The Six Flags Magic Mountain (SFMM) Discussion Thread

[rcdudeI love donkeys more than me.]

I forgot to post this, and make of it what you will, but I've heard the 2013 coaster will not be a height or speed record but a length one. At WCB, Apocalypse broke down on us for about 30 minutes in the morning. While we were waiting, a overheard a mechanic talking with a few people near us, and he said the 2013 coaster would be a magnetic launch coaster that would be the longest steel coaster in North America (aka longer than Millennium Force's 6,595 ft). The ride will launch through the metro tunnel and run around on the backside of the hill before leaping over Superman and continuing on the front. He didn't say anything specific about height other than that it would be tall enough to be seen from the parking lot, but would generally follow the natural terrain. I didn't hear any other specifics.

Once again, this is all speculation at this point, but based on what has been going on and the hints that have been dropped it seems to make sense, and I could definitely see the park getting something like this. I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing it might be cheaper than a Giga or Accelerator coaster simply due to fewer tall supports.

[dylanreichLost My Veganity on the New Hotness trip.]

^But would that really be enough of a record breaker for the park to market? I don't really think the GP would be going "Oh, the longest coaster? Let's go to SFMM!" My guess is that they're going for the height and/or speed record.

[rolercstrluvrI just swallowed a whole donkey!]

^^ To add to that, I heard it would be largest loop. But I could see longest coaster as well.

[Manic MonteI own the website www.donkey.com]

I could be wrong, but I honestly don't see them spending the money it would cost the go for the height or speed record. Kingda ka was $25 million, and we're talking basically a one trick ride. And a ride that big would completely waste the terrain it would be built on.

The multi-launch rumour sounds more plausible to me.

[cal1br3ttoWhy do I still have a donkey title???]

I think if they market it well, a length record could work. Besides, I could see people forgetting exactly what they'd heard, and thinking of it as the "biggest" coaster, and then that could turn into a rumor that it's the tallest or fastest. So in the end, what matters it's that it's any record that isn't too gimmicky.

[mr. cockblockI'm a know-it-all about donkeys!]

I heard it will break the record for longest brake run! Looks like the coaster wars are back in full effect!

[XcoasterI know more about donkeys than women!]

We were also talking with him while Apocalypse was broken down (they were having a computer issue - it was saying the train was going too fast when entering the station), and boarded shortly after he started talking about the new ride, so I missed some of what he said (I didn't hear much about the actual layout, using the tunnel, or where he said it would have a length record). Anyways, what I heard from him was that it was still in the design phase, but would be in the 6000 ft length range, would have three magnetic launches, and would claim the record for the world's tallest loop. After hearing what Tim and Neal had to say on the subject, it all seemed pretty plausible (huge = long length, record breaking = giant loop and/or reclaiming coaster record, and both made a point of mentioning that the design was still in progress). Tim and Neal also mentioned that they were clearing out monorail track from the tunnel, which would fit with the ride using that feature.

Anyways, from what I heard it sounded like Cheetah Hunt, but longer, faster, and with a loop. And since the current record for loop height is Superman: Krypton Coaster at SFFT (145 ft tall @ 70 mph), it seems like a given that it'd need to reach at least 70 mph (10 mph faster than CHunt). A giant loop would also make a nice tribute to Revolution, Viper, and Riddler's (all former record holders). Anyways, I've been excited for whatever they have in store, but if what I heard last weekend turns out to be true, I think that excitement will be well justified.

^IIRC, Tim was talking about the general philosophies behind how SFMM does attractions, not actually saying anything about the possible addition itself. Same with the whole Rocky Mountain track and Colossus in regards to needed to be able to get a return on investment. Something about "I rode Texas Giant...liked it a lot...but before we even consider it we have to get a return..blah blah blah."

I think we had the same feeling for Colossus - they basically repeated what they said last year regarding their love for NTAG, but didn't say that they were definitely moving forward with it for Colossus, for various reasons (return on investment, nostalgia, rampaging coaster nerds). I'm just assuming that's their 2014 plan, until we hear otherwise. You might be right regarding the Log Jammer replacement just being a "what-if?", but I also recall them starting by saying something along the lines of "this design is still in development...", which indicated to me they were actually talking about a solid plan for the near future, not just one route they might eventually go down.

[Trevannosaurus RexThe best thing about TPR is the donkeys.]

I hope it does turn out to be a water ride. It's still pretty hot in Valencia it's nice to be able to cool down.

Whatever it is they should theme it to Aquaman as well. He's certainly deserving of something. You can ride on one of his sea friends helping him out! It would be awesome.

I can imagine the t-shirts now 'Aquaman got me wet'! and all sorts of variants on the same thing.

[rcdudeI love donkeys more than me.]

We were also talking with him while Apocalypse was broken down (they were having a computer issue - it was saying the train was going too fast when entering the station), and boarded shortly after he started talking about the new ride, so I missed some of what he said (I didn't hear much about the actual layout, using the tunnel, or where he said it would have a length record). Anyways, what I heard from him was that it was still in the design phase, but would be in the 6000 ft length range, would have three magnetic launches, and would claim the record for the world's tallest loop. After hearing what Tim and Neal had to say on the subject, it all seemed pretty plausible (huge = long length, record breaking = giant loop and/or reclaiming coaster record, and both made a point of mentioning that the design was still in progress). Tim and Neal also mentioned that they were clearing out monorail track from the tunnel, which would fit with the ride using that feature.

Anyways, from what I heard it sounded like Cheetah Hunt, but longer, faster, and with a loop. And since the current record for loop height is Superman: Krypton Coaster at SFFT (145 ft tall @ 70 mph), it seems like a given that it'd need to reach at least 70 mph (10 mph faster than CHunt). A giant loop would also make a nice tribute to Revolution, Viper, and Riddler's (all former record holders). Anyways, I've been excited for whatever they have in store, but if what I heard last weekend turns out to be true, I think that excitement will be well justified.

Okay, that's what he was saying. I honestly didn't hear everything, and guessed at it based on what I heard (although I clearly heard him mention the tunnel, terrain hugging on both sides of the hill, 6000 ft (from which I assumed a length record), and linear motors, as well as something height related). Based on Viper's speed and loop height (70 MPH, 144 ft loop), I'm thinking 70-80 mph sounds like about the right speed for this coaster. As long as this ride has some airtime moments in addition to what has already been mentioned, I could see it being the best coaster in California. It certainly sounds like something Intamin would come up with.

[Gigalyte2 + 2 = donkey!]

^^ I was cool with the idea of a long A$$ multi-launch coaster until you said loop Why god why does this park need another loop right now.

Also wouldn't a record breaking coaster 6000 feet long or longer with record breaking elements be way past the design phase at this point? The park is already clearing land and the ride is suppose to open in 2013. I was thinking at this point in the game the track was already being fabricated or at least about to start and the park would start receiving it in a few months or so.