anonymouscactus

Should be at SeaWorld right now but my flight was cancelled yesterday and I'm stuck in lovely Buffalo -- have to rearrange everything as I won't be in Florida until tonight now. And of course all the lost $$$ for hotel night, the fact I took off work for the flight, etc. No other airlines had cancelled flights due to the weather, just Southwest.

If you don't have a pass/membership purchased yet, you'll have to do both at SFMM as it will be the first park you visit. If you already have an active SFA pass and want to add on dining, you will have a hell of a time getting it on your SFA pass at SFMM. All attempts to do this I have read in the past you either flat out couldn't do it, or it took hours at guest services to work something out. Things might have changed in the last year but since the passes are at different price points for each region they purposely make you activate at your home park so everyone doesn't just buy an SFA pass without going there. Unlike Cedar Fair which charges the same amount at all of the parks for their Platinum pass

Adventure: - Swimming with the giant sting rays and exotic fish. You can easily spend an hour or more doing this. - Up close animal encounters with a roaming employee (in the past we have seen sloths, owls, Hawks, giant ass turtles, armadillo, marmosets, anteaters). -- note you are not guaranteed to see these, often times it's luck. Sometimes they have schedules posted on a chalkboard. - feeding the birds. You can easily spend a half hour doing this and seeing all the different rooms and types of birds. - Dolphin swim. You spend about 20 min in the water for this and 15 minutes prep. Relaxation: - free booze - location in water to enjoy said booze - free food/snacks - hammocks - beach chairs in the sand - (Cabana is very expensive, though since I knew a manager I did get the VIP treatment for free once. The Cabana was awesome but I wouldn't pay $200 for another place to lay... but that's just me. It's private and somewhere to keep your stuff if you don't want (an already free for everyone) locker - lazy river, you will want to go around more than once. When we say lazy river it's not really like any other lazy river you've been in and you can easily spend 30 min going around once. You don't use innertubes. - freshwater Oasis: has an island of small marmosets that you can't get very close to, and an otter enclosure. This will take about 15 minutes. Honestly if that doesn't sound interesting then I wouldn't go. It really is hard to explain but I've brought at least 15 different people along with me various times and every single person enjoyed it. Some got cold when we went in the fish area when it was 45 degrees out and raining but that's out of my control, but the lazy river is super warm and you'll spend a lot of time exploring. There are two different albums on my Facebook profile that --you-- have access to with over 850 photos. -- "Discovery Cove (scenery)" and "Discovery Cove (people). You'll have to dig a little far back on my albums to see them. Sorry to everyone else lol I don't want to make them public. It's just a place you go to chill and get away from everything else in Orlando. If that makes sense. Great for a "last day of your vacation" adventure. You keep asking what there is to do, but part of Discovery Cove is what you DON'T do, too. (Oh man that's deep) If you have any questions let me know! Here is a 10 minute YouTube video that walks you through everything from start to finish. From checking in, to lockers, to stuff you'll see. It's a good watch for someone who hasn't been before. I think it's a great overview of everything crammed into just the right amount of time.

Pass member discount! Bam Bam!! https://discoverycove.com/orlando/special-offers/pass-members/?from=SWO_Pass_Promo&_ga=1.102132866.2026998744.1489667078 I noticed they force you into the 2 bonus parks on the official website now (this wasn't the case a few weeks ago) For those without a pass and don't want SeaWorld, you can still get just the day resort or just the day+dolphin without SeaWorld etc on Visit Orlando, tickets at work, and undercover tourist from what I can tell.

^ maybe you're the person causing emotional damage in the article, lol!! Good job, though.

These supports are pretty out there... but I like it.

Just FYI I went a long time ago but even after VR was over, revolution was still a 1x reservation. I do hate how inconsistent the sites are, not just SFMM.

^ I'm guessing Guest Services has heard this complaint exactly 0 times (unless you stopped by on the way out) -- nobody really cares that much? Perhaps we are too busy enjoying the ride(s) to notice? *shrug* at least I am. I am not attracted to the voices of animatronics and CGI. Different strokes for different folks?

^ lmao. Never saw that before. Oh, Cedar Point.

I can't help myself sometimes

Another person drinking the Discovery Cove kool-aid -- but seriously, glad you enjoyed it. I kind of agree with the dolphin portion because you can see what they are doing from the shore anyways, but it is pretty fascinating having one throw you through the water. Interesting about Mine Blower, it's always very polarized in people's opinions. I'll find out which camp I'm in next week!

I don't think the argument was whether the food was good vs great vs palatable... regardless of how good it is, it's just weird to me to eat fast-casual spaghetti in an amusement park. Like... who craves amusement park spaghetti? Obviously some, since they exist. I dunno. Then again I never understood the concept of Fazollis, either. Dear god I hope golden corral would be better than Midway Market. I haven't been to one since I was a wee lad. Don't plan on changing that anytime soon. Damn, now I want some Lasagna.

I can get a $53 wristband for Kissimmee which includes 1 skycoaster ride, and then +$10 for Orlando in the same day so $63 definitely beats out a season pass i'm not going to use If I still lived in Orlando that would be another thing.

In case anyone was wondering, here are some other ticket options offered at the park (no mention of them online on the website), from the live online chat i had with them: 1) is it true you can visit both parks the same day by upgrading your wristband for $10 so you can get both parks? -- Yes, that is correct. $10 upgrade per armband to go to the second park. 2) If I want to visit two separate days, (one day at each park) do you offer a 2 park ticket? -- We do not offer a 2-park ticket. 3) Do you offer an evening only ticket? -- Yes, we have an evening special after 9PM. Passes go down to $30. These can only be purchased in-park.

Cave of the winds. USA side. You're welcome. It's ranked #1 thing to do in the falls on TripAdvisor for a reason. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-d283344?m=19905 (While they did add an annoying "pre-show" (well it's informative but us locals know the drill ) the upside is you can now get a return time instead of waiting in line for an hour or two. You can view the falls from up top (which is a sub par view on the USA side but, eh) while you wait so make sure you get your ticket FIRST and then stroll around the park. PS: the poncho does nothing. lol.

^ thank you so much, bgtlover!

Took me a little bit to find what ride it was, but I'm 99% sure that Turbulence at AdventureLand Long Island appears at the end of the finale of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix.

What day and what time of day you are going will change a lot of your questions. Are you going on the weekend or a weekday? I hear the food for the Seven Seas food festival is really good... but that is weekends only. https://seaworld.com/orlando/events/seven-seas-food-festival/menus/ -- keep in mind that is more for tasting a bunch of different things, not really for sitting down and having a meal. There are one time use lockers at Kraken and Manta, but they both also have shelving to leave your hats/glasses/small stuff (but they won't let you in line with anything else) -- Journey to Atlantis has nowhere to leave your stuff due to separate exiting area. Don't know about Mako. The lockers used to be $1.00 in quarters but they have probably upgraded from the last time I was there... and they might cost more now. Wait times are generally dictated by when the shows let loose. Kraken will get a line starting at the dolphin shows first release (in the first hour it will be walk on. Always.). Manta and Turtle trek will get lines when show breaks happen as well. Antarctica will get a bigger line when the Sea Lion stadium let's out, and Wild Arctic will get a line when Shamu stadium lets out. Provided you are going on the weekend. Weekdays in February are very light from what I remember. I try not to post too much advice only because quite a bit has changed and I'm getting old >.<

Anybody know how the Quick Queue works at Mako? Does it have reserved rows or is there a merge point? Can I select my seat? How long is the line from the merge point? Also, for QQ does Kraken still take you up the exit and have the two middle rows reserved, or have they changed that? I'll be going on a Saturday or Sunday concert day (haven't decided which day yet) so I might spend the $20/$25 for QQ unlimited. I know in the morning before the first dolphin show break I can get a lot done (Kraken with no wait, especially) but if Mako is awesome I'd like to get as many rides on it as possible... provided I can choose where to sit. Thanks!

I was going to read this entire thread but gave up after about 10-15... This year was definitely the "year least traveled" due to our wedding and other stuff going on, but without further adeu... 1. Name 3 of your favorite roller coasters, but not your top 3. That doesn't make sense. lol? Here are 3 random coasters I like: -- Verbolten -- Raven -- Silver Comet 2. About how many different parks did you visit in 2018? First off let me say I have a really bad memory. Like. Really bad. To quote my wife: "Alan cannot remember what he did yesterday but he can remember the phone number to order Phantom of the Opera tickets for Toronto back in 1999. #416-872-2222" Based on looking at my wife's Facebook feed.... Great Adventure Cedar Point Great Escape Darien Lake Fantasy Island (ny) Kings Island Kings Dominion Busch Williamsburg 3. Which 2018 park visit was your favorite? Probably Kings Dominion because we went on I305 at LEAST 8 times in a row in the back seat without getting up and I felt like I was in another dimension on that 8th ride. HOLY POOP. 4. Your favorite 2018 park addition (ride, food, show, etc)? BEHOLD! the new haunt at Fantasy Island... MIDWAY MAYHEM! 5. What ride exceeded your expectations the most in 2018? Steel Vengeance? Runner up: "I was not strapped tight enough on Firehawk so I was floating around that seat like a chicken on a rotisserie." - My Wife 6. Best meal/food at a park in 2018? Coney BBQ at Kings Island, surprisingly. Off the top of my head. 7. What was your favorite new coaster of 2018 NOT made by RMC or Larson? I don't think I rode any that weren't RMCs? Oh wait!! That new one at Darien Lake (I honestly can't remember its name) 8. Name one park you will definitely visit in 2019. I would like to go back to Carowinds and Dollywood but probably won't happen. I would also like to visit Texas parks, but that won't happen. I bought tickets for Holiday World and Kennywood already... so those, for sure. 9. Best ride themed to a bird? Skyhawk (CANADA'S WONDERLAND) 10. Lamest ride/coaster you rode in 2018? Wonder Mountains Guardian... only because I think all 4 times I rode it the guns were non-functional and the projectors were all out of sync/not working properly... 11. What roller coaster currently sits at the top of your bucketlist? (degree of difficulty: NOT a new-for-2019 ride) Any new RMC. There are some opening in 2020, too, right? 12. What new-for-2019 ride or coaster are you most looking forward to? Probably copperhead strike. It has some maverick-ness to it. 13. Name the first totally middle-of-the-road (not bad/not great) park that comes to mind. Darien Lake 14. You're in Orlando and magically have a 1-hour ERT session on 1 coaster of your choice at any park in the city. You choose... Montu? Maybe Mako, but I haven't been on it yet... Or maybe Manta? ANYTHING THAT BEGINS WITH THE LETTER M!! 15. Holiday In The Park vs. Winterfest. Who reigns supreme? Have only been too GADV HITP and no winterfest yet. Though I hear Wonderland is on the table this year. 16. Mystic Timbers mystery shed or Wicker Man fire infusion? I like fire. 17. Which Six Flags have you been to most recently? Great Adventure. Technically Darien Lake. 18. Intamin or Schwarzkopf? You may only choose one. Intamin for sure 19. Battle of Kings Coasters: Island or Dominion? Pick one. Dominion edges it out with TT 20. What was the longest you waited for a ride/coaster in 2018? STEEL VENGEANCE -- maybe 2.5 hours was the longest one? 21. What roller coaster have you ridden more than any other? It's probably Leviathan at Wonderland overall, or Raven at Holiday World, because I marathoned the crap out of it the few times I've been. 22. Best drop tower under 150 feet? Demon drop or tower of terror 23. Maverick or Millennium Force? (If you haven't been to CP, pick what you want to ride more) Maverick, no question. Though I did start to appreciate MF a little more this year. 24. Log flumes or sky rides? You can only choose one. I like sky rides if they have a purpose (Cedar Point's is probably the dumbest to exist, sorry Bill). I have a new appreciation for Log Flumes after riding Dudley and Knott's @ Halloween. 25. What are 3 things you enjoying doing at your home park other than riding rides? I will call CP and CW my home parks since I go multiple times every year 1) Brew & BBQ 2) Brew and BBQ 3) Brew + BBQ 26. What is your second favorite Cedar Fair park and why? DAMN... tough one... probably Knott's? I just love the atmosphere it's so unlike any other Cedar Fair park. Plus BOYSENBERRY EVERYTHING!!! (except lemonade, which is a missing demographic -- we have to make it ourselves ) 27. What is your home park and give us two good reasons why we should pay it a visit. TECHNICALLY Darien Lake and Fantasy Island as I own passes for 2019... Silver Comet is a top tier coaster that gets overlooked. 28. Launch or Lift? Mmmmm... Lunch. I mean Launch. 29. Did you buy fast pass at all in 2018? Many times 30. What is your least favorite wooden coaster? Honestly I rode it for the first time in a while and I REALLY enjoyed it!! "I honestly thought it derailed" -- my wife 31. Disney fanboys: cool or cult? I like Disney but I think some people are waaayyy out there in their love for the strangest things. Like waiting 4 hours to meet a man in a suit. 32. Best Batman themed ride? Uhhhh... 33. Name something that tend to take home from parks that you didn't bring with you. Sweaty balls 34. Best wooden coaster over 110 feet tall? (rcdb will help you) Not looking it up. I think Raven is probably 95, or 109, or something dumb. 35. Have you ever been hit with something (loose change/a tree/vomit/etc) while riding something? 1. Long ago I hit a support with my hand out of the first helix on SFDL Ride of Steel (because my dumbass wanted to see if it was possible) 2. Trees on Sheikra and SFDL viper 36. Skywarps: credits or no? State your case. Is that the thing that opened at SFDK? I don't think so. 37. Turkey legs: nah or yaaaaassssss? Depends on where it's from. Universal? Yessss. SEAS? Nooooooo. Honerable mention is the pork shank cart at BGW though I haven't seen it since my one visit a few years ago -- probably the best thing I've ever eaten in a non Disney park. 38. What is the most recent B&M that you rode? Dominator? Ironically I think that was also the first B&M I've ever been on, back at Geauga Lake. Maybe not. 39. You can eat nothing but corn dogs, churros or funnel cake for the next 48 hours, which do you choose? Churros, 100% 40. Post a great on-ride shot of you from 2018. Sorry. Both from 2017.

https://www.cedarpoint.com/play/events/frontier-festival By the sounds of the website it looks like it's going to be less focused on food & alcohol and more focused on entertainment They are renaming it to "frontier festival", and it says there will be "dozens" of beverages to sample... they had a whole lot more than that before! I guess we'll find out more soon, maybe I shouldn't speak too soon. They had a good thing going.

^ I would hope the people that do go out of their way to go on these things and get special passes and feel the need to ride kiddie rides are in the minority... -- I don't get it either. A family ride is one thing, but a ride that requires a kid to go on and you don't have any kids?.... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

How did the holidays treat everyone? Not so good for me... ugh. Trying to get back on track; I've been trying to save money instead of eating out so much, in turn food lying around the house, in turn eating a lot more. Bleh.

Hahaha i didn't catch that. That *is* pretty funny.

^ Website says January 24th, 2019 Source: https://www.cedarpoint.com/play/events/coastermania