Mantis' Third Train DOES Make a Difference

I was just looking around over at CP's site and I noticed that they put up the number of rides given in 2001 for a bunch of the major rides.  A few months back, I had saved all of the 2000 numbers on my computer so that I could compare.  Anyway, most of the numbers are roughly in line with last season or even improved in several cases.  I did not find 2001 stats for MF, but I suspect it was up substancially since it probably had much less downtime than in 2000.  For the onces listed it was Gemini up .11%, Raptor up 5.7%,  Magnum up 7.3%, Iron Dragon up .06%, Corkscrew down 5.0%, and Mean Streak down 4.6%.  Gemini is capacity king as far as coasters go again and Magnum and Raptor were battling it out throughout the season with Raptor edging us out, probably due to the fact that Magnum sends half empty trains for the first hour of every day.  Overall, considering that attendance was down 9%, these numbers seem really good and probably means that most guests that did visit this year had an excellent CP line experience.

There was one exception to this however.  Mantis gave 1,253,978 rides this past season as compared to 1,444,817 in 2000.  That is a decrease of over 13%.  I stood firm in my saying that Mantis' line moved much slower this season with two trains than in previous years with three despite other people saying that was not the case.  Supposedly the higher ups said that since the Mantis crew couldn't hit interval on a regular basis (which is probably very difficult to do in all honesty especially with the seatbelts and stupid bouncing riders), the third train wouldn't have increased capacity at all.  I realize I'm not taking into account downtime, the effort of the crew, etc, but I point to this sharp decrease in ridership due mainly in part to the missing third train.  People are not going to get into a 2 hour line for Mantis when MF is across the way with the same 2 hour wait, Raptor is at 40 minutes, and Magnum 30 minutes.  I'm not sure if anyone else noticed this, but I thought I'd point it out so the smart folks on GTTP can argue it out and maybe CP will be watching! :)

I know there are other issues surrounding the demise of the third train such as guest comfort, etc, but my point is that the capacity argument didn't hold up.

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-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew

How was guest comfort affected?  Because they sometimes had to sit out on the brakes?  This could have been easily solved by covering the brake runs--thus shade.

Those are some interesting numbers.  The other surprise, IMO, is that Iron Dragon was UP .06% but Corkscrew was DOWN 5%.  What might the reasoning for that be?  Did Cork have some maintenance problems last year?

I believe the argument for guest comfort would be that if all three trains stack, the last train comes to a harsh stop out on the brakes.  I would maintain that this is true, however, the harsh "slow-down" with only two trains isn't much of an improvement.  Perhaps if they increased the exit speed of those brakes, the guest comfort might be improved more.  I don't think it has anything to do with sunlight or shade.

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-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew

The reason for the very fast stop is that the turn right after the first brakes is to sharp to not have a fast stop. I don't think they can do it without the first short brakes. I don't think they need the 3rd train because they can't get the trains off fast enough due to all the people that don't know how to stand!

Certainly the constant "setup" conditions didn't help brake life on the slowing brakes because of the fact that there was always a train sitting in standby, so it might have been a maintenenace issue as well.

However, when you drop a train, and your capacity doesn't drop by a third, does it really make a difference? I'm not sure. The break down in capacity with that missing train comes down to about 3 train loads an hour. What does that come to in minutes?

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

You really do have to be careful when getting on or off the Mantis though...Especially if you're a guy...One wrong move getting on or off the ride and that seat comes right back up to hit you where it counts...speaking from experience here...I'm sure a few other guys here have at least had that horrible experience...Most people do have a difficult time figuring out how to stand on that ride though...There is just no real way to get everyone unloaded, loaded, and going up the hill with enough time to spare...you would need everything to move like clockwork and we all know that it won't happen...

Chief Wahoo, I believe Corkscrew's capacity issue was the banning of any loose items on the ride...
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2000 - Cedar Downs, WildCat crews
2001 - ...too many to list :0)
2002 - Wave Swinger - Swan Boats TL

Yeah, since you have to walk over past Power Tower to store your loose articles, I bet most people said forget it. Corky is not worth a 5 minute walk and $.75

I think they should move some of the lockers from PT and put them across from Corkscrew (by the soft drink stand) or line them up with the pop machines if they are going to have such policy.

Joe E, I think there was talk of putting lockers by Corkscrew.  I'm not sure why it was never done though.  Maybe it'll be one of those small improvements we'll see for this season.
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-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew

Matt I wonder if the Gemini 100 made a difference in Gemini's '01 capacity? :)
("Shut the **** up!!" ;)) Oh the memories!!
In '00 I was asked a couple of times if I wanted to work Mantis for 1 day and I always said no. Only because I see alot of the stacking issues are totally GUEST caused. I've heard the spiels changing over the years to make them more simplistic (DO NOT STAND DO NOT BOUNCE) but even that doesnt seem to help. You HAVE to admire THAT crew because I do believe they have the hardest ride to "monitor". The "quick" stop around the last turn was no biggie to anyone who KNEW the ride, Raptor's stop after the helix is just as strong.
As for the long waits. In my opinion (for what ever that's worth) the only people who are going to wait 2-2+ hours for Mantis is the gp who have never riden it. I love Mantis but as someone already said here, 2 hours for Mantis or MF where am I going? I don't think the 3rd train was that big an issue Matt, I think it just added to the stacking issue truly, instead of 1 train waiting to unload there were 2.
If the ride wasnt "popular" CP wouldnt bother painting it this Spring. Since last season there was still lines, someone is obviousely riding it, now if we could give them manuals called "Mantis for dummies" to read in line we would have it made!

Jo
2000 Raptor Crew
Gemini 100 "Survivor"
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Cowboys dig cowgirls in trucks
Cowgirls dig cowboys in Wranglers! ;)

Another factor.. and I rode Mantis ALOT last season, right Cassie, Jo, John?? was the lines were shorter this year. Less people actually RIDING the ride could contribute a great deal.

I can't think of a day where I waited more than 30 mins for a ride on Mantis last season.

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VertiGo Rides - 82 (2001)
And looking forward to more!!!

Raptor-Rider, I know what you mean all too well :( .  The first and last time that happened to me had me looking for a bench fast!

Yea, we gave Gemini an extra couple thousand rides that day! :)  Everytime I hear some annoying kids start yapping and not shutting up, I just say, "Where is Raptor Jo when you need her?" :)  You are all probably very right in saying that the third train on Mantis wouldn't have made as big a difference as the third on another ride.  I guess its just a personal pet peeve of mine that the capacity on that ride dropped 13% while others were flat or even up.  I do agree that the Mantis crew has a tough job and I can honestly say I'm glad I didn't work there because some people are just plain dumb when it comes to boarding a stand-up coaster. :)

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-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew

I don't see why they can't just add a set of lockers onto the "Corkscrew Side" of that vending machine cluster...

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MF count: 23

Rob-Remember our rollback attempts on Mantis during MM? We actually "requested" they turn off the trim brake and give us a rollback. Then the crew even asked us to stay on! :)
I LOVED riding it in the rain during a.m. ERT last CM too :) I personally didn't ride Mantis last season as much I did in 2000 but apparently enough for some of the crew (Joe for one) to start reconizing me.
Since they're painting Mantis this spring, how hard would it be for them to change the name back to Banshee too? Don't you wish? ;)

Jo
2000 Raptor Crew
Gemini 100 "Survivor"
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Cowboys dig cowgirls in trucks
Cowgirls dig cowboys in Wranglers! ;)

Maybe they should use that TV thing they have in the line and tell people how to get on the ride. If ,and only if, people really look at that they could have a short little thing of the station and how to stand.

Maybe they need diagrams in the queue? Make them like those McDonald's picture menu's. ORRRR! A test seat at the entrance, make it mandatory hehe

They have diagrams once you reach the final stairs, that explain quite well how to stand...the dang thing still gives me a calf worskout everytime...not that thats bad...but is there any way to solve it?

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"I will never doubt the forces of physics again"~Passenger leaving MF

'02 MF Rides: 00
'02 Wicked Twists: 00

Although Im not 100% sure I do believe that big tv screen did show how to get buckled into Mantis correctly. (I dont know about any of yous but I miss that film they used to run-no not Chevy Chase singing "call me Al" I meant the 1 film that had that real loud music and showed POV shots from the best rides) The "rules" are sit up straight, feet FLAT,heels back against the "wall" make sure the "seat" isnt too high or too low and that should be perfect. When I ride Mantis I prefer to leave one leg bent up all the way against the "wall" to "absorb" all the bumps, and keep my head slightly tilted out not straight back. Of course this took MANY MANY rides to figure out the Mantis secrets.
This also explains why I prefered working on Raptor, our "seat spiel" consisted of, "welcome aboard the mean green bird we call Raptor, find a seat, look up, pull down on the green restraint and buckle your seatbelt, if you have a problem with your seatbelt one of the Raptor ride crew will be around to help you shortly" Period.
Man I miss that ride!!! :)

Jo
2000 Raptor Crew
Gemini 100 "Survivor"
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Cowboys dig cowgirls in trucks
Cowgirls dig cowboys in Wranglers! ;)

Jo, you were probably kidding about "Mantis for dummies" to read in line? But couldn't there be signs in the que explaining some procedures including proper stance in an attempt to educate the novice riders? Possibly speeding up the process. Maybe?