coasterkid124

This announcement is still a puzzle to me. The way it looks, there will not be any new ride but the park dubbed this the "entertainment announcement". Entertainment to me means a show, but you could be entertained while on a ride too I guess. The website still lacks a "New for 2014" page so this is hard to figure out. If this is the only announcement this year, I am quite disappointed as I don't plan to watch the show, and the announcement was hyped a lot. Even though a new show is nice, it is kind of expected and there are many areas of the park that need to still be updated to meet the Herschend standard.

That was the entertainment announcement. Whether there will or will not be a new ride has yet to be confirmed.

The decals for RoS were not durable at all, and its probably linked to the constant fast speed of the ride. Viper's decals were abused a ton, although they were a nice touch to the ride. I would expect both of Viper's trains to sport them. As for RoS, maybe more durable decals were purchased.

One piece of good news announced on their Facebook page is that two train operations will return during the peak of the season. As for my thoughts on possible 2014 attractions, I will not throw any more fuel onto the fire. There is no need to speculate, as any of the previous mentioned ideas could or could not be true. However, I am guessing that the announcement may be this week, as Elitch Gardens will announce their new attractions tomorrow.

Somebody please slap me. Darien Lake is not going to close. The issues that we seen this year are going to be fixed. Herschend will not allow DL to become the unwanted step child of the chain. This year, the park took two steps forward and one step back with the boardwalk area. The UFO and Raging Seas were two old rides that lived a good life and needed to be replaced. The only way that DL will close is if people stop visiting the park, and it cannot make a profit. I do not see this ever happening. DL is WNY's only "large" amusement park.

Sidewinder and Lake Monster would definitely not be added in the same year. One would be enough, and it would cost too much money.

As I mentioned in my above post, I really doubt Lake Monster for next year. Here are my guesses for the next three years. 2014- Circus, Sidewinder, and Restaurant 2015- Lake Monster 2016- New Waterslides Just speculation, but an educated guess on what we may see. If Lake Monster is added in 2015, I think that it's safe to see that it will be the only addition for that year. I believe that Sidewinder and the other two additions could definitely be done in one year. Then the water slides are not needed right away, but I do see Cuda Falls being taken down after next season and being replaced.

With only one day left of operation, I hope that the new attraction for next year will be announced soon. Now I have seen another guest survey on Screamscape that shows an upcharge circus show. In my opinion, I think that next year we may see Sidewinder, the restaurant and the circus coming, as no signs of Lake Monster have come up. Hopefully if the circus goes through, it will not last one season like many other shows at the park, plus if it goes in Galaxy Theater, it should receive a facelift. I don't see myself ever watching the show, but it will bring traffic to the Twister area. Does anybody know where the Haunted Mine was located for Fright Fest? I was unable to visit this year.

That's more like it. If you advertise a Halloween event as both for families and teens, it will succeed a lot better. Now this will encourage teens to spend their 20 dollars at the park rather than Haunted Catacombs or Frightworld. I wonder where the haunted mine will be located. There is only one haunted house building that I remember. Edit: I think that the Haunted Mine will be located in the Galaxy Theater, as it is vacant and large enough for a haunted house.

The Fall Family Fun Fest concept has failed before. Back in 2007, the park tried this, and it failed miserably. So the following year, Fright Fest returned. Obviously, these two events are basically the same, just a different theme. Either way, it doesn't matter to me because I will not return to the park until next year, when hopefully some of the issues are cleared up. I am worried that the park has lost many visitors this year, because of the poor service. The only way I see them turning it around is a new roller coaster, or large expansion plus the fixing up of the park in the following years. CNL will dish out the cash for the park, it is up to Herschend to provide the ideas.

^This. I myself love Darien Lake, and always will, but things are getting ridiculous. Between the in-park problems, and things like cancelling Dark Waters are uncalled for. What's next? The park announces a new ride and cancels it (example Turbulence at Hersheypark). The park is managed by Herschend, but it does not seem like it. Of course, as we all realize, the park was in terrible condition when it was taken over, but maybe it is time for some older rides and buildings to go. I could keep going on and on, but by now we all know the problems. The process of changing the park will take time, but the whole theme doesn't have to be family all of the time. Dark Waters would be for everyone. Although it seems like there will still be a haunted house and the "Carnevil", attractions like the haunted boat ride would make the park number one haunted attraction around. These are just my opinions, and I am not saying that the park would be perfect with these ideas. They would be a good start though.

I can totally see why the park would scrap the Dark Waters idea, but it was a really bad move posting it on the website before deciding what would happen this year. Fright Fest always had the family fun too, with a trick or treat trail and face painting, etc. But unlike Lake Monster and Sidewinder this one was set in stone according to the website. The park would definitely get more visitors marketing it as Dark Waters, because it would bring in teens, as well as families. Once teens see that the event is still basically the same, there would be more of a chance of them visiting the park instead of Frightworld or other local haunted houses. Just my opinion, but as long as Herschend does build a thrilling attraction in the future, I will be satisfied.

Looks like another blunder made by the park. I remember a family type fall fest a few years ago, and it was a huge failure. I was almost tempted to go to Dark Waters, but now the park is getting plain ridiculous.

Corn Popper is a definite out. With the staff shortages, I wouldn't be surprised if the Mind Eraser area was closed too like a couple of years ago.

Season passes are good all year.

Wow I feel dumb. I was thinking of Screamin Eagle at SFSL. American Eagle is indeed popular, and the park should keep it up.

^As a surprise move, Jr. Gemini (or Wilderness Express) will be raised 500 feet and be turned into an Aquatrax.

^Knowing Six Flags, that may just be true. Although nobody ever accused SF of having good upkeep either.

RIP Rolling Thunder. But as I said before, every ride has to go sometime, and the show will go on. As for the Zumanjaro issue, would a covered queue be an option? It would definitely solve the issue of "falling objects".

The park is suffering without the problems this year. Neglect to aesthetics (paint, cleanliness, etc.) is a major problem, plus the park hasn't received a "major" coaster in 14 years. I still believe that Lake Monster can be done in the time frame left. The ride doesn't have to necessarily open on opening day. It can open in June or early July. The project may not even be a complete redo of Predator. Some old elements may be replaced with new ones, and the rest retracked.

Does anybody know what park(s) were featured in the film? I recognized the parachute to be from Coney Island, but some of the other rides I did not recognize at all.

The height requirement doesn't surprise me. I've ridden some Chance swinging ships that really went high, and gave a pop of airtime.

Sorry for the double post, but I just found out that Dark Waters is not the name for an attraction, it is actually the new name for Fright Fest. The haunted attraction that uses the boat will be called "The Child in the Lake". Sorry for any confusion, but seeing that the park does not announce much, I had no idea until I reread the paragraph.

Hopefully this ride will not have as many problems as the Cedar Fair versions. By now, I would think that Mondial has ironed out most of the problems. I imagine an evac platform on this ride.

I found a bit of a Fright Fest update. Apparently, the Dark Waters attraction will be upcharge, and cost 24.99 according to the park's website. Seems kind of expensive, as the Field Trip was free, but this may be a killer attraction seeing that it will take place on land and water.