2008 season

I would like to hit some parks "down under" but I'm not sure if we'll get out of Kiwi country on our upcoming trip. If nothing else, we'll go to Rainbow's End.

Besides that, probably the Dell's, Indiana Beach, SFStl, and Lagoon since we missed it last season. I don't really make plans until the last minute, so it could all change for better or worse.

This spring for the first time I will be spending all of my hard earned money on my very first vehicle. I'm so excited, that I tried dumping warm water on the snow up here so it will melt faster, I cant figure out why its not working.

I am seriously considering a round trip Cedar Point, Paramount Kings Island, and Dorney Park. If I can find another park or get suggestions for visiting a different park becauase of better quality, then I will probably stick to Dorney. I have never experienced a floorless coaster before.

Other then the above, I will be visiting my home park all summer. Paramount Canadas Wonderland, And I cant wait for Behemoth to get up and running.

^If you never experienced a floorless coaster before, then Hydra would not be my first recommendation by a long shot. It suffers from the unfortunate "B&M bumpiness" that was present in some of the newer B&M's. It's also not that exciting in my opinion.

It you want to experience your first (or second) floorless coaster, why not head a little bit more East and go with the first and one of the best-- "Medusa" at Great Adventure?

Or, if you could travel a more southerly route and ride Dominator at King's Dominion--also a phenomenal floorless coaster (yes, it would've been more convenient to have ridden it in Aurora, OH on your trip, but as my old boss would say "Those days are over."). Head another hour southeast or so, and you could pick-up another floorless credit in Griffon.

I realize the goal is getting you back to Ontario so some of those recommendations might not make sense, and and you're looking at eight-hours or more to any of those destinations anyway (including Dorney) after King's Island. I hope you have someone to go with, because eight-hours or more is a long time to be driving by yourself if you've never done it before. *** Edited 12/8/2007 5:46:57 AM UTC by Intamin Fan***

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CoasterDiscern said:
I am seriously considering a round trip Cedar Point, Kings Island, and Dorney Park. If I can find another park or get suggestions for visiting a different park becauase of better quality, then I will probably stick to Dorney. I have never experienced a floorless coaster before.
Other then the above, I will be visiting my home park all summer. Canadas Wonderland, And I cant wait for Behemoth to get up and running.

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Fixed. Sorry, pet peeve of mine...Paramount is gone. ;) Thaaaank goodness

It will take you more than one day to ride the coasters at CP. Kings Island will pleasantly suprise a first timer while it disappoints those that are familiar with the park. Very big and beatiful and would be great if that 2009 hyper rumor comes true. You will only need a day at DOrney but you will enjoy it. I would try to make a trip to Hershey if possible. If you can only visit three i would replace Dorney with Hershey.

Well I just got my CP season pass so it will be a summer of CP for me!!

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CoasterDiscern said:I am seriously considering a round trip Cedar Point, Paramount Kings Island, and Dorney Park. If I can find another park or get suggestions for visiting a different park becauase of better quality, then I will probably stick to Dorney. I have never experienced a floorless coaster before.

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Hydra isn't a bad ride, but the fact that it's floorless really didn't add anything to the thrill factor for me. It must be the OTSRs. There's no feeling like you're going to come out, even on the super-low-speed roll. The new train configuration that really wowed me was Nitro at GAdv. It's not floorless, but it might as well be because it doesn't have OTSRs, just a unique lap restraint, and it doesn't have sides on the train. You really do feel like you should be better restrained. The first time I took my hands off of it, I involuntarily wrapped my legs around it.

If you would go to Hershey instead of Dorney, you would get to experience a fine launched coaster and a nice wooden racer, but chances are you would also experience much longer wait times than at Dorney, and that's not good when combined with the higher admission price.

^The floorless effect really only works in one place--the front seat. That's where the distance between your feet and the track looks way too small.

I agree about Nitro's feeling of vulnerability, and I had ridden Apollo's Chariot multiple times before (going back to my first ride on AC though, I think I did grab the "clam-shell" lapbar in the pre-drop).

I think what makes Nitro somewhat unique in that regard is that first sharp-left-turn following the first drop, particularly if you're sitting all the way on the left side. It kind of feels like you're going to be dumped out of the train.

In 06', I rode Raging Bull, and I don't remember feeling as vulnerable.

I wanted Nitro to be good so bad since I live near SFGAD but I was very disappointed. After visiting CP and riding MF I simply do not think Nitro is that fun. I guess they are just in two different leagues.

^Let Nitro grow on you. You might be converted like many of us have! Get it manofthe church? Okay, I make some really bad jokes sometimes.

The last few times I've ridden Nitro, I've been blown away (bad pun). Of course, it helps I was sitting in the front seat most of the time as well. I also found that Nitro significantly benefits from a nighttime ride.

If you want to have an eye-opening experience, go a few hours North and ride S:ROS at SFNE, and then compare your experience to Millennium Force. While I love both, S:ROS is just outright way out of control, where MF feels more under control.

S:ROS to me is the perfect combination of elements--high speed, extreme airtime, multiple changes of direction (usually involving the airtime), two tunnels and a killer layout. It leaves you exhausted.

How tall is S:ROS?

208 ft according to rcdb.

Thanks for the input guys. I am absolutely a fan of B&M inverts, a have one single raptor credit with no others. My first experience was amazing, and loved every second. I think this is why I am so pumped up about Behemoth. I have never been on a B&M hyper ever, and the closest thing to it for me is a bunch of trips on Superman ROS at SFDL, and (again) one single ride credit for Millie. Now all that being said, I was really looking forward to Talon an Dorney, but I also remember someone talking about the intensity of Great Bear @ hershey and how relentless the ride is without letting up. Also, I understand alot of you guys are fans of ST Runner, and there again I have no launch credit. I must also point out that I appreciate the concern from others who consider the long drive for me when traveling far distances. I really am trying to set up a round trip that will be a WOW statement when I return. I figure that Kings Island is a great way to hit up hardcore woodies and my first flyer. Well tomb raider at CW, but that doesn't count. Cedar Point for many different reasons, but I'm also trying to figure out what other rides will fill in the gaps that Kings Island and Cedar Point are not home to. This is what brought me to floorless, and the floorless doesn't do anything for some poeple, and it might not for me either never know. I also wonder about Son of Beast, I hear so many Pro's and Con's about the coaster, I'm not sure what to think. All in all this is good. I cant think of a better way to organize a round trip then chatting it up with a bunch of crazy coaster lovers and head of the enthusiast chain on coasterbuzz. Hmmmmmmm...........so much to decide.

Knoebels; Finally get to ride Flying Turns

Hershey; Is it getting hot in here.

Dorney; Looks like I'm spellbound

Waldamere, Another GG top ten coaster already.

SFSTL; I just might get a Corporate Pass next summer.

Beech Bend; Always have to ride the #1 woodie in the states.

Busch Gardens: The Old Country; I'm fed up with all the name changes, so I'm going back to the original.

CoasterDiscern, Great Bear unfortunately does let up near the end--and that is in no way knocking it--it's just stating the obvious that another element would've fully completed the ride, and it didn't happen (I believe due to Hershey who at the time wasn't so into hardcore coasters).

Do I ride it every time I go? Always. It has one of the craziest pre-drops of any ride out there, then there'll be the new-to-you Immelan element, and the fly-by behind Super Dooper Looper is wild.

In comparison to GB, Talon never lets up. It's one element right after another. The only thing missing? The B&M roar due to sound-dampening materials. It's so quiet that you can go up to a fence right next to the one helix and feel the wind come off your face, and barely hear the coaster make a sound.

The two parks are only about an hour-1/2 roughly from each other, so why not try both if you have the time? This is where us East Coast people start throwing in "Hey, while you're at it, it's only another hour-1/2 roughly to Knoebels from HP or DP," and it would have you heading North back home:)

Dorney is an easy park to knock-out if you don't partake in Wild Water Kingdom and don't feel the need to get on any flats.