I know that there’s some understandable frustration with how it affected the aesthetics of the area and the lack of commitment to the theming elements, but it really isn’t as thrilling without Finnegan’s extra height down to the water.
I will comment since I rode Skyhawk this season. The larger screamin swings don’t seem to have a material difference to me in the experience. They are still objectively fantastic flats though and I want one in Scott’s Addition. Just put it on the “Scott’s Addition List”
Seriously though, where the hell in SA would you stick it, and how would you prevent rowdy drunks and the usual dumb public from ruining the experience... After the city comes in and either taxes the hell out of gate receipts or forces a crapload of changes to the design based on NIMBY neighbors?
There is nothing like riding Tidal Surge at SWSA and looking down at the water. Makes Finnegan's pale in comparison.
I always thought the better place for it would've been in Jungala or the Congo area next to a ditch or the rapids ride. But I'm guessing the park prioritized having a ride in the Rhino Rally plot, without much regard to what kind of ride would be appropriate for that spot.
From the photos and videos the thing that sticks out to me the most is the unceremonious landscaping around the swings... It's just flat empty grass with utilitarian concrete curbs and sidewalks like you'd find in a Walmart parking lot. Somehow in building a ride named after the Serengeti they stripped an already Serengeti-themed area of any resemblance to the Serengeti lol.
No disagreements here, but perhaps the counterargument from SEAS is that they are investing more in themeing by having the two supports patterned, and the ride arms two colors instead of one (seats and bottom portion of the arm on the one swing are purple, and the rest of the arm is green)?
That actually is a great way to let people who may not like a more intense experience still ride a thrilling ride. This is pretty cool honestly.
At first I thought they were running this concurrently somehoww...but no, they're not running the ride in full power until after 1PM...WTF????
Yeah.. I imagine there'll be quite a few guests walk by, seeing it swing 1/3 of the way up (not seeing the sign), and think "that looks boring" and not ride. Bizarre way of operating your brand new ride. Maybe open the Skyride if you want to offer guests "views of the Serengeti"?
I rode a week ago on 3/9 and it was a walk on and the ride wasn't even fully filled. Granted this was a week before Spring Break, but still worth to note for a brand new ride. Also to note.... this thing has some extreme force on the downward swing. Something I enjoy, but I can imagine others may see this as too intense when adding in the speed and height of the attraction.
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Does it feel notably more intense than its sister up in Williamsburg?
I would say it was the most intense Screaming Swing that I have been on (Finnegans, Barnstormer at Dollywood, Skyhawk at CP, Fun Spot Kissimissee's small one). I can feel the positive G's moving my cheeks down even before it gets to full speed. The negative G's were about the same when at full height and switching directions compared to the others. But the real intensity is at the bottom with the positive forces. Worth mentioning... It has been awhile since I have been on Finnegan's let alone any other SS, but I still stand that it's the most intense SS I've been on despite years in between rides.
Definitely a weird way of operating, and I have to wonder if there's some practical reason forcing them to run it at low power at the beginning of the day and they're just trying to put a positive spin on the situation. Maybe the animals are more sensitive to all the noise and commotion at those times?
Regardless, I don't hate the idea of the "wild vs mild expedition" for this, it's probably more warranted here than on Empire of the Penguin and could actually open it up to more people.
Regardless, I don't hate the idea of the "wild vs mild expedition" for this, it's probably more warranted here than on Empire of the Penguin and could actually open it up to more people.
I wonder if it has some to do with the development right across the street.
When I rode Tidal Surge at SWSA Labor Day weekend last year, it was definitely more intense than Finnegan's Flyer, but I expected it to be given the height difference. If anything, I viewed Tidal Surge as a grown-up screaming swing, with Finnegan's Flyer being more of a kid's version of the ride.
As for G's, I find the pretzel loop G's on Manta at SWO to be more intense than anything a screaming swing offers.
As for G's, I find the pretzel loop G's on Manta at SWO to be more intense than anything a screaming swing offers.