downunder

I can think of a park on the Gold Coast in Australia that would be able to accomodate this rather gnarly looking coaster. If they got a coaster like that I would move there. Such a waste of an impressive coaster.

I live in a country where the most exciting coaster is a Vekoma SLC, forget about headbanging they just don't make remarkable coasters and how many of those Boomerangs are there, they are like a plague os coaster mediocrity. Though I will always ride them at least once for the credit. The Deja Vu's had potential but they are SBNO too often. Admittedly I haven't been on Rock n Roller Coaster which looks alright, albeit it sounds like Disney rectified Vekoma's shortcomings.

I have only been to Hershey but I do know what coasters are at the other PA parks, and I think Storm Runner, Lightning Racer and Great Bear would keep Hershey just a nose in front of Dorney, Knoebels and Kennywood (love to visit those 3 parks and be proven wrong though).

Out of the three I have been to (SFNE, SFMM, & GAdv), the outstanding rides for me: 1. Superman Ride of Steel (SFNE) - coaster Nirvana. 2. X (SFMM) - I rode it five times on my 2004 visit & I really liked it. 3. Nitro (GAdv) - Intamin hypers rule over beemers but still very good. I tend to be too busy on the coasters to ride flats.

The Magnum Gate which is at the back of the park is the closest to Top Thrill Dragster, so that might help especially if you have early entry. With early entry it's basically a sprint to the TTD entry, which I am proud to say I have won on every attempt and got first ride of the day.

Coasters by a mile, they are what get me going to parks not little flat rides.

If it had to be one ride like the topic suggests, then I would go with the one that was the most intense experience for me - Top Thrill Dragster. Categories (in order): Best Drop Ride - Giant Drop at Dreamworld, Australia Best Dark Ride - Spiderman, IOA; Indy @ Disneyland Best Coaster - Top Thrill Dragter, Millenium Force, NE Ride of Steel Best Water Ride - Perilous Plunge - Knott's Most Terrifying - anything on Stratosphere Tower in Vegas

I deliberately brought a season pass because I was going to more than two six flags parks on my month long 2004 trip and Six Flags New England was the first park I went to. So I got plenty of value out of the pass and this year, if I come over I will go to Magic Mountain, Great Adventure, Darien Lake, La Ronde, and maybe even New England again if I've got time - so it's good value. I do my homework when I come to the USA and plan to get maximum value.

I wasn't actually on the ride but I was in line and observed it. I was waiting in line for Millenium Force last year, and one train stopped half way up the lift hill for about a half an hour. Another train was in the loading dock before it happened and a third train had stopped before it reached the unloading doc. It was funny because at least a dozen maintenance men had to come and to push the third train into the unloading dock and then eventually the train on the lift started going up again.

Sounds like there is demand for an Inaugaral Theme Park Review East Coast Tour, it would save everyone a fortune on rental cars or public transport. There is so many good parks in that North East region around Ohio, New York, Penn, MA and DC.

I have a Six Flags New England Season Pass from last year and I was thinking of renewing it online but I live in Australia but I am not sure whether they would accept renewals from Australia? It would be to not have to stuff around buying a pass at the park and SFNE appears to be cheaper than some of the other parks I plan on going to.

Greyhound buses seem to go everywhere but they are pretty skanky and slower than driving. There is a deal available to foreigners called an Ameripass which gives you unlimited travel for a set period of time which was good value. I used one last year to visit 4 parks in 4 days. I purchased an Ameripass from a travel agent at home and then redeemed my voucher once I started using it. They even had Six Flags New England as a stop. Using this method you really need to do your research like how to get to parks from the greyhound station, the Greyhound stop closest to the park (eg Harrisburg for Hersheypark, then a local bus from the Greyhound station), and where to stay if you are going to stay at a town where a park is. The other alternative is Amtrak trains but they seemed a lot slower than Greyhound based on my research.

I got to ride Kraken last year and I thought it was pretty good, much better than the other two floorless coasters I have been on Scream and Medusa (SFGAdv) though I think Dominator and the one at Fiesta Texas would challenge it. Personally I liked Hulk and Duelling Dragons better but I didn't get BGT to be able compare all the best Florida coasters.

From the reports I have had about Rideworld's inaugaral tour it sounded like it was a fantastic success. I did Cedar Point, Six Flags New England, Hersheypark and Great Adventure in 4 days all by public transport last year and believe me that was tough. For foreigners to the USA like me who don't want to drive and economise by going in a group, a tour would be a great option. If there is a tour on this year I would certianly consider it - at the moment I was tentaively planning on hitting Cedar Point, Michigan's Adventure, Geauga Lake and Great Adventure late August/early September before going on a two week trek america tour then going back to Cali to hit Disney, Knott's etc, maybe head down to Cabo San Lucas too.

Is there a kiddie coaster at the Neverland Ranch ? If there is that would be a real tough credit.

What are some of the most travelled coasters that are still operating ? Here are some of my nominees : Demon at Wonderland Sydney originally came from Brisbane and now has a home in Alabama at Visionland. Flashback at Magic Mountain was at several SF parks before find a place in the sun in Cali to bang heads - operating status currently dubious. Geronimo at Luna Park Sydney wound up on the other side of Australia in Perth.

It really sucks when I have lived in Australia all my life and haven't been to Luna Park Melbourne or Ayers Rock for that matter. I didn't even know St Kilda or Luna Park was near the beach. But at least I got to the original Sydney Luna Park, unfortunately the Ghost Train burned down that night killing six people and that was the end of the original park.

Last year, there is a direct bus service that leaves from the port authority bus terminal on 42nd street, it cost $22. I caught it last year when I was in New York and it took about an 1.5 hours to get there. It is different to where you have to change at Trenton. The bus I caught left at around 7.30 - 8.00am, which should get you there nice and early for the running of the bulls to Kinga Ka. Though the direct route was seasonal so you may need to check that out. Otherwise the sightseeing places also have transport to SFGAdv.

Last year, there is a direct bus service that leaves from the port authority bus terminal on 42nd street, it cost $22. I caught it last year when I was in New York and it took about an 1.5 hours to get there. It is different to where you have to change at Trenton. The bus I caught left at around 7.30 - 8.00am, which should get you there nice and early for the running of the bulls to Kinga Ka. Though the direct route was seasonal so you may need to check that out. Otherwise the sightseeing places also have transport to SFGAdv.

Go on a cruise in the bay. Catch a ferry to Pelee Island in Canada. Go to the party islands in lake erie- which are more like alcoholic theme parks. Ride Mean Streak which should induce unconsiousness for a couple of hours.

Very kind of you to have it on my birthday. If that darned Pacific ocean wasn't between me and Cali (all 10,000 miles of it), I'd be there in a flash. But I must say it is a lovely gesture putting on the BBQ and all.

I was staying at Hotel Breakers at Cedar Point late August last year and the power went out. The couldn't get the roller screen up to get through the turnstiles so they let us through the glass doors on the side, at the Magnum gate. Fortunately it appeared most of the rides were operating including TTD, which gave me a wonderful 3 rides in 15 mins.

I think it is all relative with Storm Runner, I had been on Top Thrill Dragster 48 hours before SR and compared to TTD, SR is not that intense at all and I found the same with Xcelerator. But if you haven't been on TTD or Xcelerator you will probably find SR quite intense.

I have a 15-16 hour flight just to get to LAX and the country with the best coasters. Last year I travelled Cedar Point, to SF New England, to Hersheypark, to SF Great Adventure all by Greyhound bus - that was really pushing it.

1. Raptor 2. Duelling Dragons 3. Batmans 4. Great Bear 5. Vekoma SLC's I think Montu and Aplengeist would be challenging for the top spot if I had ridden them.