Photo TR: Valleyfair Opening Day 2007

[the_rock401]

SATURDAY, MAY 12, 2007

VALLEYFAIR FAMILY AMUSEMENT PARK

SHAKOPEE, MINNESOTA

 

Today, Saturday, the 12th day of May, A.D. 2007 was a big day for me. Not only does Renegade open at Valleyfair (I'll get to that in a minute), this morning I took my last final of my undergrad career. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I am now in posession of a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree from the University of Minnesota. (insert token applause here).

 

But enough with the semantics. This is a coaster forum, isn't it? This is the first Opening Day at VF since 2004 where the weather has vaugely resembled nice. And we had a new coaster opening. Guess what? Time to go to VF.

 

I had processed my season pass, but I was stretched too thin to be buying a parking pass. So, I was relieved of $9 at the toll plaza upon arrival at the park this morning. The pass processing line was an hour long all day (I stood in it later for my parking pass). After I put on sunscreen, locked the car, and closed the door behind me, it occured to me that my keys were still in the starter. A call to AAA got me a break-in artist to get my keys out, and I'm finally into the park.

 

As soon as I got into the park, I headed straight to Renegade. Waited about 25 minutes for the very back seat. It was AWESOME. Wasn't much kick airtime, some floaters, but it carried a lot of speed through. It was just a really fun ride. GCI has a winner here, folks.

 

Operations were not great, but I write that one off as opening day jitters. Still, with the line back to just about the entrance, it only took half an hour to get into the train. Give this crew some work, and they'll be just fine.

 

The crowds at Renegade weren't helping Excalibur, despite it's proximity. In actuality, Renegade is very well hidden from the rest of the park.

 

The rest of the day consisted of riding the rest of the stuff at VF, and waiting out the line to get my parking sticker. Here's the photo TR.

Something BIG happened in Xtreme Swing over the winter.

No VF Opening Day is without rain...

Very nice setting for Renegade.

Another train of happy customers go out.

It's RENEGADE!

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a random dude with a camera!

Is that what I think it is?

The first nice weather on Opening Day since 2004.

[Thrillrider15]

Nice! I was there too! Neat photos. Renegade is awsome. I didn't even notice what happened to Xtreme Swing.

[Vffreak07]

Xtreme Swing got a band-aid. Haha. I'm in one of those pics.

[Topdrag]

It got patched over the winter time. S&S made a design flaw in the pistons and they had to fix it, but to do so they had to take out a chunk of the ride to get to it.