Theme Park Pet Peeves

[nitrofan]

What are your theme park pet peeves?

My main ones are line cutters, vandals, 1 train operation, empty seats, and Giovanola Mega Coasters.

[Seren]

Empty seats are probably the most annoying. As for line cutters, have you ever encountered the school field trips who think that because they're on a school field trip they don't have to wait on line? I have. >_>

[razor12]

I hate it when people say riders have died on a coaster when they havent...

[palmer]

I hate when people say that someone fell off an survived, or they saw someone die on a coaster when they don't. Also, wearing hats on a coaster and having cell phones on a coaster, they make me fell like i'm gonna lose them and cry (sort of) People who flip off the camera on rides (its disrespectful).

[palmer]

Disney actually takes your picture off the screen if you do this certain symbol that one of Aerosmith's members used during the preshow of Rock 'N Rollercoaster

[Austin]

And splash mountain, TOT etc.

[xxLucas!]

Lines.........

[nitrofan]

Lines.........

Lines don't bug me if the ride is running at capacity (3 trains when available), the staff is working hard to keep good dispatch times, and there is no line-jumping.

[palmer]

Lines on certain rides don't piss me off. Nitro loads very quick. Three trains working, its a 30 min wait at the 120 minute wait.

[nitrofan]

Lines on certain rides don't piss me off. Nitro loads very quick. Three trains working, its a 30 min wait at the 120 minute wait.

It really is that short?

[Seren]

^Very short, I was just there last week. I believe the longest line in SFGA is for El Toro. Kingda Ka, too, probably, but I wouldn't know since it was closed when I went.

[nitrofan]

^Very short, I was just there last week. I believe the longest line in SFGA is for El Toro. Kingda Ka, too, probably, but I wouldn't know since it was closed when I went.

Well people say El Toro is only a 15 minute wait if the first set of switchbacks is full. I've heard reports of the queue being full and people only waiting 25 minutes!

[Seren]

^Insanity. I waited over an hour on line for it, and it was a weekday, too. -_-

[palmer]

Well, they are the best in the park. So therefore, more fast loads, more people happy, more re-rides, more $$$. It's the way of buisness.

[MadCard05]

Going to a park:
- Long lines
- Too many trains -> I'll explain below
- Food prices
- Lame branded wear (stuff that looks like they didn't even try)
- Closed food stands
- Closed games
- Lack of variety in food

Working at a park:
- *Person bends down* "Am I tall enough to ride?" Yes, you and the 10 thousand other people that made that joke before you
- Parents angry that their kid is too short, no matter how great or minute the difference
- People not listening to the directions given, then complaining it's taking a long time ( at SFKK think Chang: "Chang is a stand up roller coaster, please stand straight up...")
- People that get mad when asked to put out their cigarettes
- People that get made because they're cigarettes get confiscated because they're under 18.
- People that intentionally litter
- People that bring up accidents to try and get things (very bad move)
- Scammers
- When other employees utter the phrase "I dont know," without "but let me find out" on the end.
- People that think assaulting characters is cool
- Fence jumpers, it's a fence, not a open gate with "free candy inside" written on it.
Both
- People that need someone to dress them, pull your pants up, you look stupid.

Explanation on the "Too many trains" thing:
Next time you're at SFKK go to Chang, and then to T2 and watch how they operate. On Chang they can operate up to 3 trains at once, but they only have 2. So if you have a good crew up there you'll notice that they can get the 2nd train out before the 1st once comes back in. The only issue this creates is that now you have to get the 1st train done in less amount of time, so they usually don't get the 1st one back out in time. Having 2 trains is perfectly justified.

Now go watch T2. T2 has two trains, but it will never need more than 1. As the 2nd train on T2 is loaded, the 1st train will always come to a stop before the 2nd train is dispatched. This will always happen because the ride is so short. What this does is force people to sit out in the brakes while the next train is prepared. Nothing is being sped up by having 2 trains, and since T2 is a suspended coaster, if the next train gets stuck in the station the people out in the brakes must wait until the ride is fixed to get off, or be taken down by a man lift.

Next time you're at King Island watch how many trains are on Diamond back, and watch how long they sit outside the station. Yes, they can evac those trains if the ride is shut down for any reason, but the trains spend an awfully long amount of time sitting outside the station and actually begin to impede how fast the ride operates.

[youthere]

[QUOTE=MadCard05;2091]Going to a park:



Explanation on the "Too many trains" thing:
Next time you're at SFKK go to Chang, and then to T2 and watch how they operate. On Chang they can operate up to 3 trains at once, but they only have 2. So if you have a good crew up there you'll notice that they can get the 2nd train out before the 1st once comes back in. The only issue this creates is that now you have to get the 1st train done in less amount of time, so they usually don't get the 1st one back out in time. Having 2 trains is perfectly justified.

QUOTE]

So true it is annoying. One thing I hate is when people in lines complain that the line is too long....I mean then get out stop complaining....-_-

Oh and I HATE!!!! Expensive theme park food thats terrible. At Kentucky Kingdom it costs 40 dollars for a pizza 2 water bottles and like some bread. I dont know how it tastes but its like crazy expensive. Oh and I also hate the photo people that get up all in your face asking to take your picture....its like "no thx I have my on camera #$%! off".....thats it LOL

[nitrofan]

I actually disagree with the too many trains statement. It all depends on the operators. As for Diamondback, I went to SFGAdv, and their operators had a train leaving the station as soon as the last one left the lift. There was never a train stopped on the brake run except for a few rare cases where a handicapped person got on the ride. Diamondback is only 100' shorter than Nitro, so the operators should be able to dispatch them with minimal stacking.

As for T2, why would you want them to run 1 train just so they won't have to evacuate trains if it breaks? Coasters break all the time, it's a normal thing. All Inverted coasters have procedures for evacuation, and that isn't a reason to only run 1 train. T2 is not too short for a second train, it's slow operators. If Nitro can load and check a 36 person train in the time it takes for another train to go up the lift hill, it's possible for T2 to load a 14 person train in the time of the ride. Slow operators are not an excuse.

The reason SFKK has problems with employees is that the state of Kentucky raised the minimum age to be a ride op to 18 after the Drop Tower accident, and since most people age 18 would be in college, they don't have many people to choose from and they have to take what they can get.

[MadCard05]

SFKK employees aren't bad in the slightest. Given the economy this year I'm sure they had plenty of people to pick from. Yes, all the employees aren't great, but they have quite a few good ones.

And believe me, T2 is pretty much too short for a second train. The train in the brakes has to wait until the dispatching train is on the lift hill before it will come in. The train in the brakes proceeds slowly into the station. By the time the next group gets on and is ready to be checked the dispatched train is already to the brakes about to round the corner. There is nothing the operators can do to speed this up.

Not to mention time is also drained by getting people to be outside the exit gate down the ramp now, for saftey, which people throw a fit about.

The only way T2 could be done faster is if they slowed down the lift hill.

[Austin]

T2 runs a 2 train operation pretty much all the time. the wait onthe brake run isnt that bad.

[palmer]

^The worst wait on the break runs are Flyers. You lay on your stomach, it hurts and if you try to pull your head up, you get a pain and it makes your neck uncomfortable.

[Austin]

Lol what flyer have you rode? Firehawk at KI you lay on your back on the brake run.

[nitrofan]

Lol what flyer have you rode? Firehawk at KI you lay on your back on the brake run.

Have you never seen a B&M Flyer? Those are more common than the Vekoma Flyers.

Palmer is from NJ, and has Superman: Ultimate Flight.

[Austin]

No lol. The only B&M coaster ive seen is Dimondback, and whatever CP has. Oh and Chang. So i guess ive only seen a hypercoaster, and stand-up models lol.

[palmer]

^For me, that scares me. NJ (SFGAdv) has Batman:The Ride, Nitro, Bizarro, and Superman:Ulimate Flight. I have rode all of them more than once. Plus, Dueling Dragons and The Incredible Hulk Coaster. So 6.

Yes, Nitrofan, that is what i have meant. Besides S:UF clones, There's Tastu and Manta are B&M Flyers.

And Firehawk is a Vekoma Flying Dutchman. Not quite a flyer. Like it, but not same manufacture, track design, lift hill, cars, etc.

Edit: I believe Kumba @ BGA is B&M. Plus, Alpengiest @ BGE and Montu @ BGA.

[Austin]

i havent been to those parks lol. I really liked the Vekoma flyer. the train was probably the coolest train ive ever been on lol. Told you i love vekoma lol

[xxLucas!]

The overpriced water is annoying, along with all the other prices..
And The titan has a huge line as well

[nitrofan]

You really need to get yourself to Six Flags Great Adventure, Tiger. Never seen a B&M Flyer? Flyers are considered a kiddie ride at Great Adventure.

[Austin]

thevekoma ones are pretty intense. I wish disney would have made soarin like that, you know with 3d effecs lol. or at least strap you in one of those cars and hen roatate you face down and then raise you up in the air and stuff and have the screen on the ground lol.

[elvisboogens]

My biggest pet peeve is when small children run past me to get on rides, run into me, the whole bit.

[palmer]

^It's mean to not let them through though, they are so young and non-violent

[nitrofan]

^It's mean to not let them through though, they are so young and non-violent

I think he's talking about teens shoving past him in lines for coasters when the queue is empty.

As a teen, I know exactly what he's talking about. I have friends who do it, and I see lots of people my age do it. I try to be respectful when people are walking slow in front of me, and most of the time people recognize my paitence and let me pass. It annoys the people trying to get past just as much as it annoys the people who they shove past. I can understand both sides, but respect is usually the best way to get a favorable response.

[fireman4499]

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from what i hear they're gonna be very little lines next year.

[bobbinbop20]

Well people say El Toro is only a 15 minute wait if the first set of switchbacks is full. I've heard reports of the queue being full and people only waiting 25 minutes!

From what I have observed, the problem with El Toro is there's to many people that cant fit in its restrictive restraint. Every single train that went out had a row that the ops had to run back to, so they could recheck and staple somebody in so they would be able to ride, a lot of times there were multiple rows on the same trains that had this problem.

That's just what I seemed to realize but Ive only been there once.

As for waiting on the break run for flyer, that's the worst!!!!!! I usually have the most pain in my ankles from those not so soft ankle restraint things, not to mention the restraint jamming into my stomach..... SUF is bad, but Tatsu was worse! And they shouldn't stack on that ride when there's only 2 trains, its a pretty long ride

[nitrofan]

From what I have observed, the problem with El Toro is there's to many people that cant fit in its restrictive restraint. Every single train that went out had a row that the ops had to run back to, so they could recheck and staple somebody in so they would be able to ride, a lot of times there were multiple rows on the same trains that had this problem.

At least they run! If it were one of the other Six Flags parks, they would have ops casually walking back. Nitro and El Toro had the best crews I have ever seen at a Six Flags park.

[bobbinbop20]

oh, I know They were an outstanding crew, but the problem isnt with the crew its the ride

[Changsucks]

and Giovanola Mega Coasters.

Why!?

Mine are mainly random people blocking pathways and queues, big groups of people that come join their friends in line because "they were saving their spot" and parks that set rules on their kiddie coasters where you have to ride with a kid if you're above 54 inches tall (yeah, I'm a credit whore, and having to ride with a kid gets in the way!)

[Austin]

My problem is patch work track replacements. I believe you do it in a full section not bits and pieces at a time. Which is leading to the horrid condition of Thunder Run which cnat be helped since its using PTC lol.

[palmer]

The fake rumors that Kingda Ka was closed down because it was being tooken down and sent to China because it is such a hazard. They annoy the crap out of me.

[nitrofan]

The fake rumors that Kingda Ka was closed down because it was being tooken down and sent to China because it is such a hazard. They annoy the crap out of me.

And hearing them say "tooken" just makes it all the better. :)

Why!?

I just hate the forces on them. I will be one of the first to call a forceless ride boring, but greying/blacking out is just too much. Try greying out on Titan in July when it is 107 degrees out and then see if you still like their rides. I rode Titan once that was enough, I had a bit higher tolerance for Goliath due to it only having 1 helix, but I still would much prefer an Intamin of B&M Hypercoaster.

[Changsucks]

I just hate the forces on them. I will be one of the first to call a forceless ride boring, but greying/blacking out is just too much. Try greying out on Titan in July when it is 107 degrees out and then see if you still like their rides. I rode Titan once that was enough, I had a bit higher tolerance for Goliath due to it only having 1 helix, but I still would much prefer an Intamin of B&M Hypercoaster.

Oh, I know what you mean. Believe it or not, I have motion sickness. I black out everytime I rode Goliath. While it's annoying, I've gotten used to it and really it just adds another effect to the ride for me. I love Goliath because of the first drop, underground tunnel, and air-time hill. I don't let the helix ruin the ride for me.

[DarienLake:D]

I hate it when you get that rare occasion of a slow crew/ slow and long restrain checks. After the incident at Darien Lake back in 1999 when Ride of Steel (Super-Man Ride of Steel at the time) some really large guy got on the ride and fell out. After that incident they double checked everything! seat belts and restraints! they even added a belt that connected the seat and restraint! It took them longer then the ride is itself (from start to stop if there was only 1 train) literally i timed it! They even had 4 ppl instead of the normal 2 to check the restraints ext.. well in about 2002 they stopped double checking due to long waits, and in 2005 they got rid of the buckle linking the seat and restraint. That sped up the process ALOT! And now to speed things up even more they are back to having 4 people checking. 2 people check L/R back and 2 for L/R front! But when the loading and unloading takes longer then the ride itself you need to change your policy. i understand safety is key but that process was just too much...

[David]

Texting Crews.

When your watching something on the in-line TV and the person behind you starts yelling to move. When you move, you eventually stop again.