We went to Knott's far more as kids during the 70's, Disneyland was once or twice a year and the occasional visit to a very different Universal Studios. Six Flags was just never on the radar for my parents and I didn't go until probably my junior year of High School. Was just a bit of a road trip from Torrance. They all have their positives and negatives but Disneyland delivers quality that none of the others can touch...but you do end up paying for that quality.
The good old Metro. And I completely forgot they had a Gran Prix raceway. Anyone remember Freefall or the Sarajevo Bobsleds? I actually rode the latter...don't think it lasted very long.
I rode the Bobsleds, too, and will never forget how that very last turn into the brake run banged everyone's knees *every* *single* *time*.
It was quickly replaced (using the same boarding station) by the Shockwave prototype stand-up coaster, which was also very short-lived.
Sky Whirl at Great America made me really motion sick... the full ride cycle lasted about 10-15 minutes! But it was certainly an impressive-looking ride! Loved early Great America!
Wow, there used to be a similar ride at Marriott's Great America back in the day called the Sky Whirl. I've only been to Magic Mountain once, and I'm pretty sure that the Galaxy wasn't there.
I have to agree. I feel completely safe at Magic Mountain. I'm more likely to get hurt on the rides than from the guests. They do have very good security. Unlike Disneyland, line jumping is removal from the park and they enforce it. No cast member is going to kick out someone because they line jumped at Disneyland. Every line at Disneyland there is someone pushing pass me to get to their fake friend or relative that staked out line space for everyone else that was on a different ride.
I miss the Magic Pagoda with it's talking Buddha face and flying rubber chickens. Too bad the building is totally falling apart.Spilikin's Corner was a great addition, along with that funky little Centennial Railroad.
Remember the strobe light room with the paper dragon flying around on an overhead rail? After the attraction closed for good, I went to an early-80's Halloween night (pre-haunt era) where they'd turned the Pagoda into a walk-through past genuine classic movie props from Sci Fi films (Time Machine, King Kong, etc.). It was neat, but also sad to see the fun house gutted.
I remember the Bobsleds where over by Apocalypse is now. The ride was so slow it felt like it was never going to make it all the way around the track unless we tried to push it.I rode the Bobsleds, too, and will never forget how that very last turn into the brake run banged everyone's knees *every* *single* *time*.
Fun trivia: Epcot's original Dreamfinder, Ron Schneider, worked at Magic Mtn. as a ride operator on Grand Prix! He also was one of the park's "Mountain Men" who worked with the live lion.
BTW, I loved those old, rough-as-heck Freefall towers. To this day, I still can't figure out why they were so much scarier than today's drop rides, at least to me.
I do remember that. I think the building is used for Fright Fest now. It scary because the building is falling apart.
I only got the chance to ride an Intamin freefall once (well, a few times on one day), but I thought it was great. The push forward was definitely scarier than any other drop ride I've done, and the transition to lying on your back was surprisingly easy and comfortable. Returning to the unload was a little awkward, but the whole thing had a great sense of novelty to itI remember the Bobsleds where over by Apocalypse is now. The ride was so slow it felt like it was never going to make it all the way around the track unless we tried to push it.
Freefall was way more scary than the TOT is now. Your taken to the top of the tower, pushed out and you land on your back. DLP was suppose to get a ride like that where you were shot out of a volcano. The proposed Gyser Mountain used similar tech.
