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Daffy
Texas Cyclone Rider
Joined: 13 Aug 2002
Posts: 1535
Location: Marvel Mcfey land Houston Texas 2005
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smith
Viper Rider
Joined: 24 Nov 2007
Posts: 197
Location: Silverlake,Tx
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 Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 12:51 pm Post subject: |
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They totally overreacted on that, they were acting like the ride was being torn down for good, but actually the ride is being shut down for a total overhaul that will be a whole lot better than the old version. I look forward to 2011 for the new Texas Giant, maybe it wont deliver a headache. Another sign it needs a major rehab is when they were running a transfer in the video, the train sounded like someone was choking a rat.
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nholt
Texas Cyclone Rider
Joined: 23 Jul 2005
Posts: 1531
Location: wondering aimlessly in a vacant lot asking why...?
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| Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 3:30 am Post subject: |
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Kind of reminds me of the last night of the Cyclone. 
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Mike Robinson
Site Admin
Joined: 12 Mar 2002
Posts: 4184
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| Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 9:46 am Post subject: |
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I guess we should wait before we pass judgement but to think they could have had GCI and MF trains but instead are going through Rocky Mountain Amusements and using Gerstauer trains. We will always wonder what could have been.......
But the budget probably forced this choice and we can't blame them for that. Lets just hope for the best! I can't even ride the Giant anymore so any improvement is better. |
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ThatTh*ngGirl
Texas Cyclone Rider
Joined: 17 Jul 2002
Posts: 3029
Location: In the Mr. Freeze Driver's Box
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| Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 9:41 pm Post subject: |
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| I have to say this is just in time from my POV. Even the front row was intolerable for me back in September. Though, what I wouldn't have given to have taken a ride after all the rain we had last month; betcha it wouldn't have been so bad. |
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Frontrider
XLR-8 Rider
Joined: 07 Sep 2003
Posts: 100
Location: Orlando, FL
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| Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:41 pm Post subject: |
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| smith wrote: | | They totally overreacted on that, they were acting like the ride was being torn down for good, but actually the ride is being shut down for a total overhaul that will be a whole lot better than the old version. |
I'm not sure what to think. I was there the entire last weekend, and everyone I talked to had a different take on what was going on. Some people I asked downplayed the changes and basically said they would be replacing all the track and getting new trains.
However, others, including a security officer and someone in management, flat-out said or strongly implied that all or most of the structure would be demolished and that they would be starting from scratch, essentially building a new coaster "based" on the original blueprints of the TG, but with some "new elements".
The park certainly played up the "Farewell" angle. There was a "Farewell Giant" party the last hour which included a cake and fireworks (which I saw from the lift hill of Shockwave since the Giant closed early it's last night - the last train was done by about 6:45 PM and the park closed at 7, which is when they shot the fireworks).
Also, there was a banner on the platform that said something like "Celebrating 19 Years Of the Original Texas Giant: 1990-2009". And there were media events and such, all with the angle of "the last rides". Kind of a lot of hoopla if all they are doing is getting new trains and doing a major track overhaul. To me, it felt more like the entire structure would be coming down and making way for a new coaster based on the Giant. That's the impression one would have gotten from being there.
There was certainly the same funereal feeling in the air that I felt the last nights of Astroworld, Pontchartrain Beach, Geauga Lake, Miracle Strip, and Cypress Gardens, when I rode the woodies in those parks on the last night. And in terms of individual rides closing but the park living on, it also reminded me of the last night of Big Bad Wolf at BG Williamsburg and Laser at Dorney Park.
If this is a tear-down/rebuild, I for one will be sad, although by now I'm getting used to this
This past weekend was my first visit to the park since the 2005 Katrina season, before which I visited SFOT annually.
I got over 30 laps on Giant the last weekend, and it still delivered the goods for my taste. Still an intense, aggressive, kick-butt ride just like I always loved it. It still delivered airtime in the same places I always remembered, such as amazing standup frontseat air on the uphill immediatly following the twisting drop off the midcourse; backseat air on drop 3 and 4 on the opening sequence; and some nice pops in the "magic carpet finale". On some rides during the backseat air in the opening sequence, I landed on the seat divider! Coasters always get extra points from me when they are capable of doing that!
I have since been on some newer woodies that had more moments of airtime than TG, but the Giant was still as good as I remembered it being from the 90's and the first half of the 2000's when I visited the park annually. When I rode it regularly in the early 2000's, I had been on less than 20 woodies; now I'm at 62 woodies and although the Giant has been eclipsed by Boulderdash and some others, it's still in my top tier of woodies and is in my experience just as thrilling and exciting as it was on my rides when I rode it more regularly.
I know many people say it's gotten "rough" but I honestly didn't notice anything. No "headaches", no "bruises", no "backpain" - not even on my numerous rides in the back car axle seat! I honestly don't notice alledged "roughness" on woodies in a negative way, beyond the usual "vibrations" that for me are just a normal part of riding wood.
As for replacing the PTCs with Gerstlauers, I prefer PTCs. I find the PTC trains work really well for me when experiencing airtime, whereas the G-trains have harder seats which make for less cushiony landings.
The GCI trains do have the cushiony seats, but my beef with those trains is the default setting on those lap bars is "fall down and STAPLE". The only way to experience the same air on GCI trains that I can on PTCs is to bend my arms inward in an ergonomically uncomfortable position while pushing against the bar to keep it where I set it and prevent stapling. This is the only way I can get a satisfying ride on the GCI trains and actually experience the airtime designed into the ride. I'm not fond of the "T-bar" either, which at times slams into my legs. There's much more leg room in PTCs.
PTC makes my fave woodie trains on the planet (as well as old-school NADs), so knowing it won't have PTCs is alreading making me think the Giant will never be the same (for my taste) even if by some miracle they are extremely faithful to the original layout and profile.
Whatever happens to the TG, I am very glad I had a chance to say goodbye to a beloved old friend, the ORIGINAL Texas Giant, with over 30 laps the last weekend. Almost half of my rides were in the front seat, most of the rest were somewhere in the back car, and almost half of the total rides were at night, including several beloved front seat night rides.
RIP and farewell, ORIGINAL Texas Giant, 1990-2009
PS. Another positive thing about my trip was, I left Texas through metro Houston to get my first rides on the Boardwalk Bullet, and.....
WOW!!!!!!
I was blown away, and the ability to ride over and over again at night with no lines for multiple hours certainly helped make a great first impression. Of couse, that the coaster kicked butt helped too!  What a fun, amazing evening, but that's a story for another thread... but I am so happy for the people of Houston to have such an amazing, world-class, kick-butt woodie in town so soon after losing the Cyclone.
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Clune
Serpent Rider
Joined: 17 May 2006
Posts: 29
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| Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 9:59 am Post subject: |
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My son and I were there the last Saturday. We took three rides on the Giant. I love this ride for it's continual speed throughout. There is one near stop midway before the ridiculously frantic finish. At 57 I feel that the ride is a little rough yes but I always come away thinking the ride is in the same thrill category as MR. Freeze and Titan.
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ThatTh*ngGirl
Texas Cyclone Rider
Joined: 17 Jul 2002
Posts: 3029
Location: In the Mr. Freeze Driver's Box
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| Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 12:49 pm Post subject: |
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At first, the impression WAS that it was just "tear down after the lift apex and rebuild." By Lone Star Coasterthon in September, the park all but officially confirmed it was going to be different. At this point, I am expecting an entirely different experience.
Still, it did not feel like goodbye to me. I guess it won't as long as a woodie anchors down that side of the park with the "Texas Giant" name. Which they haven't made any indication will change... |
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Mike Robinson
Site Admin
Joined: 12 Mar 2002
Posts: 4184
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| Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 2:08 pm Post subject: |
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| From what I understand it will be a new profile that will follow the layout. I think it will be similar but not the same. I just hope the "Magic Carpet" finale will remain. |
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wiyoh20
Greezed Lightnin' Rider
Joined: 22 Dec 2007
Posts: 278
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
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| Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 5:59 pm Post subject: |
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The "Magic Carpet" ending is/was my favorite part of the ride!
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SFF
Serpent Rider
Joined: 26 Jan 2007
Posts: 31
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| Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 8:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Its funny how they changed their story after each press release. Perhaps they really haven't a clue on what to do with it. Ether way expect the ride to be butchered. |
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SundayForever
Serpent Rider
Joined: 13 May 2011
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 4:10 am Post subject: |
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But the budget probably forced this choice and we can't blame them for that. Lets just hope for the best! I can't even ride the Giant anymore so any improvement is better.
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