hoppedup

Scream Weaver was running Saturday.

And 2020 was indeed coaster-free. Fury 325 was a perfect way to break that streak. Afterburn was the last coaster I rode on Saturday, June 19, 2021.

Had to be in Charlotte anyway Saturday, so I popped in for a bit. Waited about 20 minutes for Fury. I got to Fury around 11:15. Then walked over to Copperhead Strike to see no one on the stairs. It was running half-empty trains! So I got two rides on it (second was maybe 15 minute wait). I crossed my fingers for Afterburn and lo and behold, there was no one on the stairs there either. Ops were really slow so I waited about 15 minutes. Great as always! I thought my luck would run out when I headed for Intimidator (and it did). The queue was full to the second set of shades. I didn't have enough time to make FL+ worthwhile, so I bailed. First coaster rides since December 2019. I parked by the 16 sign and as I was leaving, there was a massive flow of cars coming in and parking was out to 37. The I-77 southbound exit ramp was backed way up. I was really curious about my pass, as it won't seem to update in the app. I have tried to add it several times and it won't show up. It still says 2019. My pass was updated on the Carowinds website, so I used that to scan at the parking lot gate. Going into the park itself, the reservation already had my pass info stored, so I didn't need to show it. I mean, we got the Vortex trains from KI for Carolina Cyclone. Yo gotta wait at least a couple of years after a get like that.

I have done HW and KK same day. You lose an hour driving from HW to KK. We only did it because The Voyage went down soon after our first ride. Thunderbird was fun but not enough to do that many laps on. The Legend was just pain. Storm Chaser is probably my least favorite RMC so far, but it is still really good. Lightning Run is fantastic. Thunder Run was okay and Kentucky Flyer was really good for what it is. Also, KK is right up there with Dorney for ambiance. I'd say if time allows it is a fun detour, but not a must do. I say your itinerary is fine, but I don't mind doing crazy drives or springing for fast passes at any park.

Dorney: I really liked Talon and Steel Force. They were worth re-rides. Thunderhawk and Hydra were both fine, but unremarkable other than Hydra's jojo roll, which I think Copperhead Strike does better. If financially feasible, I'd hit Knoebels and Hersheypark while in the area. Both are far superior to Dorney. Even though it would be criminal, I'd go to Knoebels just to ride that fabulous airtime machine called Phoenix. Carowinds: My home park. I'd ride Fury 325, Afterburn, Copperhead Strike, and Intimidator in that that order. Then re-ride your favorites. I always skip Vortex (truly awful), Nighthawk (painful and ruins my stomach for the day), Hurler, and the boomerang, because well, it's a boomerang. Once a year I ride Carolina Cyclone and Carolina Goldrusher for nostalgia's sake because I rode them as a kid. Cyclone isn't the worst of the Arrow loopers still running, but it is far from the best. Goldrusher is a middle of the pack Arrow mine train, IMO. If you really want to ride the wild mouse or Nighthawk, do it early. The lines and throughput are bad. Kings Dominion: Boogie back to Twisted Timbers. If you do ride Hurler at Carowinds, think of its potential because TT was the exact same coaster at one point. Dominator is among the best floorless coasters I have ridden. Intimidator 305 is probably my favorite ride in the park. The lines have always been manageable because of its intensity. Racer 75 is a fine old out-and-back racing woodie. I find Grizzly to be unenjoyable, and good luck finding the entrance if you decide to ride it. Anaconda is a hard pass unless you are trying to be an Arrow looper completist. You could skip the clones and add the flume ride, IMO. Also, if you imbibe, The Parched Pig is a fine place to stop for a beer.

<wipes dust off of thread> So December 2020 came and went. Still haven't been on a coaster since December 2019. So I figured we'd go big with a tour of California next month. We have ten days. I am planning on going SWSD > SFDK (or vice versa) hitting all the Cedar Fair and Six Flags parks. Any other cool can't-miss parks on that route? My daughter and I are pretty much coaster-only people, so it looks like if we need to cut something, it would be SFDK. Edit to add: We might take a couple of days and drive the PCH from LA to SF. Could also cut SWSD, I suppose. Only added it because we have platinum passes for BG/SW. (and maybe for breweries) Also, I have no interest in Disney.

"Lightning Strikes Twice in 2021" Clearly they are adding a second launch to spice up the lackluster second half of this ride.

Skyrush Phantom's Revenge Superman: ROS Goliath (SFOG) Superman The Ride Lightning Run Titan Nitro Apollo's Chariot Steel Eel Diamondback Steel Force Intimidator Magnum XL-200

At first I was thinking of the stand up Vortex trains and I really had to think for a second Didn't even think of Cyclone's shitty neighbor when I posted, lol. I'd be okay with a floorless conversion for Vortex. I'd be much more okay with tearing Vortex down and putting in an RMC Raptor clone. A man can dream, right?

2021 announcement just made on Facebook...Carolina Cyclone is getting Vortex's trains. Whoo...never mind.

You could have a short drive to DollyWood, Lake Winnie, SFOG or Family Kingdom from where you live. Yeah, I know. I've been all over the east coast and mid-west for coasters. I am diabetic and my daughter is asthmatic, which may put us at greater risk if we were to get sick. Our passes are all good for next year now, so we can wait. We've been hiking every weekend in the mountains, which has been great. The coasters will be there when we are ready. I hope.

Twisted Cyclone, December 27, 2019. Sadly, I'm probably looking at a coaster-free 2020.

No surprise here, but Carowinds just announced they will not open in 2020. https://www.carowinds.com/park-update

Vortex at Carowinds. It is awful. An abomination. Georgia Scorcher and Green Lantern weren't super terrible, but I'll probably never ride a standing coaster again. I actually liked Firebird. I never rode Apocalypse as it was closed on previous visits (not sure I would have ridden it anyway), but I found Firebird to be decent with just one head jerk moment.

Why not. 1. Maverick 2. Millennium Force 3. Steel Vengeance (probably my 4th favorite RMC conversion) 4. Top Thrill Dragster 5. Raptor 6. Gatekeeper 7. Magnum XL-200 8. Valravn 9. Gemini 10. Wicked Twister 11. Blue Streak 12. Iron Dragon 13. Rougarou 14. Corkscrew (Only CP coaster I will never ride again)

^Go back one page in this thread. It was also posted on Screamscape yesterday.

That's why I want to cancel. I just wish they'd make it as easy to cancel as it is to sign up. edit: I called and got bounced around to a few different people and then put on hold. I gave up and moved my reservation out as far as I could, hoping there is a better system for cancellation in place before then. Also, the 'contact us' link on the website said, "Give us a call or send a note..." Couldn't find a number. I had to google to get the guest services phone number.

Has anyone been able to cancel a reservation online with a Cedar Fair park? I logged in to CP website and was able to find a "Manage Reservation" button, entered my order number, but found no way to cancel. I really don't want to have to deal with a CSR on the phone if I don't have to. I have decided that parks just aren't going to happen for me this year.

All the idiots who can't read?

I don't think you are missing anything. I pushed my SFOG reservation out because I could not find a way to cancel.

It does. Hence my 10:30 reservation. We are usually in and out in a few hours anyway. I just hope most coasters are running. I couldn't care less about flat rides.

Thanks. Just reserved a 10:30 spot. I chickened out on SFOG this weekend because I wanted to hear a first hand account of how a weekend day went. Looking forward to coastering again.

I'm guessing Cedar Point won't be having many international youth working there this summer. If my teenager wanted to work at a park this summer, I would have serious reservations myself. I kind of expect the ex to put the kibosh on our SFOG trip this month. Not sure I'll fight it if she does. We've already spent two days at SFOG at Christmas on our $59.99 2020 Gold passes, so not like that's a big loss if we don't make it an SF park this year. The more I think about it, for CF parks I may just hope for a few days at Carowinds and KD this year. My pass is good for all of next year, so anything I do this year is just gravy.

^^Hopefully they open up reservations for platinum pass holders first. This verbiage from CP's site doesn't seem to differentiate, though: "In a few weeks prior to park opening, 2020 Cedar Point Season, Gold or Platinum Passholders will receive an invitation to make reservations first, followed by guests who have pre-purchased day tickets."

I have no issue with masks. Heck, I bought a pair of goggles to wear. I don't care about how goofy I'll look. I'll probably wear a cloth mask as my P100 respirator gets uncomfortable after a while. Looking forward to a CP/KI combo in July!