Photo TR: The Best of VONP

[MrSum1_55]

MrSum1_55 now presents the ultimate Mid-Atlantic-area trip! (Not a TPR trip)

I will explain as the TR goes on. For now, please enjoy the world's worst SFGAdv trip report...ever!

New Jersey is a state known for its suck factor. I could tell the whole story, but I will just say right now that the Turnpike labeling system is simply the worst possible system I can imagine and is the worst I have ever seen. SFGAdv, the very first park of my trip, was supposed to provide some relief.

However, what relief can possbily come out of a closed park? They were running a few rides (El Toro, all Bizarro, Nitro, the indoor ones) but they decided to close the park shortly after I arrived, so I never made it inside.

The weather was exactly the same all day. While conditions were not the most pleasant, If you can open with this weather, you can stay open with it.

Apparently, that statement is way too logical for Six Flags. Also, after the closing time of 2:00, they were testing certain rides that were not running before. Like this thing right here.

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past six years, you would know that this is Kingda Ka.

The iconic "Tiny Train" picture.

However, the train is not all that large, anyway.

Apparantly it was not raining so hard as to keep them from running El Toro, but it was raining just hard enough for SF to stop caring about their customers. Since I never got in the park in the first place, I got full refunds on all my purchases, even parking. (Yes, the so-called "Parking Supervisor" was instructing employee's to continue to charge people for parking.)

 

Day 2: Knoebels!

What's this?

This can only mean one thing...

Yup! This is Knoebels!

I had only a few hours in the park to get all the credits, so this TR will be brief.

Phoenix was a great first coaster of the trip.

Phoenix was a great first coaster of the trip.

This is the part where you think "THAT just happened!?"

Here is Phoenix: The Ride behind Bench: The Ride.

Airtime so extreme, you can probably feel it right now looking at this picture!

Twister lived up to its name.

However, it never quite lived up to its status as a high-airtime coaster.

But it is twisty as advertised.

Looopers are nearly extinct in America.

A Music Express with strobe lights? Sounds good to me!

The kiddie coaster thinks its a NASCAR racer. It only does left turns!

Its not too whorish of a credit, though.

For 5.50 you get three cycles. Quite generous, if you are riding for any reason other than the credit.

This thing actually has more airtime than Grizzly at CGA! (Although the flight back also probably had more airtime than Grizzly west)

Phoenix rides never dissapoint!

Might actually be my #1 wood coaster!

One repeat ride on Phoenix ended the day, before driving to Ohio.

New for two thousand seven...........teen.

 

Cedar Point pictures coming very soon! (And a lot of them)

By this point, you have gotten at least two or three major jolts of airtime. Even this park provides an ejector in the front!

Edited October 8, 2011 by MrSum1_55

[MrSum1_55]

Day 3: Cedar Point!

After being let in to the park early, the first stop was the running of the bulls to Maverick. For me, there was literally a 1 train wait for the front! (This image was supposed to have a train in it, but I took it too late.)

Next stop: MF!

I am in exactly the same dillema with this and I305. I am not sure which is better; the front or the back! There is some airtime here in the back.

Mantis pretty much looked like this most of the first day. It was almost broken more than it was running!

TTD's queue was outside the queuing area, but few switchbacks were actually being used. Very KI-ish.

Never rode Draggin' Iron. Since I already have the credit, I have no regrets.

Are you ready for the extreme second drop?

This was one of the few times a day of which Mantis was actually open.

Corkie going through its extremely basic layout.

Intamin bobsleds are becoming an endangered species. How about one that is not themed to a bobsled?

Sitting in the front, Wicked Twister feels like a normal impulse.

However, when you go up the back spike, your view in the back is obstructed by the twisting train, so the rows near the back actually give you a better view than the very back.

What ocean is that!?

If Maginum were smoother with more confortable restraints, it might be the best ride in the park. It is still very, very good, though.

If only there was a fire in this area...

Random Skyhawk arm!

Blue Streak was running pretty brutal that day. I never knew such a small coaster could be that rough.

Raptor combines the grace and dives of a newer B&M invert with the intensity of an old one.

Although it does have that "B&M rattle" toward the back of the train during certain parts of the ride.

The roughest woodie under 70 feet-from Raptor's queue

Ok then...

Is that a B&M coat hanger!?

Blue Streak: Through the trees!

For an invert, Raptor actually has a pretty good 1st drop.

The fanale of the ride (at least before the insanely rattle-filled turnaround)

Could a Huss GF be the best flat ride around? (Besides Intamin drop towers)

Going beyond 90 degrees is a very exciting. It might be cool to go a full 180 degrees, although the ride would not deliver nearly as much airtime.

Windseeker light combos make everyone happy!

I never rode CP's at night. I did ride it the second day of my visit, though.

A night ride of MF (after closing) ended the day.

 

Day 2 of CP (More images) coming soon!

[Skycoastin Steve]

However, it never quite lived up to its status as a high-airtime coaster.

 

I'm not sure anyone ever said that about Twister.

[braztaz]

I would say a Huff GF would be one of the most terrifying flats around! But nice pictures, sad you couldn't get into SFGadv to compare Kingda Ka and Top Thrill Dragster!

[MrSum1_55]

^Actually, I did eventually get into the park toward the end of the trip. However, I had to cancel my day at BGE to be able to get in. The photos will be poster toward the end of the TR, since it was the second to last park I visited.

[MrSum1_55]

The previous day I went through the back entrance to run to Maverick. The next day, I went through the side entrance to head to MF.

Rode MF in the front first thing in the morning, after having had to leave the front row line the previous night.

Being let in an hour early means super long lines.

...and you can get an early spot in line at TTD.

Power Tower. CP deserves better than an S&S tower. If only they could get an Intamin tower...

Signature shot of Corkscrew

I finally got to ride Windseeker. This one is high enough to provide some mild thrills, but it still suffers from a lack of variation. A titing motion would be a great addition, but for now I picture Windseekers as "just okay"

Noted!

CCMR is a pretty average mine train.

Well, maybe a bit below average. Its still a million times better than Hershey's, though.

Gemini actually has some good spots of airtime toward the back of the train.

Of course, you cannot go without a little credit whoring.

This must be the biggest credit whore: ever!

Probably an ACEr.

Its an Arrow, and a GOOD one at that.

Corkscrew. Also featuring a loop and an airtime hill. Thats all we got here, folks.

Dear S&S: Please build an actual freefall tower. Thank you.

Mantis was running really well that day. And that was not just due to less braking on the drop.

It was not nearly as rough as before here.

Even when running at its normal roughness, it is still not as rough as most people say it is.

I have even heard people compare this to a Togo Standup.

Yet, there is no headbanging in the first half, and the second half now has very little.

However, there is more of a slam on the MCBR, now.

The inclined loop-a feature of the "big three" standups

Two trains, one picture!

Riders in the back=weee!

Riders in the front=is this supposed to be an airtime hill?

More airtime here...

Here is MaXair from the skyride...

And here is Raptor.

Here is the long line for Maverick...

and here is where people go who complain about the long line. (Oh, wait. Nevermind.)

A twisted horseshoe roll is a good name for an element on this ride.

Although it sound like something that should be food.

This time, I rode in the back. I was surprised by the extra airtime on the drop. (I knew there would be more airtime, but not THAT much more compared to the front) so, the back is better.

Maverick can run many trains, so it can stack many. (This was how the ride was designed and was not due to a slow crew)

After a last ride on Dragster, I rode MF past closing again.

And here is the train, ready to take me on my last ride at CP.

 

KI pictures coming soon!

[MrSum1_55]

Firehawk, being the Vekoma it is, is prone to slow dispatches, crazy downtime, and rough rides. So, I rode it first to avoid the lines and get the credit over with.

You can even still see some of the paint from the old X-Flight days. This is sure going to be a quality ride!

They were running both stations, but with only two trains. Its a real shame KI was too cheap to buy new parts, so now the third train is gone.

Oh, well. Time to prepare for the worst...

You know what's strange? Firehawk was actually good! I rode in the front of the yellow train, and the ride was never too rough or too uncomfortable. I thought this was supposed to suck!

Flight of Fear exterior theming

You now come to a complete stop on the MCBR, which results in hangtime on around 1/2 the following curves. The ride also has a somewhat annoying rattle toward the back of the train.

However, most of the lighting effects were actually working, and dispatches were quick.

Vortex opened up just as I was walking to it.

Its not a bid ride, except in the coat hanger sections, where it tries to kill you.

Not to mention that it was actually running all three trains, and rarely stacking all three!

Backlot, like Knott's Pony Express, is a good 1st launch coaster, although the former has a lot less suck than the latter.

The helix after the first launch is actually pretty intense, at first. However, it really has few intense spots after that.

The train ride...I mean Beast rran three trains with little stacking. It also has plenty of brakes, to make sure you have the least amount of fun possible!

Diamondback may have been the dissapointment of the trip.

I have no idea how this thing is ranked higher than Phantom's Revenge on Mitch's poll. Even for it to be ranked so close to Nitro is astonishing. Dispatches with three trains were not bad, though.

On Boo Blasters, the guns seemed to be having problems firing. I was not alone in this experience, as many other riders had the same problem.

Most rides at KI had pretty good operations that day. This was not one of them. (Still one of the better drop towers, though)

Wait for the train...wait for the train...wait for the train...oh wait...

Ill get back to you later...

Waiting for the train makes me hungry.

Good thing they have an indoor picnic pavillion with a Panda Express! Now I don't have to eat regular park food!

Hello Invertigo!

Glad to see you haven't become the Invertigarden like my Invertigo!

Actually, if this one gets taken out, it will become the Invertigravel.

This one seemed to run smoother and faster than Invertigone.

But which is which?

I have one of those!

I'm so tired of waiting for the train!

Now here is a good suspended coaster.

Not as good as Ninja, but worlds better than Draggin' Iron.

The only thing I don't like is how this suspended coaster is kind of "out of the trees" like a normal coaster.

Why won't the train just come!?

It will never be as good as the compact invert in California that shares the same name, but at least its not an SLC!

Isn't this a clone of Vortex at CW?

Skycoaster and Delirium. One of these was having a sale on rides, so I rode it.

Having ridden MaXair two days before made me skip this one.

Intamin drop towers are the best flat rides around. Period. No questions asked.

Here is more Drop Zo--....Tower!

Adventure Express is my favorite Arrow mine train. It is kind of like a "mine Beast" although it actually might be more intense.

The queue for Flight of Fear was spilling out onto the outside switchbacks, but the inside switchbacks were untouched all day.

Goodbye!

Since I enjoyed my first ride on Firehawk, I went to ride again.

I rode in the front of the yellow train in the morning. This time, I rode in the back of the red train.

The vertical loop is meant to give the same experience as a pretzel loop.

Although I prefer entering from the top.

The only effect riding in the back as opposed to the front had was a more intense ride in some parts.

I am just confused. This ride was supposed to suck! It was not a fraction as bad as others had made it out to be. Has it been running very well lately? Perhaps I am just the right height to fit in the chest restraint without discomfort?

I actually thought this was the best ride in the park. (Well, at least during the day) Like Dismondback earlier in the day, the queue was full, but with no switchbacks. This was worth the 20 minute wait it had.

This is the only good picture I have of Racer. While it does have its rough spots, this is actually a pretty fun ride, with some nice floater air toward the back of the train.

I was able to ride this Windseeker at night. The lighting really doesn't add much to the ride as it does to bystanders watching the ride.

When on the ground, you see a patriotic blend of lights.

When in the air, light combinations give a great specticle.

It is a better ride at night, but, like all versions of this ride, it needs SOMETHING that will add more variation to the ride. It is worth a ride if the line is short, and that is about all I have to say.

A ride on Beast ended the night. For about 30 minutes, they had to shut down the ride for fireworks.

So pretty much everyone camped out on the queue floor. However, Beast toward the back of the train at night is actually the best experience in the park! It is hard to believe it is the same ride as during the day. How many wood coasters allow you to go that far out in the woods with that little light!?

Never went up the Eiffel Tower, although it looks pretty good at night!

Thanks KI for a great day! (Ok well, every day of the trip was great, expect the first one)

 

How are the pictures from my first visit? Why does everyone else hate Firehawk? Feedback is always great!

[MrSum1_55]

I almost forgot this thread even existed, and it is really less than half way done! This is Kennywood day.

I see you corner of awesomeness!

Here you can see the ultra-sensitive, airport-style metal detectors. A paperclip in your pocket will not go unnoticed!

First stop: Phantom's Revenge!

The ride is a MUST in the back row. It is just not the same toward the front.

I'll get to you later, Intamin hotness! On the west coast, we only have one of you! (Soon to be two)

I can see the arrow resemblence, although smoothed out a bit.

Is this the last remaining, operating Tumble Bug!?

The best of steel and wood, at Kennywood

I found the first half of the ride to be quite overrated. You do get airtime going in to the drop, but the actual drop itself has none.

Nerd shot!

The operrated first half is made up for by the INSANE second half!

Through the trees!

There is some ejector airtime here, but once the full slope is hit, the airtime instantly dies.

Its a large curve with a view.

It's a low-quality image of AIRITME!

Pitt Fall was running with one of the cabins remaining at the top!

That left only 15 per cycle, causing slow-moving lines, even with a pretty good crew.

Thunderbolt is a pretty good coaster; I feel it is pretty fairly ranked on mitch's poll.

The helix is intense, but I am more of a negative/positave G person.

The trains are open to board on only one side, so that means loading/ unloading have to be done on the same side. I believe, though, that this reduces capacity, and I would like to see the ride modified to unload/ load in the same place. At least there is no stacking.

The underside of Jack Rabbit. It is a pretty boring ride, except for the insane double down. The main problem with this ride is that the station has no air gates or rows, which always results in stacking.

Aero 360 is the same flat ride as Hammerhead at SFDK.

But this one is better, mainly since the restraints are not as hard on male parts, not to mention that the ride is not at SFDK.

This one had quicker dispatches as well. It did not seem to resemble a GIB like California's does.

Racers are always high-capacity rides, right?

They had to stop the ride for a while for the parade. I kept my spot in line.

Honestly, this thing would give Le Monstre a good battle for lowest-capacity racer. There are no air gates or rows, and they had only one ride op checking restraints. (I mean the same one checking both sides!)

However, the biggest dissapointment is likely two-train operation, which is a real shame, considering it appears that the ride could easily accomidate four trains. The layout looks like it could provide some airtime, but I only really got any airtime 2 or 3 times, and my body only touched the buzzbar once, on the third drop. I was even sitting toward the back of the train.

At Kennywood, they have a street-cleaner-like mini truck that drives around collecting litter. Kind of like SFA's golf carts.

These look good.

But this is the line you have to wait in to get them. Can you even see the end of the line?!

But the result is WORTH IT! Do you wish you were there? You are probably licking your screen right now.

My camera sucks at night, which is a real shame, considering how awseome looking a ride Sky Rocket is. The ride itself is very smooth with plenty of airtime. One of my favorite looping coasters!

Two night rides in a row on this ended the night, one being in the last train of the night! I cannot think of a better way to end a great day!

[MrSum1_55]

Rather than spend a full day here, the plan was to spend two half-days. I did not arrive for the first night until 5 pm.

The place was completely empty, probably due to a short but heavy storm. By the time I arrived, the rain had stopped.

This thing had the longest wait of the night. The low capacity caused this ride to have a whopping 10 minute wait.

Does this ride really need an introduction?

New restraints turn this Boomerang into a decent ride!

It still rattles, but there is no headbanging!

And it launches at 1,000 MPH!

More Intamin goodyness! This one comes in a in a "walk on" form!

If you don't appreciate Intamin, then you appreciate nothing in life.

Great Bear probably has the slowest dispatches I've seen on an invert. I have even seen Silver Bullet send out trains faster than this.

However, this turned out to be credit #100! This coaster is actually pretty good when it is in action, although the finale is by far the weakest of any B&M invert. A helix at the end would be a great addition to this.

This thing reminded me of when Revolution was a GOOD ride. Still has only lap bars.

The last 15 minutes was pretty much a mini-ERT session on Lightning Racer; I got in three rides in a row without leaving the station!

Back to the park in the morning! (I was only in the park for a couple hours the previous day)

Before some more coasters, its time for that really bizarre Recees shooting dark ride!

Fahrenheit is what happens when Maverick and a Eurofighter have sex!

Its a real shame, though, that this child had to get the low capacity gene from the Eurofighter.

Riding this first is a good idea, because slow crews can hinder an already low capacity ride. Good thing they had a good crew working it in the morning! (They were stacking all three trains later in the day)

 

 

This post is not doen yet! This was supposed to be saved as a draft, but it ended up getting posted by accident! More images coming soon!

[MrSum1_55]

As if one awesome Intamin isn't enough, HP had to have TWO! Soon there will be THREE! Then, there will never be a reason to leave!

The tophat delivers some pretty awesome airtime. Is like XLR8R, but better!

Ahh Trailblazer. I will get to you later.

I took this next picture 15 minutes later.

Some daytime shots of the "good" boomerang

Vekoma goodness? Yes.

My one ride on this thing was at night. With the magic of these things, we might actually have good SLC's!

Imagine what these trains could do on Goudrix! (Nah; it would still suck.)

Here is that evil little mouse. My right cheekbone got a real sood slam against the side rails on this thing!

The theoretical capacity of this design is actually over 1100 per hour! However, stupid jeeps don't know how to make a group of four with two groups of two.

Despite being one of the older GCI's Lightning Racer is still smooth as glass!

Does this picture look farmilar, Shane?

Here it is! The inspiration for Cowabunga Bay!

I never rode any of the water rides here, not even Roller Soaker.

Seriously, this ride is actually good in the back.

This might actually be my favorite B&M zero g roll.

They had a slightly better crew working it during the day, but dispatches still hover around 3-4 minutes.

This is by far the worst mine train I have ever been on. It has no height, it is not the least bit thrilling, and it is incredibly short. Roadrunner Express at SFMM at night is the ultimate scream machine compared to this!

Through the trees!

Not through thre trees!

Do Intamin rides make you happy?

Corkscrew!

Airtime!

Wildcat was a fun last coaster at HP.

It is rough, but it actually had more airtime than I expected.

One last ride before driving back to NJ! I had to cut out BGE from the trip to try SFGAdv again, after they closed the park due to low crowds and used rain as their excuse! (Several rides were running just fine, but I still never made it past the gate)