PTR: East Coast Bash and beyond

[WillMontu]

It's been over two years since I last went to a TPR event (the most recent being the 2008 Europe trip), but it came time to break the hiatus.

 

I will be posting this TR in parts, and who knows, maybe I'll finish this one.

Day 1: Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Day 2: Kings Dominion (East Coast Bash)

Day 3: Knoebels

Day 4: Hersheypark

Day 5: Dorney

 

--------------------

 

After a long drive up from Florida, we hit Busch Gardens Williamsburg. I last visited in 2008, when Corkscrew Hill and Big Bad Wolf were still operating. In the same way that Curse of Darkastle was a "budget Spiderman", Europe in the Air (the replacement for Corkscrew Hill) is like a lower budget version of Soarin'. On the other hand, I think that we had been spoiled by Disney and Universal.

 

Crowds were quite heavy, but our Platinum passes from the Florida Busch parks allowed for preferred parking and discounts on the Quick Queue wristbands.

Thank you to Chuck for providing us a place to sleep that night.

At the first hotel: TPR and Domo, now in pocket size

We purchased Quick Queue passes for the day, allowing us to get repeated rides on Apollo, along with the rest of the major rides.

If you can lower the restraint so that it locks, you can ride

Apollo above the trees

Watch out for geese!

Having ridden the Tampa version of Grover a week earlier, this ride has an identical layout.

Maybe next year.

Nessie is still going strong

If I recall correctly, in past seasons, the operators attempted to sync the trains so that two went through the loops at the same time.

Everyone has the daytime version of this shot.

Help!

The loss of this wolf, however, makes Domo angry

Two boats and the train. Top that!

The water rides were very popular that day. Fortunately there was no waiting with Quick Queue

The train

An idea of the crowds that day.

No caption needed

Alpengeist going over the lift

I've never quite understood the purpose of the zero-car. AFAIK, Alpengeist is the only B&M inverted coaster that has one.

Griffon going over the first drop

[insert ninety degrees reference here]

Personally, I prefer Sheikra, but this still provides a solid ride

Even Domo got to ride

Now at Busch Gardens, the Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man!

 

Except that they don't have flailing arms.

Normally the crowds thin out by this time of the day. Not here.

Griffon at night

On the holding brake

Going down

Every time you post that picture, Angus attacks a Domo. Please, think of the Domos

Sometimes playing dead is the best approach.

 

Thanks for reading. Scroll down for East Coast Bash

Edited September 9, 2010 by WillMontu

[Erik Johnson]

Yay, Domo!

[Jds03]

Domo made this PTR amazing! Really nice pictures too! Looking forward to seeing the rest!

[tiger01]

Hey, nice TR. Are the night time photos photo shopped or did they just turn out awesome?

[WillMontu]

^ While I have shopped images in the past, those are not among them

 

Part 2A - East Coast Bash

This was the second "Bash" event I went to, the first being West Coast Bash in 2008. Although there are typically more people than traditional TPR trips, there are plenty of perks and ERT sessions. Having visited KD in 2008, I had most of the credits, but I had yet to get Ricochet (the wild mouse, which I succeeded in getting this time), and Taxi Jam (I am not sad and pathetic enough to get this one). Although Dominator was under construction when I last visited, I had already ridden it at Geauga Lake a year earlier, so I did not count it as a new ride.

It's 8:22 in the morning and the park is still closed

But it turns out that it was actually clopen

Obligatory trashcan shot. Despite being a Cedar Fair park, KD still has character

First ERT session: Domonator

What is he doing in the second row?

Happy TPR riders

Closeup

The new signature shot

Time for Grizzly ERT

It's very difficult to get good photos of this coaster

Pre-lift

Next was the opportunity to be first in line for I305

It takes off very quickly

The station

During the first few rides, it started to rain

Big fast Intamin ride in the rain? Not for very long

How was your ride?

One of the bunny hills

The final brake run is steep

Don't you already have this credit?

Togo Death Machines like this one are becoming increasingly rare.

Who needs binoculars when you've got a 300mm telephoto lens?

Close up of the top of Dominator's lift

I305's lift is slightly higher than the tower viewing platform

The first bunny hill on I305

I'm personally not a big fan of these twists. Then again, I was not a fan of Maverick either.

Time for lunch

The Beer Line

The Q&A with Park Management

Time for TPR Quest. I'm assuming that everyone has read at least one other ECB thread, so I won't go into detail about the rules

The volunteers

"Bring me something related to Cedar Fair"

Prizes to be won

I think someone had too much beer. To be continued...

[WillMontu]

I have been somewhat discouraged by the lack of interest from the last update, but I'll give this TR one more chance.

After lunch was the I305 walk-back.

This allowed for some unique shots

Part of the group

The first drop

The first turn. I can understand that park's motive in installing the trim brakes, as there is some graying out even with them turned on

The top of the lift hill

This is high class coaster porn

Anaconda did not seem to be getting as much attention

The underwater tunnel and "splashdown" are fairly unique

"Darn you Ron Toomer!"

The night ERT started with a session on Volcano and FoF with the lights on

The haunt theming in FoF's queue is still here from two years ago

For many, the I305 ERT was the highlight of the night

Gentlemen, start your engines!

The TPR group was fairly well received by the park management and was recognized as the "fun" group.

Thank you to KD's management for hosting the event, Robb and Elissa for organizing it, Erik for putting up with my driving, and everyone else who helped make this happen.

[jjune4991]

Very nice TR! I have to say, though I was clapping in the photo of riding on I305 in the rain (front right with the green shirt) I was not very happy. The rain felt like needles destroying my face and my lips were numb for about 20 minutes!

 

Anyway, I like the photos you took. And a TR with Domo is a great TR already! Great job.

[Lenaapple1974]

I have been on El Toro in the pelting rain, and that was not a great feeling. I could not imagine rain on i305! It is a great ride though. That greying out was a weird sensation... but I got over it quick. My daughter and I are determined to figure out why that happens and if there is anything we can do to solve it, or make it less. Breathing was our first technique...but as I get over the lift, I completely forget what I was doing...Still don't know if I breathe right on the way through the first hill! lol

[Brashnir]

I have been on El Toro in the pelting rain, and that was not a great feeling. I could not imagine rain on i305! It is a great ride though. That greying out was a weird sensation... but I got over it quick. My daughter and I are determined to figure out why that happens and if there is anything we can do to solve it, or make it less. Breathing was our first technique...but as I get over the lift, I completely forget what I was doing...Still don't know if I breathe right on the way through the first hill! lol

 

It's caused by g-forces pulling blood from your brain. Ways to decrease it are to flex/clench muscles in your extremities, particularly your lower body. This will constrict the blood vessels going there, making it harder for blood to rush away from your head.

 

Also, getting a good night's sleep the night before, and eating a good breakfast also help.