Superman Soars in Vallejo
By Elaine Hunt
Staff Writer
On Saturday, July 28, 2012, my family traveled to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom to review the new Superman ride. The very next day the ride broke down, stranding the riders for an hour and a half. While I’m certainly grateful I wasn’t one of the 12 people stuck 15 stories high, the riders didn’t appear to be in danger. They were simply stopped. Six Flags temporarily closed the ride to confirm it is safe and functioning properly. The ride is now reopened. In the interest of full disclosure, I’m a roller coaster girl, mom of a roller coaster family. Those who get weak-kneed or green-gilled thinking about roller coasters need not apply. You can move on and read another article. This one’s not for you. Now that those delicate flowers have moved on to more “sensible” articles, let us adventurers talk frankly.
The Superman track is short, due to lack of space. For those familiar with the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom layout, this ride replaces the Tony Hawk ride, and is located next to Roar, the old-school wooden roller coaster. The Superman track is just 863 feet, hitting a maximum of 62 mph. For comparison, Medusa, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom’s flagship coaster, has a track of just less than 4,000 feet, and reaches maximum speed of 65 mph. What it lacks in length, Superman makes up for in intensity.
The Superman ride offers a thrilling combination of mind-blurring speed and hair-raising turns. And in a surprising twist, the ride slows to almost a crawling pace to barrel roll. While blazing through a barrel might be fun, doing it slowly certainly ups the intensity. You have time to think about it. And when I was 15 stories high barrel-rolling 360 degrees, I didn’t want time to ponder my precarious position. But I had plenty of time to contemplate my planned ride as I waited in the Superman line for a little less than an hour and half. And that was about as short as the line got all day.
The line is long because there’s only one car on the track, and seats only 12 passengers at a time. Rollercoaster designs that unload and reload one car while the other one runs are tremendously more efficient. But the employees on the Superman ride were very proficient at loading the one car as quickly as possible. Signs along the line warn us to remove all lose items before boarding. This is excellent advice. Since you travel upside down, personal items have ample time and opportunity to wriggle free. In fact, while waiting in line, we saw something fall from the sky. Rumor circulated throughout the line that it was a cell phone, but we couldn’t be sure.
I have an issue with how Six Flags wants you to store your belongings for the ride. They offer a paid locker at the very beginning of the line. I have a couple of problems with this. First, we already paid to get in. Being asked to pay to stow your stuff during a single ride leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Second, we probably want our items for the hour plus wait time in line. Most people whittle down their belongings to a very portable amount for spending the day at an amusement park. I have no issue with people using lockers for the day, but for just one ride? For example, my husband wore a baseball cap to keep the sun off his face. And we both wear prescription glasses. These are all items we’d choose not to leave behind for an hour, and obviously don’t want to lose them on a ride.
I can appreciate that Discovery Kingdom does not want to take responsibility for them, and I don’t ask them to. But don’t forbid us to leave glasses behind. As our turn finally arrived and we loaded in the car, I seriously questioned whether I would feel the short ride was worth the long wait. As I twisted and turned and whizzed through the track, I got off the ride with a clear answer: Yes, it was definitely worth the wait! If the line was short, we would definitely have ridden again. But we didn’t have another hour and a half available.
I asked my family what their favorite ride was. My husband and I liked Superman best because it was new. My kids still preferred Medusa for the shorter line and longer ride. Rollercoaster fans will need to ride both and decide for themselves. Regardless of which ride you choose as your favorite, both roller coasters promise to deliver adrenaline producing speed and heart-pounding excitement. Visit Six Flags Discovery Kingdom website for hours and special offers. And consider going on a weekday to beat the crowds.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is located at 1001 Fairgrounds Drive in Vallejo, CA. Tickets at the park are $54.99 for general admission, $37.99 for kids under 48 inches, and children ages 2 and under are admitted free. Parking is $15 (less for season pass holders). Discounts are available for groups and online advance tickets. Season passes can be used at all the Six Flag theme parks; you receive discounts throughout the park, including free tickets for your friends. Season Passes can be purchased with a payment plan.
The Six Flags Discovery Kingdom website is filled with information on rides, animals, food, tickets, hours of operation, special offers, and tips for family fun. Also available are FAQs, contests, a park map, and information on hotel packages, if you want to spend the night. Set a day aside and visit Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Beware, though, your family may walk around with silly smiles on their faces, too! For pricing and park information, including a calendar of events, visit www.sixflags.com
DAILY TICKETS ONLINE OFFER — EVERYONE PAYS KIDS PRICE $37.99 when you buy tickets online at least three (3) days before your visit! Print your tickets at home and go straight to the gate. The Park is 55 miles from Sacramento, CA.
For more general park information, visit their information page online at: http://www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/info/parkInfo.aspx Call 707-643-6722 for recorded information; 707-644-4000 for the administrative office. Visit soon!
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
1001 Fairgrounds Dr.
Vallejo, CA 94589
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