2021 Trip Planning!

[AmyUD06]

Hello everyone.  It's that time of year again, and after a limited 2020, it's time to hit the road and tackle some more parks!  Some quick introductory notes:
1. I already have a CF Platinum Pass with All-Season, All-Park Fast Lane+, a Six Flags season pass, and will likely be picking up a Parques Reunidos Platinum Pass as well.
2. My work schedule allows me every other weekend as a 3-day weekend, thus how a lot of this trips are scheduled.
3. My preference on trips is obviously coasters  I do also enjoy water rides, drop rides, and spinning rides where you're facing in line with the rotation (like a Musik Express), but things like frisbees mess me up.
4. I do not mind driving long distances at all (12-hours straight is about my limit).
5. I've been to all of the CF Parks listed several times.
6. "Home" for me is Newark, DE about 45 minutes south of Philadelphia and about an hour north of Baltimore.

Below, please see an outline of the trips I have planned this summer and my requests for advice, though any feedback is welcome.  (Asterisks indicate parks that I've never been to)
 

2021 Pre-Season Jaunt
-Friday, 5/6 through Sunday, 5/9 - A brief weekend trip to Wildwood, mostly for the Spring Car Show, but also to finally check out Sea Serpent with the new vest restraints.  No advice needed here.

Ohio Kickoff Weekend
-Friday 5/14 through Sunday, 5/16 - A blitz trip out to Kings Island, swinging by Kings Dominion for their passholder-preview day on the way back.  No advice needed here either.

Ohio - The Real Trip!
-Friday, 5/28 - Drive out to Sandusky, hit CP after hotel check in.
-Saturday, 5/29 - Full day at Cedar Point
-Sunday, 5/30 - Half day at Cedar Point Shores, then headed to Erie for Waldameer*
-Monday, 5/31 - Full day at Cedar Point/Shores
-Tuesday, 6/1 - Full day at Kings Island/Soak City
-Wednesday, 6/2 - Drive home.
My advice request here is for Waldameer...aside from the Big 2 (Comet, Ravine Flyer II) and the log flume, is anything else here a can't-miss?  I'm also presuming the $25 Wally Card will be my most financial safe bet.

The Big 2021 Amusement Park Tour CANCELLED!
-Tuesday, 6/22 - Drive down to Atlanta, stopping by Carowinds on the way to break up the trip and get some rides on Fury and Copperhead Strike. (yeah, I know this is a long long driving day, but it's really the only way I can make this trip work).
-Wednesday 6/23 - Full day at SF over Georgia*
-Thursday 6/24 - 2 hours at SF over Georgia, then driving to Pigeon Forge, stopping by Lake Winne* on the way.
-Friday, 6/25 - Full day at Dollywood*
-Saturday, 6/26 - Driving to Eureka, MO, stopping by Beech Bend* on the way.
-Sunday, 6/27 - Full day at SF St. Louis*
-Monday, 6/28 - Driving to Louisville, KY, stopping at Holiday World for a full day.
-Tuesday 6/29 - Full day at Kentucky Kingdom.
-Wednesday, 6/30 - Drive home, stopping by Camden Park* on the way.
EDIT:  The full day at KI was removed, adding a full day at Holiday World.
Any advice pertaining to the new parks to me (SFoG, Dollywood, Beech Bend, SFStL, Holiday World, KK, Camden Park) would be greatly appreciated.

Mid-Western Pennsylvania Blitz CANCELLED!
-Friday, 7/9 - Drive to Pittsburgh, stopping by Adventure Park USA*, Lakemont Park*, and Idlewild* on the way.
-Saturday, 7/10 - Full day at Kennywood.
-Sunday, 7/11 - Drive home. stopping by Dorney Park/Wildwater Kingdom on the way.
I think I'm pretty set here.  Hoping Steel Curtain will be open; if not I might put this trip off to next year.

Though I will still be doing a day trip to Lakemont Park on 7/10.

Northeastern Super-Blitz
-Friday, 8/6 - Drive to Queensbury, NY and hit Great Escape* after arrival.
-Saturday, 8/7 - Drive to Agawam, MA, hitting the following parks along the way: Story Land (NH)*, Funtown Splashtown*, Canobie Lake Park*
-Sunday, 8/8 - Drive home, stopping by SF New England for some rides on Superman, Wicked Cyclone, and Thunderbolt and Lake Compounce (for some rides on Boulder Dash and maybe try to get on Wildcat) on the way.
Any advice pertaining to the new parks to me (Great Escape, Story Land, Funtown Splashtown, Canobie) would be appreciated.

Maybe-not-happening Indiana Trip
-Thursday, 8/12 - Drive to Sandusky, hit CP after check in.
-Friday, 8/13 - Full day at CP
-Saturday, 8/14 - Drive to Indianapolis, spending 5 hours or so at Indiana Beach*
-Sunday, 8/15 - Thursday, 8/19 - Work Conference in Indianapolis
-Friday, 8/20 - Drive home.
My main question here: is 5 hours enough time at Indiana Beach to hit all of the major coasters at least once?

Thanks again for looking this over...please feel free to provide any advice or feedback, positive or negative, you may have.

[tndank]

Got something against Holiday World and their top tier coasters and water park?

 

 

[Nrthwnd]

^^ Damn, that's a lot of planning! I hope it all works out for you.

For myself, I'm just hoping Playland(PNE) will open this season, eventually!

[bert425]

advice for SFOG & SFStL 

SFOG: 

several of the big coasters (mainly Goliath & Twisted Cyclone) have single rider line - however those queue are not until you get to the station.  So you'll have to wait in the main queue until you get to the station, and then can go to the single rider line (towards the front of the train). . it will save you some time.

don't skip Acrophobia - its a fantastic drop tower, and among my faves (it does a slight tilt before drop, so not "face first" like Falcon's Fury, but there is a tilt.

dont' skip Monster Mansion.. it's a WTF dark ride that's fantastic.

the rapids ride WILL get you soaked. .if you're going to ride?  prepare ahead and bring a plastic bag for your stuff, and maybe an extra pair of shoes in the car.

the Joker's Funhouse kiddie coaster is a LOT of fun, and worth a spin.

SFOG has THE nicest Gotham City section of any of the Six Flags parks (and has two great coasters there: a super intense Batman & Mindbender; as well as some really fun flats)

Daredevil Dive has absolutely horrible capacity.   Like really, really bad.    If you want to ride it?  get there as early in the day as you can, to avoid the longer lines that will not diminish during the day (same is true of Superman: Ultimate Flight).

 

 

SFStL: you probably won't NEED Flash Pass, but I'd splurge for it here - for 1 reason:  Mr Freeze.
trust me, you want to avoid that indoor, disgusting, cramped, queue.   Especially if they have 1 train ops.

I really enjoyed Colossus (ferris wheel), and the mine train surprised me with how much fun it was.    American Thunder is the best woodie in the park, tho Screamin Eagle is really great (in the 1st two cars), and Boss was kinda brutal - even in a non-wheel seat.

oh, and if you must ride Ninja?  save it until the very end of your day. . it will beat the crap out of you, and you'll want to not ride anything else after.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Besides the obvious folly of planning so many trips to so many parks when absolutely no one is going to have a normal schedule this year, there are several other things that don't make sense to me.

 

1. Why Kings Island on three separate trips? It's a great park, sure, but if you want three days there, why not just go there for three days?

2. You're combining Georgia and Missouri on one trip? You seem to be going in several different directions on this trip, and you're still including places you already will have been to. And if you're coming to Missouri, why are you going to Six Flags and then leaving? Silver Dollar City is the only park in Missouri actually worth driving halfway across the country for.

3. You're visiting some kind of out of the way places (What even is Adventure Park USA???) but no Silver Dollar City, no Holiday World, no Knoebels, even when you're super close, or in the case of Holiday World, you'll literally drive right past it on I-64 between St. Louis and Louisville. This seems to be a quantity over quality trip.

4. I don't get why you're driving out to Cedar Point then backtracking to Erie. Why not go to Erie first on Friday then on to Sandusky after Waldameer closes? Easy to do, I've done just that a couple years ago. Waldameer is a really great park that you should spend some time in and get to know. Comet and Ravine Flyer are awesome of course, but their drop tower has an incredible view of Lake Erie and they run great programs on their Disko and Musik Express. The mini railway is fun. It's just a classic feel that is great and relaxing. Whatever you do, do not miss the Whacky Shack or the Pirates Cove. They're weird and awesome.

[AmyUD06]

8 hours ago, tndank said:

Got something against Holiday World and their top tier coasters and water park?

 

 

Wow...yeah utter fail on my part.  Holiday World, for some reason, wasn't on my Google Map of Parks in the US.  It is now, and I'll be trying to work that into the trip.

8 hours ago, Nrthwnd said:

^^ Damn, that's a lot of planning! I hope it all works out for you.

For myself, I'm just hoping Playland(PNE) will open this season, eventually!

Yeah, what can I say, I like to plan LOL.  Good luck to you in that regard...I'm not sure how Canada is dealing with COVID.

7 hours ago, bert425 said:

advice for SFOG & SFStL

Thank you very much, sir!

7 hours ago, ytterbiumanalyst said:

Besides the obvious folly of planning so many trips to so many parks when absolutely no one is going to have a normal schedule this year, there are several other things that don't make sense to me.

 

1. Why Kings Island on three separate trips? It's a great park, sure, but if you want three days there, why not just go there for three days?

2. You're combining Georgia and Missouri on one trip? You seem to be going in several different directions on this trip, and you're still including places you already will have been to. And if you're coming to Missouri, why are you going to Six Flags and then leaving? Silver Dollar City is the only park in Missouri actually worth driving halfway across the country for.

3. You're visiting some kind of out of the way places (What even is Adventure Park USA???) but no Silver Dollar City, no Holiday World, no Knoebels, even when you're super close, or in the case of Holiday World, you'll literally drive right past it on I-64 between St. Louis and Louisville. This seems to be a quantity over quality trip.

4. I don't get why you're driving out to Cedar Point then backtracking to Erie. Why not go to Erie first on Friday then on to Sandusky after Waldameer closes? Easy to do, I've done just that a couple years ago. Waldameer is a really great park that you should spend some time in and get to know. Comet and Ravine Flyer are awesome of course, but their drop tower has an incredible view of Lake Erie and they run great programs on their Disko and Musik Express. The mini railway is fun. It's just a classic feel that is great and relaxing. Whatever you do, do not miss the Whacky Shack or the Pirates Cove. They're weird and awesome.

1.  Two reasons here - A.  I kinda really like Kings Island, thus the dedicated trip in May, and the one-day trips later in the year.  B.  It makes for a good stop-over location on major long trip, but I'm actually probably going to eliminate it in the June trip to add Holiday World.

2.  Yep.  Most of the stops on parks I've been to on the June trip are to break up the driving.  As I've already mentioned, Holiday World will be added, likely replacing KI on this trip.  The reason for including SF STtL on this trip is that I have a Six Flags Pass this year, and likely won't next year (I'd be too close to skip it).  SDC is would add another day to the trip that I just can't afford.  If the routing doesn't make sense hearing it, maybe this map (still not edited for HW instead of KI) will help:

3. Adventure park USA is a tiny park north of DC with a Schwarzkopf Wildcat and a Zamperla Windstorm, that I just happen to pass by several times on these trips.  I've never bothered to stop in, but intend to this year.  SDC, as I said, is just too far out.  Holiday World will be added to the June trip.  Knoebels I can do as a day trip (and actually am today right after writing this).  Same goes for Hershey; it's only 2.5 hours away.

4.  Believe me, I would prefer to do Waldameer first and not backtrack in the middle of my Sandusky stay- only problem, it's not open on Friday 5/28.  Thank you though for the advice on this park.

Thank you everyone for the commentary and critique!  Please keep it coming.

[dankeykang]

I believe Steel Curtain has been testing all preseason, so it should (knock on wood) be open this year.  

5 hours should be fine at Indiana Beach, although to be fair I've never visited on a weekend.  I would prioritize hitting Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain as soon as possible, since it has very poor capacity and slower dispatches (but on the plus side, it's uniqueness is truly something to behold)

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Ah, ok, yeah nobody this year has a normal schedule. Waldameer is worth backtracking for if you have to. Didn't realize you were ao close to Knoebels; I forget how close those eastern states are to each other. Out here, Adventureland, Frontier City, and Magic Springs are all in the next state over, and they're all 5-6 hours away.

 

I get using the Six Flags pass while you have it. Are you going to be in the city at all? If so, check out the Hill (I-44 exit #286 Hampton Road). Great Italian, and unique since St. Louis uses a special cheese called Provel, which is similar to Provalone but a little tangier. If you're going to stay out in Eureka, get Lion's Choice. It's a local roast beef chain (think if Arby's made things that were good), and it's just down 5th St. (that's the I-44 access road, turn left out of Six Flags' parking lot). Not sure if you drink, but if you do, then Melvin is a great little brewpub with awesome food a little farther down 5th.

[AmyUD06]

12 minutes ago, dankeykang said:

I believe Steel Curtain has been testing all preseason, so it should (knock on wood) be open this year.  

5 hours should be fine at Indiana Beach, although to be fair I've never visited on a weekend.  I would prioritize hitting Lost Coaster of Superstition as soon as possible, since it has very poor capacity and slower dispatches (but on the plus side, it's uniqueness is truly something to behold)

Good to hear!  Thanks for the tips.

8 minutes ago, ytterbiumanalyst said:

Ah, ok, yeah nobody this year has a normal schedule. Waldameer is worth backtracking for if you have to. Didn't realize you were ao close to Knoebels; I forget how close those eastern states are to each other. Out here, Adventureland, Frontier City, and Magic Springs are all in the next state over, and they're all 5-6 hours away.

 

I get using the Six Flags pass while you have it. Are you going to be in the city at all? If so, check out the Hill. Great Italian, and unique since St. Louis uses a special cheese called Provel, which is similar to Provalone but a little tangier. If you're going to stay out in Eureka, get Lion's Choice. It's a local roast beef chain (think if Arby's made things that were good), and it's just down 5th St. (that's the I-44 access road, turn left out of Six Flags' parking lot. Not sure if you drink, but if you do, then Melvin is a great little brewpub with awesome food a little farther down 5th.

Yeah, I'm definitely spoiled.  Within a 3-4 hour radius (about my limit for a day-trip), I have: Kings Dominion, BGW, SFGAdv, SFAmerica, Morey's, Casino Pier, Coney Island (NY), American Dream, Hershey, Knoebels, Dorney Park, Dutch Wonderland, Ocean City (both NJ and MD), Sesame Place, and probably a half-dozen others I'm forgetting.

Thanks for the tips on St. Louis/Eureka.  My hotel is in Eureka for the cost-savings, but I definitely planned to check out the city a little bit (especially since SFStL, as of right now, is sheduled to close at 7 PM).  Oh, and yeah I drink LOL.  Back in my days working on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights my nickname was "The Fish."

[ytterbiumanalyst]

 You'll love St. Louis then. Looks like you'll have a bit there on Saturday night maybe? If so, 4 Hands and Urban Chestnut are great breweries in St. Louis, and both are open late Saturdays. You won't make it on Sunday if you stay at Six Flags until close. Melvin's open late every day, just do that one on Sunday.

[bert425]

City Museum did (pre Covid) have Adults only post 7pm -till midnight on Fri/Sat. . so if you get to St. Louis on Sat night, that might be a great option too (lots of places were selling alcohol in the City Museum when we were there).

 

if they are still doing that, it's a great place, and won't be crowded in the late evening (tho the rooftop will be packed with adults)

EDIT:  they don't note on the website they are doing the adults only evenings. . but keep an eye on it, if restrictions roll back further, they might start offering it again:

https://www.citymuseum.org/

[therealcu2010]

Re: Great Escape, my home park: A charming small park that's kind of the bottom of the Six Flags priority list, here's a few tips.

-If it's open, rush straight to Alpine Bobsled at rope drop. This ride rarely opens since it needs the perfect conditions (it was closed all day today), but when it does it fills up fast since its a capacity nightmare. If you get there right away you should be able to get on with not much wait. Bobsled is one of the better coasters at the park, but with its unreliability really should be considered for replacement...

-Move to Comet next, it's nearby. You may need to navigate through part of Hurricane Harbor to find it; it's in a weird location at the back of the park. Lines shouldn't be too bad, especially if its early... you may be able to get one or two rides on it. Comet is a great classic woodie but can be rough.

-There are a few other flats in the area and a decent river rapids ride if those interest you, if not you can swing your way around the park towards Flashback (the park's Vekoma Boomerang, it's actually a halfway decent boomerang, but the operations suck... this is a theme through this park a lot sadly), then head over to Ghost Town for the Arrow looper Steamin' Demon and the mine train Canyon Blaster. Hopefully Steamin' Demon will be open by the time you get there; it's currently closed while the entrance is relocated to make room for Adirondack Outlaw. The park's log flume is in the Ghost Town area as well.

If all you're going to is the coasters, you should only need about 2-3 hours at the park.

[pryonisys]

For Waldameer, you'll be set with the Wally card (you can always add more onto it if you'd like).  Get a ride on Wacky Shack, it's a fun, old, quirky, disjointed dark ride.  Always worth a ride when you're there.
The drop tower is OK if you get a good view of Presque Isle, but even thought I like the whole park Ravine Flyer, Comet and Thunder River (if you like flumes) are the main draws.
(If you like getting photos of coasters, and the state gets their butt in gear, you can get some really good pictures of the turn across the road for Ravine Flyer by going to the Tom Ridge Center tower.  It's free to go up and it's right next to the coaster, but it's been closed currently due to covid, hopefully it will open back up this summer)

[AmyUD06]

Original post updated - The big trip at the end of June has been modified to include a full day at Holiday World!

[redfoot12]

I did a PA trip in 2018 and stopped by Adventure Park USA on the way back to Richmond. Fun little FEC and definitely worth a couple of hours to grab those credits. Both Wildcat and Wild West Express kind of surprised me by how good they were. They'll also let you ride the kiddie coaster if you're into padding your credits.

[AmyUD06]

So, unfortunately, my big trip to the southeast is cancelled due to a variety of factors:  impending weather, financial constraints, and the general state of parks this year.  I'm going to try to get down to SFoG and SFStL independently, to make the most of my SF pass, but nothing set in stone yet.