Going to parks alone?

Bobbie, I have no idea how to operate a blog or make links with a MacBook, or I would be doing the exact same thing. I keep a journal that I use for poems, stories, and all things coaster! :)

Bunky, I'm not familiar with Mac and my computer skills are somewhat limited (I don't even know how to reply to a specific post the way a lot of people on this site do) but I would imagine that blogging would work the same way with any DOS. I simply went to Google Blogger and followed the instructions, which were very clear. Once I got the basics down, I looked for more advanced options such as how to change the order of posts. The only thing I wasn't able to figure out is how to change my profile so that it takes up less space and my email address isn't split on two lines.

Now I have a new challenge, however. Zipcar (being carless, I have made a number of trips of SFGA in a Zipcar) recently sent me an email advising me that I could earn money by advertising Zipcar on my blog but I haven't been able to get this to come together. It's necessary to go through a third party and that's where I got stalled in the process. I wouldn't in the least mind advertising Zipcar, as it's a great car share program - motto is WHEELS WHEN YOU WANT THEM - ideal for people in my situation. I must admit that I have misplaced several Zipcars, not remembering where I parked them, and on one occasion had to ride around the park with Six Flags security to locate the car. But that was OK because I learned something new; I happened to mention El Toro and the security guy told me that they walk the track every day as a safety check prior to park opening .

There are two sides to visiting coaster parks alone. On one hand you have the company, generally, of like minded people who share the riding of the coasters. However you have to compromise as to what you will do during the day. Maybe only riding a coaster once when you want to keep re-riding or feeling you have to ride a non-coaster ride because the people you are with wants to do that. They may want to go home early where you want to stay to closing and when you can often ride over and over. You do share the day with other people which is always good.

On the other hand if you are on your own, you can arrive and leave when you want, you can ride the coasters you want and as many times as you want. And you can leave when you want. A while ago I went to Alton Towers and spent the 1st 2 hours riding Nemesis. I managed ten goes - eight on the front row (it was a Tuesday and a school day) which was awesome. If I had been with someone then I may had felt I should have moved on to some other rides, even a non coaster. I love coasters and would prefer to only ride coasters.

When I go with a group I will always feel obliged to follow their lead. They go on carosals, indoor rides as well as coasters. Last time I went we went to Nemesis for the last hour, I thought, and we did 2 rides and they then decided to find an ancient tree which was the backdrop to one of the Alton Towers rides. Myself and one of the group would have preferred to have ridden Nemesis far more, maybe for this last hour of the day. Having said that it is good to share the day with others. It’s just a case of doing both where ever possible.

As far as meeting up with other people you don’t wany to restrict yourself to just your age group. I can understand that it could be seen as strange if you met up with young teenagers but the most important thing is to share with other coaster lovers whether they are 20 or 60 (this is the age group I fall into) The worse case scenario is that you spend a day with them and don’t get on, you don’t have to meet up again but you may enjoy yourself.

In my instance I joined the Roller Club of Great Britain, at the age of 58 in 2009, and went on my own. I met other coaster lovers and actually have found that I get on well with a group of 25-40 years old. So much so that I have just been to a wedding of one couple of them and I have been invited to a wedding later this year to another couple. Their age range is in their 30‘s. I actually went on a week long trip with one of these couples and another friend to Spain for a week.

As far as keeping up with these youngsters I have no problem. I also have been told by them what they like about me is that I will try anything (at least once anyway) The only time I did feel worn out was when I was on a trip with RCCGB and we went to Cedar Point. We left our hotel at 7.00 and got to Cedar Point at 8.00 and we have an ERS (ERT) from 8.30 - 9.30. We had all the day in the park and after CP had its fireworks at 10.30 we stayed behind for another ERS from 11.00 pm to 12.00 am. We left the part at 12.20 am. That day I did feel tired at the end.

I enjoy going to the parks alone. I went to Cedar Point alone a few times, and stayed from open until close, and rode almost every ride at least 2 times. It seems that when I go with other people, they either get tired of riding, don't wait in line, or want to see all the stupid stuff, like what is inside every single gift shop in the park, which is very time consuming. Or, stand and watch others play the games to see if they win, instead of actually playing the games yourself.I went to Indiana Beach a few times by myself as well, and had a great time there. I was also there on a day when a few ACE members where at the park, riding Cornball Express. It was cool to chat with them, though some of their coaster knowlege was a bit off, or exagerated, like saying that Mean streak had 200 foot tall lift and went 75 miles an hour...In Cedar Point fantasyland I guess. But, I did not correct them. Think they just had the names mixed up..probably talking about Magnum.They were certainly interesting though. I happen to go with a friend who likes to make up Grand lies while waiting for rides like Batman. Remember when we were here that one year and one of the cars flew off the track and a bunch of people died! Trying to freak out the little kids. And, what about that one coaster that jumps the tracks, always seems to land on the other side..how do they do that?He rides the full of crap coaster to crazy town.

More often than not I usually visit a park alone. A rare exception occurred in October of 2007. I attended a Family Reunion in the Cleveland, Ohio area. Among the festivities was a "Grown-Ups and Kiddies Day" The Grown-Ups went on a fall color tour except for one adult. The adult who didn't go on the tour got the honors of chaperoning the kiddies while they visited (Where Else?) Cedar Point. Guess who got that honor? The Coaster Enthusiast, who else? Me! We all had fun, We all took turns deciding what rides we wanted to go on, and I bagged three new rides (Maverick, Wicked Twister and Top Thrill Dragster) while I was there.

Kind of unrelated but some of my Best Friends in the world I have met through Cbuzz, we have been in each others weddings, this isn't just one person either but many people, we have spent countless good times outside of amusement parks together and became involved in each others families. While circumstances out of our control have made us"separate" for a few years if we saw each other tomorrow a beat would never be missed.

I am beside myself, shocked even, to learn that Timber-Rider doesn't function well in groups of people.

Once again I would like to thank everyone for posting and helping. Like I said I would like to respond to you all individually but I seemed to have let the responses add up without making an effort lol. It seems to be true that I might be taking a family trip to Dollywood in the first week of June or maybe the second. So pretty excited about that :) Been there twice but it has been around 9 years since the last trip and I have never been on the coasters. Then I look at the calender and see a few weeks before this trip and would like to get at least one park trip in before that time. Waiting till June to start coaster riding seems like a waste of a lot of the coaster season lol. So on to my next question. Does anyone know of any enthusiasts events coming up between now and then? Preferably at a fairly close park to where I live. Or maybe someone could give me a list of enthusiast events during the season? Just so I know when there will be other enthusiasts at my near by parks. As I am not real knowledgeable on the subject, thanks.

Click "CoasterBuzz Club" in the top right of this page, and look at the events posted in the box on the right. That's a start.

Thanks a lot

Another place to check is the ACE events page. Some of those you have to be an ACE member to attend (or go as a guest of a member), but they also list other enthusiast events.

Thanks

I function just fine Break Trims. Next time I'll invite you to go to Cedar Point with my friend David, and I'll handcuff the two of you together, and we will see how long it takes for you to want to saw you arm off. While he insists you walk through every shop, pick up every little peace of trash on the ground to see if it is something of value, and not go on a single ride because the line is too long. Or, grit your teeth while he watches people at the weight guessing game for two hours, to see if he can outwit the game operator, even though he never plays the game himself. Or, hang around the skeeball arcade looking for tickets laying ont the floor so, he can get a free toy. And, watch in horror as he takes a souvenir bottle out of the trash, and washes it, so he can get a free soda. Sound like fun yet? Then you get to listen to him piss and moan about how he wants to leave after only being in the park for a few hours, and has not been on a single ride.
And as I am going around riding all the rides, and having a great time, I will feel horribly sorry for you. Or, I may expect to see you carrying him on your back, after you have knocked him out cold. LOL!!

That was hilarious, Timber-Rider. That's why some of us don't mind going to parks alone. Some friends just don't understand how to enjoy a theme park. lol