voodoobones
Thunder Canyon
It's not that life is so short, it's that you're dead for so long!
Posts: 180
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Post by voodoobones on Feb 26, 2008 21:10:34 GMT -8
I don't know. Norton is a businessman and he knows that an interview is cheap advertisement. It's not about saving a sinking ship. It's about keeping it from peril to begin with.
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Post by 65skylark on Feb 27, 2008 20:13:43 GMT -8
Shaprio didn't give that interview because he's in a sinking ship. That ship is no longer sinking. He gave that interview because he has the insight to realise that giving an interview to a site like TPR is huge. RCA is not TPR, though. I love RCA, but it is still a fairly small, growing site, that doesn't really reach that many patrons of Silverwood, being mostly families that live in Northern Idaho and visit the park because it is the only park to visit. Us enthusiasts know about it and it comes up right away if you Google "Silverwood", but I'm not too convinced you reach that big of an audience by giving an interview here.
TPR has thousands of views literally every hour and by giving them an interview you are not only able to promote what is going on at SFMM, but the whole chain. Shapiro is the CEO, what he says regarding SFMM goes for every other park, too. So even though he is discussing SFMM, people in Maryland, Georgia, Texas. etc., are encouraged because they also have a SF park in their state.
I do agree with Voodoobones that an interview is cheap advertisement. I also think it would be helpful and would love to see it happen. I just don't think it will. That's another thing that sets Shapiro apart from most others, IMO. Most people totally write off the enthusiast community as a very small niche group that really has little effect on the overall success of a park. And, when it comes to Silverwood, I would agree.
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Post by Bud Parsley on Feb 27, 2008 21:24:50 GMT -8
I'm with you on this one Skylark. I think Norton might do it, and it would be great to read, but RCA and Silverwood are not big enough (yet) to make any type of impact. And this isn't meant to be a slam on either one...they are small, growing, and still relatively unknown. I dare say in 10 years we'll all wish it was still that way. By comparison, SFMM and TPR are at a totally different level.
However, I also agree that most parks and owners do write off the online community as basically a non-entity. And that is a HUGE mistake. I think these parks don't realize the power and influence of the online communities. Take a look at Deja Vu...Silverwood announces it and everyone here (and at other sites) instantly knows the detailed pros and cons of the rides. Many of us have been on one or more of these already. Silverwood can't buy market research like that anywhere. Shapiro is brilliant for working with TPR because all it's going to bring him is even more insight (and ultimately succes) in his own industry.
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Post by timberterror on Mar 3, 2008 19:18:27 GMT -8
I used to love SFMM. Several years back I'd fly down once or twice a year. My last 2 visits were some of the worst I've had at any park. I'll be down there in October and I hope I can have a great visit like the good old days. - Barry
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styvx
Thunder Canyon
Posts: 100
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Post by styvx on Mar 4, 2008 14:43:07 GMT -8
^i think you will find it has improved, if only slightly. it also depends what day of the week you go. weekends have a very different feel from weekdays. especially weekend evenings.
-styvx
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Post by 65skylark on Mar 4, 2008 22:29:23 GMT -8
I've been there twice a year for the last three years, and it has improved with every visit. Since 2004 it has improved GREATLY. It isn't even the same park, IMO.
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Post by skinnyguy on Mar 5, 2008 13:07:01 GMT -8
I'm really glad to be hearing so many good things about SFMM. Sounds like it's worth heading back there again sometime. Last time I was there was around 2003, and it was just awful. If it's improving as much as everyone is saying, I'll be making a stop by there the next time I'm in L.A.
And with regard to the interviewing - I think Gary would do an interview, even though it won't make that much of an impact. I think it'd be very cool if he did. But I'll agree that RCA is still pretty small and not too influential in the online theme park world. I think that's more a function of the content, though. In other words, RCA will only be as big as Silverwood is. As the park continues to grow and reach out to more and more people, RCA will grow as well.
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Post by timberterror on Mar 8, 2008 15:42:04 GMT -8
I hope it's improved. I was there in Oct 2004 for Fright Fest and the only coaster I hadn't ridden there at that time was Scream. The park in only open fri-sun in October and we were there on Friday and it was CLOSED!!!! Not for maintenence mind you, but waiting for state inspection of some sort. It was also annoying that it wasn't listed on the closed rides list at all. I went to customer relations and they didn't even know it was closed, very poor managemant IMO. I realize coasters close without warning all the time but it was just frustrating. In October 2006 I was there again hoping to ride Tatsu and finally Scream. I got there early and got in line for Tatsu. The sign claimed 45 minute wait, but we waited for about 1 1/2hrs. They were only running 2 trains on 1 side of the station with as much as 7 minutes between dispatches. As many of you know B&M's are people eating machines so I found this operation hideous. After our excellent ride we headed to Scream. They were only running 1 of 3 trains. This made a 20 minute wait or so 1 hour, again hideous. After that we were pretty much done with this park so we decided to ride Goliath on last time. As luck would have it we got stuck on the lift for about 20 minutes and it started to rain, what a bummer. For our trouble the ride ops were giving us front of the line passes to ride anything but X or Tatsu- we passed. I really want more ride time on Tatsu and a few other there. I just hope the operations are better than last time. - Barry
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Post by 65skylark on Mar 14, 2008 14:54:18 GMT -8
In case some of you here haven't heard, West Coast Bash last weekend was a huge hit. One of the many cool surprises, IMO (along with backstage tours, a preview of the new Sky Tower museum, and morning ERT) was the announcement that night time ERT would enclude EVERY single coaster in the park that was opperating that day! After the event, Neil Thurman of SFMM took the time to post a comment to the TPR forums. If some of you are still on the fence about the turn around at this park, ask yourselves, when was the last time that you knew of someone from upper management of a large theme park posting to a coaster enthusiast forum? Here is what he had to say.......... Our thanks to all of you for visiting us last Sunday! We all had a great time sharing with you the new Six Flags Magic Mountain. I hope you all believe in what we are doing at the park, and I hope you know that we are not finished. This is a work in progress. We have days when we really get it right and days when we learn how to improve. Just know that we will keep working and keep raising our own standards. We hear you clearly on restrooms and we agree with you. Last Sunday during your tours I attended a training class of new Operations Team Members. In the class were several new Park Services Team Members who are going to help us with restroom cleanliness. We will work hard to keep our restrooms clean, and we will continue to work on our long range restroom plan. Also I thought I would share with you that we have replaced the candy machine that gave us trouble on Sunday. During your visits to our park this year I hope you will take the time to stop by Guest Relations and tell us how we are doing. Feel free to ask for me specifically. We value and very much appreciate your comments. It really is a new day at Six Flags Magic Mountain. This is real and not just a show. We are there each and every day working to make every guest experience spectacular. Thank you all for visiting. We look forward to seeing you in the park! Sincerely, Neal Thurman Director of Park Operations Six Flags Magic Mountain & Hurricane Harbor Check out the official Theme Park Review update HERE
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Post by skinnyguy on Mar 14, 2008 19:13:15 GMT -8
^Wow....that's outstanding. I don't know what else to say. That is just fantastic PR. What a way to get people fired up about your park again.! This really is not the same SFMM that it was 5 years ago.
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