SFOG1991

Lightning Rod

My bf and I rode together (it was raining lightly too) and it wasn't a problem. He weighs 200 and I am 150. They never questioned our weight or anything which may be an issue though.

If you can hold back a trip for HAUNT, always do it. Worlds of Fun has probably the second best event in the Cedar Fair chain and Ed only makes it better. And from what I've heard, the show is different from the Psycho Circus show. Thanks! Great info. Unfortunately I want to go the first weekend of August because Silver Dollar City is open until midnight that Saturday ...if only I could swing that trip twice! Decisions, decisions... Oh yeah, you want to go for SDC's Midnight Madness. Since all their coasters are out in the woods, night rides are amazing, and they're only available for two weeks in the summer, and on random warm days during Nov and Dec. Good choice, though I will second that WoF's Halloween stuff is pretty great. I love theme parks at night and coasters in the dark woods so that is a must do for me! I wish more parks stayed open later... It's sad to see parks close at 9 or 10pm just after all the nice lights come on and the air outside cools off. It's really a bummer and I wish all parks could be open until midnight every night honestly.

That's the worst luck. I hate when that happens on trips. I was at Dorney when there was a power outage that delayed us over two hours getting to Knoebels. We would've just left but we still had Steel Force and Demon Drop left and decided it couldn't take thatttt long (but it did). I guess those kinds of things just happen! I also just realized we were at KD the same day last year. Surprised I didn't see you and recognize you from your TRs.

If you can hold back a trip for HAUNT, always do it. Worlds of Fun has probably the second best event in the Cedar Fair chain and Ed only makes it better. And from what I've heard, the show is different from the Psycho Circus show. Thanks! Great info. Unfortunately I want to go the first weekend of August because Silver Dollar City is open until midnight that Saturday ...if only I could swing that trip twice! Decisions, decisions...

He has been at Worlds of Fun the past two years for Haunt. The last two years the show was similar. Honestly I would be fine with seeing the exact same show again. It has been a few years since I saw it.

Hearing that Ed will be at Worlds of Fun makes me want to push back my potential trip. I saw him at Kings Island and he was wonderful (he was also great during Britney Spears's Circus Tour back in 2009). Does anyone know if he do the same show as he did back at KI or does he change it up?

Is that really true? At waterparks I've been to, the tube slides have terrible lines and the body slides are usually walk ons...

^Splashwater Falls only operates one boat and the return from the splashdown is painfully slow. Last time I rode it I thought it wasn't going to make it. I do think there is some popularity but the capacity is so low that it gains a long line easily. Thunder River has pretty fast ops but gets a much longer line. I really don't think Splashwater Falls would be that missed, although the more water rides the better probably. It serves some purpose but it is still a slow run down eyesore and there are many things that could serve a greater purpose in its place in my opinion. I would be fine with it if they invested in capacity/ops, gave it fresh paint that isn't so bold and added some themed elements but that won't happen.

^I am a fan of that idea, since Splashwater Falls is an eyesore and not the best of its kind. However, I think Thunder River across the path holds its own as one of the very best and wettest rapids rides. I don't think the park is short on water rides but both Splashwater Falls and Log Jamboree leave a bit to be desired.

^I agree. I appreciate insight on the progress of operations. I went last weekend for four days and probably wouldn't have gone if it weren't for the updates in this thread being in my favor. I went, and ops were on and off with one train and many delays, but I got in 5 rides and loved it! I can't wait to go back again as soon as the ops are consistent.

This seems very reasonable and sensible. I like it! Georgia Scorcher needs new paint NOW though.

This is so accurate. While I never rode it during the early years, it was very highly reviewed by just about everyone as one of the best new wooden coasters, and now they added enough trim brakes to basically stop the train if they wanted, the airtime is gone due to that, and all the awesome curves are now slow and shuffle-y while still being banked for the intended speed. Not to mention it is pretty rough too. Trims REALLY screwed up this ride.

I don't think we can make complete assumptions about the rides in the image or the quality of operations. This is much different than anything Six Flags currently owns and/or operates. If Six Flags had a park in Orlando the themed qualities and operations would probably be much greater than what we have at a park like Six Flags St. Louis. They don't have to apply the same exact plan to every park. I don't think this property will be very comparable to the U.S. properties and I don't think we can assume they will have a Goliath RMC clone. Concept art always differs pretty substantially. I LOVE the names of the themed areas being names of U.S. parks though. Not sure why, but it pleases me.

Possibly. When they ran two trains the train would stop at the base of the launch after just a few cycles.

In no particular order (and I change this list all the time honestly) Lightning Rod Skyrush Voyage Mind Bender New Texas Giant Maverick Magnum XL200 El Toro Phoenix Goliath (SFOG) ...something like that. I am sure I'm forgetting a few great ones on my count.

Back from a weekend at Dollywood! Crowds were very light Friday, and picked up some on Saturday, and more so on Sunday and Monday. Even with decent crowds on Sunday and Saturday the lines were not very long. Lightning Rod was a mess all weekend but it did on and off operate every day. They tried two trains Saturday morning and quickly went back to one. It was down more than it was up, and when it was operating it was doing so with one train and breaking down frequently. It was never easy to ride without waiting two hours or more really unless you got lucky and came right when it started testing. Even then, sometimes testing would go on for hours. I was lucky to get five rides and I had exit passes for the last few which was very fortunate and a total lifesaver! Waiting in the line was painful but even waiting was worth it. Such an amazing ride. I actually like front row more than back row too possibly. The ride is so well designed that basically every seat is just as intense as the next though. I just really can't wait until they get this thing consistently operating with two trains. Splash Country was busy Saturday and even more so Sunday but the Time Saver is cheap and so worth it!

Is anyone at the park today? LR status? I decided not to go this morning and I may be going to Splash Country unless Lightning Rod is working at all today. After yesterday I'm not holding my breath but I'd definitely go for a third ride!

I frequented Lightning Rod all day and it barely operated at all today. They had two trains at opening and it basically immediately went down and stayed down. Reopened mid afternoon back at one train and kept breaking down after just a few circuits then went down eventually for the rest of the day. I managed one front row ride. It was one train ops and barely operated at all. Far from full operations. Hopefully they fix the problems soon... (I feel like we've said that for so long now). At least the ride is great!!!

I also managed to get to the park about an hour and a half before closing. Park was dead but LR had a decent line. One train but only appeared to have one row closed or maybe none. Line took 40 minutes. The ride was very impressive. The launch isn't overly intense, but starting before the incline helped. The first two airtime hills didn't seem like they would pack much punch but they did. The over bank had airtime similar to a B&M hyper, just sideways. The rest of the ride was crazy and definitely reminded me of NTaG but with a more interesting setting and layout. The quad down was more like a triple down with a curving drop at the end but it was very impressive. Reminded me of a more intense downhill version of the end of Phoenix at Knoebels. Definitely the intense coaster I've been waiting for at Dollywood and easily a top 10 coaster! Great at night!!! The park was nearly empty and there were only 4 of us on Tennessee Tornado but still, LR had a decent line. I'm really hopeful for two train ops over the weekend but the other train is no where to be found. It looked like there were pieces of it under the station in the maintenance area down there. Not a good sign but those also could be extra parts.. I have no idea. Anyways, top notch coaster. Very impressive and worth the wait!!! I hope to ride it many more times this weekend and it will be top priority because it is far superior to all the other great coasters in the park!

Heading to the park this weekend. Leaving Atlanta soon so I may go in for a few hours tonight, especially if Lightning Rod is up and running today.

^Better than nothing! All day two train ops are hopefully a thing very soon!

^Thank you! These are some wonderful suggestions I may not have found myself.

^Thank you so much guys! I will look into all of that! Any updates on Lightning Rod? Running consistently? two trains? etc...

Everything is generic and commercialized in that area. Not sure what all of your tastes are, so it would be hard to know what you consider a unique place. Ha very true. I just mean any single attractions that aren't as well known or part of a big complex. I feel like we do things like The Island but miss out on quirky small stuff that is actually a lot of fun and just hard to find.