Associated parks:
None
I will cut to the basics:
Big Dipper- 1 lap, still runs nicely, love it.
X-Flight- 1 lap, still has that new coaster smell, still a terrifying ride.
Mind Eraser- 1 lap, running better than before, much smoother.
Batman- 2 laps, ride feels rough going to the corkscrews. Maybe I just rode on a bad day. The first half is still good.
Serial Thriller- 2 laps, my god, I had to ride a second time to confirm. It is *gasp* an enjoyable ride now with the new headrests. I was actually happy with my ride. Now it is the hidden gem of the park. Seriously, it is that much of an improvement.
Double Loop- 1 lap, still an enjoyable looper, the new harnesses are appreciated since they lift themselves when released.
Villian- 1 lap, longest line next to X Flight (take that steelie fans) was running well.
Raging Wolf Bobs- 4 laps,
1st time no pain.
Second time no pain.
Third time, no pain.
4th time, I stopped looking for the pain and enjoyed the ride. Raging Wolf Bobs is not a painful ride. The couple behind me said it was the most terrifying ride of the day*.
Superman- 0 laps, was not running, looked nice against the sunset.
Road Runner Express- 0 laps, (you really expect me to ride? yeah right, track record isn't that important.
*of course, their terror might have been caused with my storytelling on the lift of how the ride's third train flew off and is still sitting on the bottom of Geauga Lake with the riders skeletons still strapped in. They belived me fully :)
The more than good:
Serial Thriller operators. Funny as hell and really enjoyed having riders on a less than popular coaster. really seemed to enjoy his job.
Raging Wolf Bobs operators. Really nice people were operating the ride when I was on. They tried their best to act like they enjoyed their job and always had a smile. People notice that.
The bad.
Before I go through the bad, let me show a lift of trains that were operating:
Big Dipper 1
X Flight 2
Batman 2
Villian 1
Raging Wolf Bobs 1
Serial Thriller 2
Double Loop 1
First, long lines should require more than one train (Villian, Big Dipper) but some have an excuse (Raging Wolf Bobs, Double Loop). That is my first complaint. Villian may have an excuse since the other 2 were not on the transfer track I will assume they were in maintenance and give you guys the benefit of the doubt.
My second, is that those that did run 2 trains, specifically Serial Thriller, X-Flight, and Batman, stacked. I mean this place is the stacking capital in Ohio.
So Serial Thriller crew, as much as I appreciated your humor and the fun we all had on the station, if it keeps me from sitting in the brakes while you chatter off, then shut up and push the damn buttons.
X-Flight, You have 2 trains (running) and 2 separate stations to accomidate those 2 trains and you still stack them. I give up on that one.
Batman, don't even bother running 2 trains. You keep us on the brakes for over 60 seconds. That is two long.
That is all. I gave the place another chance, hoping it would be better than the last. I did the same thing last year three separate times. I am going to ask Cedar Point to call and thank you for next year's season pass sale.
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Off with the trims!
My fellow Americans; Let's Roll!
Woodencoaster.com
I'm sure if we had the staff, we would use two stations on X-Flight. Even Vekoma knows it's impossible to lock down a train before another one hits the brake run reclining the trains in the station. Sorry, just can't be done, even with 4 people checking a train. It takes alteast 8 seconds for the train to come into the station from the last break run. It take 3 seconds for the trains to rise up... alteast 15 seconds if the train won't recline automatically... the computer won't let you do it immediately. 14 seconds for all the restraints to be opened and get people out of the train. We've already gotten to atleast 40 seconds... by now the train is either going through the shoe-horn or turning around to go through the loop. I'm not going to even bother doing the rest of the run down. I'm sure ride-ops might be able to go faster, and maybe get close to non-stacking, but even when I work on the ride... It is difficult to go much faster. After all, you can't push people in their seats and smack the ankle harness down on them.
As For One train operation on Villain, well remember those masive storms we had the two nights before? That's all I can really say, other than they had a darn good reason for running one train.
Superman, has yet another great reason for being closed, and another situation I probably shouldn't comment on.
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Jes
Jes's Roller Coasters DJ Jes MCS Please, Feel Free To Call Me Jes!
Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure 2002 Ride-Ops Crew (Have Fun Trying To Find Me!)
*** This post was edited by Zero-G on 8/1/2002. ***
The good old days of working X-Flight. I remember late in the season with only 2 bar checkers for each train and still getter it done faster then w/ 4. It depends on who checking. Last years crew, while it had its moments will probably be the best it had, or will ever have.
On the the RWB crew comments, thank as that is my ride this year and we all enjoy our jobs up there.
Villain only running one train: A train vallied monday(7/29), so it might be at one train op for awhile, since its completely off the track.
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SFWoA ATL in 2002!
Jes, you guys do your jobs the best you can. I am not going to rag on the ride operators (unless they are just plain slow) but this is more of an issue where this is what the public sees and most do not care why, they are just upset at spending $40 to enter a park and be stuck in lines longer because either
(a) management forces the ride to run fewer trains to save money
(b) management puts fewer ride operators on the platform to save money (as you said so I am not to quick to blame the operators already on the platform, but the lack of people Six Flags put on to operate the second) or
(c) the operators are just slow, not paying attention, etc.
Like I said with Villian, I assumed there was a reason beyond just not wanting to run the other trains since they were out of sight so I am going to not complain about that. It was still a killer ride. However, the ride has three trains, right? One train was operating, one train valleyed (so I could understand taking it off the track) but what about the third train?
Superman, I read hear in trip reports a while back about something falling off the ride if that is why it is closed I don't know.
Like I said, it wasn't the worst trip I have had there in recent years and the Raging Wolf Bobs crew helped brighten my day but I will wait to see next years trip reports before I go back.
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Off with the trims!
My fellow Americans; Let's Roll!
Woodencoaster.com
Villain does have 3 trians but can only run two. The 3rd train is in the maint. warehouse completely torn apart being rehabbed. So unless you want to ride a train that has no wheels, seats or lap bars then it'll be awhile.
By the way the second train was replaced and was at two train operation as of Friday(8-2-02).
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SFWoA ATL in 2002!
Theoretically, though, if the park came up with the sense to run the second station on X-Flight, the line would move faster (at least, up until the split).
I'm still not sure how you could run 3 trains on that ride, because wouldn't that involve one train going to one station, and the other two going into the second one? If not, then each train would come back in the opposite station, and anyone who left things on the platform wouldn't be able to get them.
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Ric Flair was hitting on the female host, he told her - "Space Mountain may be the oldest ride in the park, but it has the longest line." WOOOOO!
May I also add that Batman Knight Flight was FREAKIN' GREAT!
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I'm proud of ALL my mayor malfunctions!
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