AmyUD06

Currently in line for Lightning Rod, counter at about 50 minutes. Rolled back as soon as I got in line, they evacuated the train and ran 4 empty cycles, then ran like a other 4 trains with riders, then another rollback and another evacuation. Operator just announced "extended downtime" and everyone in the queue except me and one other couple bounced. Seriously, why do they not just try a re-launch after a rollback like every other launched coaster in the world? Why the whole evacuation procedure? EDIT: Saw on queue times that it was back up. Made my way over, and 20 minutes later (using Timesaver), I was lined up to be in the front row on the next train (they were only running one). Previous train dispatches, and a minute passed, and suddenly everyone in the station lets out a groan. I turn around, and there it is... The train rolled back yet again. *Sigh* 15 minutes later with zero motion, they announce "extended closure." Guess I'll try again tomorrow. At least they gave me a single use Timesaver card which is good on Lightning Rod, so with my resort band I'll have two TS opportunities on it tomorrow.

So the trip is going well so far...no major issues and the weather has been mostly cooperative. Got to spend a good amount of time catching up with my old friend and checking out the nightlife scene in Athens. I even hit 300 coasters along the way, but you'll have to wait for the full report to find out what it was. I will say this, though: AireForce One has no business being in such a shitty little park as Fun Spot Atlanta. And I told the ride ops as much (though I did phrase it nicely LOL). @bert425, I did go to the Midtown Vortex, and of course rubbed the Phallus for good luck. The food was not as good as I remember, sadly. I'm also disappointed that they got rid of their other signature drink that came in a collectible glass...not the Skull Crusher, I already have that glass, the other one. For future reference Bert, there is a paid public parking lot on the very next block from the Midtown location, just in case you find yourself driving the next time you're in the area. I checked in to the DreamMore resort at Dollywood today, and I just have to say that this has impressed me to no end. I've recently been stepping up my hotel selection on these trips (from the cheapest possible that I won't get murdered at to mid-level hotels in the $150-$200 a night range), but this absolutely blows me away. I have not seen a facility and amenities this nice outside of Vegas or Atlantic City. Maybe there is something to this whole "Breakers or bust!" philosophy at Cedar Point? Also, this was my first time every driving down the "Tourist Strip" between the Interstate and Dollywood (I think its called the Parkway?)....and just could not stop shaking my head and laughing. It would probably take a month straight to do everything there, and I'm pretty sure you would be kicking yourself at the end of it for wasting so much time and money. I did see a couple of real credits though (not mountain coasters!), so I may have to swing back by that way on my way home on Sunday. And I saw a billboard for an actual, honest-to-Satan, Action Park-style alpine slide! ......that unfortunately costs $50 to go on since you have to buy a wristband to that resort.

Nah, nothing that extreme LOL. Here's the announcement.

The end is nigh.

Nothing specific. Just "a relocated queue line and additional theming." They did show a concept art with slightly different moving statues in the final lift hill area.

So is the courtesy of explaining little-known acronyms in conversation.

45 minutes is better than 3+ hours, and Maverick's FL line does dump you in station. Kings Island's FL "implementation" is better for a variety of reasons - number of rides that dump you in the station, availability on pretty much every adult ride, cost. But the fact that FL lines move quicker at KI can only be attributed to the fact that every line moves quicker at KI - they just put more emphasis on efficiency than they do at Cedar Point. Trust me, I am generally a "must have the skip the line pass or I'm not going to a park" kind of person, and spend the requisite funds to do so and expect a result. For the past several years I dropped over $1,300 for the Cedar Fair Platinum Pass plus the All-Season, All-Park FL Option. However, I expect the result that is offered...not the result that I feel I "deserve" for whatever twisted reason. In Cedar Point's case, the result that is offered is "shorter lines than the standby," and in that regard it delivers. Whatever was done in the past is irrelevant.

Really? That's what is explicitly says on their site.

You shouldn't need Fast Track on a Thursday/Friday unless you plan on doing the waterpark, which is woefully small for the demand it gets. Budget for it in case crowds are more than anticipated, though. I would definitely go on Thursday. Also, don't forget about Preview Night - with your tickets, you can get in to the park 2 hours before close on the night before your main day at the park. That is a good time to knock some things out. Either way, Fast Track or not, go to Fahrenheit first, then Wild Mouse, the Laff Track, then Wildcat. The first three have awful capacity and the third is the new hotness so will obviously be in demand (and possibly have some kinks still being worked out). If you or the family are fans of shooting dark rides, I'd also work Reese's Cupfusion somewhere in there early as well....its supposedly one of the better examples of the genre, but I've personally never seen the big deal. Also, the Chocolate World ride located outside the main gate opens an hour (maybe 2?) before the main park, so that's a good time to knock it out if you're interested.

Just to echo everyone else's recommendations, Flying Turns first thing (but don't wait around if it's not running when you get there), then Impulse, then Haunted Mansion and Black Diamond. From there, just go around and have fun. Everyone else's suggestions for things not to miss are good. Don't skip out on the museums and "non-ride" things this park has to offer too. Edit: Oh, and don't skip Cosmotron, either!

Great report as always @cfc! I'm eager to get down there in a week or so to try it out.

Thanks for the report @BitterOldHag. Sounds like they still have a ways to go to be ready for summer operations. As to Millennium's wait time with FL, that's actually kinda standard if the queue was back to the merge point. I've experienced waits like that for the past several years at times, especially if waiting for the front. I've also never experienced "urgency" of any kind by ride ops at Cedar Point (except maybe Steel Vengeance, but they have to do so to make up for the horrible locker situation) since I started park-traveling big time in 2017. Not compared to Kings Island, at least.

You should just make this your signature at this point.

No, I still think you were overreacting a few weeks ago. I just posted a possible rationale for their decision to add another early entry ride to the lineup; I would have been perfectly fine had it remained just the Boardwalk. We also clearly have different definitions of "beating up," but hey, it's cool.

Cedar Fair has been doing something similar with their "Pass Perks" rewards program for the past few years, but the rewards were never specified like that.

They probably realized that the Boardwalk area wasn't enough for the early entry people to all be accommodated, since they give everyone and their grandmother early entry these days. Still, I'll take it over the experience I had at BGT in December of 2021 when like two rides opened with the park at 10, a few more at 11, and the rest at noon.

Only the very back of the very last car of the train would have to hit 500 to get a "legitimate" record, and if they put (presumably) LIMs the whole way up the spike, they could even move the train up there (at a decent pace, like Maverick's "lift hill") before releasing, then boosting on the old launch track. Either way, it will be a smashing success for the park but I have to imagine a disappointment for fans of the rush of acceleration of the original (like me).

How do they waste time on existing coasters at CP when every single one has individual row lines that get filled as soon as the previous train dispatches? They ask for single riders while the next train is pulling into the station. If you were talking specifically about operations on Wild Mouse, which has been open to the public what, 2 days? 4 days? then yeah they might need some time to figure a good system out. A single rider line would not solve these issues though, since by your own admission it's not a coaster for enthusiasts, and enthusiasts are the only people who go to parks alone. Seriously, for someone who goes to the park "15 times a year," I think you'd notice how things operate a little better.

Hmm....I am not a big public transit person at all. But I'll try to make it work! And I think I'll have to check out Bulldogs too!

I do plan on checking out all of the shows, and the time saver pass was included with the stay at the on-property resort, so it's not really any more money out of my pocket haha. I've been to Carowinds several times, including last year, and though Fury is in my top 10, without a CF pass it's not worth the stop. Yeah, maybe I will hit Fun Spot if I'm not too tired after the drive. Thanks for the pointers! I've never been to the Midtown one, but I'll try to check it out. Is there convenient parking nearby? My hotel is outside of the city proper making rideshare a bit impractical.

We weren't talking about "available space," we were talking about the actual footprint of Wild Mouse, which is smaller than BB. More importantly - "Asking for single riders" does not equal "impeding operations to fill every seat."

Full trip report POSTED! Click the links to jump to each part of the trip. Part 1 - Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Day 1 and Day 2) Part 2 - Fun Spot Atlanta (and adventures in Athens, GA!) Part 3 - Lake Winnepesaukah Part 4 - Dollywood (Day 1 and Day 2) I'll be leaving the original post up for posterity's sake. Thanks for reading, everyone! ********************ORIGINAL POST BELOW************************************************ Hey everyone! So for a variety of reasons outside of my control, my park adventuring this year is going to be substantially cut back from previous years'. I have no season passes anywhere, and am only taking one "big" trip, which is what this about. Here's the agenda: Day 1 - Sunday 5/28 - Drive from Delaware to Williamsburg, check into hotel, go to BGW from 4 PM - 10 PM (I snagged a two-day ticket from Tickets At Work for $60) Day 2 - Monday, 5/29 - All day at BGW, 8 PM closing. (budgeted for Quick Queue if needed) Day 3 - Tuesday, 5/30 - Drive to Atlanta, Check in, Relax. Day 4 - Wednesday, 5/31 - Fun Spot Atlanta from opening until I do everything I want, relax and spend time with my friend who lives near Atlanta. Day 5 - Thursday 6/1 - Drive towards Pigeon Forge, by way of Lake Winnepesaukah, spending time at that park, and checking in to the DreamMore Resort. Day 6 - Friday 6/2 - All day at Dollywood (with Timesaver). Day 7 - Saturday 6/3 - All day at Dollywood (with Timesaver). Day 8 - Sunday 6/4 - Drive home to Delaware. All of these parks except for BGW are new to me, and I haven't been to BGW since 2009 when Big Bad Wolf closed, so I've got a bunch of new credits there. So naturally, I've got some questions. But first, some of my "quirks" so people can make educated recommendations: 1. For rides, I thoroughly enjoy coasters, dark rides, water rides that don't get you drenched, and flats that don't spin in too many directions at once. 2. I eat like a 5 year old. Pizza, cheesesteaks, pretzels, burgers, mac & cheese, sweet deserts, etc. I am not opposed to fancier varieties of such items, but note that I generally don't do fruits or vegetables. 3. I do drink alcohol, but only in extreme moderation (pretty much no more than 3 drinks a day) due to medications. So, on to the questions... 1. Thoughts on if I'll need Quick Queue at BGW on Memorial Day Monday? Can I buy it in the park or is it like a Kings Island thing where you have to do it online? I notice that InvadR and DarKoaster are only on Quick Queue Unlimited Plus which is $150 on that day. My plan was to knock out DarKoaster either the previous night or first thing in the morning on Monday, and from what I've read that will be a one-and-done, but I'll probably want multiple rides on InvadR since I do love me some modern GCIs. 2, Anything ride or food wise at Fun Spot, Lake Winne, or Dollywood that I shouldn't be sleeping on? Yes, I know "Cinnamon Bread at DW." 3. Anything that is owned and operated by decidedly pro-LGBTQ+ people in Pigeon Forge area that's worth checking out? I'm hesitant to spend any money that is not necessary in Tennessee (see this thread if you need clarification on why), helped out by @bert425's comments there, and as @SharkTums suggested in that thread, I'm planning a sizeable donation to the ACLU of Tennessee to "offset" my spending tax dollars there, but if there's anything very cool that isn't going to help the efforts to harm the existence of people like me, I'd like to check it out. I'll likely not be returning to the area anytime in the near future. 4. Same question as #3 but about Atlanta. Really the only cool place I know is Vortex Bar & Grill. Georgia's ACLU will also be getting a donation, but I'd rather not support unfriendly businesses. 4. Anything travel-related I should know about this route? I'm very familiar with the I-95 issues in VA, but I'll be veering off onto I-85 south of Richmond, which I've only driven thrice before, to get to Atlanta. Then I'll be taking I-75 and I-40 west/north/east from there to get to Pigeon Forge, and then I-40, I-81 and I-66 all the way to I-95 north of DC. 5. Any other tips and tricks for this trip? Thank you everyone in advance for your advice and suggestions.

FYI, for anyone looking at going to BGW this summer who has access to Tickets At Work (ticketsatwork.com), there is currently a sale going on - $59.99 for a two-day ticket, good at both BGW and Water Country USA. I called the park today and confirmed that it could be used at the same park two days. It's called a "Memorial Day Sale," so I'm not sure how long it's going for, so act quick if you're interested.

@redfoot12That's great to hear about Grizzly. Though I don't plan on getting back to KD until Haunt (I actually skipped a CF pass this year. *gasp!*), I hope it keeps the newness until then. Avalanche/Reptilian would like to have a word.

Boardwalk Bullet is a bigger footprint than Wild Mouse, but sure....that gets really damned close. Really? Will they? Personally I wouldn't be trying to squeeze some random Typical-Coaster-Enthuiast in with a single mom and her two kids. I have never seen coaster operations at any CF park get held up from the grouper asking for singles.