palmerleeberry

JEW wrote his answer on what makes a park grow - his answer: I would like to add that if you don't tend to your plants and pull out all the weeds, then it will wither and die. A lovely metaphor to an amusement park, don't you think? I'm not perfect; I just love to ride!!!

Well, before this gets locked out of something, how about some pictures of that coaster to help round out this thread. [What? Go to http://www.rcdb.com to see pictures of that coaster? Or just click on the link a few posts above? Okay I did just that and that is a good-looking roller coaster. Wow!!!] Okay, but how about someone just post a picture of it anyway for the sport of it? I'm not perfect; I just love to ride!!!

Here's a question: how do you get your friend to join a vacation club at the credit union? Tell him that we are planning a trip to go to California next year!!! When I presented to my friend any and all information about Six Flags Magic Mountain and showed him the video of YOLO, he almost freaked out. Of course, there are other exciting places to visit while we are on our 2014 tour of California ( like Disneyland, Legoland, and Fisherman's Wharf located in San Fransico), but Magic Mountain seems to have been the deciding factor in order to convince my friend to go with me to California ( would you believe he'd never been on an airplane before - methinks the only airplane he'd ridden in was a kiddie ride: many, many years ago!). So I'm not concern when YOLO will be up and running in this year because we won't be coming their until next year - and I'm sure they will have all the bugs worked out by then. AS for the discussion on riders per hour, all the newfangled and innovated coasters due have a problem with long lines, but it isn't the park's fault they have too many visitors coming to their park ( if a park cannot attract visitors and generate more $$$, then something's wrong). You can only fault Six Flags Magic Mountain for having so many great rides and the World's Record for having the most coasters in one park I would love to give out the #, but I cannot count that high ). Besides, if you need to get on a ride that don't have long lines, then ride the Scrambler and The Atom Smasher. I'm not perfect; I just love to ride!!!

^ Hey, methinks I've recongized that type of ride before at Knoebels, a ride called "Mad Hatter's Tea Party". This spinning ride has two circles and seven tea cups, and those seven tea cups switch between those two circles. The ride shown above uses two sets of the double circles and uses cars instead of tea cups. Tis a pity that Woodstock's Whirlybird Tea Cup ride isn't that type of ride, but it should be a fun ride nevertheless. AS for Snoopy's Rocket Express, I do hope the monorail track's layout is more interesting compare to the one at Dorney's Park - that one is just one big circle. I want to see some more curves and maybe even cross over a section of Joe Cool's Driving School. Today is Saturday, March 2, 2013 and opening day is Good Friday, March 29, 2013. I wonder if they would get the all-new PLANET SNOOPY up and running by that time? 35 Years of Going to KINGS DOMINION and still counting!!!

I've just looked on those two pictures: the view you'll see entering the first drop and the trains and . . . I think I just wet my pants! "You bubble head! You were supposed to do that while riding on the Iron Rattler. Next time, before you view anymore pictures of the Iron Rattler, DON'T DRINK ANY WATER!!! "I'm not perfect; I just love to ride"

Back in 1989, I visited a park called "Wild World". This park was small compared to other amusement parks, but it had a dry ride section and a water park section and you could go back and front between the two sections. It only had one coaster, a woodie called "The Wild One". You can go to this park today and see how big it has grown over the years. It also changed its name to "Six Flags America". The same thing to Michigan Adventures. I first went to that park in 2001 when a new coaster called "The Shivering Timbers" was grabbing the spotlight. It was also the first year it became affiliated with Cedar Fair. I could look out and see room for potential and growth. I went there again in 2009 and saw how much it has grown with the added attractions (some of them hand-me-downs from other parks, especially the swan boats that came from Cedar Point), plus the park was Crowd-ded on that day of my visit (the park didn't have that many visitors during my 2001 visit and I got to ride their rides mulitple times). This is true to every theme park when it first starts out. It is a small park, but it begins to generate capital as it begins to attract more and more visitors. With more capital means more additions and more additions usually means it's time to expand. I can remember what Kings Dominion was like during my first visit in 1978 ( the park contained only three roller coasters: Scooby Doo, The Galaxy, and the Rebel Yell) and I can remember my first visit to Busch Gardens Williamsburg in 1976 ( theme areas like Italy didn't exist, and there was no Loch Ness Monster coaster - that would come next year). Over the years, those parks added newer and innovated attractions while some older attractions were taken out. If those parks didn't add the newer attractions and sometimes subtract the older and more troublesome attractions, visitors would start to become bored and even the most diehard fan of those parks would stop coming. Fun Spot USA is a small park in Orlando Florida that is generating some attention with its expansion that has all the riders and amusement park flyers excited. Kings Dominion is rearranging its old Kidzville area with new rides and new improvements to the existing ones to become the expanded Planet Snoopy. Silver Dollar City is causing some people to drool over its new coaster Outlaw Run. The new coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain looks wicked! It's exciting new additions like those that brings more and more people to their parks. More people means more $$$ and more $$$ means the park can plan on that next attraction, or that next expansion, or maybe even both. "I'm not perfect; I just love to ride

For the question of which park has the best and prettiest skyline, that honor will have to fall on Cedar Point - What a view you get when driving towards that park. But I wouldn't cut out Kings Dominion's skyline. When the park first opened in 1975, the only structure that stood out was the Eiffle Tower. Cut to today and you can see the Drop Zone, The Volcano, The Intimidator 305, The Bezerker (if it's running), The Shockwave, The Xtreme Swing, The Windseeker (if it's running), and of course The Dominator. And if you thought the sight from the parking lot is amazing, then wait until you go up on the Eiffle Tower and see everything in the park! Kings Dominion - 35 years of going to that park and counting!!!

I have several rules of my own - ethics more likely. #1 -No sitting, standing, or walking on the queing lines. They were designed to line rides up using less space as possible, not as playground equipment. Now you can lean, sit or prop yourself on those lines if and only if you have at least one foot on the ground. Both feet off the ground is a no-no! #2 -Never go in front of the line unless the person in front of you have giving you their consent. I had this happen to me: I'm standing inside a lane and one group wants to ride with another group. but they are uneven, so they asked me to go in front of them to even them out. Sometimes a ride attendant will grab a single rider or two to help fill up the trains on busy days. I call this "bumped up". The biggest bump up happened while I was waiting in line to ride Firehawk at Kings Island. I was three rows away from the spot where the ride attendant assigns the riders when he suddenly called out "Do I have any single riders?" I raise my hand and because there were no other single riders in front of me, I was bumped up. #3 -Invest some money in an all-day locker. You won't have to carry anything you don't need around with you and you'll have ride with a piece of mind and not worry if something will fall out your pockets. Besides, you can make unlimited trips to and fro your locker - especially when going in and out from a water park section. #4 -I don't have anything for number four so more along now! #5 -The best shorts to wear went going to an amusement park are bathing trunks, especially with those that have zip or velcro pockets on the front. I also like to tie my keys to my drawstring inside the trunks to keep them safe and secure (It would really bite if you lost your keys and you cannot retrieve them - how am I suppose to get home?). #6 - And the best rule of all : Have a Great Day!!!

I will always love the Galaxy coasters and any other family-sized steel coaster. Now there are getter fewer and fewer of these wonderful coasters left in the world, so methinks they should be placed on the "Endangered Species" list. "I'm not perfect; I just love to ride!!!"

Upon seeing the latest photos of Woodstock's Whirlybirds teacup ride, now I'm more excited than ever to try to be there on opening weekend (I'm hoping for a sunny, warm day)! ViperLover said I believe the coolest teacup-like ride I've seen is located in Six Flags Fiesta Texas that has those tea cup rides shaped like billard balls. They were so cool I ended up riding them three times in a row (You could ride in solids one through seven or stripes nine through fifteen, but sorry no black eight ball; that was placed in the middle as a centerpiece. I wonder if they have another ride like that that uses a bowling theme - you ride and spin around inside one of ten cars that are shaped like a bowling pin with a big bowling ball as its centerpiece - hey, I would go out of my way to ride something like that! )! EDIT - The ride is called "The Hustler". I'm so excited about this upcoming season . . . "Okay, how excited are you?" I'm so excited about this upcoming season that even though I bought a Cedar Fair Platinum Pass I went ahead and bought a single day admission ticket (That I bought during a special one-week sale they had) so I could also bring my friend and riding partner. Hey, with something this good and exciting coming to the park; plus with all the other great rides, shows, and attractions already inside the park, you can't just keep this to yourself. "I'm not perfect; I just love to ride

All right, since this topic has piqued my interest, I'll follow and read any news reports on Houston getting their theme park back (For the record, I've been at Astroworld twice). Will a theme park finally emerge from the ashes of Astroworld, or will this be like Jazzland that closed down after Hurricane Katrina and never was reopened. And most importantly - WILL I GET BURNT AGAIN?

I must confess: Texas is starting to become the state for all roller-coasting thrill-seeking riders. Two Six Flag parks in the state of Texas have awesome coasters that are to become the next trend in roller coasters: wood based with steel tracks that has a layout that includes overbanked turns and heartline rolls. Looking at the coaster layout, it appears the designers are taking advantage of the terrain (To me, Six Flags Fiesta Texas will look like they placed an amusement park inside a quarry). So I have two choices if I want to ride a coaster like that: I can either go to Texas ( or to Silver Dollar City to ride their Outlaw Run) or I can wait a few years until a version comes to park near me. I think I'll choose going to Texas and I better do it soon before it's too late. "I'm not perfect: I just lover to ride!!!"

Several points I would like to make - #1 - Chase did a good job on his first podcast report. You Go, Kid! #2 - Holy Moly!!! It looks like they torn up the area formerly known as Kidzville. I can't wait to see what Planet Snoopy will look like when Kings Dominion opens for the season. #3 Nice to know where Sweet Frog is to be located. #4 mhuffva wrote I would have to agree with mhuffva with Kings Dominion not having enough show places. Perhaps this can be fixed by next season. That's all for now. I have a Cedar Fair Platinum Pass for this season, so don't let me down! "I'm not perfect: I just love to ride."

Okay, I was ready to provide a list of coasters that I have known and ridden, but it seems everyone else beat me first, so I'm going to do something a little different: instead of naming a coaster that was reprofiled, I'm going to name a coaster whose queing lines got reprofiled. And that honor goes to KIng's Dominion's The Grizzly. When the ride first opened in 1982, there was an attendant present to open and shut the gate because the enter and exit crossed the railroad tracks. This went on for many seasons until the train was taken out and the gate became permament. Then the lines had to be modified so the Go-Kart track can be installed. Last year, when Dinosaurs Alive! arrived, the enter and exit lines were rebuilt once more. So while the coaster's layout has remained unchanged, the lines to and from the station has underwent many modifications. I'm not perfect: I just love to ride!!!"

I didn't believe it until now, but Charlie Sheen really does have Tiger blood ( or just a good heart to help someone in need - I think we all could learn something from this)!!! "And people thought Charlie Sheen was loony tunes? I tell you who the looney tunes are - the one who rather post their replies instead of lying in bed and getting the R&R they all need."

With the early reports I've been reading, it is so far and so good that this park could reopen, tons of riders and amusement park flyers would be visiting the park, and Kentucky Kingdom pops back on to the map as a "Must Visit or Die" attraction. Of course I won't be able to visit there when the park reopens (hopefully) next year, but I might consider it in 2015. As for what slowly-decaying rides that are lefted inside the park, all I do know is, besides the water park, that Thunder Run and The Twisted Twins coasters are still standing, but I wonder what else is in there? Is Greezed Lighting still there, or how about T2, or the Roller Skater? I even wonder if my favorite type of flat ride, The Flying Dutchman, is still there? Does anyone know? One thing I do know is that when they get around to remodeling and retracking the Twisted Twins, then I hope they would do something about those extra queing lines that did nothing but take up space. During all my visits to Kentucky Kingdom, not once did I ever see those extra lines being used (It reminds me of the Lighting Racer coaster at Hersheypark: they had a big block of queing lines outside the station that never got used do to the long straightaway and how quickly they've been filling up the trains. So they are dismanteling that area and I hope they would put something else in its place - like a drop tower). Well, that's enough of me adding to this post. I think I'll go join my pillow before she has a heart attack and kills someone. "You got that right, buster!"

Okay, I could say the highlight of 2012 was my visit to Holiday World and riding their awesome water coasters and soon-to-be awesome roller coasters, or my three day visit to Silver Dollar City, but it was actually in Six Flags Great America that I had perhaps the biggest highlight of my riding career. Every rider and amusement park flyer knows that if you visited Six Flags Great America and you didn't ride The Whizzer, then you didn't do anything. I got up there and rode it twice, first time in the morning and the second time as my last ride of the evening. The park was crowded, but I did managed to ride a total of 17 rides of both coasters and flats (including their newest coaster X-flight). I wore my "Coaster Hero"T-shirt that I bought several years ago at Six Flags America. As I rode in the front of The Whizzer, the ride operator on the microphone began to acknowledge me by saying, "And here we have a Coaster Hero to save the day by riding this coaster!" After I rode the ride and got off, the ride attendant said, "And the Coaster Hero has save the day, so let's all give him a big hand!" What a great ending to a great day at the park! "What's my highlight fo 2012? It's the time when PLB was so sick he stayed in bed all day and rested his head upon mine. We need to have more days like that!"

Thanks for the update; all those pictures of footers sure looks sexy (for all you footers fetish fellas out there - try saying that phrase three times fast). Just keep the updates coming and I'll just do my part and drool over the exciting additions to Fun Spot Action Park when two coasters, an enterprise flat ride, and an extended go-kart track are finally opened. Oops, I almost forgot, their new merry-go-round ( which isn't new, but bought and brought from another park somewhere, but will be new to the park - I think I'll go water the ducks!). "Footers fetish fellas, footers felt fellas, foot felt fellish . . . hey wait up, I'll go water the ducks with you!"

"Well, it's about dang tootin' time that park will finally get some new rides. They haven't added a new ride since . . . whatever that new ride was called back then! That's how long it's been!" I've last been to Family Kingdom in the 2008 season (The same season I had my once and only visit to Hard Rock Park) and although as great as the park was at that time I've always felt it could benefited with some new additions and attractions. Having another coaster was a must, plus having three family-fun rides would be extra icing on the cake, but did the park managed to expand or did they cut out some rides to add those three new ones ( gasp!!!). One ride I was hoping they would either cut out or improve was the antique cars. Mind you, I love to drive antique cars, but the track at Family Kingdom is too short (it just loops around the log flume station), and if Family Kingdom could invest some extra $$$, then they could extend the track that goes under and over and around the log flume. And besides, don't they already have an antique car drive that runs around and through the Swamp Fox even though you can't steer it and it's run on electricity? ". . .you are getting sleepy . . . you are getting . . . zzzzzz!"

First and foremost I would like to congradulate Chase Mytrysak as Planet Snoopy first-ever Kidcaster. Do a good job, kid, and don't let us down!!! Second, I welcome any and all new pictures of Kings Dominion, especially those taken way up in the air. By looking at the areas between the Hurler/Ricochet and Intimidator 305, I'm now more than convince that they could put in that two-way train attraction that I recently posted (See page # 930 to read my idea) for 2014 and leave 2015 for that big coaster (Perhaps the one that is to replace The Anaconda. I did read that Cedar Fair was planning on taking out all their old looping coasters within the next few years. Could Kings Dominion be getting their very own Gatekeeper???). And finally, KIngs Dominion is getting more shows!!! I felt that this is what this park was lacking two seasons ago. But I hope the extra shows aren't more singing and dancing because methinks we have enough of that. I would like to see a magic show, a circus show or maybe even a BMX bike stunt show. Hey, if Cedar Fair can manage to bring back the old sea lion and dolphin show I would kiss the manager's feet! Here's an idea ( in which I'll offer it freely so I can't sue if it's actually used ): how about hosting a special event that will bring street performers to Kings Dominion and have them scattered all over the park? The park needs shows for those that can't ride and for those that can ride, but need a safety break in-between thrill rides. Here's hoping that 2013 turns into a great season for the park!!! "Are you done yet? Please come to bed because I want you!"

As I am very happy that this park plans to be reopened next season, I'm also skeptical. You see, in the past, there were three parks I used to visit that was closed and had plans on reopening. #1 -Six Flags New Orleans - closed since Hurricane Katrina, there was a company called Southern Star that wanted to reopen the park. RESULTS - The plans fell through and the park is still closed. #2 - Hard Rock Park - I went there during it's first and only season. A new group came up, bought it, and turned it into a waterdown park they named Freestyle Music Park. RESULTS - The park is closed for the second time with no signs of it being reopened. #3 - Ghost Town in the Sky - After the park was reopened in 2007, I went there and felt I got ripped off, so I didn't shed any tears when it closed down again. RESULTS - Now the park is being reopened into an attraction I have no desire in revisiting. Could Kentuck Kingdom be #4 in my list, or can Ed Hart really turn this place around and make it much better than before. I like to say "yes", but I've been burnt three times before. "You can always depend on me to help you get through the night."

Okay, I'll admit it: I'm looking forward to the new and improved PLANET SNOOPY at my main park of KINGS DOMINION. With my CEDAR FAIR PLATINUM PASS I'm planning to visit a few parks within their network, including the GATEKEEPER at CEDAR POINT. Plus I'll be ridding a few old favorites in the several parks I'm planning to visit in the 2013 season. And finally, the return of pillow! "I'm back from vacation, I'm well rested, and I want you to stop typing and start lying your head upon me!"

It's all about two factors: how crowded the park was and how many rides you rode during the first day. On a day when a small park that only has a few rides and little wating time a few hours is enough, but on a busy day in a big amusement park in which you waited so long to get on each ride I would say that a second day is neccesary. There are some advantages of planning multiple days to attend an amusement park - you can slow yourself down and take it easy during your park tour, a ride that was not running one day may be up and operational on the next day, and if there is a show that you want to see again or a popular ride with a long queing line. Another reason may be that you traveled long distances to get to this park and it may be many years before you visit that park again. But just in case one day was too much for your visit to a park, it's always better to have some backup plans. In conclusion, if you leave the park all tired and worn out, then you had a great day!!! "I'll say - if you are tired and worn out, then I'm there to help you get refreshed for the very next day. Oh, by the way, I'M BACK FROM VACATION!!!"

I said this before in an earlier post and I'll say it one more time, this time in gold: "This is how amusement parks are born!!!" Looking at the possible site where Fun Spot bought those ten extra acres, if it's that plot of land that lies to the north, then Fun Spot will have to add either a crosswalk or a crossing bridge to connect those two plots. And then afterwards, they might put in something or somethings that'll be a real crowd grabber (I've just had a crazy thought: how about Fun Spot buys the old Hurricane Coaster that has been lying dormant in Fort Lauderdale and brings it back to their park - I'll bet that'll bring tons of riders to their park - heck why stop there? How about the old Hypersonic XLC that used to run at Kings Dominion unless it has been turned into scrap metal? ). Now that I've calmed myself down, I'm sure that whatever Fun Spot decides what to do with that extra plot of land, it'll be yet another reason why you should visit their park. "I'm not perfect; I just love to ride!!!"

When I read that the Wheelie was headed to Fun Spot Action Park, all I could say was: WAH-HOO!!! This ride that once ran in Six Flags Over Georgia looked to good to be scrapped when I was at the park last year, and now it will thrill a new set of riders at its brand new home. When they get all their rides up and running, I'm sure the park will get to see a lot of these coming towards them: $ $ $ $ $ "I'm not perfect; I just love to ride!!!"