Planning a coaster trip?

I am planning my first coaster trip ever for this spring. I have always just made one day trips to a park and then returned home. This year, I took the first week in June for vacation and plan on hitting several parks. I am not sure of the parks that I am going to hit yet, but would like to hit Michigan Adventure and PKI. I will probably start out at CP.

My question is how far in advance do I need to make hotel reservations? Do they book up months in advance close to parks or can you usually find a room easily?

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Just waiting for May 4, 2003. :)

If you leave a little early, last weekend in May to be exact, you could go down to Holiday World for Stark Raven Mad.

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Bob Hansen

Operation Wicked Twister
Goal: Lose enough weight (50lbs) to ride Wicked Twister in 2K3
Progress: 17 pounds since 1-1-2003

So your one of the poor soles to big to fit into the Intamin OTS seats too. I was so bummed last May when I could not get the belts latched on the test seat for WT. I can ride every other ride with no problems. Kennywood ride ops will push in on the restraint on Pitt Fall ( same basic seats as WT), but CP ops will not. :(

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Just waiting for May 4, 2003. :)

CP - I have pretty good hotel Karma and usually don't make reservations unless 1] I am going to a popular event like SRM, PPP, or Solace; 2] the choices for hotels in the area is limited to just a few; or 3] I find an outstanding deal online.

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Welcome to the New & Improved Coasterbuzz...tomfoolery allowed!

Well, I am just at the limit for the seats on V2 and couldnt do Wicked Twister no way no how. On V2 I had to have a ride op really push on them to secure and they werent always willing to do that. My goal is to not have to have an op push on the restraints for v2 at all next year.

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Bob Hansen

Operation Wicked Twister
Goal: Lose enough weight (50lbs) to ride Wicked Twister in 2K3
Progress: 17 pounds since 1-1-2003

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Mamoosh said:

CP - I have pretty good hotel Karma and usually don't make reservations unless 1] I am going to a popular event like SRM, PPP, or Solace; 2] the choices for hotels in the area is limited to just a few; or 3] I find an outstanding deal online.

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Welcome to the New & Improved Coasterbuzz...tomfoolery allowed!

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...or 4] You're traveling with Bass, and he already reserved the rooms a month ago!

I get paranoid about having a bad room, and I'm cheap, so I like to know exactly where I'm going to be staying and what I'm going to be paying before I leave home. Plus, I'm addicted to Priceline! ;-)

I book things in the following order (usually):

1. Airfare--anywhere from 2-4 months in advance. Orbitz, Hotwire, Expedia, Travelocity, Jetblue.com, and Southwest.com...whatever gets me the best deal.

2. Rental car--from 30-45 days before the trip. Hotwire.com, por favor, so I pay the whole price up front and don't get hit with $60 in extra fees once I get there.

3. Hotels--Also 30-45 days out, usually after the rental is done. Priceline.com, or Red Roof if Priceline is not in the city I'm looking for (that's pretty rare these days). I now use Biddingfortravel.com to guide my bids on Priceline.

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Mike Miller

Intamin Fan says we have to behave. Let's bring this discussion back to coasters. Do you people think I have all day to dick around?

Being that you were born 14 days earlier than me, I would hope you have a credit card or a check card, as this is usually necessary to get a hotel room. I haven't made reservations yet, and I've been fine. This way, I have leeway if the weather is not cooperating and the rides are down as a result.
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