Post by "Weatherman" Dan on Oct 13, 2002 11:44:38 GMT -5
I was finally home! I was finally feeling better! It was finally time for my long-awaited fall trip to Six Flags Great Adventure! Although I had originally intended to go on Friday night, that soon became a wash-out because of the rain. So, I took my good friend Chuck, fresh in from Lebanon Valley College, and we were off!
The park was, in a word, dead, today. When we arrived at around 12:30, I parked in A1… that’s pretty close! I first had an opportunity to take a close look at the fenced area in the parking lot. In my opinion, it looks pretty small for an entire coaster, even though there are <S> signs posted there. They did fence in what used to be known as “Gate 7” leading to the Auxiliary Warehouse facility (the NASA bubble thing), so they may have other plans for that. I should also note here that if the park were busy, and if they had been open today, I would have gotten Lo-Q, but there was obviously no need for it. I later found out that there were not even 7,000 guests in the park all day!
So, once in the front gate, we headed off for, what else, ROLLING THUNDER! They were running the red train on the left side, and it was basically walk-on. The operator, who shall remain nameless, was boring, and just plain horrible, as usual. We rode front row, then 8th row, then 4th row. Then, our backs started to hurt, so we took off elsewhere, but the ride is still as fun as ever! When I did ride RT, however, I noticed the extensive amount of equipment they’ve brought in to re-track some parts and, yes, CLEAN AND RE-PAINT the entire ride! Proof is in the station… look at the yellow lines on the coaster 1 station… they are very yellow! Also down in the track area are two high reaches, a work trailer, a huge pressure washer, and there was rope around the wood at the top of the lift. Looks like the park has major plans to renovate my baby.
Medusa next. My usual fifth row, far left seat… Still smooth at anything. The operator was Scott, a very enthusiastic guy whom I know very well. Waited not even one train. Wow did I miss that ride.
At this point in time, after being away from coasters for more than six weeks, (and not having ever really ridden a lot in one day), Chuck and I were feeling very woozy. We went to Character Café to eat, and then Granny’s to, well, eat. See, Chuck’s in the Foods department, and he’s got connections.
At this point in time, we did something that not many people in this forum ever talk about. We left the park. Yeah, we had to go visit our high school band, which was practicing for their competition. But we got our hand-stamped, and for good reason… it is Fright Fest, after all.
Wow, did the park transform at night. I’ve seen the inner workings of the past two Fright Fests, and they were NOTHING compared to this… I was actually impressed at Six Flags efforts this year! First stop upon re-entering the park around 6 was the Hayride to the Unknown… ten minute wait, tops. Supposedly, it was “the same as last year”, but I must admit it was pretty cool. There were definitely some ingenuitive things going on in there. And the ride was surprisingly very smooth (although it doesn’t matter at all). There was only one thing missing… hay.
Then, it was time… For my first ride… On the one… The only… Nitro. This was the first time I was debuting a coaster at night, so I was a little apprehensive. The wait was about seven minutes, and my anticipation was driving me crazy! I loved the informative little signs in the queue line though… put there just for us ride enthusiasts! Upon entering the station, I saw who was working the ride… four SUPERVISORS. Apparently the section was extremely short-handed, so four certified blue tags were working as operators and attendants. Throughput was awesome, even though Bobby, the operator, was distracted in training his boss for the ride… Anyway, I rode in the fourth row, and found the seat to be very comfortable, and I definitely liked the open-air car style. They were only running two trains, and I guess the dispatch interval is when the other train returns to the station brakes. So, we’re dispatched, and up we climb. Although it was dark, I could still see the famous height signs to my right, as the lit-up park became smaller and smaller to the rear. I watch the blinking ride stop at the top of the lift go by as we crest. It does look almost straight down. Wow, is that first drop a rush! The G’s, even in the middle of the train, were great! The double helix was another great element, and I have never felt so much airtime before! Those restraints are ingenuisly designed… even I had room to lift out of my seat! Although I loved Nitro, and can’t wait to ride again, I think I liked Steel Force better…<br>
--to be continued...
The park was, in a word, dead, today. When we arrived at around 12:30, I parked in A1… that’s pretty close! I first had an opportunity to take a close look at the fenced area in the parking lot. In my opinion, it looks pretty small for an entire coaster, even though there are <S> signs posted there. They did fence in what used to be known as “Gate 7” leading to the Auxiliary Warehouse facility (the NASA bubble thing), so they may have other plans for that. I should also note here that if the park were busy, and if they had been open today, I would have gotten Lo-Q, but there was obviously no need for it. I later found out that there were not even 7,000 guests in the park all day!
So, once in the front gate, we headed off for, what else, ROLLING THUNDER! They were running the red train on the left side, and it was basically walk-on. The operator, who shall remain nameless, was boring, and just plain horrible, as usual. We rode front row, then 8th row, then 4th row. Then, our backs started to hurt, so we took off elsewhere, but the ride is still as fun as ever! When I did ride RT, however, I noticed the extensive amount of equipment they’ve brought in to re-track some parts and, yes, CLEAN AND RE-PAINT the entire ride! Proof is in the station… look at the yellow lines on the coaster 1 station… they are very yellow! Also down in the track area are two high reaches, a work trailer, a huge pressure washer, and there was rope around the wood at the top of the lift. Looks like the park has major plans to renovate my baby.
Medusa next. My usual fifth row, far left seat… Still smooth at anything. The operator was Scott, a very enthusiastic guy whom I know very well. Waited not even one train. Wow did I miss that ride.
At this point in time, after being away from coasters for more than six weeks, (and not having ever really ridden a lot in one day), Chuck and I were feeling very woozy. We went to Character Café to eat, and then Granny’s to, well, eat. See, Chuck’s in the Foods department, and he’s got connections.
At this point in time, we did something that not many people in this forum ever talk about. We left the park. Yeah, we had to go visit our high school band, which was practicing for their competition. But we got our hand-stamped, and for good reason… it is Fright Fest, after all.
Wow, did the park transform at night. I’ve seen the inner workings of the past two Fright Fests, and they were NOTHING compared to this… I was actually impressed at Six Flags efforts this year! First stop upon re-entering the park around 6 was the Hayride to the Unknown… ten minute wait, tops. Supposedly, it was “the same as last year”, but I must admit it was pretty cool. There were definitely some ingenuitive things going on in there. And the ride was surprisingly very smooth (although it doesn’t matter at all). There was only one thing missing… hay.
Then, it was time… For my first ride… On the one… The only… Nitro. This was the first time I was debuting a coaster at night, so I was a little apprehensive. The wait was about seven minutes, and my anticipation was driving me crazy! I loved the informative little signs in the queue line though… put there just for us ride enthusiasts! Upon entering the station, I saw who was working the ride… four SUPERVISORS. Apparently the section was extremely short-handed, so four certified blue tags were working as operators and attendants. Throughput was awesome, even though Bobby, the operator, was distracted in training his boss for the ride… Anyway, I rode in the fourth row, and found the seat to be very comfortable, and I definitely liked the open-air car style. They were only running two trains, and I guess the dispatch interval is when the other train returns to the station brakes. So, we’re dispatched, and up we climb. Although it was dark, I could still see the famous height signs to my right, as the lit-up park became smaller and smaller to the rear. I watch the blinking ride stop at the top of the lift go by as we crest. It does look almost straight down. Wow, is that first drop a rush! The G’s, even in the middle of the train, were great! The double helix was another great element, and I have never felt so much airtime before! Those restraints are ingenuisly designed… even I had room to lift out of my seat! Although I loved Nitro, and can’t wait to ride again, I think I liked Steel Force better…<br>
--to be continued...
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