boldikus

SFGAdv - Intamin Giga Morey's PIer - RMC woodie

Prince - Computer Blue

As promised, just in time for TBT, here's a shot of my Dad and I on my first ever coaster. "The Flyer", Hunt's Pier, Wildwood. Photo is dated 1982. Sure looks like we're riding in the back, some things never change.

Great report and photos, looks like a really nice park. Is it me or are all of the mostly coasters black/grey/not really colorful? Coincidence or is there a reason for that?

I enter a park knowing that I'm going to be riding things where I shouldn't have loose items on me. I don't see the point in a fanny or back pack. Does one really need a bunch of junk to carry around all day? Unless you have kids (and need to bring stuff like diapers, bottles etc), why would you take anything else with you besides wallet/keys/phone? In WW I'm within walking distance to my folks home so I don't bring anything but those three things and maybe sunglasses. At SFGav same and if I have anything else on me (like lunch, which I cant take in anyway) I leave it in the car and run out to the lot if I need to.

Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out

I totally hear ya. I'm regularly in town anyway and don't always hit the piers, not for lack of trying. Just depends on weather and who I'm with but I have watched this entire operation slowly change with the times over 30 some years not only in term of style of rides but security, policies, etc. So these things didn't really bother me. The wanding was weird tho. I'm thinking they've wised up to the fact that they can make a bit more coin by having lockers and forcing people to pay to lock up loose items. Wish I got a photo of the lockers so I could see if anyone had noticed them before.

It was when boarding the SLC, not the wild mouse.

Not sure if this has been posted, but was farting around on YT and found this gem I caught a few years back. Worth checking out if you haven't. Wildwood circa 1986. I certainly remember this WW as a kid, but oh how it has changed. At the beginning is a really rough POV of The Flyer, the first coaster I ever rode. Speaking of which, I found some pictures this weekend @ my moms of my Dad and I riding it which I'm going to scan. At 3:45 is the Golden Nugget, an awesome classic dark ride/mine coaster a lot of people fought unsuccessfully to save, and which the trains, track etc now reside at Knoebels as Black Diamond. And at 6:18 is the Jumbo Jet one of the 2nd or 3rd coasters I ever rode.

Pretty sure it was always supposed to be GCI.

That sure is what it seems. They had lockers near the queue. I didn't notice these last year so they could very well be new. I was lucky to be with my folks who were not riding so I just instinctively handed them my keys and camera before I walked up and got scanned w/ the wand. Edit: I just noticed in the photo I posted of the sign/queue that dude w/ black backwards hat and black/grey shirt on is being scanned by the attendant. My mom works for the city and I'm always bugging her for inside info. All she has heard through the pipeline it is in fact delayed indefinitely. :/ My latest fantasy is they are trying to work out something with RMC.

http://rcdb.com/2927.htm Its just a standard Wild Mouse, which I hate the layout of. Mostly lateral forces which I can do without (I am a fan of drops and airtime). I haven't ridden it in years but when I did they had needless OTSRs that I barely fit into and it was extremely painful. Not to mention my knees hitting the front of the car the entire time. As soon as we started up the lift I regretted even stepping foot onto it. The entire ride was PAIN. Maybe it is enjoyable for someone smaller but at 6'2 I was dying and will never step foot upon it again. Side note: same story for Kingda Ka, which I also almost didn't fit into, but at least the pain was worth saying I rode the tallest on earth, etc. The Doo Wopper can crumble to the ground and I wouldn't even shrug that's how little I like it.

There are 3 big coasters and then 3-4 kiddie coasters (Flitzer, Doo-Wopper, Rollies Coaster (good one!) and one more I can't recall). You can EASILY get them all in within an hour or two. They are all usually walk-ons except in July/August weekends. Their log flume is great (2 drops and an underground portion) and they also have a drop ride and tons of other cool varied flats. If I were you I'd keep an eye on their calender as it gets closer to then. I see that it does say they are closed during the week after Memorial day but in past experience that seems like a mistake. Maybe this is something new but every year that I can remember they are open 7 days a week after Memorial Day weekend throughout the rest of the summer.

Also I forgot to mention that when boarding the SLC, that not only did they have a new max height restriction (at 6'2 I just made it!) but they also scanned me with a wand for any loose change/etc! That was a first!

Yes, that Flitzer is always great fun and its been there as long as I can remember. Always thought it was lame when they re-themed it from a space to surf theme years back, but whatever. The piers are very much spaced apart, but it can easily done by foot. They are about a 5-10 minute walk from each other (longer if crowded) but there is also the legendary Tram Car which is $2 or $3 (I forget, we had "tickets" for it from last year) that runs the entire length of the boardwalk, and you can hop on and off at any time, you just motion to the driver.

Another brief trip report in honor of my first "summer" weekend at my folks place in Wildwood now that some of Morey's has opened for the season. Got into town late Friday night and sat up with Mom to catch up then a much needed late night soak in their hot tub before turning in. My folks and I got up and out on Saturday by noon to stroll down to and along the boardwalk (and hopefully get a few rides in!). This weekend was the annual Classic Car Show, which is mostly what I got pictures of so I won't post those here (but I posted them all on my FB page here if you want to check them out). As far as rides, the weather was very overcast with short periods of drizzle - with the humidity this felt great, but for some reason had me in a don't-feel-like-riding type of mood. Their classic hybrid woodie, The Great White, was still closed for a few weeks so I was sorta bummed about that but even in my mellow mood couldn't resist hopping on the Sea Serpent (boomerang) and Great Noreaster (SLC) for a solo spin on each. I hadn't ridden either of these since last summer and the 3 trips I've taken to GAdv since then proved to me that you guys are right and that these old Vekomas just aren't all that great. I have such nostalgia for these coasters, having ridden them both hundreds of times, but I definitely got punched in the side of the head on the boomerang quite a bit. I can boast that both were total walk-ons, mid afternoon with a fairly busy boardwalk thanks to the car show. I did the front on the boomerang, and the back on the SLC. The drop on the SLC is still so great. The rest of the ride, eh. Riding these just made me want to go back to GAdv on some smooth B&Ms. No complaints about lines (none) and operations (smooth and fast). I had planned on hitting up some of the kiddie coasters, just for the hell of it, but was worn out from walking so much so we stopped for some pizza (Macks - best there is!) and took a free Tram Car ride (silly forgetful ticket collectors) and headed to my folks corner bar for drinks and then dinner. The first "summer" visit of the year is always nice as my folks live in Wildwood year round so I visit quite a bit off season when it turns into a nice little quiet "small" town for a few months (see my post above ^^^ when I visited during Xmas). But to see the tourism machine crank back into action is fun and gives me that occasionally needed reminder of me why I love Wildwood so so much. Now for a few photos. The Great White (closed) Front seat solo Up... up... up... Down we go... Macks Pizza!!! Best pizza on the planet! Tilt-A-Whirl Kiddie coaster porn? Flitzer (always fun!) /Doo Wooper (the worst). Didn't ride either. I hate Doo Wopper with a passion. Back row solo SLC goodness. The new(ish) trains make a huge difference. Zoom Flume Was scared to death of this thing as a kid. Rock N Roll! classic carousel Noreaster See you in a few weeks old friend!!!

absolutely fantastic photos!

The Great Nor'easter on Saturday afternoon @ Morey's Piers.

both

Thanks for the pictures, this thing looks great! Can't wait to ride it. Ultra stoked its relatively close and accessible via public transit

technically, its the armpit of America. just look at a map!

I don't drive so its hard for me to get to parks unless its by bus or train. I'll certainly be @ SFGAdv and Morey's Piers a bunch throughout the spring/summer/fall. In fact going to Morey's mothers day weekend. Also to Coney once Thunderbolt opens as it looks fun and I've never done Cyclone. Lucky to have some friends that live somewhat close by in Brooklyn. Hoping to get a Hershey trip in there at some point with a buddy who keeps asking if I want to ride up with him, and maybe a drive down to SFA if I can convince someone to take the drive. Also have been pricing out a trip up to SFNE by train/bus.

Doves - Blue Water

I must have been on the same train since I rode Nitro 4 times in a row and also was on the last train of the night. Nice! My buddy and I were sitting in the last row on either side of the train. The last 3 rides we didn't get up from those seats. They were having probs with our restrains ("Still row 9") probably from me sticking my gut out as far as possible to avoid getting stapled. Sorry

Was just coming in here to post Morey's ^^^ haha. I've spent almost every summer of my life in WW so Morey's Piers for sure. These are the coasters I've grown up with. I don't really consider it small as in my mind its always been the largest of all the amusement parks/areas in the Jersey shore towns (Seaside Heights, Ocean City, Steel Pier) but its no CP or 6Fs. The coasters only have waits during peak weekend nights after everyone has sat on the beach and then had dinner. WW gets crazy crowded on July/August weekends, a great time to ride is during a weekday afternoon when the folks that are in town are on the beach instead of the rides. Or early or late in the season of course. Get a wristband and re-ride all afternoon/evening. If you haven't been and are in driving distance I highly recommend a trip at some point. Their SLC is smooth as can get thanks to the newer trains they installed a few yrs ago and has arguably one of the best views from a drop on any coaster anywhere. Their boomerang is a classic (my first ever looping/steel coaster and the first boomerang in the US), and their woodie (with me in my avatar <---) will beat you up a bit but its fun as hell - drops from the station right into an under-boardwalk tunnel before the lift, has a great big drop and the ride runs basically along the beach. There's also a few smaller coasters and shitload of flats of all varieties, two pretty rad waterparks, endless shopping/retail and awesome boardwalk food (get pizza from Macks, not that other guy, get fries from Paul's, not Curly's) and I rarely feel I complain about operations or the pleasantness of employees, etc. It's a great place and seems very underrated around these parts.