coasterdave

July 22, 2007

Due to my little detour through the city, I was not able to hit all the parks as planned for I only hit one more park. I got to Keansburg around 9pm and got enough tickets to ride the coaster and I did not take my camera with me into this park since it was dark and was my newest camera. I had not mastered it yet.

Now come saturday morning and Great Adventure was the only park for today since something took place at one of the offices that heeded me to take care of. So it was just Great Adventure for the day and well short of the planned 400 coaster for me. Just give me a great excuse to try it again.

This is only the third time I have ever been to Great Adventure. Last time I was there was the season before Kingda Ka, so there was some new credit to be had. The main part for doing this trip was to ride El Toro. That is how this trip started out afew weeks back. I just sorta added parks along the way.

This was the best visit of the three times I had been to the park. Everything looked great and was impressed with some of the extras that I saw, but the most surprising thing I saw was when the park opened. It seemed that everyone went to get inline for Kingda Ka and I was really puzzled by that and after my one ride on Ka, I was thinking just how crazy that is. I followed the crowd till I knew I could split down by the tigers and head to El Toro.

I walked onto the front seat and was thinking something is about to go wrong for I can not have this much luck. I was thinking abit to much when the train engaged the cable car and up the lift we went. I am not going to bore the crap out of everyone with a second by second detail. I am just going to say it was well worth the long drive and I would do it again in a heart beat. I would just take another airline besides Delta next time.

Daffy awaits you!

One last look

Yes it was CLOSED

Another angle that many have saw

One of the turnarounds

Some Ka action for you

Change of pace pic

Bit of an Overview

Going Down!!!

Just liked the way this one turned out.

Pure Airtime Heaven!!!

The impressive structure of El Toro

Riders on their way to scream in pain?

Coat hanger inspired loop?

Thought it would make a good pic so I took it.

Both sides of Rotten Lumber where running and racing.

Grabbed a shot of Superman on the way in.

July 22, 2007

left Rye in enough time to hit the other 4 parks I had planned for the day. I had the GPS fired up giving some great direction till.....that one wrong right turn. That one wrong turn put me in what I have called the Tour De Manhattan. Let's just say it took me almost three hours to get righted in the right direction and traffic in the city is alot worse than I have heard. It cost me 13.50 in tolls to get back into Jersey. Will not be visiting the city of New York for about a million years.

I arrived at Bowcraft around 6:30 or so. They had two coasters and I was not sure if I could 'Whore' my way onto The Dragon. It was just a POP Admission to get into the park and I needed to get my 13.64 worth of rides. I hit Crossbow a few times and got to ride the Dragon before hitting the exit and off to the next park.

Next Stop on the trek is Bowcraft.

The Pig said bye on my way out to hit another park.

The Tail of the Dragon!

Must be interesting living here.

Train goes down the drop

The helix after the Helix

Crossbow awaits

Even have a area that is themed in the train ride.

They have a small train that goes around the park.

July 22, 2007

Next up was Rye Playland on the day. This was park #2 for the day after a short drive to it from Adventureland. I knew once I walked in that it was going to be hard to just stay awhile. I ended up staying two fun filled hours here. I know the next time I am in the area that I am dropping back in. It sorta reminded me of Lakeside in Denver. It is ashame that they are taking two of the dark rides out after this year.

I was denied the Olde Mill since you can not ride it with just one person now. So I guess that is a great excuse to go back to it and on to the pics.

The Ferris Wheel

The Olde Mill

The Family Flyer

Bet it was great riding in these cars back in the day.

The Flying Witch (Other one that is being removed)

Enter the Dragon

The Tower

Waiting in them to cross the road

The Shoot the Shoot

Log Flume station

Ran a slow and weak program

Riders screaming in....pain I would say.

The Torture Flyer

One of the many Dark Rides (One that is also being took out)

Up the lift we go.

First stop was Crazy Mouse

The landscaping is really great looking.

Lets gander at the map before entering

The Main Entrance Plaza

July 22, 2007

Since this is the first post in this ongoing thread, I will fill the back story abit. I was going on this Quest to find #400. I got a great deal on a flight on Delta to White Plains, NY. But as with a number of trips this year, Delta decided that it was axing the flight I was on going out Thursday morning. I decided that was not stopping me plus I had use Priceline for my hotels and was not going to eat those rooms. No use in throwing some greenbacks away.

I picked up a rental at the local excuse of an airport and headed out later than I had planned Thursday morning. I was making up time till I dropped into the inner loop around Baltimore. This is where it slows to a crawl. I thought I saw some ants out race me as I sit in traffic for about an hour or so.

I got to the hotel 764 miles total driven at 9:30 and decided there was no use to try to make it to Casino Pier. I need some wings and some rest. I planned out a new route for two days of non stop coaster riding.

So first thing Friday I was out of the hotel and on my way to Adventureland in Farmington, NY. This was the first in many stops for the day. I found this park enjoyable but was just dropping in to hit the two coasters. I also was denied the Darkride since you needed two people to ride it.

A really strange pic I got on my way to the rental.

A wall of water

These type of rides seem to be apearing everywhere these days.

Even had a Frisbee to enjoy

The Dark Ride I was denied on.

Happy riders returning to the station

Even had a Tunnel to it to enjoy.

Lady Bug Coaster is landscaped to what Lady Bugs like I guess.

The Hurricane

Twists and Turns

Coaster #1 of this trip 'The Hurricane'

The Side Entrance and exit to Park

July 5, 2007

Does your card have any other symbols on it? Such as Plus or Interlink? Is it just a debit card or is it a visa checkcard?

Have you contacted your bank and asked them about this. I am sure they would have an idea if you can use it in Germany. If they do not then it might be time to find another bank.

When I was stationed there in the late 90's I found ATM all over the place. There are a number of them in the airport that you are flying into. It has been a number of years since I have been in Germany. But it might be a great idea to take Traveler's Checks with you. You will find it alot easier to use them when converting dollars to Euro.

June 24, 2007

Someone needs to get out from behind their On-Ride Booth more often.

June 17, 2007

Seems someone takes their job abit to serious. It is wonderful that you are that caught up in your job that much but you are telling me that the On-Ride Booth Nazies can get someone kicked out of the park for such a minor thing. That is pretty laughable if you ask me.

Nice pics guys. Looks like everyone had a great time.

May 7, 2007

What about the one at Camden Park in West Virginia. If I am not mistaken that is also a Pretzel.

April 27, 2007

The Scramble was inside a building next to that Mine Type Ride (Walk Through Dark Ride Type). If you get off the Chair Lift and turn left and head to the lowest part of the Park (I think it was called Mine Town), It was in the building to your left. It was the first one I ever rode in the dark when I was knee high to a grasshopper.

Will be great to see what the place looks like on the 25th. And nice pics also Wes.

April 24, 2007

FYI: Any pics that where took inside the mine that where not already out there are not to be posted. If you would take the time to look around the net, I am sure you would see that all the pics I have in this PTR are already out there and cleared everyone that I posted for people's enjoyment. So I just reposted what was already out there.

April 23, 2007

I would say they are very noticable.

April 23, 2007

Yes there is only two inversion in the ride.

You will just have to wait and see what was added since you where there Kraken613. No need to spoil it for you.

April 22, 2007

You rode the Mine before everything was turned on kraken613. There was alot of areas that where black or just half on till the official opening on the 13th of April. Also I noticed afew new things that where not on for Media Day that was on this past saturday.

Maybe a return visit is in order for you then?

April 22, 2007

I guess I will be seeing you this coming saturday Jarvis. Not sure when the last time you where up there but some new additions have been added to the mine.

And as for request for me sending a link to see the inside pics, I will not be doing that. You will have to wait till mid to late summer for those pics, but I am sure someone else will post theirs before then.

April 22, 2007

For the third time in little over three weeks, I was back at Dollywood. I was there for an event this time around. DAFE was having their Great Smokey Mountain Haunted Mystery Tour this weekend. I was only doing the Dollywood part since I had way to much blasted paperwork to catch up on and it was the Spring Rod Run in Town. I had noticed on the drive in that it looked like every hotel was packed to the seams.

I had zero plans on leaving back through town since I got caught up in this very Rod Run afew years back and it took a mere hour to go one block. I had found a back road way out of Dollywood that missed all that crap. I was not getting in that mess again.

The main reason why I was at this event was it was the first time that the park had let people inside the mine and with cameras to boot. Now do not get that excited by thinking you are going to see alot of the inside of the inner workings of the Mystery Mine. It was agreed that most of the pictures took would be keep under wraps till atleast mid summer to keep the surprise factor for those who have not rode it. Now I will include some pics from the inside, but it will pics that have already been seen in varies forms. Now I will include some from outside that not many have seen. I will drop the inside pics later in the summer, but I know some moron will not wait and have them up in afew days.

Enough babbling and on to the pics:

Parting pic is of new Thunderhead shirt.

Nice unique shot

Trains waiting for the public to board

Wonder how the train transverses this track.

Ground POV

Some twisted inversions

New Port-a-John for Fay

Straight up (Note that a pic like this can be found on Dollywood's Site)

A pic from inside that mine that shows nothing at all, just some stairs to....

View of Mine Cars from below

Train elevator

It all begins here

Small hump before brake run

Riders enjoying themselves in the station

A great sight in the morning is no lines.

But the sun was rising as Mystery Mine was waking up.

Even Buzz was not awake when we got there.

Reason why I was back

April 15, 2007

I did not get alot of shots inside the station when Dolly was in there. I will pm you a link to see those pics.

April 15, 2007

Great Tp Wes. Was great seeing you again, though it was only for afew minutes.

April 14, 2007

I did look for you Johnny, but never did see you. There was a great amount of people there it seemed to me. I look forward to seeing your pics and your Trip Report.

April 14, 2007

I was lucky enough to attend Mystery Mines Media Day at Dollywood. The ride has been under a soft opening since the park opened for the season. Today was the first day that every thing in and outside the mine was turned on. So you folks that rode it before today and thought there was places in the ride that was dark, then now you can ride it with the full effect of it. That is if you do not mind the traffic and lines.

I am not really going to go into alot of detail about the ride and stuff for I have a review to finish up for Coasterfanatics.com. I am sure you will see afew more PTR in the coming days. Enough blabbing and on to the pics I say!

What is an update without the food they served to the Media.

Dooly and rest of cast of Rhythem of the Dance.

Dolly joins the singers in Rhythm of the Dance

Always great to know if you need some moved.....I guess.

Enjoying some hang time

Overview of back area from Q.

Overview of Mine Building

Sort of a nice shot

Nothing like some flipping into the hang time.

Underside of the Tressel

Incase you forgot what this is about.

Dolly set to let the media ride the Mystery Mine.

This is where your Mine Train falls out of the station and you are on your way.

Dolly was there to kick Media Day off as well as answer Questions.

April 14, 2007

She went to the train storage area that is located under the station. Her and afew miners rode the train up using the train elevator lift to kick Media Day off.

Will get a PTR up in abit for your viewing pleasure.

April 11, 2007

I would say around 2 minutes and 30 seconds if I was a betting man.

April 9, 2007

Never saw anyone compare a Dollywood Show to a show at Epcot. Guess there is always a first for everything, but nice pics you took.

April 1, 2007

Great pics and I did enjoy the vids. Almost makes me want to head back up there sometimes this week.

It was great catching up with you while you where in line Saturday. Hope you enjoy your trip back there in afew weeks.

March 31, 2007

I decided to take a trip up to Dollywood since I knew Mystery Mine would be open. I am not going to give away any spoilers on the ride. It might take away from the ride if you knew what was inside, but there is light at the end of the Tunnel.

All in all I think the park has a huge hit on their hands. The ride had a huge line when I left to head back to the house. I would say atleast 45 minutes and everyone knows that is a big line for the park. The ride ops where on the ball though.

Enjoy!

It's pretty bad-ass looking! (This picture was from a couple of months ago)