TombRaiderFTW

Okay, apparently I'm missing something. Can someone please explain to me what's actually changed about the ride between when it stopped operating and now? For it becoming so completely structurally unsound as it allegedly has become since it shut down, it sure looks an awful lot like it always has. (On second thought, it is Son of Beast... ) I'm not calling out anyone in particular, but I think people want news so bad that they are trying to find something wrong with the ride for the sake of conversation.

I have to agree with GoodYellowKoRn. "Maze" is a bit of a misnomer that's been applied out of habit by the GP. That being said, Mysteria is a bit of a maze. At the very least, the groups I've gone through with have had some trouble getting out the first time. It seems like the scareactors like to hide deep in the fog at the dead ends, which, to me, is a really cool idea.

^ I don't think it's roughness that's got the trims on there. There are maintenance benefits to be had as well, and, given MS's size, I bet that's one of their primary reasons they exist. In fact, I'm willing to bet that's got something to do with why the ride has gained what roughness it has... The train's constant searching for either rail in the large turns, due to the lack of force keeping the train against the outside rail, surely did something to the track. Several thousand pounds smacking against a couple pieces of wood and steel is bound to have some effect. If I had to guess, the trims have probably cut down on their amount of maintenance at the bottom of the drops (since the train isn't moving as fast and thus isn't pushing as hard against the track and supports) but has worsened the high turns, thus creating the necessity for the retracking we're currently seeing.

^ Hm... that's odd. Those first two turns were actually quite good when I was there at the beginning of September. There were actually laterals up there, rather than obnoxious shuffling. When I hear MS's track was missing in spots, I'd imagined it would be at the bottom of some of the drops, where the jackhammering is still rather unpleasant. Oh well, must be for some good reason...

Not to mention that they also closed it early last year, again for retracking. Last year, it actually caught on fire right beforehand, causing many people to ask why the Sandusky fire department acted so quickly. Fortunately, the retracking seems to be doing the ride a lot of good. I had fun on MS for the first time ever this year.

^ In the Room of Requirement with the Soak City announcement?

^ Ah! Wasn't aware of that! Learn something every day. Thanks for correcting me!

^^ I'm surprised, too... I didn't know Morgan Rides would care. (Isn't BBoBH a Sally Corp. ride?)

^ Uhhhh... no? Although, Vortex does actually look relatively similar to the real thing in terms of layout now... And, assuming I didn't red out or be flung to my death, I think the new 25-foot tall hills would be much more exciting on Diamondback.

...You're wearing a habit with wings?

I've got a pretty big irritation with people either ignoring the warnings for kids or bringing their kids with them into Haunts. Friday, I got to the park a few minutes before 7. While waiting in line for the metal detector at a few minutes past 7, I saw a few young kids crying as they walked the opposite direction with their angry looking parent. I felt bad for the kids, but it's facepalm-worthy to think that the parent(s) would not do even a little research to see that this is not an event for preschool-age kids. Just... argh. Similarly, I ended up in a group for Tombstone Terror-tory with--you guessed it--parents with two preschool-age kids. The kids weren't crying, but they clearly were not enjoying themselves as the scareactors specifically targeted them. Their mom's reaction? Keep yanking on them like they're being silly. I don't have an issue with the scareactors, as they were just doing their jobs, but come on. If you got on the train by accident, thinking that it was just a train ride despite the multiple warnings, fine. Ask the workers if you can take the train the whole way around. DO NOT put your kids through something they obviously aren't enjoying at an event that is clearly not meant for them. It isn't toughening them up, it's scaring them. And don't even get me started on the time I followed a stroller through Cemetery Drive.

I've also heard rumors that Hypersonic was originally going to (then) Paramount's Great America, where I assume, based off my outsider's impression of the park, that it would have had less demand. I don't know how true it is, but it seems more logical to me. There's fewer customers to disappoint while still (presumably) getting the same data for the manufacturer related to what to change and what to keep in the design. Regardless, I still think this commercial for HXLC is pretty cool: <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eNlf4FEtjIE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Hahahah, love the captions. Can't wait for the rest!

Truth be told, I kinda like Mysteria... in that "hey look, we've just walked into a Lady Gaga music video"-sort of way.

^ But still does better than Funtime's version, which is the point in the first place. I'd be impressed if any ride* over 300ft. could operate well in the recent winds. Just because it's got an advantage in high winds doesn't mean it can operate in any wind speed. No design of that magnitude going to be that perfect. *I'm not counting the Eiffel Tower as a ride, even though it seems to operate just fine in high winds. It's an elevator.

One possibility: you may have seen pictures from the American Coaster Enthusiasts' Fall Freak Out event at KI in past years. For 2008, KIE was invited to join in for FFO, which included lights-on tour of CB. Outside of that, the only other tours that included that have been for ACE's other FFOs, as far as I'm aware. In other words, to answer your question: you have to be part of a group like ACE, to the best of my knowledge.

^ Extremely rare parts for Flight Deck? As I understand it, one of S&S's prime reasons for purchasing the bankrupt Arrow is its profitable parts division...

^^ Moreso, some of the best Haunt experiences I've ever had have been on cold, wet nights. The fog will be extra thick, and the scareactors usually use that to their advantage. If the wind's a problem... well, we'll just freeze together, then!

^ Assuming a proportional relationship, X=101.9deg. EDIT: Wow, I was a little too eager to solve that...

I'll find out myself on Friday. I've got high hopes for the new location, as location's been a bit of an issue for it in past years.

^ They're really gone. They showed up at Kings Dominion a few years ago.

Counting down to "new Gravity Group coaster" guesses in 5, 4, 3, 2...

In Haunts past, Fridays are usually less crowded than Saturdays. The closer you get to Halloween, the more packed it gets for both days.

Wow, blast from the past much? Thanks for that, Terp!