Jodon

Thanks for the ideas DirkFunk! I'm not going to be going on a weekend, but the summer luge looks really interesting. I may be foolish, but I think I'm going to add a couple parks on my drive home. I think it will only add a couple hours of drive time to hit up Conneaut Lake before it officially gives up the ghost and then Waldameer for a credit run and a few laps on Ravine Flyer II. One more area that I could use some assistance from everyone. I'm decently experienced with Cedar Point but could use some help with the other parks. What are your go to/magic seats on your favorite rides at these parks? Particularly Skyrush, El Toro, Phantom's Revenge, and Phoenix to name a few.

I say go to Six Flags America. Experience the new place and new coasters.

It looks like I'll be going to Cedar Point in a few Thursdays!!! I looked on their website and they have a Platinum Pass ERT on Maverick that night. How long do those usually last and how busy do those ERT's get?

^^ I guess I really underestimated the amount of season passes HW sells. Regardless, it is very clear by what each park/chain offers in their season passes for the cost that the HW/CF/SF have very different strategies for season pass sales.

If you aren't familiar with what went down in 2013 feel free to look it up. Believe me, I don't really want to be "familiar" with anything of that sort at all. Huh??? I don't get what you mean... This is, again, really confusing. First you say that HW has another park, then say that they are owned by the same people, then this statement. If this was your thought from the get go, why even bring up Alabama Adventure in the first place?

I guess you could say that Holiday World and Alabama Adventure are owned by the same people like Adidas and Puma are owned by the same people. If you aren't familiar with what went down in 2013 feel free to look it up.

My understanding is that they are two very separate entities with similar business practices.

No. There would be SO many people there it could make ERT (Exclusive Ride Time) EWT (Exclusive Wait Time). You don't see Kings Island opening Coasterstock to Platinum passholders or Cedar Point opening Coastermania to Platinum Passholders. I don't think that comparing the "premier" HW season pass to a Cedar Fair platinum pass is entirely fair. First off, the platinum passes biggest benefit is that it offers the holder complimentary admission and parking to every Cedar Fair property for $204. Holiday World doesn't have that option as they are the only park in their brand. With that said, their season pass is $139.99, which is a very fair price for what HW offers, but significantly more expensive than Cedar Fair and Six Flags season passes and does not include any other parks. Second, I was at Holiwood Nights this year, and my understanding was that it was the most attended HWN yet. With that said, I had no problems getting a large amount of rides in during every ERT, including about 45 rides on Thunderbird during the two nights. I doubt that offering access to HWN premium season pass would increase attendance so significantly that it would greatly impact the "exclusivity" of the ERT. Note, they would still have to pay the $33 fee that a coaster club member with a regular season pass would have payed previously. Lastly, it really isn't that hard to gain access to HWN as long as you know about it. It's not some major secret that only a select few enthusiasts know about. You either have to belong to a coaster club or go with someone who is a member. If someone really wants to go to HWN and don't know a enthusiast, they just have to pay around $35 to any club of their choice and they are in. Keep in mind that this is $35 that HW never sees, but with access to HWN being a part of a premium pass, it could make HWN more profitable for them if people purchase the premium pass for that access. To differentiate a regular season pass and a premium season pass, the park has to offer something worthwhile to justify the additional cost. Most parks/chains do that by offering free parking (HW already does that) or offering admission to other parks (HW has no other parks), so HW has to be a bit more creative to justify that extra expense and I think that offering access to HWN is a great option for them.

I think their premium pass should include: -Food/merchandise discounts -access to Holiwood Nights without being a coaster club member -early entrance to the water park -bring a friend discounts -VIP parking

^^ and ^ Thanks!

What coaster is this?

Thanks for the replies so far. Special thanks to Boldikus for taking the time to write that awesome post (with hyperlinks) on Philly!!! I feel that should be permanently available on the site some where. I will definitely try a Philly Cheesesteak from somewhere. How do I need to order it to get the true Philly experience. I was also told to get the pork sandwich from DiNicos at the Reading Terminal Market...is that worthwhile, or a tourist trap as well? Ideally, I'd like to walk as little as possible when I'm in Philly as this will be my "day off" from parks and would like to rest as much as possible, but I like the idea of parking once and taking public transportation from there. As of right now, I think I'll be staying near King of Prussia. Is there any public transportation that goes out that far? I might make it for the parks opening, but not sure. I have to drop off a friend at Midway around 7 am and will leave straight from there. What do you have to recommend? I'm not sure how long I want to spend there as I'll still need to drive to Ann Arbor that night. I doubt I will purchase a FL prior to getting to the park, but I will budget for one just in case. I was including parking in my cost analysis, but not admission/parking for Michigan's Adventure. I'm pretty much set on getting the CF Platinum Pass. That way I'll go to Michigan's Adventure, and possibly take advantage of the early entry to CP before my drive out to Hersheypark on the 3rd day. I'm planning on just doing DelGrosso's, Lakemont, and Idlewild on the one day, then spend a full day at Kennywood the next day.

I'm now thinking about taking a day off from roller coasters (depending on the weather) and spending a day in Philly between Hersheypark and SFGAdv. Does anyone have any good recommendations for things to do and places to eat in/near Philly likely on a Sunday?

Here are my Top 10 as of right now: 1. Outlaw Run 2. The Voyage 3. Maverick 4. Bizarro (SFNE) 5. Goliath (SFGAm) 6. Millenium Force 7. Top Thrill Dragster 8. Shivering Timbers 9. Boulderdash 10. Banshee Oddly enough, my top 10 consists of 5 wood and 5 steel! I'm hitting up Hershey, SFGAdv, and Kneobels at the end of July so I'm interested to see how my list changes after that trip. I can imagine that there could be 3 or 4 new inclusions after that trip.

Do any of the rides at Hershey have a single rider line? Also, what kind of lines can I expect on a Saturday in late July? Is it possible to ride all the coasters and get a few re-rides in?

^ it may be quicker, but usually the right side is roped off before Hometown Square. I haven't made the opening run this season, but last season you could run straight to Goliath by going left at the Carousel and they would have a rope right after Goliath's entrance.

Does Dorney have early entry for Platinum Pass holders? If so, what rides are included?

Thanks for your replies so far! CP, Hershey, SFGAdv, and Knoebels are the parks I'm most excited about visiting, so I'm definitely planning on spending full days at those parks. That's a bummer about the Fast Track at Hershey. Seems like a wasted opportunity on their end. I will likely purchase it anyway to help with the credit run and allow time for as many re-rides as possible. If I desire, can I purchase multiple Fast Tracks? Do any of the parks have a waterpark worth visiting? I like water parks, but I've been to Splashin' Safari at Holiday World and Hurricane Harbor at SFGAm recently, so I don't feel the need to go to the water parks unless there is something worth riding. Now I'm thinking of making day 8 include quick stops at DelGrosso's, Lakemont, and Idlewild on my way to Pittsburgh. Is that too much for one day? How much time should I spend in each park? I know that DelGrosso's is known for their sauce, but do any of the other parks have anything that I must do?

Howdy TPR, I'm in the intermediate planning stages of a 10 day road trip through Pennsylvania with a stop at Cedar Point and Six Flags Great Adventure at the end of July. Here is a tentative itinerary: Day 1: Drive to Michigan from outside Chicago (possibly stop by Michigan's Adventure for a few Shivering Timbers rides/credit run) Day 2: Cedar Point with Fast Lane+ Day 3: Start day @ CP, leave around noon and drive to Hershey, partake in Hersheypark's extra admission the 2.5 hours the night before Day 4: Full day at Hersheypark Day 5: Full day at Six Flags Great Adventure w/ Flash Pass (Gold or Platinum) Day 6: Full-ish day at Dorney w/ Fast Lane Day 7: Full day at Knoebels Day 8: Drive to Pittsburgh with a stop at Lakemont for Leap the Dips Day 9: Full day at Kennywood Day 10: Drive back to Chicago with possible stop at CP for a few rides This is my first trip of this magnitude and I have a few questions that I'm hoping some of you can answer: 1. I will likely be taking this trip by myself so do any of these parks have single rider lines? 2. Is Hersheypark's Fast Track worth it? What is the cost of it? Are all of their major coasters included, i.e. Skyrush and the rest of their Intamin's? 3.I'm planning on getting a Flash Pass at SFGAdv, but not sure which one. Are all of the rides available on the Gold FP? Does the Platinum FP include double rides on every ride in the park? Do any of the rides have reservation limits on either the Gold or Platinum? I only ask as my home park SFGAm has weird stipulations with Goliath only being on Platinum w/ 2 reservations and no double rides for Platinum FP's on Goliath or V2. 4. If I'm going on a weekday to Knoebels, should I get the all day wristband or should I purchase tickets? 5. I currently do not have a Cedar Fair season pass, but I'm contemplating it at this point. It would be about $80 more expensive to purchase the Platinum Pass. If I do not get the Platinum Pass, I would likely not stop at Michigan's Adventure or the extra stops at CP. If I were to get the Platinum Pass, does Dorney have early entry like CP? I doubt I'll use the Cedar Fair pass after this trip as I don't have a really close CF park to me. Does the extra time at Cedar Point, early entry at CP/Dorney, and possible Michigan's Adventure stop make the $80 worthwhile? 6. I've heard that Dorney can be pretty dead, is Fast Lane worth it at Dorney at the end of July (likely a weekday)? 7. Is there anything I should do with my free evening in Pittsburgh? 8. How does Kennywood's VIP coaster pass work? Is it worth it? 9. Are there any parks that I'm missing that I need to visit, or parks that I'm devoting too much time for? Does my route make sense? 10. Any other recommendations/advice that I'm not thinking of right now? I'd be happy for any lodging suggestions you might have! I'd also appreciate any favorite food destinations either at the parks or around the areas! Thanks in advance for your assistance!

^^ Goliath ran the Orange train a couple times today. The worker at the entrance today said they were hoping to have Goliath open tomorrow.

If this coaster is delayed past 2016, how does that work for RMC? I know they are a small-ish company that only does 2-3 coasters a year and to lose one of those coasters could be damaging to their business. I can't imagine that Kolmarden is on the hook for the money if the coaster can't be built, but I have no idea how these contracts work. Would RMC manufacture the track and ship it into storage until all the zoning issues are worked out? Would RMC be able to move another project up a year?

What? That's not even close! Pilgrim's Plunge DIDN'T HAVE AN ACCIDENT!!! My bad...I know it didn't have an accident, but did have "issues" and was scrapped by a family owned park in what had to be a very difficult financial decision for them, that was the point I was trying to make.

OMG. Please stop posting stuff like this people. We are supposed to all be smart enough in the theme park business to know this would be completely ridiculous. Outside of a couple of older coasters in Japan, can anyone point to a MAJOR NEW RIDE that had an issue that the park then up and got rid of because of it? No. So if in the totally off-chance something like that DID happen, it would be an industry first and a totally bizarre and shocking turn of events. Sorry, I'm not buying it. The only ride I can think of that would fit this description would be Pilgrims Plunge/Giraffica at Holiday World.

Just curious, but what did they do to get banned from the park? And I would agree, the staff at the park is truly awesome, especially during the ERT sessions!

Currently driving to Holiday World for Holiwood Nights. Really excited for this event and to meet other enthusiasts. Here's hoping the lightning stays away during the ERT's.