dakota2112

Sounds reasonable to me. The vertical dimension certainly adds length to the track, which is not represented on a 2D overhead plan perspective (unless they use something like USGS countour lines to indicate vertical rise of the track). edit - what would be even better is if 4200' is indeed the length (or widest dimension) of the footprint itself - which would mean the track length must be at least 8400'. But I doubt that

Yeah I think that's what happened to me. Much easier to just leave it in the car. Of course for me the hard part is remembering to leave it in the car

I sometimes use a fanny pack at the park, and the only problem I've ever had is that the roller coaster restraint systems often crush whatever is in it - sunglasses, sunscreen, etc. So I started stowing the fanny pack in the storage bins while riding the coasters - but of course that defeats the purpose if you put your wallet in it etc. The other thing I often take with me is a small bottle of hand sanitizer. People have been handling the ride restraints all day long, and I don't trust that every one of those people has clean hands One thing I will do from now on though is rubberband my wallet closed. I don't have nor do I want to deal with a wallet chain... however I did lose my wallet once on a roller coaster. Luckily it landed on the catwalk and a ride op was able to retrieve it for me. But it very easily could have flown open on its way down, spewing its contents all over the place. So in the rare case that this ever happens again, I at least know it will stay shut. Cargo pants/shorts with velcro'd flap closures would be a good preventive measure to keep it from getting lost in the first place of course. Not trying to finagle your cellphone out of your pocket while on the ride is also a good preventive measure (that's how my wallet fell out... it was on Adventure Express of all places, while stopped just outside the station) And lastly... if you happen to carry a pocketknife with you (I do) or have any such items on your keychain, make sure you leave it in the car.

Maybe the first guy wasn't even kidding

And along with that, how people handle their money really does crack me up. Money is one of the dirtiest things a person can handle. Just think about all the people that handled the dollar bill in your pocket, and where it could have possibly have been. Now think about the last time you paid for that Cheese Coney, slice of pizza, or any type of finger food. Did you wash your hands before putting that food in your mouth? Scary thought huh? Not sure how effective it is, but I always have a small bottle of hand sanitizer with me at the park for this very reason. And it isn't just money... every ride restraint has been handled by people all day long. Same goes for the pumps at gas stations.

The Vortex corkscrew track separated from its supports in 1988? (and Beast does a loop?!? Maybe you mean helix.)

I also want to add this... I will fully admit that the first time I rode Son of Beast, I was a little scared. It was the tallest coaster I'd ever been on, I wasn't sure what to expect, and that first hill looked intimidating. So you're not alone. But that pulse-raising sense of fear is part of what thrill rides are all about - it's a safe way to get an adrenaline rush. Hope that helps!

In other words, the first hill doesn't have any airtime I could swear it had more airtime 25 years ago when I was a kid but some say it hasn't changed. ZukoGirl, I think there's a brake that keeps you from gaining speed until you're already a third of the way down the hill. Don't let the first hill scare ya. In my opinion, the helix at the end is much more intense with its out-of-control theme. (not sure if THAT will help you or not ) Have you ridden Vortex? I think its hill is more intense than The Beast hill. So if you can handle Vortex, then Beast should be no problem. Go for it!

How do you figure? I suspect coconutjuice's statement was sarcastic

The Drop Tower is an exhilarating ride, probably the best airtime in the park However I will cite one negative aspect about it. Due to the nature of the seating arrangement, I particularly don't like my 7-year-old son to ride it. It's hard to explain, but if something were to happen to his over-the-shoulder restraint, there'd be nothing I could do but sit there and watch him potentially fall out of the ride and meet his end. This of course is very unlikely - but the fact remains, every time my son rides this with me, I cringe. I just feel very trapped on it (by design of course) but moreso than other over-the-shoulder rides. At least on Vortex, Top Gun, etc, I feel like I'd have a fighting chance of keeping him from falling out if his restraint fails. I don't have that feeling on Drop Zone (or Delirium either). I know it's largely irrational, but it's just a primal/parental instinct I guess. I also have a nearly religious amount of respect and reverence for heights, which I'm sure adds to it.

Yes indeed, I remember that jingle.

I'm in my mid-30's and I fondly remember the general theming of the big KCKC flume. It was part of what made Rivertown what it is/was for me, along with Beast, White Water Canyon, the little flume, and even the train. The little flume of course is the same ride it always was, and the new theming doesn't detract from the ride itself - but I personally think the original theming was better and added to the overall ambience of that area of the park. This of course is largely just personal preference, and maybe a generational difference too compared to today's kids. edit: ok, I guess the little flume is technically not in rivertown - but I always considered it part of rivertown nonetheless

Much like my inground swimming pool.

For what it's worth... the ride op on Zephyr last night was using the ride's PA speakers to tell people on the midway to stop smoking. Realistically speaking, everyone riding Zephyr was literally going round and round trapped in a cloud of cigarette smoke - you could smell the smoke for the entire duration of the ride. It didn't really bother me much, but for sensitive riders, I'm sure it would have.

Finally rode the now-forwards Red Racer. Here's my theory on this: I think it's nearly impossible to compare the ride quality to last year. Going forwards, I believe the jarring forces act differently on your body as compared to when going backwards. And at least for me, it's generally more painful going forwards. I always sat in the last seat of the trailing car on the backwards side, and while it was very rough, it was NEVER painful at all. Now however, even though I do think the track is smoother, it's more painful (back/spine) going forwards in the last seat of the trailing car. Sitting in the middle of the trailing car is almost pain-free though (it was still a better ride overall going backwards of course)

Or just go in the evening, and you'll get free parking regardless (at least that was the case yesterday... I was there last night at about 6:00 and the parking tollgates were a ghost town)

Actually, I don't believe they ever tell the GP exactly what happened. Most I have ever heard was mechanical problem or technical difficulties. Sometimes they don't, sometimes they do. Vortex was shut down for a while and the ride ops would only tell us "technical difficulty". However Delirium was shut down once and one of the higher-ups (engineer? inspector?) got called to the scene. I asked him if he could tell me what is going on, he said one of the sensors that monitors the frisbee location/orientation was reporting incorrect data or something to that effect.

I would hope that the brakes stay clamped shut (ie "on") in the event of that kind of failure.

To each their own but there does come a point where it's not worth the ongoing effort needed just to prevent an occasional KI marketing call. You could end up spending (wasting) more time fighting it than you would spend dealing with the 30 second phone message in the first place. But if getting an unsolicited KI phone call is that big of a problem for someone, I'll gladly trade some of my daily stress-risers for yours (that said, I got the call as well, and I am on the no call lists... but then again I also get messages DAILY trying to sell me extended car warranties. Just hit delete and move on )

Good point. And I would not like it.

This might be too technical of a question - but does anyone in here know what maximum windspeed the Eiffel Tower was designed to safely withstand? I have an engineering background and have always been curious about this. I'm not fond of heights to begin with, and I know that thing sways noticeably on a windy day. (I realize flexing is good of course. But then I start recalling those classes on fatigue failure... ) The more practical side of this question is, do they close the tower in high wind conditions?

I haven't ridden yet this year but I always thought the forwards side needed re-tracking more urgently - that thing is definitely a back-breaker! I always found the trailing car on the backwards side to be totally pain-free though.

How about "Ride Ops Say the Darndest Things" One time I asked the Eiffel Tower op if there is a maximum wind rating for the tower, and she looked at me like I had three heads. I re-phrased the question and asked if they shut the tower down at a certain windspeed. She said "I don't understand your question". I gave up and said "no one ever does when I ask them that question". (so does anyone in here know? I personally don't like being up there when it's windy and the tower is swaying... I have an engineering background and I realize flexing is good, but then I start thinking about fatigue failure... )

Speaking of rumors... anyone got the story on the Eagle's accident(s)? The story I got from my dad way-back-when is that the brakes failed coming into the corner returning to the station. The train supposedly jumped the tracks and smashed into a "funhouse" that used to be next to that end of the coaster. Disclaimer: I cannot rule out that story being 100% incorrect

For the record... there is NOTHING to indicate KI is even remotely interested in purchasing the Eagle, right? (I just want to prevent yet another rumor from starting )