US (East Coast) trip.

[preakshox]

hi guys,

 

relatively new to the forums. would like to gather some inputs from all on the itinerary, as it's my first time to the States.

apart from the sight-seeing, i'm proposing to head to these parks,

 

new york: six flags (great escape)

philly: hershey's park

orlando: universal studios, disney hollywood

boston: six flags (new england)

 

only my gf and myself are coaster-goers, while the rest of the family are plain park visitors for theming and mechandize.

not too sure if it's too themepark intensive, in addition to the sight-seeing.

 

cheers!

[SharkTums]

^Do you mean Six Flags Great Adventure for New York? The Great Escape is in upstate New York and doesn't have any crazy stand out roller coasters.

 

Hershey Park is quite far from Philadelphia, about two hours. There are plenty of things in the Hershey area to keep non-coaster people interested.

 

Orlando is all about parks and fun, everyone should be fine here.

 

Boston also has a ton of sightseeing outside of parks. Keep in mind Six Flags New England is about two hours from Boston.

 

I would suggest for Six Flags Great Adventure and Six Flags New England that your non-coaster family members find something to do outside of the parks.

[preakshox]

hey shark, appreciate your reply.

just checked out TPR reviews on both Great Escape and Great Adventure.

 

OMG:

www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1081243#p1081243

 

2.5hrs drive drive from NY, prob faster by bus or other transport as compared to the 4hrs drive to Great Adventure.

downside is the long queue time (will be there in Dec) and keeping the rest of the family out of here.

 

ps: i'm sure this can't go wrong. after all, your site led me to Japan's Steel Dragon and Taiwan's Screaming Condor.

nothing to shout about, but great rides after all heh.

[SharkTums]

^Wait, did you just say you're visiting in December?

 

Only the Orlando parks will be fully open on your list. Hershey does a Christmas event with little to no coasters running. All the other parks are fully closed.

[preakshox]

ahh, that's saddening.

then i should be spending more time at the parks in orlando.

 

curious, are they closed for maintenance or simply for the holidays?

realize they are also closed on normal weekdays.

[Wes]

^ Most US parks have an off-season (meaning they're closed completely) from Fall to Spring. The exceptions are parks in Florida and Southern California, as they have warmer climates year round.

[simaticable]

It's the time of the year that the next season's preparations are underway such as removing old rides or bringing in new additions to the park. It's also the time that the coaster trains are refurbished, and track is replaced on wooden coasters.

[netdvn]

A lot of times the climate is too cold to keep many of the rides running anyway, so the parks shut down. Some parks hold Christmas events (Hersheypark, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Dollywood), but most aren't full year unless you travel further south.

 

Wild Adventures operates weekends and has a decent woodie, but might be a couple hours out of your way if you're planning on doing the Orlando parks.

[DarkRideNick]

Don't forget to stop at SFA near DC!