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Post by Bud Parsley on Feb 4, 2008 21:54:08 GMT -8
I'm liking what I'm seeing recently from the mountain. You've got crap rides being pulled out, including old flats. You've got Thomas coming in. Seems cleaner and more family friendly. Not quite what it needs to be yet, but a huge improvement. New paint jobs. Now they "theme" X into X2. A nice track record over the past few months.
Now look at Knotts. Basically having its manhood removed every year one small piece at a time. I'm just waiting for them to get rid of the mine train or even the log flume (hey, it's been closed the majority of the past year anyway!) Ghotsrider is basically unbearable now. KOD sits there closed for years with no sign of any changes. Silver Bullet, well, talk about killing the charm of a park. Pony Express could be argued as a step in the right direction but its just ANOTHER COASTER.
So, my conclusion is that, barring some unforseen change, in 5 years or less, Magic Mountain is better than Knotts. And believe me, I never thought I would say this. But it just seems to be the direction they are heading.
So tell me where I'm wrong here...
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Post by wolfblood on Feb 5, 2008 15:35:26 GMT -8
I'm not going to say your wrong here, even though Six Flags is still going through a session of possibly selling more parks...I have certainly noticed very nice improvements from them.
Plain and simple, just look at Discovery Kingdom. When it was Marine World, the park kept getting mixed reviews, operations were great in the beginning to falling flat, to adding Zonga which sadly was altered so much it could never be the insane ride it once was.
But the changes they made into Discovery Kingdom really showed Mark does have a good idea what he's doing. The place has turned into a really nice family park, while of course the transformations for Magic Mountian will be a lot harder since it's built itself mostly with coasters...in the past few months they have shown good progress. (Like tearing down Psyclone and Flashback!)
As for Knott's...sadly ever since Cedar Fair took over they have been slowly killing it. In my opinion CF really needs to remember how to run a park, the rain policies are extremly stupid since they can shut down the whole park. They have raised the height requirements of family rides to the point where if the kid is tall enough they can go on something better etc.
Not to mention, Cedar Fair is falling down the path Six Flags once took...owning too many parks they can handle. (So far Geauga Lake is the first park to fall thanks to them.)
I really don't know how long CF can last owning all the Paramount parks, it could get to a point where major choas will happen if their over their heads.
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Post by 65skylark on Feb 5, 2008 21:24:53 GMT -8
5 years? I give it by the end of this year.
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Post by skinnyguy on Feb 13, 2008 19:02:25 GMT -8
^LOL! Seems like that could be the case.
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Post by 65skylark on Feb 17, 2008 15:46:40 GMT -8
Yet another reason I think by the end of this year, SFMM will be the "non-Disney" place to go in SoCal over Knott's. www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=26782&start=2420The new park president and management team at the park have gone all out to open their arms to the roller coaster enthusiast community using Theme Park Review. This is something you do not see from ANY park. At least not at this level. You think ACE gets perks. They can't touch what SF is doing for TPR and think it speaks volumes for the in-site the new president has concerning where to focus his attention. The most visited coaster enthusiast site on the internet where you can view park updates as soon as they are posted and join in on events without paying a club membership fee, or the largest "coaster club" that sends out monthly news letters (usually late) that you have to pay money to be a part of. Anyway, that is a subject for another thread. I just really like everything I am seeing from SFMM lately. Can't wait to get back down there.
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Post by wolfblood on Feb 17, 2008 22:15:46 GMT -8
^ Totally agree, the park is just looking so much better.
I remember when MM was one of the best parks to hit in the West, shortly followed by a BIG downfall when it was only focused on having the most coasters in a park which really killed the quality of the place.
Seeing them take out coasters and rides that suck or just don't operate, and seeing many of the rides get a much needed repainting as well as other improvements show me that they are really wanting MM to shine again. I believe if they keep it up, the park will once again be one of the best parks to see in the West.
I can also certainly say I'm more eager to visit the park with the good changes their making.
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Post by skinnyguy on Feb 22, 2008 12:21:20 GMT -8
Going right along with this topic is the outstanding interview you can hear over at TPR with Shapiro and co. I think these guys are taking the park in the perfect direction. Plus, some great pictures of X2 - I'm pretty excited for this to open. I think the new colors are awesome. Check it out HereI hope to see Knott's eventually start to turn the park around and do some of the things that we're seeing at SFMM, but the longer they wait, the harder it will be...
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Post by 65skylark on Feb 22, 2008 18:19:13 GMT -8
Yeah, they've got things moving in the right direction. One thing to keep in mind is the state that SF (and particularly SFMM) was in before Shapiro took over. You don't turn that around in a year or two. Rome wasn't built in a day.
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Post by Bud Parsley on Feb 23, 2008 8:52:26 GMT -8
OK, I just listened to the Shapiro interview.
Forget my comment about it taking five years. I think it's already happened.
This guy is really sharp and impressive. And I guess he'd have to be to turn this ship around.
It is VERY COOL that he took the time to talk to an online site like TPR. I wonder if Gary Norton would do something like this for RCA?...
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styvx
Thunder Canyon
Posts: 100
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Post by styvx on Feb 26, 2008 20:53:44 GMT -8
^i doubt it. norton doesn't have a sinking ship to save.
-styvx
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