Just some background: While I'm in St. Louis visiting my aunt, I would arrive there that thursday. I will most likely be going to a rams pre-season game while I'm there. My 16 (then will be 17) year old brother might come with me, but I'm not sure yet. If he DOESN'T, I'll probably be riding coasters alone that saturday, with my aunt just kickin' it at the water park. I'm pretty sure SFstL opens at 10:30 and closes at 9:00 that day, and I'll know how late I'll be there as I get more details. I also doubt I'll be bringing my swim suit that day...
Okay, I would like some help on a few minor things, such as where to ride on coasters, what is okay to be missed, what order i should hit stuff, and things like that. but, keep in mind that I'll be going on a saturday...
Ok, thanks for all the help ahead of time!
Right off the bat I would recommend that if you are going on a weekend, plan on getting a Flashpass. You do not want to get stuck in a 60 minute wait for the Boss in 90 degree heat. It may be the longest, hottest queue in the history of bad queue engineering.
As of SFOG, which was on a SUNDAY, batman the ride had an unforgivable line of like an hour and a half... not THAT bad for me for the front, and my first time, but terrible for you. And yes, I would like to skip it, but not for $60!
Eli, if you like I can arrange to meet you at the park. I currently hold a season pass and it's nothing for me to head out and enjoy the park.
As far as where to sit it is subjective.
On Batman I prefer to sit in the last row because it feels like it is sort of jerking you faster around the course.
Evil Knievel is good no matter where you sit.
Ninja again IMO has the best feeling in the back. Although the front is good because you feel like you are being pushed down the hill by the rest of the train.
Screaming Eagle is pretty cool when it comes to the nostalgia and the fact that the train tends to bounce on the tracks a little. I would suggest the back for this coaster.
When it comes to Mr. Freeze my vote is the front because of the uniqueness of the coaster. Plus to reach the highest position on the ride you will want to be in the front.
The Boss has its own ups and downs. I have no particular spot that I like to sit in all the time. So, take your time and experiment on this coaster. There are unique advantages and disadvantages to changing the seat you ride in.
I would recommend the front on the Mine Train only because you feel the wind in your face better. And because your view isn't distorted from looking at the back of a lot of other people.
I hope this helps if you have any other questions feel free to email me or reply here.
Oh, and be aware, I'm a kid. If you're still interested in meeting me there, I would only spend... about half the day with you, if any, because if my brother comes, then it would just be him and myself.
Yeah, the back of B&M inverts are awesome, but i love getting the view and speed in my face, so i usually prefer the front (batman the ride @ SFOG, talon, alpengeist, great bear) on those.
can't wait for evel knievel! i love GCI! I assume it to be like lightning racer, but no dueling or racing another train!
as for ninja, you mean PULLED over the top in the back, not pushed. and how rough is it? If it's really rough, i wouldn't risk the back!
As for screaming eagle and the boss, how rough are these, also?
Mr. Freeze looks awesome, and WAY better than Joker's Jinx, at SFA (my home park).
Donno if i'd ride the mine train, because the one at SFOG was REALLY dull... and only fun with a lot of good friends, i assume. I bet i would only ride it if i've ridden everything else a bunch.
Oh, and i really want to try xcalibur, and i love drop towers, so i would ride superman, too. (I KNOW JAMES, I KNOW.)
Thanks anyway, ben!
As for Xcalibur, if you followed the links I provided and looked at my review, I wrote: "This Bussink Evolution ride is a pretty intense midway experience...Xcalibur is worth a ride, but not if the wait is more than about 10 minutes." If there is little or no wait, then definitely ride it.
As for Superman, once you ride the Tower of Terror, all other drop rides will be blah.
As for the coasters at SFSTL, I rank them in this order:
1) EK (back gets the whip, front gets the view)
2) Ninja (can be bone jarring, so brace yourself, but I like the view from the front)
3) Batman (standard B&M invert - front row is by far the best because of the view)
4) Freeze (the ride is way too short - but I like the front)
5) Tony Hawk (put all the weight on one side to get some spinning action)
6) Boss (painful - sit in the middle to avoid injury)
7) Screamin' Eagle (VERY painful - but fun at night - ride in the middle to avoid paralysis)
8) River King Mine Train (good family fun, ride in front).
There isn't much else at SFSTL that I find interesting, so after you ride the coasters, I recommend a visit to the St Louis Zoo or the St. Louis Arch, both of which are extraordinary experiences, much better than the theme park.
Lastly, it is best to leave the park for lunch as the in-park food is subpar and overly expensive even for Six Flags. Head over to Steak & Shake about 2 miles away for some reasonably priced, half-way decent fast food.
Good luck, and don't forget to get a tetanus shot before and after you vacate the premises! ;)
also, JAMES, from my post before, "and i love drop towers, so i would ride superman, too. (I KNOW JAMES, I KNOW.)" look and learn!
remember, i love coasters no matter how short! so i bet i will love mr. freeze. If you're like Christy, then you disliked kingda ka because it's too short... am i right?
Thanks for the tip on THBS!
and i thought rough woodies are smoother, or not as painful in the front, not middle. can you explain what you mean?
and is the mine train worth visiting?
Now, remember, james, i visit my aunt (but with my family) at least 1ce every 2 years, so I've already done everything in St. Louis, EXCEPT the arch. I used to like zoos (i've already been to the st. louis one), but now they're dull. i sure hope DAK's or SFGAdv's animal area isn't that boring. I will go in the arch, i bet, if my aunt hasn't been up. You might be thinking "how can you live in St. Louis and NOT go up the arch?!" Well, I've lived outside D.C. for... more than 8&1/2 years now, and I've never been in the pentagon, white house, washington monument, the capital, but I HAVE been on the Lincoln memorial, and the Jefferson one. You know, that's all tourism crap, so not really for me... EXCEPT AMUSEMENT PARKS!!!
If you decide on the Flash Pass the Regular one should be fine. Unless you intend to do the whole park in half a day.
As for Ninja... In the front you feel pushed in the back you feel pulled.
Even though your younger, I welcome the opportunity to meet any of our fellow insiders. After all it would be nice to post a dual TR. And, I understand about it only being for a short while.
Eli, good luck in your visit. Oh, and a very good tip. There is a McDonalds that is with the gas station that is opposite the corner of the park. Eat there for lunch and then return to the park. You will generally save about 10 bucks on your meal costs.
On a rough wooden coaster, I find it is easier to brace myself from both push, pull, and whip effects when riding in the middle. Just personal preference. Neither the Boss nor Screamin' Eagle compare in any way shape or form to Evel Kineval, so you will be disappointed in both.
The River King Mine Train is a family coaster, but worth a visit after you have done everything else. There aren't a ton of rides at SFSTL, so why not ride this one too?
As for Mr. Freeze, I never said I didn't like it, I just said it was too short. The whole ride is like 55 seconds, and without Flashpass you could wait a long time for a minute of fun. I just wish there was more to the ride than launch, loop, up, then reverse. I gave it a 7/10 rating. Not too shabby.
As for Flashpass, there are not enough FP rides at SFSTL to warrant the extra expense for the gold FP. Just get the regular one, if necessary.
Remember guys, I might not even be going. It's just I have a really good chance, so I'm just assuming here. Still, i just talked with my mom, and now i have a 99% chance, instead of a 95%! (Just roll with me here, ok?)
I don't mind a short ride when the wait is minimal. Mr. Freeze always seems to have a long line, and after you ride it once it is not worth more than a 5 to 10 minute wait, IMHO.
As for the Boss, it is an okay woody, just very old, very beat up, and very rough. It has been surpassed many times over by newer and smoother wooden beasts like Evel Kinevel, Prowler, Raven, Legend, and Voyage. I even like The Outlaw at Adventureland (Altoona, Iowa) better than the Boss. I gave it a 6/10 on the TPI scale. Screamin' Eagle got a 5/10. EK got a 9/10.
Incidentally, Screamin' Eagle is NOT a Flashpass attraction, so if the line is long, just wait until the last hour before closing and the line should shrink. Besides, the night ride on Screamin' Eagle is a lot more fun than the day ride. Also, EK is not listed on the SFSTL website as a FP attraction, however when I went last year it WAS FP, so play that one by ear.
and as you said, everything you put about Mr.F is your opinion... heheheheheeh....
Oh, and for the woodies, i'm sure that Evel Knievel will be the best woodie there, and most likely the best coaster there, but I'll just have to find out for myself!
Of course, I'm not going anywhere that has a White Castle anytime soon so maybe by the time I get back around one I'll be willing to press my luck again.
