End of Season Reflections

Highs:

1) Doing two new enthusiast events and returning to an old favorite. Coasting for Kids was one of my favorite experiences of all time, I met wonderful people, and I have two new friends who I think will remain dear to me (until they get sick of me and my goofy dancing to Harlem Shake). I absolutely cannot wait for next year. Riding of the Bull was my first ACE event and was so action-packed, informative, and inside joke-filled, and I got some of my best rides ever on El Toro. Plus, I got to take one last surprisingly fantastic spin on Rolling Thunder before it got demolished. PPP was a blast as usual, my additional weight loss made the airtime on Phoenix borderline psychotic, Twister ran great, and the weather was shockingly nice. Didn't hurt to get a new credit on Flying Turns either.

2) Kings Dominion might have sucked in terms of drive time, but I actually got to take this trip with my husband and one of my good friends. I added two new credits (Avalanche and I305), and I found a new love for previously "meh" to me coasters, Dominator and Flight of Fear. I305 became my new favorite steel. The weather was perfect, and I'll never forget lugging our GIANT turtle pillow pet across the park, unintentionally knocking people over left and right.

3) I finally got over most of my fear of water slides. Next year, there will be more trips to WWK in combination with Dorney.

LOWS:

1) I can't honestly say there were true lows to this season. True, I missed my annual trip to Hershey, I only added three new credits to my tally, and I did not get to hit Busch Gardens OR SFNE, but my experiences were so much more valuable this year because I did things to help others while coasting, and I spent time with friends instead of being all by myself in the parks. Can't beat that! Besides, next year, it is looking like Texas is our vacation destination!

Highs:

Wife and I taking our son to Knoebels for his first ride on an adult coaster, which he loved.

KD Haunt with wife and friends.

Two park visits by myself during business travel, to Kennywood and Knott's, the latter being a new-to-me park.

Lows:

Missing Flying Turns' opening by a month.

Staying across from California's Great America a week before it opened for the season.

Staying across from Disneyland and DCA and not having the time or money to visit.

At Knott's and Kennywood--being the creepy old guy walking around the amusement park by himself.

A park trip for me is pretty expensive, because I have to get a hotel no matter where I go, and the drives are always long. I only get to go on a few park trips per year, because of my job and that I live a million miles away from most parks, but it could be a lot worse, so I am really thankful for what I do get to do.

Highs:

Spending the evening going through haunted houses and riding roller coasters with my Mother at Cedar Point. My Mom is not getting any younger, so I cherish memories we get to make together.

Two new credits at Cedar Point. I haven't been there in many years because I got burned out working there. Maverick and Windseeker were both new to me.

Spending the day at Hersheypark with my young friend from PA, JD, who is not a kid anymore. We don't get to see each other very often anymore because we live so far away from each other, so it is nice to get to spend roller coaster time together. Also getting to eat at Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs at the park. YUM!

Visiting my old stomping ground near Altoona, hanging out at DelGrosso's Park with my nephews. Also getting to eat at Texas Hot Dog at the park. YUM!

Getting away from my normal life and all the problems that go with it by spending a few days at Kings Island, alone, doing whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. Also, getting to eat hot dogs at Skyline Chili at the park. YUM! lol

Running into and getting to meet Dvo at Kings Island. We were strangers, paired together on Windseeker, and didn't even know that we were both CoasterBuzz people until near the end of the ride.

First year with a Cedar Fair Platinum Pass, and finally getting to a point in which I felt that I came out ahead with the purchase.

Early ride time on Beast, Diamondback, Windseeker, and Iron Dragon (with my mother.)

Lows:

Because of trying to plan around a lot of other things that popped up, many park trip plans fell through and it was hard to solidify the plans. It seems to always happen this way, but I always say to myself that there is always next year.

Forgetting to try a Pink's hot dog while at Cedar Point, darnit!

One high to this season was *FINALLY* getting a few more laps on Dorney's Thunderhawk....I know it may not be what it once was, but after missing it for YEARS due to Haunt, it was great to get back on the old Schmeck and give it a few laps. Thanks to Dorney for re-thinking the policy that had kept it closed...

I had a really good trip to SDC. The biggest high was getting my older son on the log flume about 5 times in a row (his first "big" ride) and getting my younger son on splash battle (which he loved).

No real lows, though I wish NTG could have been open for Gator and company.

If anything, I'm a little disappointed at how real life and/or living in Texas has prevented coastering. I haven't been to MM or CP in about 8 years each, which is far too long.

This was a light season for me, but I'd say the high was being able to enjoy Gatekeeper, knowing that it was a great addition to the park (and also a real people-mover). We also had a great trip to Waldameer with another fun-loving couple.

The low was simply going to fewer parks this year. Having taking the trip to Holiday World the past three years, we missed it this time. We also bailed on trips to Kings Island and Indiana beach due to time constraints. The cause of these bailouts, however, was a richness in other parts of my life, so it's not really a net negative.

Bring on ski season!

Highs: Gatekeeper media day and Zombie HS event to open Halloweekends. Both were great events. Day at SFMM and another at Disneyland/Carsland as part of family trip through much of California. First trip for all of us to those parks (other than a trip to Disneyland when I was five of which I remembered little but more when I walked through the park).

Lows: My use of Platinum Pass. Didn't need it for media day or zombie event. Was only there 3 other times (and at least one of those was for 2 coaster rides when picking up my son and his friends at close). Too many other kids activities at this point. Best opportunities for park visits are one offs on vacations and college visits. Re-rides at SFMM with Flash Pass. Though great as a perk, I thought my son and I would need a security escort out of Apocalypse line. Apparently not everyone understands how it works and ride ops offered zero help in explaining it.

My highs were meeting some great new friends, going to some fun haunts, multiple (blurry) weekends at Hotel Breakers and ending the season at Lighthouse Point. I can't forget Gatekeeper media day, the Travel Channel shoot, and the Halloweekends event, either.

I didn't do many repeat rides this year, instead I opted to hang around and relax more, check out the food deals, and just sit and take in the outdoors. This is something I've been trying to really do for years, but feel I got to make the best use of it this year. It's absolutely the way to go.

edit: One super low - Lou Reed dying on closing day. :(

ACE Coaster Con was my highlight for 2013. I was pleasantly surprised by Six Flags New England, especially Bizarro and Thunderbolt. The Houdini ride was also a pleasant surprise -- I don't expect that level of pre-show and theming from a Six Flags park.

Coaster Con marked my first visit to Canobie Lake. Oh. My. God. Canobie is a wonderful park, and the hospitality they showed us was above and beyond. Beautiful setting, great atmosphere, great coasters, LOVE that someone had the idea to paint Untamed's supports to resemble birch trees.

(The Maine parks were very nice, but my favorite thing about visiting Maine was enjoying, for the first time, a lobster roll.)

My highlights include:

• Cedar Point Media Day, Ohio St. Day, and opening day.
• Interning at Busch Gardens. Being in that park nearly every day for three months never got old.
• First trip to Six Flags Great Adventure and spending a straight hour on El Toro without getting off.
• Many visits to CP and KI during the fall season.

The lowest point of the season was my first trip to Six Flags America. That park is disgusting.

I have neither high nor low parts. I have no parts. As a college student in dozens of thousands of dollars in debt, I did not visit a single park this year. I was at SFNE about this time last year though, so that's something.

Highs: Meeting new friends, GK Media Day, CM, BeastBuzz, Halloweekends Kickoff Event, late nights at Friday's & Breakers, Ohio State Fair, haunted attractions, Closing weekend & Lighthouse Point interpretive dance party

Low: No Funyuns in Breakers vending machine

This turned out to be one of my best years in the parks. Prior to 2013, I thought this hobby was just about reaching its end. Friends in my life just weren't very interested in coasters or parks anymore, and visits were starting to feel like a chore with them.

But, I didn't want it to end. I decided to take a chance and join CB Club, try some of the enthusiast events, and meet up with some forum members this year. I ended up meeting some awesome people that have become more than just park friends. But when in the parks, sharing a same common interest has given new life to the experiences. I've seen lots of new sides to CP & KI this year (and got to experience the Ohio State Fair & Great America for the first time), and I've enjoyed every minute.

The park trips this year felt more like gatherings rather than ride-a-thons, and that's more like how I wanted it to be. After a couple questionable years, I confidently renewed my season pass this past Sunday, knowing there will be plenty more great trips in 2014.

Jeph, it is a refreshing change, isn't it? I have an almost newfound love for parks and rides as I discover more events and enthusiasts to share the hobby with. I think even my husband has more fun at the events because it isn't just about the rides anymore, and we're learning things instead of just power riding. I am very fondly recalling this season, and I look forward to next year for sure.

I rode less coasters this year than I have in years past. I don't think I rode a single coaster on CP closing day, and I wasn't worried one bit about it.

That's the way I've been wanting to do parks for a long time, but it's hard to tell your friends "yeah, I feel like a trip to CP, but I don't want to ride much."

Or, "yeah, let's go to Soak City and drink at the swim up bar all day."

I think it depends on how difficult it is to get to a park, how much of a financial strain it is, etc. If you have a season pass to a park, live close by, and most likely will visit the same park multiple times, it is much easier to say, "Hey, let's just take in the scenery and maybe ride a coaster or two". I know my agenda is still much different if I know I'm likely not coming back for a long time, if ever.

Jeph said:

But, I didn't want it to end. I decided to take a chance and join CB Club, try some of the enthusiast events, and meet up with some forum members this year...

One of the Ups, was having one really good day at Cedar Point, with 2 rides on Gatekeeper. Plus finding a place to stay where I was not charged a fortune to stay at, and a place where I could also have a good time without going to the park at all. Plan to go back again next year, and might not go to Cedar Point at all.<p>

Another Up, would be be going to Michigan's Adventure 3 times, and not having to pay for admission or parking with my season pass, with great weather each time I went. Though not having much to get excited about, kind of made the "up" fair at best.<p>
Down..(WAY DOWN!) being at Cedar Point during a sprinkle, and not being able to ride any of the rides on a miserable packed day. probably my worst park experience ever. Note to self, if there is even a hint of rain, even if the sky is crystal clear, like it was when I first got there. Stay home, or find something better to do.<p>
Another up: Planning for Kings Island in 2014.

Highs: This was my best park year ever that didn't involve Tokyo Disney.
I got lucky and was able to do a lot on a pretty minimal budget. Somehow I was able to make it down to Silver Dollar City for three festivals catching SFStl twice on the way, make it to Dollywood, spend plenty of time at my home park SFGAm, and I was able to visit my friend in California, which allowed me to hit up Knotts and USH, and visit Disneyland for the first time since I was in the single digits and discover California Adventure. After a few more lean years it was great to be able to do so much.

Finding out that Disney World may be on the horizon next year if the cards are played right.

Lows: I'm at the point where I don't really have many people to share these trips with. I'm in my early twenties and everyone I know is moving away, trying to establish themselves, and there aren't many people who have the time or money to make trips possible at all right now, let alone to an amusement park several hours away. I spent a lot of park time by myself, which is liberating but a bit depressing at the same time. Hopefully I'll make more of an effort to find really seek out some enthusiasts so that that can start to change.

Being at Knotts when I was one of maybe five people who wasn't between the ages of 12 and 18, with Montezuma and Xcelerator closed and Jaguar running only one train...which I didn't figure out until I was at the station.

Highs: Finally getting to ride Flying Turns. Gatekeeper is great. Nice change to the CP skyline. Dorney Park is much better when the waterpark isn't open. My 10 year old daughter finally being brave enough to ride some coasters with dad. She rode Lightning Racer, The Phoenix, and Swamp Fox. She's working her way up to steel coasters.