JJLehto
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Posts posted by JJLehto
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Im glad I skipped going last year, (a break from a good thing is good sometimes) but I'll be going again this year.
I pay no offseason attention so can anyone tell me what, if any, changes there are to platinum pass and all that? I was going to renew as I do every year but no idea if it's been changed, made worse, etc etc
Otherwise I may just try to go for Coastermania as that kinda nixes the need for early entrance and etc
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On 3/24/2024 at 9:22 PM, TrippinBillie said:
I saw a side by side of 2016 and 2024 Lightning Rod that was synced up at the exact same time after the crest of the first hill; I have to say it's extremely neutered. I'm sure they will take uptime and reliability over the guest frustration and guessing game of open/closed each day, but that thing is definitely a shell of it's original form. After watching the official TPR on and off-ride, you can tell that thing isn't as whippy and out of control as it's v1. As someone who rode in 2016 and then 2020, I noticed a HUGE difference in pacing and a slower launch. I can't imagine how clipped it must feel now.
I'm certainly not one to cause problems or throw shade, but I'm a bit shocked and disappointed Rob continuously replied to comments on his POV YouTube that "I couldn't tell one bit of difference". I'm not sure if that is genuine, or if he was wanting to help the PR train with Dollywood....but it's sad to see videos of the old vs new with this coaster. That quad down in 2016 was literally absolute chaos and insanity. If you look at POVs from this year, that thing is crawling over that first return up and over to start the quad down. But, again, I'm sure Dollywood is happy their big investment has more uptime. I just wish people would admit to the glaring difference in pacing and how it runs.
Soooo it was the year they did the retracking (whenever that was) and I recall seeing a side by side comparison and the current looked dreadfully slow. There was no way eyes can deceive like its right there. I did ride it that year and full sincerity it felt exactly like the year before (before the retracking). And in general POVs of the same coaster can look very different....it depends on a lot of factors. You also can't totally trust one, I recall Skyrush looking cool but....OK, then we rode in person and uh yeah. Point being, you really can't trust POVs to make much of a claim, you have to ride it.
We're enthusiasts we're all insanely critical and crazy lol I doubt anyone would fake their opinion. If people are saying they don't notice any real difference, they mean it. They'd have no issue saying otherwise.
Also this is my personal opinion: the launch was great but a bit overhyped. It was fun but as we know it slowed down after a bit and didn't really go over that quick (I never got to experience the OG sadly). To be blunt I felt more WOW going over the top of Skyrush. It was ofc super fun and its a bit sad its gone but I truly cant imagine it'll impact the overall experience, deff wont make it slower bc again it was going over not that quickly anyway tbh
TLDR: dont use POVs to make definitive claims. Im sure it'll be great still as some are confirming.
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As the person possibly/likely going (here's to hoping my soon to be new job is reasonable with understanding already planned events) I will say prepare to have your mind blown by the mountain scenery of the area. The drive from Gatlinburg to Cherokee, NC was some of the best I've seen, and isn't much longer along the way to Charlotte. If you feel we could use a dose of nature between the thrills!
The parks of course speak for themselves. Dollywood lives up to the hype and Fury will blow your mind (+ their solid collection). Deff hoping the employer will be understanding and I can join!
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3 hours ago, tndank said:
Lightning Rod is closing on Oct 30th for a high speed chain lift to be installed. Top speed will remain the same.
Also getting new trains.
Shame but I suppose not surprising, and how much longer could they let the thing run like that if not getting worse. Still s a shame, that start is something else (and I know I was bummed I never experienced the OG version before it let up a bit) but yeah the ride will still be great and unchanged for most of it. Depending how fast the lift is it'll still be a fun start.
May see if I can squeeze a trip in before the 30th just to get a last run on it (and I never got to Big Bear last time, arrived too late and lines were massive)
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Yeah I am so glad I made the choice to skip CP this year, partly for $ partly for a break, but it seems like 2024 will be the year to go : D I am floored, I didnt wanna believe it and get hope up but it seems the spike/swing launch is actually happening.
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June 2, weeelllll I'm gunna be heading back from Dollywood and I have to go by the Hershey area on the way back to NJ, I'd be in the area on the 3rd. This works out quite superbly! I am stoked. Hershey's lineup just gets better and better with time
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21 minutes ago, tndank said:
LR has been running well since it reopened a few weeks ago (knock on wood). Only problem is they typically run one train.
It's very likely the park will be fairly dead on June 1. Besides LR and FC, everything should pretty much be a walk on most of the time. Thunderhead is in great shape right now. Lots of new wood on it again this year. It's my favorite in the park and it's running great now days.
Nice. I find it best to temper expectations but that is good to hear. Great about Thunderhead, you're not the only I've seen call it the best right now which seems insane given LR but we'll see!
Ah nice, I'm pretty excited for this trip.
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On 4/16/2023 at 10:53 PM, tndank said:
LR was running today. So, there's some hope for you two.
Damn, between this comment and the latest I went from huzzah! to it aint looking good lol
That said still looking forward to my visit, Big Bear opened and I never put toooo much stock in a POV but it looked better than I imagined. I also hear the retracking of Thunderhead has made it top tier (and I already really liked it) and it's Dollywood which did live up to hype, so yeah I'm pretty stoked. In all seriousness ya gotta prepare for a 50% (maybe thats generous?) chance LRod will be down and bake that into your planning so if its down itll suck but eh.
Planning on June 1 so hopefully a weekday won't be too crowded then. Last time wasnt bad at all but that was early May
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Going to DW in early June, hope it's running then (I would have to assume it will be?) well erm...."running" is generous guess I should say, open lol
I'm taking a limited park year this season, probably doing 3 (4 at tops) so really hoping Lighting Rod is running.
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This is wild. Regardless of what it will be, they are adding something actually new, period lol this in itself blows my mind. Look at CF adding to some of the more neglected parks. A few years ago weren't some saying Six Flag would buy the chain? lmao
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Wow...in a world where parks try to make their animations sped up and sensationalized and hype Hershey puts out this janky thing where parts of it look like its moving through molasses lol BUT still cool. This will solidify Hershey as the #2 coaster lineup for a long while. Will be going a couple times this year I am sure
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Always a tad skeptical of what outsiders claim (even though sometimes they are spot on, other times it turned out to be wild speculation) but I did see that, supposedly, Grizzly is getting its drop is getting steepened and lengthened, some banking and hills redone, all of which to make it smoother and faster and have some more air.
Again I dont do offseason news much so I have no idea if Coasters101 is reliable but this is what they say It syncs up with that KD post (which I assume is legitimate)
I hope! This would make the ride quite awesome.
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Nice!
Thinking I'll take my first visit to SFNE since goodness...2015? Whenever Wicked Cyclone opened. I'm guessing July 3 will be nuts but I have the day off and am trying to limit my PTO. Im assuming others have that Monday off too but sometimes gotta suck it up. Was thinking of a small road trip up to Burlington (hitting Great Escape along the way) and SFNE on the way back down. I see they finally got rid of Goliath. I 100% get it and am kinda amazed it made it that long but weirdly I kinda like the ride (well the rare windows I managed to catch it operating) lol
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Yeah iunno about the parks during winter thing, much as I admire people for riding coasters, like hypers and gigas, when its in the 30s lol but I do know I'm excited for the Grizzly news. I used to love the ride in the day, superb coaster in the back row but the roughness just really sapped its life. Not even that its too rough but just sluggish now, like it rattles all its speed and airtime away. Happy its getting a touch up.
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2 hours ago, tndank said:
Opening day is April 22. April and May are visible when buying group tickets. Looks like daily ops may start May 23rd. Fast pass uses the app. Reserve a ride, use a special line when it's your time. Not the best but not terrible most days.
Wow, best answer I've ever seen on the internet. Thanks!
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So I am finally getting out here for the first time.
No idea when, looks like the park hasn't released a schedule yet, and I'd like to aim for early May or Sept. BUT decent chance it may have to be July.
Anyway, any general tips to keep in mind? Ya know, how the fast pass system works (no I've not used it at any SF park so if its the same, dont know) general patten to hit the rides, any get particularly bad crowds all the usual stuff to know for a first time visit
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On 12/15/2022 at 11:35 AM, coasternut said:
Cedar Point has just announced the day for Coastermania. It's Friday June 2. This is the earliest post for this event ever. No other info other than the day.
Neat, though to be fair its always the first Friday in June.
Sadly this is the first year in a while (excluding 2020) I wont be going. I think I'll be skipping CP actually, for the first time since....IDK 2016 (again forget that covid year) Much as the thought of a new wild mouse cred has me bursting w excitement....gunna take a break, and hey 2024 TTD reopens so
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So is that relocated coaster opening this year? I am finally going out to SF Great America and this is probably the only time I'll be remotely even semi near the area lol
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On 1/6/2023 at 11:06 PM, thrillseeker4552 said:
RCDB lists 3/3/23 as the opening date. Whether that's even credible at all, or where they got it from, I have no clue. Take that for what you will. The only thing the park has said officially is "by summer."
I'm looking at going mid-late April. Fingers crossed...
Yeah so I have two blocks of time off, one based in early April and one in late May. I'd like to do my southern trip in April....but thankfully I have both time slots open. I'll be driving to FL and back so would only be natural to hit this along the way.
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Yup, I will absolutely be planning a long weekend (might as well sneak in SFoG too) to Atlanta this year.
We have any idea or at least informed speculation, on when it may be opening this year?
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oof. Yeah not good. I have no doubt they will fix it and reopen it but this will not be a quick/easy fix.
3 hours ago, jarmor said:Correct me if I am wrong but wasn't the major selling point of the Intamin pre-fab coaster was that it needed less maintenance vs a traditional wooden coaster? How are the other pre-fab coasters holding up?
This is a very good point, and I am curious about that as well. Six Flags already has its reputation (imo fully justified) and if it turns out others are doing well, would certainly have to point the finger at SF and their famous lack of giving any shit. But yeah deff not good.
Heh...RMC an Intamin, tbh I'd be pretty cool with it. This is of course understandable but El Toro has become quite rough and while its layout is good, (through no fault of its own) I think its suffered from age, in that newer rides are better and do more etc Keep the ride mostly as is but smoother, more hills and esp more elements....would be a helluva ride!!!
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I won't say disappointed bc that's too harsh and 1 Big Bear Mountain looks kinda cool 2 I get it. It fits with the park...it's a more family oriented park guess just a shame that after Dragonflier they didn't go with at least more of a thrill esp for how big the investment is. But I get it of course, and this looks better than Dragonflier. What can ya do? I wont make it this year so least there will be a fun new cred for my next visit.
On 8/16/2022 at 11:35 AM, TrippinBillie said:It has significantly changed. The launch is MUCH slower and the ride time is longer, due to that. When it first opened in 2016, that thing was literally insane. Now, it's still fast paced, but it doesn't really leave you totally spirit-less walking off. You can see the difference in speed over the first launch hill here:
The "slowed down even more" myth has been debunked. The person who took the 2021 video said it was very early morning and if you look it up its from March. So well before the park was running regularly. I recall them saying it was maybe 50 degrees when filmed. So that is not accurate to a warmed up in season ride, and whoever made that dang triple comparison video maybe didn't do it on purpose to stir the pot....but its very inaccurate.
And don't get me wrong, I have been one of those bitterly disappointed people that never got the OG experience and I too was very sad the ride was maybe "neutered" farther. However...when I rode it in 2021 it was nothing like that video, was much much faster. Also for each comment I've seen from someone commenting "I rode opening year. its nothing the same! A sad shell of how great it reallt was yall really missed out sorry!" I've seen three saying "I rode opening year, I legit can't tell any difference really" so yeah...
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Not sure why there's internet reee-ing (Oh the internet...right) it was a very small area. What did people think was going up? I kinda like it personally.
On 8/12/2022 at 9:04 PM, gardyloo! said:According to some tweets SV’s fast lane line is an hour while the regular line is two? Is this normal or does the line usually not go over 30 min (except crazy busy 3+ hour regular line) days?
This is absolutely correct, in all my experiences in recent years SV is on avg like 45 mins (sometimes 30 sometimes 60) and yes yes we all know its fast lane not no wait and 45-60 mins is better than 2-3 hours but it still does suck when you are forking out so much $. I would agree only way to "solve" it is to try and price people out but that's not even totally necessary. As someone said above the lockers and how you merge back in really **** things up. It makes the FL line longer than it needs to be. Its a shame, and for people who haven't been/dont go often you kinda need it (unless you can go off season and on a weekday)
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On 8/2/2022 at 1:30 PM, TEDodd said:
Wasn't sure if JJ would be alone or with others. And that only helps with LR. If it's busy and you want to ride others then the pass could be handy.
Likely solo, unsure yet, but yes thank you! I got semi shafted by LR (Yeah shocker lol) last visit so I do hope to prioritize that.
Hersheypark (HP) Discussion Thread
in Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, & Donkeys!
Posted
Oh good! Maybe people will quit whining, but I doubt it!
Stoked to go this year, RMC Wildcat looks sick. As the only really bad coaster at the park this just makes its world class lineup even stronger. I know I got bias, been going since a kid and it reminds me of family (and later college) in PA but this park has a lineup only behind CP and with the new RMC and better restraints (granted I never found them thaaaat bad) this is even stronger now.