Bell's/Joyland Advice

I'm going to Bell's and Joyland (Wichita) soon and was wondering if I'm crazy for thinking I can do both in a day since they're about 3 hours apart. Has anyone tried this? If you had to choose one to spend a little more time at which one would it be? Also, which one would you say has better nighttime atmosphere? Are Zingo or Roller Coaster lit up at night with tracers? Any advice on what I should not miss (you know the little things/details besides the rides) would be great.

Also, has anyone tried out All Star Adventures in Wichita or the Kiddie Park in Bartlesville? How are they? I might stop at those to credit ho.

*** Edited 6/7/2006 3:49:55 AM UTC by thrillerman1***

Ummm, check with Bell's before making any plans...they got some serious tornado damage... :(

Here I have a news article of what happened at Bells

Click here for link

I would not go to Bells unless you are going a 1 to 2 months from now.

Uh ohh...I guess that might answer my question about which park to spend more time at lol. Well the trip isn't until July 4th weekend, so hopefully by then at least Zingo will be operational.

The Farris (sp?) Wheel looks like it got crushed!:)

I did Joyland and Frontier City(Oklahoma City) in one day during one of my coaster trips and my other trips SFA and Herseypark, Funtime and LC, SFOG and Visionland many more 2 or 3 parks in one day.

THRILLERMAN - make sure to check both park's operating hours. Bells is usually only open evenings and it seems Joyland might be as well.

Also, I spoke to Joyland today and despite what their website says I was told the coaster's Grand Re-Opening is now June 23.

But neither park should take you more than 2 hours.

I really appreciate it when someone makes an effort to patronize the small traditional parks. These parks are part of our legacy and history and are precious gems that once lost are gone forever. They also are more inclined to value visitors for more than their money. I do hope that both parks will come back and do well in the future.

Meanwhile, I ought to do the same thing sometime and get to Conneaut Lake Park. This is one of these parks that is fairly close to me. Like Bells and Joyland, it has a historic wooden coaster that we all don't want to lose.

Amen, AB! Keep on preaching the good word ;)

While you're at it, please visit the Iowa parks! Help Adventureland raise money for a new woodie! :)

Edit: typo *** Edited 6/7/2006 1:46:37 PM UTC by Acoustic Viscosity***

AV I think you might be taking the Adventureland thing a bit too far and too much as fact.

I said they've expressed interest (Which they have) but nobody knows for certain what or when they will do something.

Chuck

Just trying to be optimistic. You're not the only one I've heard it from, Chuck. :)

It's now 10 years since Adventureland has opened a new coaster. I'd say the time is right.

Bells will also close on moments notice "due to weather." Even if it does not actually rain, they will close "due to weather" based upon a chance of rain. CALL AHEAD! It is true they are an evening only park during the week. In terms of atmosphere...my opinion is that Bells wins this hands down. Of course my Joyland trip was 5 or so years ago. Joyland felt more like a county fair. The coaster was good though...but I still give Zingo the edge! Interesting that I think this way since Bells is the park in the fairgrounds...?

Spinny Gerstlauer/Maurer?

I know Matt wants more wood for selfish reasons, and *I* am obviously in no position to judge since Cheetah is the only wooden coaster less than 2 hours away...and even *with* Gwazi there's nothing less than 5 hours' away...

But, ummm, last I checked, Adventureland has one of the highest wood/steel ratios anywhere...(HW and Silverwood being notable exceptions).

edit: Zingo! sure LOOKED like fun...from outside the gates. A phone call WOULD have saved us enough time to get the Arrow shuttle at FC....but we wanted OUT of there, the place was MUCH more suited to the old SF ownership...if ya get my *drift*... ;)
*** Edited 6/7/2006 2:13:57 PM UTC by rollergator***

I wouldn't mind having a good spinner like WoF's, BUT a park can get a much better woodie for less money and despite Adventueland already having two woodies (three technically), neither is a fantastic ride. They are both very much on the family side. I can't tell you how often I hear locals (adults) complain that the park doesn't have any "good" coasters. They have the young family market tapped, but they are really missing out on the teenager/adult crowd who'd rather go to Worlds of Fun or the nearest Six Flags, which is about a six hour drive from Des Moines.

One fantastic woodie could do wonders for the park. Although quite fun, I don't think a spinning coaster is going to change the park's perception of being non-thrilling. And even the GP knows a great woodie when they ride one. Look at IB, HW and Silverwood. *** Edited 6/7/2006 4:39:10 PM UTC by Acoustic Viscosity***

^ Outlaw, Tornado, Underground...

*You* know which one doesn't count.....*I* don't....well, not yet. Which one, and why?

bill, really LIKED the looks of Bell's proposed coaster, wondering if that's changing, and if so, how much...

The GP *does* know good wood, for the most part...then again, I've seen hour-long lines for Psucklone....but at SFGAm (where there's good wood *and* meh wood), for instance, Viper lines generally seem to be more than double those for AE...

*MY* advice, esp. for smaller parks: Build good wood, then MAINTAIN it like your park's life depends on it...'cause it does.

Oops. No, Bill. All three count, just that one of them is about as much a "traditional" woodie as Flying Turns is. I doubt that much of the GP are aware that The Underground is made of wood.

When it comes to parks with good wood that know how to take care of it, you have to mention those two Pennsylvania parks, Kennywood and Knoebels.

Regarding Wonderland, they might watch closely to see what happens at Waldameer. This park has a woody but it is just a little one. Now they are planning to build a new one within the next two years. The proposed $6 million cost is almost as much as the cost of Boulder Dash and Voyage. If Waldameer and Beech Bend get the expected attendance boost from their new coasters then I would expect a rash of new coaster projects from other small traditional parks that either lack a wooden coaster or want a bigger one.

You probably could do both parks easily on a weekend. Provided you open at one then close the other.

Zingo at Bell's closes at 9:00pm (the park is usually open until 11:30pm or 12:00am) because of court order. So make sure you get there before 9.

Also, go to Bell's during early evening hours for the most enjoyable time. Much later the park becomes a "hang out" for unsupervised kids.