bobkmertz

joined 1 year ago
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This video came up in a conversation on our podcast and I had forgot about it but after watching it again I thought it was well worth sharing. This is an outside firm that is performing in depth maintenance on coasters and accessing the bolts that you can't just walk to by ropes. It's truly fascinating to watch. It's also clearly an old video with Volcano making an appearance.

[–] bobkmertz@lemm.ee 1 points 2 days ago

Here's the point that I was done with any passes from SeaWorld/United Parks:

Prior to 2020 everyone with a Platinum pass had their own parking lot and could use the employee entrance to access it (and avoid the line at the main gates). When Covid arrived they told us they had to remove that benefit temporarily because the alternate access impeded screening.... That was reasonable. Two weeks later that lot reopened as the premium parking option at the main gate and all of us pass holders were welcomed to purchase parking tickets to use that lot... The same lot that our current membership gave us free access to. It also confirmed that they used Covid as a false excuse to take this benefit away and by giving the same thing to purchasing customers they clearly showed there was NO legitimate reason for them to remove that benefit from us.

Following that they later changed tiers in the middle of pass ownership taking many other benefits away and then they kept enticing us to renew our passes so we could ride Pantheon when it opens in 2021.... 2022.....

And I was done. They did send me the free ticket so I could ride Pantheon when it opened.... I paid my $40 parking fee and went straight to pantheon which was down and not declared as being down on the board at the entrance to the park. That day every single coaster was down at some point with many being down all day. I talked to guest services who took my information and said they would send me another ticket.... That never happened.

They have a really long walk to get me to even consider a pass again. The truth is, I just don't have much interest in going there at all. I've had so many horrible experiences in the last 5 years that being in the park has just been associated with misery.

I hope they can turn it around though.... The parks have so much potential.

[–] bobkmertz@lemm.ee 1 points 2 days ago

BGW really just stopped maintaining stuff. The theming in that park was just a little below Disney but after the holdings company took over they just stopped fixing things when it broke and that has led to a subtle but yet very noticeable difference. Then you look at rides like Verbolten which has degraded a ton solely because they didn't maintain the theme elements in the building leaving the dark forest not so dark.

[–] bobkmertz@lemm.ee 2 points 4 days ago (2 children)

I'm really hoping they actually follow through with theming this thing.... It's going to make or break it. They dropped the ball with Pantheon but at least it is a fun coaster but DarKoaster is just a complete failure without the full theming.

[–] bobkmertz@lemm.ee 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Honestly pretty much everything looks that good

[–] bobkmertz@lemm.ee 1 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Oh that's a good answer. Epic Universe has existed in a "coming in the future" state for so long I didn't even comprehend that those are 2025 coasters. Stardust racers also looks like it could be insanely good.

 

With all the recent announcements for coasters coming in 2025 I'm curious what everyone is looking forward to the most? Personally I think AlpenFury looks amazing and may be the biggest hit of the year.

 

Built by B&M the coaster will be called "Rakshasa" and have a 171ft drop with a beyond vertical 96 degree slope and reach speeds of 67mph

 

Being built by Premier Rides this launch coaster will reach 115km/h (71mph) and blast you through the mountain (is this sounding familiar yet). It will take you through 9 inversions that seem to be mostly rolls (sounding more familiar) and all flow together. Clearly the real Volcano replacement went to another country 😂

[–] bobkmertz@lemm.ee 3 points 1 month ago

Couldn't agree more

 

Kings Dominion has announced their new coaster for 2025

[–] bobkmertz@lemm.ee 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

This entire story made me laugh. In a lot of ways this is the same way that many old houses are supported with the main difference being the house takes up less square footage. Racer has been like this for years (probably it's whole life) and was just waiting for the right person to come along and make a big deal out of it.

Now wait until they learn how much coasters start leaning and flexing 😂

 

Morey served as the executive vice president and chief creative officer of the company, which has been family owned and operated since 1969.

 

This doesn't mean a strike will happen but it does mean that employees are willing to strike if negotiations don't go well.

 

This is honestly one of the most upsetting stories I've read in a while. I've really been losing more and more respect for United Parks (Sea World and Busch Gardens) but this may be one of their shadiest stunts yet. In short they've started prompting you to tip at counter service transactions which isn't ideal but something we're seeing at a lot of places anymore but, in this case, the money you tip actually first offsets Sea World's payroll before giving some to the employees (if there is enough).

The way this works is they are functionally reducing their employees pay rate to minimum wage but continuing to pay whatever their existing pay was as a guaranteed rate. This is creating a loophole where they can take the tip money and use it to pay part of the employee's wages. The only point where extra money would be given to any employees is if the tips exceed the amount of difference between everyone's minimum wage rate and their guaranteed rate.

 

The guest ignored the direction of staff and various restricted area signs and entered the ride area to retrieve items he lost and was struck by either the train or a rider on the train. Entering this area likely required climbing over an 8ft tall fence.

 

They have been trying but it just doesn't seem to stick. Hyperia broke down again today.

 

Universal isn't commenting on what they are planning to do with the additional land and the zoning will adapt as Universal's plans change. Sunrail will be expanding into the area as well.

 

Anyone that's been to Cedar Point knows the hell that mayflies bring but this last weekend they seemed to step up their game

[–] bobkmertz@lemm.ee 1 points 6 months ago

As much as I hope someone can stop this freight train, I am afraid that no one can or will.

[–] bobkmertz@lemm.ee 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I've wanted to ride one of those skyloops so bad. There is only one in the US that I'm hoping I can get to before anything happens to it. Maurer hasn't built one of these since 2015.

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