boldikus

All I have to add is that FL+ at CP on a crowded day is the smartest thing ever. I've told this story here like 5 times already but we were there on beautiful, sunny Memorial Day wknd 2015, all the big dogs (TTD, MF, Maverick, etc) had 1-2 hour waits and the longest we waited for those was 15-20, mayyyybe 30 minutes. Most rides for us were walk ons or station wait. So worth the extra money. It allowed us to hit everything we wanted (some multiple times, I rode Maverick 6xs the weekend and MF 4xs) and not rush around worried we werent getting everything in. We had a very relaxed time in a packed park doing whatever the hell we wanted. Consider we bought FL+ for four people on two days so it was something like $7-800 all told JUST FOR THE FAST LANE. I have no idea when I'll be back at CP so I'll say it again - worth every single freaking penny. My philosophy is if I am going to a park I don't normally go to, especially on a nice day on a weekend, skip-the-line pass all day. After a few years of this I'm pretty reluctant to get Flash Pass at my home park cause Ive ridden all those rides a million times, but why travel/go out of your way to go somewhere to stand in line all day? Budget the extra money to skip-the-lines, because having to stand around waiting all day seems like a pointless trip to me (and I'd imagine to most people).

It's not a legion of fans, its a Cult of Worshippers, and don't you forget it. This is serious business. LMAO. Besides, if you didn't sit in the back seat, you're not a part of The Cult so don't get any funny ideas. Seriously tho, really great thread, fantastic pics, great report of GAdv especially - I always love reading peoples reports of my home park. I also find it amusing people always find it such a big park. I guess growing up going there and now going all the time, it is definitely big compared to other parks but I guess I'm just so used to it. Sucks going from Zum to Nitro but I guess it just requires a little bit of planning. I tend to pick one side of the park or the other and just knock out what I want. The Skyride is a life/timesaver on quiet days.

Man I would so hate it if SFGAdv had groupers. Lametown to the max. I wonder if you could slip one of them a fiver for a back row ride, teenagers are usually an easy bribe.

Crack is apparently an insane yet very brief high, so sounds about right.

^^ Sundays weather looks decent and most Sundays, especially in springtime, are very very quiet in the morning/first two hours or so. My favorite time to marathon El Toro (if its not closed because its too cold). Get there before opening, head right to what you really want to ride before the crowds show. I.e. if you really want to ride KA, and you see it testing, run right to it. Or just do what I do which is more fun than Ka anyway. Sunday mornings are a good time to go to the park (but only if you are there when the gates open, to maximize your time).

THIS.

^ At opening its going to be 41 degrees and 62% chance of rain, with rain increasing til 3pm when the temps then dip into the 30s, rain turns to snow which will continue into the evening. AKA have fun riding nothing. I honestly would not be surprised if the park closed early/did not open at all tomorrow. Anyone with plans to go I wish you good luck but I certainly won't be making the effort. In fact, I plan to get wasted drunk in the comfy confines of my home all day tomorrow.

Bill is definitely not lying about the park not giving a flying f*ck about temps with the coasters, but Ive shown up early/at opening on cold days and a few rides were down for a little while til things warmed up (Toro is a big bit*h in the cold, and as evidenced by opening day a few weeks ago, will run really slow in the cold and will valley in the twister section/before the brake run). But I really don't think they have any sort of system to determine when rides are OK to fire up, seems someone important just suddenly decides it might be go time, out goes the first test train and all the staff/ops cross their fingers as they watch it traverse the course. If its makes it to the brakes, ride is open! (I'm half serious, but maybe ELToroRyan can shed some more light on this?)

I didn't know it was running one but

^ we all are. I don't even drive but this was much needed and a long time coming.

Since no one has posted it here yet, and its not quite midnight. Happy 15th birthday to Nitro! Opened April 7th, 2001.' AND OMFGWTFBBW ITS HAPPENING. First the water tower, then Skully's waterfall, the demise of the Jersey Boys banner, Nitro kinda getting a paint job, Bizarro only running two trains and not really stacking... now this! There's almost nothing left to complain about, guys!

I have a very small woodie count compared to some around here but I have to say Wild One is my number 2 woodie after El Toro and before Lightning Racer. Wild One kicks so much ass, I freaking love that thing. I really would be into going to SFA again sometime soon if I knew it would be dead and I could marathon Supes, WO and Jokers Jinx all day. My report from 2014. We went on a dead Sunday in September and had a good time.

Nah we need those sexy French broads to make them waffles. Wouldn't be the same.

Thanks thanks and more thanks guys! Sorry to keep asking questions - I just like to have a plan, or at least options and know what I'm getting myself into, especially doing all of this alone. I don't even go to my home park alone. Ha! I'm simultaneously super excited and for lack of a better description "approaching with caution". I know park days never go perfectly as planned, I just want to make sure I get the most out of my day and don't run into any major issues. All of your insight is very helpful and what makes TPR so great. And yes! I noticed the Wendy's down the street and yes since I am likely taking a mid afternoon break I was thinking of just getting lunch there to avoid park food, but I'll see how that goes. Its also a good option for late night snacking after the park closes, something I can bring back to the hotel to avoid paying for some sort of janky room service. Speaking of which - how is walking around down there outside the park along that strip of hotels/Wendy's/etc at night? I'm a big dude (6'2 240) so I'm not really concerned but I have absolutely no idea what the neighborhoods around the park are like.

The funny thing is SFA would really only have to do a few minimal things to shake this reputation it has for being terrible (which I don't agree with - we had a fine time while we were there, tho I DO understand some of the gripes). - RMC Roar. Either this or a custom-something-awesome. Out of 10 coasters they have only 3 that are good/great. The last major thing they put in they themed like gangbusters and its one of the worst coasters ever (do I dare mention its name?). Also, the last couple additions were relocations which doesn't help its reputation among enthusiasts - I know the GP could give a sh*t about this. But they need a new marquee coaster - Superman is 15+ yrs old, yes? - New trains for Mind Eraser. I mean, I'd have no problem if they just scrapped it entirely for something else but they could improve the ride experience greatly by just getting the newer trains like Nor'easter at Morey's has. - I had no issues with the staff - which since we're on the topic I noticed most staff were about 90% African American, if not more. I personally have absolutely no problem with that and in fact had completely positive interactions with all of the ops/staff but let's face it a good chunk of Americans are racist pieces of sh*t so no doubt this has an effect on peoples perception of the place. Maybe try hiring a wider mix of backgrounds? This is probably somehow illegal/discriminatory so I don't know how they'd really address this but it's most definitely something I noticed during my day at the park, and I'm sure if I was a racist piece of sh*t it would bother the hell out of me and lead me to either not return or tell all my racist friends not to go. Sucks it has to be that way but people are assholes. - Plant some f*cking trees in the back of the park. It's just a giant open field after you pass Wild One with almost no shade whatsoever. The complaints about the lack of trees and bathrooms in Gotham are 100% accurate and warranted. It does not feel like a themepark back there - more like a local carnival set up on a high school football field.

^ Thanks!

Not really sure why its considered common knowledge that the boomerang at KK was the first in the U.S. in 1985, when Moreys clearly had theirs up and running a year earlier (I was there). http://rcdb.com/r.htm?ot=2&mo=8191&page=1&order=8

OMG I'm so excited we get to have HITP again this year!

First thing I thought was "that better be for charity". Pretty awesome. Any idea what charity its for since I'm too lazy to google?

Why not? It's not like Nitro has a theme to begin with. Drop down and get your eagle on.

YAY! My favorite thing is that in the top picture I am holding a f*cking eagle. LMAO

Alright so sorry to bring this up again (I am a SUPER planner), but we are now just ten days away from my virgin visit to SFOG, followed by a long weekend visit with my sister in little podunk Athens, GA. (lol, jokes) My current itinerary is as follows: ~ Sat Apr 16th 6:30am flight out of PHL, arrival at ATL 8:30am (barring any delays). ~ Hop in an Uber (or taxi/cab if the Uber/airport thing is somehow any issue - seems it is or it isnt depending on who I talk to) and head straight to the park. If plane arrives on time and barring any other major delays (I'm purposely only bringing a carry on to avoid luggage issues) and I can get a car quickly I plan to be at the park between 9:30-10am. ~ Welllllll, actually to the hotel. My original plan was to stay at the park until dinner timeish and head into downtown Atlanta to catch a freaking two hour Megabus out to Athens but that didn't sound like fun. Sooooooo I've bitten the bullet and booked a room at the Wyndam right outside the parks front gate, this way I can have a break midafternoon to check in and have a break in my room and head back to the park for night rides. It seems like its a 5 minute walk to and from the park/hotel. I am packing ULTRA light - just a medium-small backpack with clothing/toiletry items for 3 days, a poncho for "in case", my ipod, phone and chargers. The hotel notified me I could stop there in the morning and they would hold my bag for the day but I suppose a locker at the park is also an option. I have never used a locker at a SF so I don't know how they even work and I've heard more than a few stories of them being broken into and people having their stuff stolen. Anyone else want to attempt to convince me not to bother with a SF locker? As this is my entire weekends supplies, having it stolen is not an option. I know someone here mentioned guest relations at the park would be willing to hold my pack for the day since I am coming right from the airport, but I'm not sure if that is a safer option vs a locker or just leaving it with hotel staff. Any particularly important items (wallet, keys, phone) I will keep on my person - zippered pockets, yo! Anyways, once I'm inside the park my itinerary then, based on suggestions already posted here goes somethinggggg like: ~ Depending on arrival I will survey the assembled crowds and likely head right to FP HQs and buy a Platinum pass for the day. Do these work like at Great Adv? Wristband and you just go up the exits on every ride and seated pretty much right away? I'm thinking maybe I can just get Gold if like its cloudy or something but I have no idea when I'll be back here so I have the $80-100 I'll need for platinum already mentally budgeted. ~ Some of you have mentioned the park opening a half hour early and that they run Cyclone and Scorcher, so if time allows I'll get one ride on each, and line up at wherever they rope you off to get into the rest of the park and head straight for Dare Devil Dive. I am really not interested in the VR so I am hoping to get a regular ride on this first thing and just get it out of the way. Will be my first Eurofighter, also my 2nd vertical lift after Fahrenheit. ~ Since I am going to be in the area and I've seen mentioned here Batman is running one train I'll get that out of the way (and I suppose Mindbender too since its right there and also is it still running one train?) MB is one of my must rides, suppose its smart to get it out of the way right then and there? ~ I am big on B&M hypers I am going to skip Goliath for later and head to the back of the park. No biggie on missing Ninja, I rode it when its was new like 25 years ago lol. I'll do Supes and then GASM, maybe Skyscreamer depending on the wait. - Then possibly lunch (Macho Nacho??) and then hop of the SkyRide/Cable/Buckets (is there gonna be some weird single rider policy here?) and head towards Acrophobia, the Mine Train, and Monster Mansion. Anyone have any idea if that other kiddie coaster they are retheming (Canyon Blaster?) will be up and running by next weekend? If not no biggie. ~ If I haven't eaten lunch yet I may grab a bite and if its after 3pm head back to the hotel to check in and chill out for a disco nap. Then its back in for Goliath, and depending on waits, I may just play musical chairs or use my FP to reride as often as possible as I know this is going to be the star of the show for me. Maybe a another lap or two on Mindbender. I'm stoked about the hotel room since the park is open til 9 and I'd like some night rides on Goliath. Also I'll use this time to take photos and explore the park during sunset, ride the Train maybe, and check Cyclone and Scorcher if I don't have a chance knock them in the morning. So some few final questions. -- Flash Pass Pricing. Yeah I see what the website says but at Great Adv sometimes it winds up being less online compared to what you pay in park. Wondering if any of the regulars have been at the park this season and actually has seen the pricing? Platinum and Gold please, don't give a rats ass about Regular. I'm likely going Platinum. Also what's with this upcharge for DDD? Is that for only one ride? Ugh. -- SRLs. Are there any and will it even matter with a Platinum FP? Someone please tell me PFP will allow me to do whatever the hell I want all day with little-to-no waits LOL. -- Reentry - typical hand stamp type procedure? Anything special I need to know about this? Where to exit/reenter? Again, probably gonna leave mid afternoon to go check into hotel and come back. -- My locker question from above - are the lockers all over the park all day lockers or do I need to go to a specific locker station for all day rental? How much are all day rentals? I have never used them and have no idea how they work (Can I use cash, card only? etc) Would you guys recommend I leave my stuff w/ the hotel staff and not bother with lockers at all or park staff? Remember I am all about the zippered pockets and will only have my phone and wallet on me all day. I am thinking I'd feel safer with the bag at the hotel. -- Food/lunch spots. Still taking suggestions here. Thanks for any that you guys posted already but I just want a few different options so based on where I am in the park I can find a good spot to relax and get my grub on. -- Places with alcohol! Where are they?! -- Souvenir magnets. I collect coaster and theme park magnets, so was wondering if there are any specific retail spots or stores to look for them. Anything else I am missing? Cool shortcuts? Best food? Load me up with info, I'm sooo ready for this trip. And once again if anyone is at the park that day and wants to meet up with a big geek, holler at me. Just message me through here. I don't bite... hard. Really though, I just like coasters and beer. I'm fun. LOL

You always post this pic now when talking about the weather/temp policy but you need to be posting the onrides of us on Nitro closing night with 5 layers of clothing on in 30 degree weather. If you don't, I will...