Case #1
Saturday 10-06-01
On this the day of when Deja Vu was announced to open, I reached SFGAm at 09:30 in the cold ready to run. The gates opened at 10:00 and I was off for the long run and got to Deja Vu in front of most people. Excited and impatient my smile was turned upside down when I saw a sign across the entrance and two workers next to it. I didn't need another hint, I have seen this enough with V2 this year. Deja Vu was closed and the question being would it be open later? I politely asked why it wasn't open, after all I had woken up early, ran to the back of the park and I'm sure many others did too to hear this. Reason: Too cold and they would try to open it later. Well that really ticked me off but I had to move on. Later on at about 14:00 I saw Deja Vu testing. I ran from American Eagle to Deja Vu only to be told "Although you just saw Deja Vu in movement, it will not be open today." Well that was another waste of energy. Sure I could have stayed and went on Raging Bull some more, but I just didn't feel like it after all that excitement left me this day. I'm leaving.

Case #2
Saturday 10-13-01
On this the day of my sister's birthday I got everything planned for a repeat of Case #1. We would get there early and run to Deja Vu. Well wouldn't you know it, it started pouring and the forecast said the rain wouldn't let up, and it didn't, so we didn't go.

Case #3
Sunday 10-14-01
Because of some plans before I didn't reach SFGAm until 15:30 in some light rain. Driving down the highway I could see al the coasters moving in the rain besides 2. You guessed it, V2 and of course Deja Vu. I entered the park thinking possibly there is a slight mechanical problem or they do not want to open it in the light rain. Of course I quickly learned that they were not even attempting to open it when I went up the chain lift of Raging Bull and saw nobody even standing near Deja Vu. A few games, Batman and I'm gone. Everything just seems so boring when I'm looking at one great coaster just sitting there, supposed to be open with me on it.

Next mission:
Undetermined. Either Saturday 10-20-01 or Sunday 10-21-01.

Will I ride Deja Vu before the year is over? Stay tuned for more episodes of Operation Deja Vu: Mission Impossible.

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"When you pull on that jersey, the name on the front is a hell of alot more important than the one on the back."
-Herb Brooks (Miracle)

Moving to trip reports

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Greg Johnson
"The distance between insanity and genius is measured only by success." - Elliot Carver

Well I'll try to be of some help for you. I don't know if you know the reason for it not always running. I went to SFGAm on Monday Oct. 8th. I pretty much did the same as you... run over to Deja Vu to see that it was not open or even look as if it would open anytime soon. I asked if Deja Vu would be opening that day and was told probably, but not for a few hours. That I should check back later. So I went on some of the other coasters and everytime I would go up on a lifthill, I would look to see if it was testing or not. After going on a few coasters, I was passing by Deja Vu on my way to Viper. Their were some people standing by it asking the worker that was by the gate if it would open and such. She said that it could be several hours, but that she didn't want to give a specific time because their was no way of being certain. I asked what the problem was and she said that because of the colder weather, that the grease on the wheels was solidifying and that the train might not be able to make the lenght of the track. As she was saying this, they started testing Deja Vu. As this happened, many people started to come over. The worker was trying to tell people to leave, that they were only testing it and that it could stil be many hours before it opened. I personally did believe her, but wanted to stay just to watch it run. About 15- 20 minutes into testing, they formed a line and I was able to get into the first 150 people or so. They kept us waiting outside the queue for a while, then after about 30 minutes of that, we were allowed in. The total line was incredibly long now behind me. When people started to actually get on, it was only about another 20-30 minutes till I got on. IT WAS DEFINITLY WORTH IT!!!

My advice is to watch the weather, if it cold that day and it probably will be. It most likely won't be open as the park opens. I don't know if it is a problem when it gets dark and cold again at night or if the friction of the wheels constantly running will keeep the grease fro mhaving any problems. Check back with Deja Vu often, as the line will grow to be huge in a very short tiem after it starts testing. So if you see it testing, drop whatever you're doing and run to Deja Vu. I'm going again that day and hope that this advice helps me out as it hopefully will for you too, Good Luck.

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I want to go to John's Park.