bill_s

Until recently riding the New England one, my two were SFA's Mind Eraser and The Great Nor'easter -- the latter back when it was pink or first painted orange and ran great, somehow going into warp speed as soon as the sun went down. At the time, it was a very hard experience to beat and the view over the ocean late at night there is not something many settings can match. The main coasters were still Arrows, woodies etc. and by that standard the SLC was amazing. Of course B&M actually beat Vekoma to market with their inverted but there weren't many of them yet and the wait times were high. I loved my first ride on Batman at Great Adv. but it wasn't until after Alpengeist was a couple years old that B&M indulgence really could become a repeatable experience. Looking at the SLC now it doesn't fare so well but I think it's important to keep in perspective the timing of its appearance and the scene back then. I do wonder if it would considered much better if they had only built 1 of them (especially if it was more like the later ones they actually made). I do still ride them and wouldn't call them the roughest (maybe the most "shaking like a nervous little dog"), but most of them don't run fast enough to be exciting enough either. Some of those salt-encrusted rails with condensing humidity rides at Morey's seemed to transcend roughness. It was awesome.

The big eatery at KD is and always has been Country Kitchen and any discussion of their offerings is incomplete without it. I had the roast chicken once last year at lunchtime when it's fresh and it was amazing. Later in the day it may be a bit dry. However this year they have omitted chicken tenders, which are a silly choice when you have real fried chicken but sometimes were fresher, but maybe without them they'll get more turnover on the other chicken. Pulled pork has also been discontinued in favor of the pot roast. Except for the topping at the Mac Bowl, Wayside Grill is now the barbeque place. I hear it's good this year, it was last year but I'd rather have mashed potatoes and the option of air conditioning at CK. Panda Express is also good.

I spent $3 on lockers at the park, well another dollar before figuring out it wasn't needed for most rides. Lines were short, but did ride Toro 10 times. I was wearing tight jeans with no real chance of losing anything, but since I did lose something from a velcro or or zipper pocket once on Toro or nearby (noticed later) I can see a real reason to accept it (and sort of like riding "naked"). Toro's big hills are perfectly designed to rain flying objects back on the riders, and Ka goes 128 MPH, making them 2 of the best candidates for the policy.

I often enjoy Mind Eraser, but only recommend it if you're there with a hat and/or hood for protection (or helmet). That is the time.

I don't recall that on FoF, but I didn't ride it much then. I do know for one year after the bins they had people put their stuff on the inner side of the train and carried it through, and then next year brought the bins back. I don't think they affected throughput much -- mostly the few that didn't use them. I think it's part theft problems, part interference with Fast Lane (I really miss the reride cuthrough), and of course a bit of money grab, plus it's not as bad when I305 is doing it next door ... I may be clocking dispatches to see if I think that did anything. Since TT will tend to be mobbed a while it is worthwhile to speed that one up, but they ought to put in bins in a couple years. As their policy doesn't ban pocket items, I expect an increase in lost phones due to lack of bins. I don't know of anywhere on these rides as likely to cause high speed rider impact with a flying item as Toro or Ka, fortunately.

It will slow down the coasters. I rode Dominator the day before hurricane Sandy dumped Star Jet into the ocean, and between the cold and wind it felt like it wasn't going to finish the course -- which was really cool since I've ridden it so many times, but may not be what you had in mind. Crowds might be better. Sunstantial rain does close I305 before other rides. Forecast does show wind abating before closing time ( http://www.usairnet.com/cgi-bin/launch/code.cgi?Submit=Go&sta=KOFP&state=VA ). It was windy last Friday night, turning upper 50s into rather frigid. Dominator was down then also.

I've avoided ranking coasters until now. Actually seemed pretty easy, but then I was figuring the results will be combined with others so it's not like I'm publishing my sole version of Truth. Oh well, post some of it anyway: The I305 The Skyrush The El Toro The Storm Runner The Superman The Ride The Nitro The Dominator The Wicked Cyclone The Kingda Ka The Superman Ride of Steel ... SFA's in the Top 10! ... 52. Steel Force 53. Avalanche 54. Big Apple Coaster ... 60, 61. SFOT, SFOG mine trains I last rode over 40 years ago. No chance to win, but still kind of cool. ... [b&M Standups] [b&M Flyers] 68. Batwing

^^-- If staying until close, it can be worth reversing that strategy and marathoning Superman until they make you stop, but then after KD all day you might not even want to, or prefer Wild One. But also northbound traffic through there on Sunday afternoon can be really bad, although the time of year is better. You probably will end up staying until close even if not intended, and may wish you just stayed until close at KD instead. Although it will be different, try doing Google maps for that route this coming Sunday afternoon. Most of the recent times I've gone there it took 2.5 hours there, 1.5 hours back, because I don't take SFA seriously enough to hit the road earlier. Twice I've given up and turned around due to gridlock on I95 and US301.

I think the drone video was totally accurate, just a matter of interpretation. Coasters always look slower when not riding them (although I305 comes close). It DOES slow down faster than a metal-wheeled wood coaster and it's going slow at the end. It's just how these things work. Looking at the elements showed it better slow down later on or it would kill you, actual testing video wasn't needed to see that. It also loses a lot more speed than the Raptors do which are about 60% as long. On my rides Sunday eve., even the last little hump felt forceful. That's a matter of it running up to spec, maybe 3 MPH faster than the first video.

I rode late last night and it seemed to be running as intended. The last tiny bump still had air just that bit less forceful that said the end. Liked it better than Wicked Cyclone my only other RMC, just being a bit faster more often made it seem to run better. The cutback was very smooth and less awkward than WC's quickie stall. Haven't decided how stall-like it is yet. The big overbank looks ridiculously huge and tall.

B&M doesn't build but so many coasters a year, used to be 4, and they are a little choosy. There doesn't have to be an official exclusivity deal for the them to limit how much they compete with themselves.

^^-- I'm of mixed feelings on that one, it might be possible to deal with roughness but would it have any thrill at all? No air, surely. It does have a lots of curves. Kind of like Dominator if it only had 2 second halves and no final high-G turn. "I hope Minderaser does get new trains/restraints. It has a prettt decent layout and I always preferred it over apocalypse." LOL! New restraints might seem extravagant for the old clone, but it would not be excessive for a program of short-term oriented investment.

I've actually enjoyed myself more on SFA's SLC than my rides this year at SFNE. Like all coasters, especially inverts, reaction is subjective. SFNE was an 8.5 hour drive and I didn't feel great and I rode it first on the first evening waiting for other lines to die down (and Batman went down). The next morning I rode it early waiting for Superman to open. Didn't hurt but just wasn't exciting. At SFA I'm more likely to ride it last, sometimes I enjoy sometimes I don't, get off muttering "boing boing boing boing". And yes I do often reride it, maybe that's where SFNE's was lacking -- they actually have the coaster for it just not the policy.... I've also had mixed reaction to B&M inverts, although I do generally prefer them now.

Rush hour on Friday starts at noon. You might even consider taking 301, only time I've seen it terrible is Sunday afternoon northbound but it is always tedious and Google tends to underestimate delays more than on the interstates. As Saturdays, my strategy is to not go before twilight on Saturdays. Don't have any more than that because last time I went Saturday daytime was April 2010.

If you got a concussion from ridding a roller coaster, as well as hip problems from roller coasters, and almost broke your nose on a log flume... I'd say: 1.) You are riding these rides wrong. 2.) You need to find a new hobby. I guess I'll defend myself, although should probably just call you a name. No, it's how bad those rides are or were. I probably did ride a wheel seat, but that's not technically wrong. Paramount had really let the woodies go ... and Hurler at that time was the best of the 3, or I knew to be more cautious about it. Anaconda can really slam your head and they stuck me in row 5 or 7 due to me using Wednesday Walk On or whatever they called that. I went back and learned to ride RY in its 2008 form before they started retracking it-- after a two month hiatus. Still ride Anaconda -- in certain rows. Grizzly I started religiously avoiding wheel seats. The cause of my accident on the log flume still hasn't been fixed but I didn't complain about it. Those metal handrails get very slick and there is nothing to prevent your hands from slipping off the front end. The log may have dug in more as well. I never go down the drop without my hands behind the mounts anymore. 95% of the people on this board would have just started saying these rides suck, burn them down. Many do. Maybe they had a similar experience on Hurler and Shockwave. I didn't and wouldn't.

I got a bad enough concussion on one ride of Anaconda I didn't feel right for 3 days. I still have hip problems from RY 2008 and Grizzly 2009. I also nearly broke my nose on the log flume. I never had any such problems due to Hurler or Shockwave. The do think they did something to The Spot on Anaconda a few years ago. Don't know how, but it got better. That section of the rails was partially unpainted the previous year so they at least painted it. Maybe went at it with blow torches and rebent it slightly. It's still rather borderline but it was really bad. The rest of the coaster is crazy but can be fun, and I still hear kids sometimes saying it's their favorite in the park.

They already have a coaster over the lake that will kick your a$$, or at least kick your head. Seems to me I305 was the last coaster at KD that won't be some kind of replacement of a previous one, plus their main statement coaster, now that they are entering the replacement phase with TT they may come a bit faster out of necessity, or closures at any rate, say in 2 years after another minor upgrade and another 2 years to replace a coaster. It's still really complicated compared to what was there, but yeah it looks great, better than their previous with the same stats but based on Cyclonic layouts. Probably the most "from the ground up" bits of any conversion, contrasts a lot with Steel Vengeance which is basically a whole, whole bunch of random stuff to carve up.

So... everyone? Specifically vacation-goers. When you only have one shot to make your vacation go smoothly, of course you're going to eliminate variables, such as waits for attractions, with an unlimited line-skip pass. I would honestly be surprised if semi-regulars to Hersheypark dropped on the pass at all. If I were still living in Pennsylvania and could go when I wanted to for a day, I wouldn't spend any money on even the lower, single-ride tier. I agree. The problem I have with everyone saying "Save!" is that's what I do so I can even go to some of these places. On the other hand, while some are more fortunate in having better income, I'm very fortunate in having great parks nearby with relatively light crowds -- all the more reason I'm not inclined to spend the extra. Considering that fast passes are on top of getting there, getting in and the rest, I definitely do consider them expensive. I don't consider them "for the rich" as the extra park income not coming out of my pocket can be in my benefit. It's hardly the only thing where you you need to think and plan more if you don't have money to throw at the problem. Another thing is, if I had a choice between going to a park on a light crowds day or a free fastpass, I'd still prefer the lighter crowds. 20 minutes from the merge point? I waited 20 minutes or more for less than 1% of my rides last year. Multiple rerides, solo rides, walk on front row rides? None of those are features of fast pass. Are we sure the merge points are 20 minutes from the station? I've heard contradicting accounts. It was a generalized statement about fast pass systems, not specific info on Hershey, the 20 min. number is from a mention of CP here (vs. the OLD HP system). It does seem about right for the distance from the merge on Wildcat, the only one I even noticed due to the bored guy sitting there, but it would depend on how many people they let through, they could cut it as soon as the line peeks out of the station.

If Chic-fil-A had the full menu with the salads, that would be a serious alternative for theme park food. On the dining plan I'd just have to ask for forgiveness.

^^-- Platinum is over $100 more and it's a better deal to just get seperate passes for 2 parks. It becomes a deal if you go to 3 parks, and even then really you need to go to 2 of them more than once. I'm not buying that SF passes are so cheap. A special on 4 passes is not the same at all. I know personally only 2 people that bought a set, and both went only once themselves and rode one ride, for different reasons. When you start stretching it to get a "deal" it happens like that. I wouldn't count discounts on merchandise a discount on the pass either, it tends to be they come out ahead. I never used any of them.

^^-- I stayed there. Rooms are tiny and the A/C is large enough for a house, and the thermostat switches it between full blast and full off. It needs to be very hot, cold or just right (not humid). I suggest bringing a fan and duct tape so you can aim the vent upwards without the curtains going nuts. Beds are hard, frig didn't really work. Almost too quiet. The Taco Bell almost within walking distance is excellent.

So... everyone? Specifically vacation-goers. When you only have one shot to make your vacation go smoothly, of course you're going to eliminate variables, such as waits for attractions, with an unlimited line-skip pass. I would honestly be surprised if semi-regulars to Hersheypark dropped on the pass at all. If I were still living in Pennsylvania and could go when I wanted to for a day, I wouldn't spend any money on even the lower, single-ride tier. I agree. The problem I have with everyone saying "Save!" is that's what I do so I can even go to some of these places. On the other hand, while some are more fortunate in having better income, I'm very fortunate in having great parks nearby with relatively light crowds -- all the more reason I'm not inclined to spend the extra. Considering that fast passes are on top of getting there, getting in and the rest, I definitely do consider them expensive. I don't consider them "for the rich" as the extra park income not coming out of my pocket can be in my benefit. It's hardly the only thing where you you need to think and plan more if you don't have money to throw at the problem. Another thing is, if I had a choice between going to a park on a light crowds day or a free fastpass, I'd still prefer the lighter crowds. 20 minutes from the merge point? I waited 20 minutes or more for less than 1% of my rides last year. Multiple rerides, solo rides, walk on front row rides? None of those are features of fast pass.

I was already thinking the cars will look good in real life, seeing the vid I'm thinking the truck front isn't very big. Extreme closeups import no sense of scale. Looking at the video and scrolling twitter, delicious. I think people will be able to find it with that sign .. Would they flip a "T" at the last minute?

^^-- If they did that, I'm sure a lot of people would call Six Flags "stupid" for a year or 2. Sure, Highridin calling your plan "stupid" also calls you stupid, but as to your multi-paragraph business plan, it boils down to "raise season's pass prices". You either agree with it or not. I did catch the math error already. With other parks creeping up in price, Six Flags has definitely taken a different approach. The SFA pass gets you SF parks all over the country, as well as being cheap. The only way it makes sense is if they figure on making it up on Flash Pass sales. With many of their more crowded parks, they probably do. I agree that the admission price going up would make for a better experience. I'd also expect the parks to seem more upscale, without ads everywhere, though. I could see SF going to a seperate $200 pass for that gets you into other SF parks, but $200 *is* too much for SFA alone without major changes. If that was the only level and $200 still got you in other parks, it would only sell to those planning to do that. They would lose me as a passholder at that price, because I have 2 better parks closer to me. I might be willing to pay for a single day at SFGAdv, but it would be at least 5 years before I'd go back to SFA. Last year, I made 3 trips (split over evening-morning at one) to SF parks and increased the wait time for rides with substantial lines only 5 times (Sunday evening as SFNE). I spent some money in the parks except SFA, since my visit there was cut so short by traffic and cold. I wouldn't have made the long trip to SFNE if admission wasn't already paid for. So they did make money off me they otherwise wouldn't, with no significant cost to them. I'm more likely to be there when the park looks too empty than when it's too full.

I kind of think they need some sandpaper and a paint job, but last 2 days have been coaster weather and I'm ready to ride!