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I'll get back to SFGA in a second but I think the best thing Dorney has going for it that helps the charm is their coasters 'breathe' in that they are spread out from each other. When that happens you can really fill things in nicely. I feel like too many Legacy CF parks built coasters on coasters with entrances almost right next to each other and then you need those large footprint queues it kills charm.

Anyways back to SFGA:

I think what's tough about this situation in both ways though (experience vs cost) is that taking down a record breaking coaster and replacing it with a record breaking coaster might not be the return they were hoping for.

We're kinda seeing the issue (IMO) that existed during the coaster wars - everyone, especially CF (now SF), is so locked in on records, records, records; that what most people want is being missed. You want a full day escape with the family from the norm to forget about life an enjoy yourself. Like one of the complaints many (rightfully) BGW people had was the jump in height from Grover to InvadR to everything else was so big, and too many flats were coming out, that a large swathed age of kids had little to do in the park.

IMO that's what SFGA is in danger of having happen for real. They are going to lose a large amount of their middle group. Those 6-12/13 year olds that are going to be too 'mature' for kids only rides but not big enough for so many other coasters. So if that's all you have to offer and you keep losing flats, those families will start going to places like Dorney since they do have things that reach that demographic.

Now in the end, I get it. They took out Kingda Ka, so you need to replace it with something iconic. But I think it will run into issues (sorta like Volcano and BBW) where the ride was so iconic that it's tough to truly have its spirit carry on. But what SF needs to hop on fast IMO is filling that area they put this in at with a theme, flats, stands, and make this section of the park feel alive.

That was sort of the problem with KK and the Golden Kingdom. It was a long walk to KK with nothing else around, no flats rides, and shuttered playgrounds. Even with El Toro the carnival area also has one small flat. Its a shame they didn't keep the stampee ride to go with ET. As of now nearly all the park's flats will be in the south end of the park. Even before the removals the park was already lopsided.
 
I was about to say that the problem is that the East Coast doesn't have a "coaster capital" that can get away with less atmosphere the same way the West Coast does with Magic Mountain or the Midwest does with Cedar Point, but thinking about it, Hersheypark seems to be that park now.
Except Hersheypark DOES have atmosphere, and there’s really no reason for the other parks mentioned not to, or any park for that matter. These parks don’t need to be Disney, Universal, or even the Sea World parks, but a little bit of effort into the overall aesthetic without even worrying about theming for individual rides shouldn’t be all that expensive and would go a long way for a lot of these parks.
 
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if they want to make Great Adventure the “Magic Mountain of the East”, my biggest worry is that they’ll care about putting in coasters and leave the atmosphere and not putting in enough flat rides
 
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if they want to make Great Adventure the “Magic Mountain of the East”, my biggest worry is that they’ll care about putting in coasters and leave the atmosphere and not putting in enough flat rides
One of my concerns is that the 2026 coaster may be the only new ride installed for awhile, leaving lots of voids throughout the park.
 
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One of my concerns is that the 2026 coaster may be the only new ride installed for awhile, leaving lots of voids throughout the park.
This right here. I honestly don't see GAdv getting another coaster until the 2030s.
 
Just saw a poorly made concept that used the shuttle spinner but made it a swing launch….I think that’s the piece it was missing. If that’s what happens I’m totally down with that being the Ka replacement.
 
Just saw a poorly made concept that used the shuttle spinner but made it a swing launch….I think that’s the piece it was missing. If that’s what happens I’m totally down with that being the Ka replacement.
Bit rude to call it poorly made but okay.
 
I am not that crazy about the swing launch idea. I would prefer to see a JoJo Roll out of the station like The Ride to Happiness has and then the train would pass through a section of fast switch track that slides over before the first launch happens. On the way back from the tower and stall element, the train could go through some other elements before entering the rear of the station.
 
Yeah, the big problem with a swing launch is definitely what it would do to capacity. The design that was pictured in the survey mockup (and reproduced by @CoasterMac in NoLimits) is probably just about the max ride time you want to spend in that block section. If you add a bunch of additional ride time to that segment with a swing launch, capacity will decrease very considerably.

@MaxxForceFan's pitch above would be the way to add more ride time in my opinion—add a block section before or after the shuttle launch segment of the coaster with switch tracks.
 
The original concept would be fine with a Mr freeze style station. I’d love to see what new six flags could do with that station theming wise.

Those of you that have a problem with capacity, I understand. Those of you that take issue with the layout or say it’s boring I cannot take seriously
 
Yeah, a spinning strata would be absolutely nuts, shuttle or not. I haven’t understood the disdain for it myself, and I know most people complaining about it in other places aren’t thinking capacity like we are. I really do think whatever it ends up being “won’t be good enough” simply because it isn’t Kingda Ka, but people gotta understand that there’s a reason hydraulic launches are a dying breed.
 
Just saw a poorly made concept that used the shuttle spinner but made it a swing launch….I think that’s the piece it was missing. If that’s what happens I’m totally down with that being the Ka replacement.

Do you have a link?
 
The original concept would be fine with a Mr freeze style station. I’d love to see what new six flags could do with that station theming wise.

Those of you that have a problem with capacity, I understand. Those of you that take issue with the layout or say it’s boring I cannot take seriously
Yeah. Like the people who say that the concept isn't a worthy replacement to Ka baffle me. It's a spinning strata with an upside down launch and a guaranteed rollback. It's an upgrade in every way.
 
Yeah. Like the people who say that the concept isn't a worthy replacement to Ka baffle me. It's a spinning strata with an upside down launch and a guaranteed rollback. It's an upgrade in every way.
To play Devil's Advocate, Ka had an INSANE launch, whereas Mack is known for having weak launches, even compared to other company's LSM coasters. The top speed may end up being comparable between Ka and this replacement, but the acceleration isn't going to be remotely the same.
 
To play Devil's Advocate, Ka had an INSANE launch, whereas Mack is known for having weak launches, even compared to other company's LSM coasters. The top speed may end up being comparable between Ka and this replacement, but the acceleration isn't going to be remotely the same.
But comparing the intensity of hydraulic launches to any other launches isn't really fair...
 
To play Devil's Advocate, Ka had an INSANE launch, whereas Mack is known for having weak launches, even compared to other company's LSM coasters. The top speed may end up being comparable between Ka and this replacement, but the acceleration isn't going to be remotely the same.
To be fair, from the reviews it seems like that's improved lately. Specifically Voltron, with its 4 LSM fin-wide launch, seems to be very punchy according to those who've ridden it, though I'm not sure whether they'd opt for that setup with the space to instead to a longer launch track. It of course still wouldn't compare to a hydraulic launch, but still.
 
To play Devil's Advocate, Ka had an INSANE launch, whereas Mack is known for having weak launches, even compared to other company's LSM coasters. The top speed may end up being comparable between Ka and this replacement, but the acceleration isn't going to be remotely the same.

I don't even see how the launch force can be safely as strong as KK with the spinning aspect. The cars likely will need to be locked during launch to minimize head banging. Even then half the train will be facing backwards which renders half of the headrests useless during forward launchs.

Besides that the track layout is rather uninspired, even for a shuttle. Just a upsidedown hill and helix really? Tophats are fun and uncommon track elements. Another disadvantage is that only the front car can reach the apex on a launch shuttle vs a full circuit like KK was where the whole train traveled though the apex.

Being a shuttle does entail limited capacity. Even with a turn table or switch track station the capacity will still be below a full circuit layout. Having said that this gig spinner isn't certain yet, but it's a major contender.

Going by the concept animation, the 400 foot tower is a rather ugly eyesore compared to KK's tower design. Also I don't see such a coaster being economical to maintain. Any launch coaster, especially a 400 foot one is always going to be a moneypit to maintain and operate. Then the added weight and complexity of spinning mechanisms to the trains will exabate maintenance costs and likely downtime. If Zimmerman is really focused on reducing operating costs, perhaps he should just forego strata coasters for awhile.
 
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I’ve been brainstorming names for the replacement coaster that invoke power, legacy, and command, and I kept coming back to the concept of the passing of the crown; the rise of a new ruler.

I think a name like Oath of Reign represents more than just the coaster. It symbolizes he rider’s (theoretical) journey to allegiance to a new king. From the ground, the towering structure represents a throne in the skies, daring riders to test their courage and take the oath. The experience becomes a trial by height, speed, and force, culminating into a variety of launches, inversions, and other elements that cement the coaster’s dominance.

The storyline could be something like: “The skies were once ruled by a mighty king — a force that defied gravity and commanded awe. But every reign ends, and now the kingdom seeks its heir. To claim the throne, one must ascend the towering peak, brace against the winds of fate, and swear their loyalty with an unbreakable oath. The question remains: will you rise to the challenge or bow to the sky?”

The colors of the ride can include a deep purple, gold, navy, and silver. These would invoke a sense of majesty, royalty, and power.

If a tower element is part of the design (possibly the Mack tower coaster) the supports could be crafted to resemble a crown, subtly paying homage to the legacy of Kingda Ka while signaling the arrival of a new king.

The removal of Ka has undoubtedly stirred some strong emotions and is a sensitive subject. While some may feel that moving away from the “king” concept would help distance the park from the controversy surrounding its removal, I believe embracing the legacy through this new ride could strike the perfect balance. By incorporating nods to Ka, the park can honor what came before it while still giving the ride its own distinct identity. Ka never received the sendoff it deserved, but through this concept, its spirit could live on, bridging the gap between past and future as the next era of thrills takes command.

What do you guys think about this theme concept? Any name ideas that could fit?

Here’s a little AI generated logo concept:
Untitled design.png
 
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