Darien Lake vs. Mt Olympus

Thinking about going to either of these parks over the weekend but can't make up our minds. Anyone want to offer up any suggestions as to attendance for this time of year, quality of rides, and opinion of the parks overall. We tend to favor wood, but it's not a necessity, and distance is not a factor (Michigan based). Thanks in advance.

I was just at Darien Lake over the July 4 weekend and will post a trip report soon. In short: it sucked big time. Predator is closed for the season (but don't look for it to be listed on the "closed rides" list out front). The only other coaster at the park worth riding more than once was Ride of Steel.

Go to Mt. Olympus. And while you're in the area don't skip Avalanche down the street at TimberFalls.

Mt. Olympus, hands down. And ditto Moosh on Avalanche.

How was Motocoaster?

I'm spending a week in the Dells in early August, and am really looking forward to it. Even without Lake Delton, there are a ton of things to do out there.

I have been on predator many times this season. So i don't think its closed for the season. Motocoaster is a fun little ride. It is a family coaster so dont expect too much but it is a nice change at DL.

Alexx - Predator was open earlier in the season but it's been closed since late June/early July. There are stacks of wood near the turnaround and spots of fresh wood on the structure and track. It's going to be closed for some time, most likely the entire season according to my sources (who, admittedly, are not always correct).

Motocoaster was fun. Pony Express is better :)

I was there June 27th and Predator was a walk on. Glad I got my back seat ride (its nothing to write home about) before it shut down.

Motocoaster was down all day when we were there the Sunday before last. Looked fun although not too exciting based solely on the couple of test laps we did manage to see. matt said I wasn't missing much more than a credit...

Ride of Steel - what can I say, I'm a total sucker for those rides...and it at least ran better for me than the MD one did a few weeks' prior.

Predator - we had one outstanding lap (for Predator at least) in the back seat early in the day. Fast and furious, with minimal bangage. A second lap a couple hours later was, to be blunt, brutal. The back car was roped off, and it certainly made sense, considering how rough the next-to-back car was...ouch!

Mt. O - the only complaint I have about the rides there is that maintenance seems to take a back seat. Cyclops and Hades are both capacble of phenomenal rides, but there are often seats roped off, and sometimes the trackwork seems to need...work. ;)

Avalanche truly is...all that..and then some! :)

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Brian Noble said:
I'm spending a week in the Dells in early August, and am really looking forward to it. Even without Lake Delton, there are a ton of things to do out there.

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Unless you are staying at a resort on the lake, plan on boating on it, or wanted to see Tommy Bartlett's show, the lake really has nothing to do with ANY of the main attractions.

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schwee said:Thinking about going to either of these parks over the weekend but can't make up our minds. Anyone want to offer up any suggestions as to attendance for this time of year, quality of rides, and opinion of the parks overall. We tend to favor wood, but it's not a necessity, and distance is not a factor (Michigan based). Thanks in advance.

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Olympus by a long shot. Take a hour and get about twenty laps down the street on Avalanche as well!

Chuck, who finds Darrien ok but except for Superman there are no highlights.

I've never been to the Dells. But I can tell you from my day at Darien that I would rather go to the Dells.

I visited Darien the week after Memorial Day, and tied it into my trip to Waldameer. It was a park I'd never seen, I've always wanted to go there, and I saw 6 credits only another 90 or so miles away.

Ride of Steel, as mentioned above, was the best thing at the park. Predator was down the first half of the day and I happened to be walking by (for the 20th time) when it came up. I rode front seat and it was enjoyable enough. There was evidence of re-tracking on a lot of sections, and it wasn't nearly as painful as I had heard. (But you'll never know if it is indeed down for the season!) The rest of the coasters were production models (we've all been on one somewhere), or outdated (Viper). The flats were interesting and in some cases rare (UFO, Ranger, Sea Storm) but all were in pretty bad shape and looking very old. The water park was weird, kinda split in half and seemed like an afterthought. The grounds were a mess, buildings needed paint and there were chain link fences everywhere. Motocoaster was ok, but once again family oriented and not worth the trip if you're looking for a thrill. I left much earlier than anticipated with the feeling that the people of Buffalo must not know or care where they go for amusement park fun!

There. Is that enough to convince you? Only if you go to Waldameer (charming, clean, great rides!) should you consider a side trip to Darien.

On the other hand the coasters at Mt. Olympus are in dire need of repair, the employees are the worst employees ever, the janitorial staff is non existent and none of the coaster are as impressive as some poepl think they are. YMMV of course.

Avalanche is incredible though.

Randy Larrick is no longer the head of wood coaster maintainence there. he now works with me at my place of employment along with another Larrick and Danny who worked on Legend and boulderdash.

Chuck, wishing these guys were out building coasters.

Chucky, what do you do in the real world when you're not posting here, just out of curiosity.