ytterbiumanalyst

You'll need a whole day if you want to experience everything. There aren't that many attractions, but they're really all worth doing. The tram is the very best; you'll want to set aside a couple of hours for it. The ride itself is 45 minutes, plus whatever amount of time you spend queueing for it. Well worth it in every way. Don't skip the tram.

So I'm planning a trip to Knoebels the end of August. Usually I just read a lot of trip reports and visit a lot of websites, and that's enough information. This one's a little complicated, though, so I'm going to need a bit more help. I'm going to be flying in and out of PHL. I've priced it out, and it's actually the cheapest airport for me personally, flying from SGF. Go figure. To save a bit of money, I'm going to do Philly without a car, and either do it first and then rent the car after, or turn it in a couple days before the flight leaves. Here's what I want to do on this trip: Knoebels - 2 full days. Non negotiable. This is the entire point of this trip and where I want to spend the most time. Hersheypark, Dorney, Six Flags Great Adventure - 1 day each. Will get Flash Pass at Six Flags. Hydrus and Gale Force - I only care about these rides at each of these piers. I know, I know, I'm going to do the credit whore thing and ride 1 ride and leave. Deal with it. Morey's - my beach time and hanging out on the boardwalk. Intended to be a slower paced, more relaxed time. Historical stuff - I want to go to Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Ben Franklin sites, all the fun in Philly. Valley Forge and Gettysburg are also on the list, since they're just right on the way to other things. Philadelphia Museum of Art - This is one of the best art museums anywhere, with huge collections of some amazing people (Picasso ). It's a must stop, and I could spend an entire day there. So with so many things so close, it's kind of tough to make a schedule. I could go east first, then west; Philly first, then road trip--or the reverse. So many possibilities, and that's where you come in. I'll be flying into PHL on a Thursday and out the next Sunday. So I've got 8 days to do all this. Help me go to Knoebels!

There's lots of good news here. I'll focus on the one area that needs improvement, in-park spending per capita. SIX's big gamble is that by lowering the gate price, they'll encourage more in-park spending, and that just hasn't come about. Now, a 5% increase in adjusted EBITDA is really good, so they clearly are doing things right. Sounds like they've got some plans in place to help that. Food is a very high profit area that they haven't yet capitalized on. Holiday World is doing a Qdoba style restaurant this year, and Kings Island has one already. The concept has been proven to work at theme parks, and it's a big increase in food quality as well as being an appealing healthy option. It'd be nice to see Six Flags engage with that concept, either at their Go Fresh or at its own location.

Most recent one was Mean Streak. If that doesn't count, then Ozark Wildcat. When was the last time you saw a monster movie?

Okay...how about not catering to people who love to complain that they aren't being entertained every second of the day? "OMG, you guys, I was bored for like nearly a minute and I thought I would die. My entertainment time is valuable, people. Chop, chop. I have to be entertained in a different way next." Panem et circenses, and too much of both.

Personally, I like the faded pink. Just seems so 50's California to me.

Been a while, probably around 2000. We went to Vail, Colorado. It was very fun, and I'd definitely want to take the kids when they're old enough. When was the last time you had a chocolate malt?

Superman ironically just doesn't feel very fast. In the same park, I get a much better sense of speed and acceleration from YOLOcoaster. There's nothing else like X2 on this continent, and you really should go. It is in many ways the star of this park, even after all these years. As for Goliath, it was just plain fun. I still enjoy the classic big drops and no inversions. Goliath is huge and fast and powerful, and it's just a lot of fun.

It's actually been terrible here. High 70s, low 80s... This is absolutely not right, and we should do something about this. A healthy world freezes at this latitude.

In order of the rides that I found the most fun: 1. Twisted Colossus 2. Tatsu 3. Goliath 4. Lex Luthor 5. Ninja 6. Batman 7. X2 ...and then everything else pretty much runs together. The only ride I went on that I didn't like was Jet Stream, which is odd because I usually love log flumes.

No, they usually cause immense property damage and sometimes even loss of life. Are you watching Agents of Shield right now?

No, though there are several I enjoy a lot. Have you been to a national park?

The Actors Equity Association is the largest union for live performers. Non equity means these actors are not part of that union. http://www.actorsequity.org The show looks very good. It's coming to a couple of places not too far from us, but far enough that some planning is necessary. We'll have to look into it.

^^ This man speaks the truth. It's unbelievable. I was at Universal Studios Hollywood when it began to sprinkle for about 10 minutes. Everyone had umbrellas out, jackets over their heads, were dashing for awnings. And it was nothing. If you've ever experienced a misting fan, you have been wetter than I was at that time. I swear, the Wicked Witch of the West was created after Baum visited Los Angeles.

Beer

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't SDC project basically on a side of a hill? And isn't Blue Fire layout relatively "flat", so if this was a Blue Fire clone going to SDC, they would need some massive supports for the track. It's not going to be a clone, but it will have very similar technology.

Nope. Have you read James Joyce's Ulysses?

Last November. When was the last time you watched a sitcom?

I wonder why no US Park has gotten a Blue Fire. They must be expensive. I haven't been on it but If I were Six Flags, I'd add one to every Six Flags park. Watch Silver Dollar City's 2018 project....

That's all right! Next step is to take a trip across the state and go ride Batman at Six Flags St. Louis. Then you'll see what a B&M invert can do!

^ Thanks! I'm sure once the place opens for the year they'll say what's Plat only, but that's good to know in the meantime. I'm targeting a Friday in late August, probably either the 18th or the 25th, so we *shouldn't* reach Fright Fest level, I hope!

I approve.

So this brings me to a question, and I can't find the exact answer on Six Flags' website. Are all the rides that are on Flash Pass available with Gold? I don't really care about Justice League, as we have that one at home in St. Louis, so as long as Joker's on gold, I'll probably save some money and do that instead of Platinum. Thoughts?