TR:SFA Opening Day 04/03/04
Associated parks:
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BATWING FAN SFA said:
When was Two face up today?I was in the park from just after opening til the 5pm close & Two face never ran
I see people riding coasters.......
I actually began to walk into the queue, but changed my mind and rode Wild One twice instead, ALL THE WHILE Two face was running with people on it....
I suppose you were too busy looking at the mysterious dirt pile, having a B&M fantasy, to actually take account of all the rides that were running. (dudes, get it right, ok?)
Please don't say rides aren't running, when you have no actual proof. just because when you glanced over in that direction it wasn't "moving" doesn't mean it's closed.
SAM *** Edited 4/5/2004 12:08:20 PM UTC by Sam A. Marks***
coasterguts said:
Trip Report
Six Flags America (SFA)
April 3rd, 2004Weather: Cloudy and 50 degrees (at the most)
Last Visit to Park: Last day of 2003 Season
Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes.....
Thank you so much for your fair, accurate and honest trip report, some folks should take note of your style and attitude.
You clearly observed the park w/o bias or negativity. I am truly impressed.
I get so tired of people that jump to NO RIDES RUNNING conclusions based on a 10min observation of the park.
again, thanks for "actually" observing the parks operations, and reporting in a respectable manner the changes, and improvements.
SAM *** Edited 4/5/2004 12:11:27 PM UTC by Sam A. Marks***
Brian Noble said:I can think of several parks that have "all rides ready to reach maximum capacity" as a goal for opening day each and every year.
How realistic is this anymore with opening days being pushed earlier and earlier. It was only a few years ago that parks didn't open to the beginning of May. Now it seems that early April, even the end of March is not an all that uncommon opening day. Many of these parks also are open late into October.
Where they used to have 7 or 8 months between seasons, now they have 4.
Sam A. Marks said:Please don't say rides aren't running, when you have no actual proof. just because when you glanced over in that direction it wasn't "moving" doesn't mean it's closed.
That is an odd phenomenom that I have observed at many parks. I often have been watching a certain ride and start to worry that "it's not running" because when ever I would look in its direction I would see no trains moving... only to arrive at it to find a full queue on a ride that has been operating normally all day long.
Brian Noble said:
It still seems to be realistic at Cedar Point.
Cedar Point opens May 8th and closes October 31st. SFA opened April 3rd and closes October 30th to the general public, but I've also been told it will be open on the 31st for season passholders. Now, I'm sure SFA could open a month later, giving the park more time to get the rides up and more importantly giving the weather a few more weeks to warm up, but instead they open in April with most of their rides open with at least one train, which really isn't a problem at all because there really arn't any significant lines in April that justify two train operation anyway! I think you all should just be happy that PKD and Busch Gardens, SFA's southern compitition, open so early, otherwise, I'm sure SFA would be opening much later in the year as their northern compitition, Hershey and Dorney, do. PKD and BGW both open weekends Starting March 27th (one weekend before SFA). Hershey opens only half the park for Springtime in the Park April 9-11 (Coincidently, Hersheypark started Springtime in the Park shortly after SFA started being open in April) and fully opens May 7th, and Dorney opens May 8th.
I think you should be happy that SFA is even open at all in April and stop complaining that a few of the attractions arn't up to capicity yet. I mean, they could just open in May with their northern compitition, but then you'd all be complaining as to why they open so late. Ohh, by the way, you seem to be completly overlooking the fact that another local park that opened around the time SFA did opened with one of their headline coasters completly incompacitated, ya, Hypersonic at PKD, at least SFA was at the point where they were testing all their unopened attractions. *** Edited 4/5/2004 3:26:33 PM UTC by Coaster Lover***
If you can't stand the heights, get out of the line.
While waiting at the main gate just to get in the park we looked over there(you can see Two face from the gate) & never once did we see it even cycle an empty train.....we also asked if it had opened at all & they told us that it didn't & wouldn't be opening at all during the day.
However, the excuse about an offeseason that is one month shorter is just that---an excuse. If I were a paying customer at SFA this week, I wouldn't care how long the offseason was. I'd care that I'd dropped $40 to get into a park where the lines moved slowly and many rides were not only not open, but clearly still disassembled. I'd probably not bother coming back.
Plus, I'll note that Dollywood closes in late December, and reopens in early April. So why can they manage to get their act together? Their offseason is only three months long, but somehow they are ready for guests on day one.
Either you are ready to open, or you're not. If you want to take my money, be open, not not. It's widely recognized that the problems with SF parks revolve around the customer experience. This is not exactly putting your best customer experience foot forward. It would be much better for the park to stay closed an extra few weeks and be ready for guests.
Brian Noble said:
For the record, I happen to like SFA. I'd put it in the upper half of SF parks I've visited---a step below GAm and FT, but above EV, GE, and MW.Plus, I'll note that Dollywood closes in late December, and reopens in early April. So why can they manage to get their act together? .
Ummmmm when do they close the Mountain Slidewinder? Daredevil Falls? Rapids Ride? Tennessee Tornado? they even closed the kids play area early last year, and moved the talking christmas tree to a spot to the right of the train station.
Some Rides DO NOT work in the cold.
Some rides Do!
I'm happy they'll run Thunderhead during Christmas.
BATWING FAN SFA said:
The first place we went was southwest territory & by the time we got there Two face wasn't running.While waiting at the main gate just to get in the park we looked over there(you can see Two face from the gate) & never once did we see it even cycle an empty train.....we also asked if it had opened at all & they told us that it didn't & wouldn't be opening at all during the day.
So basically you're calling me a LIAR?
I also must be imagining that I saw people riding the ride, and my friends must be imagining they saw it running, and the fact that the front entrance of the ride was open and people were going in was ALL MY IMAGINATION.
I'm sorry, but YOU are the LIAR in this debate, we left the wild one area at approximately 11:15 am and the ride had passengers on it. if it broke down after that fine, I can accept that as an answer, HOWEVER don't sit there calling me a liar when I know perfectly well the ride was running, with people on it, when I was in that area.
SAM
Iron Eagle which still is being put back together.
Batwing's other two trains appear to still be in the shop for rehab. Pieces of one are sitting behind the coaster and third one hasn't returned yet
The red [Superman] train was on the tracks and the blue train apparently is still in the shop being rehab.
It's second train [Joker's Jinx] hasn't returned from the shop yet either so it was only going to be running one train operation.
That's not because it was cold that day. I'm completely fine with weather-imposed restrictions. But, this is just poor planning---opening the park just enough to get by. In other words, same old Six Flags.
*** Edited 4/5/2004 4:56:59 PM UTC by Brian Noble***
Brian Noble said:
I'd care that I'd dropped $40 to get into a park where the lines moved slowly and many rides were not only not open, but clearly still disassembled. I'd probably not bother coming back.
SFA CLEARLY posts what rides will be closed on their signboard. If you want to know what rides will be closed BEFORE you spend the money to get into the park, you're more then welcome to look at that board, or even save yourself the trip by calling the park before you go. SFA doesn't MAKE you buy a ticket and go into the park once you're on their property. You always have the option of deciding it's too cold or a ride that you wanted to ride is closed and just going home. I'm sure Guest Relations would probably even refund the money you paid for parking if you nicely explained the situation.
Besides, as cold and windy as it's been, I'm assuming the majority of people that went to the park over the weekend were season passholders who didn't mind, and probably expected, to stay at the park for a shorter time then they normally did.
If you can't stand the heights, get out of the line.
Coaster Lover said:
Now, I'm sure SFA could open a month later, giving the park more time to get the rides up and more importantly giving the weather a few more weeks to warm up, but instead they open in April with most of their rides open with at least one train, which really isn't a problem at all because there really arn't any significant lines in April that justify two train operation anyway! I think you all should just be happy that PKD and Busch Gardens, SFA's southern compitition, open so early, otherwise, I'm sure SFA would be opening much later in the year as their northern compitition, Hershey and Dorney, do. PKD and BGW both open weekends Starting March 27th (one weekend before SFA).
And when I went to BGW on opening day, I saw two trains on BBW, two trains on Nessie, two on Alpie and (for a period of time) THREE on AC. I dont recall seeing a single ride *closed*, let alone in pieces. The only attraction that was DDM (so to speak) was the 'Irish Thunder' show.
Hershey opens only half the park for Springtime in the Park April 9-11 (Coincidently, Hersheypark started Springtime in the Park shortly after SFA started being open in April) and fully opens May 7th, and Dorney opens May 8th.
Yes, but with Hershey, 1) you know up front that several of the rides (i.e. all of Midway America) will be closed, and 2) they dont charge you FULL PRICE for half the park (but they do at SFA ;)).
I think you should be happy that SFA is even open at all in April and stop complaining that a few of the attractions arn't up to capicity (sic) yet. I mean, they could just open in May with their northern compitition, but then you'd all be complaining as to why they open so late.
Personally, I think the park open too early anyway. The parks shouldnt be allowed to open until *after* the NCAA tourney (rgw would agree). Seriously though, if the park is only open with several major attractions down, is that really fair to the customers?
Ohh, by the way, you seem to be completly overlooking the fact that another local park that opened around the time SFA did opened with one of their headline coasters completly incompacitated (sic), ya, Hypersonic at PKD, at least SFA was at the point where they were testing all their unopened attractions. *** Edited 4/5/2004 3:26:33 PM UTC by Coaster Lover***
If that is the case, shame on PKD as well. Just because PKD f***s up its off season work, that does not excuse SFA. Though I would like to point out that this trip report says HS:XLC was working the very next weekend. I'd like to see if SFA matches that turnaround.
In either case, both fall short of BGW which had its major rides running with multiple trains (even though the crowd did not warrant it) ON OPENING DAY!
I'm not among the "Usual Suspects" that receive glee from bashing SF in general or SFA in particular, quite the contrary, I'm an ardent defender. But facts are facts, other parks have shown year in and year out that they can get 'up to par' from day one, so why cant SFA?
I invite anyone to answer *that* question.
lata, jeremy
zacharyt.shutterfly.com
PlaceHolder for Castor & Pollux
In order to IMPROVE, it is first absolutely essential to ACCEPT the fact that you're not doing everything you can do to be the best you can be. I certainly don't *expect* that each and every ride will be running to MAX capacity before Memorial Day weekend...but I do have SOME expectations, especially when you're announcing being "open weekends" and charging full price.
SFoG, for instance, was still working on installing the "New for '04 rides" when we were there, and the notoriously maintenance-hungry DV was down as well. Most every other ride was running TWO trains, and the ops were *hustling* to achieve good dispatches. Granted, the Spring Fling event WAS the third operating weekend for SFoG.
I am SURE that SFoG, like SFA, PKD, PKI, GAdv, and every other park is busy "gearing up" for the season (at least that's what the TRs show, LOL). But when you're OPEN, you have to be ready to do business...excuses are JUST that.
Personally, I don't feel the need to *defend* ANY park (and I have shares of PKS). Parks are businesses first and foremost, and those that WANT to improve and do well, will take a good HONEST look at themselves, and WILL get better.....those that "need defending", those are the ones that will see new management teams in the future...
You still have Zoidberg.... You ALL have Zoidberg! (V) (;,,;) (V)
Sam A. Marks said:
I was there from noon to about 1:30 today. There were more employees than guests!!! The only coasters that were running were Batwing (and only just barely, see below) and Wild One.
That, WRONG, plain and simple...
I personally rode the Wild One, and Mind Eraser, I also saw Two Face in operation.
SAM
Simmer!!! I was only there for an hour and a half! During that hour and a half, those coasters were not running! (although Roar might have been operating around noon) I didn't claim anything else.
PaulB11 said:
Sam A. Marks said:
I was there from noon to about 1:30 today. There were more employees than guests!!! The only coasters that were running were Batwing (and only just barely, see below) and Wild One.
That, WRONG, plain and simple...
I personally rode the Wild One, and Mind Eraser, I also saw Two Face in operation.
SAM
Simmer!!! I was only there for an hour and a half! During that hour and a half, those coasters were not running! (although Roar might have been operating around noon) I didn't claim anything else.
See, I don't post here often and I do read many posts from other sites and I see this BS about people that go into a park for a few Hours and leave. OK I agree that if paying full price everything should be open. I guarantee that with just a little complaint at GR, a comeback will be given. People with season passes should realize that this sort of thing happens. Someone said Machines are machines and they will opeate when they want to. This is true as well.
Bill, it is not always possible to have the machinery ready on time, we are north of Dollywood and they did not think Thunderhead would be ready. That it was, was a miracle.
WE did not have the best of seasons, but think of it this way, isn't it better to have a park be open with what is ready than to have no park open in April? The whining just gets unbearable. If you traveling in April, hey your asking for trouble. NO ONE ever guarantees that all rides will be running. Things happen.
It just seems that enthusiasts expect more than the GP. Heck, it is the enthusiasts visiting the park in early season and not the GP so who is actually paying the $40 to 50 bucks anyway? Very few I would suspect and they do deserve the comebacks offerred by the parks for their less than stellar performances.
Whatever, your all going to complain until your happy that you have flamed the park of your choice to death. Yet, that park, if a thmer will have over a million visitors during the year, if a traditional park, will be near a million people, so after all your rants, what have you gained? Give me a park, any park, I will have a good time there despite you.
Ed
An Old Coaster fart that refuses to grow old, I just wish many of my friends could have as well!
Good lord!! I was not complaining that so few coasters were open! I did mention that if I payed full price I would have been miffed, but as someone said, the closed rides were posted at the entrance of the park, so they knew what they were getting into. I was satisfied with my hour and a half. Wasn't really planning on staying that much longer than that. What's so wrong with that? As far as I know, it's a benefit of having a season pass. Hell, it's even being advertised as such on the radio.
And I do realize that Murphy's Law is still in effect, especially so for amusement parks. It would have been nice if one or two more coasters were open, but no big deal. I still had a decent time, and will most likely be back next weekend.
Nah, it's not "all about Bill", and never has been as far as I know. When I'm HERE (posting), I'm thinking of parks in terms of their *business*....marketing, operations, customer relations, advertising, maintenance, security, staffing, the whole ball of wax...their ability to impress THEIR locals, (unless they're in Orlando, LOL)... that's really what's going to determine whether they succeed or not. I know for a fact I don't always get a "true representation" of a park on an *average operating day*, but it's the SAMPLING of that park that I have to judge on....
When I'm THERE (at a park, ANY park)....shoot, I am ALL about the fun...:) I'll worry about "the other stuff" when I can't get in line for a great ride...;)
You still have Zoidberg.... You ALL have Zoidberg! (V) (;,,;) (V)
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