RCjunkie

For me, in the words of Wayne and Garth......SCHWING!!!

Light towers have me curious because they obviously are used for evening or after dark work but nothing like that has even started yet. But why would they be there otherwise? You don't have them back there by Renegade for no reason. Anything west of the picture you have of the lights are where the wetlands will be filled in when the project starts. Maybe this is first sign of ramping up to some serious work. Donomike05, are these pickup trucks owned by VF or do they have a company logo on them for who they work for? Eight of them seems like a lot just for a smaller park to have around on a everyday basis.

^^ After riding CP's, KI's and Adventureland's Windseeker's last year and now riding my first Star Flyer at VF this year I have to agree. Just an overall better experience and thrill. Not a ton better, but better in my opinion.

Nobody knows if the new entrance is coming next year, it could be 2-3 years off or it could happen next year. We will have a better idea in the next 45 days after we hear what is or what is not announced. Interesting question though, I would hope they some how could include Thunder Canyon in with the water park because it is a solid water ride and would get more use if people already in the park could just get on in since they are already in swim wear. I would like to see them include it in with the water park yet also have another queue line to the dry part of the park also. But as you mentioned, you could also see them eventually getting rid of it for something else down the road. Still no work or demolition permits issued by the city of Shakopee for VF yet. Donomike05's report on the progress of the new employee lot and service road work now has me leaning towards a new back entrance and parking lot not happening next year but the year after. But that is just my opinion, hopefully I am wrong because anything can be accomplished in any time frame. It just depends on how much money you want to throw at it.

"This ride is absolutely nuts and I can't for the life of me understand why there aren't more Intamin Blitz coasters in America. God I love this thing." Testify! Hallelujah! Speak the gospel!!! (Coasters are the only religion I practice ) Very entertaining report, keep it coming.

Did he bring anybody with him like Rob Decker? If he has Rob with him then maybe that is a sign that something will happen this year. Or it just could be his yearly visit that he does for all of the parks which is probably the case. Thanks for the info though. Since you work there and have access to behind the scene area's, how is the progress going on the new employee parking lot and road?

You said there was a GOOD chance, meaning over 50%. Huge difference. Either way, you still only have as much knowledge and credibility as the Knott's ride ops in knowing what is going on with the Boomerang being removed from there. My .02.

^ That source is as credible as the sources who say Boomerang is coming to VF or that the track is currently off site being painted.

^ Nice to see Excalibur getting the sword back, it is the best part of the ride. But if they put the effort in to put it back in the rock that may be a sign it will be around for another year. I hope not.

^ Apparently so. When people say they would like or not mind an old Boomerang being added to the park when it already has a better shuttle coaster in Steel Venom we must have finally found the bottom. There is no reason CF can't pony up $9 million after a decade to get VF a Gerstlauer like Monster (Adventureland) which is a really fun coaster from start to finish.

Yes it is, ever since GCA got the approval from Santa Clara to expand parking. It is the right direction and the #1 need for the park and VF's regulars totally understand this. The water park is too small for demand and CF will get it's return on investment faster through a water park expansion than anything else. Hopefully it is so successful it will spawn or encourage other investment. My guess is with a dedicated parking lot and a couple more attractions it will be a big success. Most people understand VF will never get a top line coaster but should at least get a good one as a replacement once Excalibur leaves. Somewhere between 2500-3000 foot long modern steel coaster should be realistic. The park's last inverted loop was added in 1980. It will be interesting to see who they name as the manufacturer and what type of coaster.

I wondered that also. Northern Lights does not have one either. Of course CP got a sign with Pipe Scream but VF did not even though they were bought and installed in the same year. You think a big attraction like North Star would get one. Just another way CF likes to screw the smaller parks in the chain.

Great trip report, thanks for sharing it all! Especially your detailed reaction to Wicked Cyclone. Wicked Cyclone looks fantastic and you have convinced me to get off my dead a** and get out there in the near future. And an Intamin (Superman) never hurts in my world either. A little surprised that with boldikus and coasterbill in the same trip report that no beer was seen until part 3 of the report. I just assumed that it would have started off with a beer bong in the parking lot while dodging security.

Where did you see the mobile office? You do mean for a construction company correct?

The truth hurts. Sometimes the gene pool needs thinning.

For me they are worth every penny. Total time saver because I can get in two to three times more rides in a single visit. It is like going to the park an extra day or more yet only physically being there one day. I have never done it at my home park of VF because I can go anytime, know the slow times to visit and have been on all the rides hundreds of times so it is not worth it to me for that. But when visiting other parks I usually do. It saves me the time and money of visiting another day. It is pretty simple, if you don't think it is worth it then don't buy one. If you do think it is worth it, buy one and enjoy all the convenience of short waiting times. If you think that others who purchase Fast Passes ruin your experience at the park then quit going. Just please stop complaining about them, they are here to stay.

^ Yes, I also find it hard to believe that VF would get back to back big (flat) thrill rides added to the park, but if it happened I would not complain at all. Riptides location would be a great place for one. And considering that Riptide seems to be a coin toss for it working on the day you visit it needs to go. Another possibility is the park could add a new water park attraction without building the new entrance for 2018 by removing Looping Starship and the adjacent volleyball courts to put in a new attraction. Doubtful, but possible. My question is if they do announce the removal of Excalibur they have to announce something is coming the following year (be it water park or new ride) don't they? I can't imagine you announce the removal of a coaster and then say, "We'll have something in two years and we will tell you next August". Like everyone, just waiting for some type of announcement to see what is going to happen. Exciting times for VF.

^ Yes, they usually shut it down after Labor Day. I hope they make an announcement if they are going to remove Excalibur so those that enjoy it can get their last rides in. Personally, I will enjoy my last ride on Excalibur much more than usual because I know it will be going away. ;

"Either this chicken comes with a side of cocaine or the park is a "tad" understaffed today." Comments like this make coasterbill's trip reports so entertaining for me. Just waiting for the next installment now. Always enjoy visiting KI and getting some Graeter's ice cream too.

Wow, looks better than a lot of outdoor parks. The food looks great. Would you say it was more or less expensive, or about the same compared to Epcot or other comparable parks that you have visited?

^ Rock on with your blasphemous self!

I still think your higher than a giraffe's a** with this idea for many reasons but no big deal that we disagree so much. I could list many reasons why I think that but I will not bore you. I will only list one and that is CF (this is not Six Flags) in the past has only replaced removed coasters from a park with a new coaster and not a 'used' one. And they usually do it within 2-3 years after removal. Maybe they change that philosophy this time but I doubt it, especially with all the work they have newly approved for the park. I just don't think CF would invest that much to add and move an average aging coaster to the lineup with a few new water slides to justify all this new work they will be doing at the park. I am just happy for you that you made it to VF last year to ride Excalibur because it is unique and won't be around for more than another year at most.

LOVED the 'Allergy Info' warning sign at the cupcake shop, thanks for sharing and reminding me that common sense actually counted at one time. And, as always, thanks for the shots of retro arcade games to remind me of my 'misspent' childhood. I am now jealous that you have a stand up Donkey Kong at home. I am lucky enough to have a table top of 50 classic arcade games where I work in the game room which includes Donkey Kong but to have one at home would be divine.

I just don't understand how you think the public would go nuts for a 27 year old Vekoma or that CF would move a coaster that old. Also, Steel Venom is not exactly like Boomerang but it is a similar (and better) shuttle coaster.

Exactly. You don’t add a new parking lot and move a road to add a SLC and expect that to be your attraction to increase attendance and make this all pay off. I hope they reroute it a little and EXTEND it some, it is pretty short compared to other lazy rivers and it is usually packed. You know they could do it in that time frame, the question is, ‘Does CF want to spread that type of investment over two years for budget reasons?’ I am 50/50 on this because CF has not made this kind of investment into VF for years so I am a little skeptical but of course I am hoping this all happens in one year. Thanks for the update. Still no demolition permits issued yet by the city for VF.