No Coaster Con '08

Is anyone planning on attending No Coaster Con '08? My hubby and I have never been to the event although we did think about it a few times. Is it worth all the hype?

If so, it's about a 6 hour drive for us, $$ aside, smarter to fly?

Thanks! :)

Jo
Lifetime Raptor flights: 1229 :)

Hey Jo, This year will be my 3rd NCC. I'm also about a 6 hour drive. Flying is so expensive. And then you still have to get a rental car. I guess it's just preference and how much money you have to spend.

I think it's fun. Great presentations and giveaways. Lots of friends that I don't normaly see much throughout the year. Very good meal.
*** Edited 11/11/2007 5:14:14 PM UTC by Jason Hammond***

There's a free shuttle to the hotel from the airport. I've even taken the shuttle to public transportation stops to get downtown.

LuvRaptor, just by chance, are you Raptor Joe from the Cedar Point show I have seen a few times on the discovery channel?

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CoasterDiscern said:
LuvRaptor, just by chance, are you Raptor Joe from the Cedar Point show I have seen a few times on the discovery channel?

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Yup that would be me! :)

Funny thing is I never have seen that show! Taped it back in '02 and have never seen it! Plenty of people tell me about it though! :)

Jason-I'm thinking we may be going. It always sounded like a good time. If hubby can't go will get my BFF to go with me.
Planning on doing some surfing on hotels and stuff. Only hesitation of driving is it is January and the weather can really suck that time of year!

Jo
Lifetime Raptor flights: 1229 :)

I've been lucky so far with the weather. It was a little sketchy on the way home last year, but no worse than driving in cleveland. ;)

I'm just glad they kept the event at the southern location. When it was in Linconshire, the drive was much worse. You had to actualy go through Chicago. I could never live there with that traffic. The map program says it's only about a 20 minute difference, but I think it's an hour with the construction they have going on.

If you are looking for amusement fun while attending NCC, then hit up Safariland in Villa Park. You can add a coaster credit along with bowling, bumper cars, Tilt a Whirl, Virtual reality ride, and a boatload of arcade games and redemption games.]

http://www.safarilandfun.com/

^Really COOL place. Kinda like a themed version of Knucklehead's at the Dells.

NCC is worth the trip to Chicago. Been there just about every year since '02. However, if you can avoid it, I would try to NOT drive. Chicago can be a real pain from a traffic standpoint. Depending on where you are coming from, flying or taking Amtrak are much easier ways to get there. Amtrak usually isn't on time, but if you kick back and relax it can be a decent trip. (Plus, you can plug in your laptop the entire way!)

You can fly Cleveland - Chicago for $100, give or take. Without actually doing the math, I would think a single traveler would be better off doing that (especially taking the time savings into account).

Do you have 2 handles Walt? Or are there 2 people named Walt S?

No, Walt S is not me.

That is so freaken amazing. Twelve hundred and twenty nine laps on raptor, holly pineapples. So freaken cool! I love your facal expression in the video when you go down the drop on raptor. Priceless! You cant buy that kind of happiness, I love it. I swear, you are the female version of me. I can ride and ride and ride and ride and ride, thats how much I love coasters. Maybe even raptor too, if I could be a little more close to the park. ;)

Behemoth is coming to PCW this year (my home park) and I'm about to purchase my season pass. I'll look you up at the end of the year and let you know my ride count on the sucker.

Some would disagree, but to me Jo, you are the true definition of a "Roller Coaster Enthusiast". My mom tells me to shut-up all the time because I wont stop talking about Behemoth. Sorry If I come off a little direct, but I really do appreciate your love for coasters, or, a particular coaster. Thanks for the response and happy ridding.

Donald
Coaster Discern

Not only is there SafariLand, but two other places of interest - Enchanted Castle and Whirleyball. Neither has a true coaster but the Castle has been known to give freebies to Park Enthusiasts like free indoor go-karts and mini golf! ;)

Well, hotel reservations made so looks like we're going. Dont know about mode of transportation yet till I have time to surf for air fares.

I'm excited, it's our 1st NCC!

Donald-there are plenty of people who have WAY more rides on Raptor and other coasters then me! I am more proud of working on Raptor for 3 years than my ride count! :)
But thanks for the compliments! :)
btw-what is the name of the show you saw me on? I'd like to see it myself! :)

Jo

More raptor rides.....Oh. Thats alot. Well, I live in Canada as you probably already know, but I have seen it on Discovery HD for Rogers Digital Cable Television. Its Ultimate something, I cant seem to remember, but the show is dedicated to friends, family, teachers and other folks who have deep fears for coasters, but want to join in and have as much fun as the rest of them do. They go through a whole series of classes and deal with the anxiety and fear of coasters. You are right at the very biggining of the program, with a your raptor Tee-shirt. Shoot, I have seen two different programs with cedar point, that might not be the one. I'm gonna have to get back to you, but I can also tell you there is another fellow who moved from Illinois to florida, just for montu, and he also had a very big coaster count.

I you don't mind, what did your job include when working on raptor?

*** Edited 11/13/2007 11:38:54 PM UTC by CoasterDiscern***

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CoasterDiscern said:
I you don't mind, what did your job include when working on raptor?

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Transfer of trains, loading, unloading guests (fancy term for checking seatbelts and shoulder restraints) dispatching trains, crowd control (worst position ever thats where you're the platform's crowd police) entrance, keeping queues clean (good luck there) test rides (LOVED that) and the best position ever is controls.
Each employee rotates all positions all day to keep them from getting bored.

One of the hardest jobs I have EVER had. For those of you who think amusement park employees have a cake job you need to think again. I still keep my Cedar Point information on my resume, I think it proves you have customer service skills! Not going to really help me with promotions at work or anything I just think it looks cool :)

Jo
Lifetime Raptor flights: 1229 :)

^It absolutely shows that you can have customer service skills. I worked at Six Flags America for a brief stint in 03'. Here's some of the jobs you perform, especially working a flat by yourself like I did some of the time (I worked the Chance Chaos):

Negotiation—A spinning ride, and especially a Chaos—needs to be balanced or it stops. Friends always want to sit near each other, but that's not always possible.

Crisis Management—Anytime someone would get stuck and I'd have to call maintenance to free them. This usually meant calming the guests until they arrived.

Public Relations—

a) When I first started I was a flight-suiter for the Skycoaster. I'd have to instruct the public (some of whom didn't speak English that well), in how to get into their flight-suit, how to walk out to the loading platform, and how to pull the ripcord.

b) Telling some kids that they weren't big enough to get on the Chaos, even when the parents would insist they had ridden it before.

c) Many other examples like having to close a ride because someone spilled got ill, and having to tell many people that the ride is closed until someone cleans it up etc.

Environmental Specialist—Working at the Go-Kart track or Skycoaster when it's brutally hot outside with no shade, or conversely working the Chaos in pouring down rain in the freezing temperatures of fall with a small slanted roof for cover.

BTW-to anyone interested in going to NCC. ACE is bragging about their "special ACE rates" for the hotel room as $93.00/night.

I'm only paying $79.99/night.
Guess the Non-ACE rates are better :)

Jo
Lifetime Raptor flights: 1229 :)

From everything it represents it's wonderful. Yes, the most fun is seeing old friends. Yet since 2005 several of us have boycotted the event because Bob Prentki who hosts it doen't even go to Great America! Hello it's the host cities home park and he lives in Wisconsin. Does he do media for the park NO. Did he attend the only Coaster Con held at Great America No. Now Chitown you call me what ever you want but I along with several other people do this in defense of Great America and all it does stand for.