hendrixmarshalljames

^^ what these guys said in regards to late May. Seemed to us that the rides ran better, too.

Haven't got all of them, yet. Out of what I've ridden, though: 1. Twisted Timbers 2. Lightning Rod 3. Steel Vengeance 4. Goliath 5. Outlaw Run 6. Storm Chaser Planning on Untamed, Zadra, and Wildfire next summer.

KD and BGW next weekend...2 of my most favorite parks.

The singing mushrooms were calling me. So we're coming next weekend. A little butt clenching for the best giga drop is a small price to pay. Plus airfare, and hotel, and rental car, passes, food, ride photos, funnel cake, and beer. What a great hobby!

The singing mushrooms comment made me jones' for a Richmond trip.

I interrupt this thread for an interesting shot of Maverick...

I have a unique story about my first ride on Fury as well...But have to set the table before serving the meal, and why it was just, soo funny. My youngest son, after riding Cyclone a few years back (2012?) was feeling extra brave when we headed down to SFGAd while we were visiting New York. Before we got in line for El Toro, I told him- "Look-this thing is on another level. No big deal if you sit this one out..." "I got this", he said. The screams could be heard in Philadelphia, and he never got on anything over 80 feet (Except for Beast) since then. We arrived about a week early for Coastermania, and he got more and more accustomed to the thrill that myself and his older brother are so addicted to. We went down to KI for the less intense variety and he dubbed it "the no-fly zone". As in,this place has zero airtime. We laughed it off and returned to Cedar Point. Stopped by the Dayton Air Museum and it was so worth it. He rode just about everything when we got back...TTD, Millie, and SV are still on his list but we made serious progress. So after Coastermania we beelined to Holiwood Nights' 2nd day. So we get there and its not near as busy as I thought it would be. We get lots of laps on everything except Legend, which we all thought was unrideable. They just retracked it, or so I heard. Beyond rough. So the big dinner goes on and they keep us hostage as the regular crowd gets the boot. No biggie, we head straight for Voyage as soon as they let us go we're set for coaster Nirvana. Except...they waited for about 45 minutes longer than posted. We race to Voyage, the first train is loaded, we're next to go. Asked the guy if the brakes were off and he said "yeah!" So we're waiting. And waiting. Finally they said there's lightning in the vicinity. Checked my phone and its 25 miles away. Great, not a short wait. So we wait some more...its cost us a small fortune to be here at this exact moment. (Wish I had a cheaper hobby) Check my phone and its tracking NE of where we were. Tell the station guy its heading towards Cincinnati. Word from above is that we wait. I'm starting to get pi#@ed, and we break out of line to find someplace to sit it out. No place to sit indoors. The Gobbler thing is making folks wait outside for an indoor ride. I finally had enough and told the boys we're leaving. We walk up to the front gate...How long until the shuttle for the Campground? Uhhhhmmm....11 o'clock. It was 9:30 at this point. We had waited 3 1/2 hours to not do anything and was looking at a 3 mile walk because weather had not entered the big event equation. We did the campground on purpose because they said shuttles were available. We start walking off, determined to never come back and we come upon a Lake Rudolph employee doing something in one of the common buildings. We explain what happened and begged her for a ride. Thankfully she obliged...10 minute golf car ride from that point, that's how far it was. So we get to our state of the art 1979 rented Camper, and I need some beer to just deal with the situation. We get in our car and head towards civilization. Can't get cold beer on a Saturday night. I buy hot beer, ice, and salt, and get a cooler from the store next door and we head back. We make our instant cold beer machine and start discussing our options. We had paid handsomely to be there and the next day, headed to Dollywood Monday morning. At this point the beer was cold and I started pounding as if they weren't gonna make any more. We had the most fun doing what enthusiasts do...complain...but it was more than that. It got hysterically funny most of the night. I looked up how far Carowinds was and brought it up that it wasn't that much further to just go ride a big boy ride. We had Platinum Passes, all we had to do was drive and convince our newly minted Coaster Warrior that it would be worth it. He said let's do it without hesitation- and so we went the next morning early. Too early, if I remember right. We got there around 9 pm. Too late to do any real damage, so we got some sleep and planned our attack. Be there when it opens and work our way clockwise. Intimidator, Afterburn, the gnarly woodie and the stand up. Fury time at last... Station wait plus a little. I was more nervous about my son losing his mind being up so high as we waited or turn. We get on, the lift goes really quick so that before you know it, its time to let gravity do its thing... Good god...the thing is an engineering masterpiece. Our new Coaster Warrior is now immune to heights, inversions, and speed because he friggin' loved the thing. All of us did. It may seem crazy, but the side air just works better when its at a right angle to the ground. The crew Plane lower than lift hill!

Bill said it best about Fury...something along the lines of when you're leaving the station the clouds part, and a choir of angels start singing.

I've been shoveling snow all morning...I needed a little reminder that Spring's around the corner. This is from Coastermania last year @ LH Point.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and advice.

Nevermind...I guess Heide and Phantasialand do the same thing as well.

Hey everyone- We got a screaming deal to Amsterdam and Europa Park is on our list. We were going to go next year, but its too good to pass up. Am I reading the website right? They close at 6 pm in the summer?

Stumbling distance from Thirsty Pony was my first thought.

1. Name 3 of your favorite roller coasters, but not your top 3. Verbolten, Mummy, Renegade 2. About how many different parks did you visit in 2018? 7 3. Which 2018 park visit was your favorite? Dollywood 4. Your favorite 2018 park addition (ride, food, show, etc)? Steel Vengeance 5. What ride exceeded your expectations the most in 2018? Lightning Run (first time I rode it) 6. Best meal/food at a park in 2018? Outback Steakhouse outside of KI 7. What was your favorite new coaster of 2018 NOT made by RMC or Larson? Time Traveler by elimination...kinda hate the Loopers with a passion. 8. Name one park you will definitely visit in 2019. Carowinds 9. Best ride themed to a bird? I liked Valravn! Guess its time to tear up my ACE card now 10. Lamest ride/coaster you rode in 2018? Raven, Voyage 11. What roller coaster currently sits at the top of your bucketlist? (degree of difficulty: NOT a new-for-2019 ride) Taron by far. White Whale at Nagashima (2020) 12. What new-for-2019 ride or coaster are you most looking forward to? Copperhead Strike. 13. Name the first totally middle-of-the-road (not bad/not great) park that comes to mind. Valleyfair 14. You're in Orlando and magically have a 1-hour ERT session on 1 coaster of your choice at any park in the city. You choose... Mako 15. Holiday In The Park vs. Winterfest. Who reigns supreme? I'd have to say Winterfest 16. Mystic Timbers mystery shed or Wicker Man fire infusion? Wicker Man 17. Which Six Flags have you been to most recently? Six Flags Great America. 18. Intamin or Schwarzkopf? You may only choose one. Intamin. 19. Battle of Kings Coasters: Island or Dominion? Pick one. Dominion. 20. What was the longest you waited for a ride/coaster in 2018? 1.5 at Coastermania for Steel Vengeance. 21. What roller coaster have you ridden more than any other? Matterhorn. Rode it a ton when I was a kid. 22. Best drop tower under 150 feet? Maverick. 23. Maverick or Millennium Force? (If you haven't been to CP, pick what you want to ride more) Whichever line is shorter. 24. Log flumes or sky rides? You can only choose one. Log flumes. 25. What are 3 things you enjoying doing at your home park other than riding rides? Taking photos 26. What is your second favorite Cedar Fair park and why? Kings Dominion. Great coasters, nicely landscaped... 27. What is your home park and give us two good reasons why we should pay it a visit. Not much to choose from in North Dakota. Valleyfair is closest, but its worth the extra drive to SFGAm. 28. Launch or Lift? Lift. 29. Did you buy fast pass at all in 2018? We Call em FU passes and yes we did. Totally worth it. Thanks Robb and Coaster Bill! 30. What is your least favorite wooden coaster? Beast, Holiday World. Twister rebuild at Elitch's gets a nomination as well. 31. Disney fanboys: cool or cult? Cult. 32. Best Batman themed ride? Batman @ SFMM 33. Name something that tend to take home from parks that you didn't bring with you. Magnets. We've got scores of them. 34. Best wooden coaster over 110 feet tall? (rcdb will help you) Lightning Rod. El Toro is still technically a woodie, right? LR by a little. 35. Have you ever been hit with something (loose change/a tree/vomit/etc) while riding something? Nope. 36. Skywarps: credits or no? State your case. No. 37. Turkey legs: nah or yaaaaassssss? Nah. 38. What is the most recent B&M that you rode? Raging Bull in the back seat! 39. You can eat nothing but corn dogs, churros or funnel cake for the next 48 hours, which do you choose? Funnel cake. 40. Post a great on-ride shot of you from 2018. (DO IT!) That's our Coaster crew on Labor Day Weekend

Taron, Helix, Balder, Ex GeForce, Nemesis, the new one(s) going up in Poland. That crazy water ride at Phantasialand is high on the list, too.