Air_Time_Addict Posted May 8, 2013 Posted May 8, 2013 Hi all, I’ve been a long-time fan of coasters and this site, but this is the first forum I have used so please bear with me. I was hoping you guys could offer me any advice or tips on a trip I have planned for this June. For years I have wanted to do a tour of the North East Coast area of the States as the collection of theme parks/coasters in a relatively small area is simply astonishing. I now have the funds and time to do it, but I like to plan everything to make sure I get the most out of it. Here’s our itinerary: June 2013 Sat 8th – Fly into Cincinnati Sun 9th – Kings Island (Pick up Cedar Fair Plat Pass) Mon 10th – Cedar Point Tues 11th – Cedar Point and Soak City Weds 12th – Drive to Niagara – stop at Waldameer on way Thurs 13th – Day at Niagara Falls/Niagara on the Lake Fri 14th – Canada’s Wonderland Sat 15th – Day off in Toronto Sun 16th – Drive up to Montreal and La Ronde (Pick up Six Flags Season Pass) Mon 17th – Look around Montreal Tues 18th – The Great Escape Wed 19th – Six Flags New England Thurs 20th to Sun 23rd – New York City Sun 23rd (Afternoon) – Six Flags Great Adventure Mon 24th – Six Flags Great Adventure Tues 25th – Dorney Park Wed 26th – Hersheypark Thur 27th – Six Flags America Fri 28th – Kings Dominion Sat 29th – Busch Gardens Williamsburg Sun 30th – Washington DC Mon 1st July – Fly out of Dulles So any advice you can give me on any aspect of the trip would be greatly appreciated, such as the best ride order for each parks and insider tips, etc. Any ideas which out those parks are going to be the busiest and, if any, you would recommend fast passes as I couldn’t afford to get one at every park but could save for a couple if needed. Money is a little tight for this trip so if anyone can recommend ways to save money, such as cheap food at or near the parks, discount offers for the parks not in the Cedar or Six Flags chains, or any other suggestions you have that would be great. Sorry for the long post and thanks.
A.J. Posted May 9, 2013 Posted May 9, 2013 Have you considered adding Knoebels into your itinerary? I'd certainly go there over Six Flags America, but that's just me. $26 plus food.
coasterbill Posted May 9, 2013 Posted May 9, 2013 I second that, Knoebels is a much better park than SFA.
Air_Time_Addict Posted May 13, 2013 Author Posted May 13, 2013 Thanks for the replies. Yea I really wanted to include Knoebels as it looks like a great little park. But SFA just seemed to fit with the planned route better and was already on the season pass so effectively free. Do you think it would be possible to squeeze it into the same day as Dorney or would that be trying to do too much? Also I was just wondering what is the general policy on small bags with regards to riding. In the UK there is normally an area within the station to leave bags etc while riding, but from my experience in Florida yo normally need to get a locker before riding. I'm just wondering about the practicalities of carrying some sun cream around with me, as otherwise I'm likely to cook a little. Or does anyone know of a bag small enough that you can actually ride with that would carry sun cream, credit card, compact camera? Thanks.
beatle11 Posted May 13, 2013 Posted May 13, 2013 Dorney and Knoebels could be squeezed into one day, although Knoebel's deserves a full day visit, especially if it's your first time there. I'd highly recommend switching it in for either SFA or Dorney. Other than that, your schedule looks good. Make sure to get fast lane/flash pass or any line skip system where it's available. The exception there might be at SFA if you do decide to keep in on your trip. I was there on a Friday in July and the park was dead. As far as bags go, especially at Six Flags parks, they require you to use a locker for some of the rides. Otherwise, there is usually a cabinet in the station for bags.
A.J. Posted May 13, 2013 Posted May 13, 2013 Just off the top of my head, I would lose a day in New York City. Thu Jun 20 to Sat Jun 22 (morning) - New York City Sat Jun 22 (afternoon) and Sun Jun 23 - Six Flags Great Adventure Mon Jun 24 - Dorney Park Tue Jun 25 - Knoebels Wed Jun 26 - Hersheypark Thu Jun 27 - Six Flags America An evening and a day is plenty of time to ride everything you'd like in Six Flags Great Adventure. If you really want to stay in New York longer, just cut the afternoon at Great Adventure all together and go on Sunday only. I've done everything I've wanted to do in a single day there - the group I was with in 2012 was able to get on Nitro, Batman The Ride, Superman Ultimate Flight, Green Lantern, El Toro multiple times, Rolling Thunder, Bizarro and Kingda Ka in that order - without using Flash Pass.
Air_Time_Addict Posted May 16, 2013 Author Posted May 16, 2013 Yea I could try suggesting that we cut a day off New York, but I think my wife would kill me! She already thinks there is too many theme parks (if that's possible)! Looking at it I might try and get Great Adventure done on the Sunday afternoon/Monday morning then head over to Dorney at lunch. If I can do that Monday afternoon, finishing anything off Tuesday morning then I might be able to swing a visit to Knoebels for the evening entry deal. ^^Not really sure how many fast passes I'll be able to afford, the holiday has already stretched me pretty tight. I was thinking that I would get one at Canada's Wonderland as from what I've read its pretty much always busy, and also Busch Gardens as we are going on a Saturday (although was tempted by the coaster insider tour instead of fast pass, whats your thoughts?). But is there any others that you would consider vital (mainly bothered about getting the coasters done). Do you think we'll be able to get La Ronde done in an afternoon (just coasters)? Didn't realise till we'd already booked hotel that it wasn't open on the Monday and that's the park we're planning on picking up the Six Flags pass so head to squeeze it into the same day as travelling up from Toronto. Finally, does anyone know of any discounts for Busch Gardens? Its the only one on the list that we are having to pay full price for, after finding the Hersheypark Scout deal for $38. Thanks.
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