Nrthwnd Posted June 19, 2017 Author Share Posted June 19, 2017 A Happy Totally Unexpected Ride Surprise Dept......Take 1! I was not expecting anything like 'this' to happen to me. But it did, when I was at the park on Saturday. Usually, any day I got to the park, I immediately go to Coaster, and ride it once, solo, do the rest of the park, then check on it to see if a second ride is possible. Or if the queue's way too long to stick around for... So I am in line, and a woman behind me, or rather after a couple between us, with a young boy. He is autistic, 13, and quiet I am told. She asks if I could partner him on the coaster. She can't do it, as she's done it once, and it scared her to death, LOL. I hestitated, but answered 'no' I honestly didn't want to take responsibility for another person beside me, especially a child. She understood, and thanked me anyway. But - I engaged her in chat while we were in line, and she sort of super PROMO-ed her boy, not her's I understood, but another father's child...who wasn't with him at Playland. Hmmm. No mention of a mother was made, so I didn't inquire. I figured in time, this was his caretaker, not even a relative. So, I caved, relented, and asked her if if was "okay to change my mind?" She smiled broadly and said SURE!, and the nice couple between us let him and her ahead of them, so we could chat more about him, and riding Coaster. I am sorry I have forgotten his name, already. My bad. But he was an almost eerily quiet kid on Coaster. But - that's wasn't a bad thing - I could sense him totally enjoying the ride, and a "medium smile" was on his face when we came back to the station. She was there waiting for us. And then off they went, with her thanks. He picked, and we sat in, the fourth row. A very good row to enjoy Coaster, it was, indeed. Thanks buddy. P.S. I saw the on-ride photo of him and me, and asked her if she wanted one, I'd buy it. She said thanks but no. So after they left, I thought about buying one for myself, and then decided "no". The awesome memory was fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted June 19, 2017 Author Share Posted June 19, 2017 Just got an email about this, today. It's a separate ticketed event(s), so the Season Pass doesn't work for this... Don't Miss Playland Nights,the First Ever Adult-Only Fun at Playland! Every Friday this July at Playland 7:00pm - Midnight 19+ Playland Nights Every Friday in July. Enjoy evenings dedicated to adults-only, complete with beer, wine, food, midway games and of course, Playland’s exhilarating rides. Event includes a park-wide liquor license, guest DJ’s, special activities and signature cocktails, along with other special adult only, Playland themed surprises! BUY EARLY AND SAVE! $22 For the First 100 Tickets Sold Online per Night $26 Exclusive TicketLeader Advance Special $29 Door Price Admission includes unlimited access to over 25 rides and attractions. http://www.pne.ca Mmmm Axe Throwing. (o: And... I got my ticket for July 21st woo hoo! (Shine or rain too, I assume?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ytterbiumanalyst Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 ^^ That's a really awesome story. My son has autism and is a coaster enthusiast as well. A 7 year old riding Outlaw Run gets attention, but he doesn't always have the right facial expressions, so people don't always know if he liked the ride or not. I can tell, though, and it's a lot of the same things you mentioned. A lot of people on the spectrum are attracted to coasters since they fill a need for stimulation in a way few experiences do, and it's cool that you got to help a kid who really needed that ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted June 20, 2017 Author Share Posted June 20, 2017 ^ It threw me for a loop, at first, to decide. But it was because, I was thinking back to this time at Cedar Point, our last day there, that a similar thing occurred. Only this was an older brother not wanting to ride a Troika with his younger brother. The little guy really wanted to ride, and although Bert offered to accompany him, I didn't want to take any responsibility for this ride, with either of them. For the sole reason, that no adult asked us about doing this. It was the two brothers together in the queue, and then it just happened with Bert riding with the younger one. I rode solo, as planned. And the older brother took off....somewhere. After the ride cycle was over, the little one took off, the brother showed up to pick him up, and then they were off to the parents, who showed no sign of concern that they had done this. Or maybe the kids didn't tell the parents. Bert nearly went over to the parents, and let them know what had happened, but he decided to just leave it be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ytterbiumanalyst Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Yeah, I think I'd feel weird about that too. It's one thing if the parent knows and has asked you to help. At least you can trust they have evaluated you as an okay person for their kid to be with. Before Evan was tall enough, I was in line for Outlaw Run and there was a family of 3 riding. They saw I was solo and asked me to join them and I rode in the second to last row with their daughter, who was maybe 10 years old. They initiated the invitation, so it was cool, but otherwise would have been really awkward. That's one thing that's great about having a kid to ride with me--not having to deal with situations like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted June 21, 2017 Author Share Posted June 21, 2017 ^ Well at this point, in Playland for me, the 3 new rides are all for families, including....."grandparents", LOL! And especially for Bug Whirled, I add "needed weight" keep the cars off balance and spinning, Ha! I'm old enough to accept that, even as a solo rider. And I know a good number of the ride ops at the park, so that makes it easy for me to enjoy myself, without anything turning wierd. EDIT: I just realized. When I go to Playland Nights!, I'll probably be one of The Oldest at it! I betcha some of them will think I'm some kind of chaperone of some kind to some of them, LOLOL! Who knows? I just want to go and try all the cocktails! And throw an axe. www.pne.ca Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted June 21, 2017 Author Share Posted June 21, 2017 (edited) Spent my first "Now Open Week Days!" today at the park. And "week day" actually = 10am-3pm, a very short week day. Very busy with kids' groups and organizations attending. The fun part of this kids overload, is seeing "flocks of colours" streaming all through the place. I would love to get a shot in the future, these groups of single coloured t-shirts going through each other on a pathway. That would be fun to see! And I did find an unexpected rainbow! Two, in fact! Great day for park visiting. In the queue for Coaster. Purple train being run, today. What's this? What's this? Coaster Dogs is open? Yes it was. I didn't buy anything, but here's the prices. In Cdn $ (o; Potato Swirls? Hmm. I think I would rather have good old french fries. Mini Donuts is selling these, now. Double Rainbow! They're brothers. And I told them they looked awesome! What you could pay w/o the refill bucket. Or $1 like I do, now. Edited June 28, 2017 by Nrthwnd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArgoZ Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 Visited the park today for the first time. I was not prepared for what would be one if the best wood coaster rides of my life! Back seat on Coaster! I have never felt such airtime that bounced me out of my seat and then proceeded to make me stand up, despite my best efforts not to. I'm sure the no seat belt, genuine lap bar had a lot to do with it and the best comparison would be Phoenix at Knoebels, which is my top 3 woodie. Every time we came into the brake run, the smiles and laughs were great. It's been a while since I had a good laugh on a coaster and Coaster delivered. I am blown away, can't stop talking about it. A true hidden gem in this hobby. Thank you Playland! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted June 25, 2017 Author Share Posted June 25, 2017 ^ It's a great wooden coaster. One of the best, of anywhere in the world, as far as I'm concerned. Glad you got to enjoy it. So, spread the word about Coaster, lol! A shot of Bug Whirled's ballet dancer on top of The Whirled. (June 24/17) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted June 28, 2017 Author Share Posted June 28, 2017 Today, what I saw at Playland... Pretty crowded today, and it's not even the weekend! Purple train. The Gladiator is back in place, above the "Roman swamp boats". Hmmm. This way? Or that way? Moon! Clear sky as I leave the park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted July 1, 2017 Author Share Posted July 1, 2017 Canada Day at Playland! Me and David spent a couple of hours at the park today, being our Canada Day. And it was actually way less crowded, than when it was last Wednesday! Must be all this heat & sunshine, sending everybody to the beaches, etc. And there were no special events to mark the occasion (i.e. 150 Years Canada!). The park was just open, and that was that. Great sunny hot day, though. My legs got a bit of a tan! About that My First Ever Fish Taco... I didn't know that in the order, it would be a basic piece of fried-in-batter fish. I thought it would be more "pieces of fish" in it. No matter. It was good with the "special sauce" on top of the fish, and the coleslaw in the soft taco shell. David takes a shot of me on Coaster, yellow train. It was rough today. I was surprised! Bug Whirled's little garden. David, KC, and me! And what the heck, is KC holding? A straw? The "secret" to Coca Cola Freestyle machines! #Lotsofsyrups. I had my Coke Freestyle Refill Cup for 2 x $1 refills of Barq's root beer. With vanilla in it. This is my Very First Time, having an order of... Fish Tacos! Mine was pretty good, and the fries were awesome and plentiful! $14 Cdn. I think this is my "happy eating face". (o; Dessert. We tried these. $4 Cdn each. They were alright. Lots and lots of sugar - every - where! Happy Canada Day Everybody! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted July 4, 2017 Author Share Posted July 4, 2017 Happy Birthday USA! You don't look a day over 200. 9 minutes off, PST. I tried. (o; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ytterbiumanalyst Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 Well, we have gone a bit grey around the ears after this last year. It was a rough one. I didn't think Playland was that close to the border. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted July 4, 2017 Author Share Posted July 4, 2017 ^ Vancouver is roughly 30 miles north of the border. Then another 110 miles or so on I-5, to Seattle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ytterbiumanalyst Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 Hmm, interesting they'd have an American flag, then. I appreciate the gesture. Canada has always been one of our best friends, and the ghost of Hamilton knows we don't have enough friends in this world. I need to get to Playland. It really does look like one of the very coolest small parks. My company is headquartered in Seattle, so one of these days I'll have to go up there for something, and I'll make it an excuse to get to Vancouver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted July 4, 2017 Author Share Posted July 4, 2017 ^ Just to let you know, you can buy a one day ticket online. Good for any day you go, and you save a few dollars, too. And Playland is open every day of the week now. Open till 6pm weekdays; open till 7pm weekends. http://www.pne.ca May 16, 2014. A small TPR gathering at Playland! ~ The Main Attraction at Playland. (o; Thank you Jeff Rogers! And parking lot to eventually become Playland 2.0 ~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArgoZ Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 Hmm, interesting they'd have an American flag, then. I appreciate the gesture. Canada has always been one of our best friends, and the ghost of Hamilton knows we don't have enough friends in this world. I need to get to Playland. It really does look like one of the very coolest small parks. My company is headquartered in Seattle, so one of these days I'll have to go up there for something, and I'll make it an excuse to get to Vancouver. Go to Playland, ride Coaster, my new #3 fav woodie! The park is small and very family ride oriented. It doesn't have a lot of charm, or shade for that matter. Looks like a huge carnival from most angles. Nevertheless, it's does have one of the best coasters on the planet! The standup airtime is insane! Hope they never change it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted July 4, 2017 Author Share Posted July 4, 2017 ^ It also has this wild flat called The Beast, which is an XXL, but The Only XXL that I know of, with inside facing AND outside facing seats! Very intense, very cool. And a great Starflyer, too! Photo from Playland(PNE). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ytterbiumanalyst Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 Well, it won't be this year; I've got Knoebels calling my name. But between this and Silverwood, and maybe throw in Portland as well. I can get flights to SeaTac pretty cheap through Frontier.... It's possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted July 4, 2017 Author Share Posted July 4, 2017 (edited) ^ Hey, maybe they'll have a new ride ready and open next year, too. And AtmosFEAR, our great starflyer, celebrates 6 years! It opened on July 16, 2011. (o: Edited July 4, 2017 by Nrthwnd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ytterbiumanalyst Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 They're all new rides! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted July 4, 2017 Author Share Posted July 4, 2017 ^ Noted. Retro Playland: When it was known as Happyland, and had a "Giant Dipper" roller coaster, and a Shoot The Chutes! I remember riding the Chutes in the late 1950's, too! But not this coaster. It was already gone, and Coaster was open by then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted July 8, 2017 Author Share Posted July 8, 2017 A shot from this past week, at the park... A sexy curve! (o; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted July 9, 2017 Author Share Posted July 9, 2017 Some shots from today's visit... (Which makes me think of square dancing calls. I used to square dance, years ago!) Swing this way. Swing that way. Do a figure 8. Now circle above. And do circles within a circle, below. If you were a football fan AND a BC LIONS' fan, then there was this event for you and your family at the park. And a bunch of balloons, made their successful escape... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted July 11, 2017 Author Share Posted July 11, 2017 A West Coast Wheel shot... A nice, sunny, and clear day for a ride, and taking a few photos from above. Which I did! (o: A shot from the Wheel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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