So we ended up making the drive to Wildwood today, rolled into town just before 1pm and found a nice all-day parking spot at 26th and the Boardwalk for $7.
- The family 4-pack of wristbands for the rides-only was $150.
- Morey's doesn't do tickets anymore. They do a card that you put credits on and scan when you ride. Brilliant.
- You also scan your wristband to ride. No need for the op to visually confirm the wristband or it's validity. Double brilliant.
- Not a tree in sight all day, yet I had a ton of fun. Trees remain overrated at amusement parks.
- Lots of rides up and down all day. Still managed to get a ride or two on most everything we wanted, but we ran into the "this ride is temporarily closed" sign a few too many times.
- The new trains on Great Nor'Easter, while eliminating the head banging, can't make up for the fact that SLCs just ride rough and generally suck balls. In fact, without being bludgeoned the entire ride, you're free to realize how bad the ride itself actually is.
- Atmosfear is a lot of fun. I expected the standard crappy freefall. I was wrong. Neat idea to put a little theme and story to it. Great views add to the fun factor.
- Warning: No kite flying within 500 feet of the coaster!
- Great White is much worse than I remember it. Very rough ride.
- We spent the entire day (1pm until after 11pm) just on the piers and the boardwalk area between the piers. I really find the area entertaining - even if it is a cheesy, overpriced tourist trap.
- Speaking of which, enough with the 'too expensive' debates on the forums. Quit talking about it and go out an look at it firsthand. People are dropping a crapload of money on overpriced frivilous things. Lots of people. Lots of money. Lots of crap. It's happening. There's nothing to debate. I've been seeing it all week and Wildwood was the topper. It's not just me. There are countless other people like me - just having fun without the worries.
- You do realize how much guest data can be scraped from those scans everytime someone rides, right? Triple brilliant.
- The employees at Morey's were very, very nice for the most part. Well done.
- Mummy's Curse is the worst.
- We didn't do them, but Morey's various waterpark areas look very nice.
- I can't believe that more people don't get crapped on by birds.
- Watch the tram car, please! (I'll be hearing it in my sleep and I fully believe they'd run your ass over)
- A lot of repeat rides on the different piers. I think all three have a tilt-a-whirl. I also think the kids rode all three.
- Great Nor'Easter's lighting at night is pretty crazy. I liked it.
- Once the sun goes down and the lights start coming on, the piers are spectacular.
- I regret not buying myself the "Party Naked" shirt and my wife a pair of "Gonch's Bitch" booty shorts. (both readily available at no less than 10 places along that stretch of boardwalk)
- Bacon Cheesesteak is very good. (I'd have put FTW, but I didn't want to confuse anyone with my apparently cutting edge acronyms)
- We didn't go with the souvenir cup today because we found the coke machine spitting out cans for 50 cents at Mariner's Arcade where we also ended up amassing around 6000 points which we promptly traded for junk. Yay us!
- Speaking of the arcade, there's another place (not just this arcade - any of the arcades we hit this week) that spending more gets you more. Ever notice how you get 'bonus' credits for dropping more upfront? Like a dollar gets your four credits (or tokens or whatever), but a ten gets you something like 45 or 50 or some additional amount.
- On the subject of games, redemtions and prizes - it seems the piers/boardwalk have really found ways to stretch the demographic playing these games by adding things like Webkinz (younger female players) and Coach bags (moms) as prizes in many machines and even as prizes for more standard games in addition to the countless Wii, Xbox, PS3, iPod and other prizes.
- The Chamber of Checkers building smelled like pee.
- Zoom Phloom is something like 40 miles long. It's really one of the longest flumes I've come across. Luckily, it's also one of the coolest. Fun and good looking.
- I wish I had something better to end this on, but I don't.
coasterimage.com