vdejarnette

Larry, I'm sure you don't need me to lecture you on the difference between denotation and connotation, so you are either being deliberately glib or obtuse. Enthusiast connotes that someone puts effort into their hobby above and beyond that of a normal person.

I'm glad fewer people enjoy the back wing seats. It means they're always open for me whenever I get into the station.

bumpy? I really wonder sometimes about people's roughness expectations for new coasters. It throws you all over the place but bumpy is not one word that would ever come to mind as a description of this ride. Glad you like it, but If you ever get invited to a Skyrush ERT I'd be happy to go in your place. Also, you have discovered one of the secrets of Hersheypark. If you are there on the weekend, get there early for Fahrenheit and the back of the park... and then do SOMETHING ELSE during the middle of the day when it's miserably hot and all you will be doing is standing in line. Come back around 4PM and stay until closing and you will have no trouble getting all the rides you want after ~6. I have never experienced crowd problems being there late. The place attracts so many families with little kids that a good chunk of the people at the park will be on their way home by 4.

Like the show, but could they please stop calling every Tom, Dick, and Harry who wanders into the front gate of a park a "coaster enthusiast"? It gets tiring listening to these people hem and haw about "maybe I'll actually enjoy this, but I don't knowwww it looks tall!" and then get labeled as a coaster enthusiasts in the bottom right corner.

Got 5-6 runs on this yesterday and just wanted to pop in to reinforce that SkyRush still hauls major ass after the mods from last year. The lift slowdown at the top is more noticeable towards the front of the train, but in the back row (where the best rides on this beast are anyway, particularly the right wing seat) you can't even tell. Still my #1 steel coaster, we are truly hyper-spoiled here in the Mid Atlantic. On another note, they made the lap bars about as soft as possible while still being functional and I still heard some complaining about the lap bars being too tight. This ride is just too much for some people, and it is better that way.

It seems like a new international "Paramount Theme Park to Rival Disney" is proposed every few months and it never materializes... So best to keep expectations in check.

You are right about the turnpike, but between Exit 6 and Exit 7A is only ~10 miles, the Newark plan risks spending much more time on the Turnpike. I've made it from Western Philadelphia to Rutgers (Exit 9 on the Turnpike) in 1hr20mins regularly during the edges of friday rush hour both ways for work, it can be done relatively easily even with the construction traffic... however due to the construction it can clog up at random times for seemingly no reason (most likely accident related). The best path is as follows... You can avoid the turnpike completely if you follow 95 North from Philly Intl to Trenton, NJ then get on 195 where it starts East of Trenton. It is guaranteed to be less hassle than dealing with the NYC/Newark area or getting on the NJ Turnpike at any time.

Andrew, It might be easier to fly into Philadelphia International, the drive it the same distance to SF as from Newark (probably a little shorter) and traffic is guaranteed to be less...

Based on the concept art on the website, it looks like the trains may have been redone using "over the shoulder" lap bars similar to the Mack trains and SkyRush instead of the previous method of attaching it from below... or it could be crappy Six Flags artwork using a shot of DDD for the 2x3 train look. How are the Superman restraints attached at SFDK?

Every fiber of my being wishes it was a DDD clone or something similar, but my gut and history of being disappointed by these announcements tells me this is a new 6-slide mat racer.

That's a real shame, it was far from the worst coaster there.

Sometimes I wonder what other people's definition of "lots of headbanging" is, because Medusa/Bizarro has never had lots of headbanging, or really any at all, any time I've ever ridden it.

For whatever reason, Bizarro doesn't draw people and now with Green Lantern (despite one being a standup and one being floorless) the park has a big multi-looper drawing big lines, so Bizarro feels almost extraneous which is why I am prone to believing these rumors. I haven't waited longer than a few trains to get on it since probably the year it opened as Medusa, even the Bizarro transformation barely made a blip it seems. It would probably be more appreciated in another part of the country and I would bet SF feels similarly.

Seems like the rumors elsewhere point to Bizarro getting moved (maybe to SFGAm as a mea culpa for stealing Green Lantern) and building the new entrance to the Wild Safari back in that area, which also preps the area of the park for guest traffic when they inevitably build the drop tower on the side of Kingda Ka. Can't say I'd be too sad about the potential loss of Bizarro. Hindsight shows that Medusa when it was first built was likely B&M's first step down the "forceless wonder" path that would come to full fruition by the early-mid 2000's. Atleast it is glass smooth which is more than can apparently be said about Scream at SFMM. Incidentally, I just bought two $25 tickets to GADv good til October using the online promo code MILITARY. They included free admission to Wild Safari with the Theme Park as well as two extra guest tickets to Wild Safari so it seems like they are really pimping it out before the makeover.

It's definitely Rolller Soaker. Trailblazer is the only real entry level coaster in the park and is a classic park icon for people that have been going there for years. I can't see it being removed because maintenance does not seem to be an issue. Wild Mouse still draws large lines and I'm not sure how its space could be better utilized. I've been to the park tons of times and never once bothered to ride Roller Soaker. I've hung out in the area and shot the water guns from the ground but the line was always prohibitive because of how slow throughput is. I think I remember getting in line for it once and getting out a half hour later after barely moving. Taking it out and adding a boardwalk themed River Battle ride would be a much more interesting use of that space, and it would eat more people/kids at the crowded Boardwalk.

Not sure what is lame about "GateKeeper", it's a name that implies gargoyles and being watched from above. This is Cedar Fair, home of "Intimidator _Insert Height Here_", "Millenium Force" (what the hell is a Millenium Force?), "Flight Deck", "_Insert Xtreme Word Here_ Hawk", and more "Flight Deck". Frankly, GateKeeper is one of the better coaster name Cedar Fair has come up with in recent years.

Guys, I think you are looking at the lift wrong... If you have ridden a wingrider, you know that the lift is steep, 40 degrees in this case. Considering the seats are already slightly reclined, you are more on your back going up the lift than anything else and except for the front seat you cannot see the horizon in front of you. The only way to see the lake will be to look to your side as a rider, which is conveniently located on the left side of the lift. The riders on the right side will have an incredible view of the entire park I'm sure.

You will almost definitely be staring at a closed park if you try to attend any of those during a weekday in May. Check the park schedules and look at the May 2012 schedule, 2013 will more than likely be almost identical except for the corresponding date changes. Typically seasonal parks on the East Coast are only open on the weekends until Memorial Day (the last monday in May for you since you may not be familiar with American holidays). However, attendance is generally pretty light even on the weekends in May before schools let out for the summer sometime in June. Typically seasonal parks on the East Coast are only open on the weekends until Memorial Day (the last monday in May for you since you may not be familiar with American holidays). However, attendance is generally (your mileage may vary depending on the exact park) pretty light even on the weekends in May before schools let out for the summer sometime in June. Cedar Point doesn't do weekday closures in May. He's probably safe after May 11th, which is the corresponding Saturday in 2013. Fair enough, the other ones he mentioned will almost definitely not be open.

You will almost definitely be staring at a closed park if you try to attend any of those during a weekday in May. Check the park schedules and look at the May 2012 schedule, 2013 will more than likely be almost identical except for the corresponding date changes. Typically seasonal parks on the East Coast are only open on the weekends until Memorial Day (the last monday in May for you since you may not be familiar with American holidays). However, attendance is generally pretty light even on the weekends in May before schools let out for the summer sometime in June. Typically seasonal parks on the East Coast are only open on the weekends until Memorial Day (the last monday in May for you since you may not be familiar with American holidays). However, attendance is generally (your mileage may vary depending on the exact park) pretty light even on the weekends in May before schools let out for the summer sometime in June.

It seems a little disingenuous to complain about clones when Titan and Freeze have exactly one other clone each, hours and hours away in both cases... and the other is Batman: The Ride, which is about the only popular clone that is also a great ride.

Unlike I305 which needs the seatbelt harnesses for the quick change of directions and has few really strong airtime moments (its my #2 all time but not because of the airtime), SkyRush's airtime and the feeling of freedom would be destroyed by those restraints... and you would still have people complaining about the shoulder straps digging into them, I guarantee it.

Roar was original when it was built, and it ran awesome the first year or two before the PTCs destroyed the track. I remember marathoning it without problem back in 98, it sounds like you unfortunately did not get to experience this grace period in its history. In this case, it would be better to have gotten the cloned Roar because the one at SFDK has Millenium Flyers and still runs pretty well from what I've read. ROS may be a clone (mirror, actually), but it's a great ride (those awful ankle bar retrofits notwithstanding). Batwing likewise is a clone, but there were only 3 of the Flying Dutchman built so it is a relative novelty unless you spend alot of time in Ohio or the Carolinas for your coastering. Typhoon Seacoaster (aka Skull Mountain) was an awesome original installation as well, unfortunately operational problems plagued the ride into oblivion but it was really fun at first (when the turntables still worked). I feel like SFA's coaster collection would appear a lot more filled out if Roar got some retrack lovin and some new MF trains. It is sad to see such a beautiful coaster be so unrideable because of the jackhammering. Wildcat has been much improved by the MF trains after suffering the same fate as Roar through much of the early 2000's.

I was at HP yesterday (finally) for the first time this season. Got four rides on SkyRush (last row left wing, second row left wing, 7th row left wing, front row right wing), three of them after the sun went down, including front wing seat in the second to last train of the night. This thing is like riding a bucking bronco, an airtime machine unlike anything I've ever experienced in the US (and that covers almost everything east of the Mississippi except for Holiday World, Carowinds, and a bunch of smaller parks). I found that front/back is not so much important to the experience as whether you are on the left or right wing. The left wing gives more insane ejectors on the second crossover airtime hill and the S-curve airtime hill, and pulls the rug out from under you on the "modified stengel dive". It may be my new #1, but I gotta think on that, and maybe give Intimidator 305 another go to compare. As for the restaints, I found them perfectly comfortable and relatively soft and giving. They do staple down as the ride goes on (I found this to be more noticeable on the right wing, all the more reason to ride on the left). This may be selection bias talking, but the only major complaints I heard were from skinny sticks of human beings (i.e. kids) or the overweight. If you have any muscle tone in your legs at all I cannot see the restraints being uncomfortable to the point of actually hurting. I had no trouble flexing or moving my legs to keep circulation while on the brake run. The rest of the park is absolutely beautiful at night. It rained earlier so there was a thin layer of mist in the hollow all night, it was serene walking along the path between the amphitheatre and creek. This is probably the first time I've ever been to Hershey that I came in the afternoon and stayed till closing (I went 5-11) though I've been virtually every year dating back to around the time Wildcat opened. I think this will be my plan for future visits. I got multiple rides on all the coasters except Fahrenheit (long line as expected for a decent but not overwhelming ride), Sidewinder (already tried it with the new trains and it's still a boomerang), Comet (skipped it, old hat and the line is always brutal) and Roller Soaker/Wild Mouse (done before and not worth the wait). Here are some thoughts. Storm Runner - Short but sweet, still very smooth and forceful. Years of loving this ride have allowed me to avoid the neck/shoulder bruises that the twisting jump into the brakes can cause. It kind of loses some of its impact after riding SkyRush since it is no longer the most intense thing in the park, but the layout is still all kinds of awesome. SDL - Love the look of the new orange trains, and they ride smoothy. It's a classic but really tame and anticlimactic after the tunnel. This had the longest line I've ever seen for it, all the way down the stairs and back around the foundation. Probably wouldn't wait this long again now that I've tried the new trains. Great Bear - Awesome night coaster, especially with the view of the Hollow all lit up, but again just too short to be a great ride. The corkscrew underneath the SDL lift always catches me by surprise with its intensity. Wildcat - Got one ride in the front row just after the turned on the chaser lights at dusk. This is definitely a front seat ride, especially with the MF views of the track at your feet. Last night was by far the best ride I've had on it since it opened back in 96. It was running fast and with just the right amount of roughness. YMMV, I did ride in the front after all. Lightning Racer - Again, this is definitely a front seat night ride. More airtime and more forcefulness than I can ever remember getting on this ride in the past, but that may be due to the fact that I usually cross it off first after getting to the park in the morning and heading to the back. It is a delightful mess of track in the dark. A note about the operations. They are not good, worse than I can ever remember. Just really really slow loading and unloading the trains, and its not just SkyRush. The SkyRush ops were leaving multiple seats open at the end of the night and I basically had to get call to get the ops attention that there were multiple seats in the front row that were not being filled while multiple single riders waiting for the front looked on in disbelief. Overall, this is has become a premier park destination. With SkyRush they have filled out their coaster collection very nicely with the world beater Top-10 worthy ride that was missing (love Storm Runner but its just too short), the park's coaster collection now feels complete in a way, though I'm sure they will find a way to shoehorn more in in the future.

My family went to BGW a number of times between 1996-2000 (it was one of my dads favorite vacation spots), and rode Alpengeist countless times... Alpengeist is now noticeably post-MCBR, which I guess is stating the obvious, but it seems like few people here got to experience Alpengeist at its best. The first few years it was open, the brakes on the MCBR were totally off, the drop off the straight away into the shack gave excellent airtime and the last two inversions were taken with enough speed to be pretty disorienting. As they are now with the brakes on hard the ending feels like the ride is going through the motions to get you back home. The night rides on Alpengeist in the pitch black I got in 97 and 98 are still among the best ride experiences I've ever had after significantly more coastering. Man that thing flew. The trim at the top of the lift I've found over the years is rarely applied and the first half of the ride feels almost the same as it did the day it opened. Make no mistake, when Alpengeist first opened it was a monster. I rode Alpengeist and Montu within weeks of each other in 99 and Montu just did not compare. Now, it would be much more of a contest. YMMV

What you are seeing are the concrete pedestals that extend from the foundation, those concrete pedestals are not the foundation. Think of them more as short concrete columns meant to transfer the load to the foundation. The foundation itself is below water and not visible. There is literally not enough space between the pedestals for each one to have its own spread foundation (or pile supported spread foundation). They are typically a minimum of 3'x3' Length by Width. The other option would be they are each founded on single piles or caissons... However, there is a minimum spacing required between piles or caissons to avoid what is called "group effect", which is just a fancy way of saying that if the piles are spaced too closely together they will not act individually and their combined strength will be less than the sum of their individual capacities (usually approximately 3x the pile diameter)... From eyeballing the dimensions, it does not seem to be met in the previously posted photo( If they are caisson's then they would have to be almost as wide (in diameter) as the concrete cap at the top are almost touching in many cases. Below is a typical spread footing sketch... That widest section at the bottom is the footing, nothing else. The rest is considered a pedestal or pier.