boldikus

So if you've ever followed my park/coaster blog (link in signature) you'll know my bro-in-law and I are both thrill junkies and now that its 2015 we're starting to plan out some trips for this year. Both of us have been to Hershey but not together and he has not been since Skyrush opened and I need to get him on that (like me, he is a big Intamin fan). Also, neither of us have done Cedar Point. (*audible gasps*) Yeah, I know. So its a must. While I'd like to get to SFNE or SFMM for the two new RMCs sometime this year, part of me wants to wait for the hype to die a little before we attempt that. So Cedar Point is our goal, and if we're doing Hershey, we are thinking why not throw Kennywood in the mix since it's right along the way, seems kinda low key, but has a pretty decent line-up, imo (hello Phantoms Revenge!) and we can make it a three-park-stop road trip. Anyway! Here are some options we are exploring and I'd like some advice and opinions. We are looking at doing this either Memorial Day Weekend (May 21st-25th) OR the weekend after (May 28th-June 1st). Nothing is set in stone, nothing booked, this is all very early planning but here's our potential plan of attack: THURSDAY - Leave Philly @ 8am, get to Hersheypark @10am for opening (2 hr drive w/ no traffic), and enjoy all day Thursday since we both agree its an all-day park. Stay the night in Hershey - likely not on site since it'll be way cheaper at a budget motel and we just want somewhere to sleep before the long drive to CP and stopping at Kennywood the next day. FRIDAY - up early, check out, drive to Kennywood (3 hr drive) to get there by opening @ 11am and enjoy the park til late afternoon/evening. For us will more or less be credit stop. We do like unique flats, but mostly just want to do the coasters. Am I underestimating that we can do this in an afternoon on a Friday? Since we're only leaving ourselves 6-7 hours here, will potential rain kill this day completely? We'd leave Kennywood by 6pm latest, and head off to Cedar Point to arrive by Friday night (another 3 hr drive), and our hope is to stay on site - since we can walk right over to the park - hopefully get the early morning/late night ERTs. etc etc. SAT/SUN - Enjoy the hell out of Cedar Point. MONDAY - Check out and drive the 7 hours back to Philly. So my questions are: - Memorial Day weekend at Cedar Point. Even with Fast Lane, is this completely moronic to attempt? Will we need to book a room to stay on site right away? Do they typically sell out for big holiday weekends? Are we idiots to not absolutely consider doing this the weekend AFTER Memorial Day? - Kennywood's rain/weather policies? - Suggestions on hotels near Hershey NOT on site? Same with CP - we'd like to stay on site there but other close/cheap options are nice. Any other trip related advice/suggestions more than welcome. You guys, imo, are the experts at this and I know certain board members did very similar trips to this last year. Sidenote: We ABSOLUTELY will be budgeting in skip-the-line/flash/fast lane passes at every park so we're not so concerned about that or the ability to do everything in a certain time. I refuse to travel to somewhere other than my home park and wait in lines all day. We want two full days at Cedar Point due to the fact that neither of us have been, there's obviously so much to do (and re-ride what we like) and also their weather/rain policies. Thanks and any help and advice is appreciated, TPR folks!

That equals 9. Whats the lone manufacture? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wild_One_%28roller_coaster%29

Great thread! Love that brochure. 6 of my top 10 coasters are Intamins (vs 3 B&Ms) so I'd say they are a personal favorite.

Kingda Ka megastructures doc is still up. Seeing this in summer 2013 single-handedly got me up to ride it and completely back into coasters. Ironically, its one of my least favorite coasters. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BaMuo1ge6c Edit: the Tatsu doc was up too on Youtube a while back but can't seem to find it now.

Happens to me while driving with the missus quite a bit. We usually both yell out "airtime" when it happens.

I certainly wouldn't say I sneak away to it, but Skull Mountain is no doubt my guilty pleasure @ my home park. Its hard for me to pass it without dragging someone on with me. I know its a tiny little thing but the darkness, music, half-assed/ghetto effects all make it a must ride. Also the airtime on the first drop in the backseat is almost as crazy as Toro's. I'd go as far as to say its my favorite in the park after my big 5 (Toro, Nitro, Batman, Bizarro and S:UF).

I would imagine (and also judging by the POV tho its hard to tell because of how shaky it is) that last/detatched car would absolutely TEAR through the rest of the course without the weight of the rest of the train dragging behind it. I can't imagine being in the backseat and then all of the sudden FRONT SEAT RIDE, GUYS! This accident is indeed freaky.

^ I just meant the actual location of the ride. In the rendering released with the announcement in August (and posted on previous page) the new ride is clearly next to El Toro in PDC but the original announcement said it would be in Golden Kingdom so it was a little confusing. Many people thought it would be placed across from KK's station, next to the entrance portal for Z:DOD, especially when those pics surfaced showing some digging going on right next to the Z:DOD entrance (which turned out to be for light posts). In essence, with this new announcement/name change, the original rendering is more accurate to where it will actually be placed. The RT switchbacks are still there, you can see it in Flyin Phils photo I posted, the station, tracks etc all gone save for some footers. If the new ride is in fact going there, I'm sure they will re-use the switchbacks because why not.

Its funny because now that they have made this announcement about it being in PDC, the original rendering is actually (somewhat) accurate. Though obviously it will be dwarfed by Toro.

Exactly ^

Looking at that pic ^ they could potentially build a new path from GK between Toro's twister section and the back of the new ride, offering good views of both, and easy access between the areas, but we know that would probably never happen.

^ ^ ^ It is still there. You can see it in the pic I posted top of last page. (click the link above photo to enlarge/zoom). Id predict the ride will go exactly where the old RT station used to be. SF: "Why spend money on a new queue if we don't have to?" Edit - I'm no Picasso - but here's where I'm thinking its probably going.

I'm less annoyed by the 'coaster' label at this point but think its hilarious that they keep advertising it as "giant" and "massive". I know its a marketing necessity but at 70 feet tall its still going to be much smaller than both of El Toro's first two camelbacks not to mention the first drop and it's going to be completely dwarfed by KK/Z:DOD sitting behind it. Bottom line its going to look tiny sitting in that area.

I'm just being selfish and not wanting more crowds in that area. Ugh ugh ugh, this disappoints me.

Ugh, I really hope this isn't going in Plaza Del Carnival now, but it's Six Flags so with this name change that's almost guaranteed. :/ I bet they use the still-existing switchbacks for Rolling Thunder and just put it where the RT station used to be. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VAuOt2WL8aA/VJilILWnF9I/AAAAAAAAHo0/YN0bMiORL74/s1600/009.jpg Photo from Flyin Phil's website.

Phoenix - Second To None

Now that I'm the proud owner of all 9 volumes of Roller Coasters in the Raw I tend to throw them on when there is nothing good on TV. I prefer watching them on the TV over the computer monitor (just looks better), and even though Ive watched them all more than a few times already, I still get a kick out of watching certain rides over and over again.

^ I'm not saying it would work for A.C. but the focus on nightlife/gambling certainly isn't working at this point. I think it's now 4 casinos/resorts that have closed in the last two years in A.C.? They really aught to concentrate on sprucing up the non-resort sections of the city, most of those areas are really kind of scary.

I have a close friend who works for A.C.'s tourism/marketing dept - with all of the recent casino closings, there has been a lot of local chatter about trying to aim for a more family friendly feel, focusing less on gambling/nightlife and more heavily on amusements and family friendly attractions and resorts, so this could be the start of that. Personally we can get to A.C. in about 45 minutes on the train, but generally only stay at The Borgata which is on the other side of town from the beach/boardwalk. I'm also not a huge water park dude, but I would be interested to check this out if it does happen since its so close.

Not sure where else to put this, or if there is an Atlantic City (or Steel Pier?) thread. If it's already been posted, my apologies - a search turned up nada. Revel to become water park

I concur. This is definitely my most anticipated of 2015, love all the updates and photos, can't wait for this thing!

I love this thread because my missus, who hasn't been to my home park much in the last few years, has yet to ride the Sky Screamer and I just bought her her own season pass for 2015. Just yesterday we were discussing what I'd like to get her to try, when she informed me she'd have to have a few pints of liquid courage in order to do Sky Screamer hah. I spent part of today posting POV's to her FB page and her responding "No" lol. Personally I've only done it twice, but I don't think its all that scary, though I haven't done one of the 400ft'ers. But I don't have much of a fear of heights... Also, we have the tallest drop ride & coaster on the planet at our park so Sky Screamer is a candlelit massage in comparison. Anyways, co-sign with everyone ^ on just asking an op before you board. Explain your situation and they'll usually help, that's their job.

^ more on that Dorney Park workers exposed to heat hazards; teen's collapse leads to citation, OSHA reports

Easily my top most ridden overall, at least 50-100 laps on each: Sea Serpent (Moreys) The Great Nor'easter (Moreys) The Great White (Moreys) Flitzer (Moreys) I started counting individual rides in 2014. Top 5 most ridden this year: El Toro - 27 laps Nitro - 18 laps Bizarro (GAdv) - 13 laps Superman: ROS (SFA) - 12 laps The Great White (Moreys) - 8 laps

I'm with ya. 'Nitro' sits very high on my list of favorite rides and has basically no themeing whatsoever. I love coasters first and foremost, it is absolutely the reason I go to parks and even why I am posting on this board right now. Themeing or no themeing, if a coaster is great its great. Put El Toro over a parking lot and I'll still think its the best coaster on earth. I can't think of a single situation where bad or no themeing made for an overall bad ride experience for me.