Olsor

Glad to hear I'm not alone in the Less Than Impressed with Fahrenheit Club. The lift, drop, and Norwegian loop are terrific, but the layout is pretty uninspired after that. That, and my neck took a beating from the restraints during the tight turns at the end. I tend to think Fahrenheit would be a better installation for a much smaller park. It's more akin to a Eurofighter than a major looper. I'm also surprised so many people prefer Fahrenheit to Storm Runner. Cripes, Storm Runner became my new #1 after my visit in June, and I hadn't had a new #1 in four years and 70-some coasters. Maybe it's just the novelty factor?

No, standard B&M hyper trains have nine rows. Plus, the pictures confirm Behemoth-style seating.

Why do I get the feeling that Kings Island (not "King's Island," as that scrupulously proofread article printed several times) is far from the only park to be pulling these shenanigans? It sounds like indentured servitude. Of all the things we complain about parks doing, this is absolutely the worst. It makes $1 lockers and FlashPass look like Christmas morning by comparison.

Great stuff, MisterP! Adventureland has to be one of the most overlooked parks out there. It's trip reports that these that make me scratch my head trying to figure out how I can cram Des Moines into a bigger trip.

Awesome stuff, RapidsNerd! To think Big Bad Wolf was only four years old in those pictures. All grown up now... [sniff] such a big boy... [sniff, sniff]

Can I start the countdown to the family's lawsuit alleging that Six Flags made it too easy to get into a restricted area? Why, those two six-foot fences with "RESTRICTED AREA" signs practically beg you to scale them. I did this Photochop last year. Turns out it was for the wrong ride.

Great TR, John! Enthusiast Groundhog sure travels a lot. I spotted him at SFGAdv last August. Enthusiast Groundhog at SFGAdv 2007

^^Kraken's instense? That thing is like a LazyBoy on tracks. I love the ride, but I wouldn't call it intense. I don't split hairs comparing floorless and regular B&M sit-down loopers separately. They're all B&M loopers to me, and I'd put S:KC somewhere near the top of the seven I've been on (Kumba, Kraken, S:KC, Medusa East, Hulk, Hydra, B: DK). It's got great visuals because of the limestone cliffs, a gigantic loop with great hangtime, a great zero-G roll, and a somewhat intense ending. It's definitely a fun ride and--I think--one of the better loopers out there. I don't think S:KC has quite the love-it-or-hate-it status as MF. MF is a one-of-a-kind ride, and S:KC isn't too different from most of the other B&M loopers, other than its setting. Everyone has different preferences, so the best thing to do is just get out and ride it for yourself.

Incredible TR, Groteslurf! You really captured the feel of the city. I feel like I've been there now. I loved the billboards advertising the radio hosts (presumably), especially the one spoofing a James Bond poster. That, and the Fresh Step cat litter advertisement plastered all over the bus. We are so different, yet so similar.

Excellent trip report, Chuck! Dare I say you are the Rick Steves of sad and pathetic excursions. You make a Pinfari death machine look almost rideable. Almost.

I rode Raven several times, at night, and in the back. I'm just not one of those people who gets it (disclosure: I am one of those people who gets the Beast). And I found Cyclops to be similar in that both have a few short drops, a big turn, and a large, mid-ride drop. It's not a clone by any means, but the rides share some superficial similarities. I rode them about six weeks apart, and I couldn't help but draw comparisons. And the last two posts illustrate an excellent point... it all comes down to preference. One says Voyage is overrated, and one says El Toro is overrated. But they take the top two spots on Mitch's poll, meaning that most people who've ridden them prefer at least one (if not both) of those rides to every other wooden coaster they've ridden.

Seconded. It's very similar to Cyclops at Mt. Olympus, but I doubt I'd hear many enthusiasts mention those two rides in the same sentence. The Raven's still a very good ride, but I'm not one of those who "gets it." It just seems like it's missing about 1,000 feet of track. On the steel side, I'm afraid Magnum's suffering from age and long memory. I'm sure it was the balls when it was newer, and my first rides on it in 1998 were outstanding. But it felt like Washboard: The Ride when I rode it in 2003. It definitely gets more mileage out of its reputation than it does from its current state.

Great Bear. I'm not a big fan of inverts, but even I really liked this ride. Very intense, very smooth, and it's got a great location.

I think both rides suffer a little from the restraints. I found Fahrenheit to be less neck-punchy in the front of the train, but the turns and corkscrews at the end of the ride are pretty unforgiving. On Storm Runner, I experienced more shoulder-banging from the extreme airtime, which, while uncomfortable, was totally worth it. I wish Intamin would just ditch those shoulder "restraints" altogether.

Day 3: Gettysburg Day 4: happy cows and Dutch Wonderland Day 5: historic Philadelphia One Whiz with. It was worth the mile-long walk from Independence Hall. Hope you enjoyed reading! This had the longest line of the entire trip. We bought several of these in the Dutch Wonderland gift shop. Because we have no shame whatsoever. Anyone want to buy a print? Like the other parks on our trip, Dutch Wonderland is very picturesque. FAIL. And if they staffed more than one ride operator, you might have seen a train in this picture. But there are some pretty sweet laterals here. Meh... it's nothing special. I see you, ride formerly known as Sky Princess. With a little something for the credit whore in all of us adults. A great little park for kids. On to Dutch Wonderland. We started off Thursday at Hope Acres, outside of Lancaster. This is a cow going through a car wash. Or something. I wasn't paying attention to the tour guide at this point. This was the site of Pickett's Charge. The Domo Kun re-enactment was chilling. We spent Wednesday in Gettysburg touring the battlefields.

Day 2: Hersheypark Quick rundown... Fahrenheit: the beginning is fun, until the neck-punching starts. Storm Runner: awesome, awesome, awesome... Great Bear: underrated. Comet: fun and smooth. Wildcat: could be fun if it didn't hurt so much. Lightning Racer: fun. Sooperdooperlooper: I love me my Schwarzkopfs. Trailblazer: a smooth Arrow mine train? Juh?!? Subsequently, I have had to take a course on mascot harassment. And there's that whole restraining order thing. Oooh, before I forget... Comet's a great ride! It was running very smoothly, and while it wasn't the most intense ride, it was really fun and re-rideable. Also, through the trees. Is that guy on his cell phone? And back to this. More of this. I thought this picture was a little too artsy, but Fahrenheit was like, "Go for it, man. I think it totally expresses my cloudy nature of being both fun and neck-punchy." Fahrenheit 4:53? (If you get the reference, you win 100 Internets.) Ever. Ride. Best. This thingie was cool. Insane vertical drop. Awesome launch and top hat. Despite the throngs of children on field trips, the park was still incredibly empty, and I ended up with five rides on Storm Runner. New favorite ride. Schwarzkopf for the win! Great little ride. My wife described it as "Whizzer with a loop." My wife was surprised at the nerdly origins of Great Bear's name. To which I replied, "You do realize the new ride is named after a temperature scale, right?" It's also ridiculously photogenic. I'm not a big fan of inverts, but this ride was surprisingly intense and very fun. Is this ride in the "Most Underrated Coaster" thread? It should be. pew pew pew First drop: cool. Norwegian loop: cool. Rest of ride: a little too neck-punchy for me. The OTSRs ruin what should be a perfect small-footprint looper. Fahrenheit was down for a few hours in the morning. We waited in line for an hour before bailing out to ride the nearby woodies. By the time we were back, it was just opening up again. By now, you've seen a million Fahrenheit pictures. And I'm forcing a few more down your eye holes.

My wife and I just got back today from a week-long vacation in Pennsylvania. In between historical stops, I somehow managed to talk my wife into visiting three amusement parks along the way. And she wasn't even drunk when I asked. We thoroughly enjoyed Pennsylvania, its Yuengling beer, Rutter's gas stations, and Weis grocery stores. Now onto the pictures! My wife thought HSTC's station needed an extra support. ??? Look at the ride operator. Not working. Mountain stream or amusement park? One of the best settings for a park anywhere. And our GPS guided us there semi-successfully. The Ferris Wheel Twister, in its twisted glory. Did I mention the park was empty? This ride is just all wrong, and these kids are about to be scarred for life. It would make an excellent black light poster, though. So... bright... Huh huh... uhhhh... huh huh... Apparently they just put a sausage in a salad shooter and spray it all over a cheese pizza. This was my first spin on a Flyers ride. I snapped it without even trying. And I think I scared a little pee out of my wife when I did. ...with insane laterals. Twister's a very good, aggressive ride... Some giant hands throttling the track would've been some neat theming for this ride. Entertainment Weekly just confirmed that "The Golden Bolt" will be the next installment in the Indiana Jones series. In it, Indy has to save Elitch Gardens before it's turned into condos. Phoenix was a little rough, depending on the seat, and the airtime was a little too random for me, but it's still easily a Top Ten woody. I moved to San Antonio 20 years too late. Also, there should be another comma after Texas. The Phoenix. Lots of random ejector air + single-position lap bars = #7 in the Internet Coaster Poll. First stop: Knoeb_ _

You're not alone. When I rode it in 1998, it was terrific. When I rode it in 2003, it was only slightly smoother than Mean Streak. There was horrible jackhammering in the pullouts... on a steel coaster. Something's not right with that ride. As for CP vs. SFGAdv, it's about even for me. Each park has a lineup of rides that varies from "top-notch" to "total clunker." Each park is in a nice location. Each park is generally crowded. But if I had to choose between them, I'd probably pick BGE.

Actually, White Lightnin' was one of six launched rides that opened in 1977 (King Kobra at KD, Tidal Wave at CGA, Screamin' Demon at KI, Loop Coaster at SFNE, Zoomerang at Circus World). Vortex was the third B&M stand-up (preceded by Iron Wolf and CGA's Vortex). Thunder Road is 17 feet shorter than Screamin' Eagle, which also opened in 1976. And Carolina Cyclone was one of four rides opening in 1980 with four inversions (Demon at SFGAm and CGA, Orient Express at WoF). Did you know that Carowinds used pictures of CGA's Vortex in its 1992 guide?

What, no Megan Fox pictures? Great TR, DCody!

^I'll second Ginzo. New Cedar Fair ride names.

Back in 1990, Iron Wolf was smooth. Not sure exactly when it devolved into a headbasher. Probably because I have brain damage from riding it. Shockwave, on the other hand, was always a little rough. I first rode it in 1989, and by 1995, my friends and I had already sworn it off. Also, MTV actually played videos back in the early '90s.

Back from vacation, and more crap from the crapotorium. Featuring foreigners at Six Flags Great America, Kurt Loder and Tabitha Soren, and R&B producers on coasters. Jimmy Jam on Batman at Six Flags Great Adventure (1993) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhLR-kdgi1g Beyond 2000 segment on Shockwave at Six Flags Great America (1990) Beyond 2000 segment on Physics Day at Six Flags Great America (1993)

Great stuff as always, Shane. Watching the older Six Flags commercials, it really strikes me how far away they got from that "warm fuzzy" angle. The older commercials had jingles, they showed families and little kids, and they made it seem like a day at the old theme park was something really special. Then fast-forward a few years to Mr. Six, throngs of teens, and overpriced everything. I guess a few billion in dollars in debt will wipe the special off of everything.

Excellent pictures, Jeff! What kind of camera did you get? And what's up with the girl in the last row of Griffon in that one picture of the train at the top of the first drop? Talk about making an already scary drop even scarier.