PhantomNick

I agree whole-heartedly on that one, though Sky Rocket is a pretty kick-butt ride as well! Either way, it's a pretty awesome 1-2 steel punch for a more mid-sized park.

Well, this will admittedly be a lighter year for us due to some expected medical procedures/costs this summer, but we're still trying to sneak in some park visits here and there. Definitely no "big" trips for us though......which is a bummer because the Texas/Midwest trip sounds amazing and would've been right up my alley!! Definites: Kennywood (several times, including one hopefully with a certain someone -- or two -- from on here! ) Hersheypark (April 6-7 for Springtime in the Park) Dorney Park for Coasting for Kids!!! Likely, but not finalized: Cedar Point (May or early June) Possible/Slim Chance: Canada's Wonderland Here's to a better year for coaster riding in 2014!

This isn't necessarily directly related to Kennywood, but I thought this was intriguing to think about with regards to the possible future of Kennywood's season passes. I noticed on Idlewild's website that they now have 3 different levels to their season passes - Basic, Premium, and VIP. I attached a screen shot of the chart from their site below. Considering that Kennywood is owned by the same parent company, it's interesting to think about a similar system coming to Kennywood in the near future. Coming soon to Kennywood?? Time will tell!

We saw Les Miserables here last weekend and it was outstanding! I really do love the music in that one. Although, admittedly, it took me a bit to follow the story. Next weekend I'm taking my wife to NYC to celebrate her 30th birthday, and part of that trip includes surprise tickets to see "Newsies" on Broadway!! She's gonna love that, as it's one of her favorite movie musicals. Also on deck this year (mostly thanks to huge group discounts from my work) - American Idiot, Book of Mormon, and the return to Pittsburgh of The Lion King!

This week's been pretty wacky from a weather standpoint here in the 'Burgh. We had a couple days in the 60's (with one day almost hitting 70), then the next day it was in the mid-20's with snow and 20-30 mph winds! Pretty crazy.

^ I thought the same thing, and looked at it closely for a minute to see if it did. Kinda reminded me of how Google has pictures on its homepage that have random objects spelling out Google.

Laura, I just wanted to say that this is an amazing series of photo trip reports!! Awesome job! I'm taking my wife to NYC next weekend to celebrate her 30th, and your trip report from there got me even more excited to head back to one of the greatest cities in the country! Also really enjoyed your SFA trip report.....you have a way with these reports, and some of the things you write are quite funny! SFA is the closest "big park" to me that I've yet to visit. Need to go check it out someday. Sounds like Wild One is pretty fun, and I certainly wouldn't mind riding another Intamin hyper!

We had an absolute blast at Dorney last year, and we'd be happy to add another to the team! ^^ Kara, I have to reiterate how awesome this event is and what a wonderful job you do putting this together with GKTW and Cedar Fair. THANK YOU so much for your tireless efforts for GKTW!! The difference made by all the Coasting for Kids participants is nothing short of remarkable. Also, if you're looking for a park again this year, you should come to Dorney! Cannot wait for the details and cannot wait to start raising money for these kids! I seriously want to break $2,000 this year!

Since I just booked our trip to Hershey for Springtime in the Park this April, it will be something there. More than likely, it's Skyrush baby!! Pretty stoked too, as this will be the earliest I have ever ridden a coaster to kick off a season!

Love me some awesome airtime hills! As for my favorites/best ones I've ridden: Wooden: 1.) Put another one in the column for El Toro's RT hill. Holy crap is that hill powerful! 2.) Phoenix with it's double-down/double-up combo. Standing air! 3.) El Toro's 1st airtime hill after the 1st drop. 2 hills from the same coaster?? You betcha, and all that copious airtime is the main reason why that incredible creation is firmly planted in my #1 spot, both wooden and overall. Honorable Mention - The old school double dip on Kennywood's Jack Rabbit. Super fun with super airtime! Steel: 1.) Skyrush. All of them. Holy moses, that airtime is almost unreal! Love, love, LOVE every second of that thing!! 2.) Phantom's Revenge with the back-to-back double downs near the ride's end. Holy ejector airtime, Batman! 3.) Ride of Steel, Darien Lake, 3rd hill. Coming out of the 1st helix, you peel down that straightaway and hit this hill and are catapulted skyward! Honorable Mention - 2nd hill on Intimidator 305. Simply awesome, especially towards the front. High on my list of coasters I'd call "must get to and ride" that seem to fit this topic - Bizarro @ SFNE, Boulder Dash, Expedition GeForce, New Texas Giant, and any freaking Megalite!

Enjoying the updates and pics from the other side of the country! I have to say, Gold Striker looks like a pretty sweet coaster! I'm glad to see after all the uncertainty that this ride pushed forward and is becoming a reality. Seems like something the place needed. I'd love to head out to California some day and check out the parks in the area. How far is this place from SFDK? My wife and I pondered the thought of a future Napa Valley/San Fran/SFDK/CGA trip at some point.

Quoted for absolute truth!! Those pics were amazing and some of them really cracked me up! By the way, congrats on the 1000th video.....and an awesome choice for it to boot!!

That......that......drop!! It's so HOLY MOTHER OF JEBUS WOWZERS!!!! Mind = BLOWN. You guys have no idea how much it's killing me to not snag one of those spots on the Texas/Midwest tour!! Damn adulthood and upcoming medical expenses! That trip is going to be one word - EPIC!

Those keyhole towers are even bigger than I thought they'd be.....that's going to make for an awesome visual as the coaster knifes through there! I really like the look of the new entrance in that video/still posted earlier. It's simple but slick, especially with GateKeeper roaring over top. I dig it! Hoping to return to the Point this year and snag a ride on this one.

As am I!! That was such a blast last year, from the fundraising for such a wonderful cause, to the actual event day itself. And as an added bonus, I developed some great friendships from it (yourself included) after meeting my awesome Dorney Team TPR teammates. Here's to "getting the band back together" again at Dorney this year!

Greetings, TPR folks! I checked my email this morning and saw a wonderful message from GKTW announcing the date for this year's Coasting For Kids charity event!! I cannot wait to take part in this AMAZING event again this year! Mark your calendars now, as the magic day is Sunday, June 9th Coasting For Kids 2013 date announcement Let's get ready to make this year's Coasting For Kids event the most successful one yet! And here's hoping that the awesome Team TPR will return for 2013!!

Don't have a clue how it will ride, as I've yet to even ride a Wing coaster yet, but there's no question that this thing looks absolutely stunning! I am in awe of the colors and its placement along the lake. Looking forward to returning to the Point (and the Breakers Friday's ) this year to take Gatekeeper for a spin!

Yep, I'm right there with you! My only visit to Holiday World (since it's about 9 hours away) was for HoliWood Nights back in 2007. I'm one who also does not like overly rough coasters at all. It sounds like I was lucky, because during our stay that year - and this was riding Voyage during the ERT and throughout the day (and all over the train) - because I thought it was amazing. I found it to be aggressive, but oddly enough very smooth. I couldn't believe a park would build a ride like that. It briefly spent some time as my #1 wooden coaster, but has since been dethroned by El Toro. But am I surprised to hear that it has gotten so rough? Not at all, actually. I remember telling my dad as we were leaving the park that it might take a herculean effort to keep Voyage running the way it was during our trip. When he asked me what I meant, I simply said that a ride that ballsy is going to likely try and tear itself apart. I often do wonder if the Timberliners would even help much on a coaster of Voyage's size. Those trains seem ideal for coasters in the "100 foot and under" category. As for my rankings, I do have Voyage in at #2. With the park so far away, I still only have those rides over the course of a couple days back in 2007 to use as a barometer. And I LOVED those rides immensely! But, that all said, I'm also a realist. When I return someday to Holiday World, as I did really like the place, if Voyage dishes out the kind of beating that's described here, it will plummet in my rankings. This cat don't enjoy getting beat up on a freaking roller coaster! That all said, I also noticed that Phoenix hit my list at #4. I remember first riding that in 2004/2005 and being blown away by it. I remember it being, as Robb said, so much FUN!! I haven't been to Knoebels since then, which is really a crime. I think a return trip is in order to get reacquainted with the greatness of Phoenix!

Nothing like waiting until the last minute! Not nearly as many wooden coasters for me as some of you, which just means......I need to go ride more of them!! And, remembering the ride photo that Robb & Elissa posted of KT on the Jack Rabbit, I can certainly see why she ranked it last! LOCATION FOLLOWS THIS LINE (LEAVE THIS LINE AS IS) ~"Pennsylvania" NAME FOLLOWS THIS LINE (LEAVE THIS LINE AS IS IN Ballot) ~"Nick" RANK THE FOLLOWING RIDING SENSATIONS <-LEAVE THIS LINE AS IS Abrupt Airtime_____________________________,y,y,1 Floating Airtime___________________________,y,y,2 Sensation of Speed_________________________,y,y,3 Out of Control Feeling/Directional Changes_,y,y,4 Lateral Forces_____________________________,y,y,5 Positive G's/Loops_________________________,y,y,6 COASTER NAME PARK LOC <--Please leave this El Toro SFGAd NJ,y,n,1 My Favorite Steel Anypark Anywhere **,y,y,2 The Voyage Holiday World IN,y,n,3 Ravine Flyer II Waldameer PA,y,n,4 Phoenix Knoebel's PA,y,n,5 Shivering Timbers Michigan's Adventure MI,y,n,6 Thunderbolt Kennywood PA,y,y,7 Lightning Racer - L Hersheypark PA,y,y,8 Lightning Racer - T Hersheypark PA,y,y,9 Raven Holiday World IN,y,n,10 Jack Rabbit Kennywood PA,y,y,11 Viper SFGAm IL,y,n,12 Boardwalk Bullet Kemah Boardwalk TX,y,n,13 Twister Knoebel's PA,y,n,14 The Legend Holiday World IN,y,n,15 Racer Kings Island OH,y,n,16 American Eagle SFGAm IL,y,n,17 Wolverine Wildcat Michigan's Adventure MI,y,n,18 Big Dipper (SBNO) Geauga Lake OH,y,n,19 Racer Kennywood PA,y,y,20 Great White Wild Wheels Pier NJ,y,n,21 The Beast Kings Island OH,y,n,22 Blue Streak Cedar Point OH,y,y,23 Comet Hersheypark PA,y,y,24 Rebel Yell Kings Dominion VA,y,n,25 Leap the Dips Lakemont PA,y,n,26 The Grizzly Kings Dominion VA,y,n,27 Blue Streak Conneaut Lake Park PA,y,n,28 Thunderhawk Dorney Park PA,y,y,29 Skyliner Lakemont PA,y,n,30 Comet Waldameer PA,y,n,31 Rollo Coaster Idlewild PA,y,n,32 Woodstock Express Carowinds NC,y,n,33 Zach's Zoomer Michigan's Adventure MI,y,n,34 Ghoster Coaster Kings Dominion VA,y,n,35 Hurler Carowinds NC,y,n,36 Mean Streak Cedar Point OH,y,y,37 Wildcat Hersheypark PA,y,y,38 Rolling Thunder SFGAd NJ,y,n,39 Hurler Kings Dominion VA,y,n,40 Thunder Road Carowinds NC,y,n,41 Predator Darien Lake NY,y,n,42

Holy Moses!!! That drop looks ridiculous! And on a wooden coaster?? I simply MUST find a way to Missouri to ride this glorious creation next summer! Kudos to Rocky Mountain and SDC for having the guts to build/introduce something like this.

The Search function can be your best friend! Go here for tons of talk on overrated coasters....

^ I was thinking the same thing, but also wondering if it was possible to have the lift hill speed change part of the way up the lift. I just hope the speed cresting stays the same, because boy was that some awesome ejector airtime towards the back of the train!! All I know is I'm glad I got to ride it a few times in its opening year to experience that raw intensity that made it my #1 steel coaster. That said, I doubt that they will be making any drastic alterations to the ride itself. My guess is that the majority of changes happen to the trains. And if they are in fact thinking of redesigning the station, there will be much rejoicing! I really wish they would've just designed it to have a separate unload station like Millennium Force.

^ Do you mean for the ride or for you?? I really like the colors on this one.....looks sharp!

I'm from PA and I really wanted to love the Beast. And while it was good (felt like a good 8/10 ride for me), I overall would say it has to be one of the most overrated coasters I've been on. I think it might crack into my top 20 wooden coasters, but it is nowhere near my overall top 10. I just felt like it didn't really do much when it comes to what I like in a wooden coaster. And yes, I also have taken a couple night laps on it. That all said, I was a huge fan of that ending helix o' death.....that was pretty awesome! Just one coaster lover's humble opinion.....your results may vary

Hmmm, this is a good one to think about. I think my "coaster bucket list" would currently look something like this (in no particular order): Bizarro (SFNE) Boulder Dash Leviathan Behemoth Goliath (SFoG) Montu Outlaw Run New Texas Giant Iron Rattler Superman: Krypton Coaster X2 Xcelerator Expedition GeForce T-Express ANY Mega-Lite iSpeed Katun Balder Colossos Shambhala