LoneRider92

No matter which theme park you go to, they are (in my eyes) always supposed to be a family-friendly place. I've noticed the last several times I've gone to a theme park at least one instance of someone wearing something or just something on their person that was not family-friendly at all, which concerned me a little. There are exceptionally few times and places where it is okay for you to wear a shirt with the F bomb splayed out in big letters, and a theme park is definitely not one of them. (Halloween events – lots of fake blood and scares, but ehhh, still no) Alas, people think they are allowed freedom of speech anywhere. You can wear and say what you want, but please, use your freakin' head. Most of the time it’s just unnecessary.

I still can't believe I was sitting in some of those seats at Great America mere hours before you guys were there. And now I'm heading out to Cedar Point tomorrow only a couple of days after TPR dominated the park. D'oh! It looks like it was an amazing trip. A TPR trip is absolutely on my bucket list.

I love this app! It is supremely entertaining pulling this out and stunning my roommates and friends with a score roughly 10-12 times as high as theirs. Thanks for the awesome app Robb and all others involved!

Boy, I sure feel stupid. Theme Park Review was essentially in my back yard riding my favorite ride, and then they ended up 25 minutes from my house, and instead I was down at Great America having a fun but tough day. I should have planned better. I am a little disappointed that no one thought Hades was better this time around, but I've come to accept the fact that I seem to be one of the only people I know to *really* like the ride (it is honestly so much better than the past seasons, but I've ridden it every year, so I can completely tell the difference). The tour looks like awesome fun. Guess I'll have to put off meeting more TPR members a little longer.

Hello all. I know this is short notice, but where is a place you would recommend to stay when going to Cedar Point? We're taking a trip in a week and are looking for a hotel.

Going back to my aquatrax jab, I got to thinking about what Ed said how Splashwater Falls was removed, meaning Great America doesn't have a splash boat-style ride anymore, and with rides like Pilgrim's Plunge and Divertical being built, how's the possibility of a themed Intamin water coaster sound? That would make some sense with the 125 foot height. Still just spitballing at this point.

I've heard of a dogbone layout, but a dinobone layout? You might be on to something there.

Actually, the first impulse I had after the teaser was a Six Flags take on Dinosaurs Alive, but I wasn't sure if they would go down the same path as Cedar Fair (judging from the addition of Alive at several Cedar Fair parks, however, perhaps it's been working out pretty well). That's why the next logical step in my head was a dark ride. I still would have a hard time believing a new coaster is landing at Great America that soon. If there is in fact one on the way, well then I'll be one surprised sonovagun. Now it's anyone's guess (unless they've gone and flat-out told everyone what it will be).

Aquatrax. Of course I have no idea what it might be. Dark ride? Flat ride? It would seem to be too early to be looking at a new coaster. Or is it?

As expected, the Rusutsu Ultra Twister looked completely insane. Thanks for the coverage guys. Japan looks like a truly awesome place to visit.

Cosmoworld does have a great setting, and any owner that is a fan of TPR is okay with me. That photo of Elissa is priceless. The Ultra Twister looked fun and bizarre (as they always do). The one I really like to see is the Rusutsu model, since it looks so amazing (that video you guys did on it a few years ago got me hooked). I wish some manufacturers would look into doing an improved version of that 'continuous' model. That would be terrific. The trip is looking great and I can't wait to see more Japan-ness.

The new seating arrangement on the Timberliners allows each person their own little area instead of mashing you together at the hip, which is quite nice. Neither me nor my friend Joey are very big in the stomach area, so I can't really say if the new restraints are very different from PTC ones. However, they seemed to be a little more forgiving (just make sure you don't get stapled - they only get tighter). The only problem I can see for riders is if they have wide hips or really big thighs, as the seats are somewhat similar to what you'd find (IMO) on a B&M coaster. If you don't have problems on rides like Batman, Raging Bull, or V2 (not a B&M, I know), you should have no problem with the Timberliners.

Yay, good to see a little Zippin Pippin coverage! I'm also happy to see the backyard turnstile is still there as well. Lambeau Field sure is an awesome place.

To avoid yet another discussion on Hi Britts (thanks Chuck ), how about my review of Hades? Pictures and a full review can be seen here, but basically the new and improved Hades is hands-down the best ride I've ever ridden. I'm not sure where people are getting the vibe that the ride is just as rough as before; as Hades' probably biggest fan, the difference between the past few years and this year is nothing short of astounding. The retracked sections, including the notorious curve past the station, are completely amazing and the new corkscrew and curve is bizarre and incredible. In short, get out here and ride this ride (just be absolutely sure to ride in the front seat for the full experience). BTW, the footage looks perfect Scotty!

It took a little while longer than I wanted, but TPR's self-admitted Hades fanatic was finally able to get out and experience the ride like I had never experienced before. With an awesome bunch of guys (including a few celebrity-ish people) and some beautiful weather, this turned out to be one of the better days I've had at a theme park ever. If anyone wanted a full report on Mount Olympus, you can find a much more in-depth one here, but this visit was all about Hades. I was a little worried about this visit because we ended up making the trip on the Monday of the first week in June, which is prime school trip time. Even with the huge influx of youngsters, the line for Hades was never too bad (about 75 minutes at its longest point), but the little SWAGsters were a little much at times. I think Dave would have had a tough time dealing with them. It was pretty easy to see that a large amount of track work was done in the off-season to get Hades back in top form, and it was a very welcome sight. The new Timberliner train was also looking very slick and very fast - it was a welcome sight after the PTCs and I was excited to try it out. After waiting for a while, we finally got into the station. I had been wondering why several trains had gone out with no one in the front seat, and once we were at the top I found the culprit; some guy in a green shirt with a GoPro box on the far side had been mounting a camera on the first car (he looked pretty familiar, but I wasn't 100% sure who it was). After waiting a little longer, we finally got on in my money seat - the front row. The guy then came over and proceeded to strap a camera to the chassis of the train. After talking for a bit, he looked up, noticed my TPR shirt, and revealed himself to be none other than ScottyDoesKnow. So, as it turns out, my first ride on Hades might be up on YouTube soon, and boy was it a first ride. Word From The Coaster Nerd What can I say? It was like riding Hades for the first time again. It was absolutely the best time I've ever had on a roller coaster, and Hades is now hands-down my unrivaled favorite coaster ever (Skyrush, Stormrunner, and Phoenix are looming later this summer though...). I was completely blown away. Now just saying quickly, I might be slightly biased since I was always a defender of Hades, even at its lower points. I've read that people say it's still rough and that it hurts so much, and they are allowed to say that. However, as an experienced Hades rider, the experience was night and day for me. I couldn't believe how smooth the ride was compared to the last few seasons! The tunnel was psychotic as ever, the 110 degree turn was nuts and had me flying around in my seat, and the corkscrew, oh wow. It was sooooooo different and awesome. The handrails made for some crazy near-misses as well. The train seemed to be cresting the hill on the return trip faster too, so it looks like the ride is breaking in already. Someone had mentioned that the second half was still rough, but I think they just might be trying to keep people away. It was amazing as well. The long turn past the station was retracked and was a complete reversal of the spine-assaulting curve it once was. Now, the couple of spots that hadn't been redone were absolutely noticeable: the beginning portion of the ride (which isn't taken fast enough to be bad and is still a blast), the first drop (which was probably the biggest disappointment on the ride, a couple more slams than I would like), and the portion of track right before the s-curve into the helix. However, they had just "normal wooden coaster feel" to them, and really, roughly 3 seconds of the ride is going to ruin the rest of the experience? I'd hope not. A quick note on the Timberliners; comfy seats, no seats belts, open front, a cool rolling-ball-bearings noise... They were so awesome. More parks please look into them. The best advice I can give to get an amazing ride on Hades? A few tips: ride the front seat, go early in the day (once Hades warms up, the bumps get more noticeable), ride the front seat, don't make your restraint too tight, and RIDE THE FRONT SEAT! Honestly, I must have a high pain threshold, because I have been on FAR worse rides than Hades. I rode with my arms up (completely spontaneously, it was that fun) on my first ride and was completely fine. If you think the ride is rough, you must have unrealistic coaster expectations. It's a woodie, expect at least a few bumps. So, unfortunately for those of you who had no desire to visit Mount Olympus again, now you have a reason. Hades is an epic experience and should not be missed. I would just advise making the trip early in the season to get the smoothest ride possible. Thanks so much Scotty, Rocco, Duane, John from Chicago, and all other coaster nerds in attendance that day. You guys were all awesome and I look forwards to running into you guys again. And now Scotty and I certainly have a story to tell. Since Scotty had the ride covered head to foot in video, I decided to get some pictures for you guys. Enjoy! Ah, a view that I have grown quite accustomed to over the years. Something just feels a little different this year, though I can't put my finger on it... Well this should be a great way to start off the coaster season. =D I thought the new electronic wait signs are a nice touch, even if not entirely accurate. If the park is really going to shoot for a bigger park feel, then this helps a bit. It's safe to say I hadn't been this excited to ride Hades since it first opened. (Is this okay for the index Larry?) Oh crud. Here's the problem with visiting the park the first week in June (really, the line wasn't that bad. I was more than willing to wait) A first glimpse of the Timberliner train rolling through the crazy pre-lift section. The airtime through this section is still so good. This part alone rivals some woodies I've ridden. In true TPR fashion, Hades THROUGH THE TREES!!!1!11! I always love the drop past the queue line... Hey, why no front seat riders? Don't tell me they broke the train already! The GCI station fly-throughs are nice, but having Hades roar by just a few feet from the station just never gets old. This part of the ride used to be pretty brutal, but the retracking has made it pretty freaking great. Hey, who's this guy with the SDR shirt and the GoPro? I swear I've seen him somewhere before, but I'm not sure... Finally it's our turn and I have to force myself not to squeal like an idiot. And there sure are a lot of smiles on that train... My friend Joey on the right and me on the left (TPR represent!), ready to have our minds blown. Thank you John-from-Chicago-who-was-wearing-an-Outlaw Run-shirt for taking the picture. If you've ridden Hades before, I urge you to come and give it a try now. It feels like a completely different ride. If you've never ridden it before, come out and try one of the most insane wooden coasters out there. Either way, give me a ring so I can go. =D The full-train only policy is kind of a pain, so being the LoneRider here doesn't work very well. Make sure you have a buddy. If the first drop had been done as well, the ride would that much better. It's still quite a drop, and frankly, the airtime in the front seems just as good or better than the back. Something here is QUITE different. A huge congrats to Gravity Group as well as Rocky Mountain for opening up new possibilities for wooden coasters. =D A closer view of the corkscrew. It feels weird to see it in person. It just doesn't look natural (BUT IT IS SAFE, ya whackos...) Thought 90 degrees was crazy? Wait until you go flipping through here. The 110 degree curve from the other side. I think I tried making this in NoLimits once. Gravity Group pulled it off a lot better though... Big smiles and a whole lotta speed through here. I kind of like this picture. It's (almost) all-inclusive of the awesomeness that is Hades. After being flung out of your seat, how about some great airtime all the way into the tunnel? The seats sure are comfy, that is when your butt is actually in them. The backside of the unholy corkscrew. The backside of the unholy corkscrew, now with 100% more train flavor! My camera seemed to behave pretty well for a camera that is better suited for underwater shots. Here, however, is an example of rushing to get a picture. Oh well. The plus side of visiting the park when there are lots of school trips? The kids have to ship out early and the line dies down to this. Time for some more rides! Scotty takes a well deserved break from filming and gets another ride on Hades. I'm definitely looking forward to the footage Scott! 8D Seriously, the hard work and modifications on Hades have made it even more amazing than it was before. These redone sections were such a nice change. In fact, the most uncomfortable part of the ride seemed to be the brake section. The offset brake fin makes the Timberliners twist in a strange and jostling way. Otherwise the whole ride is a huge success! The ending of an incredible day. Boy am I glad I waited until today to visit! Great people, great weather, and a great ride make me a happy sponge. =D A final parting shot of the new and improved Hades. Thank you so much for reading and feel free to comment or ask questions. Get out and ride Hades, you won't regret it! (or at the very least forget the experience) Don't be afraid to give me a heads up. See you in the next report. LoneRider signing out!

I kind of forgot to ask earlier, but how accommodating are the seats? I'm 6'1" 177 lbs, so I'll have no trouble fitting at all; my friend, however, is in the mid 300's. He rode Hades before with the original train and made it, but I was wondering how forgiving the restraints on the Timberliners were. Hopefully I can make it out between Sunday and Tuesday. I'm chomping at the bit to get some Hades action and do an in-depth report of my favorite ride.

God dang I wish I didn't have work this weekend! Please let the weather clear so I can make a trip up on Monday or Tuesday and ride this bad boy. It looks GREAT!

Ooooh, it sure is tempting to drive up. I'm 50 minutes away and it would be awesome to make it out there for the grand reopening, but I'm saddled with work on both Saturday and Sunday. However, Monday I might be free, and I just so happen to have 4 water park tickets that can be upgraded. I was a good boy during finals, so I deserve to have some fun. Here's hoping!

As promised, here is a small report of the event this year. Luckily the weather was cooperating this year as it was insanely nice and comfortable, hopefully resulting in a strong first day of brat sales this year. The goal for a new world record is around 210,000 brats, and as of 4:00 the count was around 41,000, so here's being optimistic that the weather holds out. The Fest was very similar to how it's been the past few years, with the only slight difference being that the carnival was moved to the parking lot to avoid problems with soft ground from a couple days of rain. Otherwise the event is still fun and offers a unique way to spend some time relaxing on Memorial Day weekend. I didn't hit the carnival tonight as it was pretty much the same one that has been present the past few years. Most of it was standard carnival fare, with the Force 10 sticking out as probably the fastest and most intense ride there (I haven't been able to give Spin Out a shot). All in all, if you are in the area and have a serious craving for some Midwestern grub, making a trip to Brat Fest wouldn't be too bad of an idea. I don't expect anyone to make a serious trip for the event (a la Vacation), but if you are willing to venture on up you are more than welcome to. On to pictures! Ah, the Alliant Energy Center in May, which can only mean the World's Largest Brat Fest is here again! The carnival in it's new location, so you are close enough to stagger out to your car once the carnival rides nearly force up all of the delicious food you just ate The sign does not lie, this is the World's Largest Brat Fest (in case it didn't sink in the first 20 times you saw it) Here is a sampling of the menu: up top is a standard Johnsonville brat with sauerkraut and onions, the middle sausage is the holdover from last year, a Chipotle Chicken Monterrey Jack brat with Dusseldorf mustard, and a hotdog with ketchup and onions. (don't you dare let anyone from the Mustard Museum catch you putting ketchup on a brat. Things could get messy...) After slamming down a brat or five, a baker's dozen ears of corn, and a couple of beers, nothing hits the spot more than some good ol' Wisconsin ice cream Here is my scoop of choice - the specially-made Brat Fest Cookie Dough. This is some gooooood ice cream. =D I really like the message Chocolate Shoppe parlays on their cups of ice cream. No worries, I'll just eat fruit and salad for the next month or so *snerk* Here is just one of the several stages located around Brat Fest. This really is a good place to just sit back, relax, eat a brat and listen to some music Just a few fun stats on Brat Fest for your reading pleasure As with almost any event in Wisconsin, beer is readily available - wait. Budweiser? Not Miller??? I'm not even a beer guy, but that seems wrong... Ooookay... Moving back to brats, the several condiment tents plopped down have a variety of fixings for your franks, including several types of mustards. Chipotle certainly does have a kick to it The Weinermobile, always a popular character at Brat Fest Just showing off how important advances in science, mathematics, and physics have payed off in creating sleeker, more advanced weiner-themed transportation over the years The main tent is able to serve a metric bun-ton of people during busier hours. Many a brats have passed through here during the course of the event Well, it may be Miller country, but this is always welcome sight for TPR members and Wisconsinites alike... The Budweiser Clydesdales! Complete with bells and smells and everything (good thing I had finished my brat. Hoooo man) Dalmation dude here had better hope they don't run short on hot dogs yet Uh oh, CLYDE! DO NOT EAT THAT LADY! SHE IS NOT A GIANT APPLE!! Aw Clyde, you're not supposed to look at the camera! Just act natural Just a quick peek at the menu to give you an idea of all the amazing ice cream flavo- hold up. Carrot mango? Hmm, not exactly my go-to flavor... And don't worry, if your legs are unable to support the extra food weight, the Weiner Wagons (driven by volunteers as well) are here to help. =D If you see this sign, you're in the right place! If not you may want to check your GPS Happy happy happy happy sausage Well, this IS a theme park website, so some ride pictures are pretty much mandatory. Here is the ferris wheel (the one last year that was set up too close to a tree and birch slapping people) CREDIT! Well, maybe for some really desperate and especially pathetic whores out there - you know who you are! Here is the ferris wheel (wait, didn't I say that already? Oh, wait. A second ferris wheel [???]. Got it) Spin Out in action. I have seen this ride at several different carnivals over time, but I have yet to experience it. Anyone care to offer an opinion? The Zipper and Kamikaze/Skymaster, a couple of standard carnival contraptions. I do like Zippers, but it sucks that they require two riders (being the LoneRider and all). They are pretty exciting and make some of the most fascinating/unnerving clanking and banging noises. And to wrap up the report, a couple shots of the top of the carnival ride food chain (at least this carnival), Force 10. It looks like a pretty simple ride, but wow is this a doozy of a ride. It was definitely fun last year when I rode it and it is a step above most other carnival rides, but sustaining 3 g's for a couple of minutes leaves you feeling very strange. Just be prepared when you strap in to this bad boy For a final shot, I give you a couple of riders whose blood supply has pretty much been forced down into their legs. At least their stomachs are now rather empty since just about everything is south of the pelvis, so they should be feeling good enough to get some more brats. =D Thank you all for reading! I hope you enjoyed the food and the rides and are now craving some awesome Sconnie food. Don't be shy and come on down to Mad Town. We'll treat you well! Look for another trip report or two over the summer. Hades 360, Noah's Ark, Pennsyvania Trip, or maybe something else, who knows. LoneRider signing out!

www.bratfest.com/ Hey all, LoneRider here again with a food-themed thread! If you didn't see the Photo Trip Report from last year, you can give it a look here to see what it's all about. If you need a quick reminder, I can give you a rundown of what is happening; 30 years ago, a local grocery store owner decided to give back to the community by selling brats on Memorial Day to thank customers for their service. The event grew and grew until it became large enough to garner the title of World's Largest Brat Fest. Today the event has sold more than 3 million brats (That's 300.3 million tons of brats! Talk about a sausage fest...) and raised almost $1.2 million in charity with over 5000 volunteers and 100 charities participating. There are rides, lots of music, activities, and more Midwestern food than you can shake a corn on the cob at. So if you are anywhere near the Madison, WI area from the 24th of May to the 27th, maybe from riding Backwards Batman or checking up on Hades 360, don't be shy and come and grab a brat and have a good time! A photo trip report from this year should be coming soon.

Lift Me Up by Five Finger Death Punch and Rob Halford. A brand new tune that is helping me power through studying tonight and gets me excited for the new album coming out in July. It's pretty kick-ass. Bring it finals!

Okay, now *THAT* is a ride entrance. It's really awesome what Six Flags and Rocky Mountain have done with the ride. It went from being one of the rides people avoided when visiting the park to the main attraction in about one off-season. Hopefully one day I can make a trip to Texas to see these monsters in person.

Thanks Robb, the expansion looks to have come together very nicely. I'm looking forward to seeing the park in action. Let's see, my last final is at 8 pm on May 19th. If I leave right after that with no sleep or bathroom breaks... You know what? I think I can wait a bit. I would love to go to a TPR event though eventually.

Thanks everyone for the feedback and a big shout out to AJ for even creating a makeshift travel plan. An update on the trip; since Mom went and fractured something in her foot about a month ago by slipping on a frozen snow bank (yeah, she's pretty hard on herself) and the injury not healing well, it appears the trip might be moved towards the end of summer (sometime in August). Does that change the strategy in visiting Hershey and Knoebels and possibly Kennywood at all? Anything else I should know about? Thanks again.

Wow, for a family coaster it really had some zip to it. The ride and setting look great! I'm kind of hoping some parks closer to home look at these Intamin family launchers because with some decent theming they look to be a real winner. Heck, can't that be said about a lot of Intamin designs (MegaLite, Plug n' Play, Zacspin...)? Parks around the world take note!