Coaster Palooza

Mike, you make Dorney Park look so great! The last time we went there, we were with Derek and had a blast. Unfortunately the park was very busy. I'll have to get on the Big Mike VIP tour soon...

This is a great TR! I wish we would have been able to go to this event. Thanks so much for sharing. Maybe next year we'll do this, if they have it again. BTW, how many people attended the event? It didn't look too crowded.

I had a really busy weekend. This Trip Report has made my Monday! Thanks Scott. By the way, I do have those smashed pennies. We are looking forward to getting out to Dollywood again this year. Don't know when though with the gas prices.

Nice job Big Mike! I wish I could pal around with you on these trips. Keep up the good work.

I liked your TR Rich. I wish Gyendolynne and I could get back to SFGAdv soon. I don't know if it is in the cards this year though. Nice job! One question though, where is the pocket vest?

Great TR as always, Derek! It is awesome to see everyone enjoying themselves. I wish we lived in an area where there are more than 4 amusement parks within close proximity. We have to get out to the Buffalo/Niagara Falls/Toronto area sometime.

^Completely across the board. Go to the following link and pick any park. http://www.sixflags.com/national/index.aspx Everyone plays for the kids' price at Six Flags....$29.99.

^^I have to say that I hate messing up names and other facts. I'm sorry I messed up the names, misspelled sushi, and probably didn't get the wasabi quote right. I need to write things down next time. I hope this didn't come off as sarcastic, I am truly sorry about this. It was a really great event and I loved going to Coasters After Dark the next day. SFDK is doing a great job! Thanks so much everyone.

^^^^Scott, that is a great video of THBSC and Guy Fieri. Nice job! ^Charles, great to hear from you on here. We are hoping to have many more visits up there this year.

Now...the moment you all have been waiting for...FINALLY a roller coaster update!!! If you haven't seen it already, here is the link to Tony Hawk's media day. http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=43823 We went to Coasters After Dark on Friday, May 23. The park was extremely crowded that day. There were over 10,000 people in attendance. Luckily they were clearing out at 6pm so we could ride from 7-10pm. The Coasters After Dark event is for season pass holders only. I hope this becomes a yearly tradition! Thanks SFDK. Here are the photos. There aren't too many, so if you want more photos of the park, click on this link. http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=42498&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=20 It was so windy, the Medusa sign had to be moved so it didn't blow away! That's it for now. I will say that the park operations are great at SFDK. The park is clean, even after having 10,000 people there today. It was great haiving 3 hours of ERT on all the coasters and some flat rides as well. Thanks so much SFDK The next few photos were signs that they had up in front of every coaster. We decided to wait around 20 minutes for our first ride on THBSC at the end of the night (6pm). Signs were everywhere telling the guests about the season pass holder event. This is the station. I can't say enough about the new ride. It is so smooth. You needed a wrist band to be able to ride for the event. I didn't take a lot of photos early, but this was the first one. Gyendolynne already has a beer!

This is a late update for this, but I wanted to get this into my Trip Report. I will have a roller coaster update next. My friend, Jim, houses a minor league ballplayer for the San Jose Giants every year, until this year. The first person he had stay with him was Brian Burres. The pitcher was picked up by the Baltimore Orioles a few years ago and he is pitching in the big leagues for them now. We went to see him pitch against the Oakland A's a few weeks back. Despite the loss, I think he is a very good pitcher and I hope he stays in the big leagues for a number of years. Good Luck Brian!!! Onto the pics... Group photo. It was truly great meeting Brian. I look forward to the next time. Good luck! last stop for the night. First stop after the game... Going down the ramp to our secret location. Waiting for Brian to come out. This took forever! That's Jim and Brian's friend, Lindsay. I hope I spelled it right. Brian's night is done... Here are some game photos. I wonder why? I usually will take a couple pics of the umpires... Once again, Jim is too happy! It means, time to go to work... at this point I would say something like, "time to make the donuts." Time for the catcher to get ready to warm him up. Jim was very happy to see him. but you have to get ready... to be the starting pitcher... Sometimes it's lonely... There's Brian Why do hot dogs always taste better at a ballgame? Not a bad seat in the house. This is a beautiful place to see a ballgame. It was windy and cold that night. Random attendant mission accomplished, thanks Jim, and Brian! First stop, gotta get tickets... We are arriving in our double secret location for parking at the Oakland Coliseum. Gyendolynne, Jim, and his wife Aggie.

Sean, it was great to talk to you and Kelly last night. I'm glad there are no photos of our "bench the ride" time. It was so cold last night and we were so tired. I will update my ongoing trip report soon with photos from last night. The coasters after dark event was really great for SFDK. The staff did a terrific job. They had 3 trains on the ride and 2 in the station for most of the night at THBSC! Dispatch times were terrific, nice job! I was so glad to be there for Media Day as well as this event. The park was packed during the day. Charles told us they had over 10,000 people there. The park cleared out after 6pm and the unlimited coaster riding started. What a great time! Thanks EBL for the spelling of sushi! I hate the stuff. I actually think it was Wasabi. Is there a difference?

Hey Matt, after looking at yours and Big Mike's TRs, I don't know which one I would rather go to. I guess I will have to make it to both...some day!

This is the fact sheet that came in the 1GB USB skateboard! TONY HAWK’S BIG SPIN FACT SHEET Six Flags Discovery Kingdom introduces a new family roller coaster, Tony Hawk’s Big Spin, which delivers a one-of-a-kind experience and thrill with each ride, much like the ride’s namesake and skateboarding icon himself. Each ride on the coaster is different as the cars spin and twist while grinding over the drops, turns and lifts of the rides 1,292-ft of twisted steel track! Guests experience the sensation of making multiple 360 rotations while in the air, similar to the skateboarding tricks that the legendary Tony Hawk has made famous! Opening: Friday, May 23, 2008 Maximum Height: 53 ft., or five stories tall Track Length: 1,292 ft. Maximum Speed: 30 mph Capacity: 6 cars; 4 passengers per car Cycle Time: 1 minute, 38 seconds Elements: 48-ft. tall lift 27-ft. drop 3 wild mouse turns 2 helices; 1 down and 1 up 1 high-incline turn 1 camelback Height Requirements: 42” if riding with an adult; 47” and taller if riding alone Design/Colors: Red & Black Skate Park with ramp Manufacturer: Gerstlauer of Germany Unique Feature: Mounted video cameras film passengers on ride, video CD available for purchase. ###

X2 looks great Robb! It is always great to see the video of the ride along with the photos you take.

One more video. I think I rode this around 10 times. THBSC_002.mpg I really can't believe how much weight the camera adds....

Great TR as always Scott. I love Knoebel's. I wish we lived closer to that park. Seeing all of you have fun out there makes me miss everyone so much....

^Yes, it is smaller than the other THBSC. I was told it is on a smaller footprint and the ride feels different than the others. I haven't ridden any of the other ones though. ^^Yeah, I didn't want to try to spell his last name and embarass myself. Thanks for finding that! ^^^Nice meeting you today Kevin. Keep up the great work with 5 train operations. See you later today.

I had the opportunity to go to Media Day for Tony Hawk’s Big Spin Coaster at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Man, I need to use accronyms from here on out! I had a great time there. My friend, Jim, came along too. I am really enjoying the changes that SFDK has done in the past few years. The park is making great strides and has improved so much. This is their first new rollercoaster in 5 years. They are very proud of it and it shows! Here is my trip report from earlier in the year. http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=42498&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=20 From what I understand, this THBSC is on a smaller footprint than the other ones. I haven’t been on any of the others, but if they are anything like this, they are terrific! It is such a smooth coaster and a great ride. The spinning didn’t get to me at all. I would recommend having the “lighter” seat go backwards. Your ride will spin so much more. One comment I have is that I wish the first drop was a little further. Just as you’re starting to feel it, you come out of it and flatten out. Otherwise, the rest of the ride is smooth and a great time. All POV pictures and video were taken with the park’s permission. I hope you enjoy the pics. I will be there tomorrow too for Coasters After Dark. Good-night Jim. Thanks for staying awake on the way home! Actually I am glad you came today. a shirt, sweat-band and a pen... Here is what I received for Media Day... Good-bye THBS... Good-bye SFDK... More photos of the ride... Our crew! John, Charles, Mike, and I don't know the operators name because he had his jacket on. Hi Guys! Great job today. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow... How many chins do I have at this point? Hold on Jim! great spinning... Good view! she asked me to take her on-ride photo. up the lift hill... On-ride photo... Coming back into the station... The ride is terrific! This was Guy (I won't try spelling his last name) from the cooking channel. More great announcements. Captain Lee and Kirk in the same picture. Getting ready for the big show! Jim was enjoying every bite of the soushi (sp?)... They had some good food there too! and look at, and buy! see.... to read... so much... I am sure you'll be waiting in this queue for over an hour, just a guess... This is what you'll see tomorrow! Is that what the train and station look like? and so were Bugs, Daffy, Wylie Coyote, and the dolphin.... The characters were out for Media Day... How about some ride photos? It's Jim and myself! That might be our train! The theming is great! They had a 5-train operation today and 1 other train was on the side. You know if the queue is like this, that Coaster Palooza is here! WOOOHOOO!!! at SFDK, though, you need to put your bags in a locker... I believe the theming for all the THBSs are the same??? right? Tim checked us in... It's a 1GB of the THBSC Here is one of the give-a-ways! Yes! It must be Media Day!!! I really like the new colors! Still some construction! First site! We're on our way! THBSC_001.mpg How many chins do I have?

That was a great Trip Report. Thanks for posting. I thought the Wild Mouse ride at Idelwild looked scary, but that one really looks run-down. I don't know if I would have gotten on it.

I can't believe I am on the wrong coast for this Roadshow. I think we would be meeting up with you the whole time if we were out there. October can't come soon enough, my friend. Looking forward to seeing you again!

I'm not one for the waterparks or water rides, but Chuck, you made this look like such a blast. Maybe we'll need to go here the next time we visit BGE. Thanks!

^That's what their plan is. On their website's main page, you can find the countdown. http://www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/index.aspx

Just trying to help get more photos here for Big Mike. Try this site Mike and find out about the Naked Cowboy's counterpart. http://www.nakedcowgirlny.com/

^ Great Blazing Saddles reference Chuck!