RCjunkie

That is funny because they have Renegade with a thrill rating of 4 also. I doubt Northern Lights will be as thrilling as Renegade. Even though I will probably only ride it once or twice a season I like that the park added a family flat ride. Plus, if they were going to bring back the Antique Auto's anyway it's nice to see they maxed out that space of the park by integrating NL in with the Auto's. Looking at the Platinum and Gold Pass benefits they had one big change this year: " Present your Gold or Platinum season pass at the front gate and receive early entry into the park starting at 9:30am through September 1! Gold & Platinum pass holders will be able to enjoy early access on rides in Route 76 such as, Scrambler, Tilter, Northern Lights, Antique Autos, Steel Venom, Enterprise and Carousel. Gold and Platinum season pass holders can also indulge at our All-New Auntie Anne's food location as well as Caribou Coffee."

^ You are correct, it is yellow, orange and then a cream-orange (yellow-orange) color scheme. They did the same thing to the newly refurbished Scrambler at VF too.

VF just posted a link via their Twitter account with an article about the new food options at VF this year and they talk about the food truck for Route 76 and have supplied a picture. I have not done a thorough examination of new food offerings in the CF chain but I have not seen a food truck at any of their other parks. Is VF the first? Food article link: http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2014/05/01/valleyfair-new-food-truck-chickies-auntie-annes.html New Food Truck at Valleyfair this year.

^ That is totally realistic and would have to agree with you. Plus with VF it's best not to get your hopes too high with the way CF has treated and handled the park in the past. But what is giving me more optimism than usual for 2016 is that CF has stated they will be investing more in VF because it is one of their top 3 potential growth parks, it will be 9 years since the last coaster at VF and the park has never had that many years between a coaster or big thrill ride addition like Power Tower plus that 2016 will be the 40th anniversary year for the park. None of these reasons are concrete reasons for it to happen in 2016, it just gives me more optimism than years past for sure. The park easily could not see a new coaster until 2017 or beyond because it is not a CF flagship park.

^ When I emailed VF last time the cam was down they responded and said it was because they did not have power in that area where the cam is due to construction. Before the cam went out I saw them installing the operating station for Scrambler so maybe it is off to get that wired but that was Tuesday.

CP just started to put on the new cars for the restored Monster and they are yellow and orange (so far). I was guessing black after I saw the orange arms, will be interesting to see what the trim colors will be. Orange and yellow cars so far.

Steel Venom is much more thrilling than High Roller but I just like the overall experience of High Roller better. I really like the Intamin goodness called Steel Venom and it's great that it is at the park so don't get me wrong, you asked for our favorites and not most thrilling. Personally I like the Xtreme Swing better than Mad Mouse, Excalibur and Corkscrew when it comes to an overall ride experience.

Exactly.

1) Renegade 2) Wild Thing 3) High Roller 4) Steel Venom 5) Corkscrew 6) Mad Mouse 7) Cosmic Coaster 8) Excalibur

Thanks for sharing this verticalzero, definitely a good read.

VF just posted via its Twitter account the new colors on the Scrambler. One arm has yellow cars, one has orange cars and the third either has a blend of yellow and orange for a lighter orange color or two of the arms have orange cars. Hard for me to tell from this picture but the cars on the left look a little lighter in color than the orange ones on the right. Either way it looks good restored and looking forward to seeing the LED lights on the ride at night. New Scrambler colors.

Everything you said plus that VF is only one of two parks in the CF chain that do not have a B&M ride yet. I would prefer and Invert or a floorless. A Sling Shot would be cool. Too bad they didn't move Ripcord to another park and bring a new Sling Shot in and put it in Ripcord's space in Route 76 this year. If/when they finally remove the amphitheater that would be a nice space for it. Of course that would be a nice place for all different kinds of flat rides.

I believe it is just the first sign Excalibur's eventual removal. If the drink stand made money it would still be there. Excalibur and Thunder Canyon just don't draw enough people back there to make it work and with Excalibur's reduced operating time than the rest of the park that did not help it. And why not remove it and get it under budget in a year when you are also removing IMAX and Hydroblaster. The question is how many years until VF gets a new coaster to replace it? Probably not next year with the expected water park expansion but the year after that and beyond we can only speculate. I think it will be sooner rather than later with the removal of the drink station now but that is just opinion.

Thanks for the information. I am glad it is coming to VF so we get to see it instead of reading about it being tested at another park in the chain. I am curious to see how they use it, I like the idea of posted wait times. Like you, I would like to see it integrated with their mobile app too. But like VF15 stated , it will all depend on what else they put on it. Hopefully it is better than Six Flags.

From what I understand the building will be themed as a gas station on the Antique Auto's route that you drive by normally but it will also be where operators can take a car off/on the line. I think that is what the little u shape drive way in front of the building off the main track is for, they can can get them in the garage door on the right of the building from here. I am assuming that it is where they could store backup cars and maybe do small repairs.

Your assessment is pretty spot on. It's a decent park and you can have fun here but nothing worth traveling for. Hopefully the next coaster will be a major attraction that could make people want to travel here for a change. We will see what CF has in store.

^ In checking out that menu I see they have given more details about the 'Valleyfair Food Truck' that will be in Route 76 and that it will be serving gourmet hotdogs. Will be interesting to check it out. Guess Pink's didn't fit the budget.

I have not been on it in years but it used to get you major league wet. The only time I see it anymore is when I am going up Renegade's lift hill. I am sure it could use some love and I would not like to see it removed either unless they put in a new coaster and then they can get rid of it if they have too. With the expected water park expansion it would be nice if they could figure out a way to create a bridge or something from the water park to the ride and if they cannot not make it part of the water park at least make it real friendly and easy to go between the two. If they could do something like that I am sure it would get more riders. That is my 2 cents.

Are. You. Serious? If you read the posts above you would know. There was no reason to post this. I said "Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't ValleyFair a paramount Park?" I don't do a lot of research on ValleyFair. Apparently you do.Posting for posting sake. Sure there was, you asked to be corrected and were. Like you said, you don't do much research on VF so maybe next time you will now take the extra 20 seconds to do a Google search before posting in park forums that you don't have much back ground on. Posting just for posting sake is a waste of time for other people who read this forum so if you going to do that be prepared for some not so friendly feedback.

One of the arms has yellow cars, the other has orange cars and they have not put any cars on the third arm yet. I am guessing they will be red based on the other 2 colors but who knows. Like you said, hopefully VF will post some pictures soon. With the rain expected all day today I doubt they will be putting anymore cars on though.

I will be third person to correct you then. "In 1978 in an effort to increase investment capital for continued park expansion, Valleyfair was acquired by Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio and placed under the management of Cedar Fair Limited Partnership." Translation, VF was very successful and the owners knew they needed to expand to keep the success going but lacked financial capital and also theme park experience in growing a park. They approached Cedar Point to help them with both and that is when they decided to form Cedar Fair so VF and CP where the 1st two parks in the chain. Also the former Cedar Fair CEO Dick Kinzel served as the General Manager of Valleyfair from 1978-1986. The Paramount purchase had nothing to do with it.

Nice report, thanks for sharing. Really like your picture of the Banshee train at the top of the loop at sunrise, great shot.

^ Wicked Twister is considered a Impulse or Shuttle coaster and not an Invert so to get 'tallest invert' would not be that hard. Cut 800-1000 feet off Banshee to make it as long and costly as Patriot but just have the tallest record. Patriot is taller than Raptor but not longer. This is not probable but definitely possible.

Corkscrew at least runs 2 trains and still has lines unlike Excalibur. Corkscrew does have to go someday too but like you said it just got painted and it is the parks only inverted coaster so it will still be here for a while but that does not mean it doesn't need to leave. CS does run smooth for a corkscrew so kudos to the maintenance team at the park but I think we will see CS go once CP announces they will be getting rid of the their corkscrew and MiA will follow along with us. Who knows when it will leave but my guess is it will leave before High Roller. I know High Roller does not ride as great as it did during it's glory days with the trim on the turnaround turned up so high now, it really takes the thunder and air out of the bunny hills on the way back. Too bad you didn't get to ride it in the 70's and 80's before that happened. It is still a decent mid size coaster but not what it used to be. Personally I hope it stays as long as it can because I think every park should have an old school white out and back woody. Someday though that day will come when it needs to come down and that will provide a lot of space plus there is even more space north of High Roller where the picnic area used to be. I think there is a decent amount of space if you remove CS and use the land left vacant after the Camp Snoopy upgrade. Below I have CS outlined in Red and the extra area next to it vacated by old kiddy rides in Blue. You could move the loading station and set up a new coaster. Both the Red and Blue areas together would provide some decent room for a mid size or family coaster. It would have to be built over the water like CS but that could turn out pretty cool. Corkscrew Google view.

^ Sounds good to me. A Giant Huss Frisbee works for me too. Any new and thrilling flats would be great, the park can always use more flat rides. I like the Xtreme Swings and try to ride them every time I visit. Tell Mr. Frazier he can bounce idea's off me anytime and I'll pay for lunch.