ytterbiumanalyst

Um... Mack extreme spinner. There's also parts already on site as it seems the park is doing the painting instead of Mack That is the curreent rumour, yes. "Rumoured" and "known" are not at all similar. When you do, you have to ride the Runaway, Branson's new alpine coaster. It's fantastic.

We don't know what kind of coaster it will be like. I personally don't think there will be any buildings other than the station, just based on where I've seen footers. But there is next to no information about this project. They're doing a great job keeping secrets!

We watched the Pirates video last night and were very impressed. This and the Tron coaster have caused my 9-year-old to want to go to China.

#brideofchucky

Nah, you know 15 years from now we'll still be talking about that damn boat.

You can get that here!

This sounds like a terrible idea. Normally I'm all for people coming to Branson, but I usually prefer them to leave alive.... Early March is usually very cold here, and very frequently our biggest snowfall occurs around March 1. SDC used to open beginning of April for World Fest, but the last few years they've opened early to try to grab the spring break crowd. Most of the time weather will be highs in the 40s but lows below freezing, meaning any rain that happens (and we get a lot of rain in March) will freeze and become black ice--slick frozen patches that are the same colour as the road. Add to that Highway 65 (the main road to Branson) has several hills at 10% grade--meaning that the road changes elevation at a rate of 528 feet per mile. That's the sort of grade where if you're going the speed limit of 65 at the top of a hill (and those hills are huge) and coast, you will be going well over 80 mph at the bottom if you don't brake. STRONGLY recommended to get new brakes before going to Branson. Actually, STRONGLY recommended to get them now.

Lines will be bad in Oceans but not too bad in Worlds as it will probably be hot AF by then. There are several motels across 435 from the park. I wouldn't stay in any of the motels across 435. Go about 10 minutes north to Liberty and stay at the Comfort Suites. It's fairly cheap (peak summer will run you around $120) and they will allow 5 people in one room if you want.

This rumour comes from a recently published expansion plan for California's Great America, which calls for an Intamin impulse coaster that looks remarkably like Wicked Twister, including the unique double spiral. Intamin hasn't made a coaster like that for a while, and CGA is a fairly small market, so some people have speculated that Cedar Fair may be relocating Wicked Twister rather than purchasing a new coaster. The rumour does have some internal logical consistency, so it's not completely out in left field. I doubt that Wicked Twister is leaving any time soon, though. It's still fairly popular, is as reliable as a launched Intamin usually is, and is in a spot that few other things would fit in. A Schwarzkopf shuttle loop, a Premier Skyrocket II, or a Ferris wheel are the only ones I can think of that would fit neatly in that spot; the shuttle loop would be considered a step down, and they've already got a Ferris wheel in basically that same spot. The Skyrocket might be okay, but it's not a much different experience and not really worth the hassle. I'm leaning toward, if CGA does get an Intamin impulse, that it's bought new. They don't cost that much as coasters go, and the cost of tearing down, transporting across the country, and rebuilding it in the new location, isn't that much cheaper than just getting a new one.

This is a good point. When I visited Cedar Point for the first time last summer, the Frontier Trail section seemed so Silver Dollar City like to me. The name is pretty hokey, but that's what this type of theming is all about. I kind of love it. I admit that I was one that thought that this would look somewhat out of place on the Frontier Trail, but this doesn't look too bad - and I like the name. Still would rather have a "real" log flume there or somewhere on the trail, but you never know...it could come in time. Agreed on both counts, that it will look out of place, and that the park needs a log flume. But this is a good move, and the name will help it fit in, at least better than Skyhawk does.

This is a good point. When I visited Cedar Point for the first time last summer, the Frontier Trail section seemed so Silver Dollar City like to me. The name is pretty hokey, but that's what this type of theming is all about. I kind of love it.

OMG, the word "credless" is pukeworthy. Aside from that, yes, one of my very favourite amusement parks is Chicago's Navy Pier. Such a cool place to hang out, with shops, restaurants, museums, all out on Lake Michigan. It's a wonderful place to spend an evening, even if you ride nothing.

A staple for me, this is possibly Missouri's best beer.

That's a good article, thanks! I'm not afraid of walking; talk to my wife about the Navy Pier Death March. We went up to Chicago in 2009 to see U2's 360 tour at Soldier Field. My wife had never been to Chicago before, so I wanted to take her to see some of the essential things, so we took the subway to Navy Pier. Now, she was 9 months pregnant with our son at the time, and I was also a dumbass. I didn't pay close enough attention to the bus routes when I looked at the map, because this was before smartphones and maps were still printed on paper*. *Yeah, yeah, I know the iPhone was invented in 2006, but I live in the Ozarks, and none of us had them newfangled talky machines yet. So I headed down Grand St., figuring we would find a bus stop and catch a bus going east. I never figured out, despite all evidence, that Grand is a one-way street going west. Nope, we just kept plodding along, going against traffic, stopping every half-block so she could rest, with me encouraging her that "there's gotta be a bus stop soon." Four blocks down, with no buses in sight, I thought maybe there aren't any buses going to one of the city's biggest tourist attractions. Yeah, that's way more plausible than the second largest city in the U.S. having a one-way street. I then made the fateful suggestion I have never lived down since: "It's only eight blocks, we're halfway there, let's just continue." Yeah, go look at Google Maps right now. Those first four blocks are roughly square, but the last four are very long. We were about a quarter mile into a walk of over one mile, and shall I reiterate for effect the small detail of my wife being nine months pregnant. The name "Navy Pier Death March" was coined during that last block, and it's a memory that still haunts me every single time I suggest walking anywhere, no matter the distance. There must now be assurances written in blood that the distance shall be as described. So when we were planning a return trip to Chicago in 2014, this time with kids, I wanted to go back to Navy Pier and take them to the Children's Museum (which is a seriously cool place for kids). I think my wife still wasn't convinced that I had planned better and we were taking the bus, even after we had gotten on the bus that said "Navy Pier" above the windscreen. Showing her on my phone (hey, we got them newfangled talky things here now!) the Google Transit route we were taking didn't help. She wouldn't believe it until the bus dropped her off on the pier with zero intervening steps. It's telling that now, 6 1/2 years after the Navy Pier Death March, it's still the first thing that pops in my head when someone mentions a long walk.

Zaxby's. We just got one of those in Springfield, and it's some of the best fast food sh*t I've ever had.

^ Sweet! That would be really cool to see.

Kubo and the Two Strings was the best movie of the year. Innovative animation techniques, stellar story, great voice acting. Plus, I got to see it at Universal CityWalk in Hollywood!

Yes! As much as possible! Have you ever been to Steakburg, Germany, home of the steakburger?

Thanks! I actually have been the Atlantic once before, on Cape Cod in 2004. That was really nice. I'm sure New Jersey is not nearly so, but I'm using Philadelphia as a home base for this trip, so it's just right there. Beach tags? Is New Jersey actually run by the mafia for real?

Ok, now I must ride this. Let me back up a bit. I want to go to Knoebels. The entire trip is planned around going to Knoebels. It probably sounds funny to you, but since I'm from the Midwest, I swear this is logical. I can't go so close to the Atlantic and pass up an opportunity to see it. I've also never been to a boardwalk, so that's the interest in Morey's. It's the intersection of several interests.

Okay, so over on the 40 Things thread I see that Zoom Phloom is being hailed as the greatest water ride in a dry park. In my research, I had skipped over it, since it looks like your standard fair log flume. Honestly I had wanted to go here mostly because I wanted to go to the Atlantic Ocean and I hear that's oddly difficult to accomplish in New Jersey everywhere but Morey's. Now, however, on hearing from certain log flume enthusiasts that this is the best, I'm intrigued. What makes Zoom Phloom so much better than the others?

Wow. If it's worse than T3, then I get it. I grew up in the era of Arrow loopers, so I'm not one to complain about roughness, but that one gave me a headache just from being jostled intensely. Hopefully the work will make it rideable.

Cool! Getting to know some forum members. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1. What is the name of your home park? Silver Dollar City 2. Do you own a coaster related T-shirt? Several. My favourite is the Thunderbird shirt from Holiwood Nights 2015. 3. Do you enjoy Vekoma SLCs? If it is Thunderhawk at Michigan's Adventure, then yes. 4. Name the first 3 coasters that come to mind. Outlaw Run, Millennium Force, Lightning Rod 5. One park you would definitely never go back to is... Magic Springs 6. Have you ever ridden a drop tower taller than 200 feet? Several, tallest one being Lex Luthor at Magic Mountain 7. What is your favorite roller coaster? Outlaw Run 8. When you go to a park three things you must have with you are... Wallet, car keys, and 2 zipper bags to put them in (both of them inside one bag, which is itself in the other bag. Nothing gets wet that way) 9. How many times did you visit your home park last season? Around 20, also 9 visits to Worlds of Fun, next closest major park to me 10. The first Intamin coaster you rode is... American Eagle, Six Flags Great America 11. Have you ever spent an entire day at a park alone? Yes 12. The independent park you go to the most is... Holiday World 13. Does B&M or Intamin make better hyper coasters? B&M makes hyper coasters that are closer to me. Haven't been on an Intamin hyper yet. 14. If it was free, what upcharge ride what you jump on right now? S&S Screamin' Swing 15. What is the best food at your home park? Cinnamon bread 16. The name of the worst GCI you've ridden is... Kentucky Rumbler maybe? None I've been on are bad, just ranging from average to above average. 17. When you're not riding something at your home park where are you? Pokemon hunting with my kids. Conveniently a lot of Pokemon spawn at playgrounds and other kid friendly places. 18. Favorite water ride in a dry park (flume, rapids, etc) Timber Mountain Log Ride, Knott's Berry Farm 19. Do you get your photo taken with park mascots? No, but I do get pictures of my kids with them. 20. Name one personal item you've lost at a park. A St. Louis Cardinals hat. I actually lost it twice. The first time was at Kentucky Kingdom's log flume in 2015. I wasn't allowed to bring it on the platform, so I set it down on a nearby bench and another park guest picked it up, mistaking it for hers (that area is pretty heavily Cardinals territory). I lost it for good last year because I was a dumbass and forgot to take it off when I got on Flight of Fear at Kings Island. 21. Name of the worst B&M invert you've ridden is... Patriot. Not a bad ride, just average, and most B&M inverts range from good to great. 22. Name your favorite steel coaster under 125 feet tall. Maverick, Cedar Point 23. Name your favorite coaster/ride manufacturer? RMC. I've been on several, and none are anything less than incredible. 24. What waterpark have you visited most often? Hurricane Harbor, Six Flags St. Louis. Yep, my home waterpark, White Water is really not very good, so we haven't actually been in many years. 25. The name of the fastest wooden coaster you have ridden is... Goliath, Six Flags Great America 26. What is the name of the flat ride you've ridden the most? Magnificent Wave Carousel, Silver Dollar City. In a park not known for flat rides, it's one that we generally ride at least once each visit. It's not too tall, not too fast, and spins just enough but not too much. It's the perfect intersection of everyone's ride preferences. 27. Name a ride-related injury you have suffered. I tripped on the stairs and cut my foot trying to board Tiger Trax at Como Town. 28. Favorite Halloween event at a park? SDC's Cowboy and Harvest Festival, if that counts. I'm not really into Halloween. 29. Name the most recent Arrow ride or coaster you've been on... Thunderation on 12/26 30. Name of your favorite ride that never leaves the ground (safari, train, bumper cars, etc) Whip rides like Peanuts 500 at Worlds of Fun. I'd love to do a full size version. 31. What ride makes you laugh the most? Gobbler Getaway, Holiday World 32. How many RMC's have you ridden? 4 - Outlaw Run, Goliath, Twisted Colossus, and Storm Chaser 33. Best flat that goes over 100 feet is... Detonator, Worlds of Fun 34. When you are on your way to your home park what is one worry that you might have? The line of cars to get in might be backed up to the Highroad. 35. Favorite park that is NOT your home park is ___________. Disneyland 36. How many different parks did you go to last season? It was a good year, 18! Adventureland Arnolds Park Cedar Point Como Town Disneyland Disney California Adventure Indiana Beach Kentucky Kingdom Kings Island Knott's Berry Farm Michigan's Adventure Nickelodeon Universe Pacific Park Silver Dollar City Six Flags Magic Mountain Universal Studios Hollywood Valleyfair! Worlds of Fun 37. The indoor coaster/dark ride you ride most often is... Fire in the Hole 38. When you spend the day at the park what do you drink all day? Water, unless it's SDC's Old Time Christmas, in which case it's wassail. 39. The name of the best B&M you've ridden is? Diamondback, Kings Island 40. Name three other forum members that will fill this out... Coasterbill, Henry M, Nrthwnd

Now that's starting to sound like a party!