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Photo TR: Mini New Hotness/East Coast Trip


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Great pictures! (and captions)

I was so angry when I went to great adv last year and el toro was closed! Well, I guess I'll have to go there again.

 

Looks like they borrowed the loop from Dominator at Kings Dominion.

I guess the yellow loop has to do with facing your fear, while the green loop is about overcoming it. Call it, "theming."

I'm definitely not a fan of that yellow loop. Maybe the idea didn't seem bad but I would rather have the whole track green.

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The yellow loop is actually an attempt at theming. At the bottom of the loop, (right before you climb into the inversion) there used to be a head of that creature they reference on one of the signs in the queue (something with a P, the name escapes me) Although the last time I was at the park, the head was lying in pieces in the boneyard (visible from Nitro's lift)

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The "ERT" that morning on Kingda Ka was a great surprise. That whole morning in fact was one of the best I've had any Six Flags park. From 2 rides on Ka to Zumanjaro to a VIP Safari ride. Basically the park staff reminded me that not all Six Flags parks are terrible. You need to be reminded of such things. Then to end the night on El Toro ERT was just beautiful.

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^The Kingda Ka rides were a nice bonus. This was the best visit I've ever had at this park (and the previous visits were good, too). I was surprised at how good the safari ride was--one of the best attractions at any Six Flags park.

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What exactly happens in Houdini's Great Escape? I heard you sit on a bench and it makes it seem like the room is spinning but I didn't get that impression from your TR. I'd try it myself but get dizzy and severe motion sickness at the drop of a hat so didn't want to risk it.

 

I've been to SFGAdv 3x this month and each visit has been great despite some minor and major problems encountered. I found all the ride attendants to be helpful and friendly as well as the majority of the other staffers. We went on the Safari last weekend and really enjoyed it. Kingda Ka is only tolerable in the blue train and El Toro never, ever gets old! They do have a great lineup of rides there and if they can just get that darn path from Zumanjaro over to El Toro connected it'll save a lot of time and energy walking around. Zumanjaro was surprisingly one of our favorites. How does it differ from Blue Fall?

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Great pics, as always. I love getting a look at GAdv through the eyes of someone who doesn't visit quite often.

 

Agreed. Great pictures and report all around. Ive been to GAdv 10 times this season and didn't do the safari once, so nice to check it out via this report. lol

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Houdini is a Vekoma Madhouse, which gives the illusion that you're in a room that flips upside down. I've never had problems with motion sickness on these types of rides, but it may be a different story for others.

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Great report, Chuck! I've always had a good time at SFGAdv, and the park really went out of their way to make us feel welcome this year! The surprise ERT on Kingda Ka (x2), VIP ride on Zumanjaro, VIP ride on the safari, and the nighttime ERT on El Toro were all incredible. I was really impressed with the safari, as I'd passed on it in 2013 because the line was enormous.

 

I love that nighttime picture of El Toro. I've seen that shot a million times, but only during the day. Very cool.

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Anyone here familiar with me knows that I am a full-fledged SFGAdv fanboy, having grown up going to this park practically every weekend as a kid, later living within walking distance from the park. Glad to know that everyone had a great time during their visit. EL TORO FTW!

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Houdini is a Vekoma Madhouse, which gives the illusion that you're in a room that flips upside down. I've never had problems with motion sickness on these types of rides, but it may be a different story for others.

 

The best way to describe it:

- you sit on what is essentially a 30 seat (left to right) "Pirate Ship" ride....that rocks back and forth

- this "Pirate Ship" type ride is enclosed by a cylinder, which rotates around you, while your are rocking back and forth

- when both affects are in motion/going in the opposite direction...combined with sound effects, darkness, illusions.....it makes for a fun ride!

 

Better yet- are those who seemed totally freaked out by the "illusion".....yet can't comprehend that there are no major restraints/seat belts for a reason!

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  • 2 weeks later...

Days 11 & 12, Part 1: Culture & Coney Island

 

We had a long drive from Six Flags Great Adventure to our excellent hotel in New York City, and we had to drop off some poor, sad souls at the Newark Airport. Day 11 was a "free day" to do whatever in NYC--the greatest "whatever" city, anywhere. I just love wandering around the city, talking in the sights, eating from the food trucks, and enjoying all that NYC atmsophere--including an excellent Italian dinner. I also saw Newsies. You may have heard about this show if you've been a member of the TPR for, oh, at least five minutes or so. I really enjoyed it--much better on the stage than on the screen.

 

Day 12 was the last official day of the trip, and we spent part of it at Coney Island, with ERT on the classic Cyclone and the new Thunderbolt. Although I've been in Brooklyn before, this was my first visit to Coney Island. Cyclone was a fairly pleasant surprise. I'd heard bad things about it in past years, but there's been a lot of work done on this classic ride, and it shows. The first two-thirds are fun and reasonably smooth, with great views of the beach. But that last third was a bruising, shimmying, shuffling, rib-cracking experience--pretty much what the entire ride used to be like before all the refurb work, some of the locals told me. But I ended up liking the Cyclone and took several rides--mainly because the fun-loving ride crew just kept the train running through the station without stopping it. (The Cyclone crew was a lot of fun.)

 

I wanted to like Thunderbolt, as I'd heard good things about it when it opened earlier this year; unfortunately, it hasn't aged well since then. The layout looks great, but the trains, which look a bit "rinky dink" and "carny," shake and jolt through the transitions, making it rather painful. This is a shame, as I think the ride has potential.

 

Deno's Wonder Wheel was fun, and didn't make me feel ill like its much younger cousin at Disney California Adventure as we rocked and rolled back and forth. But the highlight for me at Deno's was Spook-a-Rama, a very good, old-school dark ride. All you do is rumble around inside a large buildings while zombies, werewolves, vampires, and other creatures of the night jump out at you left and right. I rode it three times in a quest to get a few decent photos.

 

The rest of the Deno's and Luna Park were sort of "carny," but in a nice way. The best of the remaining credits were the Steeplechase (a Zamperla motor bike coaster), followed by the Tickler (spinning mouse) and Soarin' Eagle (a, shudder, Volare). I skipped the Circus Coaster. Overall, I'm glad that Zamperla seems to be making a go of it at Coney Island.

 

Next up will be Scott's Pizza Tour--but that's a post for another day.

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I hear this building that looks like a syringe in a 1940s movie is famous for some reason.

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"Oh, don't mind me. I'm just carrying the WHOLE FRICKIN' WORLD on my shoulders. You're welcome."

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We visited the very seat of power.

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For some, the real power may be here.

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If you visit New York and eat here, I will hunt you down and kill you where you stand!

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"Newsies"? Never heard of it. What the hell. ;)

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OK, I know you've had enough "culture" for now.

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Of course, for some , this is culture--and eating is a sport.

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OK, now we're talkin' here.

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Homage to the original entrance of Luna Park. Like to see it lit up at night some time.

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The Cyclone--kickin' butt and takin' names since 1927.

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It somehow seems appropriate that the Cyclone's ACE plaque is bolted to a chain-link fence. It just fits the whole "Brooklyn" thing. ;)

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That park's staff was great. The Cyclone crew a lot of fun during ERT.

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Here's what one ride will cost you.

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"I am ready for you! Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!"

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Getting our instructions for the day--which was a great one.

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Who's first? Gotta love the classic look of the trains.

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Consider yourselves warned.

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I have no idea who "Joe" was, but he was here at some point.

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Looking down the Boardwalk toward a rather large lawn ornament that used to be a parachute-drop ride.

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Here's Coney Island's "New Hotness."

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I really wanted to like this ride.

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The layout is really cool, but the ride is rather painful--maybe better trains would help?

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"Want to ride again?"

"Er, no, but thanks, anyway, big creepy face."

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Er, can we get to this one later? I'm still recovering from Thunderbolt.

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Coney Island's classic seaside park look. But why is Papa Burger there when there's no A&W in sight?

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The park gave us official Thunderbolt thunder sticks. This was simply asking for trouble.

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"Ha! I laugh at your so-called thunder stick fu and show my butt to you in defiance!"

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"Then this should amuse you greatly! Defend yourself, impudent dog!"

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"Do not think your staus as a little girl will inspire mercy in me, young one!"

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"I ask no quarter and give none, you diabetic dolt!"

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Oh hell no . . .

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"V-o-o-o-o-o-l-a-r-r-r-e! . . ."

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" . . . O-o-o-o-h ow!"

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You should get seven credits per Volare.

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Now here's a Zamperla coaster I kind of like.

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Good, clean family fun that doesn't hurt.

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The Joker! It's a trap! More to come from Coney Island.

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One more set of photos from Coney Island.

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It does look like a "permanent" county fair.

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Looks like we won't be riding this today. Call it a "hunch."

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Kids, if a man who looks like this asks to "tickle" you, run fast and run far.

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This group looks pretty "tickled."

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Let's see, two look "tickled," one looks willing to be "tickled," while the fourth isn't so sure about this "tickling" stuff.

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I get tickled watching people ride this thing.

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Not so sure I would enjoy riding it. Maybe I'll give one a try some day.

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Y'all have fun with that.

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This is the only other picture I took of the Cyclone running. D'oh!

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Another "oh hell no" ride for me. ;)

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Not to be confused with the other "Thunderbolt."

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Well, they have built at least one "other" like this, Deno--on the West Coast.

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Looks like the Grim Reaper is totally checking out Larry.

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"Yoo hoo! Grim, cold Death will find you all eventually. Have a nice day."

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"In life, I was the wrestler known as Hulk Hogan, but now I must wander the Earth to teach others about the spirit of the holiday season, brother! Whatca gonna do, when the True Meaning of Christmas runs wild on you?"

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The horrifying outdoor section of Spook-a-Rama!

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Official historic plaque.

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Can you endure the terror of . . . PEPSI PRODUCTS? Hmm?

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"Ugh! Stupid Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin' Sauce Challenge! What was I, bleah, thinking?"

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Everything's better with a shark.

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"Well, I'm feeling a bit blurry today. Too many beers last night."

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"Oh gawd! Gonna hurl! Never should've drank that stupid Brooklyn hipster beer!"

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"Sure, it's a dungeon--but it's a hell of a lot cheaper than living in Manhattan."

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I can't figure out if Larry is terrified or stupefied.

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From one classic ride to another.

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Where's Mickey's giant face?

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The Wonder Wheel is very patriotic--just like Mickey Mouse.

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Caged! Caged like animals!

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All the wonders of Brooklyn were spread out before us.

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Yes, there is a beach here, too, you know.

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"Loneliness and Isolation: The Ride."

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We're a bit early for the Freak Show.

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Please--somebody call Batman!

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A zombie coaster car rises at night, looking to feast!

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Surely a man can go ape on stage, too. Why let the women have all the fun?

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For 20 bucks, you can lie on Bettie Page.

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We lacked the courage to venture into the "Ghost Hole." Well, it was kind of expensive, too. That's all for now. Stay tuned for Scott's Pizza Tour later this week.

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^^^ Wasn't The Black Hole a Rotor, anyway? Just trying to remember, here.

 

Cyclone was awesome back in my 1989 visit to New York. Absolutely terrified us,

how it rattled and rolled. But it was a rush, heh. And nothing else was open for

us, so Cyclone was The Big Deal, back then for me. An early credit, lol.

 

Great TR of all the beach area too, Chuck.

 

^ I think those are copies of the old Boardwalk (uh) Carriages, that people could.would ride/be peddled along the Coney Boardwalk. If you saw "Boardwalk Empire," the series, then you saw them ocassionaly in outdoor shots. I am shocked that they still exist, although in a "restricted area".

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I understand that Spook-a-Rama's outdoor section used to be longer, but is now shorter due to damage caused by Hurricane Sandy,

 

In this case, the hurricane improved the ride.

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