palmerleeberry

I was there at Good Old Kings Dominion on opening day and that day had its high point and low points. First the high points - You couldn't get any higher without some help on THE IMTIMIDATOR 305!!! I got to ride that ride twice (on the second time through I discovered the single rider line - now why couldn't they have that on DOMINATOR?)! Other high points (but not seen in your photo TR) were the many changes made to Planet Snoopy and Kidzville (okay, there were two photos: Ghoster Coaster and Boo Blaster). In Planet Snoopy, a few rides were changed to fit the new theme (Space Surfer was now Flying Ace and the Rugrat's Driving range is now Joe Cool's Driving School) and they have added a bounce house (just look for Astronuant Snoopy on top), but the ride wasn't ready to be opened yet. Secondly, Treasure Cave has been given a pirate theme (it's no longer just a boring walk-through - Cedar Fair I applaud you). And finally, Boo Blaster may have taking all the Scooby Doo related items out, but added more things in (hint: check out the next room after you pass the magic potions room and get ready to be amazed). Now the low points - First, several coasters were running only one train (Volcano and Grizzly), I saw some rides having breakdown issues (Dominator had a train that was stuck on the lift hill for a good while and the Drop Zone had its riders stuck up in the air for a good ten minutes before they were lowered down), several rides weren't running that day (Hurler, Shockwave, Log Flume,and Flight of Fear), and (to top it off) the park was CROWDED!!! Finally, I must tell you how suprised I was when I saw the line for those getting season passes. The line was so long it spilled out into the parking lot (and I wonder how many of them are getting the pass I have : THE PLATINUM PASS)! I think the line may have looked like this (interpreted by Smilies): And what these people looked like after they have gotten there season pass: "I've typed enough. Time for a nap."

Okay, it's time for my take on the 300+ coasters. First of all - There aren't that many giga coasters in the world (i.e. 300 feet or more on the first drop). We began the year 2000 with MILLENIUM FORCE being the very first one, followed by Japan's STEEL DRAGON. KINGS DOMINION's newest coaster INTIMIDATOR 305 will be the planet's third giga coaster. As for TOP THRILL DRAGSTERS and KINGSTA KA, I consider them as mega launch coasters, not giga coasters. And second to that - If you enjoyed riding Hyper Coasters (i.e. 200 feet or more on the first drop), then I know you will enjoy riding giga coasters. Not only they are fast, but they are also SMOOOOTH!!! And finally - With KINGS DOMINION being the closes park to where I live, you can bet the whole farm I'll be riding the INTIMIDATOR 305 and be back for more. "I'm just the thing you need after a long day riding coasters!"

Whenever a coaster that once was defunct now gets a second life, riders and amusement park flyers all over the globe start jumping for joy!!! before getting blown away. I bet there weren't a whole lot of people that heard of Bay Beach, but with the Zippin Pippin coming there, that park should expect some extra attendance next season. "By that last statement you made, do you mean you might go up there and visit that park next season?' "Well . . . I might, but then . . . I was think of going to either Texas or Florida, but I haven't been to Green Bay before either. Rats, I don't know how to answer a question like that." "Well, it's simple: you just smile sweetly and say 'NO COMMENT!!!' Nothing too it. "Okay. No comment. How's that?" "That was good, but you were too (your favourite swear word here) late!" I've better end this before the smilies start fighting again. "You've typed enough, so rest your head on me."

"Hey, hey, hey, it's Palmer! Of course, this rider and amusement park flyer is gonna be there that Good Friday to see if that so-called INTIMIDATOR305 can intimidate me. "Are you kiddin' me? I rode rides such asTOP THRILL DRAGSTER,KINGSTA KA, and the ever-famous MILLENNIUM FORCE, so a little coaster like that isn't gonna intimidate me (much)." Now, as for animalfarm2006's question about the removal of HYPERSONIC XLC, I agree with KDcoasterMAN's answer, but I also believe there was a second reason why they removed that ride: low rider queueing (only eight riders per train. Still, I got to ride that ride a lot when it was there. "It gives me an extra reason to hate Kings Dominions for removing three rides that I've enjoyed: the other two rides were the Galaxi coaster and the Lost World Attraction." But I'll be looking forward to the 2010 season, and I hope it's a goodie!!! "Palmer, you typed enough for one day. Rest your head on me."

Hiya, hiya, and hiya. It's me again with another long-lost post I've decided to pick up, blow all the dust off, and present it again with some freshness. "Okay, let's go; I'm getting stir-crazy here! This post was introduced five years ago, asking the question on which park was the better park: KINGS DOMNINION or BUSCH GARDENS EUROPE. There has been some interesting answers, but now that five years has pass, both parks had some name changes as well as new ownerships; both parks have added rides, but taken out some old ones (HYPERSONIC XLC & THE BIG BAD WOLF I'll miss you both terribly), and other things that has happened within this five year period. Now because these parks are in my home state of Virginia (The state with ocean in the east, mountains in the west, and a whole lotta history in the middle), I have decided to update this page and see how all you riders and amusement park flyers feel about both parks, five years later. "And what about you, palmerleeberry? Which park do you prefer? Well, because I have a Cedar Fair Platinum Pass, I can go to KINGS DOMINION as many times as I want. BUSCH GARDENS EUROPE is fine, but because the park is farther away from me than good ole KD is, and not to mention that it has only four major coasters (compared to good ole KD that has thirteen), it may be a few years between visits. So my answer is KINGS DOMINION!!! (singing) "I'll have it made like a mountain range/ with a snow-white pillow for my big fat head" (from Big Time by Peter Gabriel)

It's time for me to add my say: Your pictures of Hersheypark in the Off-season and covered in snow was wonderful since it's a side of the park in this park of the season we (the riders and the amusement park flyers) don't usually see nor even consider. We all usually see the park in the sunny and warm summertime, but never even thought what the park does in the off-season. I bet a majority of the riders and amusement park flyers don't even know that the roller coaster trains are taken off the tracks and stored in storage unit in the wintertime, nor that certain rides would have certain parts removed in the off season to protect that part from rust and weathering. If you knew all the facts about what these parks do before and after every season, you might get !!! No, all we know about the rides and parks are the things that happen during the opening season, when the rides are up and running, the kids are screaming, and we (the riders and the amusement park flyers) are ranting and raving about the newest attraction that you must either "ride it or die, dude!" I'm sure by the time the park reopens (for their fashionable and economically priced "Springtime in the park", all that snow should have been melted and long forgotten. (That's what we're hoping; with the way this weather has been acting up it might still be snowing on Good Friday.) "What? A white Easter? And why is my quotation in white?

"Whoa Ho! Lookee at what I just found. A long lost post I feel can be reused." In my tradition of looking through old posts and bring back the ones I feel could be reused, I find this one to be interesting (and just in time too, I mean, it's been nearly five years since its last post). "Okay, now that you've found a reusable topic, how about you start it off?" Okay, in 1986, there was a traveling fair ride called "The Cobra" (I believe the Fun Spot in Orlando, Florida has this ride). Well, I got on and was enjoying the ride until I looked up above me and saw, to my utmost horror, something was coming apart above the ski lift-type chair. Fearing that my chair was coming apart, I yelled at the operator to stop the ride, but that dopehead (I would like to use something stronger, but there may be kids reading this) ignored me. Finally, when the ride was over, I quickly got out to point to that dopehead what I felt was unsafe, but the part I pointed out was nothing but just the counterweight (it was suppose to move and I wasn't in any danger). Well, feeling , I apologized to the operator, but that f***ing SOB told me to f*** off and never come back (sorry kids, but I couldn't control it). Well, ever since then, I haven't been able to ride "The Cobra" again; not because I'm afraid of it, it's because I've never saw it again. Now if I do get the chance to go to Orlando, Florida, I will ride the Cobra there and won't have to worry about that dopehead running it. Now that I got that off my chest (not to mention it's been five years). What's your story? "Now that's put to rest, I can sleep better at nights."

Hey, Hey what can I say? Somebody is going to get there A$$es kicked and I'm very glad that IT AIN'T GONNA BE ME!!! But the downside to this legal battle is that no matter which party wins this case, we (the riders, the amusement park flyers, and those that live in Louisville that no longer have a home park anymore) are the losers; lawsuit cases such as these can tie up in courts for years to come. And by the time something is settled, the rides that have been sitting dormant may not work or need tons of $$$ to get them back into operation. {NOTE: I know that money is green, not blue, but BLUE shows up better on these post than GREEN does.} "I'll be available as a seat cushion to whomever it is that do get their rear end kicked!"

^Oh, the Space Spiral actually does run? Well, on the last few times I've been at the park I've never seen that ride open nor even running. Could it be that I just have a run of bad luck on the days of my visits? However, that ride really isn't in my "must ride or die" list; I've ridden simular tower rides at Carowinds and Hersheypark, and I did get on the Space Spiral on my very first visit to Cedar Point in 1995. "I'm the thing you need after a hard day riding rides at amusement parks."

This is me when I was viewing your pictures: This is me afterwards: Although I will be visiting KINGS DOMINION on opening day (that's April 2, Good Friday, for the rest of you), since I do process a Cedar Fair Platinum Pass I will try to visit CAROWINDS during the season. Do I look Intimadated? Plus I want to reride the Carolina Cobra and the Nighthawk again. I just cannot get enough of those rides! "You can sleep on that!!!"

Hey, Hey what can I say? Somebody is going to get there A$$es kicked and I'm very glad that IT AIN'T GONNA BE ME!!! But the downside to this legal battle is that no matter which party wins this case, we (the riders, the amusement park flyers, and those that live in Louisville that no longer have a home park anymore) are the losers; lawsuit cases such as these can tie up in courts for years to come. And by the time something is settled, the rides that have been sitting dormant may not work or need tons of $$$ to get them back into operation. {NOTE: I know that money is green, not blue, but BLUE shows up better on these post than GREEN does.} "I'll be available as a seat cushion to whomever it is that do get their rear end kicked!"

A Michael Jackson theme park planned for Gary, Indiana? Are you all (your favourite expression as a action verb)me??? I'll be just like Artie Johnson (as a judge on the old "Gong Show") who once gonged a bad singer that was wearing a mask covering her whole face: when Chuck Barris asked him why did he gong her, Artie simply replied, "I just can't see it!" I could see Never Neverland Ranch being turned into a tourist attraction with the late singer's home turned into a museum and a fully restored amusement park in the backyard, but I still cannot see Gary, Indiana becoming the latest city to have an amusement park. "And should I become wrong and Gary, Indiana does have a theme park, I'll try not to lose any sleep over it."

I have two things to say on this Post: #1 - Okay, I should be very glad that the DEMON DROP is being moved to another park instead of being sold for scrap (just like the other parks have been doing with their first generation freefall towers). #2 - Now it makes me wonder what CEDAR POINT is planning to do with that newly-opened space. I'm keeping in mind that attraction is nestled next to the SPIRAL TOWER which hardly runs anymore and the old DISASTER TRANSPORT ride that have been rumored for removal in the past. However, it's all speculation, but a nice little family coaster could fit in that space. "I've said enough, so let me sleep on it!"

You know, it's really bad to see a theme park that once was defunct suddenly brought back to life only to be killed once again. Usually I'm suppose to be a hopeless optimistic, but after visiting that park in 2007 and hearing the constent reports of problems the park's been having (especially with Cliffhanger, the coaster that was never running until it became too late) I can say it's time to pull the plug. Nice try, but no cigar. "I'm a pillow. You can cry on me if you want."

So sorry to hear the news about Cedar Fairs because I know that I visited many of their parks in 2009. Not to be tooting my own horn, but I went to: KINGS DOMINION - 3 x's CAROWINDS - 3 x's KINGS ISLAND - 2 x's (first time I brought a friend with me) CEDAR POINT - 2 x's (first time I brought that same friend with me) And only been to DORNEY PARK, WORLDS OF FUN, and VALLEYFAIR once. All these parks I visited because I had a reliable vehicle and a Cedar Fair Platinum Pass. "After a long trip like that, not to mention a busy season last year, I definately do need this pillow."

First, any coaster would do because the cars feel like they go much faster at nighttime than at daytime. As for me personally, I would say The Volcano and The Dominator at Kings Dominion. As for the woodie coaster at Kings Dominion, I like to ride the Grizzley at night cos you can't see where you are going half of the time. "That's the truth and you can sleep on that!"

^You're right, you are absolutely right! Sometimes the old "Better Late than Never"can be downright disgusting. Case in point: Hoilday World, last season. In my August road trip to visit many amusement parks I could, I decide to visit Hoilday World for two reasons: it's been years since my last visit, and to ride the Pilgrim's Plunge. So I got there and enjoyed the new Thanksgiving Area that didn't exist when I last visited the park, but found out to my dismay that Pilgrim's Plunge wasn't in operation. This is how I felt: The bad thing is I don't when I'll be able to return to Hoilday World since that park is far away from my normal stomping grounds (which includes parks such as Kings Dominion, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and Six Flags America), but it means that I won't be satisfied until that day I'll return and finally ride what I've been missing. "You can sleep on that!"

In the previous years, I used to get Six Flags Passes and visit Six Flags America. Three years ago, I stopped doing that because I felt the park was getting stale and they were removing rides instead of adding them. But I probably was missing the point last year when the park decided to add new shows (I believe the count was nine - how many parks do you know that offer nine shows during a season?), plus not to mention their Thursday night concert series. But still, I prefer to ride while only seeing a show or two to rest between rides. Now we have Thomas Train that will debut this year and I have mixed feelings about that. First, I feel good that the park is finally getting new attractions that would be benefital to families, that this will be the largest Thomas Train area in the Six Flags parks, and one particular ride sounds like the park will move its Around the World in 80 Days Ferris Wheel to this new area, thus freeing the old Rainbow Falls area to be converted (hopefully) into something new and exciting. But on the bad side, I may not be able to ride many of these new attractions the park is adding due to my height and big-sized nature (I'm not saying I'm fat cos I can still ride Superman: Ride of Steel, but only in certain seats due to my massive legs). But since I'm planning to visit other Six Flags parks this season (including Magic Mountain in August), I think I'll waive my self-imposed ban and gamble fifty bucks for this season's season pass. Hopefully, Six Flags America would prove me wrong about my earlier assumption and I can say that my faith into this park has been renewed. "After a hard day's riding coaster, I'm the thing you need for a good night's rest."

My concern is that in due part to the two feet of snow and the worst winter on record, Kennywood's newest coaster may not make it to operation status by its opening day (Folks, I've seen that happen in other parks). But concerning to us coaster lovers, better a late opener than never open the ride at all. I would like to add that the area the new coaster is taking residence in used to be the old Turnpike. For years, I couldn't get on that ride because the park had this dumb policy against single riders (What? Are they afraid I'll fall off?) Last season, I finally got my revenge when I brought a friend with me to the park and we rode it! ( "WHAHOO!!!") Although it has been planned to build another Turnpike attraction in another part of the part, at least I got to ride it in the original spot. In conclusion, I don't know wheither or not I'll be able to visit Kennywood this season, but I'm sure that when that time comes, then I'm sure the new coaster would be up and running. ("Finally, I get to be used in a post!")

I had a chance to ride Shockwave way back in 2001 as part of my two-week amusement park tour. This was the last coaster I rode before the park closed. You see, the park was crowded on the day I visited that park and could only go one complete circuit around the park. I got to ride the Whizzer (probably the most-fun ride in the park), the Viper, Raging Bull, Screaming Eagle, Iron Wolf, and Demon coasters. I didn't ride Batman because I've ridden many Batman cloned rides, nor did I ride V2 due to the huge line (besides, I was going to be at Six Flags Worlds of Fun in a few days and would ride Superman several times), and I wanted to ride Deja Vu, but the coaster was closed (to this day, I have never gotten to ride any Deja Vu's). So it was getting late by the time I got in line for Shockwave. The line wasn't as long as the other lines for the other coasters, but I also remembered that coaster shaking me around when I rode it. Still, I was going to ride it again, but they closed the line by the time I got off. It's great to see old pictures of defunct coasters and wonder what were they thinking off when they removed them.

"Oh Boy, oh boy, oh boy: here we go again. First we lost Astroworld and now we lost Kentucky Kingdom. Six Flags is slowly, but surely turning into 'Sick Flags'!" I have been to Kentucky Kingdom a few times in my life, and hearing the news of this park closing its doors is shocking, althought I shouldn't be regarding all the problems I've been hearing about. But if Six Flags is planning to remove some of its rides and relocate them to other parks, I'm hoping that a few of them could go to Six Flags America (the "bastard" park of Six Flags, the Mr "we-need-rides-badly" park, and the park that still is holding on although almost all my faith into that park is gone). But that has happened before with Astroworld: while the rest of the Six Flags parks got some neat ride to add on, all Six Flags America got was some junky old coaster that couldn't be fixed up with costing a bundle. The Road Runner Express Coaster and the Roller Skater would make great additions since Six Flags America doesn't have either of those types of coasters. As for the flat rides, the balloon ride and the big ferris wheel would also be welcomed attactions. That's what I'm hoping, but the park has been burnt before with the redistribution of rides when Astroworld closed, and they might get burnt again.

At my home park of KINGS DOMINION I would say the Shockwave. I have a hard time riding that coaster and an even harder time trying to fit into the restraints (I can't help it if I have a massive chest). At any other park, I would say the Son of Beast at Kings Island. Last time I rode that ride with a friend, we both ended up sick and unable to continue riding because that @#$%ing ride was too @#$%ing rough.

Hey Ya!!! Guess what? It's been nearly two years since the last time someone posted a reply on this thread. That means at least two seasons of something funny or outright hilarious had to happen to any of the many amusement parks that has yet been posted. It could have happened to you or to something you saw that made you laugh out loud. "Now that you brought this thread back, you got anything to add?" Well, I used up a good one on the "Are you a screamer, laugher, or whooper?" thread. So I can use this little story on a little known park near Williamsburg, Virginia called "Go-Karts Plus". "Hey, how about that? Our park has finally been mentioned. We are going to be famous!" They have this water wars attraction in which you buy water balloons, go out to you firing stations, put a water-filled balloon into the slingshot, and fire away at the other team. On the top of these stations is a target: once it gets hit it fires out a depth charge (more water is splashed onto your adversary). One poor kid got nailed three times with the depth charge and was soaking wet. But that isn't the best part: when the kid walked out of the station, he decided to take off his pants. His mom stopped him, but the kid replied "That's okay. mom; I'm wearing clean underwear." Okay, that's my funny story to continue on this thread. What's yours?

Well, when it comes to me riding roller coaster and any other scary-looking flat ride, I am usually a silent rider (reason #1, screaming out loud will cause my voice to crack). However, back in the early days of the year 2000, I would often do this stunt: when the train is being lifted up the lift hill, I would say out loud: "OH BOY: WHAT A VIEW!!! And just when that train is on top of the hill, ready to go down that first drop hill, I would then say out loud: "HEY, WHAZZUUUUUP!?! Now, if I do hear someone screaming their pretty little head off, that will cause me to laugh. Case in point: this year at Kings Dominion, on a water tubing enclosed ride, some older man went before me and the funniest scream you ever heard echoed throughout the enclosed tube. In fact, this man went soprano. "Oh well, I call that 'another satisfied customer'!"

Okay, the first coaster that I rode with inversions was the . . . KING KOBRA!!! I can also name the second coaster with inversions that I rode . . . THE LOCH NESS MONSTER!!! Now I got to ride them both in 1978, plus they were the only two coasters in Virginia with inversions at that time. I was a kid back then and I only went to two amusement parks during that time. To get to ride the third coaster with inversions I would have to wait . . .until . . . 1986 when the . . . SHOCKWAVE came out. Today, I have ridden tons of coasters with inversions in them, and they make me feel !!!