outbackjack

And forget Wheelie....there's no way.

OK. Not sure what is happening......I'm now 40 years old and have ridden coasters my entire life. Just recently, certain metal coasters give me the most unbelievable nausea in my stomach. It's not a headache, but it's almost worse, as it stays with me for hours. Now it's not a gray area, coasters either give it to me or they don't. I could ride wooden coasters ALL DAY LONG.....love them, love them, love them. Metal "speed and airtime" coasters I can ride all day long. But anything that goes upside down....or sometimes even helixes like on Everest just immediately hit my stomach BAD. Just got back from SFOG today, went with the kids so I thought I was invincible, and just LOVED Goliath, GASM and GC. Also DDD was fun and didn't shake me up. Mindbender is just so fun even though the bottom of the second "Loop", the one that doesn't go upside down, begins my descent. Then Batman, Scorcher and Superman......all just tore me to pieces. Painfully so, thought I did them for the kids. Can someone tell me why I can handle the vibrations of any wood coaster, the air and speed of any metal speed coaster, but absolutely get torn to pieces on others that are smooth, like Batman? Is there any hope, anything I can take, as I love all coasters, but this worries me that I won't be able to continue to do all types.

Piggy-backing on the "Your Dream Park" thread, let's say you have a healthy mix of coasters. While we all love coasters and they are what brings GP....it's all the little stuff that keeps me coming back. My park would have.... 1. Auto Race ride like at Kennywood. 2. Tons of shaded paths like at Dollywood. 3. Indoor haunted house ride. 4. Log flume with a LONG tunnel like Lake Winnie. 5. Food cooking in huge grills where you could see and smell it (again Dollywood). 6. A cheesy diving show (always loved those). 7. Magic show. 8. A mini train like at Knoebels (the one under Twister). 9. Indoor shooting ride 10. Kiddie wooden coaster. 11. Free drinks and parking. 12. A main street with colorful building fronts. 13. Antique car ride that winds with tunnels. 14. A whip. 15. Regular train that passes under several coasters. 16. No upcharge activities. 17. On site "museum" to honor my parks history. That would be my park.....

While Dino is completely awesome, normal parks can't afford a Disney type indoor ride. But Gobbler Getaway, that looks like I could afford it with my kids bank account. And it's AC and super fun. Haunted houses, not that expensive and also super fun. Even something Disney-lite like Snow White (or Mr. Toad) are really cool. Now Toy Story is completely addicting, but it looks like a Disney/Universal only type ride. I wish every park had 2 or 3....even simple boxes over coasters like Exterminator at Kennywood make it that much more fun.

Yes, SFOG used to have Shake Rattle and Roll, but they removed it for DDD. Even when they suck I like them.....kind of like Garfield at Kennywood.

Maybe it's me, but I just don't think there are enough indoor rides. Some parks have 1, some parks have none. Only a few have multiple, with Disney being the king. The great thing about them is it doesn't matter if they are cheesy, I still never miss them. SFOG, I ALWAYS go on Monster Mansion. At Holiday World, I rode Gobbler Getaway over and over. Dollywood, can't miss Blazing Fury. Maybe it's the AC, but I just love any and all dark rides. I would LOVE for Busch Gardens Fl to add one. Can you imagine how well an air conditioned shooting ride would go over in Tampa. Love for Cedar Point to add one. Sea World to add one. Haunted houses, boat rides, shooting rides, there's lots of great options but not enough out there. I would love for these parks that have only 1 to add a few more. They always have a line, so they are in demand for sure. Are they a super high cost, could that be the reason?

Thanks so much..this has been incredibly helpful. Because of this, I am definitely staying on site, knowing to hit the big 3 early each day. I guess I'll just have to suck it up as far as food....oh well. I'm most excited about Cedar Downs, Paddelwheel Excursions, Wildcat, etc. How about the Antique Car Rides, I heard they have 3. Are they the same or does one stand out? Also, how is the train ride?

Should have mentioned that we are on a semi-budget....might help with some answers. And if you have any other secrets that I won't know, please pass them along. Thanks

Going for the first time this year. A few questions for the expert..... 1. Thinking of a Wed/Thur 2 day visit, are those days lighter than others in July? 2. Should I pay more and stay on site.....are the benefits worth the extra $? 3. What ride should I hit first/longest line throughout the day? 4. What's one "can't miss" that's not an obvious one? 5. Any food recommendations.....we usually like air cinditioned and reasonably inexpensuve. Thanks in advance, Outback

It is odd that people over 16 like "pretend" car rides, but I do. In fact, I love them. Never miss them at a park. Holiday World has a cool track, but the pedal takes alot of pressure to keep pushed and the vibrating will stay with your right foot long after the ride.

I know this site completely fills my need for obscure park pictures.....but noticed there weren't any from Opryland. I travel to Nashville often and every time I venture to Opry Mills mall, parking in the back, and walking the trail that gives you great views of the defunct raging rapids ride. I went to the park as a teenager in the 1980's, and didn't appreciate it like I should have. Does anyone have any pictures from this park that's gone, but not forgotten? Thanks in advance.

Dude, SFOG is my home park, I go several times each year. While the que is on a tree covered hill, topped by one of the most beautiful carousels around, the trees don't block any of the sun. Trust me. I love the park, but that is certainly a complaint. The majority of the ride track, ironically, is completely shaded.

Great news. I just love that ride. It's the only antique car ride that literally disoriented me. Not from speed of course, but it had so many turns, back in thick tress and brush, that you eventually had no idea the direction of the station. That was really cool, hopefully they'll be able to use simlar landscape to hide the turns.

Everyone here loves coasters, and most seem to have differing second "favorite" types of rides. I am a huge fan of log flumes...but the top of my "after-coaster" list is car rides. Something about the look, the meandering track, the sound of the engines, I have always loved them. They are a can't miss for me at each park. The best one around was at Kennywood, and it is an absolute crime it has been taken down. However, their "car race" is one of the best car rides around. Dollywood's is fantastic, I just LOVE the theming in the que. SFOG has a lame one, and has a terrible outside loading area that gets direct sun. Knoebels is great, winding through the Phoenix. I love when smaller old parks have them, as Lake Winnie and Santa's Village (NH) have great ones. Anyone else a fan?

Just curious if anyone went this weekend as Dollywood opened Saturday. We are headed up on Thursday the 7th and can't wait to see Owens Farm in all its' glory. Also, has anyone heard if the new addition changed the entrance/stairway to Slidewinder? I thought I read in a Barnstormer press release that it might change it.

Nope...just trying to be witty with the title. I did remember reading that Garfields...aka Old Mill...at Kennywood was an old tunnel of love ride.

Forgot about Hades....that tunnel is awesome. Also love the simple wood tunnels on Legend.

I am so happy to be posting, I've been a LONG time daily lurker (years)....I've decided to finally jump in and share my roller coaster thoughts.... I am a HUGE fan of tunnels. It started as a little kid watching my Lionel train going into the darkness then back out the other side. I've always loved tunnels of any type. To me, a great tunnel sets one roller coaster apart from other similar models. Here are my favorite tunnels...... 1. The helix on Loch Ness. It's so long it's impossible to keep your bearings of when your about to exit. 2. Beast on the helix (and on the flats). 3. Just absolutely love the Phoenix pre lift tunnel. 4. First drop on Tennessee Tornado...just a really cool and different tunnel. 5. The triple down on Voyage. 6. The old snake mouth on Starliner when at Miracle beach. My home park, SFOG, BLOWS in regards to tunnels. Superman has a joke of one, Mindbender has one almost by accident, and Dahlonega Mine Train has a wonderful one. One good tunnels for 10 plus coasters...not good. Now I see tunnels as completely different from inside portions, covered portions, etc. Anyone else a tunnel fan....what are your favorites?