Belmont Park San Diego - worth a visit?

Hi,

Has anyone here been to Belmont Park and ridden the Giant Dipper? I'm only going to be in San Diego a few days, so it is worth the time to go out to Belmont Park? Also, I'm curious about the trains - do they have seatbelts?

Thanks!

Kar***

*** This post was edited by Kara on 7/8/2002. ***

I went to San Diego last year. We stopped by Belmont Park for about 20 minutes. Enough time for one ride on Giant Dipper and a look around the gift shop.

Just to see an old beachfront coaster was worth the drive from Lemon Grove, but if you're expecting an intense ride, don't bother.

-----------------
He let the contents of the bottle do the thinking; can't shake the devil's hand and say you're only kidding.

I'm of the belief that all parks are worth a visit. That is, of course, that visiting them doesn't interfere with something more important-funerals, weddings, etc.

But, I have an interest in quirky, old time parks. Adrenaline junkies may have different priorities.

I was there last year and enjoyed myself at the park. The Giant Dipper was a great ride not to mention one of a handful of Prior and Church coasters left in the world. Going up the lifthill is an experiance in itself. It doesn't sound like any other lift.

The park doesn't have any real thrill rides just the basics Carousel, Bumper Cars and a few others I'm forgetting. You also need to go in the one gift shop near the Giant Dipper where they have a big model of the Coaster.

I don't think you need to spend all day there but 2-3 hours would be a nice visit. Sea Wold is a very short drive away too.

-----------------

Belmont Park falls into the 'roadside attraction' class of parks. That is to say that an hour will probably be plenty. The Giant Dipper of course is the main draw and as it is one of the last remaining Prior&Church coasters it is important for many historical and nostalgia reasons, and it doesn't ride half bad either!

The Giant Dipper is currently running Morgan trains, no seatbelts, no headrests, just molded bucket seats and a very aggresive non-adjustable lapbar. The ride features a nice long twisty disorienting dark lift appoach tunnel, a very unique sounding lift hill, and a twisting first drop. The gift shop (where you buy tickets anyway) is quite nice with a model of the coaster and stuff, the rest of the rides are your classic fare, nothing extreme or new.

When I went last March, the Giant Dipper was $3.50/ride or $11.95 for the wristband which includes the coaster and all the other mechanical rides. The coaster usually opens at 11AM and closing times vary. Be advised that they do not run it in the rain, perhaps still having skid brakes is part of that.

-----------------
----
David Bowers
Mayor, Coasterville

Whoa. Nice user name!! Wondering if you were the one who got to it on GTTP before me...

-------------
Kara (car-uh)
780 Laps
367 in '02
BuzzCon Frequent Flyer
Proud Co-Founder of the CoasterBuzz Street Team

YES! Get the $11.95 wristband, jump on the Dipper, and ride and ride and ride ;-) Their Tilt-a-Whirl is [pretty good, too. If you can, try to arrange your visit for late in the afternoon and enjoy your rides as the sun sets over the ocean. Evenings and weekends are better as a full train offers a better ride with some slight pops of air.

-----------------
N.U.T.S. - National Union of Thrill Seekers! Be a member and tell everyone you're NUTS! [Brought to you by the maker of LoCoSuMo! NOTE: NUTS is not a real club; void where prohibited; your mileage may vary; where's the beef?]

The Dipper is great! I don't know why some people think it is lacking in thrills, I love it. It may not be as crazy as Phoenix, but it has its moments. The back seat may be the best, a bit brutal, but the best. It's (IMO) much better than the either of SFMM's woodies.

Prices have risen a bit. I was there on 6-28 and the prices were $4.00 for one ride on The Dipper and $13.95 (I think) for the all-day wristband. I had only time for one ride.

-------------
Nothing... NOTHING... can prepare you for... the Fourth Dimension!

The Giant Dipper is a lot of fun. It is certainly worth the trip in itself. But I didn't see anything else there worth riding.

By the way, the GD is the only ride I have been on that you get off the ride and exit into the parking lot. :)

For the record, The Belmont Giant Dipper is the sole remaining Prior & Church built coaster left. The Santa Cruz Giant Dipper was built from P&C plans by Arthur Looff, making it a close reletive.

What about the Dragon Coaster at Rye Playland, I thought Prior And Church built that one as well........

-----------------
----
David Bowers
Mayor, Coasterville

The beachside atmosphere alone makes it worth the stay. I'm a sucker for parks such as the two in Myrtle Beach, Morey's Piers etc. I hear the Big Dipper is good too...

-----------------
Formally Known as Ozzyhead.

I stay in San Diego (more specificaly Mission Bay 3 blocks from Belmont) for two weeks. No trip would be complete with a min. of 5 rides on the beautiful beach front coatster. But, as said in previous posts, it is NOT intense. You would have better chances driving for 2-3 hours up to KBF or SFMM if you want thrills. Nothing beats a beach front coaster, esepcially as beautiful as this one.

-----------------
Veck
Adrenaline Coaster Design - http://pumpingrct.topcities.com/

Ok, some minor corrections. The Belmont Giant Dipper IS the sole surviving Prior & Church built coaster. The Santa Cruz Giant Dipper was built with P & C patents by Arthur Looff. The Dragon Coaster at Rye Playland is a Fred Church designed coaster, not Prior & Church. It was done after the partnership was dissolved.