Nozzy

^ I think it would have been easier if they had listed which rides would be closed (Only thing I noticed was Skooters). I'm glad they were able to get things back up this quickly, and hope they have a good end to the season. There really is no place like Knoebels...

Stealth at Thorpe Park. Only time I've watched a ride dispatch every 90 seconds but only had the line move once every 15 minutes (2 hour wait total, for a nearly full queue). Wish we had known about the single rider line. Actually, now that I think of it, Bizarro at GAdv as well. We made it to the stairs in about 20 minutes (again, for a nearly full queue). We then stood at the top of the stairs for 15-20 minutes as the stand-by line was completely halted for flashpasses, since someone in the flashpass building screwed up. Pretty annoying to see three trains running with minimal stacking but not... move... a step.. Dragster in the morning was pretty slow too (3 rows filled, 3 rows, 4-rollback, 4, 4, rollback, 4, 4, rollback). After about an hour wait we got on, and the trains still weren't fully loaded. And I also had to wait 30 minutes at a Wendy's once, due to a huge traffic jam making everyone get off to eat, and making finding somewhere else not much better...

I don't really see why everyone's surprised at Thorpe Park's statement. This is the same park that has made its own news by: Declaring Visitors to have Bad Breath Moving a Ride due to "Haunting" Wanting Your Pee Banning Raised Arms due to BO along with all the similar Alton Towers stories Merlin puts out. Trying to claim an inversion is almost classy compared to their usual fare.

Tonnerre de Zeus at Parc Asterix- has a statue of Zeus with some lightning bolts.

The ride is launched? (It bolts out of the station)

150 feet... So that means it will be ALMOST as tall as the Big Wheel, which it's apparently right next to (I'm thinking Evolution's old pad?). I'm happy to get one of these rides, but do wish it were taller... oh well. Bumper cars should please the masses (I really hope they are new though and not the Autobahn 2.0 cars taken back out), the Scrambler will be nice to have again... and I guess I wasn't paying attention, but why in the world were the flying elephants not in the safari kids zone already? I am very happy to see Hurricane Harbor continue to get additions, it went way too long before getting Tornado.

Flyers are different in that you can't pull down on the restraints further once they are locked, so make sure you get it down well before you get checked. Also, the foot flaps can be rather annoying for the operators, especially when the rider has their ankles outside the closed restraints. I'd say TOGO standups are a bit tough since you need to approach the seat from a specific direction. S:ROS at SFNE post accident was pretty complex. Intamin seatbelts are a cinch for regulars, but seriously confuse lots of people. Actually, all seatbelts seem to confuse some people.

The ride manufacturer is Intamin, which is located in Zurich Switzerland.

Powder Keg Two is manufacturers, S&S and Premier I believe. Also has two propulsions, Lift and Launch, and it was extended from original layout with the lift hill.

Well I've had a busy weekend... I'd been meaning to start writing reviews, and the chance to win crap finally made me do it. So, I reviewed pretty much every park I've visited in the past 2 years. Hope it helps!

Ride lines tend to get much longer toward the end of August right before schools reopen. I would expect it to be pretty crowded. The Gold Flash Pass cuts the wait time by 75%, so an hour wait becomes 15 minutes. The Platinum reduces wait time by 90% and allows for 2 rides per wait. Get a Flashpass to guarantee riding everything with repeats, Gold to ride everything a lot, and Platinum if you want an obscene amount of rides. Flashpasses don't sell out before the day, but it's good practice to get one early to avoid waiting for it (do it before anything! You can reserve your first ride as soon as get it, and don't lose any time). My visits in July and June all had the park emptying out around 6 PM- I could ride everything in the last 3 hours, no Flashpass. I can't guarantee that's still the case. Like others, I'd start with GL and Ka. Get on Rolling Thunder early if you want the credit- its line moves slowly and Flashpass is no help. Just work your way around the park from there. Food is expensive, so packing lunch can save money, but it is a hike out to the lot. Best of the West has pretty good food, and you can split an entree with someone (assuming you're visiting with others). Hope you enjoy it!

^^It will depend on the rider, and maybe the day or something. I am always fine on it- maybe a little head-banging, but nothing unbearable. I've rerode it multiple times in the back row just fine- it's hard to do too many from the intensity on your legs, but that's the ride, not the roughness.

I rode the Cyclone for the first time last year in row 2, wasn't too impressed, but was happy to be able to say I'd been on it. I went again and rode it in the back row this year after being advised to in my trip report, and was blown away by how different the ride was. Tons of airtime, some roughness, but an amazing ride. I would definitely try it out (and try out the Zamperla Air Race while you're there too). As Larry said, hotels are a 15-20 minutes away from the park. A taxi seems unlikely, bus would be best bet. I know you can get a bus to downtown Freehold, but not sure if there are any stops at the hotels. El Toro is by far the best ride, and I like Green Lantern and Bizarro as 2 and 3. Since you're coming so far, I'd definately recommend a Flashpass, though I haven't had much trouble with lines this season, the September weekends can get crowded.

Green Lantern is the only coaster with a single rider line, but it only cuts out the final 20 minutes of the wait. So, essentially, none. Enjoy your trip! On Friday, Ka was running sporadically, but I hope you get on!

I was always happy to ride Viper as well. Sure, the transitions were horrible, but the awesome first drop, hangtime inversion, and heartline roll were all very fun to ride. I'm tall enough that it never hurt very badly (and often never hurt at all), though I was used to riding it. I also loved Scream Machine, that last corkscrew was always wonderful.

Geez, between this and Hershey it seems like no one wants new rides if they aren't exactly what they want... Wildebeest was one of the most amazing rides I've ever been on- among my group of 3 friends I brought to HW, Kings Island, and Cedar Point, 2 said Wildebeest was their favorite of the entire trip. I'm really excited to see ProSlide and Holiday World continuing to innovate these water coasters, and hope I can get out there again soon to try it out.

You're a dirty liar! I was just at Dorney today and got drenched with cheap shots on the log flume! Seriously, the first half is all nice, but as soon as you get to the turn next to Hydra's exit, prepare for water. First one is a random wave that launches over the left side of the log and soaks your entire left side. The second is another splash over the right side (not too much, though). Third is the waterfall that no loger turns off, and finally the splash at the bottom of the hill, where when you're in line it doesn't look too bad, but in the log you get drenched. Also, the water is quite cold. I loved it. I'm sorry that for whatever reason the log flume never soaks me and the waterfall turns off? I dunno, I visited pretty much every two weeks last summer, and never had lines except after the waterpark closed. The parking lot would be packed, I'm not saying it's not a big destination- just that all those people are looking to cool off more than ride coasters and flats. I've only gone twice this year- Saturday of 4th of July weekend had cars in the overflow lot and no lines until around 6PM (waterpark emptying). My trip a week ago was more similar to what you described, so perhaps times are changing... I hope not, I've been so spoiled that I actually won't wait for Hydra or Thunderhawk, and max 15 minutes for anything else.

A very nice conclusion. Is the Stitch Tiki Room better than the Iago and Zazu one? I don't think I could ever see enough pictures of these parks! Thanks for such an intensive review of the parks, and all the Japanese parks!

Those Mickey hand rings really are the most awesome souvenir ever, and Kidtums is too cute in the Monstes, Inc. shop- she could pass for Boo with the pink dress! Thanks again for the beautiful pictures of an amazing place!

I would ride in the front and hope for the best. Nope, tried the front too. Firewood sounds like the way to go! I actually agree that KD's Flight of Fear is better, as well as Backlot Stunt Coaster. Both seemed smoother than their Ohio counterparts, and more exciting somehow. I didn't want to say anything since they are clones, and it's not a huge difference. I also want to know what Walk-On Wednesday is...

Ride in the back car at night and then come back and say this. Will do (ride it, I mean)- the downfall of always going with (more or less) GP friends is by the time we get to Grizzly, I'm just hoping they keep riding, and have stayed near the front to not aggravate anyone's head too much. Is there any way to make Hurler better? (and I've already tried the back)

I absolutely loved KI when I went last year, but I have to agree that Intimidator 305 really pushes KD above KI- especially if you've already been to KI. I would actually put Vortex as better than Anaconda, but Anaconda is still an interesting ride. Intimidator blows Diamondback out of the water. Volcano is a good ride, and from what I understand KD's Crypt is much better than KI's. Dominator is a good ride that's different from anything at KI. Avalanche is a cool little ride as well. I do find Hurler and Grizzly to be a waste of time, but the other rides make up for it. The only other factor would be if you cared about the kiddy sections, where KI is definitely superior.

Tower of Terror is simply astounding! I also appreciated the factoids on the round-trip train and Intamin-Giovanola-Pinfari coasters. The pictures continue to be beautiful, and thanks for getting so many!

This is just astounding. I usually will go on boat rides just to see, but the video of Sinbad makes me really WANT to go on it cause it looks awesome. Well, I don't know when, but someday! Thanks for all the amazing pictures and video. Looking forward to the next 3!

You can definitely ride Thunder Canyon in just swim trunks, and I'm 99% sure White Water Landing as well. I'm also not sure about the Log FLume, though it won't get you too wet (I encourage you to check it out though). I've never been to Carowinds (soon!), but you are definitely right on the lack of shade. I personally love Talon and Possessed, while I know others don't really care for them- no matter though, you will likely enjoy the coasters, if not being blown away by them. Hydra, Thunderhawk, and Steel Force are all original coasters too, and Talon blows its clone away. Pick a day. Any day. Ride crowds are never a problem, especially when the water park is open. From personal experience with friends and seeing discussion here, the problem seems to be more of how to fill up your day here. I could ride the coasters and flats repeatedly all day and be happy, but if it's more your style to ride it and move on without returning, you'll have lots of time to fill- every coaster will likely be walk-on except Thunderhawk (station wait) and Wild Mouse (which is just stupid). Hope you have fun, and feel free to ask anything else!