Thunderbolt

Did Warner LeRoy ever try to acquire the "Garden of Marvels" structures outright? Was it a matter of cost, or simply an artisan unwilling to sell?

Wow! The "Garden of Marvels" was truly a beautiful section. Unfortunately, I wasn't alive to see it in its heyday. My memories of the former garden area are almost non-existent. My dad spoke often of the area and its beauty. All I remember was it being "walled off", as the area laid dormant in the mid to late 1980s. It's a shame Great Adventure couldn't have preserved the section. The "Garden of Marvels" would have been a unique, quiet exhibit in a park that is largely devoid of a show experience.

There isn't much left in "Movietown". It's really little more than Batman town. "The Golden Kingdom" was easily the best themed/integrated section of the park. Right up until current management destroyed it. At this point, Great Adventure is pretty much a bunch of haphazardly thrown together themes. But, this has been the case for decades. Every effort made to resurrect a resemblance of a true theme park, gets thwarted either by sale, bankruptcy, or just plain inept management (usually a catalyst that leads to the former two). Time Warner and Premier Parks have been the only two owners that tried anything daring (post Warner LeRoy).

The loss of the "Enterprise II" still grinds my gears. Other parks have the same model still in faithful service. Just a cost cutting move pure and simple. Even if Intamin wanted $100K for the parts, it's still worth every penny. Thankfully Mark Shapiro is gone.

Can someone please crank up Whitesnake's "Here I go Again" and bring in a Trans-Am? It could get VERY interesting VERY quickly!

LOL! I saw that yesterday! I almost wrote in to ask if you would like the screenshot. As soon as I saw the signage, I knew it was Great Adventure. Nice to see the fine work of the Great Adventure Sign Shop getting love.

Considering the construction window, I'd second Daved Thomson. "Absolutely True"

Weren't issues with Great Adventure's Power Grid and conduit also a problem? I could have sworn this was largely the reason the ride stopped being launched simultaneously. The fact Six Flags got Premier Rides to engineer a remedy, and repair it at the manufacturer's expense, says everything to me about the 10 year old (at the time) attraction. Vince Lupinacci's Lawn Ornament indeed. As "Kingda Ka's" popularity wanes, I wonder how long it will remain at the park?

I disagree that "Batman & Robin: The Chiller" is a piece of crap. I'd argue the ride was hampered by the missing LIMs, as well as its expensive operating costs. Whether or not Premier Rides guaranteed operations with the reduced LIM count is another story. Regardless, the ride proved more problematic and costly than Great Adventure Management wanted to be responsible for. Even Mark Kane acknowledged B&R:TC never saw the care it needed. Premier removed the heartline rolls at their expense, to prevent the ride from valleying with riders in an inverted position. Besides making evacuations problematic, it can be dangerous for people to remain in that position for long periods. B&R:TC deserved its fate, but I blame Six Flags Corporate and their refusal to pay beyond the minimal maintenance costs for its death. The ride remaining unsold has everything to do with its reputation. God forbid something happened, would you want to defend installing a ride with its repair history? Very few parks can afford to operate a dual launched LIM shuttle coaster, and that's why they're offering to install a single tracked variant. I wouldn't be surprised to see the rejected side scrapped beyond that. Whoever bought this ride must regret taking it. Selling a SBNO attraction is difficult. Selling a pile of metal sitting on a farm must seem impossible. If the buyer broke even at this point, I'd be shocked.

Theme it to a bird of prey or "Phoenix". There are lots of ways. A fiery dragon named "Tatsu" perhaps?

Harry, I suggest "Freefall" as an unecessary removal. Granted, the Giovanola/Intanin first generation drop ride was getting old. However, "Freefall" just returned from an extensive and expensive rehab project. Mark Shapiro chose to remove the ride over labor and general operating costs. Was it even open 15 days post rehab? Intamin was still fabricating parts for these attractions. As showcased by Mark's recent deposition in the "Dick Clark Productions/Hollywood Foreign Press" lawsuit, he's been known to outright lie. Regarding "Hydro Flume", as well as "Koala Kanyon", I wholeheartedly agree. The lack of immediate replacement for the "Zierer Wave Swinger" also gets honorable mention. They are readily available. Could we nominate the paintball building for removal, and opening of "Dream Street"?

I don't know if I'd consider "Superman Ultimate Flight" a waste of space. It's squandered opportunity. The ride would be better placed in "Movietown", or remain as part of an expanded "Golden Kingdom". There's enough land there to infuse trees and landscaping to make it look less like a lawn ornament. Dropping the "Superman" theme and re imagining it would work wonders. Having 4 staff members checking restraints would work too. Trees aren't that expensive, and "The Golden Kingdom" was made to look like a jungle vs. it's original concrete carnival theme (Kiddie Kingdom). The entire "Boardwalk" games section is a waste. Move the games elsewhere, like the abandoned storefronts along "The Golden Kingdom: Outpost". Expand both"The Golden Kingdom" and "Plaza de Carnival". Keep the "Parachute" as is (with a repaint to one color besides yellow or blue). Use the original Premier Parks vision and expand on it. Take "The Dark Knight" out of its box and relocate it as an "open air family coaster" within "The (expanded) Golden Kingdom". Add a "Jungala" element too, and add real sit down restaurants and a Mariachi Stage. "Skull Mountain", "Green Lantern", and "The Dark Knight" are far more offensive to the eye than "Superman". I would be willing to trade both "Superman" and "Green Lantern" for a new, record breaking "B&M Dive Machine". A "Port Royal" retheming of the current "Skull Mountain"/"Neptune's Kingdom" area would also be required. A lot can be done with little money, especially with losing two marquee attractions to smaller parks.

I still find it funny, that Six Flags is potentially spending millions, to secure a gate they virtually give away for free. Ticket Fraud is probably low, and might even be made back through in-park spending. Had the parks commanded premium pricing, it would make more sense. Great Adventure's gate problem has more to do with lack of staff and organization. Even when Universal Orlando was having efficiency issues with their new ticket system, we circulated through the gate faster than at Great Adventure in 2008.

Sounds like you were dealing with MetroPCS Customer Service (or lack thereof) Harry.

The only time I recall seeing Great Adventure on PBS, was an episode of "Reading Rainbow". The "Great American Scream Machine" and "Super Teepee" were featured prominently.

I would argue the Time Warner installations of the 90s were disastrous. Those coasters cost millions, were largely disliked by the general public, or were maintenance nightmares (i.e. "Chiller"). Save "Skull Mountain" and "Batman The Ride" (and I credit Ray Williams more for this than Time Warner), all the Time Warner Additions proved to be expensive with limited future appeal. Premier Parks marked the transition of Great Adventure into a elite coaster park starting with "Medusa" in 1999. Premier was good to Great Adventure, at a cost of some operations and customer service. I blame park GMs for the latter, as they limited staffing to make their bottom lines more appealing.

Universal Orlando could have chosen to remove "Disaster" and Fisherman's Wharf to incorporate "Harry Potter" into the studios park. They also could have finished removing "The Lost Continent" remnants (i.e "Poseidon's Fury") and completed the "Harry Potter" experience within Islands of Adventure. "Jaws" has been cited for removal more than once. Supposably, it's an expensive attraction to operate due to excessive accelerant (either propane or butane) and effects cost. If urban fokelore is true, "E.T." isn't leaving Universal Studios Florida ever. Steven Speilberg has (allegedly) contractually obligated Universal to operate this attraction through the duration of their partnership. It's valid only at the Orlando park.

Same for my household. Christmas was celebrated through January 7th. The retailers jettisoned the "12 Days of Christmas" in favor of the "bleed 'em till they're dry" gift rush beforehand. I guess that's an argument for another day.

It's just like my first visit to Universal Studios Florida in 1991 again! No Jaws and a walled off Amity Harbor. Universal Orlando lost their "Jungle Cruise". It's a real shame, as the attraction could be enjoyed by the whole family. If you traveled with a disabled guest, they could even remain in their non-electric wheelchair to ride. For me, it's a bigger loss than "Back to the Future". Sadly, "Disaster", "Twister", "Terminator 3D", and "Fear Factor Live!" remain. I still miss "Kongfrontation". Another major loss in my opinion. I do like "The Mummy", but I long to see Kong again.

Not enough space for people and the pay lockers? (Just kidding)

Merry Christmas! Love the Mickey Mouse Club Greeting Card GAcoaster!

Personally, I find the cannibalization logic to be specious. Six Flags America and Six Flags New England are single day attractions at best (Time Warner deemed the latter to small to be a proper Six Flags Park). The former has barely seen investment by Six Flags for almost a decade. Both parks also remain far enough away, that even with lodging, Six Flags America and Six Flags New England may lose a single family admission once a season at best. A premium resort, at premium prices (coupled with premium service most importantly), would entice people from greater distances than a 4-5 hour drive ($100+ per night is too expensive for the average regional theme park patron, in a close proximity). Season Pass customers to Great Adventure would also continue to purchase passes at the Agawam Ma and Mitchellville MD, parks where they sell at a discount. The hotel would be a magnet for customers beyond a 6-12 drive, and would be unlikely to visit a Six Flags park that doesn't provide the Great Adventure experience. At the end of the day, Six Flags Corporate benefits. The hotel keeps customers at the most premium priced Six Flags park. It also forces greater out of pocket spending by customers, versus simple in-park impulse traps. A partnered hotel would shatter the profit margins. Six Flags needs to realize income greater than current in-park spending will yield. Honestly, it's this type of short sided reasoning that keeps Six Flags an "also-ran" enterprise. Cedar Fair has no problem attracting visitors to both Kings Island and Cedar Point with on-site lodging. Disney also advertised Walt Disney World in markets clearly in Disneyland's territory. Six Flags has great assets at its parks with a lousy show experience. Until management realizes that the latter matters as much as the former, they will continue a need to "give away the gate".

I don't think Six Flags could ever compete with Disney and Universal. It's just too expensive. "Toy Story Midway Mania" alone clocked in at $100M, almost half of Six Flags's entire Capital Expenditure. That was just for the Orlando Version! Six Flags could buy 4 or 5 B&M Dive Machines for that. It's largely the reason Premier Parks invested in big coasters versus interactive attractions. Six Flags could compete on the level of Busch Gardens or Sea World however in terms of CapEx. This would require new management and ownership however. Current management seems to have abandoned the idea of more immersive theming. Premier Parks plopped down some "parking lot coasters" ("Scream" at Magic Mountain being the most notable offender). When Premier Parks decided to actually theme a section however, they did it in a way that rivaled Busch Gardens or even Universal ("The Golden Kingdom" and "Hurricane Harbor" prior to Red Zone are my primary examples.) Premier Parks, specifically Burke discussed on-site lodging at Great Adventure. It was planned by Premier, but quickly was abandoned by Red Zone after the takeover. Harry would be able to elaborate further on this (even a small spotlight on the proposed hotel would be awesome!). Lack of on-site lodging continues to be foolish by Six Flags Management. They are in effect, "leaving money on the table." If I ran Six Flags, I'd quickly look to reshape Great Adventure as a destination with the hotel as a "phase 1" initiative. With lodging as a revenue source, I'd reduce the (or rather eliminate), the "Boardwalk" games section to expand "The Golden Kingdom". Games would be moved to fill in other unoccupied space in the park (specifically in "The Golden Kingdom Trading Outpost"). Adding an indoor waterpark and golf course would also provide a way to operate the hotel year-round (think "Great Wolf Lodge"), as well as stage a Christmas event.

According to Six Flag's SEC Filings, in-park advertising has generated a paltry sum at best. The problem is, it's income generated with almost zero overhead outside of sales staff. Unless another change in ownership occurs, I don't see this problem being reduced.

A Mariachi Band is something I longed for in the "Plaza de Carnivale" area. Considering its Mexico-esque theming, a Mariachi Band would provide essential ambience. Paired on a stage with a sit-down restaurant, it could prove to be a major draw to it.