palmerleeberry

"Hey, listen up everyone: PLB is responding to this, so let's hear what he has to say." BEST: It happened this season when I was in line to ride FIREHAWK and the queue was very long (hence, a very long wait). I was three rows away from reaching the ride attendant who opens the line to send a crowd of riders to one of the two stations when another ride attendant came up and ask out loud- "Are there any single riders in this line?" Since I was a single rider, I raised my hand and was suddenly bumped up out of line and into the station. Even better than that - the spot that needed the single rider was UP IN FRONT!!! YEE HAW!!! WORST: Going to Ghost Town in the Sky in 2007 and only riding four lousy rides: the skyride going up, scrambler, the Yo-Yo swing ride, and the skyride going down (all the other rides were either down, still being built, or not suitable for an adult to ride). Tell me this: was this worth the $27 I paid for admission? Made me wish I was back in Dollywood.

Well, I guess the most important thing about this event is that no one was hurt when the cable snaps, just a bunch of people that were PISSED OFF TOTALLY when the ride stopped and couldn't continue on (and not to mention those waiting in line that wanted to ride this coaster, now forced out to ride something else. I had that happen to me when I was at Cedar Point in 1999 waiting in line to ride THE RAPTOR and I managed to get way up in front when the damn thing breaks down due to a computer glitch that didn't stop the train properly. I waited nearly sixty minutes for nothing! Sure, Cedar Point had tons of other rides to ride, but when a ride breaks down, it always feels like your day is ruined.

John Peck wrote as he sent in a couple of pictures that weren't his (mind you) of the deconstruction of Geuage Lake): Same here, buddy. It's hard to imagine when (all those years ago) I was riding those coasters and thinking they would still be there for many, many years after I've ridden them. Now it's today and there's nothing left there but old footers and memories of a ride that once was there. It could make a fellow real loud. I better end this before I break out into tears. * * * * No signature on this post. It's way too sad.

sccoasterfan wrote: Since Carowinds got rid of their log flume last year, do you think that Freestyle Music Park will get that old hand-me-down or will they be getting a brand new flume ride?

larrygator wrote: That is a plain shame that a coaster like that was only a loner and didn't stay in the park very long (know for a fact that coaster was nowhere on site when I visited the park in August 2008). I rode a coaster like that in Monty Piers and thought that coaster (although small and not very fast) was a very fun ride (I rode it twice because it was that fun!!! ). I do hope that Freestyle Music Park could somehow bring that coaster back and put some cool music theme to it.

It sounds like the type of trip I've taken last year when Freestyle Music Park was just the newly debuted Hard Rock Park. I love the coasters and thought NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN was the best dark ride I have ridden (especially wearing 3-D glasses). My only criticism about that park back then was the park didn't have enough rides, but since it was its first year I was confident that the park would be adding them in the upcoming seasons. Then we all know what happened next . . . Family Kingdom is a great little park. I love the Swamp Fox (the best woodie coaster in Myrtle Beach) and they have a great Log Flume. But I wish they could add another coaster (a wild mouse perhaps), wish they could extend the lenght of the antique car drive (one lousy trip around the log flume station - its over in less than thirty seconds), and I didn't find their drop tower (called the Sling Shot) exciting, but it's the only drop tower in Myrtle Beach, so its still can be considered the best. Question time concerning the "badly revamped dark ride" Monsters of Rock: "Do you ride this ride with 3-D glasses on?"& "Did they keep the 'revolving tunnel illusion' you must pass through before entering the ride?"

Many years ago, I was shown a demostration on what makes a woodie coaster rough. NOTE: YOU CAN TRY THIS EXPERIMENT ON YOUR OWN; NO WORRIES ON BLOWING ANYTHING UP. IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S SAFE AS APPLE PIE. "Could we get on with this? I'm falling asleep here!" Okay, you need only two things: the shiny wrapper from chewing gum and a steel ball bearing. First, carefully unwrap the shiny wrapper from the gum and set the gum aside (or you could pop the gum in your mouth - your choice). Next, straighten out the wrapper on a table or kitchen counter until it's smooth. Now, roll the ball across the wrapper and notice how smooth the ball went across the wrapper. "Yeah, that ball went across the wrapper like smooth butter." Now, pick up the wrapper and crunch it up as much as you like, then straighten out the wrapper back on the table and run the ball back across the wrapper. "Hey, that ball didn't go across the wrapper as smoothly as it did last time! Any explanation?" I just demostrated what happens to the tracks on roller coasters after many seasons of coaster cars running across them. The steel tracks and the wood underneath them tends to worn out, causing the ride to get more and more rougher each season. That's why parks tend to retrack some of their coasters so the ride can be smooth once again.

"WHAT? THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT RETHEMEING THE OLD MILL AKA GARFIELD'S NIGHTMARE?" Well, I got to ride the Old Mill several times when it had its wild west theme, and I rode Garfield's Nightmare several times. It will be interesting to see how they do it. Imagine a very old ride getting a futuretech facelift.

"Ah, Indiana Beach, the park I visited last month and enjoyed myself. I only regret that I didn't stay longer, but maybe on my next trip." I enjoyed seeing your pictures, but I do have a few questions/comments: 1) Even though I didn't care for the water park, I did notice that the speed slide was closed. Was it still closed when you snapped that picture? Do you know whether or not they will reopen it or just take it out? 2) The area underneath the coasters looked and felt unique: I mean, here you have kiddie rides on the ground below while the adults climbed the stairs to ride the Hurricane and the Cornball Express above them. 3) As a single rider, I had no trouble getting on and riding the rides except the Scrambler in which I had to have a partner. Any idea why this park will establish this type of rule (I mean, I ride lots of Scramblers by myself in other parks with no problems)? 4) Heard in Dr. Frankenstein's Castle: "I'm just a hanging around . . ." 5)I love the Tig'rr and Galaxi coasters in this park.

Hurray, Planet Snoopy is coming to my home park of Kings Dominion!!! I couldn't have been happier (I'm a big fan of Peanuts) by this piece of news. First, I will help out Xizor_Racer when he asked what was the Peanuts Movie that starred the gang on a camping trip that feature a water rafting race. That movie, in which I've seen a million times, is called "Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown". To see Kings Island transform its former Wild Thornberry River Adventure into the Camp Snoopy River Adventure would be too sweet!!! Going back to my home park, there will have to be a ton on name changes and theme changes on all of the Kidville rides in order to fit the theme of Planet Snoopy (if that's their plan - I don't know what they are going to do). As for the Action Theater, I'm sure they can find some suitable replacement for the old Spongebob Squarepants (in which I've seen a million times already - didn't he know that customer was allergic to pickels?). I'm positive that Scooby Doo's dark ride will stay for now since it's on a different license and not part of the Nickelodeon Universe and maybe the Roller Ghoster will keep its name, but the old Taxi Jam can be renamed to Woodstock Express. And finally, I'm hoping and praying that Treasure Cave will be renovated and become something way better (if Cedar Fair did that, then I will forever be grateful; I still miss the old Yogi's Cave). Is it any wonder why I'm renewing my Platinum Pass?

Okay, these are all the parks I have visited in 2009: Kings Dominion (2x), Carowinds (3x), Kings Island (2x), Cedar Point (2x), Kennywood, Camden Park, Holiday World, Worlds of Fun, Valleyfair, Nickelodeon Universe (inside Mall of America), Adventureland, Grady's Fun Park (located in Bloomington, IL), Michigan Adventures, Dorney Park, and Go-Kart Plus (located in Williamsburg). Yep, that's right: I've been around this season. A few of those parks I didn't have to pay a cent to park and play inside because I have a Platinum Pass from Cedar Fair.

I got to view the video and thought that was hilarious. Well, I'm sure she will in the future "secure all loose articles" before boarding this ride again. "She should have worn a sports bra if she was going to ride all those roller coasters, but oh no, she had to wear something light and loose. I don't mind at all if she did (evil laugh)." I did see someone come undone, but it wasn't on a roller coaster, it was off of a water slide at Lakemont Park near Altoona, PA. They have these mat slides in which you must ride down with your back on the mat. After I exited the splash pool, I looked up and watch a heavy-set woman in a one-piece bathing suit slide down and splashed into the pool. When she stood up, one of her massive breast popped out. I tried not to look, but I was like this: After she realized that she came undone, she quickly managed to put that pooped out boob back into her suit, but she no longer went down that slide again.

One time, I was at Cedar Point riding the BLUE STREAK. The lines were long that day and I was mad after waiting in line to ride Raptor, but the damn thing breaks down due a computer glitch just when I was about to get on. So I finally get on the BLUE STREAK and the train finally dispatches when some young girl (probably at college age) starts screaming her head off, and she was sitting right behind me. I mean, she won't stop screaming and we haven't even reach the lift hill. Really steamed, I turned to her and yelled out: "STOP THAT STUPID SCREAMING AND SHOW SOME COURAGE!!!" "Er, what did she say to you?" "Shall I leave out the bad words?" "Please do" "Then she didn't say anything!!!" I wouldn't have mind if that scaredy cat of a girl started screaming when we were going down the first hill, but for her to start screaming like she did was uncalled for and it ruined my ride on the BLUE STREAK. As for myself, I cannot scream; it'll wreck my throat and vocal cords if I did.

Hey there, great pics on Michigan Adventures. I plan to be there during the first week of August when I go on my big road trip. It seems you snapped tons of pictures of the Corkscrew roller coaster. Unless I'm mistaken, I believe that coaster is the last of it's type (one train and two corkscrew loops) when Busch Gardens Africa took out their own corkscrew coaster (called the "Cobra") last year. I was there in 2001 when Cedar Fair bought the property and it looked like a little dinky park with tons of room for growth back then. I can't wait to see what the park looks like today. I hope I get

All right, what does the PLB have to say about this new and exciting coaster that is about to hit Kings Dominion (my main park) next year? How about "History repeating itself?" You see, waaaaaay back in the year 2000 (when Kings Dominion was celebrating it's twenty-fifth year in operation), the only new things the park added was additions to its Water Works attractions (Big Wave Bay, the Splashhouse, and Little Barefoot Cove for the kiddies). At that time, I had a season pass for the second consecutive year and was considering taking a year off. But before I did, Kings Dominion announced adding their eleventh roller coaster to the park, an extreme ride that was one-of-a-kind, a coaster called HYPERSONIC XLC!!! So I renewed by pass for another year. Now we come to today - it's the 2009 season and the newest rides added were two flats. Now I have a Platinum Pass (that I have used twice in Kings Dominion, three times in Carowinds, once at Kings Island, and once at Cedar Point, so far). This is my second consecutive pass, but my first platinum pass. And I was thinking of taking next year off when, all the sudden and out of the blue, Kings Dominion will be debuting it's newest Giga Coaster. Thanks a lot, Kings Dominion. I'm delighted and disgusted at the same time. No, not on the upcoming ride, it's just I cannot decide if I should go VIP or Platinum for next year. It makes me go

Concerning my big idea of converting the formal Led Zepplin ride into the Yellow Submarine, Jarmor wrote: and ginzo added to the post with this: Well, since you think my idea sucks a big one, what do you think this ride should be called?

Great Photo trip report on my favorite park (Thirty-one seasons of going there and counting!!!). I understand that weekend at Kings Dominion was hot and sunny. Tis a shame the waterpark won't be opened until May 23 (Then that should cut down the line to the Log Flume and White Water Canyon - or maybe not). Did I see both sides of the Rebel Yell running in one of your photos? You hate the Drop Zone? You are not the only one. (Last time I rode the Drop Zone, I rode next to someone who must have found religion: he kept screaming "OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD!!!" as we dropped down to the ground.). Sucks that the Grizzly wasn't running. (They are retracking that coaster so it'll run so much smoother from previous years. If you want proof on how much smoother that coaster should be, ride the Rebel Yell: that coaster ran SMOOTH) I'm planning on returning to Kings Dominion on May 23 (when the waterpark is opening up its first day) and using my Platinum Pass for the second time this season.

Hey there, great pictures concerning Kings Dominion's newest rides. I was there during opening weekend and got to ride El Dorado (three times), but Americana wasn't ready yet. I still plan to return to the park on Memorial weekend and hopefully catch a ride on Americana. One more thing to add: some of the pictures you've taken while on the ride and the views the riders can see were only possible when Kings Dominion use to have it's Sky Ride. Now with Americana in the site where one of the Sky Ride Stations used to be, we (those that have been going to the park for many, many seasons) can now see and photograph those aerial shots again (I love the new aerial view of Rebel Yell, especially with the newly rebuilt track at the turnaround. It is so SMOOTH!). In conclusion, I was

All right then, after reading pages and pages of insights, I think it's time to add my own thoughts. 1) New Name (changing the name from HARD ROCK PARK to FREESTYLE MUSIC PARK) - I'm not that thrilled with the new name - I would have preferred something like MAGIC HARBOR (can anyone remember that park)!!! 2) The former Led Zepplin ride - Here's a better idea: why not paint it YELLOW and call it YELLOW SUBMARINE : THE RIDE? 3) Closing Nights in White Satin dark ride- I thinks this sucks BIG TIME ("Nuff Said!")!!! In conclusion, I have this problem: that I am hopelessly optimistic and probably think this park could work out all the details and be successful. Still, I think I better take one more trip out there cos it may be the last time I'd get to visit this park. But I may not be able to enjoy this park like I did last year because I'm feeling that this park is getting "watered down". Please, Prove Me Wrong On That Aspect.

I too was there at KINGS DOMINION on opening day to get my Platinum Pass Processed as I can visit the other parks on the Cedar Fair park circuit. I have a few more things to say concerning that opening day. Sorry that Americana and The Grizzly weren't operating that day. Americana was still being built and the coaster called The Grizzly was being retracked so it could run much smoother. And speaking of retracked coasters that run much smoother, parts of the Hurler were running much smoother with a few rough spots, but I must exclaim gladly about the retracked section of the last hill before the turn around of The Rebel Yell. Last year, that was the roughest section of the ride; this season, that spot was smooth. No, I mean SMOOTH!!!. You got to ride The Volcano? Oh man, I am envious! I was next in line when that ride decided to break down and after waiting 15 minutes, I gave up and rode the Scambler instead. The Dominator also have some breakdowns during the day, but I was able to ride that, and in the front seat!!! As for my review of El Dorado , it's not a bad ride, but I didn't find it thrilling as the other rides of its type. They gave this ride a #4 rating, though I think it should be a #3 rating. I rode the ride three times and it's a good "baby ride" for me. Perhaps they meant this ride to be a family-friendly ride rather from another thrill ride. Overall, I had a great day despite that one hiccup over The Volcano. I don't plan on returning to the park until May 23, when Water Works opens up.

It is always interesting to see what goes on inside a park during the off season. Believe it or not, most people would think that a coaster car or a seat of a ride would stay inside the station during the off season. But these cars are removed from their track or frame so they can be worked on, inspected, put on a new coat of paint, and anything else that the trains or ride seats need. All I can say that I'm for the parks when they need to take the trains off the track during the off-season, but please get them back on before you open up for another season!!!

Way back in 1989 at WildWorld (before it turned into Six Flags America), I saw J.D. Roth who was doing a special show during a weekend at that park. At that time, he hosted a game show called "Funhouse" and he brought some of those sloppy games with him for this show. Anyway, I saw J.D. Roth take a few rides on the Wild One * * * * The other person may not have been a famous movie star, but he did star as an extra in the movie "National Treasure". My friend and I were waiting in line to ride "El Toro" at Six Flags Great Adventure when we struck up a conversation with another rider in front of us and he told us that he starred as an extra in the movie. * * * * Other than that, I cannot say that I met any other famous people, unless you want to count Robb when I met him at Six Flags America one year during a Themepark Review Meet.

I'm not surprised by this news since I was there in 2007 and I left that park feeling very disappointed due to the low number of rides they had running that day. "I paid $27 bucks for a day's admission and all I got to ride was the sky ride leading up to the park, the two flat rides they had in the park, and the sky ride leading down from the park. A week ago, I was at Lake Winnie, rode tons of rides, and only paid $15! At least the shows were good, but(your favorite expression here) I wanted to ride!!! Added to the fact that we've been waiting two (your second favorite expression here) years to ride the Cliffhanger and all we got was broken promises that the ride will open this season. I have many parks to visit this season, but no plans to visit Ghost Town in the Sky unless I have $30 I wanted to give away.

While I like to look at amusement park photos during the off season, they do cause an unfortunate side effect to me: I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL I GO THERE THIS SUMMER!!! So Cedar Point, spit, shine, and polish up those coasters cos when I hit Cedar Point this coming season, I want you make me HAPPY, not just or , but !!!

larrygator wrote: Oh yeah, you're right on that aspect. I seemed to have forgotten that I once saw three small riders ride in the same car on the Rebel Yell roller coaster at Kings Dominion way back in 1980. You can't do that today due to the new seat's restraints. Would Egypt change it's rider's policy in the future? Perhaps not if they can keept the all their riders safe, but I have to admit that is one sure way to keep the line moving.