ThemeParkRider

Skyway generally doesn't load multiple groups - the gondolas don't have to be balanced either. You could do 3 on one side and one on the other, as long as it's less than 4. I've seen some times when single riders have hopped in with other groups on their own... that's super awkward to watch.

If it's more than 4 days in advance, the forecast is no more accurate than the past statistical average - so I'd wait until it gets closer before getting worried.

How about the lights on the Big Wheel! Log Flume used to have the dip - removed quickly afterword. Same thing with Hydro Flume after the drop.

It seems like the underlying theme in all of this is Disney isn't what it used to be - for many reasons. I still love WDW and it's fantastic, but in comparison with even just 20 years ago there's noticeable differences in not only the quality of service with cast members but the overall programs and services offered by the company. To me, they're so sure that they have people hooked with all of the past and upcoming additions like Galaxy's Edge that they know they don't have to bother going the extra mile to deliver excellence.

I know, one of the many things I like better about Disneyland. I went a couple years ago and was reminded about how much easier/more fair/more effective it is.

I really miss the old ticketed system, it was way more fair for everyone. I'm sure this could help control the crowds a little bit more, but it wouldn't be as effective as the original way.

Toy Story Land and especially Pandora should have had more flats too. I don't know what they were thinking other than that Pandora went over-budget. I love Pandora, but when it opened it felt like something was missing. I'm hoping Galaxy's Edge is not the same way.

The sampling frame might be a little biased since we're all people that generally advocate for it to begin with, but that certainly doesn't change the fact that it is free.

Forgot how much of a good job you guys did with these Yearbooks. Keep it up!

Six Flags FUN! I agree with you on a lot of these. The Big Wheel really could use an LED light package, it just isn't the same without it. I also liked a few years ago (2010?) when the park didn't construct any major attractions because the money/effort put into general park maintenance was noticeable. But I have to disagree with number ten. As for removing the old M&M logos, I actually think the logos fit in fairly unobtrusively. Not to mention the sponsorship is a great way to fund some money for the rare and expensive parts that are necessary to keep the ride running!

Good to know, thanks. That's definitely way more strict - the temperature's dropped below 38 a lot of times this season.

Great report. Do you guys recommend going this time of year? Besides crowds, how does it compare to HITP?

I always seem to pick the slowest lane at the gate. I love this idea, but I could easily see this becoming an issue when non-membership guests try to use the gate anyway (which we know they will).

The SkyWay's queue should be covered too. Of course, the lines are almost never nearly as long. Maybe it's to discourage people from waiting in line for too long and to force them to check out another ride.

I always think of the GreatADVENTure calendar when I look at The Dark Knight Coaster's facade. With Wonder Woman opening it would be a great chance, but of course I wouldn't hold my breath. Still, I guess we can finally check off the "reopen old country" wish once and for all. Has anyone thought of making a list of our wishes that actually did come true?

I love how sponsorship is an equal priority when discussing shows for Six Flags haha

That's exactly the same for me, on its fourth season people still don't really know about it at all!

I think shows would do very well. Even Six Flags America had some decent shows going on there. Nothing too elaborate, and definitely cheesy, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a good time.

I was there that night. I was a little confused by the mixed signals about when the haunted stuff was supposed to begin. I think the website said 6 but it really didn't start until 7. Same with re-entry.

My palms are getting sweaty just thinking about the height of this ride, but I'm very excited. I noticed the skyline is present on the Dark Knight in the animation. Anyone think there's any significance to that? Or maybe the animator is just being wise.

Yeah good points. It definitely seems like many aspects of the Fort were changing right up to and after opening day. In that photo above the bottom half of the fort to the left of the sign seems like it may have been intended to be used for something as well. Obviously that's closed up now. Anyway, I just found it all very interesting.

FlumeOp1974, I agree that it's simple, and that's how we do it now. But the original queue would have had some issues. Harry describes that the original exit could have been the now unused stairs in-between the two launchers, and I agree that this is likely. But this layout would have had many issues. For one, any guests unloading would have to cross through the loading zone, which means they'd have to squeeze past the queue bars and the gondolas sitting in the station, and past the launching cars down the stairs to the front of the fort. Not the most practical for sure! The other option is that all of the gondolas were pushed around by the catcher, and they were unloaded and loaded in the same location by the launcher, but it would still be a tight fit for the guests in line to walk between the gondolas and those stairs. And I'm fairly certain those stairs were always there, given they're in the photo Harry just posted above. I made a diagram below of the current layout and our guess to the previous layout. And in the other photos, take a look at how close the cars get to the wall, keeping in mind the older cars were even larger. I'm not saying it's not possible, but it would not have been the most practical setup.

That’s interesting. It definitely would have been an awkward setup since the unload/exit would be after the load area, not to mention they’d be walking in the same area the gondolas are launched from. Maybe that’s one of the reasons they ended up changing it.

Hey Harry, back on the first page of this forum (10 years ago!) you posted about how the queue at Western was multi-level, and you can see the marks on the ground where the queue bars used to be. I've clocked in a lot of time working at this ride, and I must say (very respectfully) that I'm convinced there's 100% no way that there could have been room to make the turn from the loading stairs to where that empty area is now, especially since the old cars were slightly larger. We also talked about this when I met you guys at your last book signing, and at the time we agreed that queues are just made larger now, but in hindsight it just doesn't seem physically possible. But those marks on the ground are still an enigma. I almost wonder if they were installed but never used by the time the park opened, or if the entrances and exits of the ride were re-configured early on. For instance, the photo a few posts above could have something to do with it - maybe that walkway was used as an exit? The only way I could see that being a possibility is if the current exits were used for the queue, and the stairs were used as the exit. Still, this would be a little awkward because the guests would have to be unloaded in approximately the same spot as the guests loading, and there'd still be little room for them to squeeze by... I'm perplexed. My only other thought is maybe this was a queue intended for re-rides. But either way it does seem like the walls dividing the current unload walkway from the rest of the area could have been added in later (you can see how they're mounted in the photos above, and have a different pattern than the rest of the walls). Maybe next time I'm there I can snap some more photos to help my case! Does anybody have an ideas?

Does anything on the footprint of Koala Canyon actually remain to this day? (i.e. water pumps, concrete, etc.) Or is there no trace of it?