Why does anyone like to go to Magic Mountain?

[SuddenStorm]

It has the best log flume in California (that’s right, fight me) and arguably anywhere in Timber Mtn Log Flume, a super unique dark ride in the Calico Mine Train

Considering Tokyo's Splash isn't a traditional log flume like Anaheim's Splash was, it's more of a boat ride, I agree with this now that Splash in Anaheim is dead and gone.

 

[MK-fan]

On the plus side they have over the last five years been remodeling entire areas around the park. When they updated Colossus, the area got a face lift. When they put in Wonder Woman and DC dark ride, the DC area got updated. When they put in street racers ride, the area got updated. They are getting rid of dead areas and trying to improve. They just added solar panels to the parking lot and updated restrooms. They just removed the Grizzly theater for a new ride. Granted there is still work to but I wouldn't call it run down. A lot of the park is brand new.

Of course, the employees are industry standard fast food zombies just like at Disneyland. They are still running one train on most rides and the employees move like slugs and are distracted by their phones but that is what happens when their managers aren't present. At least at Disneyland the managers keep a whip on ride operators.

IMO, I would say that the newer DC Universe area is a huge downgrade compared to the old Gotham City Backlot, that area was designed pretty well for a Six Flags park and used to be one of my favorite areas.

 

[Phroobar]

IMO, I would say that the newer DC Universe area is a huge downgrade compared to the old Gotham City Backlot, that area was designed pretty well for a Six Flags park and used to be one of my favorite areas.

To each his own. I kind of like it. It's more comic book than Batman the Movie. It's not Batland anymore.
I think the Wonder Woman ride and Justice League are great pluses to the area. They even updated the ribs restaurant. It is still better than Avengers Campus.

 

[Phroobar]

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

Yep. People on this board who love to rant and rave about how much worse Disney's become clearly haven't been to any SeaWorld parks recently.

Honestly every single time i get annoyed with something Disney does, I somehow always end up coming across some of the SeaWorld folks on my theme park twitter and am very quickly reminded just how good I actually have it.

I was actually just recently watching a video about how bad they've let Journey to Atlantis in particular get and I was gobsmacked. I loved that ride as a kid, but it looks nothing like it did now. They're letting people get on it and move past static sets and abandoned effects and show scenes from a story they don't even actually have as a part of the ride anymore. They've just turned it all off and let it become a water coaster with a weird enlongated indoor section that clearly used to be an actual dark ride.

I haven't been to SeaWorld in damn near a decade but honestly seeing how truly hopeless even it's most devoted lifelong fans are about the state of it makes me not want to. The pictures they post and the stories they tell about what's going on right now just blows my mind. Part of me truly wonders if Sea World is still gonna exist in 15-20 years if they continue down this current spiral.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Honestly every single time i get annoyed with something Disney does, I somehow always end up coming across some of the SeaWorld folks on my theme park twitter and am very quickly reminded just how good I actually have it.

I was actually just recently watching a video about how bad they've let Journey to Atlantis in particular get and I was gobsmacked. I loved that ride as a kid, but it looks nothing like it did now. They're letting people get on it and move past static sets and abandoned effects and show scenes from a story they don't even actually have as a part of the ride anymore. They've just turned it all off and let it become a water coaster with a weird enlongated indoor section that clearly used to be an actual dark ride.

I haven't been to SeaWorld in damn near a decade but honestly seeing how truly hopeless even it's most devoted lifelong fans are about the state of it makes me not want to. The pictures they post and the stories they tell about what's going on right now just blows my mind. Part of me truly wonders if Sea World is still gonna exist in 15-20 years if they continue down this current spiral.

Exactly. There is basically nothing SeaWorld is doing right unless you're one easily swayed by coasters (no matter what it is, regardless of whether or not its level of presentation at all matches with the older coasters of the park) or beer, and handwave a lot of major problems away as a result.

Is Disney at its best? No. But is it a heck of a lot better than basically anyone else right now? Yes.

Look almost anywhere else in the industry in this country right now and suddenly Disneyland isn't so bad.

 

[MK-fan]

I really hope Cedar Fair turns SFMM back on on its head because like I said, I was a fan and had a season pass. I do like what Time Warner was trying to do during 1993-1998 when they were trying to become more of a “Theme Park” and become more marketable. They even created land posters and added elements to certain areas in those lands to create a more themed experience. These included Six Flags Plaza, Baja Ridge, High Sierra Territory, Gotham City Backlot, Monterey Landing, Cyclone Bay, Rapids Camp Crossing, Colossus Country Fair and Cyclone Bay. Here is a link to those posters: https://www.kbxd.info/works/six-flags-magic-mountain-poster-program

The park began to add theming everywhere, especially High Sierra Territory. They also added shows like Dennis the Menace Screen Test, Police Academy Stunt Show, Batman Nights Fireworks, Looney Tunes/DC parades, the Batman Stunt Show, the Batman and Robin Stunt Show and new themed attractions like Batman the Ride and Superman the Escape. I applaud Time Warner for trying to make the park more Disney-ish but all good things must come to an end when they had to sell the park.

 

[Phroobar]

Exactly. There is basically nothing SeaWorld is doing right unless you're one easily swayed by coasters (no matter what it is, regardless of whether or not its level of presentation at all matches with the older coasters of the park) or beer, and handwave a lot of major problems away as a result.

Is Disney at its best? No. But is it a heck of a lot better than basically anyone else right now? Yes.

Look almost anywhere else in the industry in this country right now and suddenly Disneyland isn't so bad.

I hear Dollywood is pretty amazing and well run.

 

[PiratesMansion]

I hear Dollywood is pretty amazing and well run.

It is, indeed, quite good (though semi-sister park Silver Dollar City is better and will never get equivalent hype because of a location much farther removed from a large population base and lack of a famous namesake).

That said, it's more comparable to a superior version of Knott's than Disneyland.

 

[Too Many Hats]

I've been able to do a few (Outlaw Run, Steel Vengeance, Goliath, Twisted Colossus). I probably could have done more if I had traveled to more parks with them, but whereas for many coaster dorks they are a draw, for me they are a deterrent, because it truly feels like the universe flips a coin and that determines whether I'm going to fit or not. For me, it's a height AND body shape issue, and it's not just that I flat out won't fit, but that whether or not I fit is wildly inconsistent.

I literally sat in the station of Steel Vengeance watching my restraint on the restraint-checker screen in the station watching it go from go to no go without me even doing anything.

At the Six Flags I grew up going to (SFGreat America), I literally went on the RMC Goliath when I was too fat to ride V2; then I came back and had lost enough wait to successfully ride V2 but somehow didn't fit on Goliath anymore even though I was several pounds lighter than when I had ridden before! It's all so obnoxious.

I'm so sorry, that sounds incredibly frustrating. Your Steel Vengeance and V2/Goliath experiences seem to indicate that RMC has some sort of inconsistency with their restraint verification system.

In terms of the ride experience, have you been able to enjoy these coasters, or have you experienced discomfort due to the restraints?

You mentioned SLOP at USH in one of your posts. Were you able to get on it?

So yeah, I hate RMCs and can't wait until the coaster dork community moves on to worshipping another manufacturer.

**Reflects on endless RMC evangelizing**

Ahhh my bad, I'm part of the problem

 

[PiratesMansion]

I'm so sorry, that sounds incredibly frustrating. Your Steel Vengeance and V2/Goliath experiences seem to indicate that RMC has some sort of inconsistency with their restraint verification system.

In terms of the ride experience, have you been able to enjoy these coasters, or have you experienced discomfort due to the restraints?

You mentioned SLOP at USH in one of your posts. Were you able to get on it?



**Reflects on endless RMC evangelizing**

Ahhh my bad, I'm part of the problem

I enjoy the ones I get on for the most part, though I maintain that airtime is better when you can experience it without being jammed directly into a restraint. Discomfort and RMC go hand in hand for me.

I was able to do SLOP in 2022 but not last year.

 

[Too Many Hats]

I completely disagree with you here - both myself and my friend group (say 6-7 folks all 30+) tend to frequent SFMM over Disneyland nowadays. Why?

First, we're all thrill seekers, and sometimes a good, intense roller coaster at SFMM scratches an itch that other parks in SoCal cannot. The park genuinely has some world class roller coasters - X2 is simply unparalleled (clone in Japan aside), Twisted Colossus, Tatsu, West Coast Racers. Even Apocalypse is one hell of an underrated woodie.

Second, the value proposition. I've paid $6/month for years for a SFMM membership - pretty much a bank account rounding error - and that gets me free parking, unlimited admission, and F&B discounts. That alone makes me want to visit more than to pay $206 just to get into Disneyland, let alone ride any worthwhile attraction.

Third, proximity. Living in DTLA, sometimes SFMM is only a 30 minute drive up the 5, versus an hour south.

Like others have said, SFMM has a lot of potential and I'm hoping with the SF/CF merger, that the latter organization can bring a lot of it to the surface through better operations and maintenance.

That's fair. I can certainly agree that the park has excellent coasters and the annual pass is a great value.

I'm a thrill seeker too, but I find Magic Mountain a frustrating experience compared to parks like Cedar Point or Hersheypark. Superman, Wonder Woman, and X2 have all been closed on multiple visits. Ops are questionable. Investment in anything other than coasters is non-existent. The walk from the parking lot to the gate is crazy. IDK... maybe I'm doing it wrong. But parks like CP and Hershey make it easy, so I can't help but roll my eyes at MM.

I agree the park has a ton of potential, and I'm optimistic the SF/CF merger will one day result in a better park. I'd really love to see it.

 

[Phroobar]

That's fair. I can certainly agree that the park has excellent coasters and the annual pass is a great value.

I'm a thrill seeker too, but I find Magic Mountain a frustrating experience compared to parks like Cedar Point or Hersheypark. Superman, Wonder Woman, and X2 have all been closed on multiple visits. Ops are questionable. Investment in anything other than coasters is non-existent. The walk from the parking lot to the gate is crazy. IDK... maybe I'm doing it wrong. But parks like CP and Hershey make it easy, so I can't help but roll my eyes at MM.

I agree the park has a ton of potential, and I'm optimistic the SF/CF merger will one day result in a better park. I'd really love to see it.

They did put solar panels on the entire parking lot recently. They do have bus-trams but I usually walk.

 

[Too Many Hats]

I enjoy the ones I get on for the most part, though I maintain that airtime is better when you can experience it without being jammed directly into a restraint. Discomfort and RMC go hand in hand for me.

Aw man. Ugh.

I was able to do SLOP in 2022 but not last year.

Ugh. Well at least you got on it once. IMO it's the best attraction at USH! But probably the most egregiously, needlessly restrictive restraints on any dark ride.

 

[Too Many Hats]

They did put solar panels on the entire parking lot recently. They do have bus-trams but I usually walk.

Oh wow. Interesting. Must've been very recent.

Admittedly I had no idea they have trams. I've looked around and seen everyone else just walking. If they're willing to invest in solar panels, maybe one day they'll invest in some shade for guests walking the path along Scream/Colossus.

 

[Phroobar]

Oh wow. Interesting. Must've been very recent.

Admittedly I had no idea they have trams. I've looked around and seen everyone else just walking. If they're willing to invest in solar panels, maybe one day they'll invest in some shade for guests walking the path along Scream/Colossus.

I'd say that was within the last 18 months. They are actually city buses like the Toy Story parking lot makes you use.

It just shows how everyone hates the place but no one has been there recently.

 

[Too Many Hats]

It just shows how everyone hates the place but no one has been there recently.

They need a new ad campaign, like those Dominos commercials that apologized for their awful pizza. "Come on down to Magic Mountain; we're slightly less frustrating than we used to be, we promise!"

 

[PiratesMansion]

Can confirm that they've had the trams/trammified busses for many years. I've taken them before.

That said, the walk from parking lot to Magic Mountain is quite short than the one for Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.

 

[Too Many Hats]

That said, the walk from parking lot to Magic Mountain is quite short than the one for Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.

Even if you’re parked past Scream? On a warmer day I recall it feeling like walking on the surface of the sun.

 

[Phroobar]

Can confirm that they've had the trams/trammified busses for many years. I've taken them before.

That said, the walk from parking lot to Magic Mountain is quite short than the one for Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.

I remember going to Discovery Kingdom on the way home from my sister's wedding. The front half of the park was rollercoasters packed together in the former parking lot. It was a little windy that day and they closed down all the coasters. The rest of it had animal exhibits which were okay. We watched the animal shows and had a good time. It was a strange park. I wonder what it is like now?