Photo TR: MAXXimum Exposure! GL, CP & Kennywood

[bgwfreak]

Wow great TR! How long do you have to wait you reckon if we ran straight to Maverick when the park opened?

 

I didn't go there first both days, well the 2nd day we had ERT in the morning so that doesn't count.

 

It seemed to be busiest first thing in the morning (about an hour wait) and then got a little less so later in the day.

 

At least you're covered most of the time in the queue. Thanks CP!

[browntggrr]

At least you're covered most of the time in the queue. Thanks CP!

 

Funny thing about that though is, it is not really for the sun, but for early & late in the season when the winds off of Lake Erie are blowing cold. If you have ever been waiting in line for MS or WT you know exactly what I mean. The Lake Erie water temp just hit above 70 last week.

[haiderodes]

Pretty much every picture I have seen of Maverick has shown three trains stacked behind the station. Why is that? Are there seperate load/unload platforms or something?

[kennywood!007]

Awesome pictures! Can't wait for the others.

[spaceace12]

Breakers express gets you in faster? I plan on staying there in fall anyway, but that is a good thing.

[dwerling]

Villain in front seat is very reridable this year. In fact I rode it 4 times in one day already this year. Don't make the mistake of sitting in the backseat though, unless you have a steel spine.

[hemmy]

Pretty much every picture I have seen of Maverick has shown three trains stacked behind the station. Why is that? Are there seperate load/unload platforms or something?

 

It isn't like that when they are running it efficiently, usually only 2 are in the station and 1 or 2 in the break run.

 

There are usually 6 trains running so there is only so much space on the track they can use.

 

As for the person who asked about running straight to Maverick...if you are GP the day after memorial day, the wait was 30 minutes first thing but the ride broke down for about 20 minutes so it was longer than posted at the que.

[coastercrazed49]

Looks like you had a good time so far. Those Gtrains looks so wierd like it should belong on a futuristic coaster. It always seems that Guega Lake is never crowed or is it just me?

[bgwfreak]

Pretty much every picture I have seen of Maverick has shown three trains stacked behind the station. Why is that? Are there seperate load/unload platforms or something?

 

Maverick has 2 loading sections in the station, 3 "stack sections" on the straightaway brake run.

 

There can also be a 6th train on the first set of brakes (I'm assuming). You can see that section of track in the pic with Mean Streak in the background.

 

But I don't think they ever do that, they'll stop a train in the tunnel if they are stacking that bad. It happend to me once I think.

 

Breakers express gets you in faster? I plan on staying there in fall anyway, but that is a good thing.

 

Yes. Anyone staying in a Cedar Point resort/hotel gets in 1 hour early and you get to ride 2 or 3 rides before the GP. The days I was there it was Maverick and Millennium Force.

 

Breakers Express isn't anything fancy and I don't think they even offer a contenintal breakfast, but there is a McDonald's across the street (that sucks on service though). The rooms aren't much more than basic, but hey at least it was clean and I couldn't hear through the walls like at Microtel. lol And no, no free shuttle to the park.

[kennywood!007]

Was there a sound effect in the tunnel? I was wondering cause I heard people talk about it but never got a for sure answer...

[chargercrazy]

Villain in front seat is very reridable this year. In fact I rode it 4 times in one day already this year. Don't make the mistake of sitting in the backseat though, unless you have a steel spine.

 

We rode in the back seat. Big mistake. Now I wish I would have ridden it again in the front seat.

[bgwfreak]

Was there a sound effect in the tunnel? I was wondering cause I heard people talk about it but never got a for sure answer...

 

Yes there was the sound of Elissa screaming for her Intamin love god.

 

Seriously though, I think there is sort of an explosion sound or something when they launch you but I'm not 100% sure.

 

All I remember are "high tech" lights in there.

[bgwfreak]

Hello again...

 

Here's the remainder of the "best of" Day 1 and Day 2.

 

Thanks guys for all the kind words already...

 

Enjoy!

 

If you would like to check out all 355 photos at full resolution, visit my photo album.

 

This was my first Coastermania, and I figured like most events that there really is no need to get there an hour and a half early for registration. I got to the park about 5:30-5:40 and was done with registration in like 5 minutes!

 

We were in the park in no time and at 6:00 AM we started riding Millie, Maverick and some other big swing later on that morning.

Thanks Cedar Point for an awesome 2 days! The weather was gorgeous and in the high 70s both days with no rain. But wait! There's more!

Time for bed...that's AM.

My 1st ride during ERT was FRONT ROW. I thought my skin was pealing off!

See?

But Dragster looks very nice indeed.

Power Tower looks a little scurry at night.

What state is this park in?

Time to watch the fireworks.

The Flash made an appearance in the park. I guess he got tired of being at Six Flags.

This was either our first or second night ride. Don't give me that look!

Did I mention I like neon?

Pretty.

I love neon. I would be a neon enthusiast if there was only an ANE club. I could be an ANEr!

Thanks Brian for a GREAT shot of me and Magnum. *wink wink*

Get off my freakin' beach!!!! --- I think that is Canada off in the distance. How's it going Carnage?... I've been informed that's NOT Canada. But Canada is very closeby.

I love beaches.

The birds: The Revenge.

Time for: "Shots as the Sun goes down". (Magnum)

At least they TRY and HIDE the fact that the ride sucks.

Obligatory Corkscrew Shot #2

Obligatory Corkscrew Shot #1

Don't get me wrong, Magnum will always hold a place in my heart. But it's certainly not my #1 steel coaster.

It's a wonder the rabid ACErs (and I'm an ACEr too, so I can pick at my fellow-ACErs) didn't start ripping apart a train or something when there was a delay on Magnum.

Gemini through Snoopy!

Another angle for you Dragster fans.

The finish line looks different somehow.

We see you oh painful one.

Mmmmm Intamin yummy.

The boat ride does offer some nice views though of Millie...

Ted? Care to explain? *Wes runs for his life*

Something stinks...and it's not that ACEr sitting next to me.

A 3 hour tour...a 3 hour tour...

Oh noz! The Borg Assimilator Geese have landed! Oh that's right, Carowinds is a Cedar Fair park now, so I guess it's ok.

My name is birdie. I want to be like the Raptor Paint Crew someday.

Dragster I must say was very reliable both days. Except for a few small hiccups, it ran all day both days.

Elevator doors! I guess that proves it! There's a big silver box at the bottom (didn't get a clear shot) that must be the elevator cabin.

Ever since TTD got stuck at the top, I wondered about the supposed elevator that took the guy to the top to push them over.

Sky Hawk. *sigh* What a pittiful cycle. The small version I've been on was way better.

This guy thought he was way too funny. Probably like me!

Time for some "culture".

Raptor Paint Crew in training.

So how was your Wildcat ride Brian? Yeah, me too.

I met up with Brian and his wife. Brian doesn't like Ferris wheels, so he was about to have a fit right here I'm sure.

And Magnum XL-200...or is it 199? It's sinking you know.

I decided to explore a bit and rode around the perimeter road (forgive me fanboys, I don't know what it's called). Gives nice views of Gemini...

Yours for only $19.99!!! And if you buy the trash can within 20 minutes, we'll throw in this 1st Gen. Intamin drop tower!

I see the Raptor Paint Crew is busy at work.

See BeemerBoy...I rode it...or it RODE me!

Coaster Geek Alert!

So close...but yet so far away from getting off.

Raptor came by to laugh at the people stuck up in the air. "I told you! I rule the sky at Cedar Point!"

The sky ride broke down!

Random Beach Shot. Mine! Mine!

Back at the park... Intamin goodness. How's it going Elissa?

Wake up dude! The ship was cool, at random it would make cannon blast sounds, the birds would talk to you and with each other...cool stuff.

Castaway Bay has a neat little pirate ship in the lobby with these talking parrots.

After morning ERT at Coastermania, I had a massive headache (not because of the ACErs either) so I headed out to Breakers Express to rest a bit and I had to run over to Castaway Bay for some meds.

If you ever wondered..."hey, what's up at the top of Wicked Twister to keep me from going off the end?" there's your answer.

Magnum XL-200 had some "issues" right before ERT at Coastermania. Fortunatly they did get it back up in time for ERT that night.

And a final shot of CP at night. Thanks for the memories...Kennywood you're up next!

The Bug Story...yes I think I swallowed a WHOLE bug when riding Raptor. Needless to say that I kept my mouth shut the rest of the night (on the rides). The bugs are insane at CP!

Sorry for these being out of order... I messed up resizing these... Brian you don't have to massage her neck before riding. This isn't Mantis!

[coastercrazed49]

Wow Cedar Point looks awesome at night! Great Trip Report!!!

[dandaman]

I decided to explore a bit and rode around the perimeter road (forgive me fanboys, I don't know what it's called).

 

Actually... that's it. Perimeter Road. The Creative Department must have had an off-day.

 

I think that is Canada off in the distance. How's it going Carnage?

 

That's too close to be Pelee Island; I think it's Kelley Island or something. The only time I've seen Pelee was from the top of Dragster.

 

Oh, and I'm a lot closer than Carnage to the Point.

[bgwfreak]

Hello again,

 

Here's my final installment...Kennywood!

 

I've been saying I was going to get to Kennywood for ages. I wanted to ride Steel Phantom, then of course he was morphed into Phantom's Revenge...and still I wanted to go.

 

Well I figured I was as close to Pittsburgh as I was going to get anytime soon on this trip, so I finally made it to Kennywood!

 

Thank goodness the tunnels were open that weekend because of the US Open being in town. Otherwise Katie would have had to come get me, cause I would have never found my way through the burroughs of Pittsburgh!

 

Katie (from ThrillNetwork.com) was my local friend and she met me at the park to show me the ropes.

 

Kennywood is an old school park at it's best. Built in 1889 I think, it's a smaller park but what they have they do well.

 

They have 3 wooden coasters (one of them the only Mobius racer left), all originally built in the 1920s (Thunderbolt though was changed at some point from it's original layout), Phantom's Revenge (an awesome hyper), a Reverchon (indoor) spinning mouse and jr coaster (which i didn't ride because of the line).

 

You actually walk through a tunnel to get into the park (why didn't I take a pic???) and then you start into the park proper.

 

Because I didn't want to add another day to my already 5 day trip, I did Kennywood on a Saturday. I hated that, because they were busy. Not bad, but they were busy. So stuff I could've reridden or flats I wanted to ride, I didn't get to. But that's why you come back to a park. And I really do plan on coming back to this park at some point!

The Tammarack of Doom! OK, it's just called the Tammarack. The place is on I-77 when in West Virginia. It's an ok little place to stop, but it's so small inside! You really expect a gigantic mall or something based on their interstate signs! Oooh! The Tamarack is only 20 miles away! That's all folks! Hope you enjoyed the PTR!

Katie and I pose on the way out of the park... Thanks Katie for showing me around and for Kennywood being an awesome old school park!

One of the only ones left, but I didn't have the time or energy to ride it.

Also did not ride, for fear that I would never have children as a result.

Did not ride- but it looked perty.

Noah's Ark (dark ride) - Awesome! I was totally unaware of what is in this place. One of the best dark "rides" I've ever been on! It's like a haunted house, gone so so wrong.

Boo! Another short cycle. I didn't even bother after looking at them run.

I love swings, but with the long lines and the fact I was dead tired, I skippe them.

*SKLOOSH!!!!* Did not ride. Not Dan or Wes approved.

I love you Phantom. You might have a scurry sign, but you are awesome.

*drools* My first Patch Fries! (sorry I forgot to take a pic...I was too busy devouring those awesome things!) They are handcut fries and they are awesome! We also had the fried Oreos too! Yum!

I wonder if the steel in Phantom's Revenge (former Steel Phantom) acutally came from Pittsburgh? Things that make you go hmmmm...

Wee!

Stairway to Heaven... Phantom really was excellent (although I only got 1 ride due to the lines). The ejector air on the bunny hills is INSANE!

Uh why aren't you dispatching??? Oh great, someone barfed in the back seat....I'll be sitting in the front of the train!

OH NO! Another scary Phantom up ahead...

There they go!

Oh please don't eat me scary Phantom sign!

The theming is cheesy, but it's cool all the same to me. The layout is typical Reverchon, but it works being half in the dark!

Why is Katie so happy? Oh yeah, up ahead is my favorite spinning mouse! (Although I didn't know it at this point).

There they go into the ravine!

Yay! Sphagetti bowl mooshing (smashing into your ride partner)ahead! No single riders!

I really loved Thunderbolt. It jumped into my #10 wood spot quite easily.

Hello friendly strangers!

Thunderbolt was a big surprise. I didn't know much about the coaster except that you drop into the ravine straight out of the station.

Hmmmm...I wonder what that is?

But that looks like 2 to me! Racer was fun, but just OK. The good coasters are still to come.

Racer was up next...yeah I know many people only say it's one credit...

Jack Rabbit was a fun (if a bit short) little coaster and a nice way to start the day.

Let the credits begin!

Heck, I'm in Kennywood for the first time...take pics of me and Phantom? No. Me and George W! (Washington that is).

Phantom's Revenge!!!!! *wets self*

Which way to Kennywood!?

[dandaman]

LOL at the Tamarack comment! Yeah, we've only stopped there once for the same reason. All I remember there was a lotta folksy craft stuff and a circular courtyard in the middle.

 

Kennywood looks like a really good park. Too bad my family hates coasters and I'll never likely go anywhere like that.

 

Great TR!

[Guest]

Here ya go Wes, I took the Patch Fry pics for you!!

 

Orgasm!

 

Gravy on fries? Who'da thought that up? Oh yeah! Pittsburghers!

[dandaman]

^Are you kiddin'? Poutine has been a staple food for Canadians for as long as I can remember. (Which doesn't say much.)

 

FYI, poutine is gravy AND cheese. Your move, Pittsburgh.

 

Personally I don't like it, but those cheese fries look awesome.

[bgwfreak]

^ Yeah, I didn't like the gravy ones so much, but the cheese ones. *drools some more*

[Guest]

I like both, but not mixed together on the fries. That tears up someones stomach!!

[dandaman]

Heh, even Wikipedia says it's a Canadian fast food staple!

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poutine

[bgwfreak]

Heh, even Wikipedia says it's a Canadian fast food staple!

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poutine

 

Like they're reliable.

 

Probably put in there by some silly Canadian.

[dandaman]

Yeah, but silly Canadians invented this heart-attack-to-go, so it's OK.

 

Thunderbolt looks really cool, with the drop into the ravine and all.

[bgwfreak]

Thunderbolt looks really cool, with the drop into the ravine and all.

 

I didn't do it justice really, it's like:

 

Drop into the ravine

Up and around a turn

Drop again into the ravine

Go up (get air) and up again and engage the lift (yes, air on the lift!)

Katie help me out here...

First big drop is into the Sphagetti bowl

Then I think you go up a hill

Around a corner

Back down into the Sphagetti bowl (there's two sections of track).

Then I think you go back in the ravine for kind of an out and back section

Then head for the brakes.

 

It's mostly built in that ravine and it's hard to get pics of.