molemaster43

Always excited to fill out coaster polls and glad to see that it has returned despite the wacky 2020 season! The two main coasters I noticed missing that operated most of this season were Leap the Dips and Skyliner from Lakemont Park. I also didn't come across the wild mice found at Lake Winnie or Family Kingdom, but I would think those are trivial additions despite the trimless brutality/glory of Wild Lightnin'.

If the weather is nice, expect it to be crowded, up to an hour wait for the big coasters, possibly more if 1 train is running on anything. Springtime In The Park is usually crowded with the cheaper admission and no water park open to take some of the crowds. Yeah I figured as much. Planning on being at the entrance by 9:30 and then hitting up Storm Runner and Fahrenheit first and worrying about other things later. Last time I checked weather, there was morning rain turning into overcast, but since it's opening day, I anticipate it'll still bring in plenty.

Hey y'all, I'm planning an opening day visit this year on the 6th next month. What sort of crowds am I in for? Mostly looking to get on the three Intamins as the priorities and some other rides as some extras. Thanks in advance

Looks like Big Bad John from Magic Springs isn't there. I'm also guessing there's a reason the Jet Stars (Jet Star 2 @ Lagoon, Tig'rr @ Indiana Beach) aren't there, but just noticed they weren't. Firehawk is also still present.

Well some good news, Lightning Rod is now posted as a 30 minute wait on the app. Hopefully I'll get a ride or two over the next couple days!

One can hope. It's the best ride I've ever experienced and I'd hate to miss out on it again. Thanks.

One can hope. It's the best ride I've ever experienced and I'd hate to miss out on it again. Thanks.

Hey, what's the status for Lightning Rod? I'll be there Sunday and Monday and now I'm worried that it'll be mostly closed for a third year in a row.

Well, since you are trapped going just try to make the best of it! Since you are going on a Saturday in May, crowds will probably be VERY heavy in the water park section of the park. However, the "dry" side should be fairly manageable. I've been to the park on various Saturdays throughout the summer and never had terrible waits for anything (dry side wise.) The only time we ended up waiting a decent period of time was for the log flume... Which had about an hour long line... Then it broke down a few times during the wait, so that didn't help. Other than that I've never had to wait more than 15 minutes for any of the rides. (And that was usually to get a "premium" seat. IE: front row, or back row.) X-Coaster is a GREAT coaster, by far the best ride in the park. VERY highly underrated. The front row is awesome! When you crest the lift hill you are just dangling there with nothing blocking your view of the crazyness you are about to experience. However, the stop on the lift hill is BRUTAL!!! So brace for impact! Just go into the park with very... VERY low expectations!! (You'll thank me later!) Neither my parents nor myself are particularly big water park fans, so we weren't planning on doing that. X Coaster definitely fascinates me the most. Good to know about the log flume since that's the ride I'm second most excited for haha. But that sounds manageable since we only wanted to spend a max of 4-5 hours in the park. Thanks! Oh wow, yeah, if you're not doing the waterpark, then you need like 2 hours max, and that's only because the ops are totally going to take their time. There's about 4 rides actually worthwhile. X-Coaster is absolutely fantastic, enjoy the hell out of that one. Otherwise, Gauntlet is horrible, and the other coasters are just okay. Water rides are solid. Any notable flats have been removed from the park systematically over the last few years. I am interested in a couple of the non coaster rides also, particularly the log flume, Brain Drain and Hawk. That should hopefully keep me occupied for at least a few hours.

Well, since you are trapped going just try to make the best of it! Since you are going on a Saturday in May, crowds will probably be VERY heavy in the water park section of the park. However, the "dry" side should be fairly manageable. I've been to the park on various Saturdays throughout the summer and never had terrible waits for anything (dry side wise.) The only time we ended up waiting a decent period of time was for the log flume... Which had about an hour long line... Then it broke down a few times during the wait, so that didn't help. Other than that I've never had to wait more than 15 minutes for any of the rides. (And that was usually to get a "premium" seat. IE: front row, or back row.) X-Coaster is a GREAT coaster, by far the best ride in the park. VERY highly underrated. The front row is awesome! When you crest the lift hill you are just dangling there with nothing blocking your view of the crazyness you are about to experience. However, the stop on the lift hill is BRUTAL!!! So brace for impact! Just go into the park with very... VERY low expectations!! (You'll thank me later!) Neither my parents nor myself are particularly big water park fans, so we weren't planning on doing that. X Coaster definitely fascinates me the most. Good to know about the log flume since that's the ride I'm second most excited for haha. But that sounds manageable since we only wanted to spend a max of 4-5 hours in the park. Thanks!

The hotel's been booked and my parents have the mindset...it's too late now, my friend. I'll be going to Silver Dollar City and Dollywood before and after it, respectively. I could use a "good" intermediary

So I'm planning a visit here with my parents on a Saturday this upcoming May. What sort of crowds should I expect and what sort of lines? I've gotten the impression that it'll be slow operations from the past several pages, but wanted to ask to be sure since it's early in the season. We would plan on being there at park opening and don't want to spend too much time there since we'll be starting the drive to Pigeon Forge that day as well. Thank you!

Wonderful system so far and I love the format of this. The only things missing for me so far are Lakemont Park's Skyliner and Leap the Dips and Michigan's Adventure's Mad Mouse, but other than that, great system!

There was some pretty consistent testing today from around 2 PM or so till storms shut down all rides at around 6:15. Then at closing around 8:00, Rod resumed testing and continued up through 8:20 when we left the park.

Same I'm keeping my optimism but won't let it bog me down if it doesn't open.

Huh I actually see someone walking on the last part of the quad down. I see a couple different maintenance workers at the station as well. If you mean the doors where the train leaves and enters the station the one leaving the station is open.

Little sign of activity at Rod today as well. The lights in the station are on but no workers around and no testing.

I actually love the rougher Thunderhead. It makes for a more aggressive, thrilling ride but I enjoy rougher rides generally.

Yeah after riding Lightning Rod in the evening we went to Thunderhead for one last ride and, after thinking Thunderhead was wild and very aggressive, it actually seemed weak haha. It's on another level.

Yeah, I'll be there Tuesday as well. I'm keeping my fingers crossed as well. I got super lucky last year with it, and a repeat of that would be top.

I'm at Dollywood next week. Lemme know whatcha need and I'll see what I can do.

In the past 24 hours, I managed to see "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword" and "Alien: Covenant." "King Arthur" is such a mindboggling film. Combining dark Arthurian fantasy with fast-paced editing and Guy Ritchie's rapid fire modern day dialogue make this to be one of the most fascinating blockbusters I've seen. As over the top and nonsensical the film can be, it's amazing to think that a studio was willing to commit $175 million to this film. It's even more amazing that I've seen it and actually had a very enjoyable time with it. It's pure nonsense, but it's an interesting change of pace from generic fantasy fare that's been coming out as of late. "Alien: Covenant" continues to reiterate the point that Ridley Scott is one of the best visual directors in Hollywood. This, as "Prometheus" was, is magnificent to look at, from the establishing landscape shots to the dark insides of the temple to the shots in the spaceship. Michael Fassbender remains one of my favorite actors, and his performance(s) here are wonderful. That being said, the xenomorph's role in the film is peculiar. It feels unimportant to an extent. The film lacks the suspense that "Alien" had or the swarm-like presence that the xenomorphs had in "Aliens." Rather, the xenomorph appears, but leaves no impact, along with the clunky look it has to it in its movements. It's a shame since this film is quite well-acted and visually stunning, but it isn't particularly impactful. I did love the ending, though, and am intrigued to see where this goes, if they continue it.

Even though I live three hours from it, I'd consider Kennywood my home park considering how many times I've been there and how attached I am to it. That being said, Phantom's Revenge front row and Exterminator are my 1-2 punch.

I'll be there two weeks from tomorrow. Here's hoping for the best with Lightning Rod. I got extraordinarily lucky last year and got to ride Rod the day it reopened after the recall, but we shall see. If I don't get to ride it this year, though, I won't be too upset since Dollywood's a wonderful place without it. It's my second favorite park without Rod, and Rod gives it the slightest edge over SDC to make it my favorite, so either way, I'm satisfied.

^Retractable seat belt though...the best kind of seatbelt