Angry_Gumball

I really like how these shots came out, from this past weekend at CGA.

Alright, time for the mega opening day...I mean, weekend photo report, the 3rd wave of photos that is! This initially was just going to be an opening day visit until we decided that we should visit again on Saturday...I wasn't going to be doing anything anyway other than sit around, and type up a trip report...so we went for a 2nd visit to catch up on what we missed on Friday. As already posted, the park kicked off the season with an opening ceremony and a special promotion: the free souvenir cup + free refills all day. There were also several prizes being handed out during the ceremony and select (very select) double rides. Since the park was a bit crowded, I wasn't really missing much on the double rides due to my experience 2 weeks ago at the neighbor up north. Double rides may be neat and all but it comes with a price: double wait. So yea, some highlights: • New show in theater (Finally, Happy Feet!). While the show was fresh and enjoyable I felt it ended a bit abrupt and that it even started a bit abrupt. I'll have to try it again sitting in the middle of the AFX as I was on an end seat...everything appeared blurry (or is it really that way?) • As Jeff mentioned, the coasters and such were waking up from their long hibernation and needed a little kick in the rear to get moving as there were numerous break-downs throughout the day. Even the B&Ms were misbehaving • Star Tower is not open yet but from what I hear it should be real soon. • I've lost like 15 pounds over the offseason so I can now very easily fit on Woodstock! • Fresh paint on lots of buildings and rides. Sadly however at the end of the day Friday, Barney Oldfield's looked like it went through a warzone. Guests decided they'd pick at the paint and from there lots of fresh blue paint just peeled right off the posts...ugh! • "Endeavolution"...(Looping Starship) Seems to take a long while to finally make a full inversion but when it does, it cruises through it as slow as it possibly could (can I flip this emoticon upside down?) It will very easily wear you out and kick your butt if you aren't used to extended amount of hangtime. • Grizzly is now smoother! The blue train felt sluggish Friday when I went, and tried the red train yesterday and felt like it was flying through. Better ride yesterday than Friday. • Flyers fun • Season pass lines were long Friday. It really made me appreciate the fact that I renewed my pass last year when there was no line (during Haunt). • And finally, towards the end of the day yesterday, the threatening bad weather was starting to come in and say hi. While entering the brake run on Vortex (By the way, I'm really enjoying Vortex this season, was ready to ride it again), I see a quite bright flash in the distance...Yup, lightning! I saw a few more flashes when in line for Demon. I'm now wiped out though this should prove to be interesting in a couple weeks when I do my big SoCal trip (5 days of parks)...consider this training for me The photos you're about to see a combination of Friday and Saturday...didn't really feel a need to make 2 separate reports as this was kind of a 'mega visit' as I like to say. Sweet, we're here after a long month from our last visit (the construction tour). What's that peeking above the trees? ... Fellow coaster nerds talking about Gold Striker The temporary shade structure that was built over the station platform while mechanical is installed Opening Ceremony stuff *POOF* CGA used Confetti Shot! CGA Guest speed harshly fell. I'm all tangled up!!! Help me! There was a choir that day too. The group checking out Gold Striker After a long wait, one of the members of our group gets his pass! And I got my cup! And let's kick off the day on an awesome Beemer! Welcome back! Please exit to your right and enjoy the rest of your day here at Global Winter Wonder....California's Great America! Some fun on the flyers! And as much as this shot looks like it, this was not actually taken onride. My neighbor looks like she got a little cable slack Rob, you always seem to keep hiding behind that sail! Happy Feet: Mumble's Wild Ride These were cycling all day with no riders on Friday Double glasses, double cool River Adventure still stands! Let's check out the new signage and such! Thunder Raceway earned a new banner, looks pretty nice! Mmmmm...cheeeese! Food Festival Barney Oldfield's...let's see how long the station lasts in it's pristine condition... Berserker...basic but it works! White Water Falls looks like it received a fresh sign too. Little things like this make a huge impact on the feel of the park. And then the moment that completely changed my mood on how the day was going... The GP sometimes really make me want to, well you know... What happened: We stopped at Maggie Brown's for lunch (pretty good food, MB feels like a step up from your typical restaurant in CGA). However in the booth I sat in, someone 'accidentally' left their freshly spat out gum behind...and I ended up wearing it...Ugh! And then, after lunch and cleaning myself off, we braved the slow, hot Grizzly queue. Operations are pretty slow with this ride and I dread to see how a summer day will be. Definitely bring your sunscreen and a hat if you plan on braving the queue. Unrelated, in line I saw a nice photo of Full Throttle's giant loop with it's back-to-back track on one of my routine Facebook lurking sessions. Back over towards the front of the park as we kind of...ignored Gold Striker Mmmm....Gold Striker! This shot was actually taken from yesterday. "I really hope I don't drop my hammer!" Closeup of the tunnel The entrance is sure going to look amazing! Good job CGA! Roof? Nah, I'm dreaming. More Gold Striker hotness Take the Tunnel!!! Calling it now, launched wooden twisty coaster! Another shot of the sign with GS in the background. We realized that the stars kind of looks like it resembles the shape of GS's first drop This does not look real. Really, you have to see it in person...it is very surreal seeing this! Photos don't do it justice. New banners that popped up in the park. The Ride Warriors ones were pretty faded...and is Cedar Fair even using the Ride Warriors advertising campaign anymore? I didn't think so. If you look closely, you can see where the Orlean's Place lettering remnants. Maybe one of these days, different areas will get their respective signage back...that would add to the music that they are working on for the areas. And the B&M decides to "YOLO" and rebels...I guess it's time to move along... Ba-zing! #GoldSwag More #GoldSwag Wait...I thought this was a Cedar Fair park?? Oh, and Gold Striker is TPR/Donkey approved! Hmm...NL coaster? This looks strangely familiar Oh God no...just, no... Here's a pretty shot of Gold Striker, shot on Friday evening In the mean time (Saturday evening) a storm is approaching... Yikes...this is looking pretty ugly! (Not the carousel) Despite the ugly weather, the carousel still shines! It's like sunshine on a cloudy day. And time to call it a wrap...thanks CGA for an awesome weekend. I'm beat but it was well worth it! Until next time...(Thanks for taking the photo Tyler!) Upon leaving, I made it a point to get some parking lot shots during the evening...reminds me much of the automall dealerships. Very bright though and the lighting spreads out pretty far! 'Night CGA! (A drive down the parking lot's 'highway')

I actually just noticed Centrifuge's mag lock today when looking at the new iron fencing. Not ready for pictures yet but definitely some neat moments today... Riding Vortex with lightning anyone?

We are at the park again today. The crowds are definitely a lot lighter.

That same thing happened when I was waiting in line for Tiki Twirl! Same also happened at the Flyers, though that ALWAYS seems to happen when we ride it haha

^I'm totally taking a GWW map with me tomorrow (Going again for a 2nd visit) just to whip it out at Flight Deck. So, I was shopping for Gold Striker goods and noticed something strangely familiar... Hmm...this looks neat! Wait! Is that?!?!? OMG It is!!! (The NL track I had submitted on here). Sure the sky was altered a bit but this is certainly an NL track! In the mean time, since I'm doing a 2nd visit, I may as well put together 1 big weekend report! Plus I'm too lazy to convert/process all my images tonight. I can say is that this is one of the busiest opening days I had seen at the park, with crowds comparable to what I had seen during the summer last season. A real brief highlight on today's happenings: -Kicking off the season on the Flyers -Smooth Flight Deck (always) -Free refills -New show, fresh new experience though it did end a bit abrupt, kind of like "ok, we're done now!" -Didn't quite see the double rides thing but with today's crowds I honestly could do without the double rides. -Awesome weather though it brought in the crowds. Full report coming some point this weekend, stay tuned!

Root beer, in my trusty Gold Striker souvenir cup

Ikea Coaster anyone?

Instagram stalking...check out what's in the background! Apparently Star Tower received some new signage...we'll have to update the TPR index with the ride's new sign after tomorrow On the topic of signage.... This will go over Gold Striker's queue entrance. Photo from CGA's Facebook

Biggest peeve...everyone calls it "The Big Dipper." At that rate, let's call Demon "Gremlin" and Vortex "Twistiness" Why? May as well replace names or parts of names with similar words. At least they didn't call it the Little Dipper

Yummy, sexy GCI curvy hotness! And look at the carousel souvenirs shop, some new paint! When I saw this pic last night I literally stared at it for a good 5 minutes just in a daze, and looking at everything around the coaster such as the queue, fencing, etc.

Haunted Mansion theme (Disneyland). Ready for the socal trip next month

Posted in Meme thread, but figure I'd share it here too as it's kind of relevant

.

^At least we aren't talking about ghosts again (like we did back in December 2011 ) Ok, ok...are my eyes really deceiving me? The station looks crooked! Well, the floor anyway Initially I was thinking this was the start of a ramp but it's too mild and would require several switchbacks if kept at that grade...and it isn't protruding out the side. I know that the track will have a slight slope but didn't really think about the floor being sloped as well, and not that steep of a slope for a platform. Maybe it's just sinking...moving on! Ok maybe I'm overthinking this and this is just so the train will roll out of the station when brakes release.

Well, that was a polite way of telling them they're too fat to ride

Wow that was fast! Last I saw there were just a few supports and the mac-n-cheese colored track sitting in that lot across the street. And I was thinking they'd still be assembling track when we head down there in a few weeks. Now I'm wondering if we'll see it cycle or if that's just pushing my luck/guesswork.

^I will admit, when I was younger I was baffled at how the coaster cars stayed on the loop without falling off. After making a loop for my hotwheels cars I figured it worked the same way (At least I realized the coaster cars coasted through the course)...cars built enough speed that they'd stay in the loop and the wheels on the sides (guide wheels) kept it from veering off the track...never mind the fact that upstops existed, I thought the cars just used good old force to stay on it. SFDK a couple weeks ago...why did I see a man attempt to get in line for Medusa while having a (Vekoma-induced?) neckbrace on? I think he did finally realize he shouldn't ride as he only stood in line for a few minutes before leaving. Oh, and we were waiting for the rest of our party to get off Medusa as we hung out by the fluffy bunnies (by Kong). A ride op is standing by the entry/exit as the ride's broke down. The op informs them that the ride is down. I hear the GP kids walk off saying "Let's go..that ride's dangerous..." Lastly, I never saw a line clear out so quick when SFDK's star flyer experienced a 5-minute hiccup. I felt like it was only our group and a few other GP that decided to take the chance and wait. As soon as the ride was running again, everyone scrambled back in line.

I'm usually pretty easy-going on rides and like a variety of different aspects of a ride. I do love intense rides, thus wanting to take a trip to Canada to check out Mind Bender. I also love the kinds of rides that 'pack a punch' for their smaller/compact size (S:UF, SFDK...doesn't look like much but it is definitely an amazing ride! Or Flight Deck...it's a shorter B&M Invert but it is very intense). Also the ride must be comfortable, as in I shouldn't have to brace myself during portions of the ride, would prefer not to have to think of that and just enjoy what the ride's about to dish out. What kills a ride: Seeing what looks like it could possibly be an OMFG moment only to slowly cruise through it with no real force to be experienced. Happened on SFMM's Psyclone. I had no clue that the ride was a piece of....poo until after I rode it. I got ready as we crested the hill, and prepared to catch air over the numerous rolling hills only to find that there was no need to keep the hands up...was about as useful as keeping my hands up on the lift or moving along the brake run...the ride just dragged, grinded, and felt like it was just going to valley. Similar experience on Superman: The Escape (SFMM). I was ready for the 100mph launch, the 6 seconds of weightlessness and in the end, it really felt like nothing happened. We'll see how the S:EFK revision does for me as I have yet to try it out.

I'm glad about the air gates not being the typical ones that most (if not all) the coasters have...complete with the hideous, oversized wood panels that were at a later date bolted on (Thanks OSHA).

In the end we should have some amazing views of Gold Striker while queuing. I think my camera will be happy about that, especially being close to the track and having the train within view. I can't wait for CGA this Friday just to reunite with the group, check out/shoot some gold porn, get my free souvenir cup, and of course ride the rides! CGA will be opening the gates at 9:30 but everyone will be restricted to the carousel plaza for the ribbon cutting. Reminds me of what they'd do for Haunt, or what they did at the SFDK opening day. I'll be getting there early Oh, the roof: its only there to shade the construction crew while they get the station completed... It'll be removed soon after...

So next burning question: with the track adjacent to the station (flyby hump) how are going to route the path to it? Also, fun, useless fact: excluding the kids coasters, Gold Striker is CGA's only coaster in which the air gates are on the right of the track. And I love this pic (below). I'm visioning some nice graceful floater air while ducking for cover due to the head chopper tunnel and structure ahead it will dive under.