(Six Flags) Fiesta Texas changing course (http://famulus.msnbc.com/famuluscom/bizjournal12-13-010413.asp?bizj=SA) - MSNBC, 12/15/03

QuikQuote: Whatever the ultimate changes, Amusement Business' Tim O'Brien says the changes at Six Flags are coinciding with a move by more and more theme parks to reinvent themselves from "edgy teen" attractions into more family friendly destinations. Part of the reason for the switch, O'Brien contends, is that park operators are realizing that the $20 million or more they were spending on a new roller coaster in years past can now be better spent on other amenities such as restaurants and shows and other attractions designed to lure more families who will stay longer and spend more.
O'Brien says companies such as Six Flags will likely dedicate more resources to strong infrastructure improvements instead of massive rides in the future. He says areas such as staffing and guest services could get the bulk of attention. "We're going to see major changes in the industry," O'Brien predicts. "It's going to be more family-driven."

No, no! It's the thrill rides, I tell ya! The thrill rides!! :rolleyes: ;)

I don't think SF will abandon thrill rides or coasters entirely, and I sure Vekoma, Intamin, and B&M are banking on that as well.

I don't have much experience with SFOT, but applying the same plan to SFMM, it's pretty obvious the park is completely out of balance. So in the spirit of "strong" infrastructure improvements and family attractions, here is my humble list of what I feel SFMM needs to do to address the "family market".

1.) Main entrance - they need to extend the facade of their "main street" completely throughout the entire courtyard, i.e. will call entrance, season pass processing, ticket booths, metal detectors. They really need to start the theme off right. Also, on main street, the lack of seating is a problem for ice cream and funnel cake patrons.

2.) Country Bear Theater - in a pretty sorry condition. The bizarre pitch of the seats in relation to the stage, zero interior decorating, and bad sound combine to make an unappealing location. If they remodeled the place, worked on providing a decent stage show, it could be a nice focus for families.

3.) Flashback - simply has to be removed. Since it does border the kids section, it is a perfect opportunity to remove it and replace it with another family attraction. A perfect replacement would be the Scooby Doo coaster - an indoor dark ride.

4.) Chicken Plantation - a remodel could turn this poorly named outdoor eatery to an indoor eatery with a decent view of Log Jammer's water features.

5.) The swings in Pirate's Cove - just replace them with an attractive version of the same ride. The current model is pretty ugly.

6.) Magic Moments Theater. A good place to retrofit the theater with actual seats, also an ideal location to install a 3D theater to show rotating movies, change once a season. There is a Marvin The Martian 3D movie at WBMW Madrid.

7.) Batman Action Theater - if there ever was a show that needed to change, it's this one. Referring back to the worst Batman movie, the show is really showing it's age. It is however, a well designed theater, so a killer new show could help quite a bit.

8.) Gotham City - amazing lack of seating for the Atomic Pizza Cafe - it is a good place for new indoor restaraunt themed after Batman/Gotham. Also, there is a Batman 3D movie in Europe at another SF park. Plenty of room to offer less exteme flat ride experiences between Tidal Wave & Batman: The Ride. Enclosing Grinder Gearworks and Atom Smasher also would give the park two "new" dark rides. So by building out the area with more diverse attractions, it could become a nice centerpiece.

9.) All bathrooms, remodele/repainted stat.

10.) Trees, more trees & grass. Even though Collosuss started the parking lot coaster trend at SFMM many years ago, it's no reason to keep that going. By foresting up Scream ( tree ring, as it were) wrapping around Colosuss and then under Goliath (where you soar above the trees), I beleive it would certainly improve the visual look of the park and create a better overall look. A few of rides also need grass underneath them...Scream, Riddler(which has remained dirt for years), Goliath - or anything but dirt.

While SFMM could never be as visually stunning as DL (maybe it could, with a massive investment that would only happen if a mega corporation bought them out...say Microsoft), they certainly could try to add what DL features. Live entertainment in nice venues, 3D movies, dark rides, fully realized landscaping, mid-range thrill rides (SFMM could add a themed spinning wild mouse for example - it's unlikely they could afford a mega attraction like Indianna Jones), and well done indoor restaraunts with a diverse food selection (although please never hit DL's prices!).