JJLehto

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

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

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

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.

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?

oof. Yeah not good. I have no doubt they will fix it and reopen it but this will not be a quick/easy fix. 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!!!

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. 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...

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. 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)

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.

Ah thanks all, I forgot about that site. I'll do some digging, but I really want to go, will most likely just go for it and pray as that seems all we really can do XD

Surely I'll get lol'd at but: How has Lightning Rod been running this year? How is the park like in early Sept? Thinking of going for a long weekend and to avoid PTO Labor day weekend seemed a natural fit. But always dodgy going to parks on holidays, so curious if anyone has experience with then? If I don't this then in general how are crowds in Sept?

So had my 2nd visit at this park and while it wasn't as dead as the last time (which was a June weekday lol) considering it's peak summer I was still surprised how not crowded the park was, like compared to what you would expect. If not for some 1 train ops (and some brutally slow ops) lines would've been maybe a few minutes for things! Two interesting notes: I got one new cred of my mini midwest trip which was Kentucky Flyer and what a fantastic little ride! I have to contemplate if its top 10 wood worthy. I didn't know/notice Storm Chaser doesn't have its restraints lock solid!? At least on nearly all my rides I mean it locked but I was able to lift it somewhat!? Unlike other esp RMCs where it doesn't move. Won't lie....was a tad scared and I had to really tell myself "you know its safe and they wont release the train if there's anything off" but wow, going on an RMC where the restraint had some space/give. That was something else lol As for Thunder Run to each their own but I found it incredibly meh. I actually wish it was rougher! Like at least you'd feel something. It was just slow and boring otherwise

Same, though to be fair my expectations were kinda low, I really expected it to be meh at night or at the least not worth the effort it took to achieve but I was pleasantly surprised. In fact while waiting I had TPR up and was ready to post "enthusiasts have done it again" in grossly overhyping something and doing sheeple stuff but yup: For once the community at large did not disappoint! Like parts where it felt like a crawl in the afternoon were hauling major ass. Not my personal best, for that you need Voyage at night (and with the MCBR turned off) if you really want some epic shit. But that's for another thread. And overall I did have a good day. Perhaps it was the brutal July heat but I found Diamonback and esp Orion better than previously. The ops were still fantastic and for such a big park still maintains some nice feel. All in all a wonderful time.

OK enthusiast community, I admit I tend to take much of what is said with a dose of skepticism, but just had a front row night ride on Beast and for once the hype was 100% valid. That was shockingly awesome. Which was a nice cap to the day, I think I’ll include KI in all my Ohio trips now. Wonderful park with some good rides. Was surprised how good Orion is and Mystic Timbers is just damn fantastic. Pretty great day.

Oh it’s open! Idk why but kinda been quietly waiting for this one (partly bc it’s fascinating to see a coaster like this at such a small unusual park and partly gives me more reason to finally visit CO). Not sure I’ll make it this year but cool to know it’s open. Looks great, Deff very short and you would hope for another hill, element something but given the small park size and location…I get it

Sorry to hear it went so poorly I was super anxious about the rain, glad I managed to get all I needed in by 5 and scram, (along your lines I had no real want to stay longer, even for IG since it was moving at snails pace and just didn't wanna deal). I too am quite disappointed in my day at BGT, not the rides but the actual park left a lot to be desired. Deff worst park experience I've had in the last 2 seasons, much as I wanna blame SeaWorld BGW was far better in every aspect so maybe something about this one. Oh yeah the food...besides much of it being closed while we know what to expect at a park...but even I was a little taken aback at $23 I think it was for what was mass catered quality burger and some waffle fries. Was glad to have gotten 4 rides on IG 3 in the back (which was insane, esp as it warmed up) between that, it not being close, and my experience, won't lie I probably won't go back here unless they open up a big new ride. With so many RMC's now, while IG was great superb I can get a fix elsewhere. KD is also much closer to me, and BGW I do feel had a better atmosphere and overall a far stronger lineup.

Wow, Im glad I only bought the normal QQ and not + Iron Gwazi.... the park (while I was there) was shockingly quiet.... I did 2 rides on IG then did a loop to hit all the rest: I had under 10 min waits for Tigris, Sheikra, Kumba, Montu...I used my QQ only for Cheetah Hunt, no joke. Glad I didnt go all in, would've paid $120 for basically 1 free ride on IG. AND after I did my loop I went back to IG for two wait was only 35-40 minutes So yeah QQ+ wasn't needed and sadly even normal QQ was kinda useless, what can ya do/first world problems lol Like some guy used QQ for Kumba, but I ended up in the same row as him lol I will agree with Zand, I kinda hated being here lol So it can't help the heat....that's Florida for ya but yes, very hot + miserable ops = bad time. Iron Gwazi was only 35-40 mins on my later rides BUT the line was only in the station To an above comment, I actually did think they went down to 1 train ops. With how short the line was and its slowness I figured something happened and they went down to 1/just reopened, but nope they were somehow running 2 trains! And the other waits while short, prob would've been walk ons if they tried. No doubt the ops were kinda terrible. And yes! So few rides are open! Falcons Fury was not up, as were a few others, half the food/drink places were closed. I did BGW 2 weeks ago and that park was far superior. Not just the atmosphere but was running way better/did not have these issues! Also this can't be helped but I can now say BGW has a superior lineup. BGT has Iron Gwazi which is God-tier but Griffon>Sheikra, Alpengeist>Montu (sorry! I mean Montu was great ofc), Verbolten > Cheetah Hunt/Cobras. Its a good, fun lineup dont get me wrong but kept thinking oof the BGW one is better lol All this is why I left at 3:00. Got all I wanted, multiple on Kumba, IG, was feeling not great so I bailed. Good rides no doubt, but quite disappointing and for the price.....cmon. That said Iron Gwazi is sick. Especially once warmed up, damn that thing was bonkers!!! I do put it behind SV (and probably Timbers) just bc it doesnt have quite as many elements/isnt as non stop balls to the wall, but that is one helluva ride. I can see why some may prefer it to SV, as it more 'rideable' and a tad less trying to kill you. I prefer the latter but just preference. Great ride, deff top tier RMC

Nope, in fact I lived in this state for 4.5 years LOL Thankfully forecast looks dry until 2ish then rain is expected, as you say FL "rain" often is never never then a 20 minute burst then its hot and sunny again, so this is encouraging. Yeah I'll be there at gate open, QQ, and try to get as much in as quickly as I can. IG will be the focus but a few some others are a must as well.

Well I've landed in an unexpectedly rainy Tampa. Was forecast to be sunny and clear (as of yest) so much to my chagrin looks it's supposed to rain ALL weekend, esp Sunday when I planned to go Well, I'm here and hey I've gone to parks on rainy days before and sometimes things turn out magical (it stays dry and there's no crowds) so time to pray to the coaster gods!

Yeah weekdays at non peak times (and obviously avoiding spring break, holidays) is what I strive for. I've made out like a bandit before, like Kings Island or SFMM totally dead. Sadly it wasn't in the cards this time, I'll be in BGT this Sunday. But hoping it'll be less insane than Saturday and I'll be getting fast lane for sure. I ran into some extra $ almost like fate from the coaster gods....an amount that will likely just cover a fast pass

Oh well I can't vouch for the crowds they draw, just bc I don't know, I got on early as noted but the line did get quite long and stayed long (perhaps it was not great capacity more for that?) until I left. So it had quite a crowd least that day. But oh yeah I'd have been there if Tumbili never existed lol I guess the parks have stats on these things, (which always beat observations) I dont know how "worth it" the free spins are. I assume parks build em though for the reasons they built boomerangs and SLCs and others....cheap, easy, ya know what you get, why use time and $ to always make something new when ya can plop something down? We don't like it....but from a business POV I get it. Do they draw enough riders to pull it off? No idea, though I'd think parks wouldn't bother if they were flops? Also much as we wish, and I do, parks don't cater to enthusiasts, so they don't really care much I'm sure what I'd do...as you said I'd have gone regardless, but locals won't really care so yeah I'm sure it makes sense to plop the free spins down.

Wow, what?? Yeah that is at best a grave error and at worst, purposefully doing so someone can ride who shouldn't for safety reasons IDK how that wont end up with some valid lawsuits.

....Yes? Not sure the intention here, feels weirdly aggressive/judgy/sounding like a did something weird/wrong? Not quite sure what you're getting at, but yes, I do like those S&S free spins but ya know they are clones...done one (which I have multiple times) you've done em all. Twisted Timbers, I305, Dominator are unique and obviously better. Those are priority, Tumbili was there so I did it but I don't think it's weird to say I prefer/prioritize the RMC, IntaGiga and big B&M over it lol You do you but is there some rule you are supposed to do the newest first and go in order or something? lmao

Yup yup! Agreed with all, even Loch Ness I didn't dislike it, it was fine, deff running well for what it is. One of the rare lineups where I can say I enjoy every one. Funny too I didn't have particularly much expectation for AC, Verbolten, Griffon, InvadR but all were wonderful! Yeah I'll have to get to BGW again for more Pantheon, though I won't lie I am concerned it won't be a ton different in a future, more warmed up, ride. Seen plenty of videos and its speed seems to be what it was. I do hope I'm wrong, shame if 2 years of hype and it was just a let down. But yeah, to my total shock as of now I feel Velocicoaster is better, did basically every aspect better. Did not expect this!

Yup, was super easy! There was a surprisingly small crowd at gate open, got to Twisted Timbers for the 2nd train of day, 4 rides in 40 minutes. Hopped over to Racer then I305, did 4 in a row before I had my fill. Grabbed Tumbili for the credit, though I do like the ride, a spin on Dominator and called it a day. I was so beat from the sun and cumulative walking from these days, so got an early start on heading to DC. Also platinum pass I don't feel quite the same urge to do everything. God TT is amazing. I think it's gunna end up being #2 just behind SV, the airtime, pace, layout is all just perfect. And I305 finally after 9 years and a lift hill breakdown got back on this beast. Wow, I forgot just how truly insane this ride is. I love it but holy hell that thing is the upper limit.