bill_s

^^-- I just found out about the BAFF on Sunday myself, I'm wondering how many times I've been during them in the past. Does anyone know if they were doing this 2 years ago for FF? I know 2 and 3 years ago I went on the KD closed weekend, pre-FF Sundays and the 2nd of those was shocking and a waste of time, but the FF trip after was OK. Re: Friday vs. Sat., if you spend a lot more time Saturday is more rides, but during only the same time slot probably not even close.

Grizzly is slightly rougher than optimum this year, which I prefer it by far to Rebel Yell when it's not racing or the operators aren't properly racing it. It appears that half the airtime on RY was bumps, which are now gone. The park has been going back and forth on maintenance on those two since before the 2009 season (Hurler was their smoothest fullsize woodie in 2008 by a small margin).

WHAT THE F**K ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!?!?!? Are you even aware that there are MORE DISNEY REVIEW SITES, Instagram feeds, Twitter feeds, blogs, etc, than ANY OTHER AMUSEMENT PARK or park chain in the world??? Like, have you ever looked at the Internet before??!?! Holy crap, I can't even believe someone would make such an ignorant statement. It blows my mind that i just read those words from one of our forum members. You guys are supposed to be better educated on theme parks if you're going post to Theme Park Review. And what "waiting list???!" Honestly, DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT AT ALL!?!?!? That's exactly what I meant: Disney has plenty of advocates, which is analogous to a manufacturer selling something as fast as they can make them properly. You're misinterpreting me. I agree my analogy doesn't add much except more words. What is significant is that analogies instantly spring to mind, or at least that everyone has seen plenty of polls and best-of lists with a focus and agenda and big flaws. These lists reveal much about those making them, which is the only reason they're of any use at all, they can be interpreted. In further consideration, I think my analogy is also wrong. It's not a matter of advertising bucks, it's bias and preference. In ACE, if you're not big on wood coasters and funky little parks, you don't get to vote. Also, believe me, I'm sorry for replying on this subject by now. Shouldn't have to be that way though. Good content. Actually, I can't afford to do much, but I would still read more about Disney being a good deal for those only slightly more affluent -- that's not really my impression from trip reviews I read here. I advocate that theme parks can be the best entertainment value for anyone with a local park.

It's a double-edged sword in my opinion. If you want an expert opinion you ask experts. If you want a popularity contest you ask everyone. Sorry, if people get butt hurt for not getting their participation trophy. I concede using mutual rider comparisons works also, but you are still not getting the critical mass for less ridden attractions, and bias are caused by local favoritism and new hotness factor. But with 500 experts, it still comes out like a popularity contest, or more accurately an agreement contest or just bad math. For example, if a bunch of voters put Phoenix at #5 and good choices for better coasters for 1-4, but their choices for 1-4 are all different, Phoenix wins. If they all put a different Disney park for best food, but Knoebels as #2, Knoebels wins. They also appear to be picking people with more knowledge of amusement parks and "coaster" parks than Disney, unless they just don't like them. No wonder, they're ACoasterE members, but the awards aren't billed as ACE awards, they're Amusement Today awards, which seems more general. Seems to me there aren't going to be many people that are experts in all of these unless they have a lot bigger voice in the community already than one vote in these awards, e.g. Robb. I would definitely not consider anyone "poor" if they can't afford (or aren't interested in) Disney after going to a dozen other parks a year in more than one country. That is EXACTLY it! While I agree that Knoebels does have the best "amusement park food" if you are singling out just one park, you have to give it to Epcot. There is simply NO QUESTION. Even just with some of their World Showcase restaurants: Le Cellier Steakhouse, Monsieur Paul, Tutto Italia, Via Napoli, Teppan Edo, Spice Road Table, and not even mentioning some of the festivals throughout the year: Food & Wine, Flower & Garden, etc, there is simply no contest and anyone who would say differently I would seriously have to question if they know what food actually is. This is why there should be two categories. One for "amusement park" food and one for "theme park" food. But they aren't going do that because: 1. Golden Tickets are stupid. 2. Disney isn't going to give the Golden Tikcets any more attention so why do the extra work to give Disney more attention? 3. There are probably quite a lot of people who vote that just aren't sophisticated enough or probably can even afford to go and dine Epcot. (Trust me, I've seen some of the people who they have voting in that poll, it's frightening!) Just being honest, but I highly doubt that most of the voters for the Golden Tickets are going to spring for a meal at Le Cellier or Monsieur Paul but will most certainly buy a cheese on a stick at Knoebels. And besides, Epcot doesn't even have a roller coaster and I cannot tell you how many ACE members I've heard say "I'm not going to that park because it doesn't have a coaster." #dumb And there is nothing wrong with the cheese on a stick at Knoebels, I love it myself and I would vote for it in a heartbeat in the best amusement park category, but you simply cannot compare it, and it would actually be unfair to compare it to the Epcot offerings because Epcot should win every time. But for some reason the Golden Tickets won't really acknowledge Disney and I can probably give you one guess as to why.... I'll take an educated guess and say I can't afford to dine at Epcot either and neither can many others. Does that make us all "frightening"? Even other than me? Sorry not liking your implication here. I'm sure there's a lot of "best of" lists of best restaurants in cities that don't include elite, high dollar places such as small French restaurants. For one thing, interest is limited, second thing, Duh, they're good. It's just whole different contest. And Disney itself is, in a sense, more like that. They're also more like a manufacturer of a luxury product which doesn't get reviews because they don't provide review samples and don't need reviews because they also have a full waiting list. And even then, I'm sure voters in this contest wouldn't mind Epcot being put as #1 for best food if the "normal" list started at #2, but if the whole list became more about ranking the various Disney parks against one another it might not leave room for anyone else.

I haven't been to Morey's since the Jet Star was sitting right across from Flitzer, which made it look all the worse since they used similar cars. I didn't even realize they weren't both Swartzkopfts.

I'm picturing people jumping off their horses during the ride and dancing with them but I'm guessing that didn't happen.

Your description of Superman omits that it even has any hills, which of course are the best part, if only there were more of them... I also like how it heads out off by itself and the whole thing is fun at night.

My new thing with clueless seat checkers is to just tell them to let me out and try again later. My body was damaged by one early this year and I won't -- CAN'T -- allow it anymore. I prefer the restraints on Skyrush to most Intamins. But I have to hold myself down on most of the airtime or it is painful, no doubt. I used the bar directly either side for that, the handles are too far forward. I question the need to be quite so ridiculous but also loved it. Most hypers I need a night ride to be impressed. There are aspects to your trip that would drive me crazy. Of course my trips tend to be not much to report on -- went to this park, rode ass off, went home ...

The cottages remind me of my family being loaned a relatives' place down at the beach for a week when I was young, except not as good a deal. Also even a trailer has a tiny second bathroom ... I expect you guys had an emergency bush. It's all very Knoebels though ... it would be weirder if it was less weird?

Are SV's handlebars the same as TTimbers? I couldn't find pics with anything but the fairly useless grab straps. Anyway, TT certainly can get uncomfortable to me in the second half and I've taken to grabbing the lapbar itself. The handles are so far forward they don't help and in a way almost increase the forces. I've also ended up pushing myself off the seat into the bar at times, holding myself up by my legs through the positive Gs. Maybe this might help someone.

Maxx looks amazing, clearly the work of those behind the Curtain. Maybe they haven't decided if they want to call it a Vekoma or S&S (a Steelers themed coaster had to be S&S). The high speed roll is the lowly corkscrew finally getting its due, rather than being stuck towards the end when there isn't enough energy to do much else interesting.

The only way I can judge this is by riding. Maybe it will be relaxing enough to enjoy a mild layout, or maybe they're exchanging one set of OTSR torture for another. I didn't find that the ride was too rough, so I never could figure out why I'd get a mild headache from the bottom of the drop to the brake run almost every time. I love a good standup, however riding it just made me miss having access to a good one all the more, because it wasn't. I wonder if they will actually have a pool like in the video, or is that just from somewhere else? While the Apocalypse theming was impressive, it seemed the last thing SFA needed, which is anything more attractive.

While a B&M hyper in the park would seem sort of redundant and wasteful to Skyrush, maybe not really, they're fairly different. More like having Nitro and El Toro in the same park, except maybe they would look a little more alike. Plus they could differentiate them more, for example go for more tall hills, and I think B&M is seeing some need to step up their game. "Another" B&M hyper wouldn't change my plans a lot when choosing parks, but I'm sure to ride them every time I visit a park with one. They're really nice rides even if not outstanding, and night rides somehow transform them. I don't think the length of lines for some of these more intense coasters is a good indicator of their draw. The GP simply finishes with them faster, or is more likely to chicken out once they get there, or one or two members of their party want to really ride it and the others don't.

Wildcat just needs as much trackwork as SFA does/did on Roar (did I really just type that?). Maybe with Comet sorted they can get to it. I really liked it once it got past the grueling washboard hills at the beginning. But that would make no sense to not RMC it because it's bad, that's what the treatment's for.... Lightning Racer is still really good.

The one I rode you I touched the bottom of the bar not slam into it. I did push into it some when bracing with my feet against the floor due to being tossed forward. As to video, if you have someone actually ejected (I hope not) or a cell phone arcing above the ride path that would prove it. The hairtime video I just checked out, well sort of, but I think the hair got more air sometimes than the person's body due to whip action. I'm not faulting the ride, it's wonderfully out of control. I realize ejector air is not formally defined and by the standards of most coasters this could be called that. It's not an ejector air style of coaster (for which we need look no farther than Impulse) though, just an overachiever.

Finally made it up to this park! Original plan was for last Monday but the weather looked iffy so when the previous Thursday opened up I went. Maybe that would have made for more rides actually but you never know. Time was running out for the best nights to go and get night rides and besides Virginia heat made heading north look very good. In a plan was inspired a bit by coasterbill's recent account of 1 hour sleep before work, I did it as a day trip and stayed until close, getting home at 3 AM. Wasn't sure it was the kind of park I would have wanted the entire day at, even if it wasn't so hot, so I planned a late afternoon arrival, casual and plenty of rest first. Indecision etc. put me out the door a little late, so I caught more traffic. Such a battle to get there; I was tempted to give in and go to SFA and then later Hershey but pressed on. Originally planned to use tickets for the Mansion and Turns and eat until the after 5 wristband, but as it was I went straight to it. First interesting experience after walking in and seeing the place, plus walking between a couple of buildings no fences, was finding the wristband booth. It's kind of in the middle of the park. First stop was Flying Turns, long line, gotta ride NOW, so moved on to Phoenix and Twister. Phoenix is a very ordinary wood coaster except better. It just flies. The second turnaround is really fast for an elevated turnaround and there is a great succession of gradually intensifying hills for the finale. I wouldn't say it's better than coasters that ought to be better, bigger etc., but as one that knows how much fun a standard wood coaster can be it is a beautiful thing to witness and experience. I think it might be uncomfortable with tight restraints as there wasn't bumps as much as a dip or two where suddenly the seat drops out from under you but fortunately the buzz bars just let it happen. Note this does not have ejector air, as sometimes asserted, and these restraints are perfect to demonstrate that. I was out of my seat many times but at no time was pushed up significantly against the bar. Maybe the last hill but also was being pushed forward into it harder at the time. It's definitely out of control by that point though! However my most lasting impression of the park is how amazing Twister looks -- what you can see of it as it heads into the woods -- and it's also excellent. The modern looking platform is curved, made possible by old fashioned skid brake technology. The lack of air gates or chains for the row queues is cool. It's really long too. It's very GCI style curvy and new looking, but may have outdone them. It does have ratcheting bars but no belts. Airtime is little enough it's not really affected but it throws you around enough to appreciate them. On to Impulse, this is a fun smaller coaster although has one neck-jarring spot and the restraints made my first ride a hell. They're a flat lap bar but just keep tightening and it seemed like a bit of my belly got pinched between it and my belt or something along with my shirt so hard I couldn't even do anything about it except wait until the end. Later I dared another try and despite pushing against it constantly it still tightened up. Kind of stressful. Rode the Whip, so much better than Hershey's Washboard ride. Skyride was very Knoebel's but only moderately scenic and that coming back down. By then I was hot and came across Skloosh and while I might normally avoid a full soaking went for it. That huge sheet of water that suddenly materialized in front of the boat looked awesome in more ways than one. Mostly a wet shirt though and maybe due to my feet being tucked back no real wet shoes. After that second Impulse ride I tried the pierogies. These are far more subtle than most park food but yeah they're good. And filling. And a bit greasing. Haunted Mansion was really good. Loud! Riding Black Diamond next was almost too similar though. It would be a really intense mouse but is constantly braked. Track looks the same as a kiddy coaster so it is probably better to be on the safe side. Checked out some of their history stuff over there. Rode the flume. Back to Phoenix and Twister and then bit the bullet and waited for Flyers, yes they are good. This park runs long cycles when operator controlled. This is no doubt great when using tickets, but it increased the wait and frankly once riding I was waiting for it to end by the end, rather than try to make myself sick. Some of the dizzier rides might become torture. Next was the Skooters bumper cars. These do slide a lot but I wouldn't say they go a lot faster. The cars are 50s styled and drive more like 50s cars too. They're big and there's lots of them and the course is small, which makes for lots of traffic jams which along with the sliding makes for much hilarity. Should have ridden these first thing after driving there! It was getting late by now and I was willing to spend the rest of my visit to get a ride on Flying Turns but apparently they close the line a half an hour early. This was the biggest casualty of my late arrival, though not the only one including more food. But I got 3 of my 5 rides on Phoenix instead -- I think they let me through to the last one at 10:01 -- so it was the most fun part of the whole trip, just leaves more reason to go back. Knoebels is a very likable park, I think that's the best way to describe it. There's lots of great attractions and also it's refreshing. I'm glad I have a huge coaster park as a my home park as it's the only thing that holds up to hundreds of visits, but that makes this all the more interesting to make a trip to. Crowds weren't bad but maybe because of the night special and tickets stayed very consistent, some wait all coasters, until the last half hour. The drive home took only an hour less by the clock but seemed to go by in half the time. Night is so much better to travel especially nowadays, although I did get a scare with my aging eyes. Took the exit from PA-581 to US-15 and it didn't seem right but thought I saw the rode heading off into the darkness and started accelerating, and then realized that actually the pavement switched from concrete to dark asphalt for a sharp 270 degree turn! Other trip notes, I had directions from the highway to the park but just followed signs instead, figuring they know better. You see many references to Sheetz, I didn't stop there but that's the main intersection where you turn from Rt. 54 to the park. you can't miss it. I got 17 rides on my after 5 wristband = $1.70 a ride, vs. tickets.

^^-- turning the rudder one way and then the other, switching before the reversal of the swing, will give you the widest swing on any flyers. I have to work hard on it to get a snap on Flying Eagles. On Knoebels' it still took a few swings to get anything, then suddenly the whole thing was bucking crazily and I let off.

There are many things they could be doing. My initial thought was that if they got a new coaster, that would justify announcing a different day than the other parks and considering it a bigger announcement than for any ride anywhere else, because it would mean that every thing you ever believed might not be true: the sky is actually green, the grass actually blue etc. .. However in further consideration it might merely be "UNBELIEVABLE" in press release language. Six Flags knows how little the park has received and it could be time to throw some money into it. Stranger things have happened. Its competition is stepping up its game, it no longer has the only coaster with ejector air in the region like in 2009 or the only one with lapbars 2008-2017. They might even have an interest in putting more pressure on Seaworld parks, though obviously it would be limited by being SFA. I previously analyzed the parks as SFA looking much better with the addition of a floorless, however I don't think they can make a good one out of Apocalypse. It might be a relaxing ride by SFA standards though, though unimpressive. It's more a case they'd have a floorless equal to their invert, instead of a standup comparable to their inverted coaster. While it's wishful, it would be logical to also give Mind Eraser new trains if the new ride is a Raptor -- to compensate for capacity -- or anything else not a regular coaster including a 4D. KD removed a standup that had been in the park 29 years -- OK that's not that much different --, 2 years after putting in a $25M coaster -- WAY different. I've never ridden a flat ride I'd even take over what's there right now.

It's not a MCBR, it's a second dive. All B&M dive elements include braking, a hold brake on the first, and if a second, to adjust their speed substantially not just trim it (resulting in a drop sort of comparable to with the old pre-drops). Use of the brake as a block is secondary -- in this case, it's so close to the end it may not be a block at all. So it's not mid-course nor the usual MCBR in primary function. Basically they've put in the second dive right at the end, followed only by another airtime pop and a victory helix over guest paths. This avoids the situation with Griffon where it feels a lot like the coaster just does everything twice. Compare it to a coaster with a great drop, some inversions, and an airtime section at the end (sounds like RMC). If I went, I'd have to reride both it and Vortex until they ran together like in the vid! That picture of Vortex looks like it could touch the water and murder some ducks!

A membership can be started any time of the year without losing the benefit. For example if I were to get a season's pass right now, it would be good until the end of the year, but so would it be if I bought it in March and already went to the park 20 times. A membership would be good until at least this time next year, which makes sense because you'd also be paying for it still if you choose the installment plan. You can also do a 13 month pass, buy one just before Halloween and keep it in effect until after Halloween the next year, or do that for a park which opens 2 weeks earlier, either way you get a better part of the season twice. There are several advantages for the customer. Advantage for the park is pass sales don't dwindle as the year goes by, disadvantage is those late pass sales aren't closely followed by another pass purchase for those few that buy late and continue next year. This auto-renew plan I see here has starting to pay for NEXT year's pass in September. You get a discount, but as payment plans go it's more like a prepaid credit card. ;(

Mt last Mind Eraser ride was in the back and much more comfortable than the front. And actually the forces -- not necessarily the shaking like a nervous little dog -- are mildest in the middle, for the same reason enthusiasts usually want the ends on most coasters. Of course my last ride was also with a hat and hood in December, so more comfortable than any ride in the summer. The woodies are OK anywhere but a wheel seat. Don't be lulled into false security on your first Wild One ride though, it lives up to its name about 2/3ths of the way through. A couple months ago someone said front and back on Superman are about the same. Yeah right. I rode back when they had VR in the back and it was a good thing I knew the layout. It can throw you into the lap bar recovering from the hills, especially the one between the helices. I really like Renegade Rapids there too. Some actual rapids and you don't get hardly wet unless someone pays to soak you with the water cannons. I've seen better raft rides on this forum, but it's different than most.

When I first glanced at the InvadR station pic, I thought you had switched from rides to some kind of brew room due to the walls and general look of it. Also really like the roaming team of “water misters”.

^^-- speaking of El Toro, I was going to bring up the question of is there any solution to the seat belt buckles. I have NO room between me and the bar, and yet somehow I end up with the belt buckle standing up vertically, edgewise between me and the restraint, which can be incredibly painful.

It is running slightly rougher than optimum right now. Reb ... Racer 75 is too smooth now so it evens out.

I don't think you have to have a death wish to not want a bar to tighten down excessively on you during the ride, or for the restraint to stay in the perfectly acceptable position it was in when you left the station. Haven't found any other method other than to hold them up when that's the case though, or at least hold them up at moments when G forces are really trying to crank it down. Of more personal and complete relevance to me is when the seat checker tightens the restraint more than is usually done on the same ride, out of overenthusiasm or zeal or because they just got the speech. Especially when hundred rides on the same coaster have proven there is no need.