AirMBTB

When I visit La Ronde, should I attempt to speak the couple words of French I know? Or should I just speak in English? I can say "Bonjour" and "Merci," but not much else. I've heard they are rude if you don't attempt to speak French, and I've heard they are rude if you do attempt to speak French I can get through most of my day w/out saying much to park employees, just curious what the etiquette is.

How do I tell which is track 1 and which is track 2? Green/yellow and red/purple?

^One of my reasons for wanting to get on Le Monstre quick is that... as soon as they announced it was getting PTCs (2 yrs ago?) I knew it would eventually tear itself apart. I remember the Bill Cobb interview (probably in Amusement Park Journal) stating the structure and track are designed for certain train weight. I think I heard Le Monstre now has some topper track? Smart move! I know it's not the best, but I've a feeling I'll like it

^Somewhere between GWAR and Power Rangers... basically, freakin' awesome!

^Thank you! That clears a lot up. I might shift my trip a couple days and try to get to La Ronde on Saturday; I know it might be crowded, but it's best bet for both side of Le Monstre being open.

I'm over 30, and I'll be heading to the park next week. I, too, hope I don't look creepy with no kids! It will be a short visit between other parks. Must ride Gravity Group coaster! "I'm just big for my age because we live near the power lines."

Thanks for the info, I'll be driving in. If anyone cares to draw on the map where exactly I go (which is the main lot and which is the overflow? which is the main gate and which is the secondary? Are both always open?), please post it or send in an IM. Thanks guys

The 3 "oldies" (Whizzer, American Eagle and Demon ) are outstanding at night. Whizzer is especially charming and special then; it's dark and cool under those trees! Plus, these 3 have shorter lines at the end of the day. I would also suggest riding Giant Drop at night for the great views; try to get a seat facing American Eagle! GD is sometimes a walk-on late in the day. For the newer coasters, Viper is ok... it and Whizzer are notably faster after a long day of warming up. Whatever you do, don't miss seat #3 on Viper, day or night. If you like "charm" at all, you might check out some of the classic/older flats like Hometown Fun Machine (Scrambler), Triple Play (Troika), East River Crawler/Lobster (Schwarzkopf Monster), Orbit and Richochet. They all have great lighting at night... No heavily programmed LED packages, mind you, just nicely designed and maintained "classic" lighting.

Orient Express @ WOF Zippin Pippin, Revolution @ Libertyland Texas Cyclone, XLR-8, Viper, Serpent, Excalibur @ Astroworld Z-Force/Flashback Tidal Wave/Greezed Lightnin' Avalanche Bobsled/Disaster Disco Afterburner @ Fun Spot Screamin' Demon, King Kobra @ KI Colossus Texas Giant Shockwave @ SFGAm GASM @ SFGAd Chiller @ SFGAd Viper @ SFGAd (good riddance you hunk of trash!) Corkscrew, Double Loop and Villian @ Geauga Windjammer Jumbo Jet @ Coney Island Wildcat @ CP Thunder Road Rolling Thunder Kiddie Coaster @ Sauzer's Kiddieland Rattler @ SFFT Cyclone @ SFNE Steel Phantom Galaxi @ Indiana Beach Zingo and Wildcat @ Bell's Big Bad Wolf Galaxi @ KD and a few relocations, most notably the Anton shuttles and Zambezi Zinger is VERY missed...

^Sorry to hear about your friend's father. From my experience, Sundays are nuts in October. Even the coldest days are crowded, but there are flukes. Make sure to stay late; half the crowd goes home during the last 2 hours.

From google maps and the La Ronde home page, it looks like there are 2 entrances to the park? Plenty of folks have told me it's hard to find the entrance from the bridge... can anyone explain the best way to get into the parking lot and park?

You don't think they would do anything Bizarro-ish with American Eagle? I saw the first hill decked out in purple on my way home from the Wisconsin State Fair last week. I'd be hearbroken if RMC got their hands on Eagle. Well... except maybe adding topper track to the helix(s) so it could run full-speed again. The PTCs on AE are surely Frankensteined, but it still feels like a woodie. It runs fair to good most of the time; but after a little track work, and if you're lucky to get a brakeless ride, it's a top-notch woodie.

More spiders! They are part of the charm of Cedar Point (at some point the coaster gods exchanged their trees for spiders)! I remember the crazy freaking huge spiders in the Cedars dorms when I lived there. A custodian would come by once a week and hose the breezeways in an attempt to drown out a certain percentage of spiders. We used to say the spiders were good luck.

2006? Really? That was the last time I was at the park. My experience was so bad, I vowed not to go back for at least 10 years; my three visits to the park before 2006 were also bad, but 2006 took the cake. It was like the worst qualities of Magic Mountain and Great America thrown into one... I have to admit, I miss Skull Mountain. Not a Toro fan though. My friends who call Great Adventure their home park insist it's better now?

^I would say 9:30 at the latest. A few weeks ago, I met up with an out of town friend very early (before opening) at the park. By the time we got in and walked back to Goliath, the line was already WAY long (before the ride was open). Low and behold, a TPR member was first in line We skipped it until later. I've never done Goliath first thing. The queue is always a mess; the single rider line "isn't open" or has operational issues, the ride has operational issues, and I'm just not a big Goliath fan in general. Plus, the running of the David's to get back there... eat or be eaten! But if you really want to be amongst the first, you'd better get there early and head over to the mass crowd that gathers in front of the bridge/rope drop area.

Me too, but I think we're getting over saturated with them. They all have a very similar feel to me. Except Thunderbird; they really gave it personality and all the surroundings make the ride three times as more fun. I generally like Wild Mouses (especially the old Hershell and Miler ones!)... but have you been on the one at Lake Winnie? I thought the last curve was going to pull my head off or spine out! It's one of the few times I'd say they need to add trims. Heck yeah! Love em! The only lateral spots I have a problem with is the *snapping* stuff; B&M corkscrews ("flat spins") have that snap at the top. I never understood the attraction, but people seem to like those. And Maverick, I-305; all that snap action (I'll have to admit, I'm looking forward to Maverick with the new soft harnesses). It seems so extreme, but again, they have their audience as well. Coaster life would be boring if we all had the same opinion.

I sometimes think the reason some people don't care for Legend is because "laterals" have become a lost art. Many of us crazy park goers are part of the "B&M generation" where all the forces are directed straight up or straight down into the seat, so laterals may seem strange or rough. One friend complained "they forgot the bank the turn coming out of the helix!" That lack of banking is what makes it so awesome! My favorite part of the ride! Legend has had it's share of potholes, which have been relieved over the years... but I think what really gets people is the laterals. The seat divider does make it difficult sometimes, but lean into your riding partner, that helps! Could be a little awkward if you don't know the person too well, but darnit it's a roller coaster! You're supposed to move around and bump/squish into each other. From year to year, Raven and Voyage seem rougher to me (in terms of track condition). Legend had those laterals purposely built into it. Total respect for other opinions, just my 2 cents I'd be heartbroken if Legend got an RMC makover. How about a brand new RMC wooden hybrid coaster for Holiday World? Pre-lift section, lift, wild ride... launch, wild ride, etc. etc. etc... think of all the trees, tunnels, trenches and fly-bys!!!

I'll trade ya! You can have my 12 hour drive and SF Great America Either way, Knoebels is worth the drive. Looking forward to PPP!

Well the trees could help out by blocking the.... oh wait, forget it. (sorry, had to!)

On Thunderbird media day, the brake was on at first. Then it was off for a while, still early in the day. I had 4 or 5 brakeless Voyage rides; one of the coaster cats (maintenance) was up in the station, grinning. Then he was gone, and the brake was back on.

A few people have suggested to the park they run it brakeless only on certain occasions, like an hour during HWN or that sort of thing. That would be a nice compromise and huge bonus to those who prefer the mid-course brake off. A kindly reminder: if you have a suggestion or complaint for the park, do it in a nice way. Personally, I don't mind the near-stop. Of course, I love the brakeless fuLlThroTtle Voyage as well, but I can ride it more when the brake is on. Plus... what a great view!

I agree here... but how about tunnels and flying by stuff? A pre-lift? Those are not necessarily theme elements. They are just "cool and unique" things that people would enjoy and remember about the ride. Have you been on Thunderbird? If you rode Thunderbird and also rode a clone of Thunderbird - built on a parking lot, they would be equal experiences to you?

Height and speed are great! People sure do love that stuff! But how about a world-class ride with unique "stuff"? A nice tunnel or two? A much needed pre-lift section? How about that splash-down effect Cedar Point still doesn't have? Trenches with a walk-over bridge? Some fake caves like the good old Demon at Great America? Trees? Surely we can get trees? If the renderings are true, looks like the Point will be getting a fairly plane-jane coaster. Leave station -> turn to lift -> go up lift.... -> tall, downward sloping brake run (what a waste of energy!). Sure, it will be fun and people will love it... but it would be nice if they came up with something truly stunning and unique. For example, Thunderbird at Holiday World blew my socks off; the few bells and whistles really make it! Cedar Point could do all that and more, but as a friend reminded me "they don't have to." Just my 2 cents. (I know I know.. the park isn't there to build it for me and all that... )

^^Absolutely! Thanks for the reminder that I need sometimes! Imagine a "classic Blue Streak" returning! I could be wrong, but I believe Chance offers brand new Zippers. Complete with fancy new led lighting packages. Cedar Point would need about 4 of them though, in an attempt to keep up with demand. I always thought it would be nice if they could be loaded horizontally; there would be 2 loading steps, then the ride could go.

If you ride the front row you will miss the air on the first drop. You will be very sad. And so will I. Actually, I found there was "uplift forces" (as much air time as you can get being synched and stapled to the hard plastic seat) in the front seat on the first drop. Do yourself a favor and ride front and back. A friend advised me to check out the front, at night, last year... one of the better rides I've had on Goliath. My favorite spots are the first turn and the dive loop through the mountain of wood.