Sfft 12/30

[bobbinbop20]

First off I would like to apologize for the lack of SFFT pictures, I was supposed to be there for a full day on the 29th of December, but the park never opened because of "bad weather" when it only rained for about an hour earlier in the day, and the forecast was clear for the rest of the day. So I had to do Seaworld San Antonio and SFFT in the same day, which isn't really a problem but I paid to go Seaworld so I spent most of the day there. So by the time I got to SFFT it was getting dark and I didn't have much time for pictures. Strike one for SFFT

Since I'm already talking about SFFT I'll give my thoughts on it first, Please realize that for Holiday in the Park they have a very limited amount of rides open and I feel that a visit here in the summer time would be great, however I have mostly negative thoughts about the park, so please don't get offended by my thoughts or anything, these are just my observations.

Where to start, I got to the park probably about 6pm and headed to Goliath (BTR mirrored clone) because its right in the front of the park. There was only a station wait, so I was thinking ok this is pretty good. Goliath was only running one train but with a minimal wait it didn't really matter, but still the second train wasn't even at the ride which made it seem like the park had a piss poor attitude about their capacity. Now I understand it's sort of there off season and time for rehab, but they already have most of the park closed off and 3 months to do rehab on goliath. Strike number two.

The ride experience for me however, I was quite surprised. This might be my favorite BTR clone out of the 5 I've been on. It seemed super fast, intense and smooth. Maybe its because this is my first mirrored BTR clone or maybe the ride was running really good on this day. Either way, not a strike for SFFT.

Then the good mood I was in after the ride took a total 180 and turned into a miserable mood for the rest of the night, I was like praying to get my credits and get the hell out of there.

This was the first time I had to wait more than 5 minutes for a boomerang, horrible crews, no single rider line for Tony Hawk, or at least it wasn't open, took more than 15 minutes for them to make my over cooked downright disgusting Johnny Rockets burger, normally I don't complain about waiting in line but being stuck between people that haven't taken a shower in god only knows how long, in some small stuffy building was no picnic for me. Plus they didn't have nearly as many unique food stands at SFFT as they did at SFOT. My sister was smart to skip out on this park, she went shopping with my mom. Strike 3, 4, 5, 6...etc for SFFT.

I feel that for HITP not enough of the park is open for the amount of people that visit. I wanted to get out of there, it was like a horrible nightmare that never ends, to me this parks management was a downright disaster, and I really hope they improve. Strike, strike, strike.

The only other positive thing about my SFFT experience was riding the Scooby Doo dark ride, that was a pretty cool little ride.

Well I'm just gonna stop ranting about SFFT because most of you probably couldn't care less. I'll move on to the limited amount of pictures, again I apologize.

http://amusementparkauthority.com/forums/trip_reports/bobbinbop20/sfft_12_30_2009/DSC03182.jpg
Here we are...

http://amusementparkauthority.com/forums/trip_reports/bobbinbop20/sfft_12_30_2009/DSC03185.jpg
I believe last year SKC was open for HITP, what gives this year?!

http://amusementparkauthority.com/forums/trip_reports/bobbinbop20/sfft_12_30_2009/DSC03187.jpg

http://amusementparkauthority.com/forums/trip_reports/bobbinbop20/sfft_12_30_2009/DSC03188.jpg

http://amusementparkauthority.com/forums/trip_reports/bobbinbop20/sfft_12_30_2009/DSC03191.jpg
random B&M pre drop shot

http://amusementparkauthority.com/forums/trip_reports/bobbinbop20/sfft_12_30_2009/DSC03430.jpg
I love the vibrant colors that Goliath is painted

http://amusementparkauthority.com/forums/trip_reports/bobbinbop20/sfft_12_30_2009/DSC03431.jpg
the only decent picture I took

http://amusementparkauthority.com/forums/trip_reports/bobbinbop20/sfft_12_30_2009/DSC03432.jpg

http://amusementparkauthority.com/forums/trip_reports/bobbinbop20/sfft_12_30_2009/DSC03433.jpg
I guess when SF doesn't know what to call a ride they just choose Superman, Batman, or Goliath

http://amusementparkauthority.com/forums/trip_reports/bobbinbop20/sfft_12_30_2009/DSC03434.jpg
This ride actually wasn't to bad, then again I was in the front, I imagine the back is much worse

http://amusementparkauthority.com/forums/trip_reports/bobbinbop20/sfft_12_30_2009/DSC03435.jpg
it's also nearly impossible to get a picture of

http://amusementparkauthority.com/forums/trip_reports/bobbinbop20/sfft_12_30_2009/DSC03436.jpg
Rattler, not open.

http://amusementparkauthority.com/forums/trip_reports/bobbinbop20/sfft_12_30_2009/DSC03437.jpg
Road Runner Express Train

http://amusementparkauthority.com/forums/trip_reports/bobbinbop20/sfft_12_30_2009/DSC03438.jpg
Nice Christmas decorations and stuff

http://amusementparkauthority.com/forums/trip_reports/bobbinbop20/sfft_12_30_2009/DSC03439.jpg
I really love S&S towers and I was disappointed that the very long line stopped me from riding, I really like the color scheme on this tower.

http://amusementparkauthority.com/forums/trip_reports/bobbinbop20/sfft_12_30_2009/DSC03440.jpg
The tower at SFNE has the exact same logo

http://amusementparkauthority.com/forums/trip_reports/bobbinbop20/sfft_12_30_2009/DSC03441.jpg
home to the crappiest Johnny Rockets evah

http://amusementparkauthority.com/forums/trip_reports/bobbinbop20/sfft_12_30_2009/DSC03442.jpg

http://amusementparkauthority.com/forums/trip_reports/bobbinbop20/sfft_12_30_2009/DSC03443.jpg
THBS, fun ride, despite waiting much more than it's worth

http://amusementparkauthority.com/forums/trip_reports/bobbinbop20/sfft_12_30_2009/DSC03444.jpg

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http://amusementparkauthority.com/forums/trip_reports/bobbinbop20/sfft_12_30_2009/DSC03447.jpg
and that's all the SFFT photos I have, sorry!

[nitrofan]

Well I am sorry you had such a bad experience with SFFT. As you probably know, it used to be my home park, and I could actually see parts of the park from my bedroom window when I lived in San Antonio. I haven't been to the park since late 2007, so my experience is a little dated, but here is my opinion on the park:

I believe that the park started out as one of the best parks in the chain. I may be a little biased, but after traveling to most of the parks in the chain, that is my belief of the park from 2000-2006. The park has/had some of the best theming in the chain and has/had a very well-balanced ride collection. As Shapiro came in, the park had some good and some bad. THBS was added to the boardwalk, which I think is a good ride, but it just feels kind of odd to me in that section. To me, I don't think Tony Hawk should be on a boardwalk themed section.

The next year, Goliath was added. I could rant quite a bit about that decision. There is a mirror image of the ride 30 miles away, even if they do latino styles with the queue and station, Goliath has NOTHING to do with a Mexican themed section. I just think that ride is a good fit for the section. The park did a good job making Boomering fit in despite also having a name aloof from its section's theme, but 2 rides like that at the front of the park is too much. Six Flags did a great job with TDK's theming the same year, but SFFT gets this piece of crap. I do enjoy Batman clones, but that is how I view it in this situation.

In 2009, Wiggles World was added. They took out the excellently themed kids section of Spassburg for a cheap looking Wiggles theme. It just seems ridiculous to spend money on that to me. They also moved several of the kids rides scattered around the park to Wiggles World, skewing the park's ride balance.

Operations when I was at the park were usually pretty good. There were 2 seasons (I think 2005 and 2006) where Poltergeist alternated trains going to rehab, and was on 1 train operation both seasons, and there was never even a train on the transfer, Rattler would frequently have 1 or 2 train operation when the wait was over an hour, but those were really the only problems I had with operations. Crews were normally very efficent (with the exception of Rattler, every year for some weird reason) and Superman could have less than a 30 minute wait time when the entire queue was filled. THBS does have a single-rider line and it was open both times I was at SFFT in 2007. THBS loaded 2 cars at a time in 2007 too.

I have no idea why the ride selection at HIP is so poor, but it is something they really need to fix if they want to continue the event. I can understand why Poltergeist is closed each year, but Superman and Rattler really should be open.


Now that's the end of my rant. I really wish we could have paused time with this park in 2006 for several other reasons, but I'm going to stop for now. Now for comments on the TR:

-The entrance sign looks very nice. It was painted blue last time I was there.
-Superman was not open for HIP last year because all of the paths accesing Superman were blocked from construction of Wiggles World.
-I like Goliath's colors too, but I absolutely hate the ride's name and theme*
-Roadrunner was probably one of my favorite rides in that park despite being one of the smallest. It was very unique.
-I can't comment on the food situation as the Johnny Rockets is new and I haven't been there.
-Were they only running 1 tower on Scream?


*Theme is a loose term

[bobbinbop20]

Goliath was added. I could rant quite a bit about that decision. There is a mirror image of the ride 30 miles away

THBS does have a single-rider line and it was open both times I was at SFFT in 2007. THBS loaded 2 cars at a time in 2007 too.

I have no idea why the ride selection at HIP is so poor, but it is something they really need to fix if they want to continue the event. I can understand why Poltergeist is closed each year, but Superman and Rattler really should be open.

-Were they only running 1 tower on Scream?

I have the exact same opinion about Goliath, I love the ride but why on earth at SFFT, with the same ride located 15 minutes away!!!!

I agree, that If Superman was open it would have helped a ton!

I think they were running two towers on scream, but I'm not entirely sure.

I really hope I can visit in the summer when I can get the full SFFT experience.

[Jp]

When I always go they only run 1 tower on sream. I heard somewhere, they only run one tower mabe two (when there is LOTS of people) because the accident at SFKK. That what I heard.

Tony Hawk Big Spin: I think fits in the section to me, I don't know how it would of work in the other sections. They do load two cars, but during the Event I only saw one loading up.
Superman: Has never opened during the event due to the weather. If I owned the park I would of opened it. When you are walking to wiggles world they have this long fence to block of Superman.
Goliath: Love that type of ride, since I mostly go to SFFT than Sea World. When I first saw the ride in 2008, I was shock how they made it so big looking. To me I like how it is but that is in my own opinion!
Wiggles World: My family likes it alot. The only ride they took from the the park in but it in there was the mini scream ride that was in Crackaxle Canyon and now it's called "The Wiggly Trail Ride". The merry-go-round was moved to Rockville next to Power Surge. The mini roller coaster just got a new name and paint. The rest is new rides.

[Austin]

The accident shouldn't affect it. Ours was a Intamin and it was intamins fault. Those S&S's are hydraulically or pneumatically powered and have about a 99.9% less risk of an accident.

[nitrofan]

I don't think the person who said Scream only runs 1-2 towers due to the SFKK accident knew what they were talking about. Although it has been a few years since I have been to the park, I always saw them running at least 2 towers on weekdays, and sometimes 3.

[bobbinbop20]

All i know is that at SFOT they seem mostly to run all three on their S&S tower

[Austin]

Maybe its to cut costs?

[bobbinbop20]

Could be, or they just don't care about there hourly throughput

[Austin]

Most likely id say cost saving since the condition theyre in. The savings could really rack up with just one closed for a year or almost a year.

[bobbinbop20]

yeah, I understand what you mean, thats good money for them