The Rattler at SFFT. Holy flexing of structure batman!!!!!

Rob, dont forget about Schlitterbahn, 1/2 hour to the north. No trip to San Antonio is complete without a stop over in New Braunfels.

You were not kidding chitown. Oh my!
My word I would cry if I was on that ride. Not really cry, but I'd be really freaked out. It looks like a thirty ton train flying around a track made from spaghetti noodles.

You're right, Schlitterbahn will have to be a stop, too. I forget how many great things are in and around San Antonio.

Fairfield/Wyndham just built a new timeshare building right on the river, one block from an end of the riverwalk's main drag. They already had a smaller building just one block off. I'm considering making that my "long October weekend" destination this year. I'm itching to use these points I just bought for something soon, and we'll have some leftovers after reserving our Orlando trip each year.

I've got lots of good coaster-related places to pick from though, and I was just in SA last fall, so I might not go back just yet. In addition to Orlando (4 resorts) and the two in San Antonio, FF/Wyn has resorts in Anaheim, Branson (x3), Sevierville, the Dells (x2), Atlanta (west of the city, past SFOG), and Williamsburg (x3). There are probably some others I'm forgetting, too.

I've never been to the Branson parks, so that may be the destination for October. That or Sevierville.

I'm guessing that you own a timeshare and have the option of picking a different destination if one's available?

Since a thread relating to San Antonio has already been started I thought I would post here. We are taking my sister to San Antonio for her 30th birthday this upcoming June. We are planning on going to SFFT, Schlitterbahn, Sea World, and do some sight-seeing(Alamo, Riverwalk, etc.). Can this be done in a three-day weekend?

^

Yes, it can be done. I've been twice over weekends. The first time I arrived Thursday morning spent all day exploring the Riverwalk, spent Friday at Sea World, and spent Saturday at SFFT before leaving Saturday night. The last time I arrived Friday morning, spent Friday at Sea World, Saturday at SFFT, Sunday morning to mid afternoon at Schlitterbahn and late Sunday afternoon-about 11 at the Riverwalk and left first thing Monday morning. Its tight but you can do it.

i rode it last summer... terrible ride. the only cool part was the end

After watching that video(the part we're talking about is scary as heck), I clicked on a first person video of the ride, and wow does it look very uneventful. I notice how the first drop doesn't even come close to the ground. Was that the outcome of the redesign? The first drop used to go all the way down, right?

I always wanted to ride Rattler, but after viewing the first person video, I feel very unenthusiastic about the ride.

I got on last fall and I almost did get out of line when I saw that flexing. I'm sorry but there is NO WAY that is a safe or acceptable amount of movement for ANY structure. The thing literally has NO side-to-side support structure, so it's no wonder it moves so much. If it wasn't for the fact that the line up to the station is on this claustrophobic staircase that's barely wide enough for people to pass single-file, I would have gotten out of line. I'm sorry I did ride because I had to just sit for a while afterwards and try and get my back to uncompress. One of the worst rides I've ever ridden, one of the worst constructed, and because of that movement and the inability for anyone on the load side of the station to quickly exit in the event of a fire (see: narrow staircase) a huge safety hazard.

But the rest of SFFT is pretty dang wonderful ... although some sections look like they made a good start at an area-theme, ran out of money, and only got it about 3/4 of the way there and never came back. Oh well, in time ...

I believe that the first drop did come close to the ground when built. But, it's had some modifications. Regardless, it was as unpleasant as a certain wooden coaster at CP...maybe worse. I agree...that trip up to the station was really bad. The train, on it's way to the lift hill even bounces in between the supports. It's not painful but it was a horrible sign of things to come.

The park is beautiful though. Great setting. =)

I am no fan of the Rattler (what an appropriate name huh?) the helix of death not only managed to wrench my back but managed to "re wrench" my back about every 5 seconds (felt like bone hitting nerve) it was horrible. Thankfully its the only bad part of this park, Superman is typical B&M magic, Poletergeist is fun, Scream is a S&S combo tower (the only one I have ridden) and is great, Road Runner is one of the best mine trains Ive ever ridden and their night show is the best I have ever seen from non Disney Parks.

This coaster is terrible. I will never forget standing in line with a couple of guys from work and watching this thing. Once you are in the station you see the train come around a turn and the track just looks like it should explode under the pressure and how much it flexes. That video is totally accurate. It is unreal and evern more crazy when you see it with your own eyes. I would never ride it again and for someone that will ride anything that is saying something.

SFFT needs to get GCI or the Gravity Group in there to tear it down and put up something that is as beautiful as the setting of the park.

To everyone who complains about bad experiences on Meanstreak:

Have you ridden the coaster at all in 2006? I had the same crappy experiences in virtually all of my trips to CP, but the 2 times I went in 2006, the rides were actually pretty amazing! I could not believe that I was on Meanstreak. I even went on while I was there for BooBuzz just to make sure it wasn't a fluke in September and happened to catch it on a good day.

Ha. Yeah, there were actually people there for Mean Streak employee ride night last year, and I even got in three rides. Mean Streak was definitely not so bad in '06.

I would guess part of the Rattler problems come from the trains... It originally opened with Morgan trains, which were quickly replaced with the current PTC with headrests. So, you got heavier trains that can't turn as well on a ride that is probably not built for them. What a recipe for disaster!

For some more fun, check out SOB right after it comes off the lift and turns to the left for the first drop...same type of thing there too.

Here is a video I shot of the Rattler in Aug. 1992 (the year it opened). You can see how close the first drop came to the ground.

Also, I remember on that day they kept 2 maintenance guys stationed under the track on the second drop (formally a double-dip) with ratchets all day long. Every time a train would pass, they would tighten it up.

Kinda scary seeing the structure sway that much but it didn't sway nearly as much as the YouTube video posted earlier.

Here's the original Rattler drop:

http://members.aol.com/Coasting2/Rattler92.mov

---

dannerman said:
To everyone who complains about bad experiences on Meanstreak:

Have you ridden the coaster at all in 2006? I had the same crappy experiences in virtually all of my trips to CP, but the 2 times I went in 2006, the rides were actually pretty amazing!

---

Well, I was optimistic at the beginning of the season. I also made the mistake of getting in the back. I thought that my kidneys had exploded. Later in the summer I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt and try again. Alas, that time I thing I lost my spleen. And I've been on that ride a lot...I know what to expect, when to expect it and how to position myself.

I'm sure that I'll try again...I have high hopes =)

Dusa65, I was there last year at MS ride night.

I don't mind MS as much as a lot of people. It's fun. Yes it's very bumpy. Yes it's too slow in some spots where I wish it were moving faster. I like how long the ride is. Not the best in the park, but fun nonetheless.

...and beautiful, of course.