Grapeslie and Showbie Invade Pennsylvania!

[GrapesLie]

Let me take you back in time. So very far back! All the way to July of 2013. I'm sitting bored at work and decide I have a little extra money in the bank and figure now is good a time as ever for a trip. So I call my friend Cameron aka Showbie up and say hey were going to PA! Surprisingly he says sure and a week later were on a plane! This is our story!

7 Parks, 4 Days, and great times!

We decided on 7 different parks

Conneaut Lake Park, Waldameer, Knoebels, Lakemont Park, Idlewild Park, Hershey Park, and Kennywood!

So where shall I start? I guess the beginning is as good a place as any.

Well this is me. I'll be your narrator/host for this journey. Forgive me for my appearance. It's 3 am in this photo! Okay I know the dates on the photos say November and many other times but the camera LIES! It LIES! It was July I promise!

This is Showbie! We will be using his thumbs up and thumbs down rating system to tell you what we thought of rides. Complicated I know.

Ahhh The St.Louis International Airport.

Here we are Gate C16. We have quite the day ahead! Two parks today Lakemont Park and Waldameer!

Showbie is excited to go to Pittsburgh!

I hate flying! But thumbs up anyway!

Welcome to Pittsburgh! Wait it's a trap! RUN!

Look it's Conneaut Lake Park! We survived the dinosaur but what about Blue Streak?

You know I'm sure this midway was awesome at one time! That said this is the weirdest park. Sits in the middle of a neighborhood. not what I expected but still very cool!

Showbie says, "Do not tease me with a closed Arcade! Screw it lets go to Japan!"

We actually got to the park an hour before it opened. Oddly it doesn't have much of a official entrance. You can sort of just walk into the park from the street. So we took some pictures while we waited for rides to open!

Okay so is it a coaster? Is it not a coaster? The debate rages on!

Showbie doesn't care what you think. He loves it and says you should just ride it and quit worrying about it!

The ride ROCKS!

Aww so cute! That said, I say CREDIT! CHA CHING!

I wants to be eatings you!

They have a really cute/nice kiddie area!

I remember riding these when I was little!

This - is - what - happens - when . . .

- you - have - nobody - to - take - your - picture.

This thing is so very tiny in real life! It's adorable!

YAY! Let's ride the demonic worm!

Ahh little Dipper!

Check out those airtime hills!

What do you mean we're to fat to ride!

SAD DAY! No credit whoring for us.

 

A bunch more coming TODAY! I have to go grocery shopping! sigh

Edited November 19, 2013 by GrapesLie

[GrapesLie]

Here we go Part 2 of day 1!

Were still here at Conneaut Lake Park.

Giddy Up!

This is practice for the larger Tumble Bug they have!

Showbie wanted to ride SOOO bad!

Sorry Showbie were too fat! Seriously this would fall apart!

Ummm . . . Never mind.

Okay so they have a amazing and pristine Carousel! Sorry it's hard to get good pictures of though.

PLEASE Make this work again!

Ahhh this is why were here! Blue Streak!

Showbie is trying to make himself look fatter so he can fit in with the Acer's!

Well there go all of my plans!

Hmm not sure if that layout is accurate.

Oooo Pretty trains!

Before we ride though lets check out Tumble Bug! Showbie already gave it a thumbs up and we haven't even rode it!

Well I'll say he is right! It's a blast!

Kennywood's Version can suck it! This thing moves!

Now what is that I see through the trees?

YAY Blue Streak!

This thing gives killer airtime on the first drop! Tip for those riding. Sit in the middle seat of the trains unless you want your spine readjusted! Over wheels = Bad! Between the wheels = Fun!

Sad day! I wanted it to be open!

Showbie LOVES these, but I HATE them!

Showbie HATES these, But I LOVE them!

Anybody Thirsty?

They give you the history too! Who knew Showbie loved carousels so much!

Thumbs down for being closed! Showbie had never ridden a Toboggan and wanted to very bad! Good news though, he gets to ride one later in our trip!

This deserves another look!

Final thought? Well I really loved this park in that it's just weird! I really would love to see it succeed! I urge anyone if you're in the area go and spend some money! Blue Streak is a lot of fun and the places where they have re tracked are obvious and fun and I hope they continue. I do think it's a ride and park worth preserving!

 

Now it's time to head to Waldameer! Ravine Flyer II baby!

YAY! Bumper Cars!

Never mind.

[GrapesLie]

Well it's still day one but we still have 6 more parks! we can't stop with just one! So Waldameer here we come!

YAY! Were here! This park has been on my bucket list for awhile! Showbie doesn't look too excited. STOP YAWNING!

Grandma doesn't like Waldameer.

No Showbie we've spent enough time on carousels already!

These things still terrify me!

Stupid statues taking up perfectly good bench space!

I really love how Classic Americana Waldameer Park is!

Now this why we're actually here!

YAY! look how pretty! I can't wait to ride!

Hmm I like the blue train best!

Look it's a swinging ship!

Bad SHIP! Do not hit the building!

Wait a second I'm confused . . .

Are we at Holiday world?

MOST ORIGINAL SHOT EVER TAKEN AT THIS PARK!

Okay well talk about Ravine Flyer II in a bit. But first, Comet!

It's SOOO CUTE!

I just LOVE Junior Woodies!

This one is no exception! I loved it!

Green train was down today.

But we still have ORANGE Train! YAY!

Showbie is smiling but was scared of the crazy lady in line who was yelling and cussing at her kids for no reason! Oh Housing Authority day! Why did our trip land on you?

Showbie insisted!

So we rode! I only cried a little!

Wish I had got to ride this..

YAY! I Love these things! Sorry I don't think it's a credit.

I wanted to throw money in the fountain from here, but Showbie wouldn't let me!

Okay let's talk about Ravine Flyer II for a second. Okay first thing it's my #2 wood coaster! (#1 Outlaw Run #3 Voyage) It's in my top ten altogether! This ride is perfection! From it's setting and views to its airtime and overall layout! It's smooth too! I LOVE THIS RIDE! It is my number one night ride! Beyond beautiful and fun! Also I think this ride has the best use of 90 DEGREES of any of the wood coasters I have ridden! Just go ride it people! Oh and it jumps the Highway! Heck yes!

Awww Pretty Ferris wheel! I refuse to ride you! I hate you! You scare me!

Showbie and I marathon rode this thing! easily 30 rides! Ahhh Memories.

YAY! They say were not too fat to ride!

No Showbie that isn't a girl with too much makeup! It's a boy with just enough!

Loved the station for Comet!

Hmm you don't see this everyday! Hmm I wonder what this looks like to a small child!

Oh my F$@*#ing GOD! He's going to eat us all! Yeah scary much!?

LOVE THESE DROP TOWERS! I never see the drop coming!

I fought Showbie on riding this all day! I didn't want to get wet!

Yeah well . . . he won.

I LOVE spinning coasters! (Sorry Elissa)

Okay but honestly it was a blast! I really enjoyed their flume! But I did get wet.

Final Thoughts? Waldameer is a almost perfect park with a perfect wood coaster! I will be returning! This park could use some solid steel but as it is now it's a wonderful park and well worth the drive!

 

Next Stop KNOEBELS!

[azza29]

Great TR! Waldameer is a fantastic little park, the log flume is superb and it has the best drop tower anywhere! The clientele are definitely.. uh, unique?

[GrapesLie]

This is the beginning of day 2 of our Journey! In this one day we visited both Knoebels, and Hershey Park! Our first stop is Knoebels!! So here we go!

So I was not prepared for how beautiful the drive to Knoebels was going to be!

Just Breathtaking!

YAY! Looks like we're here!

Oh looky it's Kozmo's Kurves!

I've always thought these were adorable! No Showbie! You cannot ride it!

Mmmm Bread building! I'm hungry!

NO NEVER NEVER NEVER!

Closed! Sad day!

Ehhh nobody cares about these.

It's a sad truth that we missed our Flying Turns credit by just a few short months.

I guess . . .

well just have. . .

to come back! YAY!

You know, I've heard a lot of mixed things about Twister.

But you know what . . .

We REALLY REALLY Liked it! Two thumbs up!

Dang! There go my plans! AGAIN!

Such a impressive structure in person!

I really wish we had had the time to ride the train!

WEEE!

On a sad note, they LOVE one train operation! Sure made a short line take forever!

I'm good! only 3 hours of sleep and hours of driving! But I've had my coffee! No worries.

Besides this woke me up anyway! WEEE!

Seriously this ride just surrounds you!

Awww Pink train you look so lonely!

Here follow your brother out here and get to work!

I loved the classic wood work in the station!

Now you see it!

Now you don't!

Okay moving on to Phoenix!

So this ride has a lot of hype! and it lived up to it!

Sadly I only got one ride due to time constraints and one train operation.

I WILL be back my sweet Phoenix!

Loved all of the history they had on display!

Showbie agrees this deserves to be a classic! He just hopes the ACE Members don't break the seats!

This looks a bit too much like a tomb stone to me!

Are you sure? Is it the finest?

Showbie thinks so! THUMBS UP!

I wish I had more pictures of this ride! That said, Black Diamond ROCKS! I love dark rides but for some reason this was almost perfect! Make sure you don't miss this if you're ever there!

Final thoughts, Okay I REALLY REALLY and I mean REALLY wish I could of had a full day or two at this park! Unfortunately it just wasn't possible. I know I missed so much! But what I did see and experience was amazing! No question in my mind why people love this park so much! I can't wait to go back and ride Flying Turns! and hit a few more of their flat rides!

 

Next stop Hershey Park!

[GrapesLie]

Okay so here is what happened. My Camera died. I thought I had it plugged in in the hotel but when we woke to go to Knoebels I realized it hadn't been charging. I have very few pictures of Hershey Park. It's a shame because we LOVED this park! but here are the few I have.

Not my favorite ride in the park but still solid! Painfully slow loading process unfortunately. Showbie still says 2 Thumbs up! I give it one.

Fahrenheit looks good no matter the picture!

I LOVE Vertical lift Hills!

We don't care what anyone says Wildcat is awesome! Maybe we just got it on a good day. But THUMBS UP!

 

Now since these are unfortunately the only pictures I got I am going to briefly talk about the other rides not shown.

 

Comet: Okay so this ride isn't super exciting or anything. But it is now SURROUNDED by SkyRush! It's just beautiful! Makes it a exciting ride!

 

Lightning Racer: Okay this thing is awesome! It was our last ride of the night as the sun was going down! More parks need these and should take better care of them too!

 

Sidewinder: Meh It's a Boomerang. Although the GP sure loved it! I do LOVE the new restraint system though!

 

Sooperdooperlooper: It's awesome 2 THUMBS UP all the way! A true family coaster in a beautiful setting! And NO OTSR (Looking at you Magic Mountain)

 

Trailblazer: Well all I'll say is it's no ThuNderaTion!

 

Wild Mouse: Super awesome loading process! And a decent enough ride.

 

Storm Runner: Okay this was my favorite ride in the park! This IS the perfect launch coaster! I'd give it 3 THUMBS UP if I could

 

Hershey Park overall is amazing! I LOVED it! It's beautiful and plain fun! Still needs a really good Dark Ride! I LOVED Chocolate World too! I will be going back!

 

Next Stop - Lakemont Park

Showbie says "Hell yeah this ride rocks! THUMBS UP!" I agree!

SkyRush is so much bigger in real life!

Ohh Look! It's Great Bear! I was obsessed with this ride when I was younger! While I thought it was only meh, I still love the setting and think it's the oddest named roller coaster ever!

[rcjp]

^I went to Hershey for the first time this year too and LOVED it. Storm runner is also my favorite one there and my 2nd favorite overall (I just wish it was a bit longer). Nice update and it's a shame that your camera died.

[GrapesLie]

No worries I got it good and charged for the rest of the trip! So plenty more pictures coming!

[coasterbill]

How much time did you spend at Knoebels? It seems like you had to rush through it and if that's true, that's a shame. We made that mistake once but it's really a full day park.

[GrapesLie]

^ Unfortunately Yes. I plan to go back and spend a full day there eventually. Rushing through that park was my biggest regret of the trip.

[arby]

I made the same mistake when I visited this year and only allotted 4 hours for this park. Next time we'll stay all day.

[gisco]

Nice report so far. I visited those parks last year and even one full day at knoebels is not enough for a first timer. I look forward to going back and catching Flying Turns next time around.

[larrygator]

Hopefully you can get back to Knoebels and enjoy a full day. There is so much to experience.

[cfc]

^I'll second that--Knoebels is great, and Phoenix is one of the best woodies anywhere.