Zand

I did notice that it was a bit of a rough landing coming off that hill (both my rides Tuesday were in the back row) but nothing this extreme. If there was some warping in that part of the ride then I don't know how they missed it if they had to carefully inspect the whole coaster for damage after the derailment.

I swear I'm a giant jinx for this park when I go outside of HITP. I was there in 2019 the day after Wonder Woman tried removing itself from the ground. I was there the day last year when the Log Flume crashed. Then a couple days before El Toro derailed and now it happened again. I don't understand how this keeps happening to El Toro. Hope this doesn't force some major changes to the ride experience.

Might be the last time I post in this thread for a couple months as I have nothing planned anytime soon, but at least I can leave off with... El Toro. Ole!

Stopped in for about 2 hours today. Doesn't sound like much time, but long enough to ride Batman, JDC twice, Nitro, Skull Mountain, El Toro twice, and grab dinner at Granny's. Obviously walk ons everywhere plus Great Adventure has better ops than Disney these days so oftentimes you could get on and off the coasters in a matter of 2-3 minutes. Only observation I can point out is that Kingda Ka VERY sparingly ran. I think I saw maybe 2 cycles with people on it the whole time I was in the park, a handful of empty test runs, and otherwise nothing happening at all. Didn't bother going over there to ride it as I didn't have time to wait through breakdowns. Otherwise everything seemed to be running well that I observed. I think the most interesting thing to me was getting to JDC right around 4:00 and they were occasionally sending entire trains empty because the place was so dead. I walked right up into a waiting front seat my first ride then stuck around in the station and hopped in back. There were more people in the park on January 2nd than there were today. Couldn't believe how dead it was. Also saw on Facebook that I was at the park 11 years ago today. Earthquake day. Was anyone else there that day? Bizarre for sure.

Runaway Tram. I don't have a picture. Watch the tram car please.

Early report: Breakfast at Pink Cadillac was excellent as always, our traditional opening of Capt'n Jack's at 11 went off without a hitch, rode the world's greatest Boomerang which was great, and now sitting at Capt'n Jacks drinking Pina Coladas again watching them test Zoom Phloom so I won't be getting burned by a closed Flume today. Surfside opens in 10 mins. PigDog in a couple hours. Great White and Screamin Swing laps tonight. I sure wish I lived here!

I did ride it a couple years ago and liked it a lot, although I wish I would've visited when Tropical Storm was still there. And I guess I'll have to try "Dark Ride" when I go back to (hopefully) ride the Flume next year. I walked past it yesterday and almost did that but decided to use the rest of my credits on the shitty Frisbee instead haha. At least I can make up for it with an It marathon today. Maybe I will whore myself out to the Wacky Worm too if I'm desperate.

Stopped in Ocean City on my way into Wildwood tonight. Since I still hadn't been to Gillians, we headed there first. I knew there were no new coasters for me to ride (I'm not enough of a whore to pay $7 to ride a Wacky Worm or a powered Dragon Coaster) but figured I could check out the Ferris Wheel and Log Flume and walk around a bit. Upon arrival, the first thing I see is a giant sign on the ticket booth saying "Log Flume closed." Well...balls. We ended up getting $20 worth of tickets so we could both ride the Ferris Wheel and then I could ride something else. When we walked out back the first thing my wife said was "it looks like a permanent carnival." We got on the Ferris Wheel which might be the slowest moving one I've ever ridden. It only goes around 3 times since it takes about a minute to go around. The prison bars make it very difficult to get pictures, and the slowness of the thing just made me way more nervous than I usually be on one of these. Used the rest of my credits on the Frisbee which didn't swing much and took a while to get going. Just felt real janky and also had Jesus quotes written all over it for added effect. This whole place was so f*cking weird. Headed down the boardwalk to Castaway Cove which felt like Islands of Adventure in comparison. Been here a few times and there was nothing new, so just got a Gale Force pass as there's no way I can drive past it on the way to Wildwood without stopping to ride it. Unlike last year when the queue house was totally full and I waited 45 minutes, there was only a 2 cycle wait this time. Ended up with the front row, and as usual this wacky thing totally delivered. Although I have a soft spot for Nitro (especially in January), this very well may be the best steel coaster in New Jersey. The insane ejector, fun positives, whippy twists, wacky transitions, and glass smooth experience make for an A+ ride and I still can't believe a tiny seaside park has a ride like this. Grabbed a slice from Manco & Manco on the way out (make sure you get a slice there when in Ocean City) and completed the trip down the Parkway. I know Wildwood is the big star on the shore for adrenaline junkies, but don't ever drive through without stopping to ride Gale Force.

The best steel coaster in New Jersey. Gale Force, as taken from the...uhh...much jankier Gillian's Wonderland on the other side of Ocean City.

Not familiar with SFA's Whistlestop Park, but if it's as small and pointless as the one at SFNE, no big loss there. And then isn't Coyote Creek just Mind Eraser and a flat or two? If anything, closing those areas off might make SFA less terrible. As long as Superman, Jokers Jinx, Wild One, and the Drop Tower are open they could just go all Lakemont on the rest of the place for all I care lol.

When I was at Disney in April, operations were so lackluster (by Disney standards) that I kept saying it really just felt like a day at a Six Flags park. Glad Six Flags heard me say their ops are on par with Disney so that they could match their ticket prices.

Moreys makes carnivals look cheap. If you can't get a wristband, tickets are beyond absurd there. As for SF, I agree that things were priced unrealistically low but they probably could have raised prices and ended programs a little more gradually than they did. It became too noticeable to the average joe that they went way up on everything within a few months.

Thunderbolt in Massachusetts two weeks ago... ...but not THAT Thunderbolt. The mountain coaster at Berkshire East Ski Area. Actually went twice because on the first ride the girl in front of me went down the whole thing on the brakes, causing me to stop dead 5 times. Next ride was much better. I think I liked the Killington coaster better, but this one was solid too. Jersey Shore in one week!

I also like the outdoor bar behind Jack's. Awesome breeze and views from there too. Lots of Adirondack chairs and cornhole games and such. Yeah the new Jack's isn't as cool but we've...uhh...opened it for the day with a few Long Islands the last couple trips down so it's become a tradition to us to throw a few back at 11am after breakfast at the Pink Cadillac. Man I'm excited to get back there

There's been several times that I've wanted to post exactly this post in other threads, but I didn't want to across as "ungrateful or pessimistic". But this is 100% true aside from maybe Kings Island. Also I do have the dining pass for my wife and I but still didn't get the increase. But I'm sure it's coming next month.

They just billed me yesterday...same rate as last month. We'll see next month I guess. Like I said last year when they ended memberships...getting grandfathered in will eventually be moot because at some point they'll just keep jacking the price. Seems we've started that process.

Ha...definitely always go to both when I'm there. I like the atmosphere and drinks better at Jack's but definitely can't beat the view at Joe's. And no problem with the 5pm opening. Only problem last year was my wristband was only good till 7 with the same hours, so I had limited time on Surfside and didn't have time to get to Adventure Pier to use the wristband. So all good this year.

Embarking on my annual Shore trip August 21-23. Will be driving down Sunday and probably stopping for Gale Force and Manco & Manco pizza on the way down. Monday is Wildwood day and I already have a full day wristband ready to go as well as some drinking money for Capt'n Jack's and Pig Dog. Staying at Key West this year. Any updates on Moreys (and the Ocean City parks) from the locals? Missed the flume last year as well as a couple other attractions (Ghost Ship, Pirates). Also hoping that by going late in August, crowds won't be as bad as they were the last week of July last year. Tuesday my wife will spend the traditional tens of thousands of dollars on stuff at Douglass' Candy (if she ever hit the lottery I swear she'd just buy the store) and then we'll stop for a couple El Toro laps on the way home.

I thought about stopping in on the way to Wildwood in a few weeks but this confirms that I should just keep driving until I get to Gale Force instead. Snooki probably puked on those head-squeezing OTSRs anyway.

Spending a couple days in Lake George and threw in a few hours at Great Escape while in town. I had never been before despite driving by a ton of times. Unfortunately the forecast looked ugly today, but upon heading out from the hotel at 10:45 the sun was peeking out and the storms were still out near Syracuse so I figured that would be more than enough time to lap the park. Upon arrival I headed back to Comet and after the long walk back, someone walked down from the station and said it was down for maintenance. So I decided to go back up past the unsurprisingly closed Bobsleds and ride the pieces of sh*t up front. Hit Flashback first which had no line but also a laughably slow crew. After it stops in the station, they wait for the catch car to attach to the train, THEN they let everyone into the station to line up for rows, THEN they open the gates. I sat somewhere in the middle and it ended up being one of the smoother Boomerangs I've ever ridden. I usually don't mind these as long as they're not super rough, so this was a pleasant surprise. Then when it stops there is no automatic unlocking mechanism (WTF?!?) so they had to go around and unlock each car one by one. Apparently Great Escape doesn't own a hose. Skull Mountain? Headed up to the Western ghost town next (although the whole park was a ghost town so who could even tell?) and rode Canyon Blaster first. This this is probably the biggest piece of sh*t mine trains I've ever ridden as there is absolutely nothing redeeming about the layout and it's rough as hell. Burn this thing to the ground. Went around to a walk on Condor which was awesome to see operating. I had only ridden the Hershey edition many moons ago and it was a fun ride as usual. Next door, ADK Outlaw had maybe 12 people in line but it took a while as they were loading 2 people into each car for some reason. But once on it, just a super awesome ride with great upside down views of the mountains. While at the top I noted that Comet was finally running, and even more of a miracle, BOBSLED WAS OPEN! Before making my way to the alpiney goodness, I had to get my Steamin Demon credit (more like steamin pile of sh*t, god does this thing suck) before heading back. One and done on that thing. This hill has 2 coasters, 2 flat rides, and a closed log flume and thank god for the flat rides or it would be even more of a ghost town. At least it looks nice? Upon arrival at the Bobsled, there was an open pathway where the closed sign was supposed to be, but also unsurprisingly a car stuck on the brakes above the entrance with maintenance up on the platform. I stood there and they got it moving, then the maintenance lady who saw me standing there yelled to me "come on in, its open!". After a 2 car wait I got into the rather tight and uncomfortable seats and waited for the inevitable breakdown, but surprisingly we got the all clear and we were off. This thing is way more wild than I expected. It really moves around side to side and gets some good speed. It hits some of the brake runs kind of hard which causes you to slam your knees but otherwise what a fun ride. Wasn't expecting to ride it at all, so I was very glad to fit this into my day. Do you believe in miracles? Headed back to Comet next and thanks to absolutely NOBODY being back there I rode three consecutive times in front and once in back without leaving. This thing is fantastically smooth, has some light airtime, and has the worlds fastest chain lift on a woodie (unconfirmed, but it feels like it) and, while it won't break into anyone's top 10, it's definitely a gem and worth stopping in for alone. After my mini marathon, Supernova was waiting for a rider so I hopped on. After Giant Frisbees have popped up everywhere, riding a mini Frisbee is a nice chance of pace. Fun ride. Started my way back up and passed a few more flats with ops just standing there hoping one of the 14 people in the place would come ride their ride. I headed over to Blizzard which looked absolutely deserted but had no closed sign either. Without any idea if it was actually open, I got in the non existant line and thankfully heard music blaring from inside. The door popped open and I was treated to a much better indoor scrambler experience than at Funtown last week. While this doesn't have the lights and projections, it makes up for it by being the most insane scrambler I've ever ridden and the cycle was easily 4 minutes. Not sure if abandoned or its just a Tuesday at Great Escape. Once I was out of there it was starting to sprinkle and thunder was audible off in the mountains. Everything was still operating and I wanted to hit Sasquatch on the way out but I didn't want to get caught in a downpour so I headed out. Keep in mind I did all this in about 2.5 hours. Great day for getting some rides in but it's sad how empty the place was. I could see the wave pool from Comet and it had 5 people in it. Never seen anything like that at another park. Fun day and despite the mostly terrible coaster lineup, I would definitely pop in here again.

Takes too long to really ramp up to the max intensity that it reaches in the 2nd half. Skyrush is mind blowing from the second it drops off the lift until it hits the brakes with very few chances to catch your breath. Velocicoaster is a masterpiece, no doubt. Skyrush isn't really a masterpiece as much as something someone drew up on a cocaine binge which is why IMO it wins that competition.

It's a shame that park has great coasters. I'd love to just not bother going back whenever I'm in Florida but the pull of the coasters is too strong. Halloween will be fun there.

Velocicoaster is great, but at no point does it feel like it's trying to rip your legs from your torso

Cool, something else to make Skyrush's line shorter! In all seriousness, I think a park with an RMC, the most batshit insane Intamin ever built, and a host of other fantastic coasters might be in the running for best coaster park in the country once this is up and running.

They're still doing that?!?