bobkmertz

joined 2 years ago
MODERATOR OF
[–] bobkmertz@lemm.ee 1 points 3 weeks ago

According to El Toro Ryan this is the first valley since 2013. https://opencoaster.net/@ElToroRyan/114452558013020822

 

Millennium Force didn't complete it's circuit today and someone actually captured the webcam recording it happening.

[–] bobkmertz@lemm.ee 2 points 3 weeks ago

Still pissed about this. SFA is honestly a great park.... It wasn't the best and it certainly had problems but nearly every time I was there except for maybe once it was a pleasant experience and I genuinely love the collection the park has. They've also put a lot of TLC into the park the last 5 years or so.

[–] bobkmertz@lemm.ee 2 points 2 months ago

Yea, it sucks over here in the US..... we have no privacy protections at all and..... looks around and sighs

 

In a surprise but maybe not completely shocking turn it appears that Kennywood and the other Palace parks in the US will be purchased by Herschend (owners of Dollywood, Silver Dollar City, and Kentucky Kingdom). This will be interesting to watch.

 

The extensive modification project is ongoing on they are expecting that testing will take place during the first part of the operating season.

[–] bobkmertz@lemm.ee 2 points 2 months ago

I completely agree. I understand that the coaster was costly to operate but I think this was short sighted and was fueled by the lack of competition that the merger created. Above all it's incredibly aggregating that they intentionally didn't let on that Ka was going away solely so that it wouldn't affect season pass sales.

As for Zum I would agree with what you said about the views but I still think that was one of the weaker drop towers I'd been on (solely on the basis of the drop).

I'm concerned about the new Six Flags. I really hope that I'm wrong and the chain actually does some amazing things but I'm not in a position where I would put money on it.

[–] bobkmertz@lemm.ee 2 points 4 months ago

One day this thing might even run too 😂

 

Thomas Town at Kennywood is being rethemed for next year.

 

In the continuing saga of Cedar Fair (now Six Flags) waiting for everyone to get their 2025 season passes and then slowly start announcing numerous rides that will NOT open in 2025 we now add Carowinds to the list. Nighthawk, the drop tower, and the enterprise will be removed before the season begins. There are no opportunities for last rides.

[–] bobkmertz@lemm.ee 2 points 6 months ago

I don't like the new Six Flags... Cedar Fair just seems to have used the Six Flags name as a mustache to twirl.

[–] bobkmertz@lemm.ee 3 points 6 months ago

The park emailed ElToroRyan saying it's an all new coaster. https://opencoaster.net/@ElToroRyan/113482030054746073

 

Intimidator 305 at Kings Dominion, which was called Project 305 this year, will be known as Pantherian next year as it will be joining the Jungle X theming.

[–] bobkmertz@lemm.ee 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

In the case of the impulse coasters with the holding brake that's an example of the thrill but I think the distinguishing factor is that your adrenaline is already going by time you hit that point..... With a tilt coaster you're going to mix the suspense of a dive coaster with the 90 degree hold of the brake on the 2 impulse coasters that have/had them.

[–] bobkmertz@lemm.ee 4 points 8 months ago (3 children)

I've never been on a full 90 degree tilt coaster but even the slightly sloped one I've been on actually gave me more of a thrill than any holding brake on a B&M dive coaster (like Valravn). Being held at 90 degrees and then suddenly being dropped is going to be something unlike anything you've experienced on a coaster..... This will be on the level of a drop tower. One of these has existed overseas for decades and I've been dreaming of riding it.... I seriously can't wait.

 

Out of nowhere Cedar Point has announced that a new coaster will open next year, named "Sirens Curse"

 

This video came up in a conversation on our podcast and I had forgot about it but after watching it again I thought it was well worth sharing. This is an outside firm that is performing in depth maintenance on coasters and accessing the bolts that you can't just walk to by ropes. It's truly fascinating to watch. It's also clearly an old video with Volcano making an appearance.

[–] bobkmertz@lemm.ee 1 points 8 months ago

Here's the point that I was done with any passes from SeaWorld/United Parks:

Prior to 2020 everyone with a Platinum pass had their own parking lot and could use the employee entrance to access it (and avoid the line at the main gates). When Covid arrived they told us they had to remove that benefit temporarily because the alternate access impeded screening.... That was reasonable. Two weeks later that lot reopened as the premium parking option at the main gate and all of us pass holders were welcomed to purchase parking tickets to use that lot... The same lot that our current membership gave us free access to. It also confirmed that they used Covid as a false excuse to take this benefit away and by giving the same thing to purchasing customers they clearly showed there was NO legitimate reason for them to remove that benefit from us.

Following that they later changed tiers in the middle of pass ownership taking many other benefits away and then they kept enticing us to renew our passes so we could ride Pantheon when it opens in 2021.... 2022.....

And I was done. They did send me the free ticket so I could ride Pantheon when it opened.... I paid my $40 parking fee and went straight to pantheon which was down and not declared as being down on the board at the entrance to the park. That day every single coaster was down at some point with many being down all day. I talked to guest services who took my information and said they would send me another ticket.... That never happened.

They have a really long walk to get me to even consider a pass again. The truth is, I just don't have much interest in going there at all. I've had so many horrible experiences in the last 5 years that being in the park has just been associated with misery.

I hope they can turn it around though.... The parks have so much potential.

[–] bobkmertz@lemm.ee 1 points 8 months ago

BGW really just stopped maintaining stuff. The theming in that park was just a little below Disney but after the holdings company took over they just stopped fixing things when it broke and that has led to a subtle but yet very noticeable difference. Then you look at rides like Verbolten which has degraded a ton solely because they didn't maintain the theme elements in the building leaving the dark forest not so dark.

[–] bobkmertz@lemm.ee 2 points 8 months ago (2 children)

I'm really hoping they actually follow through with theming this thing.... It's going to make or break it. They dropped the ball with Pantheon but at least it is a fun coaster but DarKoaster is just a complete failure without the full theming.

 

With all the recent announcements for coasters coming in 2025 I'm curious what everyone is looking forward to the most? Personally I think AlpenFury looks amazing and may be the biggest hit of the year.

 

Built by B&M the coaster will be called "Rakshasa" and have a 171ft drop with a beyond vertical 96 degree slope and reach speeds of 67mph

 

Being built by Premier Rides this launch coaster will reach 115km/h (71mph) and blast you through the mountain (is this sounding familiar yet). It will take you through 9 inversions that seem to be mostly rolls (sounding more familiar) and all flow together. Clearly the real Volcano replacement went to another country 😂

 

Kings Dominion has announced their new coaster for 2025

view more: next ›