Photo TR: Two days at SFMM

[sir clinksalot]

Kristi and I made our 2nd visit to SFMM last saturday for the TPR meet and BBQ. It was also the first time we were going to go on Tatsu. I will review the ride in a minute.

For some screwed up reason we woke up at 5:30am. So we decided to get an early start. We went to breakfast at 6:30am, Kristi had a nail appt at 7:30am and then we left home at 8:30am to get to the park by 9:30am.

Driving through the canyon it was a bit foggy:



But once we got on the 126 it cleared up:



Arriving at the park and it was clear as a bell:



So you know those guys that ask you to take a picture and you can win a contest??? Well, I've been going to SFMM for about 25 years (at least 5 times a year) and I have NEVER won the contest. So this time I thought I would turn the tables.

So I say to this guy ... "Can I take your picture, it's for a contest" ... so he let me take his picture:


(And then of course to be nice, I let him take ours)

Got to the entrance at 9:30, it wasn't too bad yet.



They make the front gate employees do some stupid little dance:



First stop of the day, Tatsu:



We only waited about 5 minutes for it. By the time we got off it was AT least a 45 minute wait.

Next stop was Deja Vu. Somehow I lost my seat (no biggie) but Kristi said it was the smoothest ride of the day. Seriously.



From there it was off to Riddlers:



I had an okay ride, but for some reason this one always makes me sick to my stomach. I still like Georgia Scorcher better.

After Superman we headed up the Sky Tower. For all of the visits I've had to this park, I'm sad to say this was my first trip up here. And I hate to say it, but it's probably my last.

I'm not afraid of heights in the least, but something about being in an enclosed space, with no apparent exit (when the Elevator isn't there) and the fact that it sways in the wind ... no thanks.

But you do get some awesome pics from up there.

X (which was closed) and Viper



Tatsu and Revolution:





Superman, Colossus, Scream, Goliath and the parking lot. Oh wait, that's still Scream.



Batman, Riddlers and Tidal Wave (doesn't the park look nice from up here?)



Deja Vu and Psyclone:



Hurricane Harbor and the worlds largest paper-weight (Flashback)



How many Coaster Enthusiasts can you fit in an elevator?



Gregg and Kristi on Ninja:



Okay, so that concludes the pics from Saturday. The pics from today will be in the next post.

Gregg's review of Tatsu:

I thought the ride was fun. Is it the best ride at Magic Mountain ... well yes, but that's not saying alot these days. Is it my favorite flyer??? I'm not sure. I want to get some more rides on it before I make my final verdict.

The thing I DID NOT like about it is that it is almost TOO HIGH. I like the flying effect, I like the inversions, etc. But the thing I like about the Superman: Ultimate Flight coasters at Six Flags Over Georgia and Six Flags Great Adventure is that they have some time close to the ground. Like the swooping effect.

Tatsu is at least 50 feet in the air at all times except the pretzel loop. I honestly thought it would be more among the trees and the terrain like Revolution and Ninja are. I think this is a ride that can be put anywhere, it just so happens it's on the hill at Magic Mountain. This is also why I think the ride can be moved if/when Magic Mountain closes.

We left the park at 1pm and headed for Hurricane Harbor. I was feeling very ill, like I was going to be sick. This NEVER happens to me. We have been to parks all over the country, and I've ridden more coasters in a day and in less time than we did at SFMM. I'm drawn to the conclusion that the roughness of the rides at SFMM is the main reason I felt bad.

You can see more pictures from Saturday here: http://greggandkristi.smugmug.com/gallery/1796109

[sir clinksalot]

Okay, so today the kids and I went to SFMM for my birthday. Unfortunately Kristi had to work.

We grabbed some Jack in the Box before we got to the park, and ate it while waiting for the gates to open:



Once the park opened we stopped and took pictures with some characters since we didn't need to run to Tatsu like everybody else (Josh isn't tall enough)

Amanda, Josh and Wile E. Coyote


Amanda, Josh and Taz:


Amanda, Josh and Daffy:


I got in the picture with Bugs:


Thought this was a nice picture:


First stop was the Log Jammer:


Next was Goliath, which we rode twice:


Josh going up the lift:


Amanda going up the lift:


Twisty stuff:


Next up was Colossus. Josh was excited until we rode. (it was VERY rough, we only rode once)


After this we went on Gold Rusher, Jet Stream and took a water break.

When we were walking by we saw that Superman had opened. Since Josh had never been on it we headed over there.



Superman (not as scary as it looks): The Ride



So this one actually took some convincing for Josh to ride. We kept telling him he'd been on MUCH scarier rides (which is true). IMO Goliath is scarier, Montezooma's Revenge at Knott's is scarier. Heck, I even think that CA Screamin' and Tower of Terror are WAY scarier than Superman. It just 'looks' scary. But it's not.

Josh's first ride (look at that smile)


So of course we had to ride again. Luckily there was no wait. (Did I REALLY wait 3 hours for this when it first opened??? Answer: Yes I did)


Josh still isn't sure, Amanda's all "Been there, done that"


We actually got pretty high up the tower:


And of course now Josh's new favorite ride at the park is Superman.



After that we headed over and got 2 quick rides on Ninja and then another on Jet Stream. By this time it was about 12:00 and we wanted to do Revolution, Log Jammer then call it a day.

Headed to the front of the park, took a frozen lemonade break and took some pics of Tatsu.



Longest line in the park, by far:






And some from the entrance area:






Honestly, I would have taken more pictures but the crew on Tatsu is TERRIBLE. They were taking between 7 and 10 minutes to dispatch 1 train. IMO this is TOTALLY unacceptable. This ride has been open for 3 months now, it should not be taking that long. That's pathetic and really shows why SFMM is one of the parks up for sale.

And I leave you with one more picture ... could this be the last picture I ever take from SFMM???



You can see more pictures from today here: http://greggandkristi.smugmug.com/gallery/1804731

[Villains Fan]

Good report and some really great pictures SirC! Your kids are so cute and just look like they were having a great time. It's been so many years since I've been to SFMM and I only live like 10 miles away . You could almost see my house from the tower. Seeing your pictures makes me want to go again, it's just been way too long and they do have some great roller coasters.

[sir clinksalot]

^ If the park is indeed closing in October I think it'd be cool to try and set up a MiceChat meet at SFMM one Sunday (I know, that's like going to a different church). But I think It'd be fun.

[wrs28220]

I'm saddend by the fact that the employee's cha-cha slide dansing would be reffered to as "stupid". Our park has the reputation of being not family friendly, and having the don't care mentality from our employees. The one thing our park does to try to fix that is insulted.

[Goofster]

Great write up and pics, thanks

[Trintara]

Originally Posted by sir clinksalot

^ If the park is indeed closing in October I think it'd be cool to try and set up a MiceChat meet at SFMM one Sunday (I know, that's like going to a different church). But I think It'd be fun.

Hurricane Harbor's season ends October first. It doesn't close for good, just hits the end of its season.

Magic Mountain is still planned to be open. We have scheduled hours all the way until the end of the year, and nothing definate has been done otherwise.

Thaaat said...

Originally Posted by wrs28220

I'm saddend by the fact that the employee's cha-cha slide dansing would be reffered to as "stupid". Our park has the reputation of being not family friendly, and having the don't care mentality from our employees. The one thing our park does to try to fix that is insulted.

rofl, yes. I see some of my guest relations coworkers in that picture, including a lead and a supervisor. They actually get very excited and run out to be part of that.

...My favorite part of the dance is the clapping. Everybody clap your haaaands!

[sir clinksalot]

Maybe I shouldn't have said stupid. I do think it's great that they are 'trying' to do something. But let's be honest ... the crowd at the entrance plaza could care less.

[wrs28220]

^ Depends on the crowd. There have been somedays when the ENTIRE crowd joins in.

[kcnole]

I appreciate that they're trying, but if dancing at the opening gates is the best idea they can come up with they really need to go back to the drawing board.

I also realize how completely jaded I have become due to the beauty of the Disney parks. When I saw that one picture of the coaster with absolutely no theming or even ground theming and just blank concrete I realized just how ugly that was and how great of a job Disney and even Universal do with their parks.

[sir clinksalot]

^ That's not even the worst of it. Next time we go I'll get you a picture of Scream. You can still see the lines from the parking lot on it.

I also find it interesting that the two people that work at the park commented on my negative comments about the dancing but didn't have anything to say regarding the Tatsu crew, rough rides, etc.

Not that I was expecting any rebuttal on that ... but it's interesting anyway.

[tloolgb]

Originally Posted by sir clinksalot

I had an okay ride, but for some reason this one always makes me sick to my stomach. I still like Georgia Scorcher better.

Uh oh. I've always liked the look of Riddler's Revenge (before I ever rode any standups) but I can't stand (lol?) the Scorcher.

[Trintara]

Originally Posted by sir clinksalot

^ That's not even the worst of it. Next time we go I'll get you a picture of Scream. You can still see the lines from the parking lot on it.

I also find it interesting that the two people that work at the park commented on my negative comments about the dancing but didn't have anything to say regarding the Tatsu crew, rough rides, etc.

Not that I was expecting any rebuttal on that ... but it's interesting anyway.

I know precisely what the problems are with tatsu and where they stem from, I just doubted you would care to hear about it. See, part of it is that it has a harness check system similiar to X due to the nature of the ride. X also has similiar problem with it's launch time. IMHO, that's why tatsu has two loading stations. There was also a problem earlier this summer with constant crew changes up there and I'm sure it's a problem again with the summer drawing to a close and everyone going back to school.

And I still love the cha cha slide. One hop this time. *hop*

edit - Oh yeah, I'm odd in that I actually like that you can see the parking lines under scream. I remember when I used to park there for work so I find it nostalgic. Of course, that's just me and I can see why you wouldn't approve.

[Hakuna Makarla]

Originally Posted by wrs28220

^ Depends on the crowd. There have been somedays when the ENTIRE crowd joins in.

I would enjoy it, and thats my opinion. and this park looks so cool!!! I would so go there is I was close to califfornia!!! those coasters look awsome!

[Hakuna Makarla]

Lets not Diss the parks, after all you there are plenty of folks who love this park, knotts and other parks as well. I for one would love to make my next trip to this park, and knotts again.