robbalvey
05-28-2008, 06:54 PM
Hey everyone!
I'm sure most of you know by now that Six Flags Magic Mountain has been working to "transform" X into X2.
I have to be honest I was a little skeptical of the whole thing when it was first announced, but having met the new management of the park, and I'm really liking what I'm seeing there, I went along for the ride with them.
For months they would bring us in and show us the progress....new trains were brought online that were supposed to help increase the stability of the ride, efficiency, and hopefully be a bit smoother.
We had heard about different effects and ideas throughout the development. There were tunnels mention, area audio, etc, etc...
What we ended up getting I think is a home run for the ride! The new trains are very nice and are a bit smoother than the previous ones, esepcially in the inside seats.
But the FX are really what sells the ride!
The onboard audio was FANTASTIC! I'd put it on par with the likes of what Disney has done as far as being able to actually hear the audio during the ride. And the production values of the audio itself is VERY good. It's even what I would consider "clever" from the Frank Sinatra that plays at the beginning to the transitions of Metallica, Aerosmith, Rage Against the Machine, and a very good mixture of "ambient" noises and sounds.
Then there is FIRE! The fireball element which I thought would be a bit lame works REALLY well. Because when it goes off, you are on your back looking RIGHT at it and you FEEL the heat!
And as far as throughput goes, on opening weekend I witnessed 2 to 3 minute train dispatches which was a LOT better than the 6 to 7 minutes it used to take with the old X trains.
So overall, I really am impressed! The entire experience exceeded my expectations! Anyway, enough chatter...here are some photos from both the Media Day and the opening day campout event...
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x2.jpg
X2's Media Day & Campout!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=get9SEqKmxM
VIDEO from Media Day!
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x213.jpg
And yes, it's true! An on-board audio system has been installed that plays everything from Rage Against the Machine, Metallica, Aerosmith, and....Frank Sinatra?!?!?
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x216.jpg
A nice plasma screen has replaced the old "X" painted on the wall of the station.
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x226.jpg
There it is! X2! Cresting the hill.
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x235.jpg
And most importantly...FIRE!!!!
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x215.jpg
The trains all decked out with thier spiffy looking speaker system.
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x231.jpg
The coaster rides very similar to how it was before. So if you want a smoother ride, sit on an "inside" seat.
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x203.jpg
Train closeups!!!!
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x239.jpg
This is the "X2 DIY" Kit
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x237.jpg
Mr. Jay Thomas, Park President and captain of the ship tells us all about X2 and how we could catch on fire!
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x238.jpg
Tim Burkhart talks about how X2 dropped 18,000 pounds on the Jenny Craig system. Way to go! =)
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x252.jpg
And with the spew of confetti, we get to see the improved X2 cycle for the first time!
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x264.jpg
OK, so I'm a *little* bit worried! =)
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x217.jpg
WARNING! Dorky coaster shot!
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x222.jpg
Inside this box is Frank Sinatra's soul!
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x273.jpg
New train on the old painted track.
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x272.jpg
Old train on the new painted track. Huh...isn't that weird?
I'm sure most of you know by now that Six Flags Magic Mountain has been working to "transform" X into X2.
I have to be honest I was a little skeptical of the whole thing when it was first announced, but having met the new management of the park, and I'm really liking what I'm seeing there, I went along for the ride with them.
For months they would bring us in and show us the progress....new trains were brought online that were supposed to help increase the stability of the ride, efficiency, and hopefully be a bit smoother.
We had heard about different effects and ideas throughout the development. There were tunnels mention, area audio, etc, etc...
What we ended up getting I think is a home run for the ride! The new trains are very nice and are a bit smoother than the previous ones, esepcially in the inside seats.
But the FX are really what sells the ride!
The onboard audio was FANTASTIC! I'd put it on par with the likes of what Disney has done as far as being able to actually hear the audio during the ride. And the production values of the audio itself is VERY good. It's even what I would consider "clever" from the Frank Sinatra that plays at the beginning to the transitions of Metallica, Aerosmith, Rage Against the Machine, and a very good mixture of "ambient" noises and sounds.
Then there is FIRE! The fireball element which I thought would be a bit lame works REALLY well. Because when it goes off, you are on your back looking RIGHT at it and you FEEL the heat!
And as far as throughput goes, on opening weekend I witnessed 2 to 3 minute train dispatches which was a LOT better than the 6 to 7 minutes it used to take with the old X trains.
So overall, I really am impressed! The entire experience exceeded my expectations! Anyway, enough chatter...here are some photos from both the Media Day and the opening day campout event...
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x2.jpg
X2's Media Day & Campout!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=get9SEqKmxM
VIDEO from Media Day!
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x213.jpg
And yes, it's true! An on-board audio system has been installed that plays everything from Rage Against the Machine, Metallica, Aerosmith, and....Frank Sinatra?!?!?
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x216.jpg
A nice plasma screen has replaced the old "X" painted on the wall of the station.
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x226.jpg
There it is! X2! Cresting the hill.
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x235.jpg
And most importantly...FIRE!!!!
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x215.jpg
The trains all decked out with thier spiffy looking speaker system.
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x231.jpg
The coaster rides very similar to how it was before. So if you want a smoother ride, sit on an "inside" seat.
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x203.jpg
Train closeups!!!!
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x239.jpg
This is the "X2 DIY" Kit
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x237.jpg
Mr. Jay Thomas, Park President and captain of the ship tells us all about X2 and how we could catch on fire!
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x238.jpg
Tim Burkhart talks about how X2 dropped 18,000 pounds on the Jenny Craig system. Way to go! =)
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x252.jpg
And with the spew of confetti, we get to see the improved X2 cycle for the first time!
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x264.jpg
OK, so I'm a *little* bit worried! =)
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x217.jpg
WARNING! Dorky coaster shot!
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x222.jpg
Inside this box is Frank Sinatra's soul!
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x273.jpg
New train on the old painted track.
http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/pimages/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain/X2_Media_Day/x272.jpg
Old train on the new painted track. Huh...isn't that weird?