8/24/02 - PKI first time in a long time ...

The last time I was at this park, was at least 4 or 5 years ago, so there was a lot new and a lot to do this time. But, the lines were amazing - 2 hours for almost every major ride and unfortunately, one of hte reasons I went there, Drop Zone, was closed, more on that ride to come. First off, the new rides that I did...

Face Off (9/10) - I think boomerangs are a lot of fun, and the Invertigo just takes that to a whole new level! The inverted chairs make this almost a totall different ride and I love the Gs all through this ride. Really impressed me as I wasn't expecting more than the standard boomerang!

Outer Limits: Flight of Fear (9/10) - I didn't ride this last time I was in the park because of the huge line (at that time, it was the only one that was 2 hours - this day, 2 hours was the normal line for everything). So we rode this, my Dad was very reluctant but his opinion was drastically changed by the end of the ride. Once inside the building, the themeing blew me away. I'm a sucker for theming as it is, but a 10-minute loop movie that flows back into itself VERY well - I'm very impressed PKI! Great job with this one. The ride was amazing too, I had so much fun - up was down, left was right, no idea where I was going, it was great, although I can see how OTSRs would have made this ride awful, but with lap bars, its great!

Son of Beast (8/10) - Sonny wasn't everything I thought it'd be. It was a mind-blowing experience going that fast and that high on a wooden coaster to be sure, but the roughness!! I like roughness on a woodie and I don't like people that whine all the time about it, but this one really is so rough, I couldn't do it more than once in a day. And after the mid-course trims, it really wasn't anything to write home about. The loop was rather uninteresting and the last part of the ride just creeped over the crests of the hills. Not a bad ride at all, but not world-class.

Tomb Raider (7/10) - Not really a coaster, but a major attraction none the less. Once again, I'm a sucker for great themeing, so that is what got most of this ride its rating. I really don't like that kind of ride, whatever its actually called, but I didn't mind it so much when there was that much theming around it. The line was attrocious though, and not worth the wait for what it was. I'd wait an hour for that, but I ended up waiting 2:15 for something that wasn't a 2:15 ride.

Second, comments on the rides that I'd done before ...

The Vortex - still an awesome ride, the first ride that showed me how much fun loops can be! I loved this ride before and still do (even though those trims could be backed off a little ... )

The Beast (night ride) - well, the Beast is a good woodie, but has still yet to show me this "amazing" coaster that everyone claims it to be. Sure I had fun, but it just doesn't live up to the hype in my mind. I guess in reference to a recent thread, it was the coaster that I just don't "get".

And the rest of the park ...

This park is a wonderful place. The lines this day were attrocious, but the park still managed to handle them well. There was very little stacking on anything. The kids part is amazing (almost got my non-riding Mom to ride Reptar, but no-go) but I didn't dwell there long, just sort of a walk-through to say I saw it. Was disappointed that Drop Zone wasn't working but I swear, this ride cannot be 315 feet tall. First off, there is about 15 feet of structure on top of the chair. Second, the brakes take up more of the tower than KP's PittFall. Third, the "block" on top is more massive than PittFall's. Maybe its just the location, but I just do not believe that there is 315 feet of freefall on that tower. I'd give it 245 or 250, but nowhere near 315.

That's it for this TR. This week turned out awesome, 3 parks in 6 days (KP, HP, and PKI) and I couldn't ask for a better end to my summer! Back to school to continue to pursue being the Pitt Designer! Let's Go Pitt!

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1. Kumba 2. Millie 3. Mantis 4. Lightning Racer/Wildcat (Hershey) 5. Thunderbolt (KP)
"The key to a happy life is moderation" -- Jon Stewart

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See THE ULTIMATE in Orlando TR'S! Right now in the TR fourm!

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Women was god's second mistake.

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PittDesigner said:

Drop Zone wasn't working but I swear, this ride cannot be 315 feet tall.

The 315-foot figure comes from the top of the tower that sits on top. The seats reach a total height of 264 feet. While the brakes are much higher up than Pitfall, you have to remember that Drop Zone is taller, and has a HUGE ring of seats to stop as opposed to Pitfall. The ring of riders on Drop Zone don't stop suddenly at the first half of the brakes. The stop is gradual.

Too bad you didn't get to ride it as it is an incredible ride.

-Sean

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Glad you had a fun trip PD, and thanks for the TR! My longest wait ever for any ride was also at PKI and that was for Face-Off, so I can empathize...that park can get PACKED...unless Sonny has fallen off considerably since CBCon, be grateful you didn't catch it last year....ouchy!

I'd take Drop Zone 100 times out of 100 over Acrophobia...it's THAT good, and the height....scary! CoasterCon next year will feature PKD's new Intamin drop, even faster than DZ...and the brakes will kick in LATE...:):):)