At about 2:30 on Sat we left Cedar Point after a day and a half. We stopped by
our favorite food place again on the way out of Sandusky (Steak N Shake) and
made our way towards Cleveland. There was some slight rain while we made the
drive over to SF WoA, but when we arrived at the park the rain stopped and it
was just cloudy the rest of the day. We heard a decent sized storm went
through about an hour before we got there and just about everyone left. We
arrived about quarter till 5pm. The park was EMPTY and we had it to ourselves
mostly. This was wonderful. We went two years ago and just about the same
thing happened then too. The only sad thing was X Flight was down this
evening, and I really love the flying coasters, its one gimmick I actually
like. I got to ride that one two seasons ago about 4 times, but I wanted more
! Oh well, at least I had already been on it and I didn't miss a "new to me"
coaster. We got to the park and bought our SF seasons passes there as I saw
they were cheaper there vs SFA, about five bucks less I believe. Only took a
few mins to get them and get processed and off we went to S:UE. We had rode
Wicked Twister a few hours earlier so I wanted to compare them in the same day.
We rode twice and that was about enough. I just don't really care for S:UE,
its "ok" but it doesnt offer a full ride. I want more in a coaster. I liked
WT at Cedar Point much better. I think the restraints are bigger on WT as
well. S:UE was tighter. It was a walk on, everything in the park was
actually. Mind Eraser (boomerang) was down, I rode that last time too, so I
didn't need the coaster count. So we moved on to Big Dipper. I know this is a
classic, but its just boring. It was not taken care of very well over the
years and it really needs a fresh coat of paint if anything. It was a bit
rough for what it's supose to be. Now it didn't hurt, but that style ride is
not supose to be rattleing & shaking itself apart. I wish I could have ridden
it back in its glory days and before they reprofiled it slightly.
Next we headed over to Villian. Last time we rode it was two years ago and we
liked it alot. But now... OH MY GOODNESS!!!! It was out of control ! It was
full of speed, and pure power. We rode over and over again. Over the evening
it actually took over our # 1 wood spot. There was ejection style air over
every single hill and every hill is turning in some fashion. I have never
experienced a wood coaster running like that. It is certainly an underrated
coaster and I have a feeling it will be a "sleeper" for some years to come. I
have bruises all over my legs from riding 41 times in about 5 and a half hours.
But believe me, it was worth it ! We rode twice in a row before we moved onto
other things. We went and rode Raging Wolf Bobs next. Two years ago I thought
this coaster was an absolute joke, I rode it a 2nd time that trip to see if it
was actually as bad as I thought it was on the first ride. It was... Now it
got new Ger. Trains (train actually, as I didnt see a 2nd one on transfer).
The train did speed the ride of a bit, but it still stinks. Its a poor design,
how can you have an adult sized wood coaster and have ONE hill? I dont think
there is anything they can do to make this a better ride without reprofiling it
completly. The extra speed the new train gives it just means you get to get
off the coaster faster and head to another ride sooner...
Next we rode Batman, I am not a big fan of floorless coasters as its just a
gimmick and not even a very good one at that. But I do like this one as it has
a real roller coaster feel to it, including a runout. Most B&Ms dont offer a
real runout. This one also has a few fan curves, something else B&M doesnt
really offer in many other rides. We rode that twice during the evening. We
didnt bother with the SLC, who cares once you have ridden it on a past trip...
We did ride a few flat rides and the kiddie coaster. Those style always make
me laugh. The trains are so long that the first car is down the first drop
before the back car makes it to the bottom of the lift out of the station ! We
took a spin on double loop and headed back to Villian for the rest of the
night. They were running two trains and had NO wait. It was so "UN six flags
like" I could not believe it. They even let us switch seats if someone was in
our line when we returned. PKD does that, but I don't see it much elsewhere.
There was only two young girls running the ride, one at controls and one
checking harnesses. They rotated every so often. But they keep the line and
trains moving, I was VERY impressed being that it was six flags. They were
friendly and seemed to have fun with their work. We go on at 8pm and never
left the train. Well, Janis left to use the restroom once and came back for
the duration. I never left the train for 2 hours and 15 mins. After the park
closed a ride op mgr entered the station. I could tell he was some kind of
area supervisor. So I asked him if he was the two girls mgr and he said yes.
I told him I was an enthusiast and overall not a Six Flags fan and that I
normally dont like SF policys and so on. But I told him that the two girls he
had here were very good and I told him how well they preformed their jobs, how
friendly they were and how fast and efficient they were getting trains out. I
told him that I know he must get lots of complaints (as most mgrs do) and that
I know people dont go out of their way too much to tell people the good things.
I felt they needed praise. He was shocked and said thank you and he asked us
if we would be willing to fill out a guest releations comment card so the park
mgr would see it. We said "sure". Then he smiled and thanked us and told the
girls they were getting compliments. Then a group of employees were coming up
for a brief ride session. He turned to us and said, hey, get back on and stay
on with us for a few more rides. Well we were certainly not going to say no to
that, being that it had just become our new # 1 wood coaster ! So they put us
in the front seat and we got to take 3 rides with them! (we actually like the
back seat better, but hey, we were on bonus time here !!!) That was so nice of
them and that really made our night a bit more special. As I said earlier, I
am not a big Six Flags fan, but both of our visits to SF WoA were wonderful. I
have nothing bad to say about that park at all. We did stop at Guest Relations
and picked up two comment cards which we will fill out and mail back to them.
I didnt want to rush it by trying to fill it out there after closing when
everyone wanted to go home.
On a grade school rating I give our visit to SF WoA on the 24th of May an A -.
The only reason I gave them an A - was because they could not get X Flight back
open after the storm and I REALLY wanted to ride it again. But we got a TON of
rides on Villian, 41 in all. We were only at the park from 5pm till close at
10pm (well 10:15 after the bonus rides). We then found a local Steak N Shake.
8^)
Next up will be a trip report on Kennywood on 5-25-03.
CoAsTeRDaN
PKD 4 ME
Http://members.aol.com/coasterdan/index.html
Http://hometown.aol.com/revolutiongoal/revolutionhome.html
# 1 Wood, The Villian, # 2 The Legend
# 1 Steel, Mindbender at West Edmonton Mall, # 2 Millennium Force
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