Six Flags Over Texas 07/14/02
Associated parks:
None
With my wife, 15-year-old daughter, 12-year-old son and a 23-year-old niece, I visited SFOT on another punishingly hot and humid day. These are my impressions.
The Park in General: This was my first trip to SFOT. Comparing it to SFGAm, the SF park I know best (I’m from Chicago), SFOT has some advantages. The theming, in thoroughness and detail, is a cut above that of SFGAm. In fact, the Texas area underneath the Texas Giant is almost Disneyesque in quality. That said, I have to point out that I’m not much interested in theming, but it was well done.
But the heavily detailed theming goes hand-in-hand with one of the things I liked least about the park … too many shops and concessions and too few flats and other attractions included in the POP. Those of you who view the big corporate themers as being obsessed with separating you from your money will find plenty to support that view at SFOT. And the park was a little thin on attractions for those who aren’t drawn to big coasters (and those attractions consequently had some of the longest lines).
I also have to say that, as the weather was brutal, we had to pace ourselves and spend a lot of time in the shade taking fluids, so we didn’t hit the park with the abandon others might have. Anyway, I’ll take the rides in the order we hit them.
Texas Giant: The line was only about 15 mins., although, when we were about two trains from boarding, they announced a temporary suspension. Word came through the line that a train had just stalled on the top of the lift. We decided to wait it out and, after a couple of empty trains completed the circuit, they resumed. I loved this ride, but I was the only one in my party who did. My wife begs off really big wooden coasters. My son and niece both found it too rough. My daughter thought it was okay, but would rather be riding something else. I thought it was terrific – physical, but easy to ride, and it has an epic scale about it. There were a couple of trims, and the second one practically drew the train to a halt, and yet the ending was fast and furious … has anyone ever ridden it without that trim? That would have to be unbelievable.
Titan: We went over after Texas Giant, and it was down. They told us it would be down at least an hour, so we headed over to the corner of the park where Mr. Freeze was.
Mini Mine Train: The regular Mine Train was closed, so we tried this one right next door. There are some kiddie rides that are worth riding as they’re just good rides on their own merits (Little Dipper at Chicago’s Kiddieland, for example). This one doesn’t quite make it up to that level. It’s okay, but it’s very short, less than a minute, and the wait was longer than for Texas Giant.
Bumper Cars: My son’s a bumper car addict, so we had to do these. They’re just okay, a little pokey, nowhere near as good as the ones we had enjoyed at Bell’s in Tulsa four days earlier. A fairly long wait, too, maybe 15 mins. While we waited, we could see them testing Flashback, and when we got out it was open.
Flashback: A lot of parks have these shuttle loopers, but I’d never ridden one. I loved the way you go screaming through the station. It’s a little bangy in the transitions, but fun.
Judge Roy Scream: This beautiful out-and-back woodie was a real pleasure. Waits were short, a train or two. I rode it three times. Second seat, front car was fine, but the first drop was really tamed by the fact that, with the long train they were running, you didn’t really get going until you were halfway down. First seat, second car was great, tons of gentle air. Last seat was a whole different ride, lots of crazy air, but also a little violent. Would it be too un-SF to get rid of the stupid headrests and let us really appreciate the classic visual beauty of this ride? Probably.
Mr. Freeze: I won’t describe it … if you’re reading this, you probably know what it is. I’ll say this much, I’m a traditional-park-loving wood snob. Give me a day at Indiana Beach and short waits for Cornball Express and HH, and I’m in heaven. However, this is the kind of ride that you’re only going to get to enjoy at a big corporate park, and it is a very special, very fun experience. So thank you, Six Flags. 45-minute wait … exacerbated, I think, by technical delays, as we were stuck at one spot in the line for almost 20 mins.
We made our way back to Titan, but found it still down (they could have saved people a walk with better signage). It never ran all day. My daughter and I then walked up to re-ride Texas Giant, only to be told that they were closing it down due to weather concerns. In a half hour we were engulfed in a torrential rainstorm with lots of lightning, so I guess they knew what they were doing.
Bottom Line: we had a fun day at the park, diminished somewhat by the weather and our inability to ride Titan. Still, there was enough to do and, given the intense heat, we did about all we were capable of. I still feel I need to go back, to get a crack at Titan, to get to know the Giant better, and to enjoy the simple bliss of the Judge.
*** This post was edited by blizzard on 7/15/2002. ***
*** This post was edited by blizzard on 7/16/2002. ***
Glad you enjoyed it... sad to hear Titan was down all day!
On your next visit, be sure to hit Shockwave, Runaway Mountain, and the Mine Train. They're each one of the best of their kind.
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You knew me; I didn't know you; I knew you not. I met you, and I no more knew you not. Now I know you, I wish I knew you not. You wish you didn't not knew me not?
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See THE ULTIMATE in Orlando TR'S! Right now in the TR fourm!
Valpengeist said:
"On your next visit, be sure to hit Shockwave, Runaway Mountain, and the Mine Train. They're each one of the best of their kind."
Trust me when I say you didnt miss much with Titan. I rode the thing and I think I still missed it :)
As for the mangled BGW coaster named one:
Shockwave: No way, there are a ton of better loopers.
Runaway Mountain: Possibily, that drop halfway through the ride was dope.
Mine Train: Definitely above average, but not *quite* there with BTMR and AE @ PKI
But who asked hostyl anyway ;)
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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
I also thought Shockwave was a real sleeper hit! Incredible air off the drops from the back seat and those 2 glorious back to back Anton loops.
I loved SFOT, and would love to return someday.
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Nothing... NOTHING... can prepare you for... the Fourth Dimension!
Shockwave: As for a basic looper, yes, it's fairly good. It has some of the most intense loops I've been on, there is some great ejector and floater air, and you just gotta love a Schwarzkopf.
Runaway Mt.: Maybe I'm just a sucker for completely dark SF coasters. Perhaps I love one of the best-themed SF rides out there. Possibly I can get the hang of 4+ Gs in some of its helices. Could I enjoy the random changes of temperature throughout the ride? Is there a pattern developing?
Mine Train: The first and best mine train of its time. More thrilling than BTMR. I'll see about AE next summer. Looks good.
But who asked the mangled BGW coaster one anyway...
;) :)
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You knew me; I didn't know you; I knew you not. I met you, and I no more knew you not. Now I know you, I wish I knew you not. You wish you didn't not knew me not?
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Dayuum, Your HOT!
okay, I'm going to shut up now :)
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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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