Philrad71

^ Looks pretty wild, Bert!

Surprise, surprise...Southern Tier 2X IPA.

Glad you got to that Southern Tier, Andrew...I need to check this out the next time that I go to Pixburgh.

Even though I have never been to SFFT, those all look like pretty solid closures that I approve of. lol

^ Sounds like it's worth it's own report. Have fun!

That reminds me of a drink that Michael and I had at a gay bar in Syracuse called the Purple Mother F%cker. As soon as I started drinking it, I started feeling warm all over. When I went into the bathroom, I was covered in these huge welts all over my body. After heading back to the hotel with some Benadryl, I finally started feeling better. The only two things that were new in the ingredients for me was Blue Curacao and the Grape Schnapps. Since then I steer clear of both! Looking forward to the next update, Bert!

Thankfully though there is enough around that area to do if you leave and come back. Basically what us and some of our people would do is check in at SV and if it was 30 minutes or over, we'd leave and come back about an hour to an hour and a half later. We'd go get in a few other rides and then if it was 15-20 minutes on SV, grab 2-3 rides in. I think some of our people were doing multiple rides towards the end of the night because even though it was posted at 15 minutes, I think the FL+ line was more like 10. But it does sound like the delay with the power outage may have broken that good luck streak a bit. The first time that we entered the FL+ line it was later in the afternoon, but not quite dinner time. I want to think about 5:00, maybe? The timer said 45 and I think that we were on pace to beat it until the power outage cost us close to another hour. It was a tough call to leave and my Dad left the line about 5 minutes before the power was restored. I felt awful for him, but he wanted to voluntarily leave so that he and Step-mom could go get something to eat and go to the bathroom. Unfortunately he didn't get a ride, but he isn't enough of an enthusiast to let it bother him. He was more proud to conquer TTD a little bit later for the first time while fairly sober. lol Andrew and I were just leaving the SV line and got about 10' and they started running trains. The people were cool and told us just to resume our previous spots after I had the deer in headlights look. I still have some faith in humanity. The night ride around 9 posted 30 minutes and ended up being closer to 45..still well worth it versus the 2+ hours posted. And we got the bonus MF night ride after that, so we left as happy campers.

^ Yesterday was about 45 minutes with FL+ (the one that didn't accompany the blackout). A "marathon" if you mean riding over and over with no wait likely won't happen until next season or even the next when all three trains are running and the hype has died a little bit. I think that you'd really have to hit it a special time to marathon. I admit and to be honest, I'm too old to marathon SV more than maybe 4 times in a row. Good luck to you on your quest though!

^ Nahhh...we killed it, Bill...there were only like three rides that I wished that I could have ridden, but didn't have time to do. It really was an awesome past couple of days. Perfect weather and great fun...I couldn't have asked for more!

Just getting caught up on your reports, Bert...I was dying over the Plants Versus Zombies and the Yo-Yo bra comments as well as some of the other thoughts and observations that you had during your visits - keep it going, my friend! Yeah, $.040 for a Coors Lite sounds about right. Seriously though...that was a cool thing for them to do. I might even drink one or two for that price.

It was a lot of fun hanging out with you yesterday, Andrew - can't wait to see your epic report with all of the photos! I'll do a written summary of the day soon given that I was lazy and took very few photos.

Or if Zach shows up pointing at coasters with a 'Killin' It Daily' shirt on...also free beer all day for him. lol Thoughts on Cedar Shores... * Muffleheads swim-up bar had people drinking alcohol in the enclosed pool area, but nobody at the actual bar serving drinks - it looked abandoned /defunct. But at the gate, no one was manning it and it said that Muffleheads was closed. WTF? Private party in the middle of the week with no actual bartender, or were people just going in there anyway? A weird experience for sure. Luckily Schooners bar nailed a good Mai Tai with a half cup of booze. F$ck Muffleheads. Note that some of the mixed drinks here are cheaper than the draft beer. And fun fact: they were being liberal on the booze...just saying. And anyone from CP reading this, don't take that negatively!!! ☺ * The "new" slides are fun, but they need a few more thrills like a funnel or toilet bowl slide. For Cedar Point, it's a good water park, but not elite. I can see where this will likely change though. * Love the re-theme to Lake Erie, but damn...every tree that was in the water park is gone. Love all of the plants and Adirondack chairs though. * Ride op's and service at the water park were sub-par for Cedar Point standards. I know CP ride op's will be killing it on all of the major rides tomorrow though.

LOL...what about for free beer?

Ha awesome! Well, I will be wearing a Pink Floyd shirt tomm, if anyone sees me feel free to yell out. Sure, I'm likely not to be the only one so could be awkward but, oh well Noob question btw, Ive never used FL here. I printed out my FL+ I assume I take it to the gate when I enter. What do they give you? How does the FL+ work here? Wristband? I reckon it doesn't take too long to do, but to be safe is there any significant amount of time I need to give myself to be ready for early access? Yeah, Im trying to withhold excitement and failing If you're wearing a Pink Floyd shirt, I will notice...well, cuz Pink Floyd. If you see a guy wearing a Meat Puppets Heuvos shirt, that'll be me. Probably not a lot of people will be wearing that one. lol

^ × 4 - Thanks Bill! ^^ & ^^^ Sounds like we need a TPR takeover!

I will be there tomorrow and Friday as well...can't wait!

Puff The Tragic Dragon. Reading your report has me stoked for this week! Oh, and that biker week shirt has to be worse than the 'Killin' It Every Day' t-shirt that Zach mentioned in the KI thread. Not sure if I will be able to top that god awful t-shirt photo, but I am going to see if I can - and only hope that I don't get my ass kicked in the process.

I am actually looking forward to some people watching at CP & Cedar Shores Thursday and Friday as well. If I see someone with a 'Killin' It Every Day' shirt or any of the ones that you mentioned, I am going to die laughing. I'll even see if I can sneak a photo for my trip report. Welcome back from vacation, Zach!

Yah...that photo of the adult carousel was all sorts of wrong, but yet amazing at the same time. lol

Welp, I just booked three nights at Lighthouse Point at CP from Wednesday until Saturday! Talking with Dad and Step-Mom tonight and they are all in for going out in the motor home even though Step-Mom is absolutely terrified of coasters (she bawled on Iron Dragon 5 years ago). Not only is this amazing and awesome news, the weather is supposed to be fantastic (I booked water park/park 2 day combo), to boot! And given that Step-Mom doesn't like coasters, I said that I would splurge for FL+ (if needed) for me and my Dad so she wouldn't have to wait for us while we waited in lines for coasters. More time for shows, beer and the tamer flat rides that she enjoys. And to also throw in the fact that Friday would have been my 15 year anniversary with Michael, this has the makings to be one very special trip. I am so glad that I don't have to spend this day at work and then home that night alone. I can't even believe how happy I am right now!

Very cool, Adam...I would really be into that tour. On your "Unreal" photo...is that zucchini hanging from a tree or Jurassic cucumbers? lol Thanks for sharing!

^ Ewww...can't say that I blame you there, Bill. But the artisan cheeseburger poutine? That sounds heavenly!

I was riding Raptor in the evening, and heading up the lift I looked to my left at a gorgeous red sunset, the coaster skyline, and all the lights coming on throughout the park. In that single instant I thought, "WOW, look at how beautiful this is...this is the big hug from life that I need, I love these rides, I love this park, and I deserve to have fun!" And I did! It sounds corny, but I had my first smile in days during that Raptor ride, and I had an awesome time the rest of the trip. Chiming in here with my story to both Phil and Samuel since I can kind of relate: After having such a great time hanging out with Bill and Bert last year when they were at Cedar Point for 2017's CoasterMania at the same time my mom and I were visiting CP for fun, mom and I decided we were going to participate in CoasterMania this year. We got tickets immediately, which was a bit chaotic at first since I was in the backwoods of WV on a ski trip with no reception when the tickets went on sale, and then suddenly a week before CoasterMania this year my beloved father passed away unexpectedly. There was no way we could go to Cedar Point since the dates overlapped with his celebration of life and I was so devastated from the whole thing that I worried even when I did get back to CP that it would be all doom and gloom. The last year has been a particularly difficult one and prior to Dad's passing I was focused on counting down the days to Cedar Point, a place where I could forget my worries, and now that was all shattered. (I want to note that Bert was a true friend and checked in on me frequently during this time which I am unbelievably grateful for.) Mom and I talked about it and rescheduled the CP trip for 5 weeks later... and had an outstanding time! Were there dozens of times where I went to text Dad a picture of us doing something or send a video clip of his favorite coaster, Millennium Force? Yes. Those were some hard moments. I will mention that the area back near Dinosaurs Alive as well as the area by the petting zoo has some quiet spots where you can have an emotional moment without attracting a lot of attention. Did we shed some tears because the whole thing felt "off" knowing Dad wasn't at home? Yes. Did we have an awesome time, see some spectacular sunsets, and meet some really wonderful people while standing in line? YES! And you know what - it was really good for us. There was one specific moment on Millennium Force that just for a minute I totally forgot everything that was going on. I was so in the moment that I felt free and a huge weight lift off my shoulders. Dad would want us to be enjoying ourselves at a place we all loved and I am so glad we pushed on with the trip. I strongly encourage anyone going through any sort of slump or difficulty in life to get out to a park you love. Make it happen because life is short and we only get so many opportunities to enjoy ourselves. If riding some coasters might help lift your spirits for even for 10 seconds then get out there and do it! That was very touching, Liz...and I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your father. It gives me great solace to know that several others have made a trip to a theme park a go and still managed to have fun after their lives had been devastated. I think that I am going to keep a close eye on the weather over the course of the next couple of weeks and may make a mid-week run out there for a quick overnight. I think that I might even splurge and stay at the Breakers again and I am sure that that alone is going to be a challenge because that was the last hotel that Michael and I stayed at before he got sick and passed.

Great start, Bert! I have never been to SFOG and need to make that a reality soon.

^^ Your post came across as condescending and a bit troll-ish as if you popped into the thread not only to trash the new addition, but to make fun of people. I obviously wasn't the only one that read it that way. As others have mentioned KI has made great changes and additions to the park in recent years, and there is already a lot of speculation that there is something big coming next year. To be fair, I also hope that SFMM gets something big as I would love to make another trip out for WCB someday.