[Cosmo_TAD]

I noticed something weird though. At 5 they do some 'Power Hour' thing where they try to get 1450 people on the coaster in the hour. The line went faster when they did this. Anyone know why they don't just go that fast all day?

The crew doesn't go any faster in power hours...its all about trying to get every guest around you to go fast...having only one person put stuff away, sitting on shoes, trying out the test seat, the list goes on and on...its a whole team effort to go fast, guests included! Thats why they asked for your help for the cause!

[Blue Moon]

It lived up to the hype in the end, so I really think this ride gets better as the day goes on. Where you get put and who is checking your lap bar can make a big difference though. I never got the chance to find a row with awesome speed AND good airtime though, the line was full all day. A full line took about 40 minutes to get through. I noticed something weird though. At 5 they do some 'Power Hour' thing where they try to get 1450 people on the coaster in the hour. The line went faster when they did this. Anyone know why they don't just go that fast all day?

P.S: As a a hater of country music and NASCAR, it really hurt when they combined them in the ride line with 'Taladega Shuffle' and the other ones. Ugh... they replayed those 3 songs the entire time... Still, I like the theming. The Dale Earnhardt stuff was interesting. I also love the photo. You're not to busy screaming because its in the helix and not on the first drop like for Afterburn. This makes it easy for you to get some pose ready for the camera. My reenactment of the painting 'The Scream' looked pretty good!

The power hour is an incentive for the team with an extra boost of energy pretty much to keep going fast. It also helps get the guests to move quicker. Can't do it all day, its like running for two hours versus ten minutes. Besides, if everyone hears the same things over and over.. They tend to block it out. I see it all of the time with the flip-flops.

Also, imagine hearing that music for an entire day straight. Over and over again. Day after day.

[derek_lentz]

The only negative that I have to mention happened on Thursday. It was slightly drizzling so the line was very short. I got in the single riders line as it was almost to the top of the stairs. While waiting for 10 minutes, they actually cleared the entire regular line. At this point, the attendant at the top of the stairs refused to start filling from the single riders line. Even though the regular line was empty, she would not let the single riders que for the train. She wouldn't let anyone move to the other line either. We actually had to wait for the regular line to fill up again before needing single riders. I understand that the regular line gets priority, but forcing "single riders" to wait for the empty que line to fill up again made no sense.

[jabowman117]

I went there Friday, and me and my dad were the lucky ones who got to sit in the VERY BACK of the train. I was freaking out, and was having second thoughts on this one. The lift hill freaks me out the most, because you're practically waiting to die. That was the longest wait of my entire life. When we started going down the first hill, all I could hear was my dad saying, "Oh, hell no!", which still cracks me up, even now. Being the young kid I am, I almost flew out of my seat, which I guess is called "air time" or something. Intimidator currently is the best roller coaster I've ever been on, but does not make Nighthawk or Afterburn any less amazing than I thought the were two ears ago, when I first got to ride them.

[PreferParamount]

Today, on Sunday, the trims were slowing the train down more than I had ever noticed before, they also make a nice whoshing noise when the train goes over them, This is the first time I noticed them and this is the third day I have been to ride it this year. So I was just wondering if they want the trains to go slower, or if maybe the warm weather is just making the ride faster causing the trims to kick in more?

[Mountain3307]

You guys on the Intimidator crew should address this..

I have had the same experience as Derek twice now... Empty seats on train, no use of SR line, expecially for odd number guests in the regular que.. And what burns my butt even more. I was "scolded" twice this week by the person at the top of the stairs for using the "regular" line.. WHAT GIVES????? Was told I needed to be using the single rider line if alone..

My reply "If you'd use the SR line like it was designed, I wouldnt have to use this one" You should have seen the look I got, it was priceless...

Just FYI guys,... The seat assigner at the gate needs to pay better attention to the "roamer" on the platform.. You'ns need to come up with a simple system to identify open seats and get them filled as quickly as possible. Saw it plenty today. Boatloads of empty seats and slow line.. You'll figure it out, I have faith..

[Blue Moon]

Thanks for the comments, it will be looked into. Keep them coming. I know others besides myself do follow this thread too.

By the way I have a question for you guys since you seem to see things that we can't always closely watch -- The line. Do you often see people (groups) exiting the regular line and entering the single rider line midway through the queue? Does the person in the front that greets you by the test seat tell you that you are entering the single rider line and will be split up?

[Mountain3307]

I have never seen people jumping to the SR line, I have seen the opposite.. And the person at the front entrance is ususally busy measuring, test fitting people.. The SR gate is almost alwyas closed, so It kind of funnels guests to the main que.. I have gotten the strangest looks as I stroll by the others in the regular que line.

[Blue Moon]

Thanks. If anyone else has any observations regarding this, feel free to add.

[RiDeWaRrIoR]

I have seen people walk in the single rider line and jump in the regular line with people they were with once or twice. I dont really find it that big of a deal as the line still moves smoothly and I still get to ride. I think we all have had a group where one of us leaves for a min (i.e. potty break) and comes back or whatever. Luckily I am usually alone or with one other person so I never do this. Sometimes when I am by myself i actually consider using the regular queue because it moves faster, but this is just because there isnt a lot of groups of 3. I think if some single riders were to use the regular line it would help the SR line move a little quicker. Oh well there is no way to get it 100% and the bottom line is the line still moves faster than any other ride in the park, at least from what I have seen. Another good thing about today was I didnt see not a single break down of Intimidator, which is GREAT. I think the coaster is running great and I dont think we will have much problems with it. I have got to meet more of the Intimidator crew, I wanted to talk to some of you guys but its so busy I cant stop and say anything. Who was the guy giving high fives today? I like how on intimidator they have someone on the mic outside of the OP booth, thats great. It was another great day and as always the crew does a great job. Dont worry about a thing, I think you are doing a great job. The main thing is as one train arrives, another is leaving. It still amazes me how fast the line moved. I was also happy that 3 trains were going today.

[Blue Moon]

Oh no, don't take it as worrying. Just trying to do my own research so we can improve more. Also, the "potty break" instance is technically line jumping..

I try to have some nice conversations with the guests when I'm standing by the test seat. I really enjoy it. Today, when I was away from the ride walking in the park, a guest actually stopped me and we had a nice chat for about 10 minutes. It's actually very refreshing to have a nice one on one interaction with the guests often.

[RiDeWaRrIoR]

Yea I know it is. Last year at scarowinds someone tried to get in line with their friends or whatever and the security guards kicked them out. Good to know they actually look for stuff like this to happen. I dont agree with them doing it, but I just dont make a big deal. Now if I have to wait for an hour and some kid out of no where tries to cut, then forget that, I would report it most likely. Oh well, there is only so much anyone can do about it I guess.

[RiDeWaRrIoR]

I like to see employees having good convos with other guests, thats pretty cool. I usually dont "chat" much but I do say hi to a lot of employees, I especially like it when they say something first, since technically I would be the guest hahaha. I think it would make it a much more enjoyable job to interact more etc. I know last week in the kiddie park one of the OPs out there was just slow and just looked like he hated the world and didnt want to be there. I dont know if it was because it was so early or what. He didnt say anything, didnt do anything on the mic, and just was boring. Even in the kiddie park when the guy on the mic pumps up the kids, its more enjoyable. I know my kids loved it today when they guy would say "when I say planet you say snoopy" they love intereaction like this....

[sccoasterbear]

We constantly see guests jumping out of the regular line to hit the SR line and don't mind a bit because they are usually trying to work the system. Then I now see that you are all working hard not to let them pair up once they get to the top of the stairs. I noticed today that it was being better monitored and not allowed as in the past few weeks. Actualy first thing this morning we noticed you were only allowing a couple of people per row in the station and boy this really put a stop to SR line being abused. A

Again though you are all doing a GREAT JOB!!!

[lazor 22]

Thanks for the comments, it will be looked into. Keep them coming. I know others besides myself do follow this thread too.

By the way I have a question for you guys since you seem to see things that we can't always closely watch -- The line. Do you often see people (groups) exiting the regular line and entering the single rider line midway through the queue? Does the person in the front that greets you by the test seat tell you that you are entering the single rider line and will be split up?

Yes, I saw plenty of people jumping into the single riders line halfway through the regular. It makes me mad when people abuse it and on most rides the ops don't even care and they still pit them together...(not intimidator or carowinds necessarily).