I'm dreaming of coaster season 2011

Mike Gallagher said:

If you'll be in Canada, are you gonna hit Wonderland? I stayed very close to Niagara Falls, and it was about 1.5 hours....gorgeous park, some unique and semi-unique rides. Only downside, IMO, is a somewhat mediocre coaster collection.

I was actually comtemplating making two weekend trips to Canada next year. One for the falls and Marineland over Labor Day Weekend, and another (possibly 4th of July weekend) to see the city of Toronto, CN Tower, etc. I was planning on hitting Canada's Wonderland that weekend, but this is still up in the air. Also want to see a Blue Jays game to see another major league stadium. They are playing the Phillies that weekend so I'll definitely see a good pitcher. :)

Mike Gallagher said:

I just watched it...very cute. I'd love to know the circumstances of Debbie not being involved...and there's no sign of Chris, either. Maybe they were taking a backstage break. At least my fellow Bayonne native (and Ramone for one gig,) Clem Burke, is on the drums. Clem actually grew up on the block I now reside on. To get it back on amusement park topic, the last time I saw Debbie and the band was at GAdv in either '07 or '08..whichever year (shudder!!!) Dark Knight opened.

They were on tour there, Debbie is probably off to the side. Blondie plays Busch Gardens in February.

I think Clem actually played 2 Ramones gigs. There are detailed reviews around - how he kept adding fills and 'endings' to Ramones songs that simply cannot have such things. Great stuff though!

I love mixing my favorite bands and coasters :) There is a connection for a reason.

Those little Hong Kong kids are adorable. Thanks for that.

Debbie should have come out at the end for an additional verse and chorus, singing along with the kids. The song wasn't long enough to be as special as it was supposed to be, in my opinion.

Kicking things off this weekend with Carrie and Dave at Dollywood! Then showing Mr. Beavers around Disney World over MLK weekend. Then I'll wait for Knoebels to open in April.

No Six Flags for me until Clint and I go down to Texas over Memorial Day weekend. Nitro needs time to warm up for the season anyway, so no rush to get back to Great Adventure.

Also hoping to make it to HoliWood Nights the following weekend, but that could be pushing it. Clint, maybe we should wait on Texas until Labor Day weekend. ;) ;) ;)

Maybe go with Clint on one of his trips up this way for July 4th weekend. And then the BIG ONE...

ACE Scandinavia trip for two weeks in mid July with Lisa, Jake and Kyle (hopefully Gator and Jill too). Can't wait!

After that, something over Labor Day weekend, then hopefully OcBoulderFest at Lake Compounce and then the most important weekend of the year... PPP!

By then I should be outright broke and will need to start saving up for Japan in 2012.

My big trip? 20 minutes to SFoT for the new Giant opening. Having kids will do that to you.

(Seriously though, have a business trip to Indianapolis next summer, so may sneak up to IB or down to HW. Possibly extend out to BB and KK if I find some serious time or the kiddo is doing really well on the trip.

kpjb said:
My wife's due at the end of June, so I pretty much won't be going anywhere next year. :(

Nonsense, poopypants! Just short of six months.

You have to come see us at SFoT when we're there!

As for being in Indianapolis, if you can make it to IB, do it! Loved that park, so if it's your first time, I would peronally opt for just that park and skip HW, BB, and KK (since I know you've been to HW). Although KRumbler is pretty awesome.

Agreed with Tek -- Cornball and Hoosier are both among my top 10 woodies, as is KRumbler (heh, I like that nickname). I just wish Beech Bend had anything else to offer to make it worth the side trip. It's even pretty low on the charm factor.

I enjoyed Beech Bend, especially since it was almost ERT like conditions on the rides. But the only things worth going back for are KRumbler, The drop tower, and the family bounce tower (Loved that). Unless you're a Michael Jackson fan.

Me: Is that... Thriller?
Vic: Do you guys play Michael Jackson music on this ride all the time?
Op: All day................ every day................ [pantomime shooting self]

I keeping eyeing that Top 100 list and realize how much more I have to go. I went to Holiday World for the first time this year, and would like to return in the coming season on a day that is less hot and crowded. A group of my friends seems poised to make Waldameer a tradition, and I'm good with that.

As for new stuff, I want to hit the CL Blue Streak if it's running next year, and I'd like to hit Dorney and Knoebels. Luckily, my girlfriend likes the smaller parks, so we can probably do the latter; combining the former into the same trip might test her patience, though.

A Beech Bend/Dollywood trip would be cool, but I don't know who I could convince to tag along for that.

Tekwardo said:

I plan on hitting Dollywood in March, perhaps opening weekend, since I haven't been since 2008 (yikes!).

That sounds good! :)

-Tina

I dreaming of that wonderful coaster being built in China. Can't wait to get over there, and ride a Great Coaster.

KnoebelsGrandCarousel said:
I am making my first ever trip to Dollywood/Pigeon Forge over Memorial Day weekend. Very excited for that. :) I am also going to Niagara Falls next year and plan on going to Marineland. I have been fascinated/curious about Dragon Mountain for a while now.

If you are going to both Marineland and Canada's Wonderland SAVE YOUR SANITY, STAY OVERNIGHT IN CANADA. During my 2008 Trip to the Greater Ohio Coaster Club event at Waldameer I made the mistake of doing two "Day Trips" into Canada. It took me ONE FULL HOUR going BOTH WAYS each time I passed through Customs. The days of "Hello, Citizen of what Country?..........How long do you plan to stay?........Anything to declare........Move along! are LONG GONE! :( @&#!! 9/11! From now on, WHAT GOES INTO CANADA STAYS IN CANADA!

My family recommended that I stay on the Canada side in Niagara, as it is nicer. I don't know if it's nicer since I didn't stay on the U.S. side, but all the nice highrise hotels that offer the best views of the falls seem to be on the Canada side. It also made for a short drive to Marineland...and Dragon Mountain is worth the side trip.

Regulus said:

Anything to declare...

"Yeah...don't go to England!"

The only time I went to IB was one evening during a business conference at Purdue. Got 3 night rides on cornball, a ride on LoCoSuMo, a ride on the jet star and a ride on Hurricane in 45 minutes before they closed.

I liked it well enough, but I'm not sure I want Steel Hawg badly enough to skip a Timberliner Trip at HW or the new-to-me KK and BB.

If both KK and BB are new to you, then I'd suggest that, because KRumbler is great, and if Thunder Run is running, it's pretty great too. But only since you've been to IB. Otherwise, Cornball wins everytime.

Cornball in the first couple seasons was absolutely NUTS....it's still a really solid ride, but the last couple trips I've found it less-than-stellar. Shame, too, it was easily in my top-5 woodies upon opening.

Thunder Run and Greezy make for the beginnings of a good park in KK. The new poll asks for suggestions about a new attraction - and it looks like Ed Hart wants to go B&M. Personally, I think that amount of money could be WAY better-spent....but he has experience making KK into a "real" park in the first place, while I only have experience riding. Anyone know what ever became of their Breakdance - it was surely the tamest model I've ever ridden, but probably COULD be "enhanced".

We are planning on going to Canada's Wonderland in late spring. Indiana Beach and Holiday World sometime in the summer, can't wait for these parks since I have never ben to either. Mall of America to ride the rides there and maybe Valleyfair, I haven't been there in years. And my multiple trips to CP and MiA.

The days of "Hello, Citizen of what Country?..........How long do you plan to stay?........Anything to declare........Move along! are LONG GONE! :( @&#!! 9/11! From now on, WHAT GOES INTO CANADA STAYS IN CANADA!

My first trip to Canada's Wonderland included about 1000 more questions in addition to my rental car being searched. Luckily the second trip went a lot smoother. This was way before the new border laws went into effect.

I can only imagine the number of questions now! You just never know what to expect. ;)

-Tina