Six Flags Over Texas (SFOT) Discussion Thread

[GnomeJar-Jar Binks smells like Donkey]

I have great respect for the purpose of the ADA. The more people who can safely enjoy rides and attractions, the better. However, I believe some of the benefactors from the ADA have taken things to an extreme in some cases.

In this case, I take the most issue with the following excerpt from the lawyer, "On the other hand, the policy is under-inclusive because it says nothing about those who have hands but choose not to hold on." Before making such a statement, I think some research is necessary. Restrictions that require having hands, feet, arms, legs, etc. are put in place in the case of emergency evacuation like others have mentioned, or they exist because these extremities are needed for the restraints to function properly. This statement basically comes off to me as a poor excuse to whine and try to fault others because something didn't turn out as you wanted it to. For the case of Aquaman Splashdown, I'm not defending whether or not Six Flags violated ADA, as I'm not an expert on the ADA (I just follow their guidelines as best I can). Actually, it could be possible that Six Flags may have not made the new policy for that ride. Maybe it was a combination of their insurance provider or the State of Texas? Overall, I take issue with how the lawyer is stating the case against SFoT.

It is the Lawyer's job to make an argument. It is the judge's call to see through the BS of that argument and rip it to shreds. As long as the six flag's legal team provides sufficient reasons as to why riders need their hands (IE, riders can choose to not hold onto the lap bars, but still have that option where as riders with no hands don't have an option at all) or for various other reasons, the judge will typically rule in their favor.

Likely, this man's legal team will recommend to drag the case out until SF has had enough and will settle out of court. As a result no precedent will be set and will leave the next person who is "discriminated" against the ability to sue.

[EastCoastn07“Fear can make a donkey attack a lion”]

The last time a disabled person thought they were OK to ride a ride, he unforunately fell out and died (S:ROS), and Six Flags probably does not want another one of these stints on their records. This person in question this time has legs, so falling out isn't a possibilty, but say the forces on Aquaman are too strong for him upon impact with the water and he is unable to grasp his lap bar, he could get a serious head injury if his body is thrust forward duue to inertia. So he can shoot a gun, awesome! But he can't GRASP a lap bar. Plus, Aquaman is a water ride, so the restraint will be wet and slippery (considering the restraint is metal). I think SFOT had every right to deny him the ability to ride. It's just one of those "better safe than sorry" scenarios.

That incident had nothing to do with Six Flags for the record, unless you're talking about the incident with the man that had cerebral palsy that fell out (which Six Flags blamed on the operator).

From my understanding, just about every coaster manufacturer out there requires at least one full functioning arm to be permitted on their rides. For those that don't, there's also a set of standards (ASTM) that both parks and manufacturers abide by with their rides. I'd have to double check, but I'm pretty sure this is an industry wide rule with needing to have one arm to ride these types of rides. These standards are there for a reason, and just because the man claims he can do pull ups or whatever else, rules are rules. ASTM standards are put together by the entire industry, so it's not just Six Flags who this kind of stuff is happening to either. Just look at Universal, they were getting sued for not allowing two men on the Mummy that had leg amputations (after the Darien Lake incident nonetheless), and that's a ride that physically requires legs to be adequately restrained.

[narkittyFull Fledged Donkey Enthusiast!]

Anybody have any updates on TSS construction? I'll be at the park next week for the Travel Channel filming, so I'll try to see if I can get any good pictures. Just wanted to know if any locals had seen or heard anything yet.

[chadsterThe Pony Express can't find my teepee]

Just foundation work, nothing amazing.

[SFOverTexasFanThis B&M donkey is so smooth!]

It's opening day! I will be there today, tomorrow, and next week for the Travel Channel shooting!

[chadsterThe Pony Express can't find my teepee]

Crazy busy today, guess the $18.23 admission promotion did it's job.

[chadsterThe Pony Express can't find my teepee]

As indicated above, my new home park was slammed yesterday due to a super cheap opening weekend price. As Joco07 and I saw, the park is still making a lot of changes, changes for the better, changes that I'm about to show you, one of which is an all day unlimited soft drink wristband for souvenir cups price at $3.99.

So ready, set, foto!

[SFOverTexasFanThis B&M donkey is so smooth!]

Thanks for the update! Btw I'm pretty sure that me and my buddy were right behinde you waiting in line before Freeze opened cause we were also the first riders on Freeze for 2013 lol. I think y'all sit in the front while we chose the back. But anyways nice pics, and the park was looking good yesterday with all the work and new stands.

[1badgmcMacaroni and Donkey]

I was there yesterday. I honestly expected crowds to be much worse. It was chilly early in the day and the wind was sharp, but by mid afternoon it turned out to be pretty nice.

My wife and I took our 2 year-old daughter for her first time, so for us, the day was really all about her and we spent most of our time on flat rides. We have raised a little daredevil and she was a hard one to please. While she said she enjoyed every ride we took her on, it really took a lot to crack a smile from her on a ride. Her favorite rides were easily the Conquistador and Sombrero. We sat on the second row from the end on the Conquistador and she had an absolute blast on it. There was a boy on there that was probably 4 or 5 sitting in the middle freaking out. We had to laugh when his mom was all, "Look at that little girl there with her hands up ready to go." Of the 2 coasters she can ride, she preferred the Mini Mine Train over the Canyon Blaster.

As we worked our way back to the Texas section, we noticed that the line for Texas Giant wasn't bad, so we hopped in. My daughter fell asleep while we were in line, so the timing was great to give her a little nap. I rode first and when I got back to the station to do the hand-off, she had woken up and was wanting to ride it. I'm sure she'll love it when she gets the chance in a couple years. My wife and I both agreed that we needed that adrenaline kick it gave us.

Giant was the only big coaster we took in, and I was fine with that. It was all about my daughter on this trip, but I wasn't going to leave the park without at least one ride on it. It was great to see the magic of a child's first visit to an amusement park and it was really a great day for it. Looney Tunes Land wasn't the madhouse we usually experience and the lines for the rides we were on were all pretty short. It was a fun, relaxing day. We left around 5:00 and headed for dinner at one of our favorite places in south Arlington and then hit the road to come home.

Wowzers. Thankfully they weren't actually using the fingerprint readers.

Are they fingerprint readers or biometric readers? This is usually a common misconception when people go to Disney and they say "I can't believe they are taking my fingerprint", because that's actually not what they are doing. Just wasn't sure if it's the same case here or if for some reason they are actually taking your finger print at Six Flags!