I was at the park tonight for about an hour.

I took a batted ball directly square on my big toe today on the ballfield and was still in a little pain.

Overall I think this year's attention to detail with the halloween decorations is the best it's ever been. The place looked great. I don't remember ever seeing them use theatrical lighting gels to reduce to amount of white light in the park.

I only rode Roar, JJ, and Wild One.

Roar had great off in the last row coming off the lift and after that the ride sucked. The whole train shuffles from side to side for the rest of the course.

JJ looked (and felt) like it was lagging in speed. The first three inversions felt like we were barely making it through them. Nor normal for JJ. Two good rides. I was stuck on the ride because my lap bar wouldn't unlatch. The ride op had no idea I wanted to get off. I was trying to get her attention but she didn't see me. When she came back to check, I told her I couldn't get out. She asked me if I'd like to stay on and I really didn't want to ride again but didn't want to be "that guy" that holds up the train. Decent ride despite lack of speed.

Over to Wild One and the fast pass line was closed but the ride op insisted they sent out full trains and took volunteers for the last car to move one or two rows up.

The ride ops in all three stations were overly friendly (they had to be on crack), fast, hustled down the train like they do at Cedar Point when the ops race, and looked like they were actually having fun working at Six Flags America. Shock doesn't begin to describe. I really hope they can continue this when the families come back to Thomas Town next year.

Wild One, as always, provided an excellent ride. This in my opinion is the one of the most under rated coasters in the world. It's not the tallest, it's not the fasted, it doesn't look like it's 92 years old and rides very well, is smooth but not to the point where you lose the "out of control feel", is loaded with ejector air, and has one of the best finishes with that wicked helix. Great ride.

As someone posted one of the three sites I post on, they said there were markings on the gravel lot between Joker's Jinx and Wild One and I can confirm this. There weren't many but they were on the south side of the lot near Skull Mountain's final drop lift supports. You couldn't see them from the ground but once your up on JJ you can see them. You can also see them on while sitting on the brakes on JJ.

Other things of note:

I didn't ride SROS. I had to take the walk of shame on my last visit to the park. I sat in the test seat and there was about six inches between the seat belt metal piece and that airplane style buckle. Last time when I took the walk, I was mere millimeters close to riding as the metal piece was in the buckle and I just needed that last little mmmph. I turned to the girl with the measuring stick and asked her if they shortened the seat belts (I've lost 15 pounds since my last visit in July) and she said before FrightFest kicked off a couple of weeks ago. I walked away in disgust.

The crowd was pretty substantial thanks to a cheer leading competition. Everything was running two trains that I know of. I can't confirm this on Batwing because I didn't want to walk all that way for a headache. Batwing always gives me headaches. Roar and JJ were one to two train waits and Wild One was several trains wait, maybe ten to fifteen minutes. It wasn't bad.

I guess waiting isn't as bad when the you see the crew hustling and enjoying their jobs.

Two Face is still on site. As we entered the helix on Wild One, I thought I saw a glimpse of orange through the trees but didn't notice anything exiting the helix. While sitting on the brake run, I looked over my shoulder and saw orange track and blue lift support sitting in the backstage area. For a coaster that was allegedly sold months ago, its still sitting on site.

They've installed a video board over by the first aid / Dippin Dots area down the right side of Main Street coming from the entrance. If its been there awhile than that's how long its been since my last visit.

Everything was open including all wet rides on the non-Hurricane Harbor side of the park.

Many structures and other objects like poles, railings, lamp posts were repainted and it stands out. I'm not use to seeing such vibrant colors at SFA.

Joe
Great_Ump

>
> I took a batted ball directly square on my big toe today on
> the ballfield and was still in a little pain.

One of the Minnesota Twins took a foul ball to his privates last night. Bounced up in the batter's box after he hit it.

> Overall I think this year's attention to detail with the
> halloween decorations is the best it's ever been.

They must have put more stuff out since my visit on the 3rd.

>
>
> Wild One, as always, provided an excellent ride. This in my
> opinion is the one of the most under rated coasters in the
> world.

Dunno about the WORLD (I haven't been around enough of it) but definitely a coaster that flies under the radar when the subject of great woodies comes up.

>
>

>
>
> Two Face is still on site. As we entered the helix on Wild
> One, I thought I saw a glimpse of orange through the trees
> but didn't notice anything exiting the helix. While sitting
> on the brake run, I looked over my shoulder and saw orange
> track and blue lift support sitting in the backstage area.
> For a coaster that was allegedly sold months ago, its still
> sitting on site.

I forgot all about that ride from my first visit back in the early 2000's.

>
>
> Many structures and other objects like poles, railings,
> lamp posts were repainted and it stands out. I'm not use to
> seeing such vibrant colors at SFA.

I know one person who'll be happy to hear that!

Mike

>

> I was at the park tonight for about an hour.

I thought about going, but decided against it since some of the kids were out today for Columbus Day (PG County isn't, but it could have made the park more crowded than I wanted to deal with.)

> I took a batted ball directly square on my big toe today on
> the ballfield and was still in a little pain.

Ouch!!

> Roar had great off in the last row coming off the lift and
> after that the ride sucked. The whole train shuffles from
> side to side for the rest of the course.

In the past, SFA has done a great job of taking care of Roar. Not so much so this year. I assume the budget cuts have caught up with them.

> JJ looked (and felt) like it was lagging in speed. The
> first three inversions felt like we were barely making it
> through them. Nor normal for JJ. Two good rides. I was
> stuck on the ride because my lap bar wouldn't unlatch. The
> ride op had no idea I wanted to get off. I was trying to
> get her attention but she didn't see me. When she came back
> to check, I told her I couldn't get out. She asked me if
> I'd like to stay on and I really didn't want to ride again
> but didn't want to be "that guy" that holds up
> the train. Decent ride despite lack of speed.

It was rather cold last night. The Premier Spaghetti Bowls are noticiably slower in cold weather, to the point that FOF got stuck in the upper turn during an early morning event and SFA used to not run JJ after September.

> Wild One, as always, provided an excellent ride. This in my
> opinion is the one of the most under rated coasters in the
> world. It's not the tallest, it's not the fasted, it
> doesn't look like it's 92 years old and rides very well, is
> smooth but not to the point where you lose the "out of
> control feel", is loaded with ejector air, and has one
> of the best finishes with that wicked helix. Great ride.

Wild One is easily the best Out and Back woodie I have ridden. It is miles past any of the former Paramount Racers, and completely blows down SFOG's Scream Machine and Rotting Lumber. It may be the best in the chain.

> As someone posted one of the three sites I post on, they
> said there were markings on the gravel lot between Joker's
> Jinx and Wild One and I can confirm this. There weren't
> many but they were on the south side of the lot near Skull
> Mountain's final drop lift supports. You couldn't see them
> from the ground but once your up on JJ you can see them.
> You can also see them on while sitting on the brakes on JJ.

Interesting, I will have to look next week when I go.

> Other things of note:

> I didn't ride SROS. I had to take the walk of shame on my
> last visit to the park. I sat in the test seat and there
> was about six inches between the seat belt metal piece and
> that airplane style buckle. Last time when I took the walk,
> I was mere millimeters close to riding as the metal piece
> was in the buckle and I just needed that last little mmmph.
> I turned to the girl with the measuring stick and asked her
> if they shortened the seat belts (I've lost 15 pounds since
> my last visit in July) and she said before FrightFest
> kicked off a couple of weeks ago. I walked away in disgust.

Super's test seat is not accurate AT ALL. I had the same problem and went to try the test seat and found the same result. Try the back of the train in the even rows (cars 6, 7, 8, or 9) It has been a while since I compared, but I got kicked out of row 2 earlier this year only to be able to fit in those rows with no problem. Would not surprise me in the least to find out that the lapbars have different settings back there.

I am finding from Super and FOF that you should not assume you will not fit because of one seat. Try another seat and you may be surprised.

> The crowd was pretty substantial thanks to a cheer leading
> competition. Everything was running two trains that I know
> of. I can't confirm this on Batwing because I didn't want
> to walk all that way for a headache. Batwing always gives
> me headaches. Roar and JJ were one to two train waits and
> Wild One was several trains wait, maybe ten to fifteen
> minutes. It wasn't bad.

Sounds like more than I was expecting, so I made the right choice to take the day off.

> I guess waiting isn't as bad when the you see the crew
> hustling and enjoying their jobs.

Yay. 'Bout time!!

> Two Face is still on site. As we entered the helix on Wild
> One, I thought I saw a glimpse of orange through the trees
> but didn't notice anything exiting the helix. While sitting
> on the brake run, I looked over my shoulder and saw orange
> track and blue lift support sitting in the backstage area.
> For a coaster that was allegedly sold months ago, its still
> sitting on site.

I will need to look for that next time. I'll bet you can see it from the train just fine.

> They've installed a video board over by the first aid /
> Dippin Dots area down the right side of Main Street coming
> from the entrance. If its been there awhile than that's how
> long its been since my last visit.

> Everything was open including all wet rides on the
> non-Hurricane Harbor side of the park.

> Many structures and other objects like poles, railings,
> lamp posts were repainted and it stands out. I'm not use to
> seeing such vibrant colors at SFA.

> Joe
> Great_Ump

Great TR, Joe. You covered a lot in just 1 hr in the park.

Paul

> Wild One, as always, provided an excellent ride. This in my
> opinion is the one of the most under rated coasters in the
> world. It's not the tallest, it's not the fasted, it
> doesn't look like it's 92 years old and rides very well, is
> smooth but not to the point where you lose the "out of
> control feel", is loaded with ejector air, and has one
> of the best finishes with that wicked helix. Great ride.

> Wild One is easily the best Out and Back woodie I have
> ridden. It is miles past any of the former Paramount
> Racers, and completely blows down SFOG's Scream Machine and
> Rotting Lumber. It may be the best in the chain.

I agree about WO. Unfortunately, my favorite out and back woodie was Big Dipper at Geauga Lake. Wild One now gets to take it's place, although I also really like Blue Streak at CP.

One comment that I have heard from enthusiasts is that they liked WO before the reprofiling/retracking (in 1999???). I actually like it better than before, with the exception of the old turnaround -- that was fantastic. However, I feel it rides better with the reprofiling.

> As someone posted one of the three sites I post on, they
> said there were markings on the gravel lot between Joker's
> Jinx and Wild One and I can confirm this. There weren't
> many but they were on the south side of the lot near Skull
> Mountain's final drop lift supports. You couldn't see them
> from the ground but once your up on JJ you can see them.
> You can also see them on while sitting on the brakes on JJ.

> Interesting, I will have to look next week when I go.

An employee told me that Thomas Town will be ". . . over by Gothum City." Of course, that is the spot. However, you can't always trust employees comments.

MarathonRunner

> As someone posted one of the three sites I post on, they
> said there were markings on the gravel lot between Joker's
> Jinx and Wild One and I can confirm this. There weren't
> many but they were on the south side of the lot near Skull
> Mountain's final drop lift supports. You couldn't see them
> from the ground but once your up on JJ you can see them.
> You can also see them on while sitting on the brakes on JJ.

> Interesting, I will have to look next week when I go.

> An employee told me that Thomas Town will be ". . .
> over by Gothum City." Of course, that is the spot.
> However, you can't always trust employees comments.

> MarathonRunner

Several people have "heard from Management" that TT will in fact go over between Joker's Jinx and Wild One where the circus tent was for the 2000 season.

No one has been able to confirm yet.

I think the markings on the ground all but confirms it myself.

The big question being talked about privately is why hasn't SFA filed for permits with PG County? They know it takes forever to get anything through and yet they announced TT back in April.

Why are they dragging their feet on this?

Joe
Great_Ump