Theme park/roller coaster thread

[the fop]

Lost my Oakleys on the Raptor the year it opened. Still hold a grudge.

 

[kokane_muthashed]

I went to Cedar Point ages ago. I loved it. It truly is Roller Coaster Heaven. It was kinda rainy that day so the crowd wasn't that bad. I must have ridden the Raptor 15 times. Couple of weeks ago, I saw video on their new Dragster coaster. That thing may be too much for me.



Just looking at the pictures online, I want to go again!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bob Cook]

I went to Cedar Point ages ago. I loved it. It truly is Roller Coaster Heaven. It was kinda rainy that day so the crowd wasn't that bad. I must have ridden the Raptor 15 times. Couple of weeks ago, I saw video on their new Dragster coaster. That thing may be too much for me.



Just looking at the pictures online, I want to go again!!!!!!!!!

The thing about TTD is that it all happens so fast, there's no time to be scared. Well, there is in the long line and the minutes your train is rumbling (courtesy of sound effects) at the start, waiting for the christmas tree lights to go to green.

 

[Batman]

Lost my Oakleys on the Raptor the year it opened. Still hold a grudge.

I worked on a coaster at Six Flags one summer when I was in college. I think I ended up with two pairs of Oakleys (as well as several hundred dollars in change). I wonder if, the days I wore them, someone was out there wondering if those Oakleys were theirs?

 

[kokane_muthashed]

When I went to CP, Millenium Force was the newest ride - not even a year old. It was definitely the big dog. It was awesome, no doubt, but I didn't feel like the wait in line was worth it.

 

[Bob Cook]

Also, for you F1 fans, there's a Ferrari-themed park going up in Abu Dhabi, and an F1-theme park in Dubai. And they're building a theme park at Nurburgring, including a coaster that starts at the track start/finish line, and goes from zero to 135 in two seconds. It goes alongside the track, and circles back to the start. But no drops or loops. Just straight speed.

 

[mustangj17]

Toronto SportsJournalists.com types of a certain vintage will remember the legendary Flyer and Wild Mouse at the Ex. Accidents waiting to happen, those things.

Haven't ridden many coasters in the last 20 years or so (don't go to amusement parks unless I'm with eight-year-old Huggy Jr. who won't go on them), but I'll always have a soft spot for the Python at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Space Mountain and the Dragon Fire and Mighty Canadian Minebuster at Canada's Wonderland.

Riverview had a Wild Mouse, as well. Tracks extended over the Chicago River.
Good times.

Busch Gardens had a Wild Mouse too, but I was like 8 and don't remember any of the other coasters, or that in 10 years I would love Busch beer.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

I'm only 6-feet tall, but I rode one at Six Flags STL, the Superman ride, that felt like it nearly broke my back because the over-the-shoulders harness came down too tight and forced me to bend forward at the belly. It's one of those rides that shoots you straight up in the air fast and I really thought I was going to break my back.

I could tell when they buckled me in that it would be a problem, but the ride operator said she couldn't help -- I could either quit bitchin' or get off. I rode. I shouldn't have.

 

[Wenders]

Worlds of Fun in KC has changed some since I last visited, but the Timber Wolf is still fantastic. It'll beat the **** out of you, but it's great, as is Mamba, the big steel coaster.

Been on the TimberWolf. I would recommend to not go on this thing on the day I did, which was a day where it did nothing but rain. That's a chiropractor appointment WAITING to happen.

I've been on the Mamba twice (and, funnily enough, I had to be dragged on both times kicking and screaming and the whole way up the first incline, I was cussing everyone out who convinced me to go on that thing) and it's definitely worth the ride for roller-coaster people. It's fun, even for someone like me, who likes to remain firmly attached to her seat at all times.

Also, if you make it to WoF and you like water rides, the Fury of the Nile is a MUST.

I've also been to Six Flags St. Louis (it's probably sad that I lived in Texas for 12 years and never made it to any of the Six Flags THERE...) and I rode the Boss a few years back. It was a lot of fun. Slightly tamer than the Mamba but still a good ride, nonetheless.

 

[bostonbred]

Not a theme park with coasters, but I'm headed to Water Country in Portsmouth, NH with 60 first and second graders today. Yippee!

 

[Bob Cook]

I will throw in the Pittsburgh SJ recommendation of Kennywood. It's much cheaper than most places like those run by Six Flags and has some great coasters, especially the Thunderbolt, Racer and Phantom's Revenge. Phantom's Revenge's older brother, the Steel Phantom, was the fastest coaster in the world for a short time but the new version is better because it's smoother and doesn't leave you with headaches afterward.

The Sunday I was at CP, I saw a LOT of people with Kennywood T-shirts. However, those presumed Pittsburghers were outnumbered by those wearing Steelers jerseys. Is it just me, or are Steelers fans the ones most likely to wear their team's jerseys everyone, from amusement parks to weddings?

 

[expendable]

I will throw in the Pittsburgh SJ recommendation of Kennywood. It's much cheaper than most places like those run by Six Flags and has some great coasters, especially the Thunderbolt, Racer and Phantom's Revenge. Phantom's Revenge's older brother, the Steel Phantom, was the fastest coaster in the world for a short time but the new version is better because it's smoother and doesn't leave you with headaches afterward.

The Sunday I was at CP, I saw a LOT of people with Kennywood T-shirts. However, those presumed Pittsburghers were outnumbered by those wearing Steelers jerseys. Is it just me, or are Steelers fans the ones most likely to wear their team's jerseys everyone, from amusement parks to weddings?

I just think they have a different definition of "Sunday dress".