bgtlover

First Ridden: Carolina Goldrusher @ Carowinds First with inversions: Carolina Cyclone @ Carowinds

Current Home Parks: Busch Gardens Tampa 1. Montu 2. Cheetah Hunt 3. Kumba 4. SheiKra 5. Cobra's Curse 6. Scorpion * * 7. Sand Serpent 8. Air Grover SeaWorld Orlando 1. Mako 2. Kraken 3. Manta 4. Journey To Atlantis 5. Shamu Express Actual Closest Park To Me: Wild Adventures 1. Viking Voyage 2. Cheetah 3. Boomerang 4. Go Bananas! 5. Swamp Thing 6. Twisted Typhoon 7. Ant Farm Express Former Home Park: Carowinds 1. Fury 325 2. Afterburn 3. Intimidator 4. Carolina Goldrusher * 5. Woodstock Express 6. The Flying Cobras 7. Carolina Cyclone 8. Nighthawk 9. Vortex 10. Ricochet 11. Hurler * 12. Flying Ace Arial Chase 13. Lucy's Crabby Cabbie *Defunct Coasters in <>

Favorite and most intense as I've only ridden a few: Mind Bender @ SFOG Only other's ridden are: Viper (SFOG) Scorpion (BGT)

My top 5 of those ridden (so far): 1. Cheetah Hunt @ BGT (on the fence as this being a family coaster with the inversion. It was marketed as one so...) 2. White Lightning @ Fun Spot America Orlando 3. Cobra's Curse @ BGT 4. Firechaser Express @ Dollywood 5. Expedition Everest @ DAK

Expedition Everest

Thunder Road (Carowinds) Flying Super Saturator (Carowinds) Big Bad Wolf (BGW) Drachen Fire (BGW) Wild Maus (BGW) [Moved to BGT but gone from where I first rode it] Hurler (KD) [being converted so basically no more] Shockwave (KD) Viper (SFOG) Gwazi (BGT) [sBNO, but doubt it will be resurrected] Sideshow Spin (Dollywood)

Kraken I have no others to compare it to as of yet (unless you count dive machines). But it's still my #3 overall!

My 3 Favs: Dollywood Busch Gardens Williamsburg Busch Gardens Tampa

Oldest: Dahlonega Mine Train at SFOG. Oldest Wooden was also at SFOG: Great American Scream Machine.

So...has anything started happening on the site where this is going? I hadn't noticed anything the past few times I've been over by there (last time I rode by was in April).

Steel: Fury 325 (Also overall) Wood: Thunderhead

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinity_Coaster

Fun Spot America has added another park to it's family of parks: Fun Junction USA in Fayetteville, GA (south of Atlanta). I was just thinking the other day about how it would be great if they expanded and either built new parks, or took over some struggling existing ones. I've also seen in this thread people wishing this as well, so here you go. Side note...would be nice if they could take over Daytona's Boardwalk Amusements. https://www.facebook.com/FunSpotAmerica/posts/10156313909696978

If you're more budget conscious, then I would say drive halfway and spend the night somewhere midway. Then get up early and drive the rest of the way to your first park/destination. If you have the funds to blow and don't mind dealing with the airports and car rentals then flying to your destination and renting a car sounds good. 9 hours really isn't that bad. That's about how far I am from Dollywood and we had no issues getting there by car (my partner did all the driving). We left about 1am and made it to the exit for Dollywood in Sevierville about 10am-ish. I think we stopped maybe 4 or 5 times for short breaks including breakfast, getting gas (twice), restroom and him getting coffee on the way up. Of course driving overnight is a bit easier with little to no traffic (even going through Atalanta and Chattanooga). Coming back was a little more adventurous going through the Smokys and stopping at multiple places to take in the view so it took a bit longer getting back (about 12 hours). Next year we're going to be driving to Cedar Point from here, which is about 15 hours. We're going to Carowinds on the way for a few hours, leave and head a couple hours north to Virginia to spend the night and drive the rest of the way the next day. We're looking at 2-3 days there before heading to Kings Island for a couple days. After that if it's in our budget/have time for a stop at Kentucky Kingdom then staying the night in Knoxville or Gatlinburg (visit with a friend as well there) area before making the rest of the trip home. I would love to hit up Dollywood again, but because of time I doubt we could fit it in (and have never been to Kentucky Kingdom). We looked into possibly flying up, but we'd only end up with CP & KI and possibly having to sacrifice on accommodations due to the added cost of the flights and car rental. There is a lot of driving/riding involved, but I'd rather use any extra funds on nicer places to stay and Fast Lane+ a day each at CP & KI since I have no idea when I'll be able to return.

OWA opens July 21st! https://www.facebook.com/VisitOWA/posts/1422154017838441:0 Hours and admission prices on their website: visitowa.com/the-amusement-park/

Video of Rollin Thunder testing from the park's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VisitOWA/videos/1420090108044832/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED [fbvideonew] [/fbvideonew]

Someone beat me to it...carry on...

Mine blower is 82 ft. OH yeah...duh. Had a memory lapse at 2AM....lol

I've never gotten/used one before. I will however be taking advantage of the free Quick Queue Unlimited we'll be getting for staying at a SeaWorld partner hotel in September. My sister and her man are bringing my nephew down for his 10th birthday. My partner and I get a bring a friend ticket (one free on each pass) and my nephew will get in half price. Having the quick queue for all of us this time will be great since it will be their first time to the park. It will almost be worth it for Antartctica Empire of the Penguin alone. While it's not the best ride, it's still worth doing it since this will be a first for them. We usually skip it if the line is more than 15 minutes. Last year we went with other family (also on the last Saturday of Sept with bring a friend tickets) and the park was packed. Mako had an hour wait, as did Manta. Normally we avoid going on weekends since we're pass members, but when you're on other folks time you have to go when they're able to for these perks (when you really want certain people to go that is). Next year I am planning a Carowinds-Cedar Point-Kings Island-possible Kentucky Kingdom trip. Carowinds will be a half day since I've been going there since I was 5. It's mostly to ride Fury 325, see the new County Fair area, check out any additions for next year and process our platinum passes. Cedar Point will be 2-3 days and KI 1.5-2 days, with a half day or so at KK if we have time at the end. I definitely plan on getting Fast Lane + at both CP & KI for one of the full days in each of those parks, even though it will be on weekday. There is just so much to do and so little time to get it done that I know we'll need it. It will be my first time at those parks and want to be sure be able to enjoy them with minimal lines. The other days there will just be riding favorites or anything missed. All in all, I say they are worth it depending on the circumstance. For parks near home I can go to anytime I wouldn't bother (with the one time exception of SWO above since it comes free for staying there), For parks that you may not ever get to again, or at least for a long time I would say it's worth it if the park is busy.

White Lightning at Fun Spot America Orlando.

These are those that were in operation while visiting the park- Carowinds: (Original Home Park) White Lightnin'- I was 11 when it was removed. Even though I was tall enough to ride by age 9 or 10, I was afraid of coasters at the time. Fortunately I was able to ride Viper at SFOG before it was removed so at least I've ridden a shuttle loop. SFOG: Wile E. Coyote Canyon Blaster (now Joker Funhouse Coaster)- Park was insanely busy last time I went so I didn't get to ride it. I learned my lesson about going on a Saturday in May. Of course I didn't have any other option since park was only open weekends while there last. IOA: Pteranodon Flyers- I didn't have a child to ride with (and the park was empty the one time I actually tried...lol) USF: Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster- Not sure why I skipped it. I rode Flying Unicorn next door. (I hadn't been to Universal since 2008) Disney's Animal Kingdom: Primeval Whirl (either one)- the park was extremely packed the one time I've been and they were only running the right coaster. I still hadn't ridden a spinning mouse yet. That will change soon when I go back to Fun Spot in Kissimmee later this summer. Fun Spot America Kissimmee: Rockstar Coaster Kiddie Coaster- I didn't ride anything when I went to the park last week. I just stopped by on my way to SeaWorld to hopefully see Mine Blower testing as it made it's first run the night before.

Oh man, it was AWFUL. One and done. I can handle rough/bad coasters pretty well but Vortex is definitely up there with the worst coasters I've ever ridden. CGA Vortex was awful and this one is too. I haven't ridden Patriot yet, but a conversion cannot make it worse than it already is. #teamconvertit Cyclone hurt too but not nearly as bad. It was boring along with Goldrusher and Hurler. As of now, I really have no desire to ride anything again except Fury, Intimidator, Afterburn, and maybeee Nighthawk. When I got done with the PoS known as Vortex, Fury was down for a bit because an employee was under the ride doing something, so I left to take lunch/hotel break. Vortex was great in it's early days. It wasn't too bad last time I was there in 2015, but was still a one and done. I say convert as well. Hurler was once great as well the first several years it was open. However since they added that trim at the bottom, I almost fall asleep after the first drop. I would say convert it as well, but the park really needs a great ground up wooden coaster (GCI please?). Goldrusher I love for nostalgia since it was the first coaster I fell in love with and second coaster I ever rode. Woodstock Express, then known as Scooby Doo, was my first and I was tricked to get on it at the age of five. It scared me to death and wouldn't get on anything for years after that. Of course I still get a ride each visit. Carolina Cyclone was my first looper and it, like the others, was much better years ago. I only ride it once per visit. Maybe it's just getting older, but I'm scared I'll get whiplash on those corkscrews (and that turn from hell before it). Would be nice to get the Vekoma trains to breathe new life into it, should they keep it in service for years to come. You can keep Nighthawk, I loved it when I first rode in 2008. but the last time I couldn't wait to get off and just tear it down...lol

Intimidator has bins in the station. That slows things down quite a bit. At least it did last time I was there. They don't seem to hustle as much either and it had perhaps a 15-20 minute wait, vs. Fury 325's 5-10 minute with about the same amount of people in line. I know this can vary by day or hour, but just an observation last visit.

They had it under maintenance recently and was closed for about 5 months. It has been open however since. Unless the construction started again in the last few days then I'm not aware of anything going on yet. I happen to love Sand Serpent. It was my very first wild mouse coaster while it was still at BGW. I was happy it found a home BGT. It ALWAYS has a line when I'm at the park (mind you yes, it is low capacity, but a line none the less). Enclosing it will do wonders for the ride. Of course I would prefer the rumored hyper, giga or wing coaster that has been going around for years, but I'll live with it I guess.

As mentioned previously ride Nighthawk first as it's line gets ridiculous fast. Ricochet also has a very slow moving line so if you're dead set on the credit, run over there after Nighthawk (also mentioned) because it definitely gets worse later in the day. From there to save a bunch of backtracking, head back towards Goldrusher and County Fair and ride as you get to the rides (counter-clockwise around the park). Fortunately the park in general is not that huge and has the shortcut under NIghthawk that bypasses Planet Snoopy making backtracking easier if you need to. Speaking of Planet Snoopy, be sure to ride Woodstock Gliders if your into flying scooters as they are among the best around. For food, there are many great cuisine options at Harmony Hall for varying tastes...and it's indoors. Whatever you decide on doing, be sure that you ride Intimidator BEFORE riding Fury 325. Otherwise, Intimidator will be a HUGE let down.