bert425

that's pretty awesome that one can buy them. . . tho I'd have to win the lotto 1st. Like you, Elissa, I'll wait for the Ikea version Ha! and thanks. . still have two (mostly full) days to go. Life has gotten in the way!

^ wow. .good guess on my part thanks for confirming tho!

Nope - there is a security booth there just under Magnum - if you aren't a hotel guest, they won't let you proceed under Magnum to the lot you're talking about. The Waterpark lot is over there too (if not mistaken), but since Waterpark won't be open that early, don't think they let you back over there. that's, I'm sure, part of the reason they extended the boardwalk - so guests can walk down from front lot parking.

that flash pass merge point on Cyborg sure is familiar! it's the same issue I have with SFFT: they spent all that time and effort making an "almost Disney Level" queue for Pirates of the Deep Sea. and then made the merge point the building entrance - so any line at all, ends up outside in the Texas heat. and when they let the next batch of people in (since no Flash pass folks showed up), you rush thru the entire queue and walk right onto the ride, bypassing all the wonderful theming they did. I so wish Six Flags didn't DO crap like this

"Magnum Gate" is aka: the Resort Gate - as I believe it was mainly intended for those guests at Breakers (and those using the waterpark) to get into the main park. However, it is NOT a restricted gate, and since they built the boardwalk extension, they are encouraging folks to walk down from the main gates to use the Magnum gate if so inclined. yes, it will put you out at the back of the park. Closest to Maverick/Steel Vengeance. keep in mind, anyone with a Platinum Pass and/or staying on site, gets in an hour early, so there will be people lined up regardless of what time you arrive, if you don't have early access entry. for early entry, I'd think for sure they'd want you to show your early entry pass - that you'd get from the hotel. but I don't know for sure. My guess is you'd at least have to swing by the hotel to get the pass first before going to the park. I've never stayed at Breakers Express, but at Hotel Breakers, they had no issue giving us the early entry paper/pass prior to our room being ready. hope that helps.

this thread's been quiet for a little bit, so how is everyone doing? as to me. . I got back from St. Louis and worked my butt off to get back on track, and actually came in ~191.8 in mid June. then got "stuck" and slipped up a few times. As is my trend, and what I always struggle with, I don't just slip - I typically backslide pretty badly. in this case, I stuck to the exercise, even as I made some very poor eating decisions (dealing with life stuff with my Dad, and depression that the scale isn't moving). At least I can look at the bright side, and know that it COULD have been way worse. . and at least since I kept exercising I counteracted the worst foods I ate. Weighted on 7/5, and came in at 192.4 (so gained about a 1/2 lb in the past 3 weeks). so: started back on plan on 4/1 at 218 lbs 1st check in was on 4/14 at 211.6 lbs 2nd check in was on 4/22 at 208.2 lbs 3rd check in was on 4/28 at 206.2 lbs 4th check in was on 5/10 at 201.8 lbs. 5th check in was on 5/18: 199.2 lbs. 6th check in was on 5/26: 198 lbs. 7th check in was ~ 6/13: 191.8 lbs and 8th check in was 7/5: 192.4 lbs. I'll check again on Friday (7/12), and hopefully trending down a little bit. . but even if not? that's still down: ~26lbs from start back on plan. that's my status, how are y'all doing?

my 2cents. 100% worth it to spend the $$ and stay on property (Breakers would be my preferred over the budget option). Both will get you early entry to the park, but Breakers is *right there* and SO easy to walk from the park to your room during the day for: a quick break, change of shoes, get food (stock the mini fridge in your room). the convenience of being able to walk to your room during the middle of a long day? priceless. Only way I'll do CP these days. you can get park tix package (some of them even offer FL+ if I'm not mistaken, from Breakers.. check online to see what room/park/passes options). FL+ is absolutely worth it, as that includes the coasters you really are going to want to re-ride (Maverick, Valravn, among them). https://www.cedarpoint.com/stay/hotel-breakers?gclid=CjwKCAjw04vpBRB3EiwA0Iieali67UQB6mbJKK4hckwt3zNG7tODVBqjwRwnDT-H0nxL4c0r4A_dFRoCV8sQAvD_BwE it's a very large park so you're gonna do a lot of walking. having the room so close is a huge benefit. I've never bothered with the water park in either of my trips, so I'd say it's fine to skip and you'll have a great time regardless. . tho "waterpark" people might think otherwise. Hotel Breakers has Pools/Hottubs (and a bar with waitstaff service to them), so that was good enough for me. Food wise, as noted, I'd stock up the mini-fridge with snacks. . but onsite at Breakers is Perkins (great for breakfast), in the park is Melt! (great for lunch, but with HUGE sandwiches, so either be prepared to share - or take leftovers back to your room before going back onto rides), and out the Marina Gate (by ValravN) is Famous Dave's - fantastic BBQ the coasters are the main draw, but don't miss some stellar flats while at CP: Troika, MaXair, Cedar Downs (incredibly unique "racing" carousel), the Monster (octopus), and the screaming swing ride (can't recall the name). hope this helps a little? have fun!

Just dropped $26 to you, Michael. have fun this Sat! you should edit your post above with a link to your page!

great pic, Bill

Yes! thanking Ryan here too! we're making sure TPR represents at SFFT on the 20th! I've raised my fundraising goal again, I'm just blown away by the support everyone is giving! (and looking forwards to getting to meet you at the event Garbels)

the preview night really makes a huge difference. you can get a LOT done in those 2 1/2 hours. on a Thursday? place should be dead in the evening, as the next day is a work day.

I *believe* your parking fee for Preview Night is good for the next day - you just keep the ticket and show them. but not sure, as we've always stayed on property, or I visited with a group that took us by bus. so maybe someone whos done it recently can clarify for sure. EDIT: from the website: Ticketing What is the Preview Plan? When you purchase a regular full-day admission ticket, you can enter the night before your big day for 2 1/2 hours prior to Park closing. Just show your ticket at the Front Gate and you can start enjoying the fun early! Purchase parking the evening you are using the Preview Plan and keep the parking stub, along with your admission tickets, to use the following day. Hide Answer

use preview night on Thurs. . .you can knock out quite a few of the big coasters with minimal crowds. https://www.hersheypark.com/tickets/free-extra-hours.php

wow. .that's really cool. . . gonna remind all my friends to donate to me! surprised I haven't gotten an email from Coasting for Kids yet on where to show up for the event, but I guess we're still 2 weeks out, so it's forthcoming.

^ congrats!

very welcome. I'm so glad I got to check this off the list of things to do before I die. It's a shame it took me so long to get there! (but hey, I didn't even get to CP until 2017).

go to Exterminator 1st (indoor spinning mouse). it will get a line quickly, and never get any shorter, so knock that out 1st thing, unless you want to stand in a long ass line. BTW, hearing reports both Black Widow & Skyrocket have been down this season, and are not open.

and just to close out day 2, a handful more pics from our Trolley Ride, as we rode the entire circuit around (including a quick 10 minute break stop for the driver at the main depot, across the street from the stadium where the Blues would be playing game 6 for the Stanley Cup the next evening). we were keeping an eye out for places to grab some food, and tho a few options caught my eye - in particular the Hamburger Mary's there (but remember, Nick doesn't like to be the center of attention, or be a spectacle. . so as soon as i explained the concept of Hamburger Mary's to him, he vetoed that idea). We didn't really want to do much walking - tho we were both tired from a very long day, he was pretty much done walking wise. And we had to save some for full day tomorrow at Six Flags. So anything more than a block from the Hotel didn't really make the cut. and that left a Tex Mex place. Now, we're from Austin, Texas, so wasn't about to have Tex-mex in Missouri. . LOL. so we ended up going back to the restaurant in the Hotel (while I made a quick trip up to the room to drop off purchases from City Museum gift shop). This is where I had the amazing Cauliflower over quinoa appetizer, with an acceptable flat-bread chicken main, while Nick went for a Hamburger. we spent about 40 minutes eating at a booth in the main lobby bar, as the restaurant proper seating was not open after 7pm. It was here that we really noticed the large crowds of folks - in particular News Broadasters, that were set up thruout the bar area doing live remotes & interviews (with coaches?). Upon asking our server, it was because it was the base camp for the broadcasters for the Blues game the next night - which if they won, they would have taken the Stanley Cup. *that* is when it all clicked regarding why they had tried to screw us around on the room the prior day at check in. anyways, we enjoyed the food -- and got to watch a drunk guy meet a girl, grab a table across from us, order drinks and food, and then disappear into the hotel before the food arrived. Gee, I wonder WHAT could have happened that they abandoned the drinks & food and just disappear???? (tho we did feel *really* bad for the server, who probably got stuck footing the tab for the food/drinks they walked out on). that's why I totally understand how a crowded hotel bar (say, at Dragon*con, or any other big convention), makes one pay first before they put in the order. we ate about half of the mains, took the rest up to the room and put into the fridge (to enjoy late the next night) and turned in by 11:15 pm, so we'd be good to go on our full day at Six Flags St. Louis. Not sure what this building was, but I really liked the look of it, so snapped a couple of pics from the bus. Maybe a City Hall? it looks a bit "historic" The Arena where the St. Louis Blues would be playing game 6 of the Stanley Cup the next night. we were hoping they wouldn't win, so we could get some sleep (since if they won game 6, they won the cup). and it worked out in our favor that they didn't. The next night was quiet by 11pm, which was great, and they won the cup from Game 7 in Boston on that next Wednesday anyways. so yeah, we missed out on what would have been a HUGE celebration in downtown St. Louis while we were there if they won. . .but we were fine with that! Looking at some dark clouds rolling in with the nightfall over Downtown St. Louis I loved these tacky as hell things - they lit up too! if we weren't so dead on our feet? I totally would have exited here, and forced Nick to take a horse and carriage ride with me (inside a lit up Cinderella pumpkin carriage). but we were wiped, so settled with just a pic of the tacky things from the bus. the St. Louis National Arch (and US flag) at Sunset. ah. . Marriage. we can snipe at each other all day, and even get in a big fight at the top of the Arch. . .but sitting down to eat at the end of a long day? yep, we're there for each other. awwwwww. . . . Magnet swag from City Museum This shirt was only, I think, $6. I got the Purple, and Nick grabbed a Forrest Green one. I also picked up this shirt that has the middle of the St. Louis flag on the front (the fleur-de-lis logo) and the rest of the flag on the back, with the fleur-de-lis replaced with the City Museum logo.

wow.. that really is underwhelming. why in the world would they have gotten rid of the practical (and yes, Iconic) "Welcome to Jurassic Park" doors?? and in watching some video from the ride, I can see the impact of the video screens, and while i guess technically you still go thru "doors". . . it really does feel like it's missing the huge impact you used to get from the start of the old ride

is that a cash register in there? so it's basically a store to BUY stuff, the only benefit is that it will be less crowded since only Diamond & above can get in? (and there's places to sit down) hm. . thought there were freebies in the lounges.

I was just there for the 1st time a few weeks ago, and the recommendations I followed, that worked very well: -- start at the back of the park, with Screaming Eagle, and then work your way forwards. (got multiple rides in on it before any kind of crowd, especially since I bought Flash Pass, but SE doesn't have Flash Pass access). It was fantastic in the front, non-wheel seat, but a little rickety the further back you go in the train. -- Skip the line pass: Mr. Freeze (if still only operating one side), or Justice League (if still only running in limited capacity). If you've been on those? I'd use it for Supergirl, as that's the new ride, and it was fantastic. But the line was tolerable, if you've never been on Freeze or JL. -- Supergirl is extremely unique. The Train was very good. Loved Colossus (the giant ferris wheel). If Excalibur is open, ride that (was sad it was still shut down when we were there). Didn't get to ride Tsunami Soaker, but it looked like good stupid fun (it gets everyone really wet, so got vetoed on riding it). -- Pandemonium seemed to have a close layout to the one at Fiesta Texas, but it was a bit longer. The location can't be beat tho (next to Supergirl & the Carousel, and just in front of the Boss). Don't skip the mine train. . really liked it, and glad that Kim talked me into riding it. Fast, and pretty smooth. tho you certainly should either skip, or save Ninja to the last ride of the day -- it knocked the crap out of me in one of the transitions, and was ready to go home after that. -- my dining plan is only good at our home park, so we weren't able to use it there. . .tho there did seem to be a Buffet that now appears to be open ever day. We ended up at Macho Nacho, and it was the same as usual from the other parks. the Ice Cream Place across from the Photo pick up near the front gate - was PACKED (because it's good for a snack), but the line moved super fast, and the Ice Cream was very good. Kim was right to recommend a stop there! My favorite rides in the park: Supergirl, American Thunder, and Screaming Eagle. edit: Zach's BOSS trick really works, and highly recommend you follow it. Note however: it doesn't help with the laterals just after the midcourse. . be prepared for a hard slam to the side there.

know what IS a good look for them? they updated the website: Sorry you spent so long on hold to "fix". . but the website is directing folks to just come to Guest Relations and they will honor everything.

glad you're enjoying following along. as I noted, one can really work up a sweat but we had such a great time there.

Fantastic pics (as usual) Andy, so happy to see a new trip report from you! slowly getting thru, but just FYI - that artwork on the side of the Whip? is Marvel Comics character Thundra (she most often appeared in the Incredible Hulk in the 70's). .tho they have her mis-colored. I'm sure they TOTALLY paid Marvel a licensing fee to use the image tho, right? EDIT to add: I'm a little confused by the Carousel (no, not the green horse, tho that's a headscratcher when the rest of the horses are so natural - well, other than the Pink one, LOL). . but looking at the upper tier, there is no detail. No detail on the inside center sections either. it kind of looks like it's painted over - like maybe they started to re-furb it, and then decided just screw it, and painted over the detailing and never bothered going back to paint in all the detail? that's so freaking weird.