KKAddict Explores Coney Island, NY

[KKAddict127]

It's a trip I've been meaning to take for a while. I'm an hour and 20 minute train ride from Manhattan, and with such a legendary coaster right there, I've been meaning to go there for a while. Finally, I was heading into the city to ride an amazing roller coaster and see a baseball game at a great stadium. And so begins...

 

KKAddict Explores Coney Island

 

My dad decided to be spontaneous this time. Just after lunch, he asked me if I wanted to head into Brooklyn that night. Train and baseball team schedules were checked, the subway map perused for the best route, and we were off on the 2:25 train from Middletown to New York Penn.

 

An uneventful train ride and a doughnut stop later, we headed down to the depths of the subway tracks in NYP to wait for our F train for non-express service to Cycloneville. 20 minutes later, our beloved F train has yet to show up. A D train pulls up on the other side of the platform, and thanks to my uber-nerdy map skillz, I found that the D would bring us to a close station to the Cyclone, albeit a bit further than if we had gotten on the F.

 

Fast forward. Standing, sometimes sitting, but most of the time standing on our why-is-this-taking-so-long subway ride into the depths of Brooklyn, my dad and I were anxiously wondering when our stop would be coming. My dad's map of the subway system was from 1999, so I couldn't trust it too much. Suddenly, the conductor of the subway comes on and tells us the next stop, Bay Parkway, would be the last stop on this train. We were wondering why too, since Coney was still a bit farther. Thankfully, we only waited a few more minutes for the next D train to take us to Coney. Still no idea why that D train had to stop at Bay.

 

So we arrived at the Coney Island station. I must say, it's very nice. We walked a bit to the Cyclone, to find a short line to get tickets. At $6 for the first ride, my guess is they knew how great this coaster was when they made the price.

 

We got our tickets, and winded through the short queue line that goes under the turnaround. There are high white fences seperating the switchbacks. Right before the station, there is a man there to collect our tickets. The line is short on the platform, and no gates either. A sign of the times, those gates are. Lights are flasing everywhere with signs that seem reminiscent of what Coney was in it's heyday. What a great sight to see. My dad checks his bag at the counter (great idea) between the exit and entrance stations. We get in line (or just the big blob that formed). The train rolled in from the exit station with the attendants riding the side of the train like a San Francisco cable car. As soon as the train stopped, yells of "Hurry up! Get in! Find a seat!" rang from the attendants. They made sure operations were quick and efficient and quick. In no time, my dad and I were strapped in to the 3rd row and with a push of the giant lever, we were rolling out of the station.

 

I'm not about to describe the entire ride, but I can tell you that it isn't El Toro. It is by no means smooth, but it's rough in the good sense of the word. It isn't too unbearable, and it makes it feel like just like a classic wooden coaster should feel. Airtime was around, but I wouldn't find the true meaning of the word until later that night. Needless to say, I loved the 3rd row ride all the way until the train came to a full stop where the same attendants were waiting to scream "Re-rides, $4! Exit to the left! Hurry, out!" And by the way, those trains were extremely comfortable. And they ought to be, with the coaster their wheels run on.

 

By that time, my dad was hurrying me to get over to Keyspan Park, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones baseball team. It was 5:35, and the game started at 6. We could already see the stadium about a quarter full from our ride. We headed over there, my dad got his tickets from will call, and we were in.

 

I've heard a lot of great things about this stadium. I loved the backdrop of the famous parachute tower and the rest of the amusement parks in left field. However, that's about where my pros on this staduim end. The concourse was too small, food wasn't too great, everything was crammed together and the atmosphere made it even worse. Between just about every pitch, there was some sort of song or sound effect or advertisement played over the PA system. It drove me crazy. And with a starting pitcher that worked as slow as molasses, that didn't help things out too much. Needless to say, I was happy when the final out was recorded for a Cyclones win. My dad and I took a few pictures of the parks over the left field wall and we were out.

 

We headed back to the Cyclone again, just because we hadn't gotten enough the first time. The line to get tickets was much longer now that the game was out (around 9:15). However, jsut like in the station, they kept things moving. Two girls younger than me cut in front of us on our way from the ticket booth to the start of the line. The switchbacks were about 75% filled (albeit there are 2 of them if I remember right). The line was constantly moving, as operations were beyond mazing at this coaster. Tthe line cutters were quickly booted at the ticket-taker booth right before the station with faulty tickets. God, I love this place.

 

My dad checked his bag once again, and we waited for the next train at the back. Again, "Hurry, find a seat, let's go" rang out. We hopped in the back row for our 2nd and last ride, and in the dark. We pulled out, and up the lift we went. And keep in mind, with a single lap bar across the row of two, they nowhere-near stapled me here. And of course, there are no seatbelts (like they existed in the '20s, pshhh)

 

The first drop gave me a bit of a taste of what was to come. It felt like I was going to fall out. Sure, it was rougher here, but again in a good way. And with all of the constant insane drops on this ride, my legs kept getting bruised from banging into the restraint with the insane airtime. At some points, I'm sure it was a lot stronger than El Toro's. And of course, the laterals got just as insane. Thank you major padding. If you're looking for El Toro but with more twists and turns and a lot bit rougher, you've got your coaster right here. This is what I call a true classic wooden roller coaster.

 

I couldn't believe what had happened to me. That had to be one of the most out-of-control, insane rides I've ever taken on a roller coaster. We pulled back into the station, however re-rides were not allowed due to the line. I walked to the exit, still bewildered, and headed into the subway station across the street.

 

Again, a very nice one, and thankfully, the F came for us this time. We headed back to NYP via Washington Square transfer as we did getting there, and headed on the next train down the shore on NJT. It had been a great night (except for most portions of the baseball game), and I was still in amazement with the ride I had just taken (the roller coaster, not the train, idiot ) I hope I can head back up there in the near future to experience whatever the hell that was on Coney Island. It was just plain amazing.

[imbordisux]

Nice to see that, in this age of glass-smooth coasters, people can still appreciate the old beat-'em-ups.