3 Hours at Michigan's Adventure (Perks list)

I went to my favorite campground on Saturday night, and stayed way too late, and ended up crashing in a friends tent. Sundays, are usually the day that everyone packs up early and leaves, so since my friend was packing up to go home, at around 9:30, I had to find something to do. I didn't want to hang around Saugatuck until 4 for tea dance, so I decided to go to Michigan's Adventure AGAIN!!

I did a little shoe shopping in Holland, but could not find anything in my shoe size that I liked, so I drove straight to the park, arriving just after 1:00. The lot was the fullest I have seen it on my 3 trips this year, but, only out as far as ST's Helix. So not bad.Lines looked pretty long when I went into the park. Corkscrew, Mad mouse, Loggers Run, and the Wildcat all full queues. As did the Sea Dragon, (which is very rare) So, I went to Shivering Timbers first, and the wait was only about 15 minutes. With a crazy ride operator, whom I think is practicing his cartoon voices. He did any thing from a mile a minute auctioneer, to I think a little Hebert from Family guy. So, some entertainment. I was also surprised by the number of people with fast lane. Which I will comment on, as their handling of it is not very efficient.But I rode a lot in the 3 hours I was there:

Shivering Timbers: 3 rides.

Thunderhawk: (no wait 2 trains running) 3 rides.

Scrambler: 1 ride.

Flying Trapeeze: 1 ride.

Corkcrew: 1 ride, with the longest wait, of about 25 minutes.

Lakeside Gliders: 1 ride, 15 minute wait.

They now have someone at the station turn style of the coasters, who watches the fast lane entrance like a hawk, and when there is someone waiting there, they block the regular line, to allow the fast lane folks in. But, once these people are allowed in the station, they can never make up their minds where they want to sit. Which makes the station load time take longer, and causing trains to leave the station with empty seats, when there is a line of people waiting to ride.

On Shivering Timbers, the girl who was manning the queue, would hold people back too long between rides, making it take longer than necessary. They were doing the same thing at Thunder Hawk, and at one point, the girl blocked the queue, and left the station house empty, with a line of people still waiting to ride. Seems kind of stupid to me, but since the lines weren't horrible. I guess it wasn't to bad.

Really don't need to talk too much about my visit, as it was pretty much the same old same old. Though I did not ride, Loggers Run, Mad mouse, or the Wildcat, because they had full queues the whole time I was there. Wanted to ride Sea Dragon, but it broke down. I would have spent some time at the water park, but, didn't bring my regular suit. Don't thing the families would appreciate my spandex trunks. They are just very form fitting. :)

Season Pass holder Perks:

wagon wheel Pizza: get $2.00 off a whole pizza

Ice Cream: Buy a waffle cone get free sprinkles...LOL!!

Coasters: Free 20oz. drink with purchase of burger and fries.

Family Grill: Save $2.00 off adult all you can eat meal

Corner Store or Wildwater Outfitters: 10% on purcahses of $25.00 or more.

Mini Golf: Buy 1 get 1 free.

Thunder Hawk Photo: Purchase 1 on-ride photo. Get $5.00 off a t-shirt.

Snoopy Botique: Spend $25.00 get $5.00 off a plush toy (has to be Peanuts toy)

$2.00 off on ride photos at Zach's Zoomer, Logger's Run, and Shivering Timbers.

Anitque Photo: Get $5.00 off one photo.

The most lame: $5.00 off on a rip cord flight. But it has to be before 1 p.m. And the ride may not open until noon. Which only gives you 1 hour to use it. Then it's no good.

Hope you found the perks stuff useful. It was a very nice sunny day. Could have stayed longer, but decided I was satisfied with my visit. Though it was pretty busy. The water park looked packed. I saw the line for Funnel of fear. Probably 2 hours. Also, Grand Rapids had a decent sized line as well. But, it wasn't really that warm, and there was a very nice breeze. Would have froze my butt off!!

Cool. Thanks for the list.

You wear wooden shoes?

When in Holland...

Hey RCMAC. I do not wear wooden shoes. At least not anymore! LOL!!

Seriously, My mom has a pair of wooden shoes that she bought for me when I was a toddler, they are very tiny. My mom also has a pair of painted wooden shoes, and collects those ceramic windmills. My Dad purchased a wooden shoe sail boat. I believe my mom also has a pair of ceramic shoes, and other Holland-ish merchandise. Like those collectable spoons, and wooden shoe key chains. Stuff that was all back in the 60's and 70's.

Our family would also spend the day in Holland, a few times a year. The Wooden Shoe factory was one of my dads favorite places to visit. Because he was heavy involved in making and selling wooden figures and toys, and we had quite a wood shop in our basement. He also made grandfather clocks, and was a skilled carpenter. I think he even made a couple pairs of his own wooden shoes, but couldn't sell them as shoes, so turned them all into sail boats. We also spent lots of time at Dutch Village.

Back in the 70's Holland was a more relaxed tourist area, now it's a built up mess. With a half empty Outlet mall right on Dutch Villages door step. One reason why the city of Saugatuck has kept it's charm, by keeping the big box stores, and fast food chains out of the city. And, why so many billionaires are buying up land there.

But, I'm guessing in the next decade, Holland will be right at Saugatuck's door, and with South Haven slowly creeping northward, it will eventually seem like one city. Holland also has some fun touristy spots. The beach, is the big draw, but they also have a decent Craigs Cruisers (though pricey) and a cute mini-golf place just south of the main drag, and less than a mile from Walmart. The mini golf place is at the next exit north of Craigs Cruisers, off northbound 31.

Is it wrong that the part about the form fitting spandex trunks kind of turned me on a little? ;)

Yes.

Was surprised to find there was no souvenir cup discount perk. Both KI and CP give you the cup for $9.99 with a Platinum Pass. MiAdv did not.

We did take advantage of the Family Grill All-You-Can-Eat deal and, for $9, it's gotta be one of the best food deals at any theme park.

You actually went to Michigan's Adventures? That surprises me for some reason. I'd love to see a trip report.

I think you just did, Tyler...

Lord Gonchar said:

Was surprised to find there was no souvenir cup discount perk.

I think Michigan's Adventure only allows discount refills in souvenir cups from last season.

...or from other parks.

Vater said:

I think Michigan's Adventure only allows discount refills in souvenir cups from last season.

I plan on taking our 2013 Cedar Point, Michigan's Adventure and Kings Island cups to BeastBuzz tomorrow and seeing which ones they'll fill.

There was a deal for the souvenir bottle, at the beginning of the season. It is no longer being offered. You just get the same deal everyone else gets. Refills for 99 cents. But, I noticed that a lot of guests were just refilling their mugs free at the grill, as the drink station is out of the cashiers view.

But, still, even 99 cents is a better deal than it used to be. They sell a butt load of them, and offering refills, leaves less of those bottles in the trash. Though it baffles me as to why anyone would buy one, and just throw it away. Though you do see them in the trash.

It was still free refills on the day of purchase and 99 cent refills after that.

But the cup itself is normally priced a $12.99. At CP and KI it's only $9.99 with a Platinum Pass. Michigan's Adventure didn't offert that deal.

And we filled it as we left the family grill as well.

LostKause said:

Is it wrong that the part about the form fitting spandex trunks kind of turned me on a little? ;)

Be nice to see some form fitting spandex trunks at any water park, instead of looking at oversized board shorts, and fat chicks who's bikini size looks like stretching a sequined flat tire over a buffalo! LOL!!

Also the endless sea of saggy bikini tops, makes me wanna barf. I also think if they are going to insist that the guys where shirts on the ride side of the park, they should insist that the women wear shirts too. I don't want to look at saggy bikini tops all day. Also noticed quite a few women in one piece bathing suits on the ride side of the park.

That's hardly fair. make them get dressed too.

Lord Gonchar said:

It was still free refills on the day of purchase and 99 cent refills after that.

But the cup itself is normally priced a $12.99. At CP and KI it's only $9.99 with a Platinum Pass. Michigan's Adventure didn't offert that deal.

And we filled it as we left the family grill as well.

There is another deal on those mugs, if you buy more than one. I think if you buy 2 it drops down to $11.00, if you buy three or more, then it's $9.99. Though I do recall on my first visit to the park this year, you could get a mug for $9.00 with your season pass, then the next time I went it was removed from the list.

Though the girl at guest services says the list changes mid season. But, that's not the first time I have been told about various policies at MA. As more services are offered there mid season, then in June, while some are scaled back. Though, I think MA is still working on it.

Lord Gonchar said:

Cool. Thanks for the list.

you're welcome.

Timber-Rider said:

I don't want to look at saggy bikini tops all day.

Speak for yourself :)

^^ I saw a very pregnant woman walking around in a bikini at Dorney Park by Hydra. That didn't gross me out, but the fact that she had a happy trail was pretty nasty.