra height and speed really does pay off going through the standard elements making for a very forceful ride. I also find these to be rather smooth for a Vekoma.

Also, the rider reaction heading down the exit stairs after the ride is pretty priceless.

Aside from the annual refurbishments I've never been to Six Flags Magic Mountain when Deja Vu was closed. I don't know why some of you think it was always closed. Yes, the ones at Six Flags Over Georgia and Six Flags Great America were unreliable, but that hasn't been the case at Magic Mountain. At one of the enthusiast events a couple years back the park even bragged about the fact that Deja Vu wasn't going to be removed (unlike the ones in Gurnee and Georgia) and that they have been able to keep it running regularly. I suspect those of you who find it closed are visiting during the "off-season", which is also when the park closes rides for maintenance.

You might want to consider yourself lucky if you find this ride is always open. I've been to Magic Mountain over 20 times in the past 10 years and I've only ridden this ride twice and it's only been open on 4 or 5 times on all of my trips. I've also almost always had a major roller coaster, (or two), closed my entire visit too. Summer, winter, spring or fall . . . this park can call itself the coaster capital all it wants, but it's no Cedar Point. In numbers and stats -- maybe -- if you want a great experience -- not even close.

I like the GIBs better than regular boomerangs (I no longer bother riding those). I like the first drop, especially in the back of the car. Unfortunately, the banging starts shortly after. I expect SFMM to have a replacement planned.

If the capacity weren't so God awful, I'd like the ride a whole lot more. It's a solid ride with some really interesting and unique moments (on the two towers) some rather boring stuff in between (the inversions), but I've never waited less than 40 minutes for one and it's not really worth it.

The "capacity GOAL" for Great America's was 432 per hour. The board operator that overheard us laughing about that number suggested plainly that it was an unreasonable goal under the circumstances, and that they likely did between 1/2 and 2/3 of that when running consistantly. Even at the top end of 300pph, that's simply ludicrous at a park the size of SFGAm.

Georgia's did run pretty much every day, but they opened it about 2 hours after park opening each day - park management stated during an event that it was an obvious preference over getting DV ready for park open and having about 5 or 6 other rides open late while all that maintenance time was devoted solely to DV. We all had to agree...easy call.

Ghost of Jumbo Jet said:
You might want to consider yourself lucky if you find this ride is always open. I've been to Magic Mountain over 20 times in the past 10 years and I've only ridden this ride twice and it's only been open on 4 or 5 times on all of my trips. I've also almost always had a major roller coaster, (or two), closed my entire visit too. Summer, winter, spring or fall . . . this park can call itself the coaster capital all it wants, but it's no Cedar Point. In numbers and stats -- maybe -- if you want a great experience -- not even close.

I have been to the park several times this summer and found every last coaster open on each visit. This "closed" coaster thing is a very outdated view of the park. Unless, like Eric said, you visit during the off season, when a lot of maintenance work is done.

John Knotts said:
This "closed" coaster thing is a very outdated view of the park.

There's more than a few people who - for whatever reason - seem to think Six Flags is still stuck in the early 2000's.

Just goes to show how important reputation is, and why every day is a chance to leave an impression on a guest. There's a very good reason why some people still think that way, true or not. If a park leaves a horrid taste in your mouth, why go back? I don't plan on ever setting foot in SF Great Adventure ever again. Once was more than enough.

^ Absolutely. But I think balance is a good thing. Just as we all rag on Six Flags for their bonehead decisions over the years, I also think credit should also be given where it's due. The chain still isn't perfect by any means, but I have truly enjoyed my visits to their parks the last few years. The parks are clean, much better run and the rides have been open.

But you're right, reputation is VERY important. Even the once "all mighty" Cedar Fair has learned that lesson all too well.

John Knotts said:

Ghost of Jumbo Jet said:
You might want to consider yourself lucky if you find this ride is always open. I've been to Magic Mountain over 20 times in the past 10 years and I've only ridden this ride twice and it's only been open on 4 or 5 times on all of my trips. I've also almost always had a major roller coaster, (or two), closed my entire visit too. Summer, winter, spring or fall . . . this park can call itself the coaster capital all it wants, but it's no Cedar Point. In numbers and stats -- maybe -- if you want a great experience -- not even close.

I have been to the park several times this summer and found every last coaster open on each visit. This "closed" coaster thing is a very outdated view of the park. Unless, like Eric said, you visit during the off season, when a lot of maintenance work is done.

Outdated view? Not a chance. I’m not attacking you, but I’ll attack Magic Mountain. All three visits this summer roller coasters have been down on my visit - Deja Vu on two of those visits -- even last Monday -- guess I'll forgive that one since it's leaving but I didn’t know that at the time. Even on the very few visits everything is up and running - and I'm not even positive there has been one --the park has been grossly understaffed every single time. There are too many long waits where there shouldn't be and it's just a cheap feeling experience. I can't help but miss fast moving lines or no lines at all. It sucks to sit in a car less coaster station and be thinking there should be another train loading instead of just sitting around and waiting. Why? Because I grew up at Cedar Point, the roller coaster capitol of the world, and that isn't how a roller coaster at a busy park is run. Two or three exhausted employees isn't enough to properly run a roller coaster. One car operation on a busy summer day is unforgivable. Where are all the managers with clipboards making sure things are running? I'm sure there is some kind of management overseeing the daily operation, but I never see evidence of it. If the park was running well it wouldn't come to mind. I always find myself searching for someone to question and why everything is taking so long and why isn't anyone doing anything about it. The answer, they don't care. The only acknowledgement I get from the park employees is "have a Six Flags day" -- and that feels like an insult.

Doesn't help that MM is very poorly designed -- it looks like it was once a beautiful park but the trees have not been trimmed in 20 years. At CP you are in the center of all the action your entire visit, at Magic Mountain your endlessly walking up and down that dreaded hill and what coaster track isn’t buried in bush, is just miles of tangled dead silence. It’s fun just being at CP watching and listening to the rides that surround you, MM isn’t a fun park to be in. There is too little movement and the park lacks excitement. The slingshot attraction doesn’t run and there are weeds growing up all around it. The monorail doesn’t run and it sits there - rusting above your heard. There are other restaurants and buildings not longer used that sit closed, year around. It’s the only park I’ve been to where the “bone yard” is actually right out in the open in the center of the park and all around you. The day is also tarnished by beginning and ending with a tiresome trek around the parameter of their water park, unless you have the patience to wait yet again for the beat up tram.

Some may feel their roller coaster is the very best collection on the planet, but few would argue the experience is. I currently don't know anything about the other Six Flags parks, (Great America has always been a great in the past), but this is a current view of Magic Mountain.