dr_humor

When you say "all the clues", what exactly are you talking about?

No, and I'm not complaining, just noting observations. Out of all the rides Intamin has built at CP over the past two decades, Millennium Force, while grand, is not complex in terms of technology. Yes, the elevator system was novel (and subsequently the root of most of its early issues), but Millie takes you up, and gravity does the rest. That's it. It's not only an issue of downtime, which is greater with Intamin, but reliability in terms of getting what was promised. I had no fear that Gatekeeper would open on time and be ready for me to ride a few days later. Why? B & M. Wicked Twister, Top Thrill, Maverick, Shoot the Rapids...all recent, all Intamin, and all required significant, significant modifications that either delayed the opening of the ride or caused serious, serious interruptions in service. Do they all run well today? Yes. Did it take an expensive, time-intensive effort to get them all to that point? Yes. B & Ms are good to go out of the box. That's the difference.

There is little doubt that B & M coasters are historically more reliable, but there is a simple reason for this; they don't take as many risks as Intamin. Intamin, for whatever reason, is consistently reinventing the technology of rides as they go. They have a large margin for risk in their rides. The downside? Modifications, downtime, etc... The upside? You are responsible for the worlds top wooden (El Toro) and steel coaster (MF)...and Maverick. Top Thrill Dragster is no longer the disaster it once was, it took the park nearly 5 years to get the kinks consistently ironed out. Maverick had an inversion removed that only enthusiasts know about, but other than that it has the longest lines of any ride at the park on any given day. There's no point in arguing which is "better"; that's too subjective. But what is different is clear. I'm also guilty of bashing Intamin, but MF is hands down the best ride I have ever ridden in my life, with El Toro a very, very, very close second. Let's also not forget that there are many other companies out there. I would only lean towards B & M b/c of the current Cedar Fair trend.

Even in death, SOB has the power to convert each and every thread into one about itself. Narcisistic SOB.

I didn't feel any pressure, squeezing, pain, discomfort, displeasure, distress, irritation, tenderness, or soreness. Of any kind. On Wild Eagle. Anywhere.

So now skinny people are complaining? I don't know about that jcgoble...I'm as skinny as you...6-2 and 165ish (I'm a marathoner, so yeah...skinny), and Wild Eagle was extremely comfortable...Gatekeeper has the exact same restraints.

When you see Gatekeeper in person, you'll realize it's the not the parking lot coaster you think it is. If that is indeed your opinion. That's all.

I think it makes logical sense, if there are structures over 300 feet on site, there is a process of filing, approval, etc. the park would need to go through to get it cleared. Obviously, over 300 feet is OK, it just needs to get clearance and approval with the FAA. Cedar Point went through the same process with TTD and MF.

True, the only facts right now are what we can see, but there are still some logical deductions that can be made. 1. Whatever it is, I would argue that a main goal will be to remove any and all memory of SOB, and the nightmare it became. Two conclusions can be drawn from this. First, it will be a major install, meaning, something large...something that is not a wild mouse. In other words, a big coaster. Second, it will not be wood, for obvious reasons. 2. Construction has started really early. The only logical conclusion to be reached from this is "big". So with those two points, the first just being logical inference, and the second a fact, we come to the same conclusion: big coaster. (most likely steel). 3. It is a fact that Banshee has been resurrected, and with the "evil phenom" writing, we just may have a name. This is the weakest of the bunch, though, IMO. 4. Cedar Fair has been in love with B & M lately, and nothing erases a history of maintence nightmares like a B & M. Hence, Gatekeeper. Intamin burned a lot of bridges lately with Cedar Point's series of unfrotuante events, the latest being the disappointing STR. 5. Kings Island is the only "flagship-esque" park in the entire chain that does not have a giga coaster. 6. B & M recently started building gigas. And so, we come to the only logical conclusion: B & M giga named Banshee. See how easy that is?

Just saying; it's obvious that Kings Island is the grandest of the Cedar Fair parks that does not have a giga coaster. I am not at all suggesting this is a "necessity", but if I was forced to bet on one option and one option only, this is currently it. And yes, Westcoaster, that is always a possibility, but I have never witnessed Cedar Fair doing that, at least in my time. I'm not sure I see the advantage of that move.

Ah, I think I missed that in between the lines. And that is true. Even their innovative designs, form inverts to wing-riders, are just solid performers. The talk I always hear from the few folks I know in the business always come back to the same line; B & M doesn't over-engineer the rides.

Gatekeeper is not a prototype, and it will be a home run. The WRs mentioned above are wildly, wildly popular. Plus, it's a B & M, meaning its reliable and no in need of an endless string of tweaks, downtime, etc. as is the case with Intmain's products, as breathtaking and ground-breaking as they can be. I wouldn't rule out a B & M Giga at all. It would see KI follow the same pattern as CW (Behemoth, Leviathan. There's certainly room for any type of layout one can imagine.

Just curious...have you ridden one? Wild Eagle was the best new coaster i've ridden in some time. I wasn't convinced until I got on the ride, but it was sensational.

Definitely worth a mention, just not very promising if it's about a coaster's height

Well, if it matters, Pterosaurs were actually not very good flyers...at least from what is believed. I watch a lot Dinosaur Train and Sid the Science Kid with my 5 year old. daughter. Not much higher than tall tree-tops. So hopefully they don't mean very high.

As the story goes, the deal included a promise from B & M not to build any other dive coasters in the United States except the Busch parks (hence, Griffon) for X amount of years. I would have to think that any such deal would certainly be null and void at this point in time. Out of curiosity, how much can one really divulge from the shape of a footer? Round, square, etc...can we really say "well, it's a B & M...only B & M uses square footers..."

Beat me to it. I mean, way to early, really, to say "this is it", but if...and if...the "evil" conotation of the wording on the sign is a clue, this certainly fits. Banshee...too "risque" in 1996, but OK in 2014. It also has the correct delegation of use.

There are no plans to take it away. Just

I can deal with that. I dig it, what can I say? I love the fountains, but if anything could change, it's the color. It's like the gym teacher you had in the 80's finally getting some khakis and trading in his teal corduroys. Are they hip in their own right? Sure...but change can be a good thing. Embrace it.

I actually like the black much better. Much less tacky and 70'ish, and gives it a nice feel. I say go with the black.

If the new attraction wasn't replacing SOB I would say you have a great chance of being right about that. Whatever it is, I think part of the goal would be to help guests forget that SOB existed, much like Vortex repacing The Bat. Not sure Luminosity quite reaches those heights.

It's not like getting a hand stamp is that big of a deal, but this is just one of the hundreds of things that Cedar Fair can do to make a park visit incrementally easier, so I wouldn't knock it. It's easier to just walk out of the park. Game changer? No...but one tiny brick in the wall of technological ineptitude the chain was trapped in under Kinzel's leadership.

My only experience with something similar was about 7 years ago when El Toro opened at Six Flags Great Adventure. My wife and I were staying in Allentown, PA, and decided randomly to drive to SF to check out the park (quite a hike from where we were staying). We get to the park, and the parking lot sign says "Closing at noon for El Toro's media day". I felt like Clark Griswald. Now, we had checked the website that morning, and there was no announcement made at all. When we got to the park, they were passing out free "come back tomorrow for free" passes to everyone who showed up, and we got a handful of skip the line passes, which we used on Nitro. Yea, if you're making a substantial trip, how can you not check the schedule?

Ah...taking my first spin on Verbolten in July. Can't wait. But I'm not sure if something that intensely themed is in the cards for Cedar Fair.

Of course not. It's a boomerang coaster. Many parks have those as well. Did I really need to say "full circuit inverted B & M coaster"?