DILinator

I've never been to this SF park yet either, one of the few I've missed, and I'm bound and determined to rectify that this year! Do we have any reasonable idea yet of when this will be open? Memorial Day weekend? Might have to pop up there that following week!

Carowinds! Taking my kids there for the first time (only my second time), on our way down to Florida for almost a week! Can't wait to ride my beloved Fury again!

Wait... So the line was forming outside the queue while you were riding Windseeker... And yet you "managed to get into the front of the line" somehow! "Oh, whoops! Look as this! We just accidentally happened to cut everybody waiting in line before us!" I'm sorry if there's more to that than it appears at first blush, because that's exactly what it sounds like from what you wrote!

100% YES to this recommendation! It's a can't-miss coaster at night!

Hopefully. Seriously? Was that really a necessary comment? Quite appropriate I think. There's a very real chance it happened because somebody screwed up. The customer service people are going to tell you it's out of their control because that's what de-escalates the situation, but the fact is that you don't know that, and probably the customer service agent doesn't know that either. Maybe it is, hopefully it is, something that just happened and they are dealing with it the best they could. But we don't know for sure that's what happened, and the very real possibility is that it shouldn't have happened and someone did something or didn't do something they should have, and that's what caused the snafu. Ahhhh... I totally misread what Zach was saying there! Apologies, prozach! Yeah, I guess I just gave them the benefit of the doubt, and since I was pretty crushed by the sudden change of events, I was trying my best not to take my disappointment and frustration out on any particular person or entity. But I suppose you could be right...

Hopefully. Seriously? Was that really a necessary comment?

Thanks for the positive outlooks, guys!

Still think KBF missed out on an opportunity to name this something truly great, like Boardwalk Hangover...

I got absolutely SCREWED by their stupid computer glitch! I had purchased my ticket for the first train as soon as they went on sale, and before the site went down. Then I get a call from CP a couple of hours later, saying they had been oversold, and I was bumped to the second train! They gave me the option to get a refund, and I took it, because I'm not paying $250 to be the first loser (2nd place)! However, she guaranteed me 4 tickets to the event, 1 for me, and 3 for my kids, so I'll still be able to go, and I saved some money! lol It was a crushing blow to think I had a spot on the first train for two hours, only to find out I lost out on this once in a lifetime opportunity, but Christy from CP Customer Service was great, and I understand that this was out of their control, and they did the best they could, considering the circumstances. It's still going to be a great event, and getting to ride SV multiple times, the first night it's open, will still be an amazing experience to share with my kiddos! So thanks, CP, for everything, and I'm looking forward to April 27!

And to the victors, go the spoils!!! AmIrite???

^Thanks! I know they'll be over the moon excited if I can get them to the event, so hopefully it works out!

So true! I was able to purchase my First Public Train ticket before it all went to crap, but couldn't add my kids' $75 ones immediately after they went on sale. I called, and they said it is a website malfunction, and to keep watching, because they'll go back on sale. In the meantime, everybody needs to KEEP CALM, AND GET EXCITED ABOUT SPENDING EXORBITANTLY FOR A GOOD CAUSE!

Ok, thanks guys! I'm definitely going to want a Bacon Wrapped Pretzel (or two), and if that's not on there, is does give me pause about the rest of food options. I'll likely pass, and we'll just eat one meal in park, as per usual (and Bacon Wrapped Pretzels!)

^Thanks for your response! I ended up moving my vacation up a week, and the Wednesday price for QQ was $50, so I'm going to pass on getting it. I'll take my chance, and hope that it's not too busy, like you report! Another question though, before I finalize my purchases... Are the All Day Dining plans a good deal at BGT and SWO? I've found before at KI, that when going with my kids, I can get just two plans, and then eating every couple of hours, sharing the two entrees among the four of us works just fine. How are the available food selections at these two parks though, I guess is the main thing I'm wondering.

Just bought my kids' BAF tickets for our trip to KD on April 22! Can't wait to get back to the park for the first time since 2002, and also can't wait for TT! One question I have for the regulars, is whether you can bring in non-Platinum Pass guests at KD with your PP, for early entry? I know Carowinds specifically says you cannot, which is different than how it's always been at Cedar Point, where your entire group can get in early with a PP holder. I'm hoping KD is more sensible about it, al-la CP, so that I can get in early with my kiddos!

Planning a trip to SWO for the last full week in April, and I wondered whether it'd really be necessary for me to get QQU for my kids and myself. It's not even good for Kraken, and my previous experience was that SWO doesn't have really bad waits for their rides. I'll be going on either a Monday or Tuesday of that week. Thanks in advance for the input!

So, I'm going to BGT with my three oldest kiddos, the last full week of April, and we're also doing SWO, so we'll be getting the two park ticket (and making use of the free shuttle!). However, going through the other ticket add-ons, I noticed Quick Queue for both parks was only $20 per person (as long as I go to BGT on the Wednesday that week), and even as a staunch "I can't stand line skipping systems, and won't pay extra for them!" person, I'm pretty darn tempted at that price! What I'm not sure about, because I've never really paid attention when it's been discussed before, is how they work at those two parks (primarily BGT though). Do they give you a time to come back to get right on the ride? Or do you just go through a separate line, like at CP? Thanks for the assistance! Oh, and believe me coasterbill, I made sure to check that rehab schedule when planning this trip a couple months ago, and actually bumped my trip up out of the first week in May, due to Kumba going down at the end of April! Definitely don't want the kids - or myself even - to miss out on that awesome coaster!

Guilty... I am glad to hear the Super 8 has made a turn-around, since it will give members a cheaper place to stay. The funny thing is I feel like I'm starting to get drawn to the "dark side" of hotel snobbery myself, based on some of my recent stays in some nice establishments! I guess it's kind of one of those things where once you "go there", it's hard to go back! A jetted tub is becoming a must have, and free alcoholic drinks seems reasonable as well!

^Skipping school for CP is ALWAYS a good life decision! Repeat it like a mantra! I did notice something regarding the Preview Nights just now... You get only ONE ride on Steel Vengeance those nights, so be sure to have weighed that into your decision to go before taking the plunge to get tickets. I'm still planning on going, but it does lessen the allure somewhat for me, so I thought I'd point that out. I'm assuming the First Rider Benefit will lead to more than one ride, but I suppose that's something we'll just have to see about. It'd be great to see you at both events, RAWKIN_coaster38! Hope it works out!

I hate people. Seriously, you tripped while falling out of a kiddie ride. Suck it up and move on. "thrown to the ground", ugh gag me! I am SO sick of these types of things happening, and can't even believe any of these terrible people are even given the time of day when they bring their frivolous suits!

It's not the closest major amusement park to me (that would be MiA), but I've always considered Cedar Point to be my "Home Park", and yes, it is still my favorite! Having said that, there are other parks I really love as well, and would be my "favorite" this, or "favorite" that!

^I am definitely going to be attempting to get tickets for that event, if I'm able to! Heck, I'm even toying with trying to get the first public train tix! Go big or go home, right!? 100% agreed! I am super impressed with how they're handling all of this, and as somebody very excited about going to ride SV early and often, but not looking forward to Opening Day madness, these pre-opening dates will do perfectly, and will mean I don't bother with Opening Day. I'll still hit the park up at least 2 or 3 more times in May during the week though, and perhaps during Brew and BBQ in June!

NO. It seems to have had a bad past, perhaps, and has now gotten caught in a vortex of perpetual negativity. But my stay with my kids last year was great, and even my earlier stay wasn't horrible. You sound like you're not a hotel snob like a lot of these peeps on here ( ), so I'm sure you'll be pleased with it! Having said that, on the other end of the spectrum, I need to chime in on the Drury Inn conversation! I just stayed in one for the first time, this past Saturday into Sunday, and it blew my mind away! Best hotel I've ever stayed in, and I just stayed in the Motor City Casino Hotel the weekend before (though that was an amazing hotel experience as well!) Apparently we have cool liquor laws here in MI, or at least in there in Troy where the hotel was, because the 5:30 kickback DID feature 3 free alcoholic beverages! In addition to that, the food selections were pretty substantial, with hot dogs, nachos, chili, a yummy pasta dish, and something else good that I'm forgetting for the moment! And that's in addition to Pop and Popcorn all the time! So I guess what I'm saying is, I may not have been a hotel snob before, but my Drury experience may just have made me one! My girlfriend and I have also become suckers for rooms with jetted tubs - totally worth the extra expense! So, I suppose I'll be looking for good deals (like I got this past weekend) on Expedia for Drury Inn's when I'm going to amusement parks here in the future!

Again, years ago... It was nothing like that just this past year! Hotels deserve forgiveness too! Especially when they're as cheap, and offer as many amenities as this one does!