Canobie Coaster

Day 2- Seabreeze After waking up fairly early, we left to make it to Seabreeze for park opening on a beautiful Saturday. Now I'm not going to lie, but I was a bit apprehensive to visit on a Saturday, as I am with any park, due to possible crowds. However, Seabreeze was not overly crowded and turned out to be one of the best days of the trip for me! Not only that, but it became one of my favorite amusement parks anywhere thanks to its great selection of rides and incredible atmosphere! Entering through the water park entrance, we decided to skip the water park for now and immediately head for the rides section. Here, I learned that Seabreeze opens the park in two phases as half of the rides open at 11:00, while the other half of the rides open at noon. This was not a problem at all since there were plenty of options to ride until everything opened. First I began my day with Seabreeze's Bobsleds. Once a junior wooden coaster, it was converted to a unique steel coaster that seemed like a Galaxi/Wild Mouse hybrid. Ultimately, this turned out to be one of my longest waits of the day- 15 minutes. Understandably though, this was due to the ride's low capacity. However, once I boarded the small, comfortable cars, I embarked on a very unique journey teeming of sudden plunges and quick turns. I especially loved the helix at the end since it really caught me by surprise. Overall, the Bobsleds are a perfect fit for Seabreeze and an excellent family coaster. 6 out of 10 Immediately after, I was hoping to ride the park's Mauer Sohne spinning coaster, Whirlwind; however, it wasn't going to open until noon. Instead, I rode the park's newest ride, Revolution 360. A Zamperla Disko, it was a walk-on. Never before had I been on a Disko so I was pretty intrigued by the restraints. Ultimately though, they were a bit painful on my man region if you know what I mean. Moving past that, the ride was very cool. The spinning was quite disorienting and forceful and the park gave a really long cycle. Overall, the Revolution 360 was a really unique flat. 8 out of 10 Still needing to pass time before Whirlwind opened, I decided to board the park's drop tower, the Spring, which was a walk-on. A Moser Rides tower, the Spring lacked height but still gave an enjoyable ride. Each of the bounces gave a nice stomach-dropping sensation and a brief pop of air. My only complaint would be how short the cycle was as the car only ascended the tower in full three times, a number far less than the other family sized drop towers I've been on. After my ride, I hopped back on for two more since it still had no line. 7 out of 10 Almost noon, I decided to ride the park's classic PTC Crazy Daisy, the Crazy Cups. A walk-on, this model unfortunately had no shade or tarp covering it so the ride was quite hot as it just baked in the sun. Moving past that, the Crazy Cups just seemed weaker than the other models I've been on at Story Land, Canobie Lake Park, and Knoebels. Still, there was some decent spinning and it was an enjoyable ride to hit until Whirlwind opened. 5 out of 10 Finally, it was time to hit Whirlwind. After watching it test for 5-10 minutes, I boarded the fourth train of the day and was very impressed by this compact coaster. First, the restraints were both secure and comfortable- a major plus for any ride. Second, while the ascent was very quick, the views of the Lake were fantastic! Third, the ride is simply a rush! Despite its size, the first drop packs a mean punch, especially when traveling down it backwards, as the drop is very steep. Following a large hill, the ride begins spinning non-stop and the ride becomes a very disorienting joyride packed with sudden drops, twists, and helixes. Most importantly, even with the abrupt and sudden drops and transitions the ride manages to be glass-smooth. Following my first ride, I got three more rides in a row with a 5-10 minute wait as Seabreeze really loads these cars quickly to keep the line moving. This is a real winner for the park and turned out to be my favorite attraction there! 9 out of 10 Next, it was time to hit the park's himalaya, the Music Express. Sitting in the spot of the park's old Gyrosphere ride, the Music Express turned out to be a 5 minute wait. Once boarding, I was blown away by this himalaya and it turned out to be my favorite himalaya ride. First, the Music Express was a really odd himalaya as it went backwards. Now going backwards alone is unfortunately a rarity nowadays, but what really makes this himalaya unique is how it begins by going backwards. Going backwards, the ride gains some nice speed which produces some strong laterals. Then, the rides slows down and begins traveling forwards, and sure enough it begins traveling just as quickly as it did backwards. Soon the ride began to slow down; however, then the ride completely caught me off-guard and kicked it into high gear. With the blink of an eye it reached its max speed which created some intense laterals and even generated some pops of air going over the tops of the hills on this himalaya. Never did I imagine that a himalaya could surpass Canobie's now defunct Matterhorn as that thing was one of the most intense flats around. While this trails the Matterhorn just slightly in the thrills department, it crushes it in the cycle department. 10 out of 10 Now it was time to make the trek across the park to hit the park's classic wooden coaster, the Jack Rabbit. Opened in 1920, this classic Miller coaster is ultimately the park's most iconic attraction and the most popular attraction amongst locals. Housed in a beautiful classic station, the Jack Rabbit was a real treat to watch as it still employs skid breaks. After a one train wait, I boarded this classic coaster in the front seat and was treated to one heck of a fun ride. Going up the lift hill, the anticipation built as the ride's layout is shielded from view from the rest of the park. Once cresting the lift, I was treated to a delightful out-and-back coaster. While not overly thrilling, the ride was very smooth and had several nice moments of floater air scattered about. But the highlight of the coaster for me was the ride's amazing tunnel, as I was totally caught off-guard by the surprise drop hidden within. Afterwards, I decided to give the coaster another whirl, this time in the back seat. Again, I got another solid ride. While it trailed Whirlwind for my favorite ride in the park, the Jack Rabbit was still a very solid ride despite its age.7 out of 10 Now it was time to hit the park's Tilt-a-Whirl. A walk-on, Seabreeze's Tilt-a-Whirl had some solid spinning, but the headrest on this one seemed harder than those found on other models. The others I've been on usually have a soft cushion while this one had a harder material that wasn't the most comfortable for my head when the centripetal forces forced my head back against it. Still, the ride's solid spinning and long cycle made it a decent version of this timeless classic. 6 out of 10 After the Tilt-a-Whirl, I decided to hit the park's Flying Scooters flat ride. Sporting a pastel green and yellow paint job, it was a walk-on. My ride was delayed a bit though as a young boy slipped underneath his tub while boarding and his mesh shirt got caught on a wire underneath the tub. Immediately, the ride op called for help and began calming the boy down as he was panicking quite a bit. After about 5 minutes, they were able to get him out from underneath the tub and the park was very apologetic to the kid. A+ for Seabreeze as that is how a park should treat their guests in a situation like that. Onto the ride itself. Unfortunately, it was just okay. While the tubs did move, the ride never reached all that fast of a top speed and it seemed to have a shorter cycle than several of the park's other flats. 5 out of 10 Then I decided to hit the park's only inverting ride, the Screamin' Eagle. A Zamperla Hawk, I love how Seabreeze gives guests the option to wait for an end seat or just get on. Instead of waiting 2-3 cycles for an end seat, I decided to just hop on immediately in one of the ride's other seats. After a quick check, the ride began rocking back and forth and soon enough it began fully inverting. Compared to other models I've been on, this one seemed to provide more hang-time and was had stronger Gs on the downswings. As a result, I really enjoyed the Screamin' Eagle, especially since it had a rather long cycle for this type of ride. 9 out of 10 Since everyone in my family was hungry by this point, we decided to grab lunch at the park's Fresh Cut Fries stand across from the Log Flume. I got chicken and fries for ~$8-9 and was impressed. Not only were the chicken tenders quite tasty, but the fries were some of the best I've had anywhere. Hot outside, I decided to hit the park's Log Flume immediately after. A 15-20 minute wait, I boarded this Hopkins flume with rather low expectations, and boy did it blow me away! While the layout was fairly simple, I just loved how it navigated around the perimeter of a pond teeming with geese. Additionally, the ride had a cool tunnel as well. Then it was time for the final plunge. Little did I know until later that day that Seabreeze's Log Flume has the steepest drop of any log flume in the US. Well, needless to say that the plunge was fantastic. Not only was the drop fairly tall, but it also had a scary moment of air-time that I have never experienced on any flume outside of the Orlando flumes. Following the breath-taking plunge is a soaking splash that left me really wet, but not completely soaked. 10 out of 10 Already wet, I decided to then hit the park's water park, Raging Rivers. After changing into my bathing suit in the park's very clean changing rooms, I immediately decided to hit the park's Helix bowl slide. Arguably the water park's most popular attraction, I had to wait about 20-25 minutes for it, and it was definitely worth it. While the drop didn't appear all that steep (and in all honesty it wasn't), the drop was still quite thrilling. Why? Well, the tube built up some considerable speed by the time it reaches the bottom of the drop and immediately after the drop is a really abrupt and powerful turn into the bowl that really blew me away. Mega Wedgie at The Great Escape didn't have this turn (it had a steeper drop instead). Needless to say, this was a really fun water slide, but unfortunately the line grew even longer while I was riding so I couldn't hit it again. 8 out of 10 Now it was time to ride the park's two other tube slides, Riptide Run and Vortex. Each slide was a 10 minute wait. Unfortunately neither slide was particularly thrilling. Riptide Run was the better of the two in my opinion since it seemed to reach a higher top speed. Meanwhile, while Vortex was completely enclosed, it just seemed really tame. Riptide Run- 5 out of 10, Vortex- 3 out of 10 Next, I decided to hit the park's two traditional body slides, the Bermuda Triangle. Each slide was a 10 minute wait and I was solidly impressed by this slide. Not only was the slide quite comfortable, but it also was fairly zippy and thrilling. Overall, the Bermuda Triangle was one of the stronger body slides I've been on at any water park, but I thought the ones at Lake Compounce and Banana Village beat it. 7 out of 10 Finally it was time to hit the water park's most thrilling slide, the Banzai Pipeline. One of those freefall speed slides, the Banzai Pipeline is a completely enclosed version. After a 10 minute wait, I was at the top of the tower. Just before my ride, there was a father and daughter at the top of the slide. Unfortunately, the girl was pretty worried about riding so she wanted her father to ride first. Assuring her that the ride is "no problem" he eagerly went down the slide. However, once he began his plunge he exclaimed "holy (expletive)" and screamed like crazy! Well, it at least made my wait shorter since the girl decided to avoid riding after her father's "courageous" display. As for my ride, I definitely enjoyed it. The drop was quite sudden (it had one of those little pre-drop sections) and was a quick rush. Most importantly, this one wasn't rough on the back like some other ones such as Typhoon Lagoon's Humunga Kowabunga. 9 out of 10 After drying off and changing back into my regular clothes, I decided to give the Screamin' Eagle another ride. A one cycle wait this time, I again opted to just get on. Again I was treated to another great ride; however, this time I had three screaming teenage girls across from me. While they were definitely an ear-sore, they weren't able to ruin my enjoyment one bit. Next, I decided to ride the Jack Rabbit two more times. My first wait was 10 minutes for the front seat and my second wait was 5 minutes for the back seat. Again, the Jack Rabbit gave another enjoyable ride. It is simply a blast from beginning to end. I wasn't expecting too much from this woodie since I hadn't heard much about it (other than its age) prior to my visit so it was a fun surprise. Then I walked right onto the park's classic Carousel. Well, it was definitely a true gem as the Carousel is simply beautiful and the park definitely has a right to be proud about it. Sporting many intricately crafted houses and a classic band organ, this carousel is also housed in a gorgeous pavilion. And not only is it a beauty, but it rides well too since the park gave an incredibly long cycle. 10 out of 10 Immediately after, I decided to reride the Spring once, Music Express once, Bobsleds once, and Revolution 360 once. Bobsleds turned out to be a 10 minute wait this time and again was just an enjoyable coaster suitable for all ages. Additionally, Revolution 360 wasn't quite as fun the second time around as the back restraint really forced me forwards, which caused a rather painful ride for me. Still, it is a very solid flat ride well worth riding it you are a fan of spinning rides. Next, I rerode Whirlwind four more times. Each time I had a 5-10 minute wait. During one of my waits, two girls tried to cut the entire line because they had "friends" at the front of the line that they wanted to ride with. Too bad for them that these friends were invisible and that the park caught them because they were not allowed to ride. Great job again Seabreeze for stopping line jumping! I really wish that more parks had these Mauer Sohne spinning coasters because they cram a ton of thrills into a really small footprint. Then, I needed to try the park's Bumper Cars. After a one-cycle wait, I hopped on and was treated to one of the best sets of Bumper Cars anywhere. The cars were both very fast and easy to steer. Because of this and the multitude of cars that the park had active, my ride was pure chaos teeming with strong collisions. Additionally, the park ran a very long cycle that only enhanced an already great ride. Unfortunately, I only gave the Bumper Cars one ride, but needless to say I was impressed. 9 out of 10 Afterwards, I walked onto the park's Chance Yo-Yo. Sadly, this version doesn't bob up and down like some of the other versions I've been on, but the park compensates for that by offering a longer cycle. While not an overly thrilling attraction, it provided a great breeze on a hot day. 6 out of 10 Before leaving, I hopped aboard the park's Log Flume for three more rides since it was a walk-on. Because of the amazing final drop and the ride's relaxing setting, Seabreeze's Log Flume is my favorite flume outside of Orlando after the stellar one located at Knoebels. Overall, Seabreeze was an amazing park that I definitely recommend to anyone in the area. While it isn't as large as Darien Lake or Canada's Wonderland, it just has an amazing atmosphere and is really well cared for. Seabreeze reminded me so much of Canobie Lake Park and Rye Playland in terms of its atmosphere and ride offerings. My next stop was Darien Lake and I hope to post that when I get a chance!

Last Friday, my family and I embarked on our major vacation for the year. While we were planning, it was going to be solely a college trip to visit both Cornell and RPI since I am very interested in engineering; however, it then turned into a major trip for us. Day 1- Catamount Adventure Park Our trip began with a three hour drive to this newly constructed ropes course nestled deep within the Berkshires. Located on the New York/Massachusetts border, my family and I hoped that this course would be just as entertaining as the Adirondak Extreme Course we did last summer in Lake George. After donning our climbing gear, we saw a rather brief demonstration that seemed rushed. Fortunately, the equipment was almost identical to that of Lake George's course so the poor demonstration didn't hurt me too much. However, those who are coming here for their first ropes course could have a few troubles initially due to this. Following the demonstration was a long, arduous walk up a very well shaded hill to reach the course. Upon seeing the course, I was amazed by the tangled mess of obstacles suspended high above my head. There are 5 levels (yellow, green, blue, black diamond, double black diamond). Each level gets progressively harder. Instead of starting with the yellow courses, I decided to begin with one of the green courses because Catamount only allows individuals three hours and I had hoped to get an opportunity to do the Double Black Diamond (Commando) course. The green course was fairly easy as it contained several tightropes, climbs, logs, etc. However, it was the blue course where the difficulty level really ramped up. Not only were the ropes and bridges looser (therefore causing them to sway more), but the types of bridges were far more difficult. One such obstacle consisted of four swinging logs with pegs. While the obstacle didn't appear overly difficult, it required a lot of upper body strength for me to go from log to log since they always seemed to sway out of reach with each leap I made. After a quick water break (water was complimentary and very cold ), I decided to try the black course. While I made it about 75% of the way through, I was unable to complete the course entirely because I completely drained myself on a very high rope ladder. Along each of the courses are several escape routes for individuals to escape on. Sadly, I had to use the escape zipline to get down. Wanting to continue to our first hotel, my family decided to move onwards after my sister finished the black course. Overall, I personally enjoyed the Adirondak Extreme Course I did last year more. First, that course allowed me to take as much time as I wanted to in order to complete all courses. Meanwhile at Catamount, I felt rushed to complete as many courses as possible in a three hour window. Unfortunately, rushing caused me to not enjoy the course as much and probably contributed to me fatiguing a lot more quickly than I did last year. Second, the guides seemed much more attentive and able to help patrons at the other course. At Catamount, it seemed difficult for guides to reach several of the platforms quickly to offer assistance and when they did provide assistance, several of the guides seemed annoyed. If you are in the area, I'd give Catamount a try, but I wouldn't go out of the way for it, especially since it is rather pricey and the one in Lake George is three hours away and a more enjoyable experience.

Thanks. I figured Skyrider would have slow loading much like its cousin at Kings Dominion. Fortunately, Shockwave was only a 15 minute wait while I was there. However, I don't mind waiting 45 minutes or so if necessary for this coaster since I actually enjoyed Shockwave. While it had weird restraints, I actually found it to be a really powerful coaster with some fun air-time.

Thanks. OK. I think I will go in and hit Thunder Run, Bat, Fly, Vortex and then go through the Action Zone starting with Flight Deck. That way I get on Behemoth in the morning as well as the afternoon! I'm not shocked about Time Warp's capacity. I've been on Rye Playland's Volare. I actually really enjoyed it, but I saw that if it were at a busier park, it could have a long wait.

Thanks. So the clockwise plan sounds pretty good. During the day, I do want to get all of the credits excluding Taxi Jam (I do enjoy credits, but I have my limits), but that seems like a strong plan that gets several of the coasters out of the way. You mentioned the Bat and Thunder Run only having one train operations. Because of that, I'm considering just getting those two out of the way first so that I don't have to endure 30-60 minute waits for a coaster that is clearly not worth it.

Just curious, but what is the best plan for hitting the rides at Canada's Wonderland? I'm going next Tuesday and have heard to expect large waits during the middle of the day. I am probably getting there at 10:00-10:30. So, if I get there at opening, what is the best order to do the park in? While I want to do Behemoth first, I have a feeling that everyone heads there first and that it has a high capacity. I'm thinking of hitting Flight Deck, Time Warp, Dragon Fire, Bat, Fly, Thunder Run, Vortex in that order. Is that a good plan to avoid long waits? Also, do lines die down by the end of the day so that several coasters are essentially walk-ons?

I'm visiting Canada's Wonderland next week and only have one day there. I have heard that I should expect heavy crowds even on a weekday. I am skipping the water park in an effort to hit all of the major flat rides and roller coasters. I heard that Behemoth will have a full queue all day since (even at opening) since it is the park's marquee attraction; however, I heard that the full queue is only 30-45 minutes. I'm thinking of hitting a ton of the low capacity coasters first. The ones that I want to get out of the way early due to possible waits would be Flight Deck, Time Warp, Thunder Run, Fly, Bat, Ghoster Coaster, and Silver Streak. So, any touring plans would be greatly appreciated? Do I go in the Medieval Fair, International Festival, or Action Zone first? Also, do crowds die down at closing in that some rides could be walk-ons?

I'm actually leaving on a similar trip this Friday. I haven't been to the parks yet, but just assuming that this would be what would happen. At Martin's Fantasy Island, I assume you will get on Crazy Mouse since the restraints must be the exact same as those on Animal Kingdom's Primeval Whirl. Flight has the same restraints as a normal wave swinger I think except that you must have a partner. At Darien Lake, I have a feeling that Ride of Steel could be tough since the park had the accident back in 1999 where a man was ejected. Bobsleds shouldn't be a problem from what I have seen. Whirlwind would have different restraints since it is a Mauer-Sohne model compared to a Gerstlauer, but I've heard that most spinning coasters are quite accomodating, so you should be safe. At Marineland, I'm not too sure on either of those rides. I've seen several people have to get off a Huss Top Spin. But the thing that confuses me is how you got on Star Blaster, but not Dragon's Descent since both rides have the exact same restraints. Vortex should be safe since you rode Big Bad Wolf before its demise. Then, I'm guessing Time Warp and Behemoth could be ridden because I've heard in the past that they are more accomodating than they actually appear. But with Drop Tower, it uses the same restraints as Volcano from what I have seen in pictures. I hope you enjoy your trip and I hope this helps!

Sorry if this is a simple question, but how do I change the photos to JPEGs?

^^ Thanks. Yeah, I decided the best way to get back into playing RCT2 was to simply just pick up and play without custom scenery. Maybe this weekend I will be able to post an update on my old Easton Gardens park that I started a long time ago that I have slowly made a little progress on. ^ I forget how fast the flume gets up to, but it definitely is faster than any flume I have ever made in this game. Also, I'll look into removing the trees from the Virginia Reel. I think that there are a couple of trees towards the back of the ride, but most of the vegetation underneath consists of different types of bushes. Crazy Castle.SV6 Here's the park download. Let me know if it works.

When I went to BGE in 2006, I stayed at the Best Western Patrick Henry Inn. It is nothing special, but I didn't find anything wrong with it. I got what I paid for. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g58313-d72760-Reviews-Patrick_Henry_Inn-Williamsburg_Virginia.html

After taking a year off from playing RCT2 because of a very tough junior year, I finally picked up the game and decided to play my favorite stage in the entire game- Crazy Castle. However, instead of just completing the stage, I decided to try and make it into a very nice park (with the help of 8 Cars giving me an infinite budget). So, I proudly present Crazy Castle. Feel free to give any feedback! SCR1.BMP Welcome to Crazy Castle! Here, you can see the park's nostalgic and classic PTC carousel and the Royal Ball, the park's Eli Bridge Scrambler. SCR3.BMP The park's Sky Ride always has a very long ride. It brings guests from the entrance towards the back of the park. SCR4.BMP High above the "royal grounds." SCR5.BMP Guests get off over here in this very nicely landscaped area of the park. SCR6.BMP The Fury is the park's very intense Enterprise. For years, it was one of the park's most intense rides until the park really expanded in recent years. SCR7.BMP Inside this very boxy looking castle (I really had no idea how to make a nice station for this one) is the park's Arrow coaster, the Corkscrew. SCR8.BMP Despite only having a max height of 45ft, the Corkscrew is still a very popular coaster. For many, it is their first looping coaster. SCR9.BMP Take the tunnel! Inside here is the ride's first corkscrew. This one is a cutback inversion just like the one that used to be on Busch Gardens's Drachen Fire. SCR11.BMP After leaving the tunnel, the Corkscrew roars through its second and final inversion. Afterwards, there is a brief lift hill to return it to the station. SCR13.BMP Merlin's Maze confuses guests as they try and find their way out. Even if they struggle, they still have a great time admiring the beautiful setting. SCR14.BMP Guillotine, the park's Huss Top Spin, runs a very intense program that can't be found at any of the nation's Six Flags parks. SCR16.BMP How good are your jousting skills? The Joust bumper cars should test it. SCR17.BMP Merlin's Wand is the park's Vekoma Air Jumper. It's a one-armed version of the one that used to operate at Six Flags New Egnland. SCR18.BMP This is arguably the park's scariest attraction. Even though it strays a bit from the medieval theming on the exterior, the ride's plot ties in flawlessly to the park's overall theme. SCR20.BMP Lines are always long for the park's signature attraction, Excalibur. Designed by GCI, this terrain woody has placed third in Amusement Today's Golden Ticket awards the past few years, only trailing the Voyage and El Toro. Riders compare it to the Raven in terms of intensity and fun. SCR21.BMP Friendly trash talking usually occurs between riders on Dragon Fang Falls (log flume) and Excalibur on the way up. SCR22.BMP Here is the big drop. While it is far from steep, Excalibur really picks up some crazy speed at the bottom that allows it to rocket through the rest of its course. SCR23.BMP This hill provides massive ejector air. SCR24.BMP After this thrilling air-time hill, Excalibur roars through a series of low-to-the-ground twists and turns that have become the signature of GCI woodies. SCR26.BMP But the airtime soon returns with this thrilling section that hugs the terrain. SCR27.BMP Another powerful airtime hill. This one leads into a relentless helix that provides some powerful Gs. SCR29.BMP Using my fancy see-through camera, I was able to show you this- Excalibur's climb and sudden drop underground. Not only is the drop a real shock to riders, but following it are a couple more air-time hills in total darkness and one final helix. SCR31.BMP If you are hot, don't forget about Excalibur's neighbor, Dragon Fang Falls. SCR32.BMP Before Excalibur was installed, this Hopkins flume was the only ride on this hill. SCR33.BMP Dragon Fang Falls is proud to have the tallest drop of any flume in America. It is the same height as Excalibur- 75ft! SCR35.BMP Trust me, the splash that this flume makes is impressive due to all of the speed that is built up. SCR36.BMP Following the ride's epic plunge is a more relaxing section that hugs the park's river. SCR37.BMP Here is Dungeon Drop. Often regarded as the park's most thrilling attraction, this Intamin Gyro Drop is one of the best themed drop towers anywhere! SCR38.BMP The suspense is killing these riders! SCR39.BMP Riders experience one of the best frefalls anywhere on the way down. Despite only being 120ft tall, Dungeon Drop proves that bigger isn't always better. SCR40.BMP Every classic park needs a Ferris Wheel! SCR41.BMP Long before Excalibur was built, the King's Crown was the park's signature attraction. One of the only Virginia Reels still operating today, it still provides a very disorienting and enjoyable ride. SCR42.BMP Again using my camera, I can show you a shot of the park's highly-themed, indoor Chance Sea Dragon. Using fire effects, fog, music, and strobes, riders will not soon forget this swinging ship. SCR43.BMP Kids love to drive their parents around on the Old Colony Backroads. Adults love to admire the beautiful setting on the Old Colony Backroads. SCR46.BMP What ride are these people waiting for? SCR48.BMP Knightmare! Built by Anton Schwarzkopf, this launched steel creation occupies the very back of the park. SCR49.BMP Due to the speed built up by the 55 MPH launch, these turns are much more thrilling than they appear. SCR50.BMP Knightmare crosses the river for the first time. SCR51.BMP Of all Schwarzkopf coasters out there, this may be the most forceful vertical loop of any of their coasters outside of Canada's Mindbender. SCR52.BMP Don't worry! Airtime is still here. SCR55.BMP Speeding around this turn, Knightmare approaches its second vertical loop. SCR56.BMP After this loop, Knightmare dives underground and returns to the station. SCR58.BMP Remember that kiddie coaster seen in the first couple of photos? Well, I present to you the Kingdom Coaster. SCR59.BMP Built by Vekoma, this custom roller skater gently navigates through several twisting drops and helixes. SCR47.BMP And I leave you with an aerial shot of the park.

I'm going to Canada's Wonderland in a couple of weeks and while the wooden coaster sounds nice (especially a GCI), I honestly think that a B&M Floorless would be a better fit at the park. Granted a GCI would be a lot cheaper. But a B&M looks like a better fit because several of their steel loopers look like they provide a rough ride, while the Mighty Canadian Minebuster and Wilde Beast don't look all that bad; however, I can give a full opinion after visiting the park.

Yesterday was one of the best moments of the year for me. I got to visit my first amusement park of the year! Even better, it was my home park and my favorite park in New England, Canobie Lake Park. Heck, it is one of my favorite parks anywhere, and as usual I had a blast. The weather could not have been anymore perfect, as there were cloudless skies and not too much humidity, but there was plenty of sun. After an hour long ride (thankfully there was no traffic), I arrived at the park with my friend, my sister, and her friend. With the discount tickets I had gotten for Christmas, I was able to get into the park quickly. Now, I unfortunately was unable to get to Canobie last year, so the first thing that I noticed was Canobie’s much better entrance. The architecture is simply stunning and it is a much more fitting entrance for this exemplary family park. Additionally, the employees at the entrance were cheery as usual, setting the tone for a great day. First, we decided to ride Canobie’s only inverting ride, the Corkscrew. Until this point, my sister had yet to ride a looping coaster (or any looping ride for that matter). However, she was ready to give it a shot as she had worked up the courage to try SFNE’s Bizarro on a class trip and she loved it. After waiting 15 minutes for the very nice looking yellow Arrow, we boarded in the second-to-last car. For some reason, I liked the Corkscrew more than usual this year. Not only did it provide the typical ejector air going down the first drop, but it also was very smooth going through both of the corkscrews. That is right- no headbanging! While it is a very short coaster, it is a great fit for the park. Even better, my sister enjoyed it. Afterwards, we headed over to Canobie Village to ride Policy Pond Log Flume. After a 20-25 minute wait, we boarded. Kudos to the park for removing all of the gum from the ride’s station and along the ride’s trough, as in past years it had been quite a repulsive sight. This is still one of my favorite log flumes anywhere (outside of the Orlando flumes, it is only behind Knoebels’s flume for my favorite). With a relaxing journey through the woods, a thrilling plunge, and a satisfying splash, this is a real winner and my third favorite ride in the park. Also, did this used to have water cannons? I’m not 100% sure, but for some reason I think that they were there a few years ago. Then we decided to ride one of Canobie’s biggest thrill rides, the Xtreme Frisbee. After a 20 minute wait, we all boarded. While the cycle seemed a bit shorter this year, the ride seemed more intense. The first half was filled with some gentle swings and decent spinning, but it is the second half that really made this ride shine. Here, the Frisbee spun much faster creating some really strong Gs and at the tops of the swings, I got several small pops of air. While the Huss Frisbees pale in comparison to the Technical Park (Palace Playland’s Adrenalin) and KMG (Freak Out) versions, this is my favorite Huss Frisbee. Next, we wanted to ride the Rowdy Roosters; however, its queue ran out into the midway so we decided to avoid it as a full queue can be a 45 minute wait due to the ride’s very low capacity and slow loading. Therefore, we decided to ride the Wipeout. While I definitely miss the Kosmo Jet, Wipeout is one of the park’s best flats. Compared to every other Chance Wipeout I’ve been on, this one is superior. Not only does it have the best theming, but it also has a much more intense cycle. After a 10 minute wait, I was treated to a very intense cycle teeming with pops of air and powerful laterals, especially during the ride’s finale. Then it was time to ride my favorite ride at Canobie, the Yankee Cannonball. As usual, the ride boasted a 40-45 minute wait. However, I was perfectly content because despite the park’s one-train operation, the operators were really working quickly. Additionally, I was able to watch their new Jungle Antics show at the Midway Stage. While I was unable to see the entire show, it definitely seemed well-liked by the kids as there was some really unique animals such as a miniature kangaroo and a wildcat. Back to the Yankee Cannonball, I rode in the very back with my friend. This year, the ride had individual seatbelts rather than a shared seatbelt. Were these added last year or this year? Anyway, thanks to the buzzbars and the park’s incredible maintenance crew, the Yankee Cannonball is one of the best wooden coasters I’ve ever been on. While the ride is old and lacks the height of many modern day coasters, the Yankee Cannonball is loaded with copious air time throughout each and every one of its hills. Not only that, but it is glass-smooth. This is easily the park’s star attraction and it delivered as usual. Immediately after, we decided to ride the park’s drop tower, Star Blaster. An S&S Double Shot, Star Blaster is shorter than New England’s other S&S towers. However, size does not matter. After a 15 minute wait, we boarded and were treated to an amazing ride. What the ride lacks in size, Star Blaster makes up with in brute force. This tower still has two very intense launch followed by two incredible moments of ejector air that no other drop tower matches in my opinion. After WDW’s Tower of Terror, this is definitely my favorite drop tower. Then it was time for lunch, so we decided to go to the Portofino Restaurant along Canobie Lake. We ordered a large cheese pizza. As usual, the restaurant was air conditioned and a sanctuary from the heat. Additionally, the pizza was extraordinary as usual. Not only is it my favorite pizza at a theme park, but it is also my favorite pizza anywhere. Unfortunately, my sister was not feeling too well, so she had to leave early with her friend. However, I stayed with my friend for the rest of the day. So we decided to ride DaVinci’s Dream since it was right next to the restaurant. After a 5 minute wait, we boarded and I was reminded why it is my favorite swing ride anywhere. Not only is the ride simply a jewel to look at, but it is run a bit quicker than the swings I’ve been on at other parks, and subsequently it has stronger G-forces. Then, we decided to ride the Turkish Twist, which received a new paint job since my last visit. While the ride definitely looks fresh, I personally liked the ride’s old paint scheme better. After a 5 minute wait, we boarded the drum. Of every rotor I’ve been on, this one is far and away my favorite. While it has a very short cycle, the ride is very intense. The G-forces this ride dishes out are simply incredible and very few rides can make me as dizzy as this ride does. Next, we decided to ride the Corkscrew again. After a 20 minute wait, we boarded the back row and had another great ride. We then contemplated heading back to Canobie Village to ride either the Pirata or the Mine of Lost Souls, but instead we decided to ride the park’s bumper cars. The Dodgem had received a new paint job since my last visit, as it now sports a flamboyant neon pink, orange, and green scheme. After a 5 minute wait, we boarded. While the park’s bumper cars are fun, they are nothing special compared to the bumper cars offered at some of the other New England parks like Funtown’s, Santa’s Village’s, or those at Six Flags New England. The cycle seemed a bit longer than last time though, so I give the park credit for that. Then, we decided to ride Dodgem’s neighbor, Zero Gravity. The replacement for the park’s old Round-Up, Zero Gravity is an even better version in my opinion. After a 5 minute wait, we boarded this Dartron flat. While the ride itself seemed a bit smaller than the park’s old Round-Up, Zero Gravity seemed a bit more intense. Round-ups have always been one of my favorite flats, so I am glad that the park made sure to get a new one to replace the old one. Because it had no line, we then decided to hit the Crazy Cups. While the ride boasts a rather small footprint, it is still an enjoyable ride with some decent spinning. That being said, I like the version at Story Land better as it seems to be run a bit longer. Afterwards, we decided to ride the park’s new ride for 2009, Wave Blaster. After a 15 minute wait, we boarded this Zamperla flat. I personally was not a big fan of the restraints on this as they seemed to go down rather far and were quite restrictive. Moving past that, Wave Blaster is a perfect fit for the park as it is a solid family ride. That being said, while the bouncing is fun, it is not overly exciting for a majority of the ride except for the sporadic “big” bounces. The cycle was decent in length though. Immediately after, we decided to get a second ride on the Yankee Cannonball, and again it was a 45 minute wait. This time we got the second-to-back row. Again, we were treated to a great ride stuffed with amazing air-time. I honestly am surprised that this ride does not receive more acclaim than it does as it is the second best woodie in New England after Lake Compounce’s heralded Boulder Dash. Not wanting to forget about the Cannonball’s neighbor, we then hit Star Blaster for a second time. After a 10 minute wait, we boarded and got an equally great ride. Again, I am still in awe at the sheer power that this S&S tower provides. While it was still hot out, the line for the Boston Tea Party had died down a bit. Therefore, we decided to give it a ride. After changing into my bathing suit, we waited 5-10 minutes and then boarded. After a relaxing climb up the ride’s 50ft lift that provided great views of Canobie Lake, we went down the ride’s thrilling drop and created a massive splash that got me absolutely drenched. I still feel sorry for my friend since he forgot to bring his bathing suit. Wanting to dry off, he suggested we ride the Xtreme Frisbee again. After a 10-15 minute wait, we boarded and had another great ride. I definitely prefer the Xtreme Frisbee to the old coaster that used to rest in its place, the Rockin’ Rider. Finally, we were about to go so we decided to get one last ride in. Therefore, we decided to ride the park’s tilt-a-whirl, Twist & Shout. After a 10 minute wait, we boarded the very nice looking flat. I had previously only been on this tilt-a-whirl once and was very underwhelmed; however, this time it gave a far superior ride. While the ride started slow, by the end our car was really spinning and producing some intense Gs. By this time, we had to go but we both had a great day. Canobie continues to be my favorite park in New England as I just love the atmosphere and ride selection that this park offers. Throughout my visit, I only saw one ride down, the Skater, but there were four maintenance guys working arduously to reopen it when I walked by. They were all working on the ride vehicle itself, and the employee standing at the entrance was telling guests that it would reopen later. I never returned to that side of the park, but I assumed that the park was able to fulfill this. The only complaint I have about the park would be its lack of season passes (just curious, does anyone know why the park does not have season passes?). Anyway, if you are anywhere in the New England area, I definitely recommend making time for one of the best family parks anywhere.

While I'm definitely a bit bummed with how long it has taken for Knoebels to open the Flying Turns, I can understand because it is a project that has not been done for many years. Besides, I would much rather Knoebels take additional time to create a superior final project rather than a rushed project. Plus, if Knoebels had rushed and opened the ride early and then had these issues, it would probably be even more frustrating because of the frequent downtime that it would be plagued by. As for the Black Diamond, I'm shocked at how quickly construction has gone thus far. I'm thrilled Knoebels has rescued yet another classic coaster.

I'm planning on signing up for Club TPR, but I was just curious about the discounts for Canada's Wonderland and Darien Lake. Each park gives a discount, but it is not stated whether or not it is for just the card-holder or everyone in their party. I'd be bringing 3 guests with me. I was just curious because if the discount doesn't work for everyone, we need to get a couple of discount tickets from a local travel agency, but the Club TPR discount is superior to that of the local travel agency. Also, I may possibly use the discount admission for Six Flags New England and I'd again be going with a couple of people so I'd appreciate any response if you guys know. Please and thank you.

I've recently stumbled upon this site (coasterq.com), and I was wondering how accurate this site is. Ever since whentoride.com went down, I've been looking for a reliable site with ride wait times; however, some of these wait times seem fishy. For example, every ride at Six Flags New England (including the kiddie rides) has at least a half hour wait. So would anyone know about this site's accuracy?

Hi, my family and I are going on a trip to visit Seabreeze, Darien Lake, Marineland, Canada's Wonderland, and Martin's Fantasy Island next month and we have a few questions. 1) Does anyone know of a good hotel near Darien Lake? We originally wanted to stay at the Lodge ajacent to the park, but for some reason we are unable to book a one-night stay. 2) Does Marineland/Canada's Wonderland/Niagara Falls (Canadian side) accept American dollars or do we need to get traveler's checks? 3) Which attractions around Niagara are worth hitting?

For me, the best B&M inverts that I have been on rank like this. 1) Dueling Dragons- Fire 2) Dueling Dragons- Ice 3) Talon 4) Great Bear 5) Alpengeist

I rode the Yankee Cannonball, which still is the 2nd best wooden coaster in New England!

I'm currently at 92 coasters. 1- Rudy's Rapid Transit Coaster (Santa's Village) 10- Space Mountain- Alpha (Magic Kingdom) 25- Boulder Dash (Lake Compounce) 50- Dragon Coaster (Rye Playland) 69- Loch Ness Monster 75- Pandemonium (Six Flags New England) 92- Wild Mouse (Funtown U.S.A.) I'm probably going to reach about 120 by the end of this summer, and I am aiming to make Darien's Ride of Steel my 100th coaster.

For me it was the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disney's MGM (at the time) Studios. Conveniently, it was my first launched coaster as well. Needless to say, I was quite scared before getting on, but I enjoyed it. A few weeks later, I rode the Corkscrew at Canobie Lake Park.

First Flat: Zipper (Local Carnival) First Park: Canobie Lake Park First Coaster: Corkscrew (Canobie) First Water Ride: Policy Pond Log Flume (Canobie) Later this year, I am visiting Seabreeze, Darien Lake, Marineland, Canada's Wonderland, and Martin's Fantasy Island for the first time so I should be getting plenty of new credits and new parks!

Sorry if this has been posted anywhere, but I was just wondering why I get sick and feel queasy after regular-old swinging ships, but I have absolutely no problem with Claws, Freak Outs, Kamikazes/Hawks, Inverters, or S&S Screaming Swings. Any ideas?

By the way, do any of the rides there have lockers or rings?