ytterbiumanalyst

Is anyone thinking about doing this? I've never used the Flash Pass system at SFOG since I'm there at least a couple of times a month but the current $250 price point has me seriously considering it. I'm assuming it's the regular flash pass?? If so, it's not worth it, as it really doesn't cut your wait time down. Now if it was gold or Platnium I would say go for it, but the regular, not so much. It's the Gold pass.

My biggest issue with Pony Express is the height restriction. If it was 42" it would make PERFECT sense. But at 48" the ride is claiming it's a bit more extreme than your true "family" coaster which it is not. Same issue I have with Jaguar (which used to be 42" then it was later raised to 48") I'm surprised it would be 48". It doesn't look at all like the sort of ride that would. Really, it just looks cool and is completely different from anything else I've ever seen. I'm not expecting insane intensity. That I will get from Xcelerator.

In November, no. December is the busiest month of the year. November is a great time to visit, as you get all the Christmas stuff, temperatures are hardly ever low enough to have to close rides, and crowds are low too! Have fun!

^ Agreed. I've never been to this event before, and I've never even been to these parks, so I didn't know what to expect. So you know what I did? I read the email. And now I know what to expect, and where I should be at what time. My thought after reading the entire email was "They've really thought of everything. This will be fun!" I really don't see how any other thought is possible for a sane person. I've never tried to run my own business, and I've never tried to run an event like this. I've certainly never run a business BY putting on events like this. And I'm certain those complaining haven't either. For me, I'm not taking a week off work and flying halfway across the country to complain. I'm doing it to have a good time. And this weekend looks like it's going to be a damn good time.

For the most part you're right, but those pony coasters are amazing and I refuse to let anyone tell me otherwise. Ponies or GTFO I'm actually seriously excited for Pony Express on Sunday.

The motor. That's how roller coasters go uphill.

I do not deny that.

^ That sounds like my kind of place. I'd want to do Wildwood, Great Adventure, Hershey, and Knoebels too (that sounds like the beginnings of a trip to me). I haven't spent much time on the East Coast, though I have been to Boston, D.C., and Florida. Hmm...

Honestly, Baltimore is awesome. The food drink in the Delmarva, Chesapeake region is really amazing. Old Bay is a religion there, they have the best crabs / crab cakes in America, Orange Crushes are ridiculous, Natty Boh is piss beer but it's just so, so much fun to drink and I stock up whenever I'm down there. There's plenty of Dogfish Head 120 to be had (research some cab companies before drinking this, you won't be in any condition to drive) and Camden Yards is one of the most beautiful ballparks around. Seriously, go. Visit the Inner Harbor and the Delaware / Maryland beaches (Mainly Rehoboth Beach DE and Ocean City, MD). You won't regret it. It's very far away.... When I was growing up, my neighbours went to Rehoboth Beach and said some very good things about it, so it's been in the back of my mind for a while. Fortunately, flights from STL to BWI tend to be pretty cheap, and it's not too far from Knoebels, which is a bucket list item for me. Maybe next year, still working out plans.

Thank you! I'm planning a trip to USH after WCB, and I was planning to eat somewhere in Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Looks like the Three Broomsticks it is!

I've been on four as well, Electro Spin (SDC), Surf Dog (KI), Pipe Scream (CP), and Northern Lights (VF). I've said on this thread that Spinsanity isn't enough to get me back to SFStL, but that's only because I already have Electro Spin closer to me. For those of you in St. Louis, these are great rides. And I don't even like spinning rides. You're getting a small addition, sure, but a very good one. As far as bang for the buck goes, Disk'O's are one of the best buys out there.

I'm loving this report. You're making me want to visit Baltimore. That's an accomplishment.

Not surprising for the middle of the week in September. I'm still surprised they are open so much during the week right now. I was actually pretty puzzled by their operating schedule too. It looks like they're open every day but Tuesday and Thursday in September, then every day but Tuesday in October with the exception of Halloween which is a Monday. Then they're closed until November 5th where they switch to a Wednesday through Sunday schedule until December where they're only closed on Mondays until the 13th where they're open daily except for Christmas and Christmas Eve until New Years. What... the... f**k? HFE know exactly what they're doing. The schedule may seem crazy, but they've got data, and the days they're closed are days that would be very low attendance. SDC's schedule is always like that too.

Didn't they do that once before, when Batman was new?

As long as there's sufficient clearance, there's no liability.

I think the park would argue that Pipe Scream is their spinning coaster.

Maybe one or two notches higher, certainly not eight notches higher. Fair enough. Still a place I'd like to see.

Well, I wouldn't say Cedar Point is exactly limited in space, as they have around 500 acres....

What else could it be though. I'm not saying it is, i'm just curious now. Sure. Two flat rides, a new front entrance, and a new coaster, and extending the operating season by two months, all in the same year, for a park with annual attendance of just over a million. Let's think long and hard about that idea. Okay, that should have been long enough to realize why that isn't happening. They also added Patriot and Prowler within tree years of each other. And with SFSL and SDC in the area why not try to make WOF the destination park in the midwest. Worlds of Fun will never match Silver Dollar City for me. Even if they were adding a giga coaster next year on top of everything else, SDC would still be the obvious winner. I don't get it though. Never been to SDC, but have been to WOF and SFSL. What's so special about SDC? SDC is very different from those two. It has a sense of place that the other two lack. At Worlds of Fun or Six Flags, you feel that you're in a fun place with lots of fun rides. At SDC, you feel that you're in another time and place altogether. And that to me is the basis of what makes a true theme park. To really get it, you just need to go. Take the cave tour and have some cinnamon bread. Then you'll understand.

Great report, thank you! We're working on trip planning for next year, and with Dollywood being our target, Lake Winnie was on the list. I enjoyed getting to see what the park is all about. Reminds me a lot of Indiana Beach, but about eight notches higher in quality.

What else could it be though. I'm not saying it is, i'm just curious now. Sure. Two flat rides, a new front entrance, and a new coaster, and extending the operating season by two months, all in the same year, for a park with annual attendance of just over a million. Let's think long and hard about that idea. Okay, that should have been long enough to realize why that isn't happening. They also added Patriot and Prowler within tree years of each other. And with SFSL and SDC in the area why not try to make WOF the destination park in the midwest. Have you heard of Geauga Lake?

This is now officially the best trip report ever. The exposed rocks are the result of blasting through the hills. Just about every highway around here requires at least some blasting to ensure the grades aren't too steep. Glad you enjoyed Missouri. Y'all come back now, ya hear?

^ You take that reasonable thinking and get out of here.

What else could it be though. I'm not saying it is, i'm just curious now. Sure. Two flat rides, a new front entrance, and a new coaster, and extending the operating season by two months, all in the same year, for a park with annual attendance of just over a million. Let's think long and hard about that idea. Okay, that should have been long enough to realize why that isn't happening.

You got it almost perfectly right. The percentage is too low.