Tips On Magic Mountain?

I am making my first trip out to Magic Mountain this Saturday. I am curious if anyone has any tips they would like to share with me so i can get the most out of the day that i am there. Thanks for the help!

Don't Bother.

If you are gonna go here is a list of must haves.

Pepper spray, Garbage Bag, have a "other things 2 do list" as several coasters will be closed. don't wear any gang related colors. Don't carry too much cash. be ready to wait in line for hours when the line should only take a few minutes or so. and be ready to think "it is a shame because they have some cool rides".

Sorry but I had bad experiences there.. oh yeah and sunblock.

I'll also be making my first trip to SFMM this summer. Coming from SFA, I imagine the experience sounds quite the same as a SFA trip...hmmm

-Colin-

1. Pray the coaster gods are good to you and 80% of the coasters may run at any given moment you are ready to ride.

2. Do X first---if it is ready---it often opens late so you waste your time standing and hoping while other lines fill up---but that is all part of the day at SFMM. The reps will not tell you when or IF X will open, but it almost certainly will on a Sat. You'll just have to tough it out.

3. Keep your expectations very low and you should be ok. Maybe hope to ride 5 coasters...anything more is gravy.

4. Expect crowds on a Sat..

5. I assume you know to arrive early.

6. On a Sat. night there is a good chance a fight will break out IF that is your thing. The fights seem to happen in the general area of Goliath. Go over there around 7:00 pm and stake a spot. Just wait and watch. You most likly won't have to do anything to get a good show. If it is getting late and you've caught no action---you may want to tell a random teenager that the kid by the corndog stand was looking at him funny. That should do the trick... :-)

Are you Serious? Should I even go? Are the rides broke all of the time or do they just not run them all of the time? *** Edited 6/15/2005 3:21:15 PM UTC by MSUalumni***

turn around

I think it's worth it to go. X is an incredible ride (just expect a long, SLOW moving line) and worth the trip, IMO. However, everyone goes to X first, so I generally head to Goliath (that line sucks, too), and get quick rides on that, Scream, Colossus, Batman, and hopefully Riddler's.

Or another strategy is go to Deja Vu first. That probably has the worst line out of all of them.

No, wait. Superman's sucks, too.

Well, you get the idea. Every line sucks, besides Scream, pretty much. Enjoy the trip. :)

To get the most out of your day drive 60 miles to the south and visit Knotts.

Wait till they build that new dueler Compton: The Ride. :)

I don't think its that bad. Even if half the coasters are operating that's still 8 coasters which is more than the average park.

Just hope for the best, but put your expectations low.

X and Goliath should be your biggest priorities, I loved both of them. So...good luck with that.

Let's try for a halfway decent response that isn't just SFMM bashing, shall we? Some of the responses have been good, but the others... ugh. Anyways:

1. Expect long lines, up to 2 hours for rides like Batman The Ride and The Riddler's Revenge, and up to 3 hours for rides like Deja Vu and X. Most other coasters may be 30 minutes to 1 hour waits, minimum.

2. Fastlane may be helpful for those rides that allow it, at an extra cost of $17 for 4 tickets, but they don't offer Fastlane for Deja Vu or X.

3. Expect frequent line jumping, as it will happen at least once each ride as people try to get back in line with their "group". Fights aren't a regular occurrence and are obviously being blown out of proportion by the SFMM bashing folks.

4. Only a handful of rides may be closed on a regular basis (Flashback, Sky Tower, Metro), but watch out for coasters operating only one train. Effectively, that can double the normal wait times, such as a 1 hour wait for Colossus instead of 30 minutes. If Batman or Riddler's runs one train, that can make it up to a 2 to 3 hour wait. If Scream runs one train, expect about a 1 hour wait.

5. Food is average--it won't make you sick, but unless it's a franchise food stand it's very expensive for the quality and quantity.

6. I recommend riding X last, since there are occasions where X doesn't open when the park first opens. Make sure note the time the line closes, which may be one or two hours before the park closes. and get in line at least 10 minutes before the line closes.

The park is actually quite enjoyable if one simply realizes that SFMM is a park speciailizing in coasters. Weekends tend to have crowds that try patience, but that probably goes for any major park. Just don't expect elaborate theming, or modern European flat rides... and watch out for the OTSR's on Revolution.

With that out of the way, expect a multitude of multi-looping coasters, a great suspended coaster, a classic Arrow mine train, and two wooden coasters that are okay, but not worth a particularly long wait. And, I've already mentioned the OTSR's on the classic Anton Scharzkopf. *** Edited 6/15/2005 5:56:19 PM UTC by RideSafety***

Thanks for the help!!!

Alright. Let me try to steer you away from the negative vibes, baby. If it was my first time going to SFMM, this is what I would want to know...

1. Try to be at the park gate a half an hour before the scheduled opening time. There are times (rare, but it has happened) when they do open a little early.

2. After you run down the center of the plaza from the main entrance, you will see a carousel. Although "X" is to the left, go to the right. All the other major coasters are in that direction. Reason: No matter if you're waiting in line for "X" or "Deja Vu" to open, you're still waiting. So why not wait later and get on the other popular coasters while there are still little to no lines. My personal favorites would be "Goliath", "Scream", "Batman" and "Riddler's Revenge". If they're operating that day, they are must do's. My personal favorite is "Deja Vu", so definately add that to your schedule. "X" is not my favorite, but very original and must be done at least once in your life. Then, the rest of the day, just sit back and relax, baby. The others are all good too. But, don't count on going on "Flashback".

3. Should you be in a dilemma about choosing because time is running out... these coasters are very rough and jerky. They give me a headache, man, so beware too... "Viper", "Psyclone" and "Colossus". "Revolution" is a must because it's the world's first looping coaster. "Goldrusher" is a must because it's the parks first (and still standing) coaster. "Ninja" and "Superman" are alright. Don't break a sweat getting to them. They're both at the top of the hill and they're not worth jog in my opinion.

I hope this helps. Have a groovy time at are park... and I will say this for some of the previous opinions, "beware of gang colors and gang signs". The rollercoasters are slowing fading out as being the most thrilling attraction at SFMM.

---

Mamoosh said:
To get the most out of your day drive 60 miles to the south and visit Knotts.

---

Yep...I haven't been to Socal since 1999, and I have 2 free days there in July. Guess where I'm spending my 2 feww days...Disney and Knotts :) Sure I'd love to ride X, but I don't feel like going there again and using a lot of my precious time to do so.

RideSafely said:

Let's try for a halfway decent response that isn't just SFMM bashing, shall we?

And then said:

Expect long lines...

Fastlane may be helpful...but [not for] Deja Vu or X.

Expect frequent line jumping...

...watch out for coasters operating only one train...

Food is average...[and] very expensive...

Weekends tend to have crowds that try patience...

...don't expect elaborate theming, or modern European flat rides...

...and watch out for the OTSR's on Revolution.

...expect...two wooden coasters that are...not worth a particularly long wait.

And...the OTSR's on the classic Anton Scharzkopf.

Good thing you didn't bash the park! ;)

Let me just chime in with my experience as someone who was in your shoes just a few weeks ago.

I made my first trip out to SFMM on Memorial Day, and though though the rides weren't all the greatest, I was lucky enough to get the chance to ride them all (except Flashback of course, which I'm sure will never run again). So there is a decent chance you will as well.

The biggest obstacle would be the lines, as the park didn't get too busy until the afternoon the day I went, and you will no doubt face much longer lines on a Saturday after school is out. The highlight of the park to me was, of course, and Scream, Riddler's Revenge, and Deja Vu were also pretty cool. I was very pleasantly surprised by Ninja, and enjoyed that ride as well. Goliath was good, but I was a little let down by it. Maybe I was expecting too much, but it wasn't as exciting as I was expecting.

I agree with those that said to go to Goliath and Scream first. I went the other way to X the day I went, and it was down in the morning. We at least recovered our plans by going to Deja Vu next, and getting to walk onto the ride. From what I hear, that line gets very long at times. But it's a ways from Goliath and Scream, so you really have to choose one way or the other.

One other thing. As someone who travelled to SoCal for the first time to enjoy some coasters, I have to agree with the general sentiment I've always heard from others. Knotts is the premier park in SoCal, and I very much enjoyed my time there, while SFMM was just OK. If you get a chance to go to Knott's, do take it. You won't regret it!

*Bashing* the park is simply saying "SFMM sucks" without any helpful explanation of how that opinion was formed, and without any positive helpful info that SFMM *could* use, assuming they give a rat's arse...which we know they don't, LOL....that's called "constructive criticism".

P.S. I agree with mOOSH, unless you're having an event with ERT, the best way to visit SFMM is to go to Knott's, or DL, or DCA, or even LegoLand (which I found HIGHLY enjoyable)...

Well, I made the trip a couple years ago from ohio. It was the biggest waste of money I had ever spent on a trip. I would NEVER go back even if they built the next record breaker. I thought it was very dirty, unkept, unprofessional, and the rides were so, so.

ANd that's why I'm going to Disneyland :)