How can TGE Improve? Options

[Thomas Kelly]

I just thought I'd see everyone's thoughts about what SF could do reasonably to improve the TGE, non ride related. Remember that SF is running a business and needs to make enough money to sustain itself and make it viable.

So, what do you think?

[Austin]

well, I think that to make it better they really have to do something with rides. Everything else about the park isn't horrible. They don't need much to improve it, possibly redo some walkways, and make the park themed in a better way, instead of just... amusement park theme... But, they really need flat rides and then they are already on their way to a MUCH better park once they get some. No question, the most important thing at this time is rides. If anything else, some things are looking run down. Get rid of that ugly old indoor scrambler building.. and paint some things to a nicer newer looking ride. Instead of the park looking run down from the outside, which we all know that it does. This year they repainted somethings, so who knows, maybe it looks better know. But, last time i was there. The dirty canvas' all over the place and run-down look to the park is not very appealing, especially from the hotel next door.

This post has been edited by Austin: May 15 2008, 09:28 PM

[Tomh]

Small details go a LONG way. They need to assign someone to cleaning up the litter around the parking lots, especially the crap that gets blown off the pavement, and winds up along the edges of the tree lines, just a few feet away from the pavement. They also need someone assigned to cleaning up litter from the stream, and the water in the Rabbit Season Walk through (used to be Jungle Land). Next, a major campaign to replace light bulbs on the rides, and perhaps even add some newer lighting, such as the LED packages. They are more energy efficient, and they look amazing.

It is time for some repair work to the Ghost Town cave, and a cleaning. The bubble gum needs to go, and someone needs to check on that a couple of times a day, and clean up any new deposits, that is just pretty gross.

I know you said no rides, but I have to touch on one. The Raging River needs not only to be repaired, but to be updated. I'm not calling for new rides, or an outright replacement, just a good rehab / updating so people get a good ride, and get wet.

Some of the little houses need to have repair work done on them. Planters should all be in functional condition, and have flowers in them. The clocks in the little clock shop are all supposed to have knobs that turn the hands. Most of them don't work at all, one or two work sometimes. I would fix all of them, as well as replacing any of the wooden tools that are missing from the walls, and I would try to consolidate all of the little wooden houses into one area of the park, likely down near the stream, between the Gingerbread house, and the Balloon Chase ride. I would also have one, or two storybook characters in the area. In addition to interacting with the guests, they could help to keep an eye on the houses, and make sure that older kids aren't vandalizing them. Additionally, I would not have the wooden play tools and other props in the houses screwed down. They should be loose for the kids to play with. By having a couple of characters in the area, you reduce the risk of someone walking off with those items.

Finally, I would have some sort of tram in the parking lots, and I would add pavement, sidewalks, and lighting to the rest of the parking lots to make them safer, especially after dark.

This post has been edited by Tomh: May 16 2008, 08:30 AM

[Nate H]

Storybook Characters, such as Little Boy Blue, The Old Lady in the Shoe and Little Bo Peep do Storytime in Storytown at 1:30, 3:30 and 5:30 at the Shoe. Its a short show-like thing where the storybook character reads to whoever wants to be read to.

I completely agree with you about Raging River, I think it would be nice to see a refurb and maybe some more "effective" water effects.

This post has been edited by Nate H: May 24 2008, 09:43 PM

[mrceagle]

The first thing I would do is Re work The story town portion. remove the stage add a ride. Move the Old ladies shoe to that area. Move the Cinderellas castle to the Small Island for the swan boats. Needless to say the coach ride would be removed.

New Ticket booth and Entrance plaza. This I have talked about for years now. With a new Ticket area and Entrance plaza there can now be separate paths to the park. One path to the right that would lead to the new Mini house town and Story town. The original entrance and a path to the left that goes to ghost town. I would also add a new Carousel (wood) in front of the old entrance.

New Paths. Open the maintenance path to LTNP from Ghost town to the public. I would create a new path from that path to the Comet/Picnic area to create a new loop for the park.

Paint. - I have seen some repainting of the park. They need to continue this and repaint everything in the park.

I know rides weren't going to be brought up but rides are needed. SFI has removed many rides form other parks. Some have not sold. there is no reason they couldn't reinstall some of those attractions at TGE . Since they already own the ride they could add then at TGE at a very low expense. SFNE's Rodeo and Double Trouble(chance Inverter) could be great attractions at TGE. SFGAdv's Huss Jump, Frisbee, etc could work.

[falkor18]

The Park needs bigger midways for sure.

This post has been edited by falkor18: Jun 6 2010, 01:04 AM

[Tomh]

Wow, you sure dug up an old thread here Falkor! Some of the stuff I talked about way back them has come to be, the parking lots are nearly all paved now, and well lit. Sasquatch was a nice addition, though the park could certainly use a few more rides. I'm not certain about any other progress though. I so missed visiting TGE this summer, I will have to get there in 2010.

[mrceagle]

The Park needs bigger midways for sure. I also think the park could do away with all the random storage facilities such as 180 dome, and Chippers. The PArk also needs a new Arcade.

If the park can do that, they will be golden. Then all they need is well trained employees.

I have to agree with all the storage. with a new Food building and an empty lot wer the old one was, large buildings around the park, etc there is no need to take up valuable ride space for storage.

[falkor18]

Except that is the problem everybody is making. It isn't a new "food warehouse" - it is a new warehouse, for everything.

[mrceagle]

If it's a new warehouse for everything then that should open up a lot of space for other things.