DILinator

I actually really like the Wing Riders, all of the ones you mentioned! But I've had a soft spot for the B&M Flyers ever since they were introduced, and have really wished somebody would build more unique ones here in the states - ones like Montu, and especially Manta!

Don't even get my hopes up unreasonably, man! I'm not a KD regular, but something like THAT would definitely hasten my return! (Actually, who am I kidding... If I305 can't hasten my return any, it's dubious that anything else will - though a B&M Flyer over a body of water could finally tip the scale, honestly!)

Many of the roughest coasters I have ridden are all gone now, thank goodness! - Son of Beast @ Kings Island - Psyclone @ SFMM - Raging Wolf Bobs @ Geagua Lake - Shockwave @ SFGAm - Orient Express @ Worlds of Fun - Great American Scream Machine @ SFGAdv (My personal "winner" for worst coaster experience ever!) And one about to be defunct, or at least moved: - Shockwave @ Kings Dominion (Though not "defunct", Skyrider @ Canada's Wonderland was in the same boat!) As for the roughest that are still standing... - Corkscrew @ CP - Mean Streak @ CP - Corkscrew @ Valleyfair - The Boss @ SFStL - Ninja @ SFStL - Mighty Canadian Minebuster @ CW - Vortex @ Carowinds - Any Vekoma SLC - Both Hurlers (KD and Carowinds) - Viper @ SFMM - The Legend @ Holiday World Borderline Coasters - some good, some bad rides... - The Villain @ Geagua Lake - Wolverine Wildcat @ Michigan's Adventure - Timberwolf @ Worlds of Fun - All "Wild Mouse" coasters - All Vekoma Boomerangs

That's good to hear, because that was really my biggest complaint about what was otherwise, a pretty awesome coaster! I understand the whole shifting experiences based on advancing age thing! Where I notice it the most is spinning flat rides, but even now I find some intense coasters giving me more trouble than they used to (especially on really hot days.) As long as I can keep riding coasters like my dad, who's now 65, I'll be just fine, however!

Glad you had a great time! 1) I didn't "hate" Mantis, but I wasn't a big fan. As a big fan of B&M Floorless coasters, however, I was quite excited for the makeover, and it was a definite improvement! It's very low on my list of favorite B&M Floorless coasters, but I still enjoyed that nice layout so much more than before. 2) Glad to hear you're a fan of GateKeeper! I don't get all the negativity surrounding that coaster, honestly, as I think it's great, and my third favorite coaster at the park! I think that smoothness is why some people call it forceless (I'm tempted to start a thread sometime ranting about the inanity of calling any major coaster that, but I disgress...), and it is very methodical going through its elements. However, I look at both of those as positives, personally. It's also a beautiful coaster to look at, and the placement of the ride adds to its thrill. 3) Have you been on Fury yet? I was in the same boat as you, with Millie reigning supreme for the past 15 years, in spite of riding many, many other coasters in the interim. However, once I rode Fury, all that changed! Such an amazing coaster! It would have to be, to unseat a phenomenal experience like Millennium Force!

I must confess, I have to agree with this statement, regrettably... I had high expectations for the park on my first visit, but other than Fury, Intimidator, and to a lesser extent Afterburn, nothing else was very exciting, in my opinion. Still, it's a nice enough park, and there's plenty of opportunities to grow and improve, potentially! Intimidator is a bit of a snooze-fest now, even thought I thought it was OK when it first opened. Fury and Afterburn are the highlights of Carowinds. I remember really liking it, but I only rode it once, and now that I think about it, I do remember the trims, which obviously are unfortunate... I did ride in the back, however, so maybe it was a better than normal ride due to that. Still doesn't compare to Fury though! I was really amped to ride Afterburn after hearing so many people talk glowingly about it, but while I thought it was better than the run-of-the-mill Batman or Raptor small and intense Invert, I couldn't crack my Top 5 Inverts, personally... It still was clearly one of the best coasters there, however!

I didn't think Thunder Road was anything special when I rode it earlier this year, but it wasn't a terrible rise either. One side was definitely less rough than the other, however. Still, unless there is something really wrong with it, I always hate to see classic coasters removed - especially old racers. R.I.P Thunder Road... I must confess, I have to agree with this statement, regrettably... I had high expectations for the park on my first visit, but other than Fury, Intimidator, and to a lesser extent Afterburn, nothing else was very exciting, in my opinion. Still, it's a nice enough park, and there's plenty of opportunities to grow and improve, potentially!

I agree 110%! I love Storm Runner, and notice it seems conspicuously absent in many conversations about great coasters! I too, prefer it to TTD and Kingda Ka, and think it's every bit a reason to go to Hersheypark as Skyrush. Speaking of Skyrush, the painful ejector air was present the first season of the coaster, when I rode it, so that's not an age issue, but rather a manufacturing one. More specifically, the trains/restraints should be altered to lessen this, or something along those lines. But yeah, Storm Runner is amazing, and underrated! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Hey CGAers! I have a question for you... I am thinking of trying to make it up there to CGA for the first time next year, when I am potentially visiting my brother down in West Hollywood. Would it be reasonable to think we could do all of the coasters and maybe a couple of big flats in half a day there? Or would lines and such necessitate more time spent there more likely? We'd be looking to cut down on the number of nights spent in a hotel, so it'd be nice to do both CGA and SFDK the same day. (I know, boo! ) Also, I noticed that the park didn't open until the end of March this season... Is that typical, or does it sometimes open earlier in the year? Thanks in advance for all your assistance/advice!

^I agree about placing the eventual Giga (since that seems like a foregone conclusion at some point) at the back of the park. However, I have felt like placing the queue and station in the old Tomb Raider and Crypt building, literally reusing a bunch of the existing theming there already, and giving the coaster some kind of jungle theme. Additionally, that will re-populate that Rivertown area, which has basically become "Beastland" currently... There is a ton of room back there behind that part of the park, and besides some awesome potential interaction with the trees, the coaster could interact with both The Beast and Diamondback, heightening the excitement (I know that sounds like an RCT thing, but I know my excitement is heightened with multi-coaster interaction!) of those rides as well as the new Giga! I just feel like this concept just makes SO much sense, for many reasons, it has to be given some serious consideration for eventual (there's that word again - just so you know I'm not saying this happens next year, or even the year after that) coaster expansion - Giga, or even possibly Wing Coaster. I know some have mentioned that as a place for the (also eventual) Dark Ride/Coaster, but I think the location you mentioned, the old theater building, works better for that, and gives it a little more space to work with. Then, I would assume Boo Blasters would be removed for a different attraction down the road, likely. Those are my current thoughts looking at KI for the next 5-6 years, at least major attraction-wise.

I disagree about the first half of Fury not having airtime. I was constantly out of my seat, from getting chucked over the lift hill, to being tossed sideways at a couple of the banked turns! Granted, I mostly rode it in the last or second to last row, which may have more air than the front. Still, I found there to be plenty of out of seat experiences on both halves of the ride...

^Oh, you evil man! Now that'll be all I can think about for the rest of the day!

^ It's definitely an oldie, but a goodie! Can't wait to take my kids on in for the first time in a little over a week!

I did that too, once, although I think it was actually eight times for me! Additionally, that was when it was still at Geagua Lake, during an enthusiast event. Definitely one of my favorite Floorless coasters (behind my beloved Kraken, of course!)

^If you haven't been to Kennywood before, that's definitely a winning idea! It's a fabulous "small" park, with one of my favorite coasters (Phantom's Revenge), and a lot of other fun ones! Enjoy yourself! Just out of curiosity, what did you decide to do in Missouri? Any other parks?

I haven't been to MiA since they added the Lakeside Gliders... Does anybody know if they are pretty lenient on letting you "snap" them? Or will that get you hollered at? Thanks!

Both times I went to BGT, once in 2001, and again in 2010, it was either walk-on, or pretty much walk-on for Kumba. Considering how awesome that coaster it, I'd say it just might win the award for best return of investment of waiting time for a coaster - at least on a consistent basis!

I haven't been to Kentucky Kingdom yet, but personally, I would wait until next year if I were you, so you can get on the new Storm Chaser coaster. I know I am going with the family next year for the first time as part of our family vacation trip! I also haven't been to Schlitterbahn, Adventureland, or Silver Dollar City, but have been to Holdiay World, Six Flags St. Louis, and Worlds of Fun. With all of these factors in mind, if I were in your shoes, planning this particular trip out within the date/parameters you've set forth, I would do the following... After hitting up Holiday World, I would then do the two St. Louis activities in back to back days. Then, I would definitely make the trek down to Silver Dollar City (about 4 hours), since I haven't been, and everything I've heard about it says that it's a fabulous park! Then, the following day, I would go to Worlds of Fun (particularly if you've never been - and it's completely on the way up to Des Moines from SDC), as I liked the place back in 2003, even before it had a bunch of the new rides that define it now. Then, you're just under a three hour drive away from your eventual destination. Assuming this is your first trip to all three of those parks, you're getting some great new coasters under your belt, all within reasonable (4 hour) drives from each other. Are you coming straight back to D.C. from Des Moines? There are a few places (such as Indiana Beach) that may not be a bad little side trip for you, if you haven't been yet.

Yesterday's crowd wasn't horrible especially since it was very hot. By 2:00 there was no-to-very short lines every in the park, the water park was fairly crowded though. Still nothing like a Friday or Weekend. Filled up a little less than half of the main Parking Lot. Thanks for the feedback! I like the sound of that crowd-size! Hopefully it's similar (or even less) when I go. Maybe there will even be a slight threat of rain (that never materializes) to scare some people away!

I must say, I continue to be pretty shocked at all of the people surfacing, and saying The Voyage is too rough. Especially when they say The Legend was fine! The Legend is much rougher, at least to me! I understand coasters affect people differently, but the extent to which that is true still surprises me sometimes. I am somebody who doesn't like rough coasters, yet The Voyage is my #1 Wooden coaster, because while it IS intense, it is also one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had on a coaster! As long as I move with the coaster, and don't just sit there and let it beat me around, I have great rides, everytime! It's a shame not everybody has this same, great experience... I, for one, hope they don't ever RMC, or modify it much!

Especially because it lives up to it's name. So, you're saying it actually eats people. Duly noted. I'll cross that coaster off of my list to ride! [emoji14] Nope, it just Eats all other Coasters in their Tracks. I see what you did there...! Yup, and all the Credit goes to Lagoon for that one. Nice! Someday, when I'm visiting relatives out in Denver, I should just take a couple of days and come out to check out your fine-looking park (and devour Cannibal, of course!) It's not THAT much further away at that point!

I'm going to the park in just under a month, and I have some questions, mainly about Goliath (the one coaster I haven't ridden there yet.) As a non-season passholder, will getting there early, with the intention to go straight to Goliath and get on it quickly (and hopefully a couple of times), be beneficial? I have seen some talk in this thread of passholders getting early entry, as well as people being held back for a "walk-back". What exactly does that entail, and does it preclude beating the crowd back there? Last time I was at SFGAm, it was the first year of X-Flight, and my friend and I were among the very first people at the park (forgot the time change from Michigan - thought we had arrived at Wally World!), hustled back to X-Flight, and got on the very first train of the day, also getting in two rides back to back with no waiting. I wondered if a scenario like that is possible with Goliath, or if there a lot of other factors in play now to prevent that. Mainly, I want to temper my expectations going in, so I'm not disappointed if things don't play out so swimmingly again! Also regarding Goliath, are you allowed to pick where you sit? Or is it doing the assigned seating thing that seems to be in vogue with all new coasters these days? (I completely disagree with such a practice, even though I understand their reasoning, but that's a different conversation for a different time and place.) If you are allowed to choose, where is the best place to ride the ride? I'm assuming the very front (for the view) and the very back (for the airtime/pull over the lift hill), but which should I target doing my first ride? We're not doing Fast Pass, regardless of the lines, so what kinds of crowds have there been so far this Summer, during the middle of the week? (I'll be there on a Wednesday.) I know that's a hard question to answer, as things like that vary greatly, but I'm just trying to get a sense, again to prepare my thinking in advance. Lastly, what is parking running there now? I think I read somewhere that it is $25... Is that actually right? That's obscene, but I know pretty much par for the course for event/amusement park parking these days. Thanks in advance to all you regulars for all your help! I look forward to getting back to your park, and finally getting on my first RMC!

Especially because it lives up to it's name. So, you're saying it actually eats people. Duly noted. I'll cross that coaster off of my list to ride! [emoji14] Nope, it just Eats all other Coasters in their Tracks. I see what you did there...!

This post really got passed over haha. Glad at least one person noticed I noticed it! Well played! Sorry I didn't "Nina Kleppe" it for you!

I actually went in 2003, considered the height of its greatness, and it WAS a really awesome park! I remember my brother and I talking about how we almost enjoyed it more than CP (though some of that is just the burnout factor), and it certainly was a more well rounded experience, when you factored in the sea animals side! It was also a very pretty park, especially near the lake, and had a great variety of coasters in its collection. That was when it was a Six Flags park. I went back a few years later (2008) for an enthusiast event there, and thought the park was noticeably a shell of its former self. The water park side was a poor replacement for the water animal park that was there previously, and the overall condition and theming of the park had deteriorated as well. I still liked it, and would have probably visited it a few times since then had it remained open. But Cedar Fair's lack of interest in making the park anything special (something, I think, that was no accident, considering its proximity to Cedar Point), had definitely taken a toll on the park experience. I still think it's a shame that it was closed down, and actually have a lot of other thoughts about all of that - but that's another topic, for another thread, and a can of worms I'm not really sure I want to open... Big Dipper is still a borderline Top 5 wooden coaster for me! That classic woodie was tons of fun, and loaded with airtime (maybe almost too much, in places!) Regarding my own defunct park interests, I can't say that any of the ones I've never been to, intrigue me to the point of thinking about them much. I do think regularly about two that have been closed for a LONG time, that I still have fond memories of! Both Boblo Island and Boardwalk and Baseball were as much a part of my childhood amusement park experience as Cedar Point and Deer Park Funland (MiA). Boardwalk and Baseball was a regular central Florida destination when visiting my grandmother down there (as was Magic Kingdom - talk about another place with burnout factor for me!), and I still have vivid memories of enjoying the Florida Hurricane wooden coaster, and the Double "O" (Uh, Oh) - that was seriously how the coaster was listed on the park maps - and miss being able to go there still. At least Sea World, Fun Spot, and IOA have taken up the mantle of providing good coasters to the Orlando area. I particularly miss Boblo Island, however, as we went there regularly, more so than CP at the time, and some of my earliest large coaster memories were from there. I still remember the first time I worked up the courage to ride The Screamer there, which was my first "major" coaster ridden, and paved the way for me to take on the bigger coasters at Cedar Point afterward. Directly after that, I went on their newest coaster, Nightmare, and was blown away by how amazing it was, all in the dark! It became my favorite coaster at the time! It's funny to look back now and realize that it was simply an indoor coaster like Skull Mountain at SFGAdv, because my memory of it made it seem like A LOT bigger of a deal than that! The ferry ride over and back was also a really fun, and memorable part of the experience, and something I miss to this day. I would love to be able to take my kids to Boblo today, but alas, it was not to be...