coasterfreak75

If it goes to a CF park it will be Carowinds, we get all the recycled rides.

I think ops has declined overall at all parks. I have not been to KI in a few years but at Carowinds, for example, Top Gun/Afterburn used to run darn near as effecient as Vortex at KI. This year very slow due to ops. Is this a Cedar Fair thing, management, or just the name of the game anymore? Also, I agree with the first ride thing on flying dutchman rides. The first time is off the hook, but now I'm just not impressed. The model at Carowinds seems to shake and just seems to ride almost worn out. Is this just a Vekoma deal or is it the nature of the ride?

Borghawk, sorry Nighthawk at Carowinds has seen longer load/unload times this year than in times past. Mostly this has been due to the ops crew being more interested in entertaining themselves than getting trains in and out in a timely manner. I have heard that this is being dealt with so I hope it gets better. Just thought I might throw that one in.

Day rides on The Beast are OK, but for me it's the night rides. It's all about seclusion. There is something about racing out into the woods at high speed in the dark that seperates The Beast from any other coaster. And the helix at the end doesn't hurt anything either. By far the best ride in the park and the best woodie on the planet.

People stop fighting! At PKI the new focus is Hollywood. Now name a better spot in the park to put a new one of a kind coaster that will draw crowds like a Hollywood blockbuster. The best spot in the park is Vortex. That coaster has the ultimate Kodak picture spot, right there at the boomerang. Much less the ride is almost 20 years old, it did open in 1987. With Arrow gone, well for the most part gone, parts can't be the most inexpensive in the world. Why not get rid of it and make room for something new. I love Vortex but I'm all for something better and newer.

It was also my first looping coaster. What great fun a blast foward and alot of airtime dropping 40' or so into a quick vertical loop then up another hill and along a straight until the brakes stopped you. Then you waited until the air tanks recharged and were then blasted backwards to do it all in reverse. Yeah you had to walk up 4 flights of stairs but darn it was worth it.

I miss...... The Bat, yes I'm old enough to remember it. Smurfs Enchanted Voyage. King Cobra. And last but not least, Screamin' Demon!

At the park, it's La Rosas. When I'm not at the park I prefer Skyline, because you can't get a 5-way at the park.

I'm glad to hear that. Like I said I love the ride, I wasn't dogging it. I hope it's there for the long haul!

Is it just me or is SOB heading down the same road The Bat went down? It has been reduced to one train operation, once again, for at least part of the season. I really don't see where one train operation can work once the park starts to get good and busy. Look at it this way, one train means capacity is about 432 PPH. How did I come up with this figure you ask? One train holds 36 riders, if full. It takes roughly 5 minutes to cycle a train. Figuring ride time, loading, checking bars, and unloading. I don't see this working, on a busy Saturday you are only talking 5616 passengers all day, maybe 6000 at best. Apparently it destroyed another train, from what I hear on this site and others. A new train can't be that cheap, much less refurbishing an old one can't be cheap either. Every off season, and during each season, PKI does alot of retracking trying to smooth a very finicky ride. This can't be cheap either. Unless I'm badly mistaken The Bat said its goodbyes because of high maintance costs, and constant downtime. Don't get me wrong, I love SOB. It's my second favorite coaster in the park, right behind the daddy. I think it's a great ride, but I also loved The Bat. Please don't dog me for this post, it's only my view and I want to see if anyone else on here feels the same way I do.

I met Jeff at the UltimateRollerCoaster.com outing a few years back and to be honest I have never met anyone as kind as he was. He loves his job and he just seemed like one of those guys who would take the shirt off his back for you if he thought you needed it. I think Jeff is a true asset to the park and to Paramount in general. And Jeff if you read this, keep up the good work!

Great post! Yes, I am old enough to remember all of those rides. The Screamin' Demon was my first looper. I still miss the water under The Beast, I wish they would bring it back for the anniversery this year. I miss The Bat, I wish they would tear out Top Gun, and replace it with a Bat clone only with banked turns so it would last. ****, you've got me jabbering and remembering how old I really am.

Where are any other shuttles operating closer to the east coast? I remember riding The Deamon, in fact it was my first looper.

To me the whole ride is the best part! Followed by night rides, the energy in the station gets you so pumped up and the train rolls faster after a long day in the heat. But of the things listed the helix is the best part.

If I give you my email would you send me a copy?