How was your park year?

[Guest]

I found it humerous how there seemed to be a big game of "Post photo's of Papas in our SFGAm TR's" a few people seemed to be doing (Spookbaby & crew, Eric Johnson, and Director_Guy). I have most of those pictures saved to my computer.

 

SFA became the butt of many jokes at our park, if I spotted one of my CMs doing something that could be improved, i'd say "SFA!" and they would immediatley know .

 

I also enjoyed looking at Giant Drop videos on Youtube to hear who was doing the exit spieling , this one was me:

 

I didnt get on as many new coasters as I did last year, but still a very good season. Went to BGA, SFSTL, CP, Dells...and of course SFGAm pretty much every day (literally).

 

Lots of good times.

One of the most memorable rides ever, came back with bugs splattered all over our face and shirts. It was a pretty nasty taste also .

WAITING FOR AN IMPULSE! Yes, we actually waited for Wicked Twister, an Intamin Impulse, something I never thought i'd do again.

05 crew of the year, did not bring home the gold in 06 though.

Finally getting to see the Eagle model!

This is me standing in front of Demon on a cold January, very fun night.

Of course, going to SFSTL 4 days after getting my wisdom teeth pulled. Great ride to go on after it eh?

This dude that randomly starts stripping in SFSTL's park opening show.

The "issue" getting into SFSTL. Hilarious! (Basically, it was April fools day and since my whole group is CMs at SFGAm we were going to play a joke on our friend David and have the GR people there tell him he couldnt get a ticket. We got there to find o

Going on Avalanch 66 times and seeing the huge bruises on my legs the next day. Dan made it to 100.

One thing i'm angry about is how I was jipped of a Demon costume again. I was told i'd get one this year, then right before FF I was moved to a different side of the park....grr.....someday.

[sio]

My parks of the year:

-Bobbejaanland

-Walibi Belgium

-WDS

-DLRP

-Holiday park

-Port aventura

-Nigloland

-Phantasialand

-Walibi RA

[Jumboshrmp]

My year was great!

On January 27, I experienced Expedition Everest for the first time. I was able to ride it 4 times in about an hour!

I dont think anyone needs to see any pictures.

 

On May 5, I went to the Magic Kingdom at WDW for a day.

 

In June, I went to Islands of Adventure and Universal (the trip lasted a week), and rode The Incredible Hulk, both Dueling Dragons, and The Mummy... all for the first time (I had been to IOA/USF many times before, and I loved coasters...but was way too afraid to actually ride).

 

I also got another credit at Old Town. A small 50 ft tall Zamperla coaster, which was bumpy and cost $5 per ride, but it was actually REALLY fun! And had a bunch of parts that were more intense than I thought they should have been when I first saw it.

 

In August I went back to IOA/USF for just a weekend, and I did the same rides over again. A few highlights are getting to ride Popeye and Dudley for the first time (I never did before, as I hated water rides), and also getting stuck on spiderman for 20 minutes, watching the ride with the lights on, getting to see the motion base up close, and seeing how weird the projected images look when you are stationary.

 

Only 2 weeks later, I went to boomers. I rode Dania Beach Hurricane a bunch of times (this ride is starting to get boring for me... i dunno what it is but meh..) But right after, I nervously stepped up to Boomers' 160 ft tall, 60 mph Gravityworks Skyscraper, called The-Blender. I was quite nervous before getting on, but I reassured myself that it wouldnt be very scary. I was SO wrong. That ride was the scariest ride I have ever imagined. I got off and my cheeks were tingling, my legs were numb, and I was SO hyper I ran all the way to the Hurricane in like 30 seconds and rode it in a daze, not even sure what was going on.

The-Blender is now my FAVORITE ride, ANYWHERE.

I've been on it 5 times and I love everything about it.

 

In September I went back to boomers, same idea.

 

In November I went to the Broward county fair and rode a ton of flat rides that I had never been on, and was afraid to try the last time I had a chance.

 

Last week I went to Boomers again

 

Next week I'm going... AGAIN!

 

(I cant get enough Skyscraper action, and I got a raincheck last week but rode anyway... so I'm going twice.)

[AlmereStars]

my year really sucked as hell!!! I haven't been to 1 park this year way too busy

 

*needs A shrink, because of a lack of parkfever*

[HAJiME]

I've had a really good year.

 

I owe it all to www.coasterforce.com and it's members again for all the awesome CF-Lives and member meets.

 

I jotted down in my diary every time i went to a park this year because last year i lost count.

 

February: Blackpool Pleasure Beach

March: Thorpe Park, Chessington, Chessington, Thorpe Park

April: Flamingo Land, Thorpe Park, Chessington

May: Thorpe Park, Alton Towers

June: Dreamland Margate

July: Chessington, Chessington, Oakwood, West Midlands Safari Park, Paultons Park

August: Alton towers, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Southport Pleasureland, Chessington, Alton Towers

September: Thorpe Park, Flamingo Land, Lightwater Valley

October: Thorpe Park, Chessington, Chessington, Thorpe Park

November: Thorpe Park

 

Highlights include, Dropping my digital camera off the PMBO, finding it, getting it back... turning it on... and it working.

 

Getting stuck at Blackpool in Febuary... it was freezing. I think Cerberus posted the video here a while back.

 

Stealth opening day and getting evacuated off Colossuck's lifthill, but being greetd with hot chocolate and Stealth exit passes when we got down made up for Colossucks' sucking.

 

Getting my video camera! Woo! Finally able to make videos!

 

Going to Oakwood for the first time, hating Speed.

 

The Ultimate and the 6 bruises received. <3

 

Getting stuck at one of the DLP hotels on the way back from Mauritus, not being able to go into the park and the day after was GhosterForce at Thorpe Park - the trip i'd waited all year for! ARHG! Finally arrived at London heathrow at 8am.... by 10am we drove past Thorpe (but my mums A$$HOLE boyfriend wouldn't take a detour to drop me off). By 1pm i'd been home and got back to Thorpe. Phew.

 

And here's a picture of Cerberus falling off Velocity to round it all up.

[Fry]

My year was fantastic, hit a hundred (and then a few), got on some of the rides I've wanted to for all my life, but I'll let the photos do most of the talking...

 

Florida was the main highlight...

 

Best. Ride. Ever.

 

Another fantastic new credit

 

Awful new credit

 

 

I LOVE EE

 

Dissapointment!

 

Does it get any worse?

 

Another fantastic ride

 

The Mummy was great

 

As was Hulk

 

I loved everything at IoA

 

Evacuated from The Cat in the Hat

 

 

Very funny trip...

 

It got worse...

 

AWFUL ride

 

Southport for the first... and last time

 

A new number one (at the time)

 

Replaced by...

 

Witch <3

 

Year finished with dark Nemesis

 

And an insane session of Walk-on Rita which led to doing her twelve times

 

So, I went on 7 of my top ten for the first time this year, as well as got to a new favourite park (IoA :lover:). As well as coasters, I fell in love with Tower of Terror, Spiderman and Mission: Space, the three best dark rides I've ever ridden.

[Masked_Maverick]

^ awesome pic of. Rita. Hopefully I'll be able to go over there soon and ride her.

[Golfie]

Ooh! This year was busy! Here are the photos that show my favorite moments...

V2 Broke down three times as we were about to get on.

I ACTUALLY noticed the ACE plaque on Batman

I took my cousin on his first roller coaster rides... (He was adopted from Bejing)

I took this awesome photo of Superman.

I rode my first B&M (Batman!)

...but Revolution sucked for the entire year.

First off, I got my first ever Six Flags season pass!

[sfmmFREAK]

You all know you were waiting for my comment. Mine was pretty good, it was mostly magic mountain.

 

i'll post the rest later

And of course, we rode the fatty basket.

Nope, NOTHING sexual.

Just some kids eating ice cream.

Nothing sexual on this trip.

I see no reason why.

NEXT! the moment you've all been reading for, and probably skipped ahead to.. The TR that launched 1000...Hate e-mails.

And Riddler's was fergalicious.

Yes, in case you were wondering, we rode the fatty basket.

...Oh yeah, and these two as well.

She's very enthusiastic.

Featuring Aimee.

TRIP NUMBER TWO!

..In more ways than one.

Yes, we rode the fatty basket.

FUN FUN FUN!

Lots of fun.

MOVING ON! to trip 3, where i met this child for the first time.

Gay.

The perversion never ends with us.

Fatty basket.

Then me and this crazy girl whent to magic mountain to realx, and ride the fatty basket again.

And rode this fatty basket for the first time.

first, it was the school trip last year, which i declaired my love for Tweety.

[Blazen_AZN]

^ Im not a child molester....

 

Im just misunderstood, jeez.

[USRoadTripper]

I had an incredible year, with both coaster and non-coaster things. I had a lot of fun meeting new people this year, as well as visiting some very well known parks, and finally getting to try out some very well known rides (Matterhorn, anyone?)

With no big international trip on the agenda for next year, it should be another awesome coastering year.

 

By the way...awesome thread, Erik. Kudos.

 

-Julie

Finally, Decembered rolled around, and I headed back to Orlando for the annual RADP meet (which has pretty much become a family reunion of sorts!) The RADP trip is always a highlight of my year, and this year was no exception.

It was time for the annual Tennessee State Fair in mid-September, where my second place showing in photography was way more interesting than the Dragon Wagon or Wacky Worm credits I got!

Early September found Kevin and I in southern California, where we met up with Mike, Jahan, Guy and Alana for the first time, and where the rides ranged from spectacular to horrible! Oh yeah, there was potato cheese soup involved too.

In August, my cousin and I credit whored our way through Alabama, where I almost got ejected from a kiddie coaster, and where I found the hidden gem in my woodie count (Rampage).

I headed off to Carowinds for my birthday in July, successfully getting every credit in the park, including the Hey Arnold Taxi Chase.

Don and Monica were in the area in late May, so I headed up to Holiday World and Beech Bend with them. We all agreed that Voyage was awesome.

Oopsie, forgot to mention that I rode Goliath on the fourth day that it was open to the public.

In May, Kevin and I travelled to Spain for an extended trip, which was hands down the best trip I've ever taken! We visited Parque de Atracciones, Isla Magica and PortAventure.

Next came the Kentucky Rumbler media day, which was really fun, and something I'd never done before.

My season started off in Orlando with the TPR meet in March. The trip was way too short (only 2 1/2 days for me) but I still had a real blast meeting everyone, and riding Everest!

[USRoadTripper]

Sorry for the double post and the huge first picture! I was having issues getting connected, and now don't have the option to edit the above post and make the first pic smaller! Sorry!

 

-Julie

[DenDen]

I probably had the most miserable year here. (As far as coasters are concerned.) Track record for 2006... ZERO!

[GMAN962]

My park year was the best I've ever had. That's because it was my FIRST park year! I was recently brought into the awesomeness of coasters in May, anyway, since then, I've been to Magic Mountain 3 times, probably going for my fourth within next week or the beginning of 2007. I've been to Knott's twice, and going on New Years Eve. The highlight of my year is going on Tatsu, because I was scared to go on it on opening day. Either Tatsu, or my first ever looping coaster, Viper! Sadly I don't have any photos that would be good to put up, becuase I don't have a camera. I'll hopefully have one by Monday morning! Who knows! That's what I asked for.

 

Anyway, hope everyone had a great year.

 

~Mike

[coasterdude5]

^^^ Hey Julie, did they ever air the show that they filmed part of at Beech Bend? I think it was going to be on the Discovery Channel.

[cfc]

As for me and 2006, I got three words for ya:

 

Best year ever!

 

Thanks to TPR and the UK trip, I've broadened my theme-park and coaster horizons considerably.

 

But there are still some blind spots, as Jeff (pdkcoaster) pointed out to me:

 

"So, you've ridden coasters in England, eh?"

 

"Yep."

 

"But you still haven't been to Pennsylvania."

 

Point well taken, Jeff. I haven't even made the pilgrimmage to Cedar Point (but not that I have a Cedar Fair Maxx Pass . . .).

 

Here are some pics of my highlights from 2006.

. . . and Jeff, who knows a lot more about Kings Dominion than is probably healthy for him. See you all next year!

I leave you with Big Mike, on Coney Beach's infamous Happy Gater . . .

And some more, all paying close attention to Robb's words of wisdom at Oakwood.

But, best of all, was making a bunch of new friends. Here are a few of them (wearing sunglasses to protect their identities and reputations).

But Sheikra rules all! Bring on Griffon, sez I!

And my first visit to BGA (won't be my last either--great park). Scorpion isn't very big, but packs quite a wallop with its "Helix of Death."

Journey to Atlantis--it's a coaster, a dark ride, and a flume ride. What's not to like?

My first trip to Sea World, and my first floorless coaster--Kraken.

Moving on to Florida . . . Expedition Everest is exactly what a Disney coaster should be.

And here's credit #100--Thundercoaster at Tusenfryd.

Oakwood's Speed really kicked butt. More parks need to add Eurofighters.

Southport's wheel was a blast--and a chance to really get to know the folks you're traveling with.

Valhalla was BPB's best overall. The Norse gods drench you, freeze you, then flamebroil you like a Whopper!

And let's not forget the Ghost Train.

Steeplechase was my favorite coaster at BPB. (Why did Knott's remove the Soap Box Racers?)

Rita rocked, too. It may not have been the tallest, but it was my favorite of the UK trip's launched coasters.

Nemesis was even better than I'd heard--wild, intense, and cleverly themed. Alton Towers was great.

I know not what others may say, but as for me in 2006, Balder was the best! And Liseberg is a great park.

[rollermonkey]

This year was extra crazy with special significant events.

 

It started on New Years Day at Tokyo Disneysea, (I had gone to Nasu Highlands with Robb and Elissa the night before and dropped them off at a train station so they could experience the insanity at Tokyo Disneyland the night before) and I hit parks ALL over Japan from January to June while making repeated trips to Fuji-Q for the EJ construction updates. No real highlights here, but better than simple credit whoring.

 

June brought me to The Netherlands, Belgium and my 500th coaster before joining the UK trip and the add-on. The highlights were Balder, (my new #1 wood) and getting mass laps on Nemesis and finally understanding what the hype was about. (Oh! It's a back row coaster!) It was also cool to ride Nemesis Inferno after getting photos of an early teaser sign for the ride on my last trip to the UK.

 

June through October was about trying to get in as many Japanese parks I had missed before I had to move.

Highlights included getting to ride Eejanaika after 7 or 8 months of trips of park visits to Fuji-Q just for pictures, getting to ride the reopened Steel Dragon 2000 for the first time, and a surprise return trip to one of my favorite J-parks for some Zaturn action (#600, Holy Stealthclone, Batman!) and bonus laps on my favorite J-coaster, Venus. I got to see some really awesome cultural festival stuff, too.

 

October to December was pretty lame. I had to move from Japan to Chicago (Boo!) and the best coaster I've hit was either the spinner at MoA or the Windstorm at Seattle's Fun Forest. I did find the first ever coaster in South Dakota, even if it's just a Miler kiddy oval. It should wrap up on a positive note as I'm heading to Dollywood this weekend for the closing weekend of the park.

 

All in all, about 140+ new for me coasters, more than 175 total different coasters, lots of new flats and I finally got to meet some other people who share this crazy hobby after more than six years of feeling like an isolated weirdo. Not too shabby.

 

[JimmyBo]

This year was freakin awesome! I met so many new people and it was great to see people that are as crazy about theme parks and coasters as I am. I just want to thank everyone that I met this year that made this year so much fun, especially the peeps on the TPR UK Trip.

 

January - My first park of the year was Universal Studios Hollywood with my lil cousins and my sis. Got my "Bad" Mummy credit in and it was definitely not as good as the Mummy ride in Florida but still good entertainment.

 

March - Went to Knott's Berry Farm with my sis for my birthday...why? Cuz it was close and I wanted to go somewhere for my b-day.

 

April - TPR's campout for Tatsu. My first flying coaster experience and I loved it...even though I had no sleep that night and I was all jacked up on vault and Mountain Dew

 

Then there was my Sumemr Vacation where I had 21 consecutive days of theme parks and coasters. My buddy Silent K and I went on our own lilttle midwest trip and then I headed off the the UK and then hit up SFMM the day I came back. It was a crazy vacation and I met so many new people

 

August - Headed off the to East Coast to meet up with Tommy, James, and Barron and went to Dollywood and Santa's Land. I was very surprised at Dollywood and how great it was. I had so much fun there and I can't wait to head back in the near future.

 

September - TPR had their summer party and I was great to see people from the UK trip again. I went Credit Whoring with my friend Doug throughout Orange and Riverside county. I headed up to the San Fran area with Silent K and Kristie and we went to Six Flags Marine Discovery Kingdom World. Then Derek came and had a visit to some local San Diego breweries and we hit up Sea World.

 

October - Of course Knott's Scary Farm and I had the joy of going there twice this year. I still really like Scary Farm considering some of the mazes still scare the crap out of me

 

November- Non German Tom visited So Cal and I took him to Legoland...my home park considering it's 5 minutes from my house. Then we went to Knott's, DCA, and Disneyland with Don and Monica. Great bunch of people to hang out with at parks cuz they know how to have a blast!

 

December - TPR had their Holiday Party and I met up with them at Knott's and DCA. Then dinner at Buca was amazing. Then the next weekend was my going away party with most of my friends at SFMM. Great time and I even got to play with the Alvey's Wii! My last park of 2006 was Belmont Park to get my final ride on The Big Dipper before the new year comes

 

All in all this year was so much fun and I can't even put into words how much fun it was. I went on way too many coasters to count and so many parks. Thanks to everyone that made my 2006 the best ever!

 

Here's some photos

Six Flags one last time before the year is over

Non German Tom visits and we meet up with Don and Monica

Credit Whoring...and getting denied some credits

TPR Summer Party...Casey getting his kiddie coaster credit

Dollywood...Freakin awesome place

Just hanging out at Six Flags Magic Mountain

My lil cousins and my sis on the Mummy...hot stuff

[rileybrands]

Wow. I ended up doing so much this year. I didn't really get to do much until summer because of school and all, but I made the most of it! In June, my friend, his family, and I, went on a Route 66 road trip, hitting all the theme parks along the way except for Cliff's. We went to Joyland in Lubbock, TX (Galaxi, Kiddie Coaster, and Mad Mouse), Wonderland in Amarillo, TX (Cyclone [Mad Mouse], Big Coaster[Galaxi], and Texas Tornado[O. D. Hopkins's first coaster with the insane first loop and the 'through the shed' element]), Disneyland (Matterhorn Bobsleds, Space Mountain, and BTMR), CA Adventure (California Screamin', Mulholland Madness), SFMM (Viper, Scream!, S:TE, Goliath, Riddler's Revenge, Gold Rusher, Ninja, Tatsu, & Batman), and Universal Studios Hollywood (only Mummy's Revenge, but we loved the studio tour).

 

Throughout the rest of the year, I kind of integrated 'speed coastering' theme park trips into our already planned trips/vacations. There was the time I had a four hour layover with my dad coming back to Austin (in San Jose), so we rushed over to PGA and got on Top Gun, Demon, Invertigo, and Drop Zone (BTW, can anyone explain to me the fascination and adoration of some people with Demon?[at least the one at SFGAm]; on the Demon's MySpace, everyone says how much they love it; when my dad and I rode it, it was pretty rough). Vortex wasn't open that day. Is it any good? I heard that in the back it can sometimes be rough.

 

I also went to SFA, where I attempted desperately to drag my mother on a roller coaster, but failed. I got on Wild One, my first wooden coaster (it had insane ejector airtime!), then Roar!, then Joker's Jinx, Batwing, Superman (rode it twice, first time had little airtime; second had lots), Two Face, then Mind Eraser (where I got stuck on the second brake run and the guy sitting next to me began praying, unaware that the coming train would stop in the previous brake run). It was my first SLC.

 

I went to SFMW (which is like Clone Capital of the World) and liked all the rides, except for Kong (although I do have to say it was much smoother than SFA's SLC).

 

And of course, I made a bunch of trips to my home park, SFFT, where I got on Der Rolluschcoaster (sp?), The Rattler, which was running really well this season (at least the five times I went), S:KC, Poltergeist (same as Joker's Jinx at SFA), Boomerang, RR Express (which for a family ride/Arrow Mine Train is surprisingly intense; great positive g's). Thank goodness we're finally getting a new coaster for 2007 (Tony Hawk's Big Spin).

 

I went to SFOT with my dad on a business trip during Fright Fest and took him on his first wooden coaster since the Jantzen Beach Big Dipper in Portland, OR (almost 45 years ago), Judge Roy Scream. We then moved on to Texas Giant, then Texas Titan, then Runaway Mountain, then Shockwave, then Batman, where I got stuck on the lift for like 40 minutes.

 

And finally, my most recent trip was this past Friday (12-29-06), when my brother and I went to SeaWorld. We got there at about 11:30 and they were just beginning testing for Steel Eel and hadn't begun testing for Great White. There were maybe 200 people in the park that day (however, as we left, at about 2:00, the UT Marching Band was arriving, as they were in town for the Alamo Bowl the next day). I wasn't that thrilled by Steel Eel. The bunny hops at the end had like no airtime that day (but I mean, it was still a fun ride0. The only really good airtime part about it is the very first drop straight off the lift hill in the back row, where you're practically launched over the top of the lift hill and you're flying the whole way down; awesome airtime. From the Steel Eel lift hill, we could see construction of Journey to Atlantis (but only the orange supports) to our right. And to our left, well, we saw lots and lots of subdivisions.. We then went on the Great White, where we practiced incorrect riding position (I'm pretty sure there's a pic of that sign in the queue for Great White under the park photos). After doing this, we were flung off the ride and landed in one of the subdivisions where a huge shark ate us. It's the most intense of the Batmans I've been on (in particular, this particular version's upward helix directly after the second loop, where I could feel the blood rushing down to my feet, and as we pulled out of it, I couldn't feel my feet; it was quite amazing).

 

 

LOTS PLANNED FOR 2007!!

[rileybrands]

BTW, i have some pics from parks that I still need to be developed, which I'll try to do soon.

[bgwfreak]

I had a good year..

 

Carowinds (home park)

SFOG (twice) Goliath...yummy!

Holiday World

SFStl

Beech Bend

Dollywood

Camden Park

SC State Fair

Myrtle Beach Pavilion

Family Kingdom

 

If you want to check out my pics go to: www.southernscream.com

 

Next year I'm planning

 

Ghost Town in the Sky

BGE

Dollywood

Carowinds

Cedar Point

Geagua Lake

Kennywood

A few of the small PA parks

[cpfanatik77]

This was my best year for coasters. I actually got to follow through with some of my trip plans for the first time ever. My top 5 wooden coasters list received a serious facelift, with only 1 of the coasters from the beginning of the year reamaining at the years end. Highlights included:

-Holiday World and the Voyage, my favorite wooden coaster

-M*ch*gan's Adventure and Shivering Timbers

-getting off of Millennium and walking right back on during CoasterMania ERT

-planning a weeklong trip to Dorney Park, Six Flags Great Adventure, and Coney Island

-specifically at those parks: Steel Foce, Thunderhawk, El Toro, Nitro, Kingda Ka, Cyclone, and two hot dogs from the original Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Stand

 

Hopefully 2007 will bring even better highlights than 2006.

[Tömmioh]

My year was pretty good.

Got to visit 4 new parks: Luna Park, Holiday Park, Europa Park, PowerPark

and old favourites: Linnanmäki, Särkänniemi and Liseberg.

 

Highlights:

-got to meet: Robb, Elissa, Derek, Jeff Johnson, Dan.

-riding EGF and Silver Star and Balder.

-it was a nice warm and long summer.

 

Some photos:

A bit of a messy shot, that's supposed to be a Huss Booster.

My last coastertrip of the year in October at Linnanmäki. This is the construction site for the new Ball-coaster.

Finally got to PowerPark, which coasters were surprisingly good.

a photo I took, which came out quite nice, I think.

Back in Finland. Having a great time.

Aaaah.

yippie! first credit of the year!