ParkTrips Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 Part I: Thursay Night at Maryland State Fair I just got back from a little trip up to Maryland where I visited my mom who had to stay up there for two weeks and like a good son, I took advantage of the situation and whored myself out to several parks. Of course, when getting to Maryland late last Thursday, I saw that the Maryland State Fair was going on just on the other side of Baltimore from my hotel, so it became my first stop. side note: On Friday I took the train to DC and saw a guy wearing a Wisconsin State Fair shirt and nearly crapped my pants in glee edit: POV of the pendulum ride available here: http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28515 Bye-bye Maryland State Fair, you were alright I suppose! OMG thats totally a jeff johnson credit :shock: One more shot, at $6/ride, its definately a ripoff, but at least its good OK this was by far the best ride at the fair. It's a Technical Park "Street Fighter" and is by far the most forceful pendulum I have done, the only problem was the cycle was terrible, the POV I took was a little more than 1 minute long (I'll post later) Exclusive shot. YES! TWO credits, neither powered so Elissa won't give me crap It's like nothing you have ever ridden before! (OK so Ive been on about 5 of them by now...) SCORE!!! Every good fair needs a Zipper awesome, a new operator, hopefully new credits for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okinawaboy11 Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 They had a way better than the MoCo state fair (A county in Maryland for those of you that don't know). We did have the drop tower, but no Zipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reon Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 woot! Coaster house Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParkTrips Posted August 30, 2006 Author Share Posted August 30, 2006 Part II: Friday night at Six Flags America I didn't have much time, nor did I feel like parking, so I waited until the last minute to go to Six Flags America, and I got there with about 45 minutes till closing. I doubted I could do the whole park, but I had a gameplan and got the three low-capacity rides out of the way, saving the rest for another visit this past weekend (which came on Sunday) Anyways the park was pretty dead but 1-train ops across the board definately sucked. I didn't think the park was much of a dump as made out to be, but the operations, employees and clientelle (which you can't really blame on the park) sucked giant balls. Batwing was rough as crap to me, the Premier launched was fun as experienced in the past on Flight of Fear (though I do prefer the indoor setting) and Two Face was just not quite as good as a GIB but still better than a Boomerang - as expected Anyway onto a few pics. I got on the very last ride of the day on the invertigo, and it was fun but pretty much exaclty what I expected: weaker Deja Vu's... upon returning to the hotel that night, I began to plan my assault on the NJ Shore for the next day I wish I could get paid to talk on the phone and "monitor" a non-existant line (I saw this in every queue, nice intent, but its unneccessary a lot I'd bet) having three rows closed didn't help either, jeez One train ops suck, but the 2nd wouldnt have helped these guys much empty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParkTrips Posted August 30, 2006 Author Share Posted August 30, 2006 Part III: Saturday Six Flags New Jersey (Park 1 of 9 on the day) My first thought was to do Ocean City Maryland, take the ferry across the mouth of the Deleware, and do the southern part of the Jersey shore. Once I worked out the details, I determined a ferry ride would be a pain in the ass and I opted to stick to New Jersey. I wanted to still do Wildwood early but since one of their piers didn't open until two hours after the rest (which opened at noon) I decided I needed a new plan. Instead I would work south, and since none of the shore parks opened until noon anyways, I could easily get in an hour and a half at Great Adventure, which just so happenes to be home of some of my favorite coasters. Tow rides on El Toro, one on Nitro, and my first credit of the day (Road Runner Express or whatever G-Adv calls their kiddie) and I was off to a nice start. Though I would have loved to enjoy thr 20 minute lines all day, I was on a mission that day, so I had to get the hell out of there around 11:40 and was en route to Jenkinson's next... Yea, its still kickass El Toro is a steel coaster, didn't you know? The first train of the day, this time before 11AM, they are improving at least =\ I even caught Ka running!! BUT no El Toro... eh, at least it would finally open once I got back over there or else I was going to ditch the place This was actually the first time I had ever SEEN the coaster, yet alone taken a ride. Also closed. Quite possibly even more sadness since I didn't get to ride in July. I got to El Toro with only about 10 people ahead of me, mainly due to light crowds (no way in hell do I run!) but the ride was CLOSED. Very sad. You could definately notice the budget cuts, but at least they kept some of the Six Flags Girls sadly, they didn't exactly have the "A-Team" out there =( The park is starting to border on Cedar Fair style... sad ha, I finally found the birthday cake! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParkTrips Posted August 30, 2006 Author Share Posted August 30, 2006 Part IV: Saturday at Jenkinson's Boardwalk (Park 2 of 9 on the day) After a quick 20 mile drive to the shore, I hit the first of several boardwalk stops on the day, Jenkinson's, which was probably the smallest of the shore parks. Two coasters awaited me, a Flitzer and a powered coaster that even I probably can't count as a credit. I enjoyed the Flitzer more than I had imagined, but that was all I wanted to do at Jenkinson's, next stop, about 10 miles down the road in Seaside Heights Jenkinson's was home to the first of I believe three Flitzers on tap for me that day Kinda sad, but at least I will still ride it since I already bought my tickets I don't think it could operate without power, therefore not a credit ... although they did have the kiddie rides covered pretty well The Wave Swinger was one of very few "adult-sized" rides... Why couldn't I have gotten THIS Pointiac as a rental instead of a Grand Prix? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParkTrips Posted August 30, 2006 Author Share Posted August 30, 2006 Part V: Saturday at Casino Pier (Park 3 of 9 on the day) It probably took 25 minutes to travel the 10 miles down the shore to Casino Pier, where I Was lucky to grab a close parking spot. Funtown Pier was within walking distance, so that worked out well. I thought both of the Seaside Heights parks were at least decent I see you Funtown Pier, you're next on this tour!! Casino Pier probably had the best carousel on the shore horray for kiddie coasters with foreign ride ops that flirt with me because I said I liked her ride best in the park definately cool vehicles It apears to have a dark ride part, so it may be a neat little ride once done bummer, a missed credit.. somehow I doubt this thing will open this season The Jet Star or Star Jet or whatever was a decent ride, a step up from a Flitzer Closed, lame!! It seemed like every park on the shore had these portable flumes First ride of the park would be the Wild Mouse... crappy errr... a Viking themed park? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParkTrips Posted August 30, 2006 Author Share Posted August 30, 2006 Part VI: Saturday at Funtown Pier (Park 4 of 9 on the day) A quick walk down the boardwalk, after stopping to get some food at one of the many vendors and checking out some of the games and stuff, and I was at Funtown Pier, home to four credits including the only one I was denied on the entire trip. It too was an ok park, I probably liked Casino Pier a little more. The final credit of the stop would be the park's old mouse, which was pretty good I suppose.. ok back on the road heh I wasn't denied there! Cool, someone else got those flippy-bike things It had a vertical loop, but I was NOT looking forward to it... it ended up being less crappy than I expected First credit: the same on that TPR broke in the UK... DENIED! Deal or No Deal seemed to be a "hot" thing on the shore, lots of games and merch related to the gameshow just walking down the boardwalk on a gloomy day... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParkTrips Posted August 30, 2006 Author Share Posted August 30, 2006 Part VII: Saturday at Blackbeard's Cove (Park 5 of 9 on the day) Taking the slightly-longer route down US-9 brought be right bye the sizable FEC, so I figured why not credit whore yet another place? Blackbeard's didnt have much on the amusement side, but their mini golf course looked good for the not-in-myrtle-beach category. The kiddie coaster was very typical, and the park was definately built for <12's I was outta there in no time, next stop, the crap-hole that is Atlantic City You can never have enough kiddie coaster POV Yet another kiddie credit, but at least this park gets my nod for the hottest ride ops. I took two laps on this thing to enjoy all of the views and to be able to chat with the op some more Who said live archery would never be found at an American park? It's at Blackbeards, a kiddie park of all places Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParkTrips Posted August 30, 2006 Author Share Posted August 30, 2006 Part VIII: Saturday at Steel Pier (Park 6 of 9 on the day) Arriving into Atlantic City with much-lighter-than-expected traffic, I was able to find parking for only $5 and walk to Steel Pier. The park has apparently announced it will be closing or something and honestly, I don't think its much of a loss. Atlantic City was a huge dump in my mind, I have no desire to go back after being in Vegas two weeks ago. Very typical rides here, nothing special =\ It just keeps getting better and better at Steel Pier... bye bye, you dump! Next stop, something at least decent in Ocean City Once you've seen one, you've seen them all kinda contradictory, eh? BTW I didn't get a chance to see it but I saw an employee working on the transfer track while there... nice Very crappy little park This is becoming an all-too-familiar site Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParkTrips Posted August 30, 2006 Author Share Posted August 30, 2006 Part IX: Saturday at Playland's Castaway Cove (Park 7 of 9 on the day) Getting out of Atlantic City and down to Ocean City wasn't too bad, but finding parking down there was a different story. Since I wasn't staying too long, I really didn't want to pay $15 for boardwalk parking but after 20 minutes of searching, I decided it would be a neccessary evil. I parked the car near Playland and hit it first, it was a pretty decent little park with three credits, so its all good by me. yay for showing the TE some love that concludes this part, next up, down the boardwalk at Gillian's yeah you can never ride enough kiddie coasters... simply too funny.. almost as funny as the pinfari hurt! Smile for the camera! A ton of the shore rides had these installed could it be, another Flitzer? This one ad better operations than Jenkinson's haha S&S Sadly, it broke down while in line, so I didn't get a chance to ride it. It looked like a Power surge sort of experience, only better Not entirely sure what it was, but it looked pretty cool! It's from moser Playland was a "cute" little park It does not get any better. Yay park number seven! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParkTrips Posted August 30, 2006 Author Share Posted August 30, 2006 Part X: Saturday at Gillian's Wonderland (Park 8 of 9 on the day) After a modest walk up the boardwalk, I entered Gillian's. Fromt he shore, it looked kinda mediocre, but once I got past the arcade and enclosed rides, the main rides part was actually really cool. Rides stacked up everywhere, the monorail weaving throughout the park, and then they had a new L&T coaster that ended up being pretty sweet. I my Wacky Worm theming. That's all for now, the POV of the Wacky Worm is available in the "Amateur" forum, next stop is the last for the day, Wildwood!! wooo miner mike, non-powered BTW this one was fast wow that one came out decent ugh one of those towers of doom crazy banked turns/helix thing nice first drop I haven't had enough dorky photos, so here's one... ooooh mags! up we go... a mere 35 feet or so, but the ride packed a punch Very nice cars, comfy and themed There it is.. Runaway Train, the newest coaster on the shore (at least until Casino Pier opens theire =P) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParkTrips Posted August 30, 2006 Author Share Posted August 30, 2006 Part XI: Saturday at Morey's Piers (Park 9 of 9 on the day) I ended with Morey's since they had a late closing hour (12:30am) and, as stated earlier, their staggered opening killed my shot at starting down there. It ended up being the best park of the shore, so I am glad I ended there and not somewhere like Jenkinson's. This place reminded me that seaside parks don't have to be a dump (re: Family Kingdom) I was expecting a spinning coaster when I read that it was a Zamperla, I was wrong. Decent mouse ride, but sadly that is the last of my photos as none of the other ones I took came out good =( oh well at least that was one hell of a day, back to my BWI ar Only the finest parks have Suspended Looping Coasters!! like most CCIs it had ok air but was rough.. major points for having 6 ride ops working whereas G-adv had three on El Toro, a much harder ride to operate :: Morey's was awesome at moving people though the lines They could have done more in the tunnel, when I saw that, I got excited but was let-down a bit I had no problem, meh Finally, a big crappy coaster and not just crappy kiddies Morey's had some killer lighting packages on their rides See, I didn't lie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canobie Fan Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 lolz I almost liked the "looping coaster" at Funtown... And I LOVED Starjet at Casino when I rode them bothz last summer. If you went as far north as Jenkinson's (where I also went woo) Why didnt you go a little more north and hit Keansburg? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electerik Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 Damn it, Joe. If you're going to keep talking about how hot the ride ops are, at least take a F@$&!#% picture of one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willski Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 ^Haha, agreed. Nice pics (except for the invisible hot ride ops )-it looked like fun. That L&T Runaway Train thing looked really intense for such a small ride (was it smooth though?). I never thought of Morey's as being a top tier park, but I guess it is compared to the rest of the parks along the Shore. I wonder how it mathces up to the Pavilion-I'm going for the first (and probably last) time on Saturday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 I agree with the others, if you talk about hot ride ops you must include pics. What's you coaster count up to now, you big whore? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreatOne Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 Joe- That Moser "Power Surgeish" ride at Funtown is the Moser Flipping Action Arm. They seem fairly new....Wild West World in Wichita is getting one when they open next season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canobie Fan Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 And all it is.. Is a bootleg of the Zamp "shocker".. And that was a bootleg of the KMG "Tango" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParkTrips Posted August 30, 2006 Author Share Posted August 30, 2006 sorry guys I was too busy taking dorky coaster photos duh... seriously I'll try to browse through again but I don't know if I have any =( No Keansburg for me because their bumper cars would have occupied me for hours, I'll wait 'till I'm in NYC to do Keansburg. The Runaway Train was pretty intense, I hope more small parks opt for somthing like that or the PAX coasters rather than more and more Reverchon and Zamperla spinning mice. Larry - exactly 250 I think.. not bad for being at 45 or so leaving high school 2 years ago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeemerBoy Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 ^ And just think what it would have been had you not liked filing papers so much? Sorry. I saw the shot, there was no danger, so I took it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meteornotes Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 Being within 2 miles of my house and not taking me to the MD fair = you missed out! Mary and I are going to the fair sometime this weekend. I'm hoping to spot lots of mutants. I've never been to most of those shore parks, but Wildwood is sort of fun. Did you notice if the "Shoot The Guy With A Paintball Gun" attraction was still there? That was awesome... dt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoshiFan Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 I agree with what you said about Atlantic City. They are trying to make the city better but they still have a huge way to go before that happens. I'm not surprising you had trouble parking in Ocean City. No matter when you go, it's impossible to get a parking spot within a few blocks of the boardwalk. During the day you have everyone driving up to the beach and at night you have everyone on the boardwalk (it seems like the whole world is there it's so packed). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 I'm not surprising you had trouble parking in Ocean City. No matter when you go, it's impossible to get a parking spot within a few blocks of the boardwalk. I got a spot in the municipal lot over by Gillian's with no trouble a couple of weeks ago, I guess I got lucky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECZenith Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 Well, that answer smy question of how far along is the "Pirate's Hideaway" construction. I hope they theme the thing as nice as the concept art shows. The cars are certainly decorated nicely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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