USA roadtrip from the UK - seeking advice on parks

ApolloAndy:

I second Knoebel's

You're sixth!

I keep adding parks! Now at the point where I'm going to have to split this into two separate trips 🤣

So for next year sometime around May for when parks are open daily but the kiddos aren't out of school yet, this is the list as it stands. All these parks have things we want to do, and we'll add a couple of extra days in the Smokies to do the Nature things

Cedar Point
Kings Island
Holiday World
Dollywood
Carowinds

KI and HW are on route more or less from CP to Dollywood, and it's looking likely we'll fly into Charlotte, so with Carowinds right there (and their newly announced 100ft drop log flume) it would be rude not to

In 2028 we'll do the eastern seaboard

EchoVictor:

quantity, or quality?

That's a difficult one because quality is important, but if there's only one or two great rides and the rest are average then quality falls by the wayside as it's not worth the extra day.

For example, three weeks ago we went to Energylandia. 19 rollercoasters and a ton of flat rides. We allowed two days to do the park in full, and thanks to a combination of an exceptionally quiet day (longest queue was about 15 minutes) and a lot of the rides being stuff we wouldn't bother doing, we were done by closing time on day 1. Ended up going to Krakow Zoo on day two instead.

Give me good rollercoasters that won't bruise my brain or body, wet rides and dark rides with the occasional drop tower and I'm happy. If it's off the shelf, I've probably done it and won't bother again. Boomerangs and wild mouses for example.

I've been on the wooden wild mouse at Blackpool before it was demolished - being there when the old magics were written springs to mind, and the new steel mouse coasters just can't compare.

I was impressed with Phantasialand and Europa Park, the combo of rides, service and theming was fantastic. Parc Asterix, Toutatis is awesome and everything else is good. Was worth a single visit, would go again if they build something else amazing but not otherwise.

To get a bit of US-centric perspective,

SFMM - a fun amusement park, plenty of rides and was worth the visit, but nothing gave me the wow factor there. We were staying 5 minutes up the road and a flash sale on season passes meant it was a cheap quick visit on multiple occasions when we were in LA for two weeks.

BGT - Iron Gwazi is something else, and backed up with a handful of good other rides it's worth a visit every time we're in Florida.

SeaWorld Florida - some decent rides and worth a trip, even if the step between rides and what's left of the animals is a distinct separation while being on top of each other. Mako and Manta are great, along with Infinity Falls.

Disney and Universal exist in their own pockets of course. We love Disneyland Paris for the Disney of it all, plus their version of Tower of Terror is the best in the world in our opinion.

Barry Wellington:

Cedar Point
Kings Island
Holiday World
Dollywood
Carowinds

That's a nice line-up you've chosen there. All what I would consider good quality AND quantity destinations.
- Good variety of top-rated steel with Fury, SV, TT2, and DiamondBack, as well as some phenomenal woodies with Voyage, Mystic Timbers, Lightning Rod and the Beast. You'll literally hit my #1 in both categories (Fury and Voyage).
- Make sure to bring your swimming gear, as Holiday World's waterpark is top notch and worth some time.
- Try a bit of each park's signature food items, like Dollywood's cinnamon bread, or KI's blue ice cream.

Barry Wellington:
All these parks have things we want to do, and we'll add a couple of extra days in the Smokies to do the Nature things

Near the Smokies, I'd highly recommend a run over to the Kuwohi Observation Tower just south of Gatlinburg, TN (https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/kuwohi-nfg.htm). It's the tallest point in the Smokies and offers some amazing views.

If you have time on your way back to Charlotte from CP, you'll get very near another cool park in West Virginia, the New River Gorge Bridge (https://www.nps.gov/neri/index.htm). The bridge itself has been in a ton of movies, and you can drive down one side of the canyon and up the other. Definitely worth an hour or two stop.

Sounds like a fun week+!

Later,
EV

Barry Wellington:

Give me good rollercoasters that won't bruise my brain or body,

Skip Holiday World then *ducks*

Barry Wellington:
I was impressed with Phantasialand and Europa Park

I'd set your expectations a touch for your visit. The parks on your updated list are great but none are in the same league as Phantasialand. I think Kings Island and Dollywood may get close to Europa Park in a lot of ways but the operations at EP are unmatched. I think the coasters at all of the parks are better than what EP has to offer though. You're going to enjoy it.

Barry Wellington:

If it's off the shelf, I've probably done it and won't bother again.

All the more reason to add Knoebels. Off-the-shelf barely exists there. Plus, it's on the way.

Vater isn't kidding about nothing off the shelf about Knoebels. I highly recommend as well.

eightdotthree:

I'd set your expectations a touch for your visit. The parks on your updated list are great but none are in the same league as Phantasialand.

We're fully aware on that - I see them as amusement parks rather than fully immersive theme parks. I'm used to the terrible ops at SeaWorld so anything's an improvement over that, nothing can compare to EP from that standpoint (although Energylandia was superb on the ops front).

We go for fun rather than theming (although decent theming always adds to the experience)

eightdotthree:
Skip Holiday World then *ducks*

The wife wants to do it for the novelty, she's nutso about christmas. It'll be a novelty to have free parking and free drinks too, a refreshing change (pun intended)

Barry Wellington:

sometime around May for when parks are open daily but the kiddos aren't out of school yet

I would not count on Carowinds' new flume at that time of year.

Don't miss all the mountain coasters when you're in the Smokies. The one at Goats On The Roof was my favorite, but there are a bunch of good ones.

Barry Wellington:

she's nutso about christmas

As long as you're not expecting a theme park. More like themed names and different shades of brown paint. It has its charm and the water park and woodies are well regarded. People love it so I hesitate to **** on it too much.

Holiday World hosts some of the best maintained, wildest wooden coasters in the world and the best duo of water coasters. It’s very home spun and a nice change from the big cooperate parks.

I 67nd Knoebels. If the concept of personalized heaven is real, I hope that when I die, I just find myself at Knoebels.

Another thing to factor into planning is Fast Lane, or the like. For example, I would not suggest a once in a lifetime trip to CP, KI, or any SF park without Fastlane. CP and KI because of sheer volume, SF because of piss poor operations. (As a CP local I would say do not even attempt CP without FL) This can add up quickly for a family especially over multiple parks. Something to consider.

With him going to so many SF parks he should buy a Season Pass, potentially with FL, meals, drinks (depending if he is spending 2+ days at KI and CP) when they go on sale in September. I mean it was $1300ish last year for everything, 5 days is $260 a day which considering its meals, drinks, parking, Fastlane, admission, and a merch discount is hard to pass up. Throw in a few more nearby parks (SFGAm, KD) it gets even more affordable.

eightdotthree:

I think the coasters at all of the parks are better than what EP has to offer though.

Ahem, Voltron Nevera would like a word with you out back, sir.... :P

Later,
EV