New update 2008 (park planning) LAST POST

[stealth2006]

Hey TPR,

Next season I am planning on heading out to the US, from here (Manchester, UK)

I plan on flying to Cleveland, then off to GL for a day or two, then off to CP for 4-5 days, then heading down to NJ for SFGAdv for around 4-5 days with a stop in NYC. I have been told that driving from CP to SFGAdv is about 10 hours which isn't a problem!

What time of year would be best to go!

Flights (cheapest I have found are £400 GPB)

That is for September time!

Any advice and help will be muchly apprietiated!

(also need to find someone over 25 for car hire lol)

[Carnage]

I plan on flying to Cleveland, then off to GL for a day or two, then off to CP for 4-5 days, then heading down to NJ for SFGAdv for around 4-5 days with a stop in NYC.

 

I think you're estimating about double the amount of time required at those parks.

 

GL is a day park at best, more like 2-3 hours really.

 

CP should only take you two days to enjoy it.

 

SDGADv two days tops like CP.

 

Assuming you're not coming in the middle of the summer busy season you should really consider about trimming down your stays at those parks.

 

There are ALOT of good parks in the midwest/east coast. You could cut days out of those parks and end up seeing and doing more.

 

Just noticed you mentioned September. Be aware that seasonal parks are in weekend only operatin at that point. Early June would be a better time to plan if you want decent weather, and have stuff open on weekdays.

[stealth2006]

What parks are around the east coast then?

I do want plenty of re-rides!

June sounds good, so the date will change to June! GL seems like a one day park so that is fine. CP 3 at max! Same with SFGAdv

Thanks for your help!

[Carnage]

Knoebels,Dorney,Lake Compounce,SFA,SFNE,Kings Dominion,BGW,etc etc.

 

There's alot of parks in the area.

 

I really don't think you need even 3 days at CP or SFGADV, but it's your vacation.

 

GL seriously you could do in an afternoon on your way to Sandusky.

[imbordisux]

Here's a great resource for you:

http://www.coast2coaster.com/

 

If you're doing "Cedar Point", you should definitely hit "Holiday World" in Indiana, which is about 7 hours south-west ("Indiana Beach" would be another good stop); then, head back east and hit "Kennywood" in Western-Pennsylvania, and "Hersheypark" and "Dorney Park" in Eastern-Pennsylvania on your way to "Six Flags Great Adventure" in New Jersey.

 

And then, depending on the radius you are willing to travel, there a bunch of other great parks you could hit as well.

 

The only other advice I can give is that you should try to schedule the really big parks (CP and especially SFGAdv) on week-days, and do the smallest parks on weekends, unless they're known for handling crowds well. For instance, "Hersheypark" is safe to do on a Saturday as they are AMAZING when it comes keeping lines moving, whereas I always advise people who are going to SFGAdv to NEVER GO ON A WEEKEND, you WILL spend all day on line and get on almost nothing.

 

If you go to SFGAdv during the week, two days should be more than enough.

 

Oh, another quick hint: take note of which parks share similar/identical coasters, so that you can skip them at bigger parks and do them at smaller ones. For instance, you might want to skip "Wicked Twister" at CP where crowds are bigger, and then hit "Steel Venom" at GL later.

[Tanks4me05]

^ Uhhh, Steel Venom is leaving Geauga Lake, so I suggest going on Wicked Twister, which is a great ride anyway. For New York State, I recommend going to Darien Lake (I know it won't be the best this year, but hopefully in 2008 enough improvements will be made to make it look like a good park) as they have Superman, which has a lot of airtime if you sit in the back. Seabreeze in Rochester, NY is a fun, small family park with some nice medium sized coasters and a good water park. The lines at Seabreeze rarely get above 10 minutes for most rides (except for Bobsleds, which usually gets 20 - 30 minutes, but it is a unique ride, and is worth it in my opinion) The park's wooden coaster, Jack Rabbit, may have Morgan Trains, and it is the fifth oldest coaster in the world but the ride is actually very smooth. Sylvan Beach, in Sylvan Beach, NY is a really fun, 1950's style amusement park, which only has an SDC Galaxi, but it has many rare flat rides, and the classic feel is simply unparalleled, especially at night, when all the Neon Lights are on. (Go on a Wednesday, when you get a discount on the amount of tickets that each ride requires) The Great Escape, in Lake George, NY is also a really fun place. It is a family park, mainly, but their Boomerang is surprisingly smooth, and Comet is by far the best wooden coaster in the state. If you ride in the back, you will know why.

 

-Tanks "NY Parks guru and Sylvan Beach fanatic" 4me05

[stealth2006]

Thanks alot! I could always just wait until the next east coast TPR trip! Could be easier for my travel etc! Yes it may be more costly but I will get to meet alot of you great TPR's who have tried to help me very much!

Thanks for all the advice you have given me! It's very much apprietiated!

Chris x

[niiicolaaah]

I'm gonna have to agree with everything Carnage said...

[imbordisux]

^ Uhhh, Steel Venom is leaving Geauga Lake, so I suggest going on Wicked Twister...

 

Forgot about that, thanks.

 

Umm, my point still stands, though - if several parks you're visiting have clones, you can save some time with that.

[Carnage]

For New York State, I recommend going to Darien Lake (I know it won't be the best this year, but hopefully in 2008 enough improvements will be made to make it look like a good park) as they have Superman, which has a lot of airtime if you sit in the back.

 

Considering he wants to go to SFGAdv he'd be better off going to SFA. SFA is closer, Superman is the same ride there, and the park around it is better.

[307]

I agree with what Carnage said!

 

imbordisux's suggestions were good but would require a lot of extra driving, money, and time to do. Thus, in the long run, it may be out of the question.

 

I would probably say to spend an afternoon at Geauga Lake [you could easily get all the credits there during that span, including re-rides] and then drive to Cedar Point. Two days would easily suffice at Cedar Point [though, again, it's a definite "weekday only!" park]. My girlfriend and I scheduled three days at CP our first time there [during the week in late-May], and we had ridden all but one coaster [including TTD and MF] by the end of the first day, including a couple of re-rides. The second day was basically just going on the things we really loved from the first day, as well as a couple of assorted flat rides.

 

I did a quick Google Maps check on the quickest route from Cedar Point to SFGAdv, and that route takes you fairly close to Kennywood, in Pittsburgh, and HersheyPark, in Hershey [both Pennsylvania].

 

I'd say that, with the time you save from not spending four days at both SFGAdv and CP, you could definitely do both of those parks. And speaking as a guy who has been to both and enjoyed both, I'd say that you probably should not pass up such a great opportunity. Not only do you get lots of good credits [Phantom's Revenge! Lightning Racer! Storm Runner! Great Bear! And more!], they're both very beautiful parks and HersheyPark is home of some great candy.

 

I can't give any suggestions on SFGdv, as I have never and will most likely never go there. But I'd probably listen to Carnage, he sounds like a wise man.

 

So that's my suggestions, anyway.

 

And whichever route you do decide to go, have fun!

[larrygator]

I did a quick Google Maps check on the quickest route from Cedar Point to SFGAdv, and that route takes you fairly close to Kennywood, in Pittsburgh, and HersheyPark, in Hershey [both Pennsylvania].

 

You would also drive right past Dorney Park, although Kennywood and HersheyPark are better all around parks.

[stealth2006]

Well as you can see by the topic name change etc:

I and now a friend Kat, will start planning this soon. We will be out in Cedar point area for 3 weeks and want to hit as many parks as possible in the area:

Cedar Point,

GL

SFGAdv

Dorney park,

Hershey

And anyother reccomendations!

What is the youngest you can get car hire at?

Anyone got any relatively cheapish plans and what airport to head to from the UK!

Where to start out basically!

We want to hit as many parks as possible in the 14 days we are out there! Aslong as we have time to do everything including flats at cedar point we are fine!

Thanks for all your help!

Chris and Kat

[HogarthOK]

Well as you can see by the topic name change etc:

I and now a friend Kat, will start planning this soon. We will be out in Cedar point area for 3 weeks and want to hit as many parks as possible in the area:

PKI is only about a 5 hr drive from CP. As others stated in the thread,

You can easily hit Knoebels and Kennywood on your way from Ohio to SFGAdv.

 

What is the youngest you can get car hire at?

 

Most car rental companies won't rent to anyone under 25. Even then, you need a major credit card, or they will take a huge deposit from a debit card.

 

Aslong as we have time to do everything including flats at cedar point we are fine!

If you go in May, or Early June, you can ride everything at CP in no more than two days. Maybe even one if you hurry.

 

H

[Carnage]

Aslong as we have time to do everything including flats at cedar point we are fine!

 

Just worry about getting the coasters in.

 

CP doesn't realy have much at all in terms of flat rides.

 

Maxair, Skyhawk, and Power Tower are really the only non-coaster rides worth riding.

[stealth2006]

Right well here is the plan just to see if you think it would be ok:

Start out in Indiana: Holiday World

Drive to near GL, stay over, wake in morning, Go GL for the morning, get the credits, then to CP, do the rest of day at CP, stay somewhere close, then head back to CP the day after. Do a day, stay close, then head off real early to kennywood/dorney/hershey which ever is closest, if its kennywood then dorney If Close enough we can do in a day, as only 5 credits at each park. Then off to hershey for a day! Leave Hershey and head off to maryland for SFA, then off to SFGadv for 2 days!

What would be the cheapest accommodation around these areas if any help can be given.

Thanks alot you are all stars

 

Also to get into SFA and SFGAdv based on this seasons prices, it wil cost $109.98

If you get a play pass will it get us into both parks? And how much will it cost! (SixFlags won't load on my pc)

[imbordisux]

Are you starting and ending in Indiana, or are you arriving in Indiana and leaving from Jersey?

 

If you're starting in IN, and ending in NJ, here's a good "starter plan":

 

1 - arrive at IN, get some sleep from your long trip

2 - "Holiday World", stay second night

3 - drive 7 hours to CP

4 - "Cedar Point", stay second night

5 - "Cedar Point", drive 1.5 hours to GL

6 - "Geauga Lake", drive 2 hours to Kenny

7 - "Kennywood", drive 3.5 hours to HP

8 - "Hersheypark", drive 2 hours to SFA

9 - "SF America", drive 3 hours to DP

10 - "Dorney Park", drive 1.5 hours to SFGAdv

11 - "SF Great Adventure", stay second night

12 - "SF Great Adventure"

 

If you can fly out of Virginia to go back home, do this:

 

1 - arrive at IN, get some sleep from your long trip

2 - "Holiday World", stay second night

3 - drive 7 hours to CP

4 - "Cedar Point", stay second night

5 - "Cedar Point", drive 3.5 to Kenny

6 - "Kennywood", drive 3.5 hours to HP

7 - "Hersheypark", drive 1 hour to DP

8 - "Dorney Park", drive 1.5 hours to SFGAdv

9 - "SF Great Adventure", stay second night

10 - "SF Great Adventure, drive 3 hours to SFA

11 - "SF America", drive 2 hours to KD

12 - "Kings Dominion", 1 hour to BGE

13 - "Busch Gardens Europe"

 

Of course, these are based on my "old fart" style of road-tripping, where we only like to savor one park for an entire day; if you'd rather credit-whore than ride the same rides over and over, you can definitely combine some of those (HP and DP, SFA and KD) into one day.

 

In two weeks, you can hit a TON of stuff - definitely get on the following sites and get planning:

- http://www.rcdb.com

- http://www.coast2coaster.com

- http://www.mapquest.com

[BamBam36]

Do what I'm bordisux says

but on day 3 of either trip as well as driving the 7 hours to CP on that day hit up Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom. It is an hour away from HW. It takes like 4 hours to get on all the rides and its free with your six flags season pass.