Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (SFDK) Discussion Thread

I actually think this isn't a bad idea... except that Sky is the only coaster area. But a new theme never hurt anybody, and it should bring in a great amount of guests. It should have a pretty good result, according to the articles that I've read.

So all the rides end up keeping their names. I guess the land themes were more metaphor than literal. Now V2 doesnt fit the ride!! I wonder if Medusa will get at least a fresh coat of paint!?

 

 

Well its already pretty late in the season to paint that ride...they open in March, I dont think thats enough time. Maybe next year

 

Well didnt V2 take less than a month to paint?

Yes, but Medusa is a much larger and longer ride. It wont take just 2-3 weeks to paint it.

Can't they just close the ride down longer to paint it? If they are attracting families right now, they should be able to make it look the best it can, and I'm sure they wouldn't mind it being closed to get rid of all that gum and scum on it.

^ True, they can do that too, but since Medusa is their star ride they most likely want to open it on time.

^Yeah, everyone runs to Medusa in the morning. There is no way they will let that stay closed for any long period of time unless it's neccessary. I wouldn't expect to see Medusa get paint. They are still putting coats on V2... it's not even finished yet.

I actually think this isn't a bad idea... except that Sky is the only coaster area. But a new theme never hurt anybody, and it should bring in a great amount of guests. It should have a pretty good result, according to the articles that I've read.

How is 'sky' the only coaster area? If that's so then it must be a pretty big area.

So all the rides end up keeping their names. I guess the land themes were more metaphor than literal. Now V2 doesnt fit the ride!! I wonder if Medusa will get at least a fresh coat of paint!?

 

 

Well its already pretty late in the season to paint that ride...they open in March, I dont think thats enough time. Maybe next year

 

Well didnt V2 take less than a month to paint?

 

Yes, but Medusa is a much larger and longer ride. It wont take just 2-3 weeks to paint it.

Yea i had a dumb moment there!!! It is obvious that Medusa is longer. I was just hoping that being it sits in the front of the park, they would want thier star attraction to look good for a new begining.

Medusa's station is gross, too. the lower section is absolutley disgusting. There is tons of gum on the walls, people throw their garbage down there...its just disgusting. And the ride is so faded. Painting V2 gave the park a fresh look, and imagine if they painted Medusa, how refreshing it would be. You would think they would take better care of their "star" ride..

Medusa's station is gross, too. the lower section is absolutley disgusting. There is tons of gum on the walls, people throw their garbage down there...its just disgusting. And the ride is so faded. Painting V2 gave the park a fresh look, and imagine if they painted Medusa, how refreshing it would be. You would think they would take better care of their "star" ride..

Yeah, but seeing how the main gate is going to be re-designed... V2 is the obvious choice to be painted as it is a main assest of the parks entrance. Also, how often do you see Six Flags repaint more than one ride in a season?

Yeah, but hopefully they at least clean up the station walls. Sometimes I just look at the lift motor so I don't have to notice all the crap on the walls

Thanks god they change the name. I absolutely hate the name 'Marine World'. It's just disgusting!

It's good to see V2 get a paint job. Coasters with a fresh coat look soo much better then a faded one.

this year when i go to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, i will cry at the sight of seeing the new red V2 hanging over the "Six Flags Discovery Kingdom" sign and entrance

Hmmmmmm.........seems like another desperate attempt to slow down the dropping attendance. I used to work there in show production for 6 years, before the corporate sell outs. They never were able to truely turn a major profit. Good Luck!

does anyone know if Zong is still laying in the parking lot, in pieces?

but really, i wish i could have rode that at least once. im happy about any attention paid to my local parks. neglect would be something to really complain about *cough*PGA*cough*

No, they cleared the remains of Zonga as it was sold to someone. And they also cleared the Greased Lightning parts as well.

I really appreciate them cleaning up the park, and making it almost brand new, but doesn't anyone realize that what this park needs is a new thrill ride. I think its about time.

No, they cleared the remains of Zonga as it was sold to someone. And they also cleared the Greased Lightning parts as well.

 

I really appreciate them cleaning up the park, and making it almost brand new, but doesn't anyone realize that what this park needs is a new thrill ride. I think its about time.

they had tried with some rotating stand alone rides, but i think they took them out. they were always broken when i went.

Hmmmmmm.........seems like another desperate attempt to slow down the dropping attendance. I used to work there in show production for 6 years, before the corporate sell outs. They never were able to truely turn a major profit. Good Luck!

Right, before Premier/SF, MWAUSA was on the verge of bankruptcy. Since adding rides, the park has slowly come back from the brink and is now one of the most profitable parks in the chain. Not most attended, but most profitable in the chain, as in it makes tons of cash for SF and The City of Vallejo, which is why you're now seeing SF take a special interest in our park.

I really appreciate them cleaning up the park, and making it almost brand new, but doesn't anyone realize that what this park needs is a new thrill ride. I think its about time.

I wish we'd get a new coaster too, but SFDK is definitely a step in the right direction regardless. This makeover is what should have been done from day one when the park was turned into a major theme park. The existing park and infrastructure desperately needed an upgrade and makeover, the original park sections looked worn and dated. Past managements solution to increasing attendance was to throw up a stripped down parking lot coaster every other year, and although the coasters are great, the parking lot setting of those along with the dated original park just reeked of poor management and looked like crap.

According to Shapiro, this years makeover is only the beginning of a "major investment" for our park, no doubt some sort of new coaster will eventually grace SFDK (they did after all designate an entire new section for thrills!). But for now, I look at all this as correcting the mistakes and missed opportunities of past management and aligning SFDK to be one of the best and most amazing parks in the chain:

Shapiro also put to rest any thoughts that Discovery Kingdom was on the list of Six Flags parks up for sale. "We'll be here for a long time to come, and this is year one of a major investment," he said.

http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_5036947

I'd be very interested to know exactly what changes they thing they can make with a mere 16 million. Also the timeline seems VERY unrealistic. I was there when we opened the park in Vallejo and regardless of what anyone says; we were NOT ready. One example is that the sound booths in the show areas were not even signed off by the general contractor untill the day before opening. Also the subcontractor (Pro Media) never finished much of the installs. Even for the first phase of a make-over 16M just seems like too little to do much with. The parks general operating design does not even support true service and access paths. Most Items must be carted through the park.

Maybe my expectations are just too high. The goal to me is to use the Disney standard as your benchmark. Not many parks come very close to that. I guess we'll see in a few months.

According to Shapiro, this years makeover is only the beginning of a "major investment" for our park, no doubt some sort of new coaster will eventually grace SFDK (they did after all designate an entire new section for thrills!).

Wow just hearing that gets me really excited haha. 16 million dollars is a lot of money, and if what I'm thinking is correct, I think these park renovations will start to happen over a lot of other parks, so think of SFDK as Shapiro's role model. I first thought the name change was just that, and no other changes to the park, but after seeing what they've done, I think very soon PGA will need to do something to start getting more people to come. Coaster war anyone?

^ lol yep. I still think PGA should get a Intamin Rocket coaster behind their Sky Coaster, but thats just me.

if SFDK gets a new coaster, i think it should be something new,somthing one of a kind, like a LIM or LSM coaster. Not a Vekoma mass-production like a boomerang coaster.

if SFDK gets a new coaster, i think it should be something new,somthing one of a kind, like a LIM or LSM coaster. Not a Vekoma mass-production like a boomerang coaster.

They already have a LIM coaster.

if SFDK gets a new coaster, i think it should be something new,somthing one of a kind, like a LIM or LSM coaster. Not a Vekoma mass-production like a boomerang coaster.

 

They already have a LIM coaster.

Its not like they cant have another one.

What i think they need is another wood, but with it looking like they want to keep the majority of coasters in the front of the park, now due to the re-themeing, there would not be any room.

I think they should just relocate the park entrance and just build to the edge of the street, that way it could set them up to expand to the fairgrounds(if that ever happens). Well thats just me daydreaming! Im done now!

Interesting notes from the article:

* Six Flags is purchasing the city of Vallejo's $52 million dollar (or 5.2 trillion pennies) interest in the Discovery Kingdom theme park. In doing so, Six Flags will now completely own the park and is now able to exclusively reap all profits generated from the park, while the city is able to reduce its debt load and improve its bond rating.

* Six Flags spent $16 million in improvements this year at the park as a result of the transformation from Marine World to Discovery Kingdom. Anybody else curious as to how the new signage and animal sculptures, one coaster paint job, and a new train ride cost that much?

Here's the story: http://www.timesheraldonline.com/todaysnews/ci_6067745

^ My guess would be that a chunk of that money was spent on marketing. TV ads aren't cheap.

--Robb