Valleyfair (VF) Discussion Thread

[Suspence1127]

INSIDER REPORT

 

Cedar Fair has a deal in place with EA which allows them to use their Plants vs Zombies, Battlefield, Need for Speed, and possibly their EA Sports properties (NFL would have to approve...) Apparently each park will either receive a Triotech EA dark ride, or a Shooter ride that replaces action theater. The shooter rides replacing the action theater will solely be installed in the parks that have action theaters, but they have no rush putting them in. I will find the official document. What will VF get? When?

 

A need for speed dark ride would be pretty cool, but idk how they would incorporate a shooting elements into it. I think I would much rather have a themed dark ride over an EA dark ride though.

[Mdcastle]

So some parks have a separate ticket for the Haunt separate from daytime admission.

Which ones, and is there any speculation why the difference?

[Meghna]

I'm considering applying for a summer job at Valleyfair next season. Is anyone allowed to live in the employee dorms, or are they only for international workers? The dorms would be my only choice because I live too far away from the park to be able to commute back-and-forth every day.

 

The dorms are open to everyone! Though they did fill up this year and they had to boot some people who lived too close and could just drive, I'm assuming you wont have that problem.

 

Just interested what ride seems fun to operate or what would you like to do at Valleyfair? I would choose Power Tower.

 

As a ride op, I can answer! Power Tower is fun because you get to work with up to ten people at a time, even though it's only three positions. The layout of each tower makes each position unique, so you don't get too bored too quickly. It also has the biggest control booth, so it's fun to hang out in during down time and guests can't see in unless they try when riding...

 

Though honestly, the best rides to work would be MRVR or Ripcord. MRVR is the chillest since you actually get to drive a train around, stand on the back, or stand by the crossing and throw/swing the gates. With the new Ampitheather next year, the usher position will come back into use which is a harder position, I hear.

 

Ripcord is fun apparently because you can get site supervisor clearing, which involves a big written test and LOTS of studying. I trained someone who was studying for it, and they were carrying around a HUGE binder of stuff for it. It's also a slow location so you can hang out a lot and chat.

 

SIngle operator rides can be a bore. Rides like Riptide, Steel Venom, and others that break down a lot can be frustrating. I've wanted to go up and kick Riptide back into proper position myself many a times. Coasters are fast paced and are generally amusing.

[CaptainUnknown]

I'm considering applying for a summer job at Valleyfair next season. Is anyone allowed to live in the employee dorms, or are they only for international workers? The dorms would be my only choice because I live too far away from the park to be able to commute back-and-forth every day.

 

I lived in the dorms this year and they were crap--especially the wifi. I barely used Netflix at all this summer . Whatever your expectations are for them, lower them. But hey, they were cheap ($45/week), I got out of my house, and could go into the park whenever I wanted.

[dippindotsguy8]

Just interested what ride seems fun to operate or what would you like to do at Valleyfair? I would choose Power Tower.

 

I actually operated Supreme Scream at Knotts for awhile, which is nearly identical to Power Tower (same manufacturer, main difference being that all three towers are turbo drops instead of having a shot tower).

 

I really enjoyed, it. It wasn't down very often, and guests rarely got sick on it. Like Meghna said about PT, you don't really get bored, and controls is nice. I personally enjoyed grouping for supreme, because unlike Power Tower, you have one grouper for all 3 towers, which can be more of a challenge to keep up with.

 

If you like to work hard and enjoy working with guests, I'd recommend it.

[Meghna]

Just interested what ride seems fun to operate or what would you like to do at Valleyfair? I would choose Power Tower.

 

I actually operated Supreme Scream at Knotts for awhile, which is nearly identical to Power Tower (same manufacturer, main difference being that all three towers are turbo drops instead of having a shot tower).

 

I really enjoyed, it. It wasn't down very often, and guests rarely got sick on it. Like Meghna said about PT, you don't really get bored, and controls is nice. I personally enjoyed grouping for supreme, because unlike Power Tower, you have one grouper for all 3 towers, which can be more of a challenge to keep up with.

 

If you like to work hard and enjoy working with guests, I'd recommend it.

 

Just remember that, unless there is some process I'm unaware of, you don't get to choose what ride you work at. You can request to be cross-trained, but it's kinda based on need and how skilled you are/how fast you learn.

[Mdcastle]

Does anyone know when the daytime hours of Chateau end? I'd like to see it once, but it was closed when I got there at 6:30 on Saturday.

[Meghna]

Does anyone know when the daytime hours of Chateau end? I'd like to see it once, but it was closed when I got there at 6:30 on Saturday.

 

I thought daytime Haunt was only on Sundays. Saturday starts at 7.

[Mdcastle]

Looks like you're right, they advertise the "Great Pumpkin Fest" as Saturday and Sunday, but looks like the two full program mazes and the monsterless Chateau are only open on Sundays.

[Lightning Rod]

I just arrived at Valleyfair this is it last day of the season . The park doesn't look that busy and going to get some last rides of the season and the weather is around 60. Going to ride Renegade last two hours of the season. I hope for the best for Valleyfair and there 40th anniversary in 2016.

Edited November 2, 2015 by Lightning Rod

[dboor129]

Another great VF season in the books!

[garyman6]

So 2015 has come and gone, 2016 is flyers and BMX show at "new" outdoor theater, I'll start off the rumor talk for 2017. I believe that Valleyfair will get approval to basically extend the park west, adding about a 1/4 to 1/3 more land and we will see footers going in for a 2018 new coaster. That's my prediction, so what's yours?

Happy Off Season!

[Lightning Rod]

Now we have Larson Flyers I'm hopeing for the park to get a frisbee or a air race for there next thrill ride in 2017.

Edited November 2, 2015 by Lightning Rod

[VF15]

So 2015 has come and gone, 2016 is flyers and BMX show at "new" outdoor theater, I'll start off the rumor talk for 2017. I believe that Valleyfair will get approval to basically extend the park west, adding about a 1/4 to 1/3 more land and we will see footers going in for a 2018 new coaster. That's my prediction, so what's yours?

Happy Off Season!

Whatever we get in 2017 depends on whether or not the permit for the new parking lot/Excalibur removal gets approved. If it is approved, I assume we'll only see the new parking lot and employee road along with other general improvements (no new rides) in 2017 (since the parking lot will be expensive). If it isn't approved, maybe they could remove the Panic Falls slides in the waterslide and replace them with something more bearable. Unfortunately, I don't see us getting a new coaster until 2019 at the earliest. Of course, I want one too, but the park seems to be more concerned with other things at the moment.

 

I'm also hoping that Valleyfair makes some good general improvements this offseason since they went fairly cheap on new attraction investments this year.

[Svelure]

Had an awesome closing day yesterday. I was able to get every ride in (multiple times) within a few hours. This was, by far, the warmest closing day I can ever remember. Usually I'm bundled up and still freezing. This year I met a lot of other Valleyfair fanatics thanks to the commercial shoot in August. It was a good year. 194 days to go until the next.

[VF15]

From Dave Frazier's Twitter, Valleyfair has just started restoring and refurbishing the carousel. I've wanted them to do this for a while, so this is nice to see.

[BuffaloWingRider]

I personally don't like air races, I rode one at the state fair and it wasn't enjoyable. I would also like to add that Valleyfair's water park priorities seemed like their main focus until we saw what they put in this year. Even without the permit they could have still replaced old slides with new ones. (I would love mat racers or a tornado!) So I am just saying the expansion of the waterpark seems like it will happen gradually over the next 5-10 years, not 2015,16,17 like we thought. That said we can't rule out any year for a new coaster, I would still say 2017 is Unlikely like everyone else.

My 2017 prediction is nothing much, possibly a thrill ride but probably not. 2018, maybe a water park expansion. 2019 my bold one, dark ride or a B&M.

I also wished I could have made it to Valleyfair yesterday but I was busy. I might have to reconsider buying passes next year because I will miss the park, but in my gut I know I am bored with the park. They will have to add something more interesting to me, doesn't have to be a coaster. Possibly a dark ride or water park expansion.

 

Those are my thoughts for now, maybe something will give us hope for something big during this off-season.

[GCI Wooden]

Had an awesome closing day yesterday. I was able to get every ride in (multiple times) within a few hours. This was, by far, the warmest closing day I can ever remember. Usually I'm bundled up and still freezing. This year I met a lot of other Valleyfair fanatics thanks to the commercial shoot in August. It was a good year. 194 days to go until the next.

I was at the park on Halloween and on closing day, and had a great time!

 

I met up with Renegade Mike, and his grand total for the season was 1,924 rides on Renegade, which is pretty darn impressive. I think I also saw Captain Unknown over the weekend at Power Tower, but I can't be sure.

 

On Halloween, we got Fast Lane passes because of the season pass renewal deal, and really enjoyed that system, but the operators need to watch how many people they are letting into the station. There was a three train wait for any row on Renegade in the station at some times, and that should never happen. I couldn't walk from the Fast Lane entrance to the other rows because there were too many people in the station (This did result in a front seat ride, so this problem worked in my favor, I guess).

 

Also, this Halloween was the first time I've ever been to a Haunt event at night. I love the lighting, the fog, the insane night rides, everything was awesome. I got scared three times, which means that the Haunt crew was really good because I avoided all scare zones other than the Trail's End, and I only went through there because there was no other way to get to Renegade. I was scared once by a guy with a chainsaw over by Mad Mouse, and then twice by the guy with sparks on his hands and feet (He slid towards us once, and then he hit a trash can when we walked past him and I jumped).

 

Another thing I thought was pretty cool, The Chateau tour. I was pretty impressed with all of the stuff they had in there, and I couldn't imagine being in there at night.

 

Closing day was fantastic. There was almost no one there and I got a bunch of rides on Renegade (Most of which occured at night!).

 

This weekend, I was really wondering about why people wouldn't want to renew their passes next year. Yes, they haven't been adding what we wish they would, but the fact is that it is still a good park that has a lot of fun rides! I know that I miss the park already, and really can't imagine what it would be like without the ability to go to the park all year. Well, today is the last day to get the season pass for the lowest price, so if you don't have one yet, get it tonight!

 

Until then, I will await opening day 2016. Does anyone know what day that is, or has the park not released this yet?

[Svelure]

Had an awesome closing day yesterday. I was able to get every ride in (multiple times) within a few hours. This was, by far, the warmest closing day I can ever remember. Usually I'm bundled up and still freezing. This year I met a lot of other Valleyfair fanatics thanks to the commercial shoot in August. It was a good year. 194 days to go until the next.

I was at the park on Halloween and on closing day, and had a great time!

 

I met up with Renegade Mike, and his grand total for the season was 1,924 rides on Renegade, which is pretty darn impressive. I think I also saw Captain Unknown over the weekend at Power Tower, but I can't be sure.

 

On Halloween, we got Fast Lane passes because of the season pass renewal deal, and really enjoyed that system, but the operators need to watch how many people they are letting into the station. There was a three train wait for any row on Renegade in the station at some times, and that should never happen. I couldn't walk from the Fast Lane entrance to the other rows because there were too many people in the station (This did result in a front seat ride, so this problem worked in my favor, I guess).

 

Also, this Halloween was the first time I've ever been to a Haunt event at night. I love the lighting, the fog, the insane night rides, everything was awesome. I got scared three times, which means that the Haunt crew was really good because I avoided all scare zones other than the Trail's End, and I only went through there because there was no other way to get to Renegade. I was scared once by a guy with a chainsaw over by Mad Mouse, and then twice by the guy with sparks on his hands and feet (He slid towards us once, and then he hit a trash can when we walked past him and I jumped).

 

Another thing I thought was pretty cool, The Chateau tour. I was pretty impressed with all of the stuff they had in there, and I couldn't imagine being in there at night.

 

Closing day was fantastic. There was almost no one there and I got a bunch of rides on Renegade (Most of which occured at night!).

 

This weekend, I was really wondering about why people wouldn't want to renew their passes next year. Yes, they haven't been adding what we wish they would, but the fact is that it is still a good park that has a lot of fun rides! I know that I miss the park already, and really can't imagine what it would be like without the ability to go to the park all year. Well, today is the last day to get the season pass for the lowest price, so if you don't have one yet, get it tonight!

 

Until then, I will await opening day 2016. Does anyone know what day that is, or has the park not released this yet?

 

I also ran into renegade mike! I rode a few times with him. I don't know how he can ride the renegade that many times, my brain feels like it's sloshing around in my head after like 4-5 times. He is dedicated though, I'll give him that. Mike actually said opening day is 194 days from now or may 14th. I'm assuming he knows lol. I hope he is right, I don't like the Friday opening days because of the schools that are there, it gets too busy.

I will be renewing my pass. I love the new water park expansion so that will keep me entertained (at least for 1 more season).

Edited November 3, 2015 by Svelure

[VF15]

Until then, I will await opening day 2016. Does anyone know what day that is, or has the park not released this yet?

Opening Day next year is Friday, May 13th according to the 2016 announcement page on the park website. 193 days to go.

[Svelure]

Until then, I will await opening day 2016. Does anyone know what day that is, or has the park not released this yet?

Opening Day next year is Friday, May 13th according to the 2016 announcement page on the park website. 193 days to go.

Damn, it's a Friday again. Booo.

[Mdcastle]

Have to agree the Chateau was amazing, even with the lights on.

[CaptainUnknown]

I got fired this weekend. Last day of the season problems.

Anywho, I finally got to work Haunt this weekend. Friday night I was at the Southern edge of Abnormal Alley with a chin prosthetic that wouldn't stay glued to my face. Guess that speaks a lot to how hard I was working. Lost my voice in the first 90 minutes, but ah well.

Saturday night I was a protester in Humane Habitat. I didn't like that anywhere near as much as I did AA.

 

I think I also saw Captain Unknown over the weekend at Power Tower, but I can't be sure.

I might have also seen you. What were you wearing?

 

Thank you all for a fantastic season and ride on, ride warriors!

 

I will most likely not return to Valleyfair next year as I am going to apply to Cedar Point.

[GCI Wooden]

I think I also saw Captain Unknown over the weekend at Power Tower, but I can't be sure.

I might have also seen you. What were you wearing?

Club TPR shirt and a red sweatshirt, it was on Sunday.

I will most likely not return to Valleyfair next year as I am going to apply to Cedar Point.

Have fun at Cedar Point next year!

[Lightning Rod]

I also rode Renegade with Renegade Mike on the last day of the season. My ride count for Renegade this season was 980. I was wondering did anyone find that Renegade was running extremely rough? I thought it was real smooth during the regular season then when I went on the last day I thought it was running rough? Maybe the cool weather had something to do with Renegade running rough. And is there going to be any refurbishing done during the off season with the Enterprise? New paint and LED lights possibly?