Father/Son expierence

My most memorable expeirence was when my Dad and I went to CP for my birthday. We were there for two days and had the greastest time. Even though it might not sound big it was. My dad and I go to a different amusement park every year and last year(Cedar Point) has been the best. Does anyone else do anything like that or ahve a story about you and dad at a park? I'd just like to find out.
-Charlie Weingartner

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You can't run and you can't hide...The Beast at PKI

Okay, I have two (neither exactly *pleasureable* experiences:

1. 1984 @ Six Flags over Mid-America (now SFStL):
I was eight years old and my father decided that, even though I had a fear of heights so bad that I didnt like to go on the third floor of my house, it was time for me to ride a coaster. He set me down on the Jet Scream (Schwarzkopf single looper) and we were off. Upon returning to the station, I litterally said "I'm alive?!?"

2. 1986 @ Canada's Wonderland (now PCW):
I was now ten and had ridden a coaster or two, but I still did not really *like* them. It was now a family rule that I had to get on at least one coaster at any park we went to. I often opted for steel looping coasters cause they looked sturdy and had the very secure-looking OTSRs (I think this is why I am an Arrow fan to this day). Anyway, we rode the Dragon Fyre coaster (Arrow double loop, double screw) it was okay. Well the line was short so my dad, sis, and mom said let's ride it again. I was like no, once was enough. I sat down and told them I'd wait for them. Well my dad would have none of that so he physically picked me up above his head and carried me (kicking and screaming) into line. Once on the coaster, he chastized me for closing my eyes and required that I keep them open the whole ride. I thank him for that (now), but at the time I felt it was borderline child abuse.
lata,
jeremy
--who cant wait to do the same to his kids...

My dad was not a big amusement park fan. He didn't hate them but he didn't love them either. Occasionally the family would go to Riverview together but mostly I ended up going with friends when I got older.

Now I have a 14 year old son and I was so hoping he would share at least a little of my enthusiasm; but alas, that's not to be. He will not even set foot in a park much less go on a coaster. I blame my ex-wife for this. She's convinced him he will be killed on a coaster because they're so unsafe.

All my hopes ride with my 9 year old daughter. Fortunately, she has been on a couple of smaller coasters and likes them. She still is a little scared of larger coasters. Also, fortunately, she doesn't listen to her mother. :)

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"I'm going off the rails on a crazy train." - Ozzie Osbourne

I have a cool Grandfather memory. I grew up in Pittsburgh, and used to take a summer trip to Kennywood every year with my Grandparents. My Grandfather had worked at Kennywood when he was a kid selling newspapers, and the park is very dear to him and the rest of my family.

I had a great ride with my granfather one summer on the Thunderbolt. We got the front seat on the last ride of the night. It was such a blast, and i'll always remember that ride.

While I'm at it, i have a good Grandmother memory, as well. On one Jack Rabbit ride, her dentures popped out of her mouth on the double dip!

I always thought that I was a super cool kid, because while most of my friends parents didn't go on the rides, my Grandparents were out there having a blast. We're all reuniting for a trip to the park this summer, although I don't think they'll be hitting any of the rides this time!

I just thought aout a expeirence with my grandmother. We went to PKI when I was really little. I wasn't able to ride any of the coasters so she stayed with me while everyone else did. Just last fall i took my grandmother back to PKI. We rode SoB, Racer, Top Gun, King Cobra and a ton more. She loved em' and we had a blast together.
-Charlie Weingartner

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You can't run and you can't hide...The Beast at PKI

Do I have a great father-daughter story -- sure, but it's really a "mom" story. I was about ten and I had been badgering my folks to let me ride something other than "The Little Dipper" (remember that, Kennywood fans?). Mother, with great misgivings, finally let me ride the Racer on two conditions: (1) I wore my little red triangle scarf, so I wouldn't get wind in my ears and get sick, and (2) I rode with my father so he could keep me from flying out of the car. My dad and I rode and had a great time -- only to get off the ride and see mom in hysterics. She didn't understand the pretzel track, and when a train pulled into the station where my train had left from, and she didn't see the red scarf -- or me -- or my dad, she was sure we had flown out of the train and were lying dead somewhere along the track. This was my last coaster ride until I was well into my 20's . . . .

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Whatever goes up, must come down, preferably at a speed over 60 mph and leaning into a flying turn

While I'm proud to admit that I certainly don't represent today's youth, my Dad and I are almost the definition of the Generation Gap. He's 61, and I'm 16, and that's not even to mention the cultural differences between us, as he grew up in a conservative Louisiana town, and I'm up here around Pittsburgh.

But I'm straying from the point. Because he's so much older than me, I've only ridden on coasters with him a few times.

Still, though, I've had a few memorable coaster moments with him, one being the only ride I can actually remember riding with him, Mad Mouse at Michigan's Adventure, which he drove me 10 hours to get to. While there, I rode Shivering Timbers (without him, sadly). He says that seeing me so hyped up after the ride was just as good as riding it himself.

Also, he took me and two friends to Cedar Point last year. Though he didn't go in the park, we had a great time on the drive to and from, especially getting our first up-close-and-personal look at MF, and later that day, talking non-stop about it.

Good times!

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Matt Lynch
Co-Webmaster, Kennywood Boulevard
http://kennywood.coasterbuzz.com

My most memorable parent/child experience was back in '95 when I took my family to Cedar Point. On that trip I got my then 6 year old daughter on her first coaster, Iron Dragon, and I took my then 63 year old mom on Raptor. Thankfully we got the on-ride photo because my mom's face was as green as the track! Oh it was a site. I'm hoping to take her again this year when I take my 2 2 1/2 year olds for their first trip to the Point. I have a feeling though, at 68, it will be a tough sell getting her on any coasters! :)

-Eric


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E Blitz Entertainment
Bay City, Michigan
A division of LCA Entertainment

PkIFanatic, it's wierd, but I have almost the exact same CP story as you! It was even for my birthday!

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I'd Rather Be Riding Rollercoasters
www.mycoasters.homestead.com/mycoasters.html

When me and my dad went to IOA, we went on Dueling Dragons.... and talked a lot about it.
(man to man coaster talk)

My dad loves coasters too, but simply doesn't have enough time for them. I really feel sorry for him sometimes.

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May 5th, Gurnee, Illinois, "I'm sprinting for V2"

My Dad was the one who really got me hooked. He enjoys coasters, and I was scared to death of them. Finally, he got me on one, and I've been hooked ever since! He now thinks I'M nuts!

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UCSigep
"Did you make a copy? Because if you made a copy, we could watch the copy."