JJLehto

Besides COVID, which I HOPE will be less of an issue between the vaccine rollout and parks seeming like they did a pretty decent job adhering to protocols, (people maybe less so but I will keep my distance and they will just have to live with it) 2021 is gunna be a crazy year for me...I finally finish my Masters and thus may end up anywhere in the country! But my plans are this: 1: FL and back road trip: KD, Carowinds, BGT, Orlando, BGW, SFGAdv. 2: IL and back road trip: Hershey, Kennywood, KI, SFGreatAmerica, CP, Knoebels. This will depend on when the 2021 rides open of course. 3: I hope to squeeze in Dollywood. Has to be a solo trip. I'd like to think all of this is realistic! Long as the parks are open, and vaccine is out I plan to do all this, and will of course self isolate and etc as needed. But yeah barring them being closed, I fully intend to do it all. I kind of hope to move to California post grad, if so I will probably just make trip 1 part of my drive out there. Totally not a coaster addict or anything not at all! Its totally sane to think how you can work parks into possible life events LOL

Good to know, the extra parking fee is what stopped me least time. Well ticket bought, I'll be there this Friday! Knowing nothing about this place I was a tad concerned at the comment earlier about security not harassing people for taking photos or being alone. I get they weren't, so good...but was this a problem in the past? I will be there solo, and given its quite a sight I would like to take photos.

Ah I see parking is free for October to welcome the reopening. Great! Yes, this seems like the best possible time to go!

EDIT: I am just dumb if anyone saw my post just fughetaboudit!

Stoked to see this park, and the new ride, are open! After putting it off I'm finally going this week, probably on Friday. I was hoping the weekday and price would deter people and hopefully negate any slowdown do to the pandemic. Stoked, especially for SBB! Is it still pay for parking? As someone who is going alone.... has that been an issue in the past??

Woo modernity! Kudos for tackling the big task. Certainly looks nice and sexy and I can't wait to try it on the phone! I am so damn slow and stupid with technology so I'll need some time to figure things out, like why can't I find where to edit my signature lol and I need to dig up my long time used MForce profile photo, but love the changes!

Yup, I will conclude that, through absolutely no fault of its own, age just has gotten the better of Boudler Dash. One, we got Intamins, RMCs, and GCIs which these days really kick ass. Two, perhaps age has gotten to it physically? I used to hear about he stupid air on it, every hill, unrelenting pace and damn it sure looked like it. Well, I found it a bit underwhelming 7 years ago and honestly, despite it being a warm sunny day, it was even more so. Don't get me wrong...fun. Still a top 10 woodie (though gunna be dropping), gotta love it romping through the woods, but the first half was a bit weak honestly. Second half while better, was just pops of airtime. Not strong floater, not sustained, deff not the GCI "pops" of brief but intense air. Hate to say but it even felt and looked sluggish coming into the station. I tried my best too. Kept the belt loose and the lap bar was not close to me, even kept my feet up as I do sometimes on woodens to maximize any air. Just wasn't really there. So yeah, not sure if (like other rides out there) it was superb in the day but just is lesser as new rides come out and people still remember it from "in the day", if 20 years has taken its toll on it, both? Still solid, and I bet it is one helluva night ride but its not dark by 7 (not sure if that's always the park close or just currently) so figured no point in hanging around as I did everything as much I wanted. I did love Phobia. Second time doing these Premier Skyrockets and I can say I love em. I hear they're worse with the OTSR but this one was just lap bars. Needless to say was a dead day. The 1 train ops slowed things worse than any covid protocol did, but still wasn't bad at all.

Oh yeah was super fun, but I thought (b/c this is what I always heard) airtime on every hill and crazy air, "you barely touch the seat before the next" and I have learned over time POVs are not a great judge, but I mean dang it did fly over all those hills. So when it wasn't that I was a bit let down but again it was not a good weather day and it was one ride. So gotta try again, but true that was years ago when I was a lot more zealous I've learned since how to ride w/o expectations getting the better of me. Well hell nothing is like RMC, and El Toro and Phoenix are untouchable but RMC does bring up agood point. Sometimes rides just don't compare as well to others over time. Like they may have been HOLY **** OMG at one time but as newer rides hit the scene, they just arent as good through no fault of their own. That may be is as well, and this has caught me a few times. Its why I try to now do new rides opening year or within 1 if I can! But also I was serious, there's not much in NE, Six Flags is closed, so this is really all I got thats remotely near me so it is what it is! Nice! Now that's what I'm talking about out. Well long as BD is open on Thurs and its not supposed to rain, I'll be going! I really need that cred again. I only got 1 ride on BD last time despite being their 3/4 of a day that was dead (long story short......GP friends lol) and it was 60 degrees and cloudy/drizzly. Not best conditions for a wood coaster. It was fun not quite what I hoped for. Perhaps the conditions, overhype etc but ready to try again! I feel your pain. I dont like going to parks with my parents, they are "We already rode that, why do you want to go on it again?" types. TBH I dont visit parks with them very often but each time I do I'm reminded why I avoid it lol Yeah, and actually I hate saying "GP" and dont do all that, so if I do ya know I was mad but it's true, a few times now non enthusiast friends have either caused me to miss something (Maverick twice) or kinda dragged down a day, or in this case just kinda slowly meandering and not wanting to really do anything. So by the time getting to BD a second time "sorry park is closing in like 2 mins" and we had to leave. You said it, I just go solo/with other enthusiasts is all.

Nice! Now that's what I'm talking about out. Well long as BD is open on Thurs and its not supposed to rain, I'll be going! I really need that cred again. I only got 1 ride on BD last time despite being their 3/4 of a day that was dead (long story short......GP friends lol) and it was 60 degrees and cloudy/drizzly. Not best conditions for a wood coaster. It was fun not quite what I hoped for. Perhaps the conditions, overhype etc but ready to try again!

Good to know. I will done with finals tomm, and the weather is clear on Thurs, so I was planning on going. Is the status of B.D. noted anywhere on the site? I will absolutely make sure to check before trekking out there.

Lake Compounce. Its the nearest park to me now and I've been wanting to give Boulder Dash another try for years, (had a good but semi lackluster ride on it b/c it was like 60 degrees, cloudy, and misty) so a proper hot summer day is needed. Good thing I checked the site! Its closed today due to the storm that blew threw. Hopefully tomorrow? But I will going there soon as its open. Still not sure if I do my KI/CP/KW plan (maybe with a stop in Knoebels) esp as hours are now becoming limited, Steel Curtain not yet open etc SFNE closed so Lake Compounce may be the only park I do rest of this year!

I couldn't find any better alternatives, so I went with the BOGO deal. Now I am sitting on the second ticket which expires at the end of September. Not sure if I'll end up using it or not. Yup same boat. IDK if anyone has inside info/better knowledge but I don't got hope for Storm Runner. Sign said "temporarily closed for the season" which I wasn't sure how to interpret..... is it temporarily or FOR the rest of the season? Temp....for the season is deliciously vague lol But doesn't seem like a good sign? Shame, it's a part of why I'd go, and if it wasn't for the fact I got a 2nd visit free and thus it'd be waste not too....I'd prob not go again.

Glad to hear! I'll be stopping here later on my road trip. I won't go any further than this....let's just say not surprised the park and people really don't seem to follow guidelines, but as you point out one can still do so on their own. The impact is lessened when others don't, but tis a risk you take. I will likely still go. Honestly, glad to hear people were respectful. That's all I ask. You do you, I'll leave ya be but leave me be. Glad that was the case! I always heard of Cornball as an under the radar gem, glad it still holds up! I also hear near universally Lost Coaster is fun as hell despite, or due to?, its being a hot mess. Great photos btw! The location and scenery has a real charm to it.

Well, given it was a July weekend the lines when I went were not nearly as bad as they'd be pre-covid. That said, ops were slower...so that semi negated it. I guess still not bad. Fahrenheit was an hour but in the past it's usually that or longer lol All the rest had pretty short lines tbh just they went slow. Like what would be 5 mins was 20, what would be 20 was an hour. I think when I go for my 2nd day it will also be in Aug. Later ya go crowds are better. All is out the window today but I hope it holds.

Prob but I will be 100% honest, this is the internet, and reading a lot (alot) has been my life in recent years. I just don't bother when I come here to post. Tis my mental check out time. People can be mad lol But thanks. Tis a shame, I was excited to have an RMC so close, even if supposedly it's lost its speed on the last lap. Guess I'll spam Lake Compounce

Yup! FoF at KD I never had any issue with. And going back a while...The Chiller at SFGrAdv was perfectly fine after they removed the OTSR's. But KI? WOWZA. I was totally unprepared, esp given it had lap bars. Was tough to suss out what was worse...it or Vortex (my head hurt so said screw it let's get it out of the way) but honestly FoF was prob worse. How is beyond me! I plead ignorance, I just don't know the details on the how maintenance works for steel rides and why some are worse but yeah it's interesting. Like age is a factor too and some B&Ms are getting rough, but then Kumba...in 2018 I thought was perfectly fine. Not glass smooth but not at all rough, and that back row! Then you get FoF lol wild how such variation happens.

Not yet open? Oof.... I'll be in New England in under a week, so would be a darn shame if it failed to open for this year. What's the deal? (Sorry been used to FL and NJ protocols!) other SF parks are open, I assume it's a statewide standard thing?

wow...no FL? Though they arent limiting people per day and are going soon to weekend only? CP....I thought ya were here to squeeze our pockets lol That said thank you... gotta look up some scheduling lookup and perhaps bump the trip up.

Thanks! And lessons learned for future trips. Indeed. See I used to go here with my fam as a kid, was such a "quaint" park. Like Great Bear opening was so :O It's been something to see it grow and grow, and I'm glad. I do fully believe it has the 2nd best coaster lineup behind CP. IDK if this is common, but been to what 30+ parks now and few have the quantity and quality of here. Oof yeah.....Wildcat is too far gone. It gave me a sore back and that was years ago. I didn't even wanna ride this time despite being zero line. Definitely needs the RMC cause I dont want to see it totally gone. Heh yeah I'll be another 3.5 hours away soon so Hershey wont be so close

So with new protocols and all how have the ops been here? The crowds? Worth a fast pass? The lines were quite short at Hershey but ops and most rides negated that. BTW no complaints at all just wanna know so I can plan. Though I plan to go in late Aug/early Sept (schedule dependent) and ideally a weekday so hopefully fast pass won't be needed. But just looking to find out and things change these days...I may end up going during the summer Sorry I've been crap w following....I hear something about admit tickets for rides. How does it work/the best way to do it?

Oh glad they got that! Won't lie...didn't have a great experience here and only plan to go this year for Steel Curtain. Any locals know...has it been generally closed this year?

I will say Hershey keeps growing its strength. Gone from a casual day w the fam 20 years ago to now quite a powerhouse. Quantity and quality. Skyrush (still insane...in fact someone's phone flew out and dang near hit me!) Storm Runner, Lightning Racer all great. Fahrenheit, Great Bear, Candymonium all good. This is one of the better lineups in the US. EDIT: Oh, I don't usually do pics. 1: We've seen em. 2: others can do way better, and usually w/ better equip. BUT while the ride is just solid, it looks great! Oh and Skyrush just because of the glory

OK soooo I didn't know Storm Runner was closed (for the season?) and that's on me. I didn't follow my online advice of check before you go. At one point Great Bear and Candymonium went down (neither long but still was a tough sledding) and the park seemed kinda crowded! Thankfully Skyrush wasn't. Got 3 in a row in an hour, and 5 total. Now as for Candymonium: Its solid. I didnt expect ejector or anything so it was fine, and there was some really solid air! Not the best floater even...that goes to Goliath at SFoG but tbh was prob one of the better B&M hypers. I felt more than Diamondack. I will say that 2nd trim sucks. The 1st I didn't really feel...and I tried to not think about but that 2nd really bites. Physically felt it, and heard it....that sound of your speed literally being drained out lol Shame because made that last hill and cool turny part bleh. Up to that though, was solid. Solid air, solid force in the helix. Solid. Prob my #3 in the park, maybe 4.....I really like Great Bear IDK gotta think about it. Glad to hear Dankeykang! Sadly this wasn't the case today. It was running 3 trains but sloooooooooooooooow. The line really wasn't long ever but holy hell, ops were awful. And IDK the details so please anyone enlighten me but it really seemed to be nothing to do w Covid. All 3 times I waited for it, it was perpetual 3 train stacks and they waited quite a while, but I couldn't see why. I wanna say has to be covid but no idea. They just weren't moving fast. Honestly, wasn't the best day BUT I broke my rule. Dont go during peak times esp July, and avoid weekends. I went on a July Sat soooo my fault it was so hot and packed. So no blame on the park that was on me. I got a 2nd day free....so I called it early and will go again in Aug or Sept when its cooler and hopefully less people (even if slow ops should be negated)

Looks fun! Intamin are indeed legends and while it is a tad weird to see them being the followers and not innovators for once, that is a good thing And these look pretty good. Better than some of the OG's

Well, one upside to choosing a date, allows you to be flexible for life events and weather! Finally a free non rainy day tomm, so I shall be getting to my first park of the year! Hate the name and color of the new ride but I ofc get it, looks solid. Any thoughts on it? Looks like it takes some hills w speed and maybe the helix is forceful? But I hold low expectations