A WILD Day

[ParkTrips]

I've been mulling over the idea of getting a season pass for Wild Adventures so I can visit it as well as Cypress Gardens. Well, I had a free day and decided to jet down to Valdosta to process my pass and get some rides in... after all, its been an entire MONTH since I last rode something.

 

I'll do this one in journal form since I think it fits best to see how my day went

 

5:00 AM - I just finished preparing my stuff to head to WA. I have my camera, my online voucher and that's about all. I usually go to bed around 3am. I planned on leaving around 5 to beat the rush hour traffic, so with such an interval I decided to just stay up all night.

5:15 AM - three miles from home, I realized I had forgotten my wallet. U-turn.

5:20 AM - a stop at the QT near the I-20 exit in Vila Rica. Fill up the tank, get a drink and brekfast sandwich.

5:30 AM - on I-20 heading east.

6:00 AM - finally get to see the Goliath helix in person, and boy is it big!

7:30 AM - stop in Macon, GA hoping to pick up a copy of the Atlanta Journal Constitution since it was supposed to have a photo of Goliath. No luck at this gas station.

8:something AM - ponder a wild idea

9:30 AM - arrive at the gates of Wild Adventures. I am the very first car in the parking lot.

9:45 AM - waiting to get into the park

 

 

10:00 AM - I entered the park. I wanted to do the mouse first due to capacity, but that wasnt much of an issue anyhow. Finding its entrance, however, was. I kept walking.

 

I saw the boomerang but it ended up being down for "off-season" work.

 

 

Kept on heading back, and liked this shot.

 

 

That's what it looks like when you build a park on a swamp. Anyways, on to Cheetah. I was the only person to ride, so I took the front row. The ride wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. Decent air here and there but it does jackhammer quite a bit.

 

 

From there, over to Hangman, the SLC. OH my goodness, it was smoooooth and FUN! Again, I rode alone in the front. The only thing that detracted from the ride to me (don't know for sure if its true since I'm not an SCL expert) is that it seemed to have even more uncomfortable restraints than the other two I have ridden. Almost like there was an extra pas somwehere.

 

 

I kept walking around and ended up riding Gold Rush, a kiddie coaster. A nice jolt of air at the end, and two laps, so it wasn't terribly pathetic...

 

I took a ride on their Screamin' Swing. I liked the location near the water even though it didn't come into play. The ride was fun but the cycle was weak. One full-sized swing

 

 

Decided to ride the Jr. SLC next... this one was glass smooth to me, unlike the Carowinds one which rocked a little. A decent little coaster.

 

 

Kept walking around... noticed one of the other kiddies was closed. I finally found the entrance to Bug Out, the mouse, so I rode. Typical mouse, my first Maurer.

 

 

Next to it was Ant Farm Express, another kiddie Vekoma with 2 laps. OK ride, nothing to special as expected.

 

 

10:55 AM - now with 6 coasters and one flat ride down, time to make a decision. Stay, get some rerides and maybe check out some of the other flats. Or two, play my wild idea. With no other flats interesting me and the guarantee that I can come back with a pass (on a day when everything is open), I decided to go with my wind idea.

 

11:00 AM - I exited Wild Adventures and hopped back in the car. Once I got to I-75, I went south.

 

12:45 PM - Stop in Gainesville Florida for lunch at Whataburger. It's pretty much a tradition at this point. Gainesville is busy since its the lunch hour.

 

 

2:30 PM - park my car in the parking lot at Magical Midway. Why am I here? For this:

 

 

That's right, I drove to Orlando just to ride a Funtime Star Flyer. I have been eagerly waiting for the chance to, and I can now say it was well worth the cost to ride and the extra little trip down there.

 

The ride is something else. The little chairs that swing fairly mildly as you go up, but at one point you really get going and tilted out, and the ride is a blast. Something I didn't know about the ride - it doesn't just go up and rotate, it goes up, down, up... and at a very fast pace. It can creat some awesome sensations. It reminded me A LOT of the feeling when you snap a flying scooter. OK for some more pics:

 

They made me pay $10 :-/

 

Though blurry, its the only photo I got of it operating. I took that on the way to the park, and its the only ride I saw run other than my own

 

 

 

What made the ride REALLY sweet was some wicked crosswinds...

 

3:00 PM - I was in Orlando, I had to do something! I thought of an idea, but wasn't sure if it would work. I recenlty bought a Busch season pass, so I wondered if I could go to Sea World and at least process it. Problem was that I *technically* bought it through BGT, and that I didn't have the whole confirmation letter with me since the whole Orlando thing was done on short notice. I decided to try anyhow.

 

3:30 PM - I arrived at Sea World after fighting traffic near the OCCC. No one was collecting parking. I went to the passport office and I was in luck, they COULD process me and they were open until 6! Looks like I may get some unexpected rides in!!

 

4:00 PM - I entered the line for Kraken. After about a 5 train wait for the back row, I got to ride. Kraken is an excellent roller coaster, probably tied with Top Gun as my favorite B&M looper. It's amazing how smooth (and quiet) the ride is, yet it is forceful too. Good air in the back, and I was able to take my re-ride privilage and rode again, this time, in the middle.

 

 

4:30 PM - over I go towards Journey to Atlantis, which was a walk on. I didn't know how wet I would be getting... boy was I in for a suprise, and best of all, I sat in the fron :rolleyes: JTA was themed well and had some neat parts. Honestly... the coaster portion was probably the lamest part of the ride, other than me being soaked without a towel

 

5:00 PM - lightning is seen and it starts to rain, and I decided it would be a good time to leave, since (again) I can and will comeback again.

 

6:15 PM - I finally got out of Orlando after fighting with horrid traffic.

 

8:00 PM - eat at a Steak and Shake in Ocala.

 

9:30 PM - tired, I decided to take a quick nap in Lake City

 

10:15 PM - I wake back up after getting just enough energy to continue. After all, this was my first time sleeping in 36 hours

 

3:00 AM - get off of I-20 in Vila Rica, visit the same QT I visited in the morning. Pick up the AJC I was looking for in Macon.

 

3:10 AM - finally, after 22 hours on the road and bopping around parks and attractions, I'm home again. I'm also still quiet excited and have the adrenaline going, which is why I am able to write this.

 

OK. Time for bed, thanks for reading.

[viking86]

Excellent trip report! Sounds like you had a blast. I rode the Starflyer in Prater park last summer and it was a fantastic ride. Best ride in the park in my opinion. I did not expect the up-down-up-down-up-down part either, it was awesome

[Erik Johnson]

Well thanks for visiting Gainesville again. That Starflyer does look insane, I saw it in operation coming home from Sea World last week. I am not sure if I can get up the nerve to ride that one...but again I am sure I will be dragged on it in the near future.

[Joe Cool]

Wow looks like you had a adventures day. Awesome pics!

[CoasterCrazy]

Awesome Photo TR!!!

 

It looks like you had a lot of fun!

[DATman]

Magic Mountain needs a starflyer!

 

 

 

Glad you had a blast!

[Hattuchili]

Man, looks like you had a perfext time! I think it must be really hard to start a coaster riding day in the middle of the night and be back home after 22 hours! Respect!

 

--Sören

[Slacking]

Wow, that Starflyer thing looks insane!

 

And about Bug Out's entrance, it too took me forever to find the entrance. No signs anywhere and its so not where you think the entrance should be. After not being able to find the entrance I gave up and came back later. It was my last coaster of the day...... and my 200th credit!

[ParkTrips]

Well thanks for visiting Gainesville again. That Starflyer does look insane, I saw it in operation coming home from Sea World last week. I am not sure if I can get up the nerve to ride that one...but again I am sure I will be dragged on it in the near future.

 

Well as long as Whatabruger is there I will stop every time I go to Florida. I found another one in Ocala but it was a ways off the interstate, and the convinience of the Gainesville one just can't be beat. One day I may try to find that silly burrito place that Larry told me about, but for know Whataburger is good

 

The ride isn't terrifyingly scary, but it does have its moments of fear.

 

Magic Mountain needs a starflyer!

Yea, I'd love to see more of them, but with such low capacity, I doubt many will be built in big parks. Unless, however, they may it an upcharge which would be fine by me

 

Thanks for all the comments guys, and Journey was my 149th credit so the next one is a 'milestone'. Hmmm.... Everest?

[larrygator]

Hey Joe - you are going to make a lot of enemies with that statement.

 

Burritos Brothers is not a silly burrito placehttp://www.burritobros.com

[CoasterJunkie]

There is a Whatburger here in Lakeland too...have yet to try it....not sure if its worth it...

[PhishyBrewer]

I had know idea there was a Star Flyer in the US.

 

Something new to look forward to. Thanks!

[Erik Johnson]

Dang it Wally, don't you look at my Photo TRs anymore? Though it is true I have not ridden it yet.

Why its the new Starflyer ride.

Donkey sees something really interesting in the background.

[ParkTrips]

Hey Joe - you are going to make a lot of enemies with that statement.

 

Burritos Brothers is not a silly burrito placehttp://www.burritobros.com

 

LOL I'm glad you read that

 

Junkie - for $6 you can get a meal. The burger alone is worth $6, they are some of the biggest and tastiest burgers around.