Going Map-less in a park.

Just wondering if anyone else who is weird like me tried anything like this.

I first did this at BGW. I deliberately avoided looking at any map and just wandered around and had a blast. It was cool walking around and discovering all the countries, I felt sort of like an explorer. Finding coasters was neat too. I did not even know Drachen Fire was in the park until I stumbled upon it (This was around 97). That park is so big, I got lost a couple times but is was all good.

I later did this a Kennywood, it was fun but not nearly as good. The park is a lot smaller but in the end, I should have grabbed a map. Finding the entrance to the Steel Phantom was difficult somwhat diffclut. I think I ended up walking through the infield between the lift and second hill to jump in line the first time. I spent some of the day walking around trying to find their sixth coaster. I remember seeing pictures of the Laser loop and was looking for that instead of the Exterminator :-P. Oh well, I had fun :)

I didn't use a map at BGW either, but their signs are very well placed. I concentrated on getting from coaster to coaster and stopped at flat rides along the way.

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Joe Cernelli
Head Webmaster, Kennywood Boulevard
http://kennywood.coasterbuzz.com/

I always have a map in a park I don't know. I would waste my time trying to figure out where everything was that I wanted to ride

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Best Coaster: Millennium Force
Worst Coaster: Project Stealth

I love how BGW is set up. I wish I had "explored" the first time. Maybe I'll do that at BGT even though I hear they're pretty different in the layout.

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A Monster is Rising!! Be afraid...be very afraid!
Reptar's revenge-April 7, 2001
PKI-Kings Mills, Ohio

That is good idea. I love to have a map though and when i go in a group I am the "Travel Guide" so this would take a lot of will power. I will try it at BGW this summer. thanks for the great idea.

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All time Top 5: (1) Milleniun Force (2) Alpengeist (3) Hulk (4) Ice Dragon (5) Raptor

I have never used a map in an amusement park. Usually I look at the online map before so I know the general location of the rides, but once at the park, I find the entrances by sight. I thought everyone did it this way, but I guess not.

Same way here, Den. When I go to parks w/ my family, Mom always grabs a map just in case and for restaraunt lists. When I go with friends, no map at all. Grabbing a map as you leave is a must, I like to keep the map and the ticket of the parks I go to. I kinda got lost looking for the entrance for Big Bad Wolf, but it was OK.

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SAVE NAPSTER!
napster sn- tontomono
(I have been defeated)

Punk, I also got lost at BGW...the only park I have been lost in...looking for Loch Ness Monster. And I also grab a map on the way out as a souvenier. I even save all my food receipts...not just at parks but at all restaurants, hotels, whatever, on every out-of-state trip I take. :)

I use maps where ever they are availible exepct for SFA, because I know that place like the back of my hand

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What is life without SFA?

I usually use maps if I have never been to that park, but if I have to a park so many times I do not need a map.Sometimes, though, I just like to look at the map for fun.
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Westside!!! *** This post was edited by Al on 3/12/2001. ***

I can't recall the last time I used a map. Probably because I haven't been to a new-to-me-park in awhile. I take that back. Didn't use a map at IOA last year, but all you have to do there is walk in a circle and everything is marked really well for you.

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Thank you for riding America's Roller Coast

SFAdocate said:SFAdocate i work at SFA i'm a ride op don't you hate when you know people been to SFA 50 million times and still don't know where the rides are. lol
"I use maps where ever they are availible exepct for SFA, because I know that place like the back of my hand

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What is life without SFA?"

I don't really use the map at the park either, but I always get one for the scrapbook. Its much better to explore.

I have been gearing up for my IOA trip over spring break by studying the park map every night or so. I don't think one could get lost there!

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SAVE NAPSTER!
napster sn- tontomono
(I have been defeated)

before I went to Cedar Point, I had a map that someone had brought me. When I went to the park for the first time, my photographic memory kicked in and I knew exactly where to go from looking at that map, talk about going map-less!

I did the exact same thing when I went for the first time smooth. I (accidentally) had the exact spot of all the coasters memorized. It took me a couple minutes to find Jr. Gemini though. ;)

Now that I think of it, we have never used maps the first time...or any time after. I definitely remember that for DCA and IOA, the two newest parks I've been to. They're easy to get around anyway.

I go map-less at CP all the time, I know that park very well now. PKI, went map-less the first time, its not that difficult of a park to navigate. Kennywood, went map-less for about half the day, then picked one up just to make sure we did'nt miss anything.

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MF Drops-15
SOB Rides-2

I think the fear of missing something cool would keep me from going map-less. That would really suck to miss a flat ride I've never rode or God forbid a coaster! :-)
-Eric

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E Blitz Entertainment
Bay City, Michigan
A division of LCA Entertainment
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I went mapless at IOA and had no problems. Did the same at Michigan's Adventure, not that it's much of a trick.

I usually get a map to read, just for fun, even if I have been to the park 100 times. Six flags over texas is kind of confusing even with a map. What a weird shaped park! We looked at the map, and couldn't find the log flume. We asked a lady who worked there, and she pointed of in some direction, and told us it was right there. We never did find that log flume...gave up after about 15 minutes. No joke!