bgtlover

It's not hot everywhere in Florida...lol:

^Many other Quaker State locations (including those in Cleveland & Cincinnati) are open til 11pm M-TH and FRi/Sat til Midnight or 1AM normally. Not sure about the one in Sandusky when CP is open. You may need to check back in a few months to see any update or you could even call the location to find out what their hours are usually when you plan to go.

They had their own version of Dinos during 2016. This will use the same area. I must say that they are really trying to keep with being a local family park. Once again another attraction that doesn't interest me. It's the closest park to me too (by a few miles). I've only been once in 2012.

Winterfest is a family-geared event. Not an enthusiasts wet dream. Sorry. Plus while the climate is milder than most other CF parks, it does actually get cold at night during December...and it's a night time event where the temps are already dropping. Many other parks are open during the day where the coasters have been operating already. Operating a coaster less than half the height (Afterburn) is doable...weather permitting of course.

^ I was there last Tuesday and the only coasters that had a line were Cheetah Hunt and Cobra's Curse after I arrived about 3PM. Each had about a 30 minute wait according to the wait times. I only did Cheetah Hunt of those 2 and it was actually only about 20 minutes. Montu was a walk on and Kumba & SheiKra had maybe 1-2 train waits. It would appear you're going on the 17th if I'm correct? If so the local schools will still be in session the next day so I'm thinking you'll be good crowd-wise. Several of the FL school districts were originally scheduled to have that week off, but are making up days because of Irma that week. If the park is busier than you'd like you can still get the QQ if you need it. If you really want to see the Christmas shows, they run some of them all day so you can catch them earlier so you're able to see all the outdoor lights and light shows once it gets dark. Be sure you visit Santa at Santa's House in the Nairobi area. It's across from the Nairobi Train Station. You get to meet Mrs. Clause and sit on Santa's lap. Afterwards you get a cookie and option to buy your photo. I would do this earlier on as you're strolling around the park. They also have a meet and greet with Rudolph and friends that's located in Pantopia by the theater. That one gets busy. I believe they both start allowing visits at 2PM (they did when we went). As far as the shows, we only watched about half of Christmas Celebration at the Dragon Fire Grill in Pantopia. It's a cute traditional show with lots of singing, dancing and Santa. We wanted to be sure to see everything else so passed on the other indoor shows. I have seen Christmas On Ice at the Moroccan Theater before and it was good if you enjoy ice shows. In addition to the indoor shows, there are a few other outdoor stages. One in the Bird Gardens with a Nativity scene featuring a musician playing traditional carols (there was a violinist when we went). There is also the Holly Hills Band that performs on a stage at the old Gwazi entrance. Those usually start around 5pm. There are also a couple of light shows. One in Jungala on a Christmas tree that starts every 10 minutes (on the 10s). It lasts about 5-6 minutes. The other is on the Serengeti Overlook Restaurant (Crown Colony House) that plays a medley of different versions of Carol Of The Bells. It also plays every 10 minutes on the 10s and lasts about 5 minutes. I personally enjoyed the latter more. They also open up the Gwazi Park area (Christmas Town Village) where they have various vendors with food, drinks (yes some alcoholic), gifts, trackless train ride, train sets, photo ops and more. They do a sing-a-long on the Christmas Town Express (Serengeti Express) in the evenings. [edit] P.S. Cheetah Hunt is amazing at night...as are the others.

Waterpark to break ground on December 14th for a Summer 2018 opening: https://www.facebook.com/GrandTexas/ https://www.facebook.com/BigRiversWaterpark/

Platinum gives you preferred parking at all the SW & BG parks. [edit] It used to (I went to BGW with my FL Platinum in '08 and got preferred). I see now that the BGW Platinum is good for the VA parks and the FL parks get preferred in FL. Maybe they were being generous.

It was actually once a great ride....before you were born...lol It was my second Arrow coaster, and first rode it in the early/mid '90s. The one BGT credit I will never have. It was closed down before my first visit 10 years ago.

Easter falls on April 1 in 2018. I can say from my experience in 2014 that about the week before that date (March 24-27), it was cold and snowed one day while I was staying in Pigeon Forge. Does it do this every year? Maybe, maybe not. It's kind of a crap shoot that time of year. It just so happened that it snowed on the Tuesday I was there and the park was not scheduled to be open (the park was closed on Tuesday that early in the season). I went to the park the day before and the weather was fine with highs in the mid 50s. The day after (Wednesday) however, the park opened on time, but most of the coasters didn't until about 12:30-ish due to the cold temps (was 34 when we arrived). The high that day was about 45. So if you can take the cold temps and it doesn't stay so cold the rides won't open you should be fine. I grew up in Charlotte, so I knew about the weather in the area (I live in FL now). My partner planned that trip as a birthday surprise. Had I been in the know, I would have suggested going in mid May. Riding Wild Eagle in 40 degree temps was not the best (walked off freezing), but it was open and the trip paid for....lol

^I can't wait to see the video(s).

When I've used it in the past, you just got on the bus. I believe they take your name/check ID, but that's it from what I remember to get to the park. Once arriving at the park, the driver instructed us to go to guest services for a return ticket (for the Busch Gardens Shuttle/Express) that you present to the driver when boarding for return to Orlando. Mind you it's been 8 years since I used it, so things may have changed a bit. It used to cost $10 round trip back then (paid at guest services) or free if you had the Orlando Flex Ticket (no longer available). [edit to add] If the shuttle times to SW are not to your liking, you can take the I Drive Trolley to get there, or anywhere along I Drive (including Fun Spot Orlando). The Trolley drops off in the same place as cabs/uber/shuttles use at SW. www.iridetrolley.com/

^I was just showing that other parks have similar trees and Dollywood most likely didn't sell theirs to Carowinds.

Worlds Of Fun is putting up an identical tree in their park (screenshot below from Facebook today). Pretty sure they were specially made for the CF parks, not used/purchased from another park. The same looking tree will likely pop up at the other CF parks as well.

^Carowinds had been turning the Skytower into a Christmas tree for years even before Paramount, even though the park wasn't open. I believe they are turning Windseeker into one for Winterfest this year instead of Skytower (since it's scheduled to operate).

Upgrades require a permit.

[EDIT] Nevermind..I got the answers I needed.

I'm excited for Xstream Scream. I haven't been on one of those yet so I'll get the chance when I visit in June.

I honestly would prefer Gwazi back [as it was in 2007 when I first rode it]...lol MB was fine though the barrel roll, then every turn got worse IMO. White Lightning still reigns as #1 woody in FL for me.

I've only been on one: Mine Blower. I don't want to call it the best since I really didn't like it. I really tried to like it by riding a 2nd time later that day. It was worse than the first time. It gave me a headache and left the park. I was supposed to ride HeadSpin 360 and didn't after that experience. I guess I should have done it first...lol

Can you give me some landmarks/rides for this new flyer location? I can't quite picture where it will go. I only know where the coasters are and the Icee stand- priorities!! Haha In the area where the red circle is the approximate location.

Valleyfair will be closed today according to the park's Facebook page.

Because they're scheduled to be? I believe they are closed that Sunday because of a private event. They are open the following weekend and they begin Holiday In The Park on the 18th.

Wacky Worm at the Alachua County Fair (Belle City Amusements) this past Sunday (10/22). This is the 2nd WW in 2 weeks...lol

^It's going to be placed in a portion of White Water Falls plot. I hope they save the ride entrance that was once the entrance for the Hillbilly Jalopies and use it for the flyers.

Walmart has been using it for years...