Jon's 2012 Coaster Season - WI State Fair

[deathbydinn]

Time for Mount Olympus! I really have barely any Mt. O pictures..but I have a reason! We did our coaster riding at Night at the Park, which is a separate ticket that gets you in from 10 - 1 am. It was just too dark for pictures, so I didn't bothering taking any then. I planned on taking all my pictures the next day... but we ended up spending pretty much the whole day in the amazing wave pool. Anyway, here are the reviews.

 

Hades - Still great. The one turn that was just god awful got re-tracked and was much, much better. Hades is really a front row ride though. I don't know why, but there was a pretty big difference between the first and second row. It's worth waiting the extra time for the first row. The car did get a new sign on front which IMO is much cooler looking than the last one. There are also fins on the side of the train (like on AE) and signs in the station and around the ride saying that it is running very aggressive and that hands should be kept down for safety. Kinda seems like a cheap alternative to actually maintaining the ride, because people have actually been getting injured in the back of the train.

 

Zeus - Didn't seem as good as last year airtime wise. Smooth in the front but Griffin thought it was pretty bad in the back.

 

Cyclops - Just incredible in the back. No other coaster has actually put me on the seat divider..and twice! It really would be a shame if it lost the buzz bars.

 

Pegasus - I don't know how it's possible for a coaster that small to run that bad. At least it had some ok air in the back on the first drop.

 

Opa - Trimmed much more than my last two rides. Did help keep it a bit smoother though.

 

Trojan Horse (go kart) - A medal floor has been added to the helix. I dont know how long it's been there since my last ride before it was a few years ago. Not totally smooth but it really does help. There were some absolutely horrible drivers. From people trying to have three cars in a row, to people smashing into others in the station, it was really bad. Imo, Go karts should have higher driver age limits, or as Griffin suggested, IQ limits.

 

Poseidon's Rage - This is where we spent most of the second day. The waves it produces are insanely forceful. Sitting in it (even towards the end) will result with you getting pushed across the hard floor which hurts enough but is forceful enough to rip clothes, wristbands, pull off clothes, anything really. While you might get a mouthful of water, or get pushed into people, go towards the deep end of the pool.

 

Anyway, enough talking, onto the few pictures!

NaTP is awesome..but not for pictures

Hades really dominates the skyline

No trains getting stuck today!

The re-tracked section of Zeus

A crappy picture of Zeus first drop

Apollos Swing with Catapult in the background

I do love Screaming Swings!

One of the indoor flats

First time I've seen a sign like this. They should fix the sign next to it that says they only retrieve items after park closing though..

While in line I heard someone call this a frog. I have never seen a frog that looks like that.

One of three new additions for 2010, with the onebeing a new beach area by the wave pool and another being a rock wall.

The family raft and mat racers tower.

Hades, Zeus and Cyclops from the water park. You can also see the new rock wall. This concludes this report, thanks for reading!

[triggernel]

Is it just me or is MT. O the capital of Rednecks?

 

I'll have to take advantage of the night rides next time I visit, sounds like a great idea.

 

How crowded were the night rides?

[deathbydinn]

The waits weren't too bad. About 5 - 20 minutes or so. NaTP is only on Tues, Thurs, Sat and Sun. It's $22 at the gate and $10 online.

[GriffyTiffy]

forceful enough to rip Griffin's Pants

 

 

Fixed.

 

Great Report Jon! I can't wait to go back to get more Hades rides!

[Jojo19799]

I can't wait to go back either! I really want Poseidon's Rage in my backyard. Not sure how Mom would feel about that.

 

Ryan - Griffin, Jon and Jeremie got mad at me so they threw me in the back of the car and closed the hatch.

[deathbydinn]

^ I wasn't upset until you sat on the brouchures, because that is just horrible.

[Mr. Starr]

^ I wasn't upset until you sat on the brouchures, because that is just horrible.

 

Gasp! The horror! Not the brochures!

[deathbydinn]

WI State Fair Comet II - August 7 2010

 

Last Saturday I went to the WI State Fair with Grffin (GriffyTiffy) Nathan (kumba830) and Ryan (Mr._Starr). The fairs main attraction this year was the Schwarzkopf Wildcat, named Comet II. Here are two videos I shot of it.

 

 

This was my attempt to do more of an "artsy" off ride by showing one area that the car passes multiple times.

 

 

Debuting this year at the WI State Fair is the Comet II. This Schwarzkopf Wildcat is America's largest traveling roller coaster, and the WI State Fair is one of just two stops this year. The ride opened at La Ronde in 1967 under the name Montagnes Russes. It then moved to Old Indiana Fun - n - Water park and then it's last permanent home, the State Fair of Texas where it was renamed Comet II, most likely named after the parks wooden coaster Comet, which closed ten years before Comet IIs arrival. It operated there until 2001.

 

Length - 1837'

Height - 50'

Speed - 40 mph

Heres a bonus picture of the DW after it couldn't quite make it all the way into the station due to all the weight in the back. Maybe next time the ride op wont tell us to double up!

[Mr. Starr]

Gosh, in that last picture, you can tell I was having a hard time not laughing! Anyways, nice videos of Comet II, it was a fun little ride!

[tedten]

1) Is the screaming swing an upcharge?

2) I'm assuming they clear the park by 10 if you're there w/o the in the dark tickets? Or is that a twilight type of thing where the rest of the guests don't have to leave, they just add the new guests in to the mix?

 

edit: Also, this entire thread has been fairly helpful as I'm doing a SFGAm, Dells, Little Amerricka, & IB trip. IB and Great America are old hat to me but I've never been to the Dells or Little Amerricka!

[deathbydinn]

The Screaming Swing is an upcharge, it's $10 for the first ride and $5 for the second. If you ride during the day you can have your second ride whenever you want because they have your video from it, but at night they turn off the cameras and you have to have your second ride right after your first, at least thats what they made me do.

 

NaTP is a separate ticket and wristband. If you have a day pass you might be able to stay in the park but you won't be able to get on any rides. To be able to ride anything you have to buy the wristband which is $10 online and $22 at the gate. Parking is free for NaTP (normally $5, but you can leave and come back in without having to pay again) and three coasters, three go-karts, three kiddie rides, and the wave pool are open.

[tedten]

Thanks Jon! That info ^ is very helpful to me and I'm sure to many others as well!

 

How do you reserve the $10 NaTP tickets? The only way I can find to get tickets is through their horrible e-ticket system. When I enter 3 people and the date it says their full but you can still reserve e-tickets for the park. When I click on that it wants me to buy Full Day tickets. I don't see any options for the NaTP even though I found this page!

 

http://www.mtolympuspark.com/night-at-the-park/

 

-Ted Adams

[deathbydinn]

^ Buy the NaTP tickets here: http://secure.instaticket.com/mtoly/index.php?cPath=22_25

[tedten]

Wow, Thanks man! I've never gotten so much help from TPR in my time here! Your last few posts were crazy helfpul. Mt. Olympus' ticket system sure is one giant piece of stinking crap! Heh.

[deathbydinn]

What can I say besides TPR Day was just amazing? It was great to get the first rides on Superman because it almost always has a long wait. The lunch and Q&A with management was both funny and very interesting. Some of the answers given defiantly surprised me and others were very informative. Next up was the backstage tour where I spent every other second taking a picture. I was kind of surprised at how much stuff is actually kept instead of just being scrapped. After looking at the park boneyard and landscaping department we went back in the park through the employee entrance and were lead back between Raging Bull and American Eagle which provided some great photo ops. Finally we were taken in between Viper and Hurricane Harbor for even more great photo ops and some water (much appreciated!)

 

Now the original plan was to have ERT on Little Dipper started at 8. But before it started the rain rolled in and lightning came with it so the ride had to close. Unfortunately the rain just started coming down harder and harder. So what was there to do with no rides open? Party under the bridge of course! I think the rain was actually a blessing in disguise because ERT probably wouldn't have been as fun as the bridge party! In the end it seems as if everyone forgot about the ERT and cheered on the storm that we were right in the middle of as Robb showed us on his phone. Then came the bad news...the bridge party was coming to an end...but good news came with it...the weather cleared up and Viper and Bull ERT was on! And thanks to the soaking wet track they were running great, and the crews were amazing and very enthusiastic. Just being able to ride Viper so many times with out leaving the station made the day great. Overall it was a just amazing day in every way and I can't thank Robb & Elissa and everyone else who made this day possible enough. Now enough talking, onto the pictures!

Gotta love those flumes!

There is a train there...it's just hiding

Sexy silhouette?

Somethings missing...

Better...but not quite right...

Thats it!

or so we had thought.

LD's queue provides great views of Batman

See?

Oh yeah..cool views of Dipper too!

Fiddler had the craziest ride op I have ever seen.

The salads a bit bare today...

We got some really good views of Superman

Wee?

Rare sighting of Jo being nerdy

teehee

Where rapids cars come to die...

WTF is that!

Sky Whirl

Even Im too tall for this...well maybe not

This is a normal thing to have laying around

I belive they said they grow all the plants but the palm springs onsite

Wonder where this used to be...

Hmmm are those what I think they are?

Yep! It's the Lady Bug cars! I used to love that ride.

Yep...I took a picture of everything

Sexy Curves

I knew we forgot to ride something...

Double Down <3

And so the party begins

Acceptable amount of wetness?

God I loved ERT

And to end this report, heres Nathan...just being Nathan. Thanks for reading!

[Mr. Starr]

I love that Fiddler's Fling ride op! She's so awesome! Awesome report, it was such an amazing day

[traincrossin]

I love that Fiddler's Fling ride op! She's so awesome! Awesome report, it was such an amazing day

I can't decide if she's awesome or just really annoying. Great pics Jon, it really was an awesome event!

[fatdaddy]

The behind the scenes tour looks like it was awesome, I love looking at old junk.

[Cameron]

WTF is that!

 

Why that would be the INTERESTING Monster! One of the coolest characters in the WB universe..

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc2L_7m_4mI

 

He was in at least one other classic cartoon too .. and I think some of the newer ones made just for kids.

[jamesdillaman]

^ His name's Gossimer.

[thrillrider]

They have him at six flags St Louis as well.

[traincrossin]

Did anybody else realize how awesome Gossimer's shoes are?

[QueerRudie]

Great photos of GA there... Loved the 'porn shots' of Viper... VERY kinky!

 

R.D.

[deathbydinn]

As we enter October and people start getting in the Halloween spirit, haunted houses start popping up everywhere and WI is no exception. I was able to head out to the Wisconsin Feargrounds which has four rather large and unique houses. Feargrounds has not only been rated the number one haunt in WI, it has also been rated as one of Americas best haunts by numerous haunt sites for at least 5 years now.

This year the event had four houses, Morgan's Manor, Morgan's Torment, Unstable and Morgan's Labyrinth of Misery. The story behind the houses is simple, Morgan and her 8 witch sisters reeking havoc among the grounds. MM is her house, MT is were she starts driving people insane, U is where they are insane and then LoM was just an added bonus. So even with out a complex story line each house is done very well and do exactly what they're names say. If you think theres any chance you might be going here, stop reading now because this review will have spoilers.

 

The Line:- Yep, I'm reviewing the line. Why? Because as soon as you step into the line the experience has already begun. The line is housed in a stable with four separate lines. There are tvs showing footage from previous years and firecrackers going off from the ceiling. There are also lots of actors in there, and I mean a lot. Before the guests reach the second, third, and fourth house, the actors for them are in the line. Literally in the line an inch away from your face. There were times were there at least 20 actors in there. When you enter the stable to hear the rules, instead of someone just standing there like last year, they had the actors climbing over the sides and jumping in, which is quite startling. It might have been a little too much though, because three people in our group quit before even going in the first house!

 

Morgans Manor - MM is the first house you enter and the best themed of the four. While it did have the best props the house lacks any unique or memorable parts. It was also the second weakest in terms of scare actors with most of them in plain sight and about half of them just talking to you. There also seemed to be less actors than last year. Overall it was still good just not amazing or over the top scary.

 

Morgans Torment - I would have to describe this as a haunted fun house. A good one at that. It really does kinda torment you as you seem lost during most of it. Something it had that I had never seen before were airbags on the walls. When used on the sides it made the hall look very cramped and kept you in one place, so it was easier for the actors to scare you. When used on the ceiling it made the hall exit look so small that you do wonder if you'll be able to fit through it. The best part of the house was a small but complicated maze made out of curtains. It was set up so that you were going into one box and had to find which of the four sides leads to the next box. Very confusing but if you did start taking too long an actor would help you on your way. Not a lot of actors but the ones in there did a great job of using the houses dead ends and maze like set up for some great scares.

 

Unstable - Without a doubt the best of the four houses. It really is just amazing. It had great theming and the way it was set up really did add a lot to it. The house is actually set up in a barn with horse stables so there were multiple routes that could be taken, a few dead ends and times that an actor would get right up next to you keep moving forward forcing you to enter a stable on the side where another actor would be. Unstable had the best actors for sure. There was a time were one actor followed us around for at least five minutes, randomly popping out from the side and getting in our way. The best part? If you talked and the actors heard, they mocked you. And they made fun of everything. It wasn't anything harsh so I think in really did add a lot to the house. Unfortunately though, to experience this one great house you have to pay for all four.

 

Labyrinth of Misery - LoB is really just what it says it is. A labyrinth. It's inside and is really just a maze made of fencing with fog and a strobe light. No props and only a few actors, but the few actors it had did their job very well. Really, the scariest part about it is the fact that you could be in there for a very long time. A bit disappointing but I do think it could be something very good if they just added some more theming to it and made the maze a little easier.

 

Overall I do highly reccomend this event and it has given me some pretty high expectations for houses I try in the future!

[traincrossin]

It might have been a little too much though, because three people in our group quit before even going in the first house!

Wimps! Nice review Jon. Haunted houses have never been my thing, but I might have to check some out next year.