Superman:The Escape closed until 2011.

[Newtrek5]

Over at TPR a picture has been posted saying something "big" is happening to the ride before it re-opens. Bizarro? (Which I have long thought will be the next "ride" at the park). Or something else...?

 

[LiveForTheLaunch]

If they're redoing it or something, it doesn't even seem like it would be worth it, considering I heard the ride sucks and doesn't even go halfway up the tower .

The money would probably be spent better on like, demolishing it and building something new, haha.

 

[F.A.S.T.]

^It is the point of refurbishing the ride. However I agree with you. Even if they restore it to it's former glory and then some, I rather they spend the money on a new ride.

Also, weren't they trying to sell the ride a couple of years back?

 

[Newtrek5]

^It is the point of refurbishing the ride. However I agree with you. Even if they restore it to it's former glory and then some, I rather they spend the money on a new ride.

Also, weren't they trying to sell the ride a couple of years back?

They tried to sell it and had no takers. Also, I do know the ride has outdated technology and is a HUGE energy waster. So I can only guess it makes more fiscal sense to refurbish it, rather than remove it (which would also be majorly expensive), then spend money on top of that for a replacement ride.

There is one other possibility. Perhaps nothing is happening to Superman itself, but rather something being added to it. Like a drop tower.

 

[Nic]

They need to do something to it... The launch is dull. It sounds like there's an earthquake every time it runs. The throughput is horrendous. It takes up a lot of space. It must cost a daft amount to run, for not much benefit.

I can understand how, in a way, it's the park's signature ride, so they wouldn't want to rip it out, but... really!

I'd be really interested to hear what their plans are.

 

[Nemesis Inferno]

I enjoyed it a few years back... Was certainly a difference experience to the Accelerators...

It was the best ride there just because of the air conditioned indoor queue <3

But yeah, looking at it recently it needs a refurb... If only to make it more efficient... As long as they don't get ride of the epic noise...

 

[CreditCrazy]

The only redoing I can see is Bizarro... which would just be stupid on a ride like Superman because you can't do audio or fire. There's been rumors of them turning one side backwards, but I don't know how that would work or even if it would work, and it wouldn't be too comfortable. Plus you still have the problem of not being able to run two sides at once.

 

[Snoo]

It sucks. A lot. I hope they are turning it into a lawn ornament.. because that's all it's worth.

 

[marc]

I cannot understand why they would want to spend a penny on this ride, the only money they would spend is to remove it.

Unless they can get the launch working and get it to go more that 3/4 up I just do not see the point.

 

[ECG]

That was pointless.

Aidan's quote about the coaster will likely apply to anything they're planning on doing with it. Any time or money spent on anything other than a removal is a complete waste.

 

[Newtrek5]

I dunno that I'd call it a complete waste. Enthusiasts may not like it, but the GP does, and Jay Thomas has said the ride still gets attention, yet it's tame enough for families to ride it. Good for them if they are making the ride more energy efficient, while restoring the original specs. If that is indeed what they are doing.

 

[Snoo]

Well.. under the current Six Flags regime change.. getting rid of the crap that wastes money and doesn't really deserve to be living.. S:TE falls under that category. And it isn't like they don't have other family rides that suck just as much as S:TE and don't cost a billion dollars to run.

 

[Newtrek5]

^ Yes they do other rides that fall under that category. But none of them are 400+ feet and would cost hundreds of thousand of dollars to remove.

I guess I just don't see removing a ride of that size as a viable option. Neither does Six Flags, as they have no intention of removing it. So what's the other option, let it sit as the crappy ride it is, or do something to improve it?

 

[CreditCrazy]

There's nothing that wouldn't be incredibly cheesy to do to "improve" it.

 

[Newtrek5]

^ Perhaps...lol I guess we'll see, because it's happening regardless.

 

[Snoo]

^ Yes they do other rides that fall under that category. But none of them are 400+ feet and would cost hundreds of thousand of dollars to remove.

I guess I just don't see removing a ride of that size as a viable option. Neither does Six Flags, as they have no intention of removing it. So what's the other option, let it sit as the crappy ride it is, or do something to improve it?

Yes, it would be expensive to remove.. but outdated technology combined with a lackluster experience don't combine for a reason to keep the ride around. I bet improving it costs 3x as much as it would to remove it.. and that doesn't even count the cost it takes to run the ride as is/improved. Removing it and putting in a flat ride/something worth getting on would be a much better decision.. even if the GP like it.

And we have no proof they have no intention of removing it, unless you have an insider.

 

[jjjjustin]

why don't they make it an accelerator ride ?

 

[Newtrek5]

^ Yes they do other rides that fall under that category. But none of them are 400+ feet and would cost hundreds of thousand of dollars to remove.

I guess I just don't see removing a ride of that size as a viable option. Neither does Six Flags, as they have no intention of removing it. So what's the other option, let it sit as the crappy ride it is, or do something to improve it?

Yes, it would be expensive to remove.. but outdated technology combined with a lackluster experience don't combine for a reason to keep the ride around. I bet improving it costs 3x as much as it would to remove it.. and that doesn't even count the cost it takes to run the ride as is/improved. Removing it and putting in a flat ride/something worth getting on would be a much better decision.. even if the GP like it.

And we have no proof they have no intention of removing it, unless you have an insider.

Perhaps someday, but Jay Thomas and Tim Burkhart have both said they will not remove the ride. But they would like to tweak it. So that could mean small improvements, or something major. Either way, it's not going anywhere anytime soon just because enthusiasts don't like it. And since we don't yet know the scale of what they have planned yet, there is no way to guess if this will make the ride more reliable and efficent. That's what they care about, not whether it makes somebody's top 10 list or not.
So I'm curious as to what's going to happen. If it's just a few lame attempts at theming (like Bizarro), then there isn't much to even talk about. Hopefully they have something else in mind.

 

[Newtrek5]

why don't they make it an accelerator ride ?

I think that would be cool. Perhaps remove the track from one side of Superman and retrofit it with new Intamin track capable of doing more than a mere freefall. But once again, is SF willing to spend the money it would require to do that?

 

[Snoo]

^ Yes they do other rides that fall under that category. But none of them are 400+ feet and would cost hundreds of thousand of dollars to remove.

I guess I just don't see removing a ride of that size as a viable option. Neither does Six Flags, as they have no intention of removing it. So what's the other option, let it sit as the crappy ride it is, or do something to improve it?

Yes, it would be expensive to remove.. but outdated technology combined with a lackluster experience don't combine for a reason to keep the ride around. I bet improving it costs 3x as much as it would to remove it.. and that doesn't even count the cost it takes to run the ride as is/improved. Removing it and putting in a flat ride/something worth getting on would be a much better decision.. even if the GP like it.

And we have no proof they have no intention of removing it, unless you have an insider.

Perhaps someday, but Jay Thomas and Tim Burkhart have both said they will not remove the ride. But they would like to tweak it. So that could mean small improvements, or something major. Either way, it's not going anywhere anytime soon just because enthusiasts don't like it. And since we don't yet know the scale of what they have planned yet, there is no way to guess if this will make the ride more reliable and efficent. That's what they care about, not whether it makes somebody's top 10 list or not.
So I'm curious as to what's going to happen. If it's just a few lame attempts at theming (like Bizarro), then there isn't much to even talk about. Hopefully they have something else in mind.

We've established that enthusiasts viewpoints aren't a big factor, so we can stop bring up that little guy.. but the fact of the matter remains that is is a poor ride.. even by GP standards.. and if the park really needs to hold on to outdated crap because they feel some special connection.. they shouldn't be running the park imo.

And oO do I feel a crap theme attempt coming on.


PS: Don't double post. Just edit your previous post.