bgtlover

Spring break in Hillsborough County ended last week, so I wouldn't imagine Quick Queue would be necessary. Have a great trip! BGT must be forecasting the park to be busy seeing as Quick Queue is listed at $71.99 for the rest of the month: Regardless however, I would wait until at the park before ever buying Quick Queue at BGT to see if it's worth it. I've gone during the week before Easter and it be packed full of people, then sometimes not too bad. Just because Hillsborough County already had their spring break, doesn't mean the park will be dead. About half (or more) of the rest of the state is out next week, plus vacationers from other areas.

Before the gloom and doom posts come along in thinking they're removing the elephants or the park is in full demise mode (trust I've seen in it in another forum already today), the reasoning is as follows: touringcentralflorida.com/2018/03/23/asian-elephant-spike-leaves-busch-gardens-tampa/

Oooooooooh....Something to add to my trip in June. I'm already going to do one of the mountain coasters (probably Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster since it's the longest/first one built there).

They open at 10am on the weekdays when they are going. This also means that Mako may not open until 11am (I've had this happen to me on a couple occasions). But the rest however is about on point for a weekday around that time. On a side note, on peak attendance days (like Spring Break, Bring a Friend month on weekends- usually in Sept., and holidays I've seen the line reach over 90 minutes for Mako. Of course they aren't going on a busy day so it doesn't apply.

Honestly on a weekday during the last week of April, it may be a waste getting Quick Queue, even at that price. All the schools in the state will be in session during that time since Spring Break/Easter is early this year. The only rides that will have more than a couple train waits will be Cheetah Hunt and Cobra's Curse. Montu, Kumba and SheiKra will likely be walk-on. I'd wait until you're at the park to purchase personally. I've seen countless people waste $ getting it and there were literally no lines whatsoever on slow days at BGT. (Well maybe it wasn't a waste to them, but to each their own...lol) As far as how they work, QQ has a separate line either at the entrance or exit of the rides. You just enter when you want to ride.

There are 3 B&M Dive coasters in the US. One is about an hour SE of Kings Dominion. That would be an unwise investment no matter how tall or differing the layout may be. If anything, a Wing Coaster (launched or not) could work seeing as there are none nearby. That is unless that's something BGW is working on in the next few years. I could see a B&M Invert or Hyper show up before a Dive...ever. As far as exclusivity? Some say it's 10 years, some say eternity. Then there are those who say # of years before a similar model. I don't think anyone here knows the 100% true answer.

Seriously? Woman Sues Dollywood for $400,000 Over Theme Park Injury

You can now get Year-Round Quick Queue at Busch Gardens Tampa for $299 ($269 if with an annual or platinum pass). Strange the park isn't promoting this more. Has the company not learned from their lack of marketing over the last few years? I mean, how much does it cost to make a FB, Twitter or IG post? attractionsmagazine.com/busch-gardens-tampa-introduces-year-round-quick-queue-pass-299/

Here is the link to the height restrictions: https://www.cedarpoint.com/help/ride-policies Gatekeeper, Maverick, Millennium Force, Rougarou, Top Thrill Dragster & Wicked Twister all have maximum height as 78" (6'6"). Slingshot is 79" (6'7")

You could go to Dorney Park with your platinum pass if you wanted to as well. It's about 3 hours north of DC. From my understanding, you wouldn't need a full day there unless you wanted to go to the waterpark. It could easily be a day trip. Better yet: You can also go to Kings Island while you're in OH. It's about 3-3.5 hours from Cedar Point.

If anyone is interested in the SpringHill Suites being built at Carowinds for 2019, here are the plans. Interestingly, on page 28, it shows a spot labeled "Sportsplex Building" just to the NW of the hotel site. https://www.docdroid.net/lWIHkcR/approvedldc-2017-003621.pdf

I prefer a month to month rate on annual passes, hence why I've had a BGT/SWO pass on EZ pay for only $10 a month since 2007 (same pass to start over would be over $18/month currently). Even if we don't get to either park during the year, it's not that big a deal as there are some years we go numerous times to either so it evens out for us. Monthly payments definitely are better when you have a fixed income. This year we got CF Platinum Passes with 9 month payments, which is a lot easier to do than fork out $260 with Fun Pix, tax & fees all at once for me. The one time I had a Six Flags season pass was in 2008 and paid it all at once (and not during any special sale either). I was only able to use it one time at SFOG on a busy Saturday in May. I rode 3 coasters with 2-3 hour waits for almost all the coasters. I had injured my knee (torn MCL) pretty bad about a month after that visit and wasn't able to visit any parks for a while. I had plans of going to Texas to SFOT & SFFT that year too. It's the most wasted pass I had that year (I also had a Carowinds pass that was used on 3 trips in addition to the SW/BG pass). Had there been a monthly option, the blow might not have been as bad, even though I was still paying the same in the long run. Monthly payments definitely are better when you have a fixed income.

It makes it crazy this time of year trying to go to the parks during Spring break season. My hubby works for the schools here so we usually go with family to either SeaWorld Orlando and/or Busch Gardens Tampa during that time (we get them discount tickets). It never fails to be one of the busier times we go (Christmas/NYE being the busiest). If none of the family is planning to go, we just don't this time of year...lol I think however we may go to BGT the day before Easter since Boyz II Men will be performing there. It's one of the few concerts I'd like to go during the Food & Wine Festival this year. That's a Saturday...oh joy...lol We already know it's going to be packed just because of Spring Break, but also a Saturday with a major concert/festival going on too. I don't intend on riding much that day.

^It varies by state, county and city. Even with colleges/universities and public schools. It could fall anywhere from the end of February to the end of April depending on location. Where I live (in Florida) there are already several counties out for spring break, but the county I live in is the week before Easter. My nephews & niece in Georgia has the week after Easter off, as do the schools where I grew up in Charlotte, NC. It can be confusing since it's never all at the same time.

^The only time I've ever seen them block off rows was for quick queue at any SW/BG park (Kraken & Montu specifically), and never on Manta since QQ merges at the station.

And it was your trip report that made sure I didn't reserve the Super 8 for my first trip this June...lol We ended up booking the Microtel for 2 nights with a total of $125 including tax (Thursday & Fri night) on a brand special.

^^It's used. It came from Lake City Amusement Park in Guntersville, AL. https://rcdb.com/16109.htm

I guess I got pretty lucky getting Cedar Point Express for $99 a night in June as soon as they made them available to reserve...lol

^I'm planning to go in June as an added park on our road trip (from FL to Carowinds/Cedar Point/Kings Island/Knoxville and back). We'll only have maybe 4-5 hours to spend at the park between leaving Mason, OH and arrive in Knoxville by dinner time. I have been assured by several people that 4 hours should be plenty for the coasters and flats I wish to do; some saying I might only need 2 hours...lol. Most agree the water park is busier than the dry side. I suppose it depends on how much you want to do there. They have the out-of-state special for $39.99 admission which includes free drinks, and a 2nd day free during the 2018 season (they go on sale in April). I'm usually pretty frugal when it comes to going to a new-to-me park, and suppose $40 for 4 hours isn't too bad. I generally don't plan going to a new place like that and not stay all day, but since we'll be so close, I'd hate to pass it up not knowing when I'll be in the area again. https://www.kentuckykingdom.com/out-of-state-visitors/

Bert... Here is the link to the ground transportation options at the Greenville/Spartanburg International Airport. They have several rental car agencies there. There is Alamo, Enterprise, Avis, Budget, Hertz and Thrifty/Dollar Rent-A-Car there. (There is the smaller Greenville Downtown Airport that is a general aviation airport that likely has none in case you were looking at a map.) https://www.gspairport.com/hire-ground-transportation/

Stanley Falls Flume is having it's scheduled annual maintenance currently.

And you know this how? Did the dipping dots guy give you some inside knowledge? Dude, Cedar Fair has been on a mission to rid themselves of stand up coasters. Common sense should tell you the last one is getting it too. It may get converted eventually...but not for 2019. Something will be going in the area that White Water Falls, Sand Dune Lagoon & Thunder Road's station was, including the flyers that are on hiatus this year while construction takes place. We'll see... Cedar Fair let that empty space sit at Canada's Wonderland for awhile...I'm guessing they'll do the same thing here at Carowinds. Canada's Wonderland is getting the huge investment in 2019. Dorney looks to be doing the same thing Knotts did. Too many patterns here. The stand up conversion every 2 years is looking very promising. I can see your prediction happening in 2020 though. But CGA also may be getting that hyper too soon. Carowinds may have to wait for their next big coaster in 3 - 4 years. " Project Alpha", which is shown in the permits filed (shown 3 pages ago), were filed in South Carolina (York County). Vortex, Hurler and the hotel are all in North Caroina. If it were a Vortex or Hurler conversion, the permit (s) would have been filed in NC (Mecklenburg County). The project will be in the area noted in my previous reply. There will be no Vortex conversion in 2019.

And you know this how? Did the dipping dots guy give you some inside knowledge? Dude, Cedar Fair has been on a mission to rid themselves of stand up coasters. Common sense should tell you the last one is getting it too. It may get converted eventually...but not for 2019. Something will be going in the area that White Water Falls, Sand Dune Lagoon & Thunder Road's station was, including the flyers that are on hiatus this year while construction takes place.

Well now I won't get to ride it. I've never been on one. I should have when I had the armband back in September. Oh well. I guess I can go to the one in Kissimmee if I want to ride one (unless I end up at a fair with one).