Magnum's station???

Mike at thepointol.com said: One thing I am 90% sure of though is the renovation of the Magnum XL-200 station. The station is poorly designed (along with the location of the FreeWay entrance) and causes confusion to many when it is full. So this means that for all of you who love to cut everyone by going to seat 1-3, you many actually have to start to wait for it next year. New lapbars could also be on the way to the Magnum trains, but I am uncertain on that.

I just happened to run across this on http://www.thepointol.com/mikesmessage4.html (and yes I know it was posted way back on the 4th).
It's just that ejh1701 recently posted something similar to what Mike said.
So can any of this be confirmed, or is it bull****?

Thoughts/Opinions?

*** Edited 8/19/2005 6:08:11 AM UTC by TTD 120mph***

I usually tend to take anything I read with a grain of salt. Although I do know that procedures are different on Magnum this year. From what I hear they are not for the better. Although when I was at the park they seemed to still be hitting intervals.

As far as new lapbars go, has Gemini's trains ever received new lap bars? To my knowledge they haven't at least not since 1993 when I started visiting the park. I would take that as an indication that new lapbars are not in the near future considering the similarity of the trains. Not to mention they are made by the same manufacturer.

Also I have a hard time trying to decide if he is saying that a renovation has already taken place or is going to. Dave aka Rideman would be the person to ask about all this though I'm sure. I say that like I know him, which I don't, but from past posts that I have read it seems he is the guy to ask about such things.
*** Edited 8/19/2005 6:25:44 AM UTC by Phil Bernard***

Actually, anyone who's been to the park on a regular basis could tell you if something has happened to the Magnum station- especially us Magnumheads.

As of monday I noted no changes on the Magnum platform. Neither in operatoins nor in configuration, except for new signs on every air gate in the park saying "keep away from the gate or you will be crushed and die and we're not liable" or something along those lines.

Sounds like they're talking out their rear end. I HIGHLY doubt we'll ever see new lapbars on Magnum. Why ruin a perfectly fine, working, proven safe system?

I've heard some rumblings about the station too and I'd welcome some well thought out changes on the platform. The problem is that the park seems incapable of thinking anything out these days so it'd probably be better if they just left it alone.

Also, modifications to the station would cost money with no real return on the investment, so it makes me think there is a good possibility of it not happening.

If they touch the design of the trains or lapbars, god help them because it will sure tick off a lot of people! :)

I really hope they do something about that station. While I usually pull the "cut ahead to 1-2 and 1-3" trick, most people are simply standing around in there without a real clue as to what line they are actually waiting for. The railings for each row should be extended to almost the back of the station, so it's clear what rows are where.

Magnum should do the same as Millennium Force. That way it isn't overcrowded plus you actually know what line you want to go in.

I HATE Six Flags said:
Magnum should do the same as Millennium Force. That way it isn't overcrowded plus you actually know what line you want to go in.

I totally agree with you and MillenniumMan1287. I mean maybe have lines in there but make the station half full then what they usually do. I like idea of extending the railings. Although you'd have problems for the front row cars because the sation kind of curves right there.

I would fully embrace the idea of Magnums station being a little more organised. SOmething a long the lines of Wicked Twister and Millenium Force would be nice. Meaning, you do not enter the station ntil there is room for you in the station.

Besides, the stairs on the way up provide a very unique viewing spot for Dragster. But the down side would be that you have to kick the guy ahead of you to get movin.

"Besides, the stairs on the way up provide a very unique viewing spot for Dragster. But the down side would be that you have to kick the guy ahead of you to get movin."

LOL! That is so true.
Stupid gauckers, pay attention to what's happening in front of you!!!

Oh wait! I'm one of them.....:)

bholcomb said:
Sounds like they're talking out their rear end. I HIGHLY doubt we'll ever see new lapbars on Magnum. Why ruin a perfectly fine, working, proven safe system?

You're probably right, Ben. Just take this one thing into consideration - we highly doubted wewould ever see seatbelts on corkscrew, either :)

-Josh

If anything happens to Magnum's station, don't count on any changes that will make it more organized.

The most likely renovation would be to run an I-beam the length of the track above the load side to hold up the roof, and remove the posts alongside the track. That would correct many of the problems caused by the way they've been doing operations this season, but as far as people entering the station...well, if anything, they will be more confused than ever thanks to the loss of the visual cues that identify the spaces between cars.

New lap bars? If they put new lap bars on Magnum, you'll never notice them. My guess is that they have been replaced more than once already, just as the nosepieces on the trains have been replaced.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Viper at SFGAm had the same problem with station overcrowding up until this year. The station would be such a mess that it would take 30+ minutes to get on once you entered the station. The fire marshall would have fainted if he would have seen that.

The new grouping method they are using this year however has been working VERY well. They let two train loads in at a time, and the line moves so much smoother.

For those that have been regulars to Magnum over the years would remember how people-herding is supposed to be handled.

The person at turnstyle allows guests to fill in to a point where the queues are full and then some. Then they are to stop you at the top of stairs until the lines start to empty out. Then you are allowed to enter the station.

But lately, they really don't care. They just let the station fill up first. Then it takes awhile before it empties to a point to continue.

I agree that it is unorganized. But personally think it should be left alone. If they make it more organized, then the line for my 1-3 seat will be longer! I can't have that! :)

I don't know where -Mike at thepointol.com- got his info on the station being rebuilt, honestly I rarely visit the site. He is 90% sure, I'm 100% sure. But next time anyones in line for magnum and a ride opt is there, just be like, "you looking forward to the new station next year?" and they'll tell you just like it is. I ain't lying to yall, just ask them.
I would be against the station being like MF or WT where the opt enforces where a person sits. Everytime in line for magnum, I try and hit the ejector seat, if this policy is put into effect in its current state, the only rows guests could wait for is the front or back.
Mike didn't say anything about the Gemini booths being repositioned to one main booth located in between both tracks, but thats coming too. *** Edited 8/20/2005 4:22:18 AM UTC by ejh1701***

Maybe the new station will be renovated for the good. Make it more creative like Millennium Force inside. You ever notice that there isn't really any lighting in there. I'd like to see them add strobe lighting in Magnums station.

Or some color changing lights.
I like those! :P

Because seasonals know what is coming next......

Gimme a break.

Maybe they will put in padding on the seat backs of row 1 and 2 of each car so that people with long legs and in rows 2 and 3 wont bang their knees on every drop.

No, "they" won't.

MrScott