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denning

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Everything posted by denning

  1. Not taking it personal stating a fact - at the Levi Bash the park reps confirmed a rotation for cap ex spending amongst the larger CF parks in sequence and to expect a major ride apox. every five years. The building of a big ride was heavily inferred by the park as the reason for removing the togo stand-up. That ride looks to have been pushed back at least two years if not cancelled. Now as is speculated above the change in the exchange rate (about 30%) probably changed the cap ex plans. That 'crown jewel' comment came from CF management who was shocked to see how profitable CW was a few years back after opening Behemoth. I think in one year it even had the largest attendance of any seasonal park. But again profits were inflated by the dollar being near par.
  2. I think we lost our place in the rotation of big rides and being the test park behind Kings Island. Guess we are no longer the 'crown jewel'. They got Diamondback and Banshee the years after Behemoth and Levi but they are getting a new coaster before us now. Still makes me sad to see the old Skyrider plot completely empty. That great ride is still making riders happy in Italy - I wish they waited to remove it.
  3. As great as an RMC would be - a few thoughts 1. RMC's seem to be a six flags exclusive supplier. What makes us think that Cedar Fair will be willing to work with them so soon? 2. When was the last time a cedar fair park built a wooden coaster? 3. None of the RMC's to date how been a simple out and back like minebuster. I don't think the layout is conducive to their particular set of skills. If anything Wilde Beast is a better fit although probably not big enough a ride for a meaningful conversion 4. Having given up a coaster last year and promising publically a replacement coaster - doing a makeover of an existing ride which will not be an additional coaster will probably not have the same reception as a new coaster 5. La Monstre at La Ronde is perfect for an RMC look what they did with the double tracked collossous- why would Wonderland knowingly build something that will be so easily eclipsed in the near future? 6. I think the next ride will be a looping B&M the question is whether it is a wingrider, launched wingrider or a proper floorless. If the GP gravitates to Rougarou I could see them build a nice Banshee like record breaker.
  4. Follow-up question thinking about going as far west as Texas. Anything great in that area?
  5. Thanks guys. You don't need to sell me on Orlando again. We try to go over new year's each year. Hopefully he will hit 42 by then. This trip may have to be more about BBQ than rides
  6. Funny enough I finally took my 3 year on the Ghoster Coaster for the first time yesterday inspiring this post. It was my first coaster and a joy to see him love it the same.
  7. Wanted to bring this back - with a focus on lower limits i.e. 40 inches top three i have been on are: 1. Freedom Flyer (Funspot USA) 36 inches 2. 7 Dwarfs Main train - 38 inches 3. Trailblazer - Hersheypark - 36 inches
  8. I apologize if this has already been asked - can't find anything through the search. Little guy just hit 40 inches. His count is 11 parks and 17 coaster - largely from a Orlando and Pennsylvania visit. We are thinking of doing a road trip to the southeast and have some flexibility. Any must rides for kids? Or parks that have a large selection of coasters that kids can ride? I don't really care about coaster counts but rather unique rides that would be a great memory ie. Trailblazer at Hersheypark worth a trip, Cocoa Cruiser not so much
  9. In terms of the B&M layout for an inverted I thought it was to be a clone of the of one from Great America - so I don't think the design work was too intensivly done or that was unprofessional for B&M to start planning. Wasn't there a real debate over how distance was to be calculated with Wonderland thinking they were in clear only to be faced with Cedar Fair challenging the distance as being two miles short. I am sure law suits were threatened and so Wonderland took the cheaper approach and went Vekoma. It is a shame that the SLCs are so rough as they really are a sexy design. Especially with the way the first drop comes down over the midway.
  10. Also keep in mind when Wonderland announced Leviathan it was thought to be crazy for two reasons 1. the park was lacking in a proper looping coaster. A wingrider, floor-less, B&M inverted, or launched looper like Maverick or FoF was thought to be needed and 2. no one thought having dual large B&Ms would work. Carowinds four years later doesn't have the same holes and the Wonderland experiment worked. It is the same combo only better.
  11. Well there goes the theory that Leviathan was a mistake and really for Knotts. I also never understood the strategy but do love having both in my home park. It's like surf n ' turf would have been happy with either but having both is even more awesome.
  12. The Brake Run is not nearly high or long enough. I thought it was supposed to be Levi 2.0
  13. Plus 1 to St. Louis. Really tasty local chain. Flavourful wings, smaller than what you get in the US and not breaded. They are marinated and super tasty. The suicide sauce isn't gimmicky hot and is really tasty the "white sauce" for the fries is great too. Plus a great patio view of Wonderland. Can't recommend it enough.
  14. I had cracked a similar joke when the ride first opened to your facebook review WMG is really the diet coke of Gringots. Small coaster section, coaster cars that have motion base, track drop section, 3D video with glasses, a dragon, caverns. Like · July 8 at 11:48am ... Theme Park Review I think Wonder Mountain may actually have a bigger coaster section. Like · July 8 at 11:53am
  15. If you are going for two days then you won't need fastpass. The big three coasters Behemoth, Leviathan and Vortex all move pretty quick - you will get rerides. The others are mainly clones. The only real line if you don't get there early will be WMG but that isn't even on fastlane anyways.
  16. Isn't the concerns on ferris wheels that single riders may be using them to commit suicide.
  17. doing a road trip to NYC with my toddler. Hitting up Knobels, Hershey and Sesame Place on the way other. Wanted your advice on where to stay between Knoebels and Hershey. It looks our timing is one day behind you guys. We doing Knoebels on the 2nd! And NYC on the 6th what day are you guys at Hershey for?
  18. It's Pepper's Ghost effect similar to the Haunted Mansion. You actually don't see the effect but the people in line behind you do. So you have to ask a friend to hold back and take the picture. I am attaching a video of the wife going through. IMG_0774.MOV
  19. Also this change in Seaworld/Busch attendance was not unexpected. They raised their tickets price 9% and there were plenty of articles last August discussing the increase in their pricing and the plan to increase profits at the expense of attendance. This was well before the Blackfish hype. Remember the movie wasn't shown on CNN or released on video/netflix before late October 2013. http://business.time.com/2013/08/20/why-one-theme-park-company-swears-its-happy-to-be-attracting-fewer-visitors/ http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-08-14/seaworld-swings-prices-up-visitation-flops#r=hpt-fs
  20. If you can afford it go for fast line. Otherwise attack WMG first obviously - near entrance - low capacity - high demand. Nearby are the Fly (generic wild mouse), thunder run (powered coaster) and the Bat (generic boomerang with a singles line) you can knock those off right after. After that you can do the lower capacity Skyrider (togo standup) and Tim Wrap (volare). The lines for Vortex (arrow suspended), and the two B&Ms move quick especially later in the day. The rest of the coasters are manageable. it's a long day but you can do it all.
  21. The ride system works really well. You basically have two modes - coaster mode where you face front/back or shooter mode where the car tuns so you can be side to side. There really would be no benefit to rotating more times unless you were hoping for a spinning mouse style ride experience. There are already enough different ride elements that spinning really isn't needed. The difference between facing forward or rear is how the screens are laid out. On the rear/left side it is just like toy story mania you start shooting against a straight wall facing north then the track turns 90 degrees to a different screen facing west and then at the end that row you turn again. There are slight gaps when you move between screens giving you a breather to set up. It works just fine. Basically it feels like each screen is a different scene On the front/right side the screen you start facing curves around and continues as you travel down the circuit. This is the "world's largest videoscreen" so it is a continuous screen. As in a few places there aren't the gap resets you get a couple of extra seconds of continuos video but we are talking seconds here. To the average guest they would never know. My comments were more nerding out on theme park review about the layout and how the two experiences are slightly different. It really is a simple elegant approach.
  22. Verbolten style and twice the height actually. It is very well done. Got one ride Very impressed that this ride is in a regional seasonal themepark. Thoughts on the ride Trains are comfy and the guns are surprisingly responsive. I would not say I am a marksman by any means but was able to get a pretty high score - 7900. Around closing 9600 was the tops. The first section though very short is a true coaster. I road backwards - not rough like from the earlier reviews. It's really just one drop and curve but it works well as a nice intro to set you up for the dark ride portion Dark ride portion - good length - liked the use of coaster track which made for a very smooth movement through the ride with the use of the wind you felt you were motoring through. The world's "largest" screen looked to be only for guests riding forwards. The backwards side uses multiple smaller screens. On the negative side - dark ride section is just a videogame. No physical props. No interaction with the enviroment other than the screen. No drops betweens scenes. You shoot at bad guys. It moves quick. Rinse and repeat. You don't really notice the story. But's fun and will have high repeat value. I can't wait to ride it again and look forward to future changes and seasonal themes. There were random coins throughout that must be "the quest for gold" subtheme. The finale drop is well done. If you are on this site there will be no surprise to spoil. You figure it out right away. You can clearly see how the track and room is designed. Still they use smoke and wind and it works well. My reaction was "darn wonderland actually pulled this off" knowing that the budget was relatively small and that they didn't use a single well known supplier like vekoma or intamin. From a story point of view I was sad about the finale as I was hoping since it was announced that Herman the Dragon (from 1985's Thunder Run coaster also in the mountain) would be Wonder Mountain's "Guardian" who would swoop in and save you. He wasn't. The red dragon, who no matter what marketing calls him, looks like Herman is the big bad that you are battling at the end. Hoping that they can retcon Herman as a lovable villian like Darth Vader that you root for and want to buy toys. For those who are saying it can't match to Disney/Universal it depends on what you are comparing it to. A true E ticket like Spider-Man or Harry Potter or Seven Drawfs Mine Ride with elaborate animatronics it is not. But in my books it is actually superior to its closest competitor - Toy Story Mania which to me is just a lazy wii game. This is at least tries to combine multiple genres and succeeds. A truly solid addition to the park which to me is much of an improvement as adding a B&M. Happy that Cedar Fair is investing in us like this. not a cookie counter clone by any stretch of the imagination. To summarize a really great family ride. Proud to have in my home park the first ride that combines a coaster, really good 4D shooting technology, and the finale technology all into a family experience that is well themed and fits in perfectly with the parks centrepiece. Now if only other people disagree so the lines can shorten up. Oh and Robb the station looks much better in person that photo isn't a good representation. It's decently themed not disney caliber but a serious step above the usual Cedar Fair quality. Fits in nicely with the mountain theme.
  23. Was there today as well. WMG looks far from finished. Lots of work needed for queue and interior. I would say weeks not days away. Cast member said "later in the season". It seemed far more substantial of a ride than I expected. I was thinking this would be more in line with a traditional Sally style dark ride. Definitely a true credit and the first drop although not step will certainly be fun with those cars. Think of a wild mouse. Behemoth was only running two trains and had a long line. I didn't ride - could be slowed down by addition of seat belts. Leviathan crew was working very fast and there was virtually no line.
  24. Any sense that Adventuredome would soft often it earlier if testing goes well? Taking the wife to see Britney Spears for Valentine's Day. Last day there is the 16th. Figured her letting me get a new credit in return is only fair.
  25. It is pretty clear from the press relase requiring press hoppers and the design that they will be checking your tickets BEFORE you get on the ride. Similar to pre-clearing customs. Bascially the entrace to the attraction will be considered the "gate" to the other park. Neat concept. Rumor the trips will probably be different as they are desiging multiple different videos for the screens.
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