DILinator

Nooo that's not what I said. The ride was shockingly smooth, but the trains were so odd and uncomfortable. I guess I should have read it more closely! That's what I get when I read and post on my little phone... That being said... SMOOTH?!?!? ARE YOU FREAKING CRAZY?!?!?! Regarding BBQ, I like Famous Dave's, but here in Lansing, there are two local places which easily best it, so I certainly operate under no assumption that its the be all end all of BBQ. I've actually never eaten at Cedar Point's, or the Bay Harbor Inn, for that that matter, in spite of coming here over 33 years! I suppose I should change that at some point here soon, just based on this view people keep talking about!

^Oh, believe me, I am firmly with you regarding Corkscrew! I will never ride that coaster again, unlike MS, which I will ride a few times Thursday, and, have ridden periodically through the years. Corkscrew is a special kind of wicked rough! (Though, come to think of it, that rough jolt you experience on it, isn't too dissimilar from the horrible jolt at the bottom of the Conneaut Blue Streak...)

Can't believe I haven't posted in this thread yet! It was amusing reading about how little everybody thought of my Broncos' chances last year, but again, Defense wins Championships, and that was one of the best ever! It's funny that so many people are down on Denver this year... They lost a couple pieces of their defense, but also replaced them with some good players, and still figure to be among the league's best. They had terrible QB play all last year, and still won the Super Bowl. I really like what I've seen from Siemian so far, and it looks like he could be an even better QB than the Broncos had last year. I also think people are way overhyping the Raiders, and would be quite surprised if they finish ahead of the Broncos. If any AFC West team ends their reign atop the division, it'll be the Chiefs, and I could see the Chargers finishing last in the division. As for predictions this year, I could be cliche, and go with the Patriots and Stealers (no, I didn't misspell that ), but I don't see either team going to the Super Bowl this year. Honestly, it's probably a stretch to say Denver will either. I really like the Cardinals to finally put it all together this year, even though Carolina is going to be even tougher this year, in my opinion. I'll go with Cardinals vs. Bengals (in a shocking turn of events). I like the Chiefs and Texans a lot too, but can't get behind either Alex Smith or Brock "not anywhere close to as good as he's getting paid" Osweiler getting those teams to the Super Bowl. AFC 1. Bengals 2. Patriots 3. Texans 4. Chiefs 5. Broncos 6. Stealers NFC 1. Cardinals 2. Panthers 3. Packers 4. Redskins 5. Seahawks (but a better record than Packers or Panthers) 6. Vikings It'll be interesting to see how it all pans out! I'm just glad that NFL season is here once again! (BTW, anybody here think a TPR Fantasy Football league might be fun?)

Honestly, it makes some of the darkest days of the KD thread seem a little more reasonable!

If you're ever considering watching Hardcore Henry... Do yourself a HUGE favor and DON'T! I got paid over 27 dollars to watch it, and that still wasn't enough money to not make it a waste of my time, and senses!

I have found my kindred spirit!

I've been saying this same thing, when discussing the demise of what once was my favorite coaster type (granted, this was in the 80's, when I was 10, but still...). I agree that there is a direct correlation between the excitement level of a Suspended Coaster's ride experience, and its shorter longevity. As such, I think Vortex's days may be numbered at Canada's Wonderland... On a semi-related note, as much as I hate seeing this coaster type going away, one thing I'd love to see is it replaced by a B&M Flying Coaster, both at CW, and CP. Vortex and Iron Dragon both sit on real estate that was nice for their coaster type, but would be even more exciting for a Flying coaster!

Great plan! I'm going there the same day for my next trip! Maybe I'll see you at some point... Sounds like a Thursday I went earlier this year in late May! Never waited more than 20 minutes for Valravn, and pretty much walked on everything else, except for a late afternoon wait on Maverick. Tying it back into the other poster, and my first comment, Thursdays are really good days to go to the park, if you're looking to pick just one day of the week! Have you been yet this year? I was curious whether this would be your first experience with Valravn. I'll be sure to keep the front seat on Mean Streak warm for you when I'm there the day before!

My only issue with the Larson Loops is them being marketed as coasters, which I think is rather silly. Of course, I feel the same way about Disk-O "Coasters". So it looks like SFOT is adding two new "coasters" next year! SFOT coaster cravers rejoice! Seriously though, as a flat ride, I think both are great little rides! I would gladly take either one (though particularly a Disk-O) at MiA!

So would that have made I-305 a bad decision to install at KD? At least that 's how I'm reading into it. A company that spends that kind of money for what is basically the park's marquee attraction yet doesn't bring in the results they had hoped makes it sound like it was a failure from the start. I, personally, loved the ride and consider it better than Millennium Force. I actually almost put something to that effect in there, but yeah, I think if CF had it to do over again, they wouldn't have installed it, or they would have installed a version of it that was more GP-friendly - like MF is. Intensity is not a bad thing, as MF proves. But clearly, there is something about the level of intensity on I-305 that is keeping people off of it, while they still enjoy riding coasters at KD like Volcano, and Dominator. I would go so far as to say, if KD had added an Intamin Hyper coaster that was taller than Apollo's Chariot, but similar to Superman at SF:NE, it would have much different ridership numbers than I-305 does. Unlike some people, it seems, I don't think CF is infallible, and actually DO think they have made plenty of mistakes over the years in running their parks. Everybody makes mistakes, it's just a matter of learning from them. However, the mistake here, as I pointed out in my last post, was not adding a new, large, marquee coaster, but rather adding the specific coaster that they did.

Ok... I've got to say something, because this reeks of extremely fallacious reasoning to me! Now, I've never been to Dorney, so maybe it runs differently than other places I have been to. But let me ask this... Did the place draw large crowds prior to Cedar Fair purchasing the Paramount parks in 2006? Did they draw large crowds, and have full line queues prior to the addition of Hydra in 2005? Because if they did, why did people suddenly stop coming? And if they didn't, then why would Cedar Fair even add Hydra - a new coaster? Again, I've never been to the park, so I don't know the story here, that's why I'm asking those who do know. What I'm driving at is two-fold... If the crowds used to come in larger quantities, why did they stop in recent years? Because from my experience - not as an enthusiast, but as somebody among the GP and not enthusiast crowd most of the past 12 years - your average park-goer is MORE interested in coming when something new and significant is added, not less interested. Dorney's lack of attention from Cedar Fair could have as much to do with those empty queue lines as anything else. Now, if Dorney has never drawn significant crowds, why did CF used to add large new coasters there? I would contend that they did, because a park operator who cares about keeping things fresh at a park, and keeping the people (GP, not enthusiasts) interested in coming, knows they need to add a large, marquee attraction (typically a coaster, but it doesn't have to be) every so often. CF has clearly stopped running parks like DP, VF, and WoF like they used to, back when those WERE some of their premiere parks (behind CP, of course), and that is directly related to their acquisition of the much larger, and more highly attended Paramount Parks. TL:DR - Bottom line, I think there are a number of reasons why Dorney hasn't received a large coaster recently, and may not get another one for years to come. However, I think simply pointing to empty queues, and saying that's why, is erroneous. Because unless DP suddenly saw a drop in attendance exactly when CF purchased the Paramount parks, the empty queues were probably there before the large coasters were added years ago... (Jcoaster, I'm not specifically targeting you in this response, rather questioning the line of thought you invoked, which I have seen others utilize as well, because it doesn't ring true to me, from where I'm sitting. No offense is intended.)

I've seen this mentioned multiple times as an example, and I think it's actually a pretty poor example... I-305 is super intense, so much so originally that it had to be modified, and even coaster enthusiasts concede that it's very intense. It shouldn't be surprising in the least that the GP don't flock to it in droves. If KD were to install a coaster that was more re-ridable to the GP, you had better believe that you would see a much more enthusiastic response by the GP than you do with regard to I-305.

Great Bear is definitely underrated!

I should say that he wasn't quite so blunt. I stated it that way for brevity. But he did imply that, and she did seem to concede the likelihood. He got a cool looking wooden block cut and painted like Blue Streak, but I couldn't bring myself to drop $30 on it, even if it was for a good cause. Most of the souvenirs in there did not appeal to me at all, honestly, but at least it sounds like they're trying a little more now.

Don't go. This is actually excellent advice for ALL Saturdays of Haunt! Either go Friday night, or Sunday, if you want to have a truly enjoyable day!

FWIW, when I went last week, my friend who I went with bought some of their (really expensive) souvenirs from the gift shop, and the woman in there repeatedly, to the point of being over the top, thanked him for "supporting Conneaut Lake Park". When he mentioned wanting to get a piece of it, before it inevitably closed, she did not disagree. Just sayin'.... It does seem like staff there might be resigned to the park's ultimate fate, unfortunate as it may be...

I rode the Texas Twister Top Spin flat at SF:WoA all by myself once, and it was literally the best flat ride experience ever! Already, Texas Twister had one of the more aggressive cycles of any Top Spin, but then, after running a regular cycle, and nobody else had lined up for it, the op signaled to me asking whether I wanted to keep going, and I gave him a thumbs up. After that, he cranked up even more wild, and it was insanely flipping over and over and over as it whipped around! Such an awesome ride experience, and one I'll never soon forget! More recently, I wasn't the only one on the ride, but my son and I got to ride Storm Chaser at KK during an ERT session there, where we were the only riders for two straight runs, sitting in the front seat. That was pretty cool for the both of us!

Do hard ciders count as beer? If so, I had a delicious Nitro Blue River the other day while celebrating my birthday at HopCat. It's from the Northville Winery and Brewing Company in Northville Michigan. It's a blueberry hard cider. However, if ciders don't count, directly preceding that cider (which was the 4th drink of the night I had bought for me), I had this... It was a fantastic Scotch Ale from another local Michigan craft brewery in Paw Paw!

1x1 - Halfnoise

We didn't get to vote on this. I call shenanigans! so much for #decidetheride... #we'rebuschgardensandwedowhatwewant I will say, I just realized that the logo was decided, and I'm glad they went with the Dragon Crest. I don't remember if I voted for the Red or Blue now (don't get old, kids...), but I think the red sets it apart from Griffon more, at least. Also, I know people have been generally lukewarm on this coaster's stats, but I think it looks, and sounds, awesome! I love tunnels, interaction with other rides, and utilizing natural terrain, so just based on those things I dig it. I also think it'll have plenty of airtime, which is always a plus. I REALLY want to make my first trip back to BGW since 14 years ago next year, and get on this thing! I guess we'll see how things go...

But none of the new "Timbers" will live up to the original! Ehh, I think Mystic Timbers looks better than Shivering Timbers was when I rode it last month. NO! Get out! We don't need that kind of negativity and blasphemy in here!!

But none of the new "Timbers" will live up to the original!

Yeah, I'm somewhat jealous and sad about this. My dad really made my early teen days of enthusiasm possible and took me around to ride my favorite rides. He hasn't been to parks with me in close to 10 years, with the exception of one family trip to BGW. I decided for father's day this year we'd do a throwback and I took him to Carowinds to ride my new favorite, Fury. He has had some blood pressure issues and is on some medication, and said that they gave him some vertigo-ish feelings and afterwards he said he felt that his riding days were numbered. Enjoy that while you can. Side note, I saw an 80-90 year cute old man having to be helped into and out of his seat on I305 this summer. Kudos to that ballsy old guy. Fingers crossed that's me. lol I do really appreciate him, and love sharing in my passion for amusement parks with him! However, it changes over time... Even though he will still ride everything and anything, he needs a lot more breaks, and will often take a nap in the car at some point throughout the day. Heck, I've changed as I've gotten older too, and appreciate that a lot more too! No trip to CP these days is complete without a stop in the Red Garter to relax, and enjoy some popcorn and an alcoholic beverage! Him and I did Brew and BBQ this year at CP, and loved it! One of the best things I've done at an amusement park in a while! I know it won't last forever, but I am grateful for it now...

My favorite kind of enthusiast to make fun of (after the fact, as I typically don't make fun of people in front of them - typically), are the ones who ride a coaster like it's actually the last thing on earth they're enthusiastic for, and look bored out of their skulls. I look like I'm having a good time when I ride a coaster (well, unless it's T3, or Hurler, or some shite like that), so if that makes people think I'm lame... Well, I don't care!

^^^Good tip! Next year when I go, I'll be sure to do this! I think I went there first last time I went, and got in two rides. But I was also with my 60+ year old dad, so we weren't exactly busting tail to get over there or anything... Still, I'm just glad my 60+ year old dad will get on and ride any coaster with me anywhere, so that's cool!