The Six Flags Magic Mountain (SFMM) Discussion Thread

by **ebl** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 5:11 pm

"Didn't Gold Rusher used to have a 42" height requirement???" (Sir Clinksalot)

Good question. :?r

Our family took its first visit there in August 1971. My youngest brother was only six at the time, and I...think...all seven of us were able to ride it. I could be mistaken, though.

Eric

by **DBru** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 6:58 pm

Bolliger&Mabillard wrote:
PeoplemoverMatt wrote: I'd venture to say that Gold Rusher has a more intense layout in terms of drops & terrain. It might have been a consideration that went into establishing the height requirement.

Hmm. I've been on Road Runner Express which has a more intense layout than Gold Rusher. Maybe seatbelts would help lower the height restriction. So why not add them?

Not to mention SDC's Thunderation, in which you only have to be 42" to ride...BACKWARDS! I can't quite remember the exact restraint set up on that coaster, but I sure do remember that it was completely insane (for a mine train).

On the other hand, changing the restraint systems on Gold Rusher may not have any effect on the height requirement at all. Adventure Express (KI), for example, has both seatbelts AND individual lap bars, yet you still must be 48" to ride it...ever since Cedar Fair took over, anyway.

Youtube · by **robbalvey** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 7:21 pm

^ But that's just also dumb. Cedar Fair changed Jaguar's height restriction from 42" to 48" and now no one ever seems to ride it. It's really sad because again, it's a great family coaster but by the time most kids are tall enough to ride it, they aren't as interested in it.

Something like Jaguar to a 48" kid becomes a "filler" ride for their day at the park instead of a major attraction for them.

--Robb

by **ebl** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 7:42 pm

^ With Jaguar!, didn't they raise the height limit just after an incident where someone's jacket got caught up in the wheels? Maybe Cedar Fair's thinking was that with a taller person, that type of thing would be less likely to happen again (taller person = jacket farther from wheels).

I'm speculating on that, of course. Diana rode Jaguar! at age five (she was about 42-43" at the time). It was a great ride for her. It would be interesting to find out what the reasoning is for such high height requirements for seemingly tame rides.

Eric

by **coastermoosh** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 7:48 pm

Just speculatin'...could some of these height restriction changes be insurance company-driven? Perhaps higher heights result in a lower insurance rate or policy?

Just thinkin aloud (ignore the smoke) lol.

by **Absimilliard** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 7:55 pm

SFGADV Runaway Train and Great Escape Canyon Blaster got converted to individual lap bars a few years ago. Canyon Blaster doesn't even have seatbelts.

That 48" height restriction on Gold Rusher has always intrigued me, but if they are thinking about changing the lap bars, its a good sign. How expensive are those conversions and how many trains does Gold Rusher still have? 4? Canyon Blaster got one train out of three converted, but with the ride terrible popularity and crowds the park get, they're fine.

by **CGA_88** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 8:00 pm

Looks like the ride will be receiving a 42" height requirement.

www.sixflags.com/magicMountain/rides/mrsixsdancecoaster.aspx

Youtube · by **robbalvey** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 8:05 pm

ANOTHER UPDATE!
Just spoke to Jay Thomas at Six Flags Magic Mountain - While they don't have any final information on the actual height restriction, he has told me that they are diligently working on lowering the height restriction so it will appeal to a wider audience.

Jay was upset about all the trash talking, but I told him "rest assured, as soon as we hear that you guys have pulled through and lowered that restriction, we will all be singing your praise."

Let's cross our fingers that we hear good things in the near future.

We are excited about this ride and we want it to be a success. At a 36" height restriction I can absolutely get behind this additional and recommend to our family members that they bring their kids out to ride it. Let's hope that happens.

--Robb

UPDATE! According to the official Six Flags Twitter, Six Flags Corporate has confirmed the 42" height restriction on the ride. (See the screen capture photo below)

--Robb

CGA_88 wrote:Looks like the ride will be receiving a 42" height requirement.

www.sixflags.com/magicMountain/rides/mrsixsdancecoaster.aspx

ARE YOU KIDDING ME????

It has to be a typo...it has to be a typo..it has to be a typo...

If not...

I don't know about anyone else but I will be taking my daughter to Disneyland to ride their 35" roller skater. Or better yet, I'll take KidTums to Cedar Point so she can ride their even BIGGER roller skater than only has a 36" height restriction.

--Robb "I don't think I've ever been so disappointed in the park as I am right now." Alvey

POP QUIZ!

QUESTION! What is somethineg that Kristen WON'T be able to do at Six Flags Magic Mountain this summer, but she WILL be able to do at about 30 or 40 parks all over the USA and the rest of the world?

ANSWER! RIDE A ROLLER SKATER!!!!

OTHER QUESTION!!!

Hey, Six Flags Magic Mountain! What ride can my daughter ride at the family friendly Disneyland and Magic Kingdom, but she can't ride at your park?

A VEKOMA ROLLER SKATER!!!!

Here is a list of all the Vekoma Roller Skaters currently operating in North America and their height restrictions:

Ant Farm Express - Wild Adventures - 36"
Gadet's Go Coaster - Disneyland - 35"
Barnstormer - Magic Kingdom - 35"
Merlin's Revenge - Castle Park - 40"
Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom - 36" w/ Adult
Six Flags Mexico - 35"
Spacely Sproket Rockets - Six Flags Great America - 36"
Woody Woodpecker - Universal Studios Florida - 36"
Romp Bomp A Stomp - Six Flags Fiesta Texas - 36"
Flying Unicorn - Islands of Adventure - 36"
Okeechobee Rampage - Cypress Gardens - 36" w/ Adult
Woodstock Express - Cedar Point - 36"
Hang Ten - Freestyle Music Park - 36" w/ Adult
Vapor Trail - Sesame Place - NO HEIGHT RESTRICTION (rider must be 3 years old)
Mr. Six's DanceCoaster - Six Flags Magic Mountain - 42"

Yeah, this HAS to be a mistake. I'll make a call to the park tomorrow to find out for sure. It just can't be right.

--Robb

EDIT:
Interesting....when the ride operated at Six Flags New Orleans it was 36"...

http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache:pL ... clnk&gl=us

Road Runner Express
Six Flags New Orleans
Length (feet): 679'
Height (feet): 28'
Manufacturer: Vekoma
Height restriction: 36"
Date Opened 2000

by **SharkTums** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 8:06 pm

This is the stupidest thing I have seen in a very long time.

I'm speechless, I can't even believe this. I can't support this park if this is how they are going to treat families.

Youtube · by **robbalvey** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 8:06 pm

SharkTums wrote: I can't support this park if this is how they are going to treat families.

Agreed. If this is in fact the actual height restriction, I'm going to recommend that NO ONE from Theme Park Review with families supports this coaster and their decision to have a height restriction set so high.

If you are going to take your family to ride this coaster, take them to Disneyland instead where their EXACT version of this ride has a height restriction of 35" and is targeted for families.

--Robb