Coney Island (NYC) advice

Hi All,

I just agreed to drive a friend's u-haul to Brooklyn this weekend from Pittsburgh and figured it'd be a sin not to go to Coney Island. I did some research and looked at old threads, etc. but the following questions haven't been answered. I'd appreciate some advice!

1) Are there an single rider policies I should know about? I'm only hoping to ride Cyclone, Wonder Wheel, Spook-A-Rama, and maybe a few other things. Is there anything not listed that I must experience?

2) Should I have a certain plan of attack? I'll be spending Sunday there from opening until about 8. Anything I should be aware of?

3) I'll just have a small bookbag with me. Are there lockers at any of the parks or bins at the rides?

4) Anything else I should see or do while there?

Thanks!

It's been a while since I have been down there, but when I was there it was eight bucks to ride the Cyclone and you could keep handing them five dollar bills and reride without getting off. That may have changed with Luna Park being there? I'm not too sure about the ownership of the ride after Luna Park was built.

If the freak show is still there see that. It's a piece of Americana that doesn't really exist anywhere else. The people that work there are some of the nicest people in NYC, too.

jml142 said:
1) Are there an single rider policies I should know about? I'm only hoping to ride Cyclone, Wonder Wheel, Spook-A-Rama, and maybe a few other things. Is there anything not listed that I must experience?

I rode Cyclone by myself.

I did too. Which might've been good in the end. The seats and lapbars are so padded that once you're locked in its a very tight squeeze. I was pretty sure two guys my size in the same seat wouldn't have fit very comfortably.

I haven't been to Coney/Luna since it's renaissance. My best piece of advice, though, is to keep your expectations low and you'll love it. Coney is very urban, is built on city blocks, and would appear rough to those of us that are used to sparkling theme park experiences. A lot of the area has been "cleaned" up, but the boardwalk and the side street attractions remain as is.

About the book bag - I can't remember there being lockers unless along the beach boardwalk, maybe. Now, at the new Luna there may be, though.

Don't miss Wonder Wheel or Spook a Rama, which has undergone extensive remodeling and expansion since the hurricane flood. I hear some of the new stunts are quite startling.

Was there two years ago,loved it.

The seats on the Cyclone are very tight.If you are going to ride the last seat wait till its your final ride.When I rode the last seat that was the first time in 40 years of riding that I wanted off halfway through the ride.This is coming from someone who enjoys brutal coasters.The ride operators actually ask you if you are sure that you want to sit there.When I was there you used a debit type card to pay for your ride.Was $8 a ride back then.

Its about a 45min ride on the subway from Manhattan.

Not sure if it is still the case or not, but one of the workers on the Wonder Wheel has a German Sheppard that spent the entire day riding the Wonder Wheel. Had his own car. Pretty cool.

Also be sure to get a hotdog from the legendary Nathans. There is two. The one that is a block or two from the cyclone, and the one on the Boardwalk. Get it from the one by the Cyclone. This is what made Coney Island hotdogs famous. There are plenty of other places that sell hotdogs, but you have to experience the original. http://www.nathansfamous.com/index.php/history

One last thing... The freak show. Coney Island USA aka Sideshow by the Sea Shore is an old fashioned freak show that was popular in the 20s, 30s and 40s [the heyday of Coney Island.] Lot of fun and should not be missed. http://www.coneyisland.com/about-coney-island-usa

I have also heard the Brooklyn Aquarium is another thing that is a must see, but I personally have not been there.

1EJ

you might want to ride Air Racer, and Steeple Chase. The new thunderbolt is suppose to open this weekend and you might want to hit that. I was at coney by myself last august and had no problems.

One thing that might be a big problem....where are you going to park that U-Hall?

You will have a tough time finding a decent sized spot...let alone having everything still be there when you return.

If the weather is good, you might be better off parking in the SHeepshead Bay area and taking the B36 bus.

Just saying...

I live in NJ, and have always avoided Coney Island because of the element that it attracts. I have heard of numerous shootings, stabbings, car jacking, etc... they could be stories to keep us country folk away.... but I grew up in the late 70s/80s when NYC and the surrounding areas were not very safe. It did do a toll on me where it took me 30 years to go into NYC. I have yet to get to CI. I would love to go myself one day! Let me know how the trip goes!

If you've avoided Coney for the element it attracts then plan to stay away while the rest of us have fun.

Richie Reflux said:

One thing that might be a big problem....where are you going to park that U-Hall?

You will have a tough time finding a decent sized spot...let alone having everything still be there when you return.

If the weather is good, you might be better off parking in the SHeepshead Bay area and taking the B36 bus.

Just saying...

Oh, sorry! I am dropping the Uhaul off at a friend's place. It's not coming with me. I'll be taking a later bus back to Pittsburgh.

I've always avoided the bus because of the element it attracts...

I avoid the Periodic Table.

Must be an anti-science Republican :)

The best advice I've been given regarding the Cyclone is to let it do what it wants with you - don't fight it. Also, you probably want to keep your elbows in the padded zone (which is luxuriously padded, but there's plenty of exposed hard surfaces on the cars).

+1 Nathans on Surf Ave; ignore the one on the Boardwalk. They are not remotely comparable in terms of experience (or food, IMHO). Then you can carry it over and sit on the boardwalk.

+1 Air Race if you've never ridden one.

I *think* there are lockers in the "Luna Park" area and probably by the Steeplechase / Go Karts, but I'm not certain. You can probably look up the Luna Park website and see.

Haven't been to the sideshow in a long time, but really, you might as well, and it supports the folks who have been working hard to keep Coney an amusement zone with some character. They also have a small museum on one of the side streets.

There is a Mangels shooting gallery, shooting actual ammunition, on Surf Avenue, that you should not miss. It was found intact after Hurricane Sandy and restored last year.

Nearby is the El Dorado Auto Skooter, which is a terrific bumper car and certainly worth photographing the sign.

If you like carousels, there's a newly restored one down the boardwalk in a new pavilion, under the parachute drop (not restored, but lit at night).

You'll see every kind of person imaginable, and that's part of the experience. Have fun.

1 - There are no single rider policies.

2 - try to hit the Cyclone as early as possible so that you can have your choice of seats - it is no longer your choice when it is busy. Ride costs $9 - there are no re-rides offered. They do offer a free bag check in the station.

you might want to look into the current promotion Living Social is running:

(https://www.livingsocial.com/events/1079303-unlimited-rides-at-luna...-county-ny)

Wonder Wheel is $7 - you can buy a 4 pack of rides for $25 that way you can ride Spook-a-rama, Kiddie coaster, and wheel twice.

Luna Park offers lockers - 1 price for the whole day - I'm not sure how much they cost, I know that you pay for them at the ticket booths.

If for some reason Thunderbolt does open up on the day you arrive. That should be your first destination as lines will be long.

Some of these have been mentioned, but I always try to show people these: Nathans (go to their website for the coupons! and no ketchup on your dog); SideShow by the SeaShore (freakshow) and the Coney Island Museum all in Coney Island USA building on corner w12 and Surf); Coney Island History Project (on w12 near the boardwalk); B&B Carousell near the Parachute jump (and the pier) - the lights on Parachute jump go on around 7pm; El Dorado Auto Skooters on Surf Avenue (bump your ass off) - they also offer discounted re-rides; Banana-Pistachio twist soft serve at Lunatics on Surf (right by El Dorado). Dona Zita on the Bowery is a great Mexican dive with excellent tacos. AND if you're a flat ride junkie, don't skip riding the Saturn 6 on 12th Street, it's the last of it's kind.

Have FUN!

Thanks for all the advice!

Special thanks to jimvid for the Living Social deal! I got a voucher for unlimited rides for four hours plus a ride on the go karts and Cyclone for $27.

jimvid said:

Nathans (go to their website for the coupons! and no ketchup on your dog);

Ketchup is an abomination - and catsup is no better!

Dona Zita on the Bowery is a great Mexican dive with excellent tacos.

Seriously...wow!

Jim knows Coney...his other advice is stellar....but I'm thinking only about food right now because I.Am.Hungry.

edit: I am also terrible with the html....shoulda just made two posts, LOL!