Inuk

Just got home from the park, and Manta took it's first full train of GUESTS for a ride around 2:20! All the construction walls are down and the ride site looks amazing. Both waterfalls are flowing, and the splash effect is operational. The coaster is amazing to see live, people gaze at it in awe everytime the train passed. Most of the aquariums are filled and many have inhabitants. Although I didn't get a chance to walk through the aquarium I was told is beautiful, and it is great to see a large collection of FISH at SeaWorld again. The park has a real winner on their hands, congratulations to the design team!

I was at the park yesterday and talked to a bunch of the employees who rode it, and they all really enjoyed the coaster! I also found it cool that they expressed a lot of pride in their company over the job they have done on this thrill machine- it was great to see that from employees. One of the employees I talked with sounded like a true coaster groupie himself. He said that he has been on all the other flyers here in the US including the Vekoma models (he specifically said that he has not ridden Air at Alton Towers). This man said hands down Manta was his personal favorite Flying coaster- and he can not wait to ride it again when the water is added. He rode each row, and gave me this low down on the ride... As with most flying coasters the view is the same from each row, however the front offers a more of a mild experience while the back is more intense. The inversions are very smooth, and the park did a great job landscaping around the ride, so the view is beautiful. BEC has always done a great job keeping their parks beautiful IMO, and I am glad to hear under the new InBev regime that has not changed. The employee said that the pace of the experience is great, and should only get better with the splash effect and waterfall. He said there is a nice contrast between the slower gliding moments, and periods of fast speed. The best seat on any row is reportedly the left outside seat. On this seat you get the best sensation of narrowly missing the rock entrance and waterfall- and it offers an INSANE final swoop close to the ground just before the brakes. NOTE: since the water hasn't been added yet it is unclear if riders will get wet in that seat or any other! The employees I talked to didn't know exactly when a soft opening would occur- a lot of that might have to do with when the aquariums get filled with waters, and the animals are added. Flamingoes are also being walked to their new home for a little bit each day, and they are a nice addition to the area. Can't wait to ride Manta!

Great update, thanks for posting it. I think the wing dip splash effect is mostly a special effect. I bet the trains will either skim right above the water, or just have a little portion of the train touch the water. The splash effect its self will be created by jets in the water-- the same way that it is created for the Hulk coaster over at IOA. I love that shot of the newest building structure that has gone up! That is the ride entrance, and we know from the construction map that a waterfall feature will be built there. It should be a really close fly by; and there is already piping attached to the track there to show the artists how far riders can reach out.

That first link was a big help- thanks! I probally should have search for BGE, I forget that many people abbreviate it that way now. I still have not found anything worth while on Kings Dominion, so if anyone has any tips I'd love it! Maybe I should search for PKD... I think I will try that.

I really did search -and nothing signifigant came up. For example when I searched for BGW all I got was info about Shiekra going floorless! I knew someone was going to tell to me search- it always happens on message boards. Do you realize this topic had 21 pages----- twenty fricking one! Even if it is a repeat- help a fellow coaster lover out!

Hello, Next week I will be hitting theme parks in Virginia and Maryland ( SFA, KD, BGW, Water Country). I was looking for a few simple tips on each park- I already have tickets and hotels. Basically for each park I am interested in what rides have the longest waits and which ones break down the most often. Also I'd love to know if anyone has any thoughts on what attractions are a must see- or a special find. Something that the average guest might normally skip over. Thanks in advance!

Just returned from my trip, and overall I had a good time. I tend to be VERY biased against the previous SF administration- which I took out on their parks. However new management must equal a more tolerant state of mind for me because I was impressed at SFGA. It seems like the most logical SF park that I have been to (in terms of layout and themeing/ lands and guest service). I loved Demon- very compfortable for an old Arrow looper- plus the lights in the long tunnel where cheesey and fun... I loved it! Viper was great- a well maintained woodie as was American Eagle. I also loved the Whizzer- it backed more of a punch then I was told it would! I was wicked dissapointed in Raging Bull- I had basically no air time in the front row- major bummer. Everything else was... well a clone. But the park was clean and Deja Vue was open (all morn. at least)! Thanks again for the tips- they helped a lot.

I will be going to the park this weeked. Those tips rock my world- thanks everyone. I just got back from SFOG and the load time on Superman was insane long. I will def. hit Supes first, and then Cajun and V2. I am hoping Deja Vu will be working; I have been lucky enought to get on the ones in CA and GA so I want to complete the set. Thanks again for the tips- I will post a report when I return.

Thanks to everyone, your help is appreciated! I love the tip about the Yankee Clipper- I would have skipped it otherwise. Anyone know of good food in the park?

Hello, I am planning on going to SFGA in July, and I am looking for any park tips. Also, since I am going during the busy season I was considering using the Flash Pass. I did not see Great America on the Lo-Q website, so how does their flash pass work? Is it simular to SFMM, where they give you tickets? Thanks for any help provided.

Make a decision based on what you want. Blizzard Beach is neat to look at, but honestly I thought it catered more to familys and kids. The wave pool is tiny, with small waves. There are a bunch of small kiddie slides, and an always over crowded lazy river. BB does have the huge speed slide- if you like those (I think they cause more pain then excitment). The racing slides are fun, and the family raft slide is great, however the park is small and always packed, expect long lines for everything. BB is a good park, but from the opinion of an adult male, far from the best. Typhoon on the other hand offers deeper water (like in the lazy river, snorkle reef, and wave pool). This park is beautiful, very well landcaped and themed. The park is also huge, so typically seems less crowded. True there is not a speed slide the size of BB's, but Typhoon does have a tall speed slide that offers the same ride expereince as Summit Plummet (pain). And despite what people say the two parks have a compairable number of slides. Typhoon just makes you search for them- which is half the fun, walking through jungles and over cliffs with huge susppension bridges to get to the slides. Lines tend to be shorter and faster moving. The two best attractions are; Crushing Guster Slushy Mustard- or what ever the name is- water coaster. It is better than Summit Plummet by a long shot. And then the wave pool. The waves are HUGE, and I mean HUGE! Plus the pool is eep, and just overall better for an older audience. So choose which expereinces you would enjoy. For my money I would only ever pay to get into Typhoon again. I would only go back to Blizzard if it were free. Have a good time!

Awesome You all were a big help- thanks! One last question... is there neighborhood or area that I should avoid?

Hello, My California coaster trip is coming up soon, and I have only to book a hotel near or around SFMM/Northern LA. I am not expecting a fancy place, but I do not want to stay next door to crack whores. I have no knowledge about the areas in Northern LA- so any advice would be great. My plans are to go to SFMM on Sat Nov. 5, and then that evening try and run to Santa Monica Pier for a coaster ride and dinner. Sun I have planned as a free day- I was thinking about the Long Beach Aquarium. So does anyone have suggestions as to where I should stay? I just want affordable (45$ to 60$), clean, and safe. Thanks so much for any help given!

Oh yeah! Is it likely that I can hit all of DCA and DL in a single day (on a weekkend when DL is open till 12am)?

Is the Santa Monica West Coaster worth a try? Screaming Mummy looks interesting, is it worth an extra trip to Pharohs? I don't think Adventure City or Castles looks like a good fit for a couple in their mid twenties-- am I dead wrong? Scandia Screamer also looks somewhat interesting.. any other opinions? Thanks again for all the help. BTW, does anyone have a good attack plan for Knotts- as in what is the best order to hit the coasters, and which rides are likely to break down?

Thanks for the info! I have looked at rcdb, the only probelm I have is deciding if a coaster is 1). worth the credit 2). how far it actually is (I know that rcdb lists distance in miles, but that doesn't always mean time away) So are there any good credits at samller parks that are worth the trip?

Are SFMM and Knotts good to visit in Novemeber? I can not even find on the web if Knotts is open at all. I am from the east coast and planning on being in the San Diego/ LA area either the first or second week of November. I am looking for tips on what parks are open, and which ones are not crowed-- it would also be great to know about any obscure coasters worth riding in the area. transportation, parking and in park tips for the following would be great as well! SWC DLR SFMM Knotts Thanks for any help available!

Discovery Cove (DC) is really great for kids, but bear in mind that dolphins are bigger than many people think. Many times very young children get freaked out by all the teeth in the dolphins mouth (they have over 100). Most kids do fine though, but if you think your son might be overwhelmed SeaWorld also has day camp programs that are great for little ones. DC has a cool program geared to families, it is a camp out over night on the beach by the animals. You stay the night and then spend the day at the park. DC is a unique expereince and I highly reccomend it. With the 7 day pass, you can also choose Busch Gardens as an option (or upgrade for both BGT and SWF), then you could run down to Tampa and ride Shiekra! Some other Orlando tips; don't forget about hotels at Universal, they have great fall specials and are some of the best resorts. The Royal Pacific has the best resturant in Orlando, Emeril's Tchoup Chop (prob. the best meal I've ever had- sorry Mom). The best meal I have had at Disney was at the California Grill in the Contemporary- and what a view! My persoanl favorite in park resturant is Sharks Underwater Grill at SWF. Great food and the most uniue dinning expereince anywhere. Tuesdays are the best night to go to 'Jelly Rolls" (a dueling piano bar) at the Boardwalk- there usually is a fun crowd on Tuesdays. Hope this helps- have a great trip!