Superman Ultimate Flight opening soon at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Woot. I'm headed up there in July. This is the first year in a while that I'm actually going to be riding "new this year" coasters not at my home park. (As well as finally getting RF2, Sky Rocket, and Fahrenheit).

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2012/06/08/coaster-world-abuzz-about...n-vallejo/

I am really looking forward to this opening despite the fact that it's going to be a capacity nightmare. They have been advertising it more than anything I've ever seen at Discovery Kingdom in the Sacramento and San Francisco markets.

Early videos I saw of this looked really interesting and unique. I wish I could get out there for it this year (knew I should have pushed harder for West Coast for anniversary vacation. Lol). When you ride, make sure to post a great trip report! :)

June 23rd? That's coming up fast. I was hoping for at least a couple more 7 minute videos showing the construction progress.

Hrm... 12 people per train (if they fill the seats) every 5 minutes = 144 people per hour. Way to go Six Flags! Go Big!

(Note: yesterday at Great America, they had a little dry erase board thingy in the station for Superman. Listed were other B&M flying coasters in the chain; Tatsu, one of the other Supermen, and Superman. The Great America Superman had the highest hourly capacity record of the season so far - 777 in one hour. The ride is rated at 1,100 an hour, I think. And no, the ride wasn't a "walk on.")

Good observation, Billy. The sad thing is, the capacity issue here does not surprise me at all. Expect two, three, or four hour waits, unless, of course, you purchase FlashPass. Seems a little shady to me. lol

They might as just well charge $15 bucks a ride as an upcharge...

Yeah. Who cares if it's fun, unique, different or interesting. None of that matters.

I have a feeling that if they put in a 1500pph B&M airtime coaster, the complaint would be about overengineered, boring rides that give 'uplift forces' and not real airtime.

If they put in a 1200pph launched, multi-element Intamin, then the complaint would be about the OTSR's and how they ruin the coaster experience.

Damned if you do. Damned if you don't.

---

And, actually, the upcharge idea isn't all bad.

In my experience, this is generally a park where Flash Passes aren't really much of a necessity unless you go on an especially busy day. I can guarantee a huge jump in Flash Pass revenue here, including from me.

Lord Gonchar said:Yeah. Who cares if it's fun, unique, different or interesting. None of that matters.

Of course it matters, Gonch. But the capacity part of it is an impending nightmare. One of those "I can't believe they..."

We are coaster fans. We may talk about the things we don't like. Maybe even more than things we do like. We get "passionate" like sports fans, for example. Make sense now? (I know, you are better because you don't behave emotionally... good boy!)

Of course it's neat-o and unique and I can't wait to ride it. But still, I can't believe what the capacity will be. It's the most stand out feature almost. I mean, 12 people in a single train on a back and forth and back and forth and back and forth ride?

Maybe this *is* a segue into Six Flags making a large coaster an up-charge.

CoasterDemon said:

We are coaster fans. We may talk about the things we don't like. Maybe even more than things we do like. We get "passionate" like sports fans, for example. Make sense now?

No. Not at all.

Lord Gonchar said:No. Not at all.

*Shocking*

About as shocking as opening a thread to find a CoasterDemon post that contains bitching a moaning about whatever the topic is.

Best I can tell, you haven't like anything the industry has done since right around 1980.

If I only knew you from your posts here, I would think you were the most negative person in the world. I've never seen someone dislike so much about something they supposedly enjoy.

In this case, seriously, what could SF have put in that wouldn't have gotten the CoasterDemon complaint?

The novelty coasters have too low of capacity. The B&M's are too forceless. Intamin OTSR's suck. Modern woodies have seat dividers.

I don't understand the benefit or allure of being so negative.

And I'm the most cynical, bile-spewing, SOB I know. But I'm a friggin' enthusiast ray of sunshine lovefest in comparison.

I just enjoy the parks and coasters. I guess I'm not 'passionate' enough.

Maybe this *is* a segue into Six Flags making a large coaster an up-charge.

I could be wrong (it happens once in a while) but I think there would be a pretty big backlash from the average visitor for an up charge coaster. While you or I would likely view it much as we view a Flash Pass, I'm not certain that the revenue would outweigh the loss from the backlash.

Lord Gonchar said:

Best I can tell, you haven't like anything the industry has done since right around 1980.



There are *plenty* of things I like that were built after 1980.

What's it called when you are debating or arguing and one person takes the extreme of anything you ever said and tries to use it against you.... oh wait, I think you kinda sorta said it yourself:



And I'm the most cynical, bile-spewing, SOB I know.

That I know too! Virtually, anyway.

As much as I love that you made it all about me personally (and my ego thanks you), you never really answered the question.

I dunno. I think this coaster looks pretty cool. If capacity dictated ride experience, wacky stuff like this couldn't exist. And I can't speak for you guys, but I think I'd enjoy riding this and I'm glad there are parks out there willing to give me the chance...even if they'll be forced to work around a low capacity.

^Ohhh you! You got me! 

Lord Gonchar said: In this case, seriously, what could SF have put in that wouldn't have gotten the CoasterDemon complaint?

I feel there is almost always room for improvement with anything a park adds. (Again, look at sports fans... Or car fans... Or anything...)

To answer your question - I think a dual loading station was very clearly needed with this ride, but not added due to cost. (Even Premier rides stated something similar.)

Why not add double or triple the capacity on the trains while they were designing this too? If they would have added a flat ride that had the capacity that this thing has, the same complaints would have been made. This is a coaster, which tend to be more popular than flat rides. I agree with Billy's complaint, a lot.

Why are you so certain adding capacity to the ride in question is so trivial?