Thunderbolt

The Great American Scream Machine hasn't been completely removed, to the detriment of Emergency Rooms everywhere. ;P

Six Flags doesn't "do" flat rides. It's the corporate "No Tilt-A-Whirl" edict. They will relocate a few from time to time. While we may see a new "flat" or two before a Dive Machine, the chances of either coming soon seem unlikely. Heck, Great Adventure refuses to operate their current "flats" (despite removing several since 2006). Not reordering a Zierer Wave Swinger, a theme park staple no less, says everything you need to know about where SIX stands on "flat rides". Even Disney approved a Zierer Wave Swinger for "California Adventure". I'm just grateful "The Big Wheel" and Carousel remain.

Any talk of "ride relocation" is silly. The cost of relocating, laying new conduit, procuring permits, and other ancillary costs would be greater than operating them where they are. There's no reason not to open "Old Country", outside of a desire not to operate the two rides. By closing off the area, the park doesn't have to count the rides as "SBNO". It's a trick that "old management" ("SBNO" rides) was derided for, and yet is utilized quite extensively chain-wide by Shapiro without criticism.

The original colors still look best.

Chang was purchased prior to Premier Parks acquiring Kentucky Kingdom. I do agree with the "flagging" debacle being a large part of PKS's downfall however. I'd still be looking to offload the non-TWX parks post bankruptcy. Discovery Kingdom might be an exception.

"Movietown Water Effect" was removed because it required repairs.

I'm getting a "permissions" error when trying to view that PNG. "Sorry, but you do not have permission to use this feature. If you are not logged in, you may do so using the form below if available." I am logged in.

How were gate staffing levels for 2009? Were all gates open on peak days, during A.M. hours?

I'm actually kind of glad the park didn't waste resources on a new entrance gate. Great Adventure needs to add staffing to the entrance gate more than anything, and figure out a better way to cycle guests through those turnstiles more efficiently. I can't speak for the 2009 season, but the previous year was aggravating to just enter the park. It was an unruly mess past the ticket booths, and not every gate was open despite being it being a mid-June Saturday. My mother made me chuckle when she said, "This would never happen at Universal". Even with our Season Passes, it took almost 40 minutes to enter the park. On a July weekend at IOA, we entered the gate in under 5 minutes, with the included security check time factored and a park near full capacity. Thank God Six Flags is bankrupt in one case. A few years ago, Six Flags's CTO discussed implementing RFID tagging into the ticketing and Season Pass system. He went on to say (paraphrased), "I'm sure ticket takers aren't looking at every photograph on Season Passes, or reading tickets to make sure they're valid". RFID Systems are ridiculously expensive to install, and can easily be read and forged. If the current system has a hard time processing paper tickets and photo-ID passes (one day the attendant claimed the system crashed, slowing down the entrance on an unrelated visit), what's going to happen when the system crashes and the RFID "cloud" can't be energized? Why invest that kind of capital, on a product you virtually give away for free? P.S. I know this "spotlight" regards a 1989 project. I just want to emphasize resources need to be spent on staffing and refurbishment first. Big projects can come later. This issue has been outstanding since the 1980s.

I don't know who heads Busch Gardens Europe or how much he makes (I'm too lazy to look up the PDF); but he would make a good CEO for Six Flags. I wish I could have attended this event. GACoaster's pictures had me in envy. If Great Adventure could stage an event of this magnitude, I'd brave the cold and drive to attend. Even with an upcharge admission over the Season Pass.

Definitely D. The crane was erecting "Ultra Twister". This eliminates B and C. It can't be A. August 1983, because the photo would be of "Shirt Tales Land".

I really don't want Six Flags to die at all. The success of Six Flags and increased competition helps everyone, and fosters a more vibrant industry. I just don't want to see what I feel are ant-consumer policies rewarded ($1 Locker Fees, lack of shows, etc.). I still remember a whopper of a rumor; where Universal had interest in acquiring Great Adventure. A PortAventura style makeover would have rocked!

Business is circular and cyclical. Snyder needs to meet the same fate as his Six Flags Predecessors, for making many of the same mistakes. Hopefully, he will receive his walking papers with Shapiro. Perhaps new owners will install officers with extensive theme park experience. I would love to see someone poached from BEC or Universal Orlando calling the shots. If nothing else, it would be interesting.

Change can't come fast enough for Six Flags. I just hope the next regime has a theme park background, and is willing to keep the Time Warner parks together (with perhaps Discovery Kingdom). They could sell the rest off for all I care.

Amen! Larry Cochran did offer his services to Six Flags in a bankruptcy petition.

Could we add lighting to several areas in the park? There are many dark spots within the park's expanse. The fort deserves some TLC, no doubt.

Any news about the "Christmas Town" update for AmusementPics.com? I'm really looking foward to seeing that.

Considering Great Adventure's drawing abilities, a seasonally operated hotel can be successful. Despite being open for approximately 7 months, Great Adventure remains a bigger draw than Magic Mountain, the Texas Parks, and Six Flags Over Georgia (and their longer operating schedules). Had Premier Parks maintained ownership, the hotel would have been built. The key is to construct in phases. Estimate a conservative occupancy number, and build on from there. You could also seek a partnership with a chain operator to offset costs (and keep a buyout close in case of success). Perhaps if Great Adventure had a larger source to generate revenue from, the $1 locker fees would have not been needed. See the Universal Orlando Model (but implemented on a far more meager scale). Sadly, Red Zone never really detailed a plan to GROW this company, had they been successful retiring the debt.

Disney, BEC, and Universal all offer "table service" restaurants. They all seem to draw a good crowd and be profitable (Disney especially). Granted, not everyone desires full service amenities. Considering Great Adventure is devoid of such facilities, one experiment could prove beneficial. I know of many people who choose "table service" specifically to get away from the crowds at theme parks, for an extended period. All parks also draw local crowds to their "table service" restaurants. Not everyone likes "cafeteria style" buffets either, yet Great Adventure has tried with moderate success.

I'd like to reiterate my point from the "Gingerbread Fancy Spotlight". Could we please setup a "table service" operation here and upgrade the menu? The LEDs would rock though.

It would be interesting to see if the judge will order several changes in management ranks. I'm not sure who would want this job, but I'd like to see Jay Thomas move up into a senior position. I think Jay coupled with a competent CFO (who "gets" the theme park business) could really turn things around. Personally, I'd be headhunting people from Universal or BEC in earnest.

I hope this is sarcasm, or that you're confusing "Superman Ultimate Flight" with "G.A.S.M." Throughput could easily be improved with this ride, provided the park would add staff. This ride needs 4 people checking restraints vs. the 1 1/2-2 people currently doing so. "Superman Ultimate Flight" would also benefit from a better station configuration for loading single, disabled, and "Flash Pass" riders. As someone who travels with a disabled rider, I can assure you the exit ramp is not equipped to handle wheelchairs going up and the exiting passengers. The again, the "Batman The Ride" exit ramp is a safety hazard if there ever was one. I love the intense "pretzel loop" followed by the mild "flight" of the ride. Waiting in the exit block supine is the problem due to the usually understaffed nature of this ride. Stacking on a 2 train coaster with safety blocks is ridiculous. Regarding point 3: I actually felt the same way about "G.A.S.M.", when they removed "Ultra Twister" and the "Sarajevo Bobsled". Whoever designed Six Flags's disabled policy should be fired. Then again, I'm about to go on a wild tangent. I'll leave it at that.

Fireworks are a must. No Fireworks == FAIL

Essentially

I'm sure Warner Bros. dictated the terms of IP use, and its subsequent implementation to PROTECT "The Dark Knight" Movie. Without doubt, Warner Bros. played a major role in overseeing the pre-show story and its video component production. I'm sure they controlled which characters could appear, and how they're "stylized". I would even agree Warner made sure the attraction story would not distract the general public from seeing the actual movie. Other than that, I'd bet dollars to donuts, it was pure Six Flags. Didn't Six Flags even brag about this? I just can't believe Warner Bros. dictated to Six Flags how they should market it (beyond IP usage). It's suicide to say this is a type of coaster typically installed by this company; up to this point. Not communicating what the ride is, instead of raising Kingda Ka like expectations truly harmed this attraction. I never hear people exiting "Skull Mountain" saying "this ride sucks, don't bother to ride it", like I do with "The Dark Knight". Both rides are similar, with "Skull Mountain" edging it out with better theming (building). If Warner Bros. was the faulty party in "TDK's" result, then Six Flags was robbed. If my suspicions are correct, than someone at Six Flags (or Great Adventure) failed Marketing 101.