GayCoasterGuy

Well, we had/have Revolution, but... I'll keep quiet

Here's the lowdown as I remember: Texas Giant opens at SFOT in 1990 to rave reviews. Within weeks, the ride is literally ripping itself apart. During Coaster Con 1990, cars are falling apart; one morning before ERT, a trim brake appears on the first drop. Halfway through the convention, the front of the blue train is put on the white train as car #1 of white is falling apart... you get the picture. Cedar Point wants a "Texas Giant" but after hearing how the ride is ripping itself apart, they want a tamer version. Footers were already poured... So they changed to profile of the ride to have half the number of hills. TG had around 23 hills when new, MS had 12. It was a great ride in 1991; fast and very smooth. The whole section from drop #3 to the mid course brake was incredible (that entire area was later tamed down). Compared to TG 1990, though, it was a baby ride.

I've thought about my low interest in B&M coasters, and I think it has more to do with the park than the supplier. B&M will pretty much build what the park wants. If they want tunnels, trenches, a pre-lift section, track over-and-under existing attractions/walkways, then B&M will build that (maybe even a launched lift!). All you have to do is look at the European B&M rides that have been built. If the park wants a 6 gigantic loops in a dirt field with no bells/whistles, they can get that. Those rides are HUGE investments, but the US parks seem to settle with "just enough" to get people interested. Whereas the European parks are interested in above and beyond world-class designs. Rides that will still be cool in 20 or 30 years. RMC have taken designs to the next level; the best and wildest of both wood and steel coasters. But it's a similar situation to B&M; if parks want RMC to design a spectacular but very short ride ending with a TON of potential energy being wasted in a super high/steep brake run, the company will build that. Why not wait an extra year (or 3!?) and build a full, world-class ride with tons of available capacity, and all the "extras" (uniqueness, soul...)? When I argue that point with a fellow coaster nerd, he always says "because they don't have to." Good point, but it still stinks.

I always figured County Fairs were places for weird stuff (Lady changing into Werewolf, all kinds of rides, etc.) so Demon always felt right at home. Plus, it's been there since 1980, so I accepted it early on

I almost always go on weekdays! Usually I go in the early evening; the crowds drop and so does the sun! But at this point in the season, I'd bet Goliath is gonna have long lines no matter what. Schools out now. Weekdays in May/early June are the usual ERT days, but that's over for this year. Even with the crazy summer crowds, the park always dies down a LOT during the last hour of operation. But... Goliath will probably still be rockin' late at night this year. Plenty of folks are foaming at the mouth for this one.

Wow. American Eagle had over 4,000 pph when it was new (so 2,000 per track per hour). We did 1,250 an hour on the Cedar Point Blue Streak (pre changes). Times have changed. I know I know... I'm not complaining. It's just such a stark difference. But we have MANY coasters at the park now, so it works out

^The good thing about long lines in the dry park is that there is justification for new attractions. I think most of the times I have been at HW have been during HWN/SRM. From what I've heard over the years, the dry park side can be kind of desolate, with a crowded water park. It's good to know the dry side isn't desolate

^45 minutes is still a significant line. Do they run 2 trains during those long waits?

About how long would you say the lines for the park coasters were on a day like that?

One more for the road. THEE bunny hop of (fill in the blank).

Great pictures! I have my beefs with CP, but it's still a great park. I miss it sometimes. You don't ever have to worry about operations and rides being open, either! As for lockers on Magnum... maybe they're going back to the "hold your own crap" days. Cedar Point always had a preference for easy things that work. I'm not sure how well it will work these days, but hold on to your stuff! Hold tight!

YOLO. A few years ago, the SF parks were doing this whole "I'm here with my family" thing. I walk into a gift shop and all these YOLO-like, sexual innuendo, super annoying and funny-maybe-once shirts on display. "I'm huge in Japan." Ok, a family park. The park has the right to deny him with that shirt, but the double standard isn't cool.

A technicality... but Colossus is already wood and steel (a hybrid as I call it) - as is American Eagle But I know what you mean.

Those older designers like Church, Traver, and Miller tended to have flat instead of banked turns, right? The opposite, actually! I think Church and Traver specialized in wild twister type designs, while Miller was more an out-and-back designer. I read somewhere that Playland wanted a milder coaster after they built Airplane, hence the flat turns. There is a great Traver book ("Legends of Terror"?) that has detailed information about the Rye Playland coasters.

I might have missed this, but has the park announced the amount of money they are spending for the 2015 project(s)?

^Better than opening day 2011! My buddy Brian and I went up to Bay Beach for Memorial Day weekend (May 24/25). I haven't been there since 2011, and I'm happy to report Zippin Pippin is running better than then! I rode the original Zippin Pippin back in 1990. The track design/layout is 90% the same, but the ride experience is totally different. The long 5 car/3 bench PTC train flys through the layout at a Phoenix pace. The original ride used a 4 car train, so less momentum. But the train used at Libertyland also had buzz bars and no seat divider, so that's a trade off. It also had a skid brake along the turn around, and this one doesn't. No brakes, and a re-designed bunny hop near the end that will almost hurt you make for a great ride. I couldn't believe how clean and well maintained the park was. The Eli Ferris Wheel, Tilt-a-whirl, mini railroad and everything else looked like brand new! A great relaxing day and a half at a traditional city park/amusement park. Free parking, great service, clean and well maintained rides. Can't wait to get back! Here's a few pictures. Many more on my facebook page: http://tinyurl.com/qfvdugf So simple and effective at just 70 feet. Up and down; no fancy parabolic stuff or "heartlines" and it works perfectly. The single most violent air time I've ever experienced. Yes, more violent than Screechin' Eagle, Cyclops, Texas Cyclone or El Toro. You can see the top of the hill going right to left; it gets you as you go up to the hill. It's like a ramp, then BAM, you are at the top of the bunny hop. When Gravity Group built the ride, they said something to the effect of adding "a little surprise near the end." Every single light bulb is functional in the park. I have never seen a park so well taken care of. Every ride is in pristine condition. Lots of rides (like the Tilt-a-whirl) have their own set of vehicle tarps which are put on the ride every night. When I worked on the Cedar Point Blue Streak, it was part of our routine to cover the trains every night; "put them to sleep" we used to say. Pippin and giant racing slide. Cedar Point had one of these slides for decades. They had a box of wax paper and you could get a piece as you walked up the stairs to the slide. You would put the wax paper under your burlap sack for increased speed! They didn't have the wax paper at Bay Beach, but we still seemed to have very fast rides on this classic. You don't see these slides very often (reminds me of high dives at pools... all gone!) The only complaint about Zippin Pippin is the station set up. They wanted the ride to be as close to the original, so they put the transfer track right next to the boarding track. Guests have to walk in front of the those waiting behind queue gates and exit before queue gates open. We all know what that means. But even with this flaw, the lines are not very long. But because of this awkward set up, every single train "stacks" outside the station. Sea Dragon ready to sleep!

Great pictures, thanks for posting them. I haven't been to Rye Playland for over a decade... but the one thing I remember the most about Dragon Coaster was that it seemed to keep going and going and going. Lots of flat turns (I'm a flat turn enthusiast) and hills. Great ride; I hope it sticks around for many more years.

A clamshell restraint? The Goofy Cheeto is more exciting

They were thinking ahead for future expansion Plus, they thought they would give us a little exercise after all that gravy. (Look at it this way: you can walk that far at some corporate parks just to exit a single ride.) And this I why I like you!

I can totally understand that. I hope your partner has a great time on the trip! No getting worn out! I dunno, but it's free at Idlewild and Lakemont Ok ok... I'm teasing. Are you guys going to any more Cedar Fair parks this year? The platinum pass they offer ($165 when I got in back in 2011) is a good value if you're traveling to other parks, and includes parking at them all. You could also go to Dorney for the Starlight admission; it's $13 cheaper than a whole day and the park is always nicer later in the day (especially when the sun goes down!)

Are you going to be hitting Lakemont and/or Idlewild? I wouldn't miss those for the world. They're not for everyone though; they're unique, quirky and have OLD charm. I'd personally skip Dorney completely, unless you need the "credits." The 2nd to last time I was there, I went after 6pm and spent most of my time on the Laser (which is gone now). The last time I went, I took a friend there for "credits" and she was done in under 90 minutes (and was mad we left Knoebels early for said credits). You're going to have a great time with the food at Knoebels. 3 days there isn't enough time to try everything they have! It's fun stuff; not gourmet, but great and cheap for park food. "Don't miss the birch beer." Kennywood is the next best with food. As someone mentioned Potato Patch... get em loaded with cheese and bacon!

^Everyday is gay day But I wish I could make it this year. Maybe next year!

Do we know who is building the ride? Looks like it could be Gerstlauer or S&S.

^I'll have to agree with that. The last thing I wanna see is a B&M at the park. But no matter what goes in, it will be good because it's at Holiday World. Some friends/acquaintances/foes have accused me of being bias towards Holiday World. But when a park treats you that well year after year, time and time again, it's hard to find bad things to say. Even the small squabbles don't register because there is so much good there.

Older coasters settle over time and with longer bench trains, you will feel the cars twist - especially on the lift which you expect to be straight. The wheels on coasters come up; stuff moves. It's a real roller coaster. People are more conditioned with more modern, perfectly engineered big coasters where every wheel is touching at every point. Some of us are touchy with "changes" to our classic coasters because there aren't many left, and new ones will not be built