Leaderboard

Part 2 - evening on Saturday, 12/3/22 as mentioned above, it got dark really quickly. . and by the time we had finished with the Teacups and the *hot* Hot Chocolate incident, and came back up to try and catch the train that was leaving in 20 minutes, it already looked like this. just gorgeous over here. by the way..the train depot is on the left out of picture range. . and this picture is taken from where we ended up in the line for the NEXT train, that was scheduled for 45 minutes from now! as noted, we debated, and decided just to stay in line, as the train was a must do, and we were here already. So just enjoyed the lights, and sipped our drinks. the folks that joined the line BEHIND us shortly after. . and partially why we decided to just stay in the line. yeah. . the train during the Holidays is popular (you'll see why in a moment) after about 20 minutes, the line in the walkways was funnelled into the train depot - well, some of it was, there was still quite a few folks who didn't make it into the depot and would have to wait for the next train. Luckily, we made it in and moved towards the front of the station - which they packed solid with folks, telling everyone "if you're in the Depot, you SHOULD get on" it was a lot of people, but they were packing them in the train rows like sardines, so we felt pretty confident in getting on. and success! here's the group I was with: back row: Amy and Scott our row: Me, Londyn, Jamie, Joseph, Xander and now. . . a handful of blurry pics from a moving train. (apologies for the blurry pics, but thought some might wanna see them, so included some of those that were blurred from the moving train) the new coaster. . . big portions of it built up already. and looks like almost all the track is on site and stacked up ready so if you've never taken the Dollywood train (and most of us had not) - it actually goes outside the park, and up the mountain! resulting in some fantastic views of the park. . . but what really makes this a must do during the Holidays? up in the mountain, there's a big "turn around" (the train uses the same tracks going up and down the mountain) that circles a large field. during the Holidays? Dollywood covers the field with *millions* of LED lights that play in patterns and colors. oh, and the train plays Christmas Carols by Dolly, and her telling stories over the speakers while the train is going. anyways. .here's some looks at the field of lights: and then you turn around and head back down the mountain, so the other side of the train gets some great views. again, that's the new coaster on the far right (orange track) coming back into the station, we were greeted upon disembarking by an acapella show. the "Mistletones". . . hokey name, but dang, they were good. So we stood and listened for a bit. then we headed towards the section of the park we hadn't been to yet - and had seen from the train - the area with the tree/Mystery Mine/Thunderhead, and wildwood grove. to get there tho, we had to pass Blazing Fury first - which looked lovely at night. Londyn wanted to "mine for crystals" - so they stopped there to do that while myself and the guys headed towards the tree. Scott hadn't been on Blazing Fury yet. . .so we stopped and took a ride. what's interesting. . is literally 30 seconds after I snapped this pic? the whole ride went dark - all lights on it out, and folks streamed out of the queue building. so we barely missed getting trapped and evacced from Blazing Fury (which would have been cool. . but there was only so much time left in the day, and way too much we still wanted to do, so I'm glad we weren't on it when the power went down) strangely the power outage only affected Blazing Fury. . the giant (and absolutely beautiful) area of icicle lights next to it that led up to Tennesse Tornado and Firechaser remained lit up. beautiful. . and color changing. . . looking back towards Blazing Fury eventually, we all met up at the Dollywood Christmas Tree. and to say I was impressed is an understatement. it was beautiful, but I didn't realize that the LED lights on it were going to tell a story. . and the whole tree is color changing! the speakers in the area came on, the crowd gathered, and the tree told us a story thru images and words. and there was quite the subtext in the story too. . . supposedly it was about a Polar Bear and a Brown Bear who are "friends" and the Polar Bear travels from the North Pole to spend Christmas with the Brown Bear. . . where they sled together, wrap presents together, and hold hands. yeah. . . LOL... never thought I'd see a gay interracial relationship celebrated at Dollywood (hey, that's how *I* took it) awww. . reaching out to hold hands and then, once they touch hands? yeah. . it started "snowing". . . . Dr. Frued ? analysis please? LOL but, it was so neat, really. recommended viewing. this is Scott's WTF is this face when the snow started "erupting" . . . LOL I have this as my desktop at the moment. perhaps my favorite pic I took on the trip: once the tree show was done, Joseph and I headed over to Mystery Mine, to grab a ride since it was close to walk on. I braced myself for the roughness, even tho I had heard that they had done some major track work on it (and in fact, the old U-shaped banked turn is still there! the new track just bypasses it). but at the end of the day it's a Gerstlauer, so I was prepared to hate it. . but was gonna ride regardless as all the coasters here were new to me. and you know what? it wasn't bad! yes, this park has a decent Arrow, a very good Vekoma (Dragonflier) AND a decent Gerstlauer. it was a Christmas miracle! (and it looks pretty amazing at night) after our ride, we all made our way down to Wildwood Grove to meet up with Amy and family who had continued walking while we stopped to ride. very overcast, but loved how the lights reflected off the clouds. big fences up for the new coaster. . lots of dirt and construction over here, where the station is gonna go. the tree they had put in the center of this area (that I had forgotten I'd heard stuff about when it first opened). I thought it was recycled materials or something about conservation (when I saw it from the train, I REALLY thought it was a 'trash tree'). . but getting closer? it's covered in LED lit Butterflies. very pretty, even if I couldn't tell what it was until we got close to it. what's this? ride a bear? oh my gawd!!! can adults ride it? I was embarrassed to ask, so instead we went into the gift shop next to it. and watched it. but then I saw like, 7 adult men get in line with no kids. . so quickly joined in behind them. OMG. . how awesome! it's not a Carousel. . but my goofy ass loves this crap. so much I even got the ride attendant to snap a pic for me. look how happy! what else is down here in this area? let's take a look: it was getting late, and park close was in ~ 1/2 hour. . but we decided that since we were here and DragonFlier was posting a 10 minute wait? we'd go for it. low to the ground, and seemed to be running pretty fast for a "family" coaster. they were only running one train tho - the only coaster we'd seen that on today. the flyers across from the queue looked fun, but we were tight on time, so would save those for tomorrow. soon enough it was our turn, and I adored this. so fast, so low to the ground, and that tunnel! I didnt' expect a dive into a tunnel. A little short, but really. . a Vekoma in the USA that's this good? be sure to ride it if at Dollywood. so fast, that the best I could get of the train was a blur as we walked by to try and get to Thunderhead before park close. we made it! walk on. . . we rode in the back, and it was SO good. so much airtime, and in the dark, no idea what was going on with the track. I loved it so much, we decided to try and get another ride in, even tho it was park closing time. operators told us we'd have to exit and walk around, but there was still a few minutes left, so to do that. . so we did. and ended up near the front of the train (more airtime, but also quite a bit rougher - maybe because it wasn't a full train). . but we got the last ride of the night, as they closed the queue just after we got back in it. The operator even announced it was the last train of the night and to make some noise. Amy had never had that experience.. so I'm glad I got her to ride with me again, even if the roughness of this second ride did hurt her back a little bit. woot! and before leaving the station to head to the front gates, was able to get this pic. . which I also love. Arctic Passage - which is a tunnel of lights leading back to the front of the park. and comes out right by the preferred parking entrance/exit. But we wanted to shop, so followed the crowd around to the Emporium. and I'm glad we did. . because not only was it "snowing" over here too? but Santa was waving goodnight to everyone, since the park exit at night is thru the Emporium. Ho Ho Ho ending the day in a deserted park, with a lit up version of the pic I started the day with. we were (shockingly after that huge lunch earlier) a bit hungry this is when we discovered that pretty much everything in Pigeon Forge was closed - at 9pm on a Saturday ! Amy's googling found that some of the restaurants at the Island were open until 11, including Margaritaville. I'd never been there, but was game, so we all headed over there for Margs and food. (having never been there, I didn't know that the "large" comes in a plastic souvenir cup shaped like a blender. sheesh. . my empty cup got gifted to Londyn) walking back to the car park, I snapped some pics of the ferris wheel at the Island. it was pretty, but also cold, and we were wiped out from a long day. . . . so the hot tub was calling. So just took some pics. and with that, we headed back to the cabin to soak and then crash. it had been a fantastic day - even tho we didn't get any Cinnamon Bread (when we passed it on the way to the tree, the line was really, really long. . so we decided to wait a day for it so we wouldn't miss anything). a Great 1st visit to Dollywood. I managed to get on every coaster except Firechaser and the Kiddie Coaster (which I didn't care about). . multiple rides on some of em. . and most of the flats I cared about. so tomorrow the only thing I really wanted to do was: Firechaser, DropLine, and Thunderhead in the daytime. anything else would just be gravy. so I went to bed this night very happy I had come, and I had dreams of Nick, that made for a really great night's sleep. tomorrow? Day 2 at Dollywood. (and it was freaking cold! ) thanks for reading along!

Well I mean there was one noteworthy thing that happened. Involving some very aggressive turkey legs.

Awesome TR. Shawn and I went there for Christmas a few years ago and just loved it. Also, they bake and sell the cinnamon bread AT the hotel! We may or may not have had it for breakfast two mornings in a row. (we did!!) IMG_9262.MOV

Pick 3, maybe 4 rides you def must go on, hit those and be thankful for anything above that. If you must do both parks then at least don't take the train, walk between them instead. Bring aspirin.

Universal Studios Hollywood has announced that Super Nintendo World will open on February 17th, 2023! https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/web/en/us/super-nintendo-world SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™ takes you into the world of Super Mario™. Battle Team Bowser on the groundbreaking Mario Kart™ ride. Play interactive games throughout the land and track your score with a Power-Up Band™. Dine at Toadstool Cafe™, meet Mario and friends, and purchase exclusive merch at the 1-UP Factory™ store. Opens at Universal Studios Hollywood 2/17/2023. Mario Kart™: Bowser’s Challenge Ready to experience Mario Kart™ like never before? Put on the special goggles and battle Team Bowser on iconic Mario Kart courses alongside Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach. Collect coins and throw shells to win the Golden Cup on the groundbreaking Mario Kart ride with cutting-edge technology. Keep score, complete challenges, collect coins with a Power-Up Band™. Elevate your adventures with your Power-Up Band™! Use your band to keep score throughout the land as you take on key challenges, collect digital coins, and more. With your Power-Up Band, you’ll experience a new way to play. Power-Up Bands will be available for purchase in the land as well as at a number of retail locations in Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk. Toadstool Cafe™ You’re not imagining things. Inside the Toad House is Toadstool Cafe™. Step in to indulge in fun, tasty dishes crafted by Chef Toad and enjoy playful scenery of the Mushroom Kingdom from the windows. 1-UP Factory™ Find the perfect souvenir at the 1-UP Factory™ store. This super-fun store is where you can find all sorts of items from the Mushroom Kingdom! Browse souvenirs and wearable merch to level up your experience at SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™.

Mako 11/17

Cedar Point has just announced the day for Coastermania. It's Friday June 2. This is the earliest post for this event ever. No other info other than the day. https://www.cedarpoint.com/events/coastermania

I have a feeling it will be busy.

Temper your expectations. While you’ll be able to experience attractions during your visit, you’re going to wait longer than you would typically (for a Thursday or for any other time of year in general). Things that normally would have minimal wait times will have excessive waits as well. Shows have the potential to fill up during this busy period, so plan accordingly and queue early to ensure you can get in. My best recommendation is to prioritize what really matters to you for your visit and focus on working down that list as best as possible as your day goes on. Rope drop the park so you’re amongst the first people in the gates so you can rush to the most popular attractions before the largest crowds roll in within the next few hours that follow. With only one day, you won’t likely get to do everything you aim to. Also keep in mind that navigating the parks and park hopping will likely take longer than normal as there will be more people in park paths and in the line for entrance turnstiles. Plan ahead. Arrive early/on time. Set realistic expectations and be pleasantly surprised if they’re exceeded. Have a good time.

Thank you so much for sharing your TR. It’s been 3 years since my last visit to Dollywood and this really has me itching to get back. The park is gorgeous on any day you visit, but yeah that Christmas event is freaking incredible. If you ever get the chance to return to the area, I highly recommend the Old Mill Restaurant, which I believe is one or two intersections away from Dollywood’s entrance road off the Parkway. Delicious southern cooking in a beautiful grist mill setting. There’s also an awesome cupcake place on Wears Valley Rd across from the Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster called Cakes By Bakin Bishop. Best red velvet cupcakes ever! Looking forward to part 2 and glad you had a great time

You’re going the busiest week of the whole year. Good luck!

Day 1: part 1 of 2: after an exhausting travel day we all slept a little later than we had intended (Xander & Joseph arrived well past 1am). . so we didn't actually make it to Dollywood for opening at 11. it had rained/drizzled most of the night, starting just after we went to bed. . so we weren't in a big rush to get out the door, thinking it would keep the crowd away. by 11:30, the drizzle had stopped, and we climbed into the car and took the 2 minute drive to Dollywood. luckily it wasn't too cold today (that would be tomorrow), just a little bit nippy . . but the rain cooperated, and stayed away the rest of the day. *absolutely* worth the extra $20 for Preferred parking. the preferred lot is way up front (past the handicapped lots) and gives fantastic views of the coasters as it's up on a hill. the view from our parking spot: the new Big Bear Mountain coaster under construction (orange track), with Dragonflier (green track) | Lightning Rod across the way. . . erm. . . haven't seen it testing (uh oh) walking from the Preferred lot to the separate entrance - yeah. . that's another perk of Preferred parking. A separate entrance gate (and dedicated exit lanes for later). worth every penny. fantastic view of Thunderhead, Wild Eagle, and Dropzone (hiding behind Thunderhead) the path down to the Preferred Parking entrance offers a lovely view of Lightning Rod (and down in the distance at the bottom, is where the trams drop off at the main entrance) I'm here. I'm at Dollywood. without Nick, that makes me sad. . but I'm here, and that would make him happy that I came. a nice shot of the "quiet" entrance/exit to the park from the Preferred lot. you enter from the left of the Emporium (near the height check station). . up ahead is the main entrance to the park, if we had parked in a regular lot and taken the tram in. not super crowded - recall, it had just recently stopped raining - but not a bad crowd considering the forecast for the day. and quiet enough to be able to get some great pics, that will always give me fond memories. they really go all out for Christmas Season (as I had suspected, and always heard). I was looking forwards to seeing everything lit up at night! small stages set up thruout the park with performers. .these guys were playing some bluegrass near the main gates. it was really nice to just come across a small stage with entertainment all over the park. that big building is the Dolly Parton Museum, which unfortunately was closed for renovation. oh well. an excuse to come back to walk thru! this pathway also leads towards Lightning Rod - but the app said it wasn't operating (yet) butterflies *everywhere*. . . it really is such a lovely park. one of the main squares of the park - tho this one *might* be THE main square, as it's right outside the big theater that hosts the ~1hour show, Smoky Mountain Christmas. and a view from that area, across the water for a great photo op of Lightning Rod. since our #1 choice for the day was down, we headed thru the park towards Blazing Fury/Tennessee Tornado area. . . but this was the first ride we came across. nobody else wanted to ride (despite the fact, we've ALL ridden the "smaller" version at SWSA. . .LOL). So they all went to go watch the glass blower, and look at the ornaments, and I headed up the steep hill to Barnstormer for 1st ride at Dollywood. so well themed. . . and I really liked there was a kid's playground area - similarly themed - right next to the "big" ride. Something for the kids to do if too small/too scared to ride the big rides. (this was something also seen over by Thunderhead - where the kiddie coaster is next door, and over by Firechaser Express - with a kiddie playground right next to the entrance) my ride done, I went back to meet them at the glass blowers. very cool. and can't pass up a photo op. . .especially for a Carousel, with a wonderful set up. I can be so far down. . but put me near a Carousel or Carousel Horse? Instant happiness. yeah, yeah. . I'm Jewish. and the park was VERY "Jebus-y". . but I mean, I'm here at Christmas. .and love seeing it. the lanterns hanging in the trees are GORGEOUS at night. such a simple thing, but so effective. ohhh. . I should have expected this (especially with the coaster in the park), but how neat to come across a Bald Eagle Sanctuary, in the park. The entire side of the mountain is netted off to protect them, and there were at least a dozen Bald Eagles - all rescues / recovering from injuries I believe - in the sanctuary area perched on trees, posts, or on the ground. across the way were some polar bears. LOL. .not really sure why. . they were in a few places in the park. what I found so amusing about them? Tho they looked pretty decent in the daytime? at night, they disappear and turn into just lighted blobs. lt was hysterical how they looked like Aliens from "Attack the Block" in the evening. . couldn't even tell what the heck they were supposed to be. near the Bald Eagle Sanctuary, is a row of Birds of Prey as well. I loved how close you could get to them, and the birds seemed very used to people being around, and actually "posed" for pics. It was great! (and the park covers the birds in the evening to let them rest, and protect them from the cold. So make sure you see the birds early in the day). had we actually made it to our first coaster? well, sort of. . I mean, Blazing Fury IS a coaster - even if it's mostly lift hill, with just a couple of small drops. but it was so bizarre and F'd up that I loved the hell out of it. (ended up riding it 3 times during the trip). LOL.. the first time as we exited, i asked - so where was the fire? HAHAHAHA.. I had missed all the instances of "fire" other than the one section with the LED lit firehose. so of course had to ride again so could see the theme of the dang ride. those Mannequins. . . loved it. NOTED! (and adorable) on the way to Tennessee Tornado. most interesting thing to me over here was the game to the far right (that I didn't manage to get in the picture) that early on Saturday was a "throw the ball to knock over the clowns" type game - but instead of clown targets, they were all Santa. I even said to Amy - that seems rather disrespectful to Santa, odd for this park! but when we passed by later that afternoon? no more Santas - the game had turned into a "darts at balloons" game. I guess someone higher up saw the game and made them change it with the same thought I had. ??? Firechaser Express. of our group of 6, only one of us had ever been to Dollywood before - and for him it had been many years. So he was most excited about getting to ride this. for the rest of us? everything was a "new credit" . . . we'd be over there shortly (and then would wait to ride it the next day, as the queue never dropped below 30 minutes, while everything else was either walk on or 1 train wait). but first? Tennessee Tornado. oh, you naughty, naughty, ride. (or am *I* the naughty one? ) it's an Arrow looper. and a relatively short one. but you know what? it was pretty decent. I KNOW !!! ended up riding it twice. Once with Amy, and then convinced Jamie to give it a go with me. the first loop, since it's not an exact loop, is really quite comfortable, and offers a bit of hangtime. just gotta watch out for that Batwing (or as Dollywood calls it, "Butterfly turn") for some slight headbang. but it's so short before coming back, it really isn't too bad. I think this is the backwards section. . LOL. . tho in pictures, you can't really tell which way the train is going. with the line at 30 minutes, we instead headed to Wild Eagle. .which was a walk on. (and we had been watching from the cabin the night before) wasn't it nice of someone to park their scooter right in front of the photo op? (I didn't get a picture of the lady trying to push it out of the way so she could get a picture. .LOL. . but was fun to watch her try to move it herself). still. . a pic most everyone takes. . . I liked this one. a LOT. they really leaned into the theming, and some of the moves the coaster makes, really does feel like you are a bird diving and flying. and one gets a FANTASTIC view of Firechaser Express from the Wild Eagle queue: (as Robb would say, "Twisty!") everyone was starting to get hungry by this time. . . so a quick discussion and the vote was the Family Style place we had passed earlier. Scott had made it to the park, and was going to the long show, which was close to the restaurant. so we headed that direction and briefly considered stopping for Cinnamon Bread - but the line was already pretty long. and we were about to eat. so decided to save it for later. but here's where they make it! mmmmmmmm where we ended up was "Aunt Granny's". . .all kinds of home cooking. and very reasonable for a theme park! it LOOKED like at one point it had been a buffet line type restaurant (pre Covid). . and it still seemed to be set up that way. Except that now there were servers, and you ordered at the table and they went up and got the food for you, to serve as family style. honestly? I MUCH preferred the service this way, and had a great time. (and tho the menu says limited choices per table, any refills you want, you can swap out to try other things). coming back from the restroom (washing my hands), I snapped pics of what looks like used to be the buffet line. a table's order ready to be picked up by waitstaff said waitstaff were dressed adorably too. I'm assuming this is for the Holiday season? or maybe they always look like this. really nice, and fun to chat with. a great experience. and she brought us a big ol basket of rolls. that were inhaled in an instant. the food was all VERY good. (tho the Pot Roast was a little bland and needed some salt). from left: Corn Pudding, Mac & Cheese, Stuffing, Ham, gravy, Pot Roast, Mashed Potatoes, Fried Chicken. refills got more Mashed Potatoes, more Ham, Sweet Potatoes, and I asked for a side of Brussels Sprouts for me, as I wanted SOMETHING green with lunch. as noted. . most everything was excellent. . with the star being the Fried Chicken in my opinion. for desert, I had the Cinnamon Bread Pudding. YUM! the app said that Lightning Rod now had a 5 minute wait. . so we finished up and headed directly to it. stopping for a photo op first, of course. I mean, it IS me on this trip. and we get there. . and the sign says temporarily down. darn. . . apparently it had been up while we were eating, but went down again. so we decided to hang around the area for a little bit, and checked out the shopping in Dolly's Closet. I LOVED this stupid thing.. . "Old Jewish Lady" style, with velvet sleeves! it was only ~$55 I think, but it was dry clean only. . and the largest they had was 2X.. which seemed a little bit small. but I considered it. . .I mean. . look how awesome! that dry clean only gave me pause tho. . .as I'd ruin it after one wearing, assuming it even would fit. so I decided to hold off and see if I REALLY needed it, and would get it tomorrow if I didn't see other shirts I liked more. before heading back to the other areas of the park (we still had about 1/2 of the park to cover), we stopped at the bathrooms - which are right by Lightning Rod. and while there? it started testing: so we hung out for 5 minutes or so, and when they opened the doors to the ride, we were among the first 10 people in. we didn't get on the first train, as the folks who had bought timesaver today (it really was a dead day. . so I guess they bought it so they could be sure they got on Lightning Rod if it comes up?) rushed that queue, and the whole first train was filled by those folks. I didnt' care, as long as we got on it before it broke down again (which it did.. after about 4 trains). . BUT . . we were on the 2nd train, so I got my ride. yay! we then went and met up with Jamie and Londyn, who were riding the cars, next to LR. two rides after ours. . train 4. . and look, there's still people on it! we considered getting back in line, since were here and it was running. . . . but then this was the last train we saw, so it went down again just after this. so only one ride today on Lightning Rod. But hey, I'm not greedy, I got to ride it. I thought the launch was a bit "meh".. but that wave turn after the main drop is amazing. And thanks to the restraints (with handles to hold on to), I didn't even mind the amount of Ejector air - something that usually KILLS RMCs for me. So. . very good, but I prefer everything past the launch, even tho the launch is what made this ride well known. Londyn wanted to ride the teacups, so we headed over towards the back of the park, where most of the "family" rides, are - and also where the train depot is. the park had started making announcements that due to dry weather, there would be no fireworks tonight . . which was odd since it had rained all night. But then again, we had heard those sirens last night. Maybe with no fireworks, the crowd that was in the park wouldnt' hang around until close? we absolutely wanted to ride the train, but even on a "slow" day, it was PACKED every time we saw it pass. Besides, we wanted to ride it at night as had been told that we simply had to. It was in the station when we walked by tho, so was able to snap some nice pics. So many lights over in this area. (and this was the section we could see from our deck). I was excited to see this at night. . . down this way is the Country Fair section - where the teacups are. but Jamie convinced Londyn that before we go down that hill, we should do the other ride that she really wanted to go on. . which was up here by the train. (insert angels singing) as I said.. my happy place. them too. artsy! oooooo. . . ok then! coming back here later and then it was down to Country Fair area for the family rides (and hot chocolate that was so hot, it burned "someones" tongue, after she didnt' listen to Mom to wait for it to cool down before taking a sip). NOT ME tho. . I had more wassail. the area is lovely. .and thru the trees you can see some of the cabins on the mountain that are part of the complex we are staying in. it was just starting to get dusky - surprising how quickly it got dark - and the lights were really starting to pop looking at the app, there was a train leaving in 20 minutes. . so since over here, maybe we should try to get on it? i mean it would be dark by the time we left the station. so we decided to go for it and head up that way.. . and found a line that extended well past the station out into the walkway. AND a completely full train already. we debated what to do, and eventually, got to the realization that: we WANTED to ride the train - it's a must do. and as packed as it is? if we leave and come back, we'll miss it again. So we just joined the line, for the 45 minute wait until the next departure (and about 20 minutes in, they moved most in the line into the depot - with the comment from the associates, that if you're in the depot, you'll make it onto the train). . . to be continued in part II , Dollywood on a Saturday Night.

Nah, the SFoG thread gets a normal amount of traffic compared to other threads here. This one gets so much more because every few months someone(s) come crying about how "Corporate hates us!!1!!" and "We need new major additions every year or the park is going to close!" What results is several pages of those more rational individuals logically disproving the doomsayers, and the doomsayers trying to convince everyone that they're right. It is entirely possible for parks to be profitable without a constant influx of new customers; returning customers are just as much of a profit center as new ones are. Look at any of the non-major CF parks; no major additions for years and years, yet the parks still continue to operate and draw substantial crowds. If it turns out that the cancellation of HiTP results in substantially lower season pass sales (to the point that the cost-savings from not running it doesn't outweigh the additional income from the SP sales) they'll reverse course and bring it back, as any business that is trying to make money would. (Arguments about whether Six Flags, under the current CEO, is actually a "business that is trying to make money" are better suited for the Corporate thread, since this is not the only park affected by it.) Boo-hoo that you don't get two additional months of ripping off the chain with your "this was way too cheap to begin with" Diamond Elite Membership. You are not the profit drivers for the park and never were.

I'd be too self conscious to tell people I'm a "diamond elite" anything for a theme park. It sounds so ultra-nerd status. I'd still just refer to it as a season pass... ^ lol look. Now it's applicable everywhere! Also, Indiana Beach and Worlds of Fun.

For sure ... that's the way it has worked out. I love SDC and if it were here in STL I would buy season passes every year. You all are just proving my point.

Speaking strictly in terms of theme parks, I’d kill to live somewhere like St Louis where I have options within a day‘s drive. I live in Seattle. The closest “major” park, Silverwood, is a 5 hour drive. You have WOF, KK and SDC within 4 hours, in addition to a major theme park in your hometown. So I don’t feel sorry for you guys

I mean... they could build dueling giga coasters and I'd still rather go to Silver Dollar City. Sorry, not sorry. lol

SFSTL is a legacy park that been around for over 50 years. It should be the gem of the Midwest, and it very well could be if the park got the attention is needs. I think that's what gets under everyone's skin. We all know how great the Park could be, all the potential is there.

Who doesn’t love an underdog story?

I don't have any skin in the game for this park, I just wanted to pop in and mention how funny it is that one of the most active topics on TPR is this park, one that hasn't had anything noteworthy happen to it in, I dunnno, forever.

We aren't breaking any records, but hopefully the setting really makes this attraction stand out. Definitely a skyline-altering addition for Water World. Vertical construction of fiberglass will likely not be very visible until late-winter, so we will have to wait to see in-person how tight this thing is crammed in.

Holy schnikes, guys!

Ice Breaker at SeaWorld yesterday.

I know it's a bit of a late response, but since no one else answered this question, yes, that's exactly what it means. My son and I visited for a couple hours this past Wednesday. We had pre-purchased a points pass online just in case they required that for entry, but when we got there, there was no security checkpoint or anyone scanning barcodes or anything at the top of the main entry. We just took the escalator down and walked throughout the park without any issues. When you get to the front of the line on whichever ride you're going on, they'll ask to scan either your wristband (if you have one) or the QR code on your phone. We ended up doing their stupid massive 9-story-high ropes course for a bit (an upcharge, but it was only $15 per person with the purchase of any points pass), and then we rode two of the coasters that were closed on his previous visit. Both of these cost us "6 points", or $10 per ride. Sandy's Blastin Bronco was absolutely worth the wait, an intense Intamin launcher that has airtime and hang time galore, then turns you around so you can do it all over again but in reverse. Glad to see this is finally up and running. Timmy's Half-Pipe Havoc was fun, but the kiddo wasn't too keen on it... he said it didn't really feel like a coaster, it felt more like a flat ride to him. I don't blame him. He's been on a lot of Zamperla Diskos over the years and it's not that vastly different of an experience. The entire time we were there on Wednesday, the place was absolutely dead. We had no issues walking onto every single attraction we wanted, and we didn't see lines for the rides we skipped. A good chunk of the kiddie rides were closed for maintenance. Shellraiser was listed as closed on the website, but was open and running when we got there, so it actually ended up being one of those days where all five coasters in the park were up and running. From the top of the ropes course, we could see the storage section behind Shellraiser where they're keeping the bumper cars from the ill-fated Invader Zim attraction, which I guess is just never going to reopen at this point. We also took a ride on the Dream Wheel, which didn't open until 3 PM. About a 20 minute round trip that we paid approximately a buck a minute for. Absolutely great views of the Manhattan skyline and the Hudson River, and, uh, also rush hour traffic on the highway, a bunch of weeds, and graffiti-covered billboards on the NJ side of things. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Vortex at Canada's Wonderland on October 31st at 12:02am! I was on the final train of the night and of the 2022 season!