I heard from a friend (Coastin Steve) that Astroland was having a wristband special good for all the rides including unlimited rides on the Cyclone.
We were going to meet Steve in Jersey since I was scared to drive in the famed NYC traffic. Unfortunately our meeting place was messed up and I had to drive into the city myself with no direction or map with me. I drove into NYC on 278 and wasn't bad driving. About like I-95 in the DC area. We missed the turn we should have takes but after picking up a map at a gas station we found our way to Coney Island.
The first thing we saw as we neared the parks was the old Parachute tower. As we got closer we noticed the first coaster the Thunderbolt. At first I thoght it was the Cyclone but after taking a closer look at the trees and vines surounding it I knew it was the defunct Thunderbolt. We drove down Surf Avenue a bit more then saw the Wonder Wheel. Then lo and behold we aproched Surf Avenue and 10th. There it was the Cyclone! We then went and parked at the Aquarium parking lot next to the Cyclone. $15.75 parking! It did include one admission to the aquaruim but we weren't there to see fish. We made our way to the street. Most of the shops weren't open yet they all had the pull down gates with grafiti closed. I was actually amazed that the queues were grafiti free. It's nothing compared to the grafiti at the average park.
We made our way to the ticket boot and got our wristbands $8.50 each good from noon till 4pm with unlimited Cyclone rides. Normally the wristbands are good for 5 Cyclone rides but this was an unanounced coaster event open to everyone. Shortly the Cyclone opened and we took our first ride.
These cars are the most unique i've ever seen. They are 4 bench cars with no seat dividers. Every seat is different some with 2 people are a tight fit while others have room. Some have no leg room while others have plenty. Even the lap bars ar unlike any I've seen. The ride o 瀀甀猀栀攀猀 琀栀攀洀 搀漀眀渀 琀栀攀渀 瀀爀攀猀猀攀猀 愀 昀漀漀琀 瀀攀搀愀氀 漀渀 琀栀攀 猀椀搀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 挀愀爀 眀栀椀挀栀 瀀漀瀀猀 愀 瀀椀渀 甀瀀 琀漀 氀漀挀欀 琀栀攀洀 椀渀 瀀氀愀挀攀⸀ 䤀琀✀猀 猀琀椀氀氀 猀琀漀瀀瀀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 戀椀最 氀攀瘀攀爀 愀渀搀 爀攀氀攀愀猀攀搀 琀栀攀 猀愀洀攀 眀愀礀⸀ 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀 圀攀 栀漀瀀瀀攀搀 椀渀 琀栀攀 昀椀爀猀琀 挀愀爀 猀漀洀攀瀀氀愀挀攀⸀ 圀攀 洀愀搀攀 琀栀攀 琀甀爀渀愀爀漀甀渀搀 琀栀攀渀 甀瀀 琀栀攀 氀椀昀琀 眀攀 眀攀渀琀⸀ 吀栀攀 爀漀氀氀 戀愀挀欀 爀愀琀挀栀攀琀猀 愀爀攀 攀瘀攀渀 椀渀 愀 猀琀爀愀渀最攀 瀀氀愀挀攀 渀攀砀琀 琀漀 琀栀攀 爀甀渀渀椀渀最 爀愀椀氀 漀渀 琀栀攀 氀攀昀琀⸀ 吀栀攀 昀椀爀猀琀 搀爀漀瀀 眀愀猀 最漀漀搀 戀甀琀 渀漀琀栀椀渀最 猀瀀攀挀椀愀氀 栀攀爀攀 愀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 愀椀爀 戀甀琀 渀漀琀 洀甀挀栀⸀ 吀栀攀 瘀椀攀眀 椀猀 最爀攀愀琀 氀漀漀欀椀渀最 漀甀琀 漀瘀攀爀 琀栀攀 戀攀愀挀栀 愀渀搀 䄀琀氀愀渀琀椀挀 伀挀攀愀渀⸀ 圀攀 挀氀椀洀戀攀搀 琀栀攀 猀攀挀漀渀搀 栀椀氀氀 愀渀搀 猀氀愀洀洀攀搀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 猀椀搀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 挀愀爀⸀ 䈀愀爀攀氀礀 洀愀欀椀渀最 椀琀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 攀砀瀀攀挀琀椀渀最 愀 爀漀氀氀 戀愀挀欀 眀攀 洀愀搀 椀琀 搀漀眀渀 琀栀攀 栀椀氀氀 愀渀搀 甀瀀 琀栀攀 渀攀砀琀 漀渀挀攀 愀最愀椀渀 戀愀爀攀氀礀 挀爀攀猀琀椀渀最 椀琀⸀ 䤀琀 漀渀氀礀 猀攀洀攀搀 ㈀ 昀琀 氀漀眀攀爀 琀栀愀渀 琀栀攀 昀椀爀猀琀 搀爀漀瀀℀ 䈀愀挀欀 搀漀眀渀 愀最愀椀渀 愀渀搀 戀愀挀欀 甀瀀 猀氀愀洀洀椀渀最 椀渀琀漀 洀礀 最椀爀氀昀爀椀攀渀搀⸀ 伀渀挀攀 愀最愀椀渀 猀氀漀眀氀礀 挀爀攀猀琀椀渀最 琀栀攀 栀椀氀氀 眀栀攀爀攀 䤀 渀漀琀椀挀攀搀 愀渀 椀渀愀挀琀椀瘀攀 琀爀椀洀⸀ 戀愀挀欀 搀漀渀眀 愀渀搀 甀瀀 愀 昀攀眀 洀漀爀攀 琀椀洀攀猀 眀椀琀栀 愀 昀攀眀 戀甀渀渀礀 栀漀瀀猀 椀渀 戀攀琀眀攀攀渀⸀ 吀栀攀 漀渀攀 戀甀渀礀 栀漀瀀 椀猀 最爀攀愀琀 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 椀琀✀猀 挀甀爀瘀攀搀 猀漀 礀漀甀 瀀漀瀀 甀瀀 琀栀攀 栀椀琀 琀栀攀 猀椀搀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 挀愀爀 漀爀 礀漀甀爀 瀀愀爀琀渀攀爀 搀攀瀀攀渀搀椀渀最 眀栀椀挀栀 猀椀搀攀 礀漀甀爀 猀椀琀琀椀渀最 漀渀⸀ 圀攀 琀栀攀渀 琀漀漀欀 愀 渀攀砀琀 琀漀 戀愀挀欀 爀椀搀攀⸀ 䤀琀✀猀 愀 琀漀琀愀氀氀礀 搀椀昀昀攀爀攀渀琀 挀漀愀猀琀攀爀⸀ 伀渀 琀栀攀 搀爀漀瀀猀 礀漀甀 最攀琀 爀椀瀀瀀攀搀 漀甀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 猀攀愀琀 搀漀眀渀 琀栀攀 栀椀氀氀猀 愀渀搀 戀愀爀攀氀礀 愀渀礀 猀琀爀漀渀最 氀愀琀攀爀愀氀猀 氀椀欀攀 琀栀攀 昀爀漀渀琀 攀砀挀攀瀀琀 漀渀 愀 昀攀眀 琀甀爀渀猀⸀ 圀攀 琀栀攀渀 眀攀渀琀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 瘀攀爀礀 戀愀挀欀⸀ 伀唀䌀䠀℀ 愀琀 琀栀攀 戀漀琀琀漀洀 漀昀 攀瘀攀爀礀 栀椀氀氀 椀琀 栀椀琀 眀椀琀栀 愀 琀栀甀搀搀 愀猀 椀昀 猀漀洀攀漀渀攀 最愀瘀攀 礀漀甀 愀 瀀椀氀攀搀爀椀瘀攀爀⸀ 䄀昀琀攀爀 愀 昀攀眀 洀漀爀攀 爀椀搀攀猀 眀攀 搀攀挀椀搀攀搀 琀漀 栀椀琀 猀漀洀攀 漀琀栀攀爀 爀椀搀攀猀⸀ 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀 䘀椀爀猀琀 眀愀猀 匀瀀漀漀欀伀刀愀洀愀⸀ 匀椀渀挀攀 椀琀✀猀 椀渀 䐀椀渀漀✀猀 渀漀琀 䄀猀琀爀漀氀愀渀搀 眀攀 栀愀搀 琀漀 瀀愀礀 ␀㌀⸀ 琀漀 爀椀搀攀⸀ 吀栀椀猀 椀猀 愀 猀琀爀愀渀最攀 搀愀爀欀 爀椀搀攀 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 礀漀甀 琀爀愀瘀攀氀 猀椀搀攀眀愀礀猀 琀栀爀甀 椀琀 椀渀猀琀攀愀搀 漀昀 昀愀挀椀渀最 昀漀爀眀愀爀搀⸀ 吀栀攀 挀愀爀猀 猀焀甀攀愀氀攀搀 愀猀 眀攀 洀愀搀攀 漀甀爀 眀愀礀 琀栀爀甀 琀栀攀 挀漀甀爀猀攀⸀ 䤀琀 眀愀猀 漀渀攀 戀椀最 爀漀漀洀 愀渀搀 愀氀氀 琀栀攀 猀琀甀渀琀猀 眀攀爀攀 漀渀 琀栀攀 漀甀琀猀椀搀攀 眀愀氀氀⸀ 䤀琀✀猀 漀欀 戀甀琀 䤀✀洀 猀漀 甀猀攀搀 琀漀 䬀渀漀攀戀攀氀猀 最爀攀愀琀 䠀愀甀渀琀攀搀 䴀愀渀猀椀漀渀 琀栀愀琀 椀琀 眀愀猀渀✀琀 愀渀礀琀栀椀渀最 猀瀀攀挀椀愀氀⸀ 圀漀爀琀栀 愀琀 氀攀愀猀琀 漀渀攀 爀椀搀攀⸀ 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀 刀椀最栀琀 渀攀砀琀 琀漀 椀琀 眀愀猀 琀栀攀 漀渀攀 愀渀搀 漀渀氀礀 圀漀渀搀攀爀 圀栀攀攀氀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 猀眀椀渀最椀渀最 挀愀爀猀℀ 伀渀挀攀 愀最愀椀渀 ␀㌀⸀ 愀 爀椀搀攀⸀ 䤀 眀愀猀 愀 戀椀琀 猀cared watching the swinging cars from the ground. We started up then we started to roll out. It's kinda creepy being up in the air and starting to slide out to the end of the track. As you swing it looks like your going to hit the car below you. It wasn't a scarry as I thought it would be though. Still the one and only so we had to do it.
It's amazing how tightly the rides are crammed together here. The rides are almost on top of one another and almost touching.
We strolled along thru the 3 parks and made our way to the Jumbo Jet. Once agian not in Astroland so we had to pay. This was $3.50 a ride. not bad similar to a Jet Star but the cars are self powered up the spiraling lift. It's actually a smooth ride even thru the sharp banked turns. Only did it once for the coaster count.
It was time for our friend to feed the parking meter and they parked near the Thunderbolt. It has a very similar layout to the Cyclone except the Tbolt has a hill with a double up. The entire ride is engulfed with weeds, vines and trees poking thru the track. It's just a sad site seing it sit there slowly falling apart. It looks like it would be a cool one to save.
On our way back to the Cyclone we walked along the boardwalk. People were swimming and laying on the beach. People riding bicycles and roller blades along the boardwalk having a good time.
Before the Cyclone we stopped and rode Dante's Inferno. Another dark ride but like I said before I'm spoiled from Knoebels Hanuted Mansion so it wasn't especially good to me. A few sick scenes inside though.
We rode the Cyclone more. It got a little fast since we didn't ride it for an hour or so. Our friends left around 3pm so we said our goodbyes and went back to finish out our time on the Cyclone.After our wristbands expired we made our way to the gift shop and bought a magnet, shirt and several post cards and dropped them off at the car.
We then decided to check 甀琀 漀琀栀攀爀 猀琀甀昀昀 愀琀 䌀漀渀攀礀䤀猀氀愀渀搀⸀ 䄀渀漀琀栀攀爀 搀愀爀欀 爀椀搀攀Ⰰ 䜀栀漀猀琀 䠀漀甀猀攀 眀愀猀 猀瀀漀琀琀攀搀 猀漀 眀攀 栀愀搀 琀漀 琀爀礀 椀琀⸀ 伀渀挀攀 愀最愀椀渀 ␀㌀⸀ ⸀ 䤀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 琀栀椀猀 漀渀攀 洀椀最栀琀 戀攀 瀀爀攀琀琀礀 猀椀挀欀 猀椀渀挀攀 琀栀攀爀攀 眀愀猀 愀 瀀爀漀瀀 漀甀琀 猀椀搀攀 瀀甀欀椀渀最 椀渀 愀 戀愀爀爀攀氀 挀漀洀瀀氀攀琀攀 眀椀琀栀 猀漀甀渀搀 攀昀昀攀挀琀猀⸀ 䨀甀猀琀 氀椀欀攀 琀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀猀⸀ 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀 洀愀搀攀 漀甀爀 眀愀礀 琀漀 匀椀搀攀猀栀漀眀 戀礀 琀栀攀 匀攀愀猀栀漀爀攀⸀ 䤀琀✀猀 琀栀攀 氀愀猀琀 爀攀洀愀椀渀椀渀最 瀀攀爀洀愀渀攀渀琀 昀爀攀愀欀 猀栀漀眀 愀琀 䌀漀渀攀礀⸀ 圀攀 瀀愀椀搀 漀甀爀 㔀 搀漀氀氀愀爀猀 琀漀 最攀琀 椀渀⸀ 圀攀 猀愀眀 琀栀攀 戀愀猀椀挀 洀愀最椀挀 猀栀漀眀Ⰰ 昀椀爀攀攀愀琀攀爀Ⰰ 猀渀愀欀攀挀栀愀爀洀攀爀Ⰰ 戀攀搀 漀昀 渀愀椀氀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 戀氀漀挀栀栀攀愀搀⸀ 䄀昀琀攀爀眀愀爀搀猀 眀攀 猀琀漀瀀瀀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 戀愀爀 愀渀搀 栀愀搀 猀攀瘀攀爀愀氀 戀攀攀爀猀 愀琀 琀栀攀 戀愀爀 漀甀琀 昀爀漀渀琀⸀ 伀渀氀礀 ␀㈀⸀㔀 愀 戀漀琀琀氀攀 渀漀琀 戀愀搀⸀ 圀攀 琀愀氀欀攀搀 琀漀 琀栀攀 漀眀渀攀爀 愀渀搀 漀渀攀 瀀爀攀昀漀爀洀攀爀 䔀愀欀 眀栀漀 椀猀 琀栀攀 琀愀琀漀漀攀搀 最甀礀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 漀渀攀 琀栀愀琀 氀愀礀猀 漀渀 琀栀攀 戀攀搀 漀昀 渀愀椀氀猀⸀ 吀栀攀礀 愀爀攀 戀漀琀栀 爀攀愀氀 挀漀漀氀 最甀礀猀⸀ 吀栀攀 漀眀渀攀爀 攀瘀攀渀 戀漀甀最栀琀 甀猀 愀 爀漀甀渀搀 漀昀 戀攀攀爀⸀ 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀 圀攀 眀攀爀攀 昀攀攀氀椀渀最 瀀爀攀琀琀礀 最漀漀搀 愀昀琀攀爀 眀攀 氀攀昀琀 琀栀攀 䘀爀攀愀欀猀栀漀眀 愀渀搀 搀攀挀椀搀攀搀 琀漀 爀椀搀攀 琀栀攀 娀椀瀀瀀攀爀⸀ 夀攀瀀 ␀㌀⸀ 愀 爀椀搀攀⸀ 䄀 昀攀眀 最漀漀搀 猀瀀椀渀猀 戀甀琀 渀漀琀 攀砀挀攀瀀琀椀漀渀愀氀⸀ 䤀琀 眀愀猀 搀愀爀欀 猀漀 眀攀 栀愀搀 琀漀 琀爀礀 琀栀攀 圀漀渀搀攀爀 圀栀攀攀氀 愀最愀椀渀 猀椀渀挀攀 䤀 栀攀愀爀搀 椀琀 瀀爀攀琀琀礀 猀挀愀爀礀 愀琀 渀椀最栀琀⸀ 䄀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 挀爀攀攀瀀椀攀爀 戀甀琀 渀漀琀 琀攀爀爀椀昀椀渀最⸀ 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀 䄀昀琀攀爀 琀栀攀 圀栀攀攀氀 琀栀攀爀攀 眀攀爀攀 猀琀椀氀氀 琀眀漀 挀漀愀猀琀攀爀 眀攀 搀椀搀渀✀琀 爀椀搀攀⸀ 吀栀攀 匀攀愀 䐀爀愀最漀渀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 䈀椀最 䄀瀀瀀氀攀 戀漀琀栀 猀洀愀氀氀 欀椀搀搀椀攀 挀漀愀猀琀攀爀⸀ 䤀 琀栀椀渀欀 攀愀挀栀 眀愀猀 ␀㈀⸀ 愀 爀椀搀攀⸀ 吀栀攀 䈀椀最 䄀瀀瀀氀攀 眀愀猀 甀渀椀焀攀 猀椀渀挀攀 琀栀攀 猀琀愀琀椀漀渀 眀愀猀 漀渀 愀 爀攀瘀漀氀瘀椀渀最 昀氀漀漀爀⸀ 吀栀攀礀 栀愀搀 琀眀漀 琀爀愀椀渀猀 漀渀 椀琀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 漀渀攀 挀漀甀氀搀 爀甀渀 眀栀椀氀攀 琀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀 氀漀愀搀猀⸀ 一攀椀琀栀攀爀 眀攀爀攀 琀栀愀琀 最漀漀搀 樀甀猀琀 礀漀甀爀 琀礀瀀椀挀愀氀 欀椀搀搀椀攀 挀漀愀猀琀攀爀猀⸀ 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀 䈀礀 渀漀眀 椀琀 眀愀猀 㠀㨀㌀ 愀渀搀 眀攀 栀愀搀 琀漀 最攀琀 漀甀爀 挀愀爀 漀甀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 瀀愀爀欀椀渀最 氀漀琀⸀ 圀攀 昀漀甀渀搀 愀 猀瀀漀琀 漀渀 琀栀攀 猀琀爀攀攀琀 猀漀 眀攀 瀀甀氀氀攀搀 椀渀 愀渀搀 猀琀愀爀琀攀搀 琀漀 昀攀攀搀 琀栀攀 洀攀琀攀爀⸀ 一漀琀 琀漀漀 攀砀瀀攀渀猀椀瘀攀 㔀 挀攀渀琀猀 愀渀 栀漀甀爀⸀ 㰀戀爀㸀 㰀戀爀㸀 圀攀 挀漀甀氀搀渀✀琀 氀攀愀瘀攀 眀椀琀栀漀甀琀 爀椀搀椀渀最 琀栀攀 䌀礀挀氀漀渀攀 愀琀 渀椀最栀琀⸀ 圀攀 瀀愀椀搀 ␀㔀⸀ 攀愀挀栀 琀漀 最攀琀 琀栀攀 昀椀爀猀琀 爀椀搀攀⸀ 䤀琀 瀀椀挀欀攀搀 甀瀀 洀漀爀攀 猀瀀攀攀搀 渀漀眀 猀椀渀挀攀 椀琀 眀愀猀 愀氀洀漀猀琀 㔀 栀漀甀爀猀 猀椀渀挀攀 眀攀 爀漀搀攀 椀琀 氀愀猀琀⸀ 䘀爀漀渀琀 猀攀愀琀 椀猀 最爀攀愀琀 猀甀瀀攀爀 昀愀猀琀 愀琀 渀椀最栀琀⸀ 圀栀攀渀 礀漀甀 瀀甀氀氀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 猀琀愀琀椀漀渀 礀漀甀 栀愀瘀攀 琀栀攀 漀瀀琀椀漀渀 琀漀 爀攀爀椀搀攀 昀漀爀 ␀㐀⸀ 愀渀搀 挀栀愀渀最攀 礀漀甀 猀攀愀琀⸀ 圀攀 琀漀漀欀 渀攀砀琀 琀漀 戀愀挀欀 愀最愀椀渀⸀ 䤀琀 栀愀搀 洀漀爀攀 氀愀琀攀爀愀氀猀 渀漀眀 愀渀搀 琀漀渀猀 漀昀 愀椀爀 as well. What a great ride I can see why there are so many Cyclone clones.
We still didn't eat yet and food is everywhere there. We asked Steve Urbanowicz ACER and GM of Astroland where to eat. He told us to check out the place next to the Cyclone. I got a hot sausage and my girlfriend grabbed a shish-kebob and knaish. All fo $9.00 not too bad. Then before I left I had to get an original hot dog at Nathens. I got one with everything chili and cheese. It was good but we have a hot dog place where I live and i'm used to the dog there so Nathens to me wasn't that good.
By this time it was around 10:30 and we had a long 2 1/2, 3 hour drive ahead of us. On the way out of the city we had to pay a $7.00 to cross the one bridge.
Everyone at Coney Island is laid back compared to other park where you get rude people and stares. It's a totally unique experience and is a must do if your in the area. It was a very fun time and can't wait to go again.
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Parks Hit For 2000! PKD, BGW,DP,HP,PKI,HW,SFKK,SFA,GAdv,SFNE,LC,GE,QP,CDP,LP,KG,SFO,WG,GE,KW,IW,WL,
I haven't been to Coney Island in a few years. Reading this just confirms that I really need to get back...
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--Greg
http://www.pobox.com/~gregleg/
