Opening day (April 5th)

[chilled182]

RT was very glitchy today, and I unfortunately didn't even make it on the ride.  The right side was stuck on the lift for hours.. although I think they opened the left side after awhile instead

typical opening day crews for the most part too but, I know they'll get better

[David Jr]

i can't fit my fat arse on Toro or B:TR  . Ever since i took this job at OTC my weight has steadily climbed.  At one time over 10 years ago i hit a low of 232lbs, i don't know what caused that or why but i've never been that low since (i'm now 285)

[coastersue]

Yes, RT is awesome and we had our usual front row seat for the first ride. 

It was a great day except for the season pass parking lane.  There was only 2 cars in front of us and it seriously took 15 minutes.  Both of those people were BUYING season pass parking so the security guard had to take their money to the next lane over and wait for that cashier to finish their transaction.  They need to have a sign up saying that no transactions are allowed in that lane.  Every other line moved faster than the season pass line!

Aside from that, it was an awesome start to the season!

[peterpjr]

Sue. I am sorry I did not get a chance to say hi.  I walked by you over by the tigers as you were talking to Mike M from rides and then I realized it was you.  I was with my tour group.  Next time I will say hi and finally introduce myself.

[peterpjr]

Now the weather report looks worse for tomorrow! 
What a great job being a weatherman must be.
I'll be heading out to the park!!

Ken.  It was good to see you today.  How many Toro rides did you get in.  This season we will pick a day that I am not working and get to the park for sure.

[Bubba Z]

It was great seeing Sue and Rich the only ones on RT from El Toro.   I thought ET was running a little slow but it was the second train out.  Kingda ka(2)  both over shot the top hot.  Nitro being Nitro for two laps.  Storm Runner was awesome(Hannah's 81st credit)  Great Bear, Comet, and Superdooper were also running excellent.  That pretty much sums up my opening day.

Seeing coaster friends like  Sue, Rich, Coastin Steve, Nick, Brian, Ken, RJ, Wade, Angel, Paul, Wow, Matt, Dan and meeting new ones like  Emily, Kevin , Coaster Pete made it that much better!

[coastersue]

Sue. I am sorry I did not get a chance to say hi.  I walked by you over by the tigers as you were talking to Mike M from rides and then I realized it was you.  I was with my tour group.  Next time I will say hi and finally introduce myself.

It definitely would've been awesome to meet you!  However, are you sure the person you saw was me?  I'm not sure who Mike M is and the one time we were walking by the tigers I was just talking to the people in my group.

Anyway, maybe next week?  We had such a good time yesterday that we're thinking of heading back next Sunday.

It was great seeing Sue and Rich the only ones on RT from El Toro.   I thought ET was running a little slow but it was the second train out.  Kingda ka(2)  both over shot the top hot.  Nitro being Nitro for two laps.  Storm Runner was awesome(Hannah's 81st credit)  Great Bear, Comet, and Superdooper were also running excellent.  That pretty much sums up my opening day.

Nice seeing you too, Bubba!  So you did GA and Hershey yesterday?  That was certainly a busy day!  If we had gone to Hershey, Dan would've been sick again.  He's always sick when we're supposed to see him!  Nice to hear Comet is running well.  I love that coaster!

[coastermom]

We arrive late it was 10:40 and we had just got into the lot. Everything look great . We waited about 45 min to get our "free" passes from the GR line outside and then headed in to realize the girl never gave us the parent pass . Back to GR inside to ask for one . The line there was huge too. we asked a nice guy walking by and told him she had told us they hadn't had them printed and never came back with an answer just handed our papers to us for the passes told him  we just waited out there and needed one . He told us to wait right there and in 5 min . came back with a home made version of the parent pass and we were off. Went to KK and they waited about 20 min then off to toro about 15 min . the lines were amazing all day . at one point we didn't even use the parent pass because the lines were that short. My son loved RT but got stuck wiith my daughter on the lift for about 15 min or so . He did love it though thought he might freak out but no went right back up to ride again. We spent the whlole day in the park .

Two things one YOU must buy a new 2008 drink cup for the 99 cent refills and the pop corn bucket from last season seems to only be refillable the day you buy it this season only. So two money saving item are gone . I did buy the new cup but will pass on the pop corn bucket this year . Besides that bucket was a Pain to carry around.

All the rides seemed to have been running well except RT that had a few break downs . The worst being at about 7:30 when we tried to get one more run in for my son and it just never happened . It was down for good last night . Made my sone a little sad but there is always next week .

It was nice to see mark kane saying good night at the end of the night and thans for coming . All in all looks good EXCEPT the swings and teepee  are gone another  set of staples from the past gone . I know it is for the good but it is still sad to see them gone after all these years . Can someone tell me if the swings were original to the park ? Ok gotta go kids looking for me now and there has to be something they want .

[Ogolo]

It was a perfect opening day!!  Great job Six Flags!!

- Excellent weather (surprise)
- I walked to El Toro with Bubba for the first ride of the year. (We did it for Chuck!)
- Short lines and great people at the park (Well except for the guy on my first ride on El Toro!!)
- Two Trains on El Toro for opening day!
- Kingda Ka was flying over the top. A few minor problems.
     The music in the station has changed...Almost depressing music now.

-They have auto spiel at Nitro now!!
   One thing that made Nitro great was how the ride operators interacted with the riders.
   And that new video game music in the station!!!  Still a great ride.

- Medusa seems to have some great operators this year.  It may make up for Nitro!!
    But man did it make me feel sick this year!!  Oh no!!!

- The Tee Pee area has new cement
    There are pots in the middle covering up some new electrical runs
    So maybe they have some plans for this area.

I lasted until 2:30PM...My ride on Medusa knocked me out for the day.

Oh and yes Wade RT is very nice this year!!

[ChuckR]

Sounds like you guys had a good day! Wish I could of been there with you guys!

[PcMan]

I also missed opening   

[Dubya91]

SAT Prep cost me the opening

Great TRs However by all!

[coastermom]

Oh my I really need to have my starbucks before I post my spelling is a horror in that post . :0 .

[WadeJ]

My opening day trip with Bubba was awesome but I have so not-so-good things to report from our family trip later in the day on Saturday.  With the family along, we tend to see and report on things that everybody else misses.  For instance, my wife had to ask 12 employee where the baby care center was and none of them knew.  Once there, it was an embarressing disgrace of a hole in the wall with 1970's furniture that perhaps was trash picked?  Never going back there again.  We had countless encounters with bizarre circumstances that really were unexcusable.  I'll let it go on opening day but it was a bit discouraging.  From what I could tell, the major attractions were operating very smoothly and it was nice seeing every single ride open (minus the two remaining water attractions).

I wished for a better report but all in all our trip sucked.  However, had I just been there to go on the big coasters, I probably never would have noticed but unfortunately, "we" are the group that Mark Shapiro is aiming to please...

I'll report on more things later such as the camera police, locker police, loose article police,  and the surprisingly good change at the Temple of the Tiger (trainer as host = better show!).

Hopefully Bubs has some photos to post from our quick visit as well since I forgot the camera.

[coastersue]

Camera police?  Don't tell me that security is telling people that they can't take pictures again!

[Ogolo]

And what makes you think you can wear a hat on El Toro!
You should know better than that.. 

[coastermom]

Camera police?  Don't tell me that security is telling people that they can't take pictures again!

Yes I actualy seen this happen . I forgot to mention it but now that it was brought up. We were walking over the bridge from Medusa toward ET to get our last ride of the night so as we are walking there are two guys walking around and one has a pretty big expensive looking camera . He goes to take what would have been a really nice sunset photo of ET from the bridge over the lake and the security gard asks him to and I quote " not take that picture sir you are not allowed to take pictures of the rides" . My hubby and I were kind of amazed . Now if it were me I would have stuck my kids there and took the picture with them in it or is that going to be stoped soon too?? I wonder .


BTW Wade they still have a baby care center ??  I couldn't even tell you where it was . I wonder if it is the same old furniture that they had when it was behind the bathrooms where LTNP is now . Where the lost and found for kids was. That was some pretty bad stuff back then and my kids are all long out of diapers .  I wish you had a better family trip .

[WadeJ]

heh, no worries.  "WE" still had fun.  My concern is usually for the park as a whole and I didn't like what I saw.  So don't get me wrong, we still had a blast. (although I think my wife still feels dirty after visiting the baby center lol)  If you were curious, it is located with the first aid between boardwalk and golden kingdom.  You get to it by going next to Ted's cheesesteaks.

I heard at least 10 couples while in line for various attractions throughout the day big time complaining about the locker policies and several complained about being told not to take pictures of the rides.  WTF?!?!  If they tell me I can't take a picture of a ride without good reason then guest relations will be definately getting a visit.  People have expensive cameras because they happen to like taking pictures.  Roller Coasters are exciting to take pictures of!  The worst part was that I was just evesdropping.  And unfortunately, those that were complaining actually started getting many other guests in line around us all wound up.  I have a feeling there will be many changes being made to these policies.

[CoasterPete]

Wade,

I agree with your earlier brief comment on the Tiger show.  Lori and I saw the first show of the day and really enjoyed it.  It's a great combination of conservation and fun, getting to see the tigers act like tigers.  I hope it continues this way the entire season.

Pete

[Millennium Force 44]

I have been stopped last year for taking pictures of the coasters. At the Dark Knight construction tour the other week I asked Angel and Jen if we were allowed to take pictures of the coasters and they said, "You are allowed to take pictures of WHATEVER you want, just as long as you are not in a resticted area or on a ride. If you are on general public property, you are permitted to take pictures."

[coastersue]

Lori and I saw the first show of the day and really enjoyed it. 

How did you manage that when you were with us most of the day? 

[PcMan]

DO they sell cameras in the gift shop  ?

Everyone owns a camera these days and most all Cell Phones have cameras.
they should be policing the on ride Cell phone cameras policy.

Many people take pictures of coaster that don't even ride them.
Coasters are a art form a high tech Engineering marvel
One of a Kind.
I could see this after 911 in the year 2001 but now.

I think who ever wrote that policy most have just got done watching the movie Rollercoaster

[coastersue]

I think who ever wrote that policy most have just got done watching the movie Rollercoaster

I don't think it is a policy, is it?  Isn't it just security misinterpreting the policies? 

[Millennium Force 44]

I don't think it is a policy, is it?  Isn't it just security misinterpreting the policies? 

yes I believe so

[CoasterPete]

Sue,

After we split up with you guys, we headed down to the lakefront and relaxed for about 15 mins, then we heard the announcement that the show was going to start soon.  We decided to take in the show.  It was really good. 

Pete