DougMJr

I don't think Gatekeeper will get best new Steel Coaster. With iRat and this alone it has some stiff competition.

Those metal... arm guards?... on the sides feel like they take away the potential freedom you could feel in these trains. I noticed there are black ones on S:UF at Discovery Kingdom. Anybody have any thoughts on these? I haven't ridden in a train like this so I wouldn't know.

^Is that fence temporary? I just think it looks tacky although it could look a lot better in real life.

It was an enjoyable list! I am usually not a fan of slideshow layout type articles, but aside from that it is refreshing to see top coaster list from someone who has had a taste of pretty much every type of coaster out there. I hope that this is just the beginning and that the travel channel allows you to dive deeper into theme park related articles for their site. I'm not sure if you need new ideas but one that came to my mind for a future article is "Ten Things to do in Orlando besides Disney and Universal." That might be right up your alley!

Wow, they have had some bad luck with valleys this weekend. Probably a combination of the trains not being broken in for the season and the cold temperatures + wind. I think Maverick will not be down too long because they do not have far to pull it. Milli sounds like it could be a problem though.

When I was walking into the park yesterday I thought the exact same thing, I told myself I was just being nit-picky.

Daybreak Weather Correspondent got to be the first to ride. Here is the ridercam footage! [vimeo] [/vimeo] Looks absolutely INSANE! But I'm missing an inversion. I only counted 13... is there one in the building?

Here are a few things you might be able to use for Darien Lake Sign for Darien Lake's Blast off. Will be open in a week or so. Skycoaster has been renamed Redhawk. Viper's new look.

I think it will take them a week to get into the swing of things. Unfortunately I don't think that darien lake cycles their rides as much as cedar point does beforehand, so it takes them longer to work out bugs at the beginning of the season.

^ I guess I was completely mistaken. The queue is exactly where it was last year. However, the putt putt course is kinda in limbo between SBNO and defunct. The greens are still there but is cut off, paths removed, and unmowed. This leads me to believe that the area might be used for something different next year but that is speculation. They painted the rails and gates in the station, not sure about the station itself as it didn't stand out as good or bad. That shack in the queue though is still a mess. I think it will take a few years to get the entire park up to higher standards, but progress has been made.

All had one train operations with the other train nowhere to be found, as in not on the transfer track.

Decided to go to the Sneak Preview tonight to process my season pass and get my free parking (when you visit before memorial day). There was a lot of new improvements this year so I decided to make a Photo TR and give you my take on the park this year. I call this PTR "An uncomfortably damp evening at Darien Lake." DISCLAIMER: I know I have a few "UFOs" on my camera sensor. I'm cleaning it soon. And I didn't go to the park last year so some things I may think are new may actually be from last year. Welcome Passholders! Checked out the Emporium to escape the rain. Typical stuff. Now Let's get to the new goodness. The boardwalk is actually really nice and fits in fairly well. Not extremely themed, but themed enough. The retro style is quite refreshing. New themed mister on the boardwalk midway. Nice touch and will be nice come July! Didn't get a chance to check this out all lit up as after night fell I was damp and ready to head home. But I'll be sure to come back and check it out. Giant wheel has all her cars back, which appear to have been refurbished. Skycoaster is now Redhawk! Anchor Bar had a good amount of traffic considering how rainy and dead the park was (and that opening day is actually tomorrow). Here is the newest goodness. Blast Off! And a refurbished and re-painted carousel! However, blast off was not ready to... blast off. They had a PR Intern at the entrance answering questions. It should be ready next week, and the hold up is because S&S still needs to run their tests for approval. But I suspect it may also have something to do with these parts. For the TPR Park Index The new paint job and lights bring new life to this ride. The first half of predator was actually really smooth, at least in comparison to two years ago. Looks like RMC has helped with some traditional re-tracking. It was still a little rough in the middle but finished strong. Silver Bullet is not ready yet, but it looks like it got a spiffy blue paint job! This looks new. Was tempted to use it today. Shipwreck Falls looks a lot nicer than it did two years ago. UFO is MIA, but the new wood and the fact that its platform still stands lends credibility to the rumor that it is getting a lengthy rehab. Galaxy Theater is SBNO this year, but the park will still have a lot of shows to offer. I am told that they will be rotating shows throughout the season at the smaller theater so guests can see something new every time they come. I was also told they will have a "Last Band Standing" each Sunday in the Gazebo. And we can't forget ignite the night! Too bad it was cancelled because of weather tonight. There has been some changes to the air gates in the stations for Predator and RoS (didn't check out Boomerang or Moto). They are welding vertical bars on the gates (the plexiglass is temporary while they finish it up). Plexyglass will remain on the railing in between gates. Predator had its welding finished and clear plexiglass. The only new addition to the park that I did not like was new lockers by RoS. And, you guessed it, they make you use them. No longer can you leave small backpacks or loose articles in the RoS station. A two hour single use rental is 0 Viper's trains got a whole new look this season! Sexy vinyl wrap! It looks so good! The train-car markers were a nice touch. And the ride-ops were very excited about the new look! One last look at the new goodness. Time to go home, my socks are wet. Overall I am really impressed with the improvements for this year. Is Darien Lake as good as Dollywood or SDC? Absolutely not! But I think that Darien Lake has made great, consistent, and family friendly improvements over the past two years! The park appeared a little behind in regards to having all the rides prepared for the season (only one train operations with the second train nowhere to be found, not even on the transfer track). But I'm sure in a week or so they will be fully operational! There is some new signage at the front gate that I didn't get a picture of as it was pouring when I came in, but it looks nice. I can't wait to return in a few weeks and check it out when everything is in full swing!

^ I believe that Vipers queue has been moved this season as per tanks off season PTR.

For those who rode it today, was there any airtime to be had on the camel back? It looks like it could give some floater but it's hard to tell because of the restraints.

Pure speculation, but I think it will be removed for their next coaster. I'm guessing 3 years but there is no way of really knowing.

Probably just a winch. It sounds like it happened close to the second lift so they can just pull it until it engages the chain.

I miss the days when this thread was so inactive that when I saw it on page 1 I knew there was actually real news in regards to Darien Lake. Now it has gotten to the point where I ignore this thread most of the time. So if something noteworthy happened I'd miss it.

Shaking my damn head

No clue but I am right there with you. With my luck probably 2PM, I have an hour long conference call then!

Mind warp in insane! I too make sure to head there at least once a year! That park does not get enough respect. Silver Comet and that Log Flume! To be fair, you were the one who brought it up. Perhaps try to avoid provocative and polarizing language in future posts (I mean that in the most constructive way possible). I wouldn't think so, but nothing is impossible.

^I'm not understanding your logic. Yes, when RoS was SBNO in 2011 they closed that midway because there was really no reason for guests to be there (In addition to the fact that they had replacement chain on pallets in the midway). But, how would removing the gift shop and food court solve anything? It would just give guests less of a reason to go to that midway. I'd like to see them move/axe some of the frightfest stuff and expand towards the end of that midway. A large flat ride would be a good choice as it would be viewable from the road.

^ Why get rid of the gift shop? People still go there and buy things. Why waste money tearing it down to build something new, only to lose more money by losing that source of revenue?

^Yeah, I hated that at first but then I kinda grew to like it. Made it look more unique I think, and I don't think the park draws enough people to justify filling all the gondolas.

I wouldn't say they are behind schedule. I think it only takes a few hours to get the gondolas back on the wheel.

Really jealous that I am on the other side of the country, I wish a park around here would be this awesome!