Six Flags Magic Mountain

frosty · Six Flags Magic Mountain

Someone at work has just got back from a two week holiday to the US West coast and they are singing the praises of Six Flags Magic Mountain.

I know many club members would have visited this park in years gone by (West Coaster Story?) and not everyone thinks SF parks are that great, but this one certainly seems to be very good.

It's probably going to be some time before I get to visit this park but it's certainly on my list of 'must do's'.

krusty_the_clown

6fMM seems to get slated by almost all enthusiasts who have visited the park. it has had its fair share of gang problems in the past and they have a habit of just putting rides down in areas of the park that used to be car parking spaces (you can still see the spaces marked out on the tarmac) this I believe is one of the reasons that park is slated for no athmosphere.

however on my one visit there I really enjoyed it, not many queues to be seen, ERSs on a few rides and a relaxing and fun day was had.

frosty

I mentioned to this person that many club member's I meet say SF often have no atmosphere and bad theming (as I've now witnessed) but she says she thought the park was excellent and can't wait to go back - great rides, virtually no queues often with the ability to go straight back on and everyone was really pleasant to deal with.

For me it's the rides they have that would draw me to the park.

Spanners

Of course X has to be done..... It's an nasty, nasty ride but still needs to be done. Shocked

krusty_the_clown

isn't it now X2?

Spanners

I thought that, what's the different?
It's probably still nasty..

reg

I've never like SFMM, and the visit on the 2005 trip didn't leave me with any love for the place.

Its not just the lack any themeing or atmosphere, but the fact that the park have ruined so many rides over the years.

I first rode Collosus and Revolution when I was 13, and they were insane! Collosus was running trains on both tracks, and Revolution was unbraked and sported just lapbars.

Buy 2005, one side of Collosus has almost rotted away, and the side that does run is a shadow of its former self.

Revolution has more added brakes than I ever though possible on a coaster, and coupled with the hideous OTSR's, its become downright painful to ride.

I've been spoiled by Dragster etc, so Superman was a huge letdown.

BUT, Goliath was excellent, a real gem in a park of mainly mediocre rides.
X has to be done, but like Phil said, its just nasty. Deja Vu was good, but you'll be lucky to catch it running at all, and when it is, the queues can be immense! We waited over 90 mins in the 100+ degree heat for a ride.

Scream was the most forceless floorless I've been on, and yes, you can still see the carpark markings under it.

I've not had a chance to ride Tatsu, so can't comment on that.

I did have the misfortune to ride Psychlone and Flashback before they were given a date with the wreaking ball, and they were both a bad as most people say.

I can't really put a finger on why I don't like Magic Mountain. The place just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Magic

SFMM was no where near as bad as I was expecting. In fact the staff were friendly and welcoming and looked after the RCCGB well.

However X is the only coaster that I would have happily undone my harness to fall out and end the suffering and misery of the ride. It's a steel Rattler.

Whilst they have a great selection of rides that on paper look fantastic, I was actually quite disappointed that non of them were particularly good. I've yet to ride Tatsu or Terminator which could be good.

frosty

Kate and her two friends loved most of the rides with the exception of Déjà Vu (only because she did not like being held facing downwards for a long time due to the restraint that was fitted). She just loved X2 (and wanted to go on again and again) & Terminator.

I understand her feelings about rides that hold you facing downwards with just one restraint and no secondary safety belt - a bit like 5 of the 6 Boomerangs from this years US trip. It's unlikely things will go wrong but why not have the added belt just in case? One of the Boomerangs also had padded ear pieces!

I guess I'm taken in by how much Kate loved the park, X2 (Reg must be shocked by that!) and the advertising blurb for the rides. On paper placed against other SF parks this one seems to be better with the likes of Terminator, X2 (which is a variation I've not yet done) and the magnificent Tatsu! Unless it's a side trip I'm unlikely to do this park before 2012 Sad

Spanners

I'm with Greg on this, nothing fantastic there for me. It's just a park that has to be visited..

Did I say, X (2) is NASTY!

krusty_the_clown

X2 opened in 2008 so we went on the original X in 2005.

butler

Went to SFMM in 1992 and enjoyed it. Staff and atmosphere was good, but that was 17years ago.

USfriends

Lisa & I went to MM last year and it was quite nice.
I think that overall 6flags are better than they were 5 years ago.
The staff was helpful and friendly, a vast improvement from when the
club went. The changes to X are major. It is a fun and thrilling ride.
I must say I liked it when we went with the club, and it is better now.
Tatsu is the best flying coaster I have ridden. Not my favorite style
of ride, but a good addition to the park. Terminator wasn't open yet
so no opinion there....Its definitely a park for steelies, i'm sure you would like it Frosty!

Spanners

what is so different about X2??? Is it smoother now?

reg

Supposed to be. Lighter trains and different rotation transmission have been said to give a better ride. I personally didn't think it was that bad, and I was sat on an outboard seat at the front......or back, depending on the flip......whatever, we were the first row over the drop. Rather disorientating as rides go.

USfriends

David Ellis

I rode Eejanaika in Japan this year, and if X2 uses the same trains as that, I would expect it to be a much better ride experience than the original X, which I found pretty uncomfortable in 2002 when I rode it.

David.