This year, although I didn't go to any new parks, was still an awesome summer. I got my first season pass for Cedar Point this year, and ended up going 8 times. Living 3 hours away, that's a pretty big feat for me. I went more this year than in the last 3 years combined.
The ERT on Magnum in the morning while everyone else was over at MF was a great way to kick off the day. I got a free hook up on RipCord because of my friend being a lifeguard in Soak City. The look on my mom's face when she dropped was priceless!
Riding MF on closing weekend, I can honestly say that it was the most forceful ride. Although cold and rainy, my friend and I had a blast!
Coastermania was great as ever. Although WT wasn't running, a nice constellation was riding MS in the pitch black with no lights, re-rides, and a nice healthy portion of mayflies!
I had a great time this year, and did things that I hadn't done before, and saw the park from whole new perspectives. Just writing about it, makes me want to go back**sniff**...thanks alot whoever brought this topic back! :)
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LocoBazooka--Sevendust, Nonpoint, Stereo Vent, Mushroomhead
Korn Tour (With no name)--Korn, Puddle of Mudd, Deadsy
*Lost Coaster Media Day where I rode Cornball Express for 2 hours in the rain without having to get out of my seat except when I wanted to change cars. That felt so good.
*SRM - I only knew a few people there, but still had a very special time riding 2 coasters that got crazier with every ride through the dark.
*Being at CP on a day when I could reride MF without an unreasonably long line. Last year I waited up to 2 hours and one particular Sunday this year during Halloweekens the line was maybe 10 minutes between 6 and 7 o'clock. I managed to really absorb the experience after a few rerides.
I hope that next year includes a trip to several Pennsylvania parks; I've yet to visit that state. A Six Flags season pass, I have plans on going to at least 5 Six Flags parks.
I also hope to hit Indiana Beach, my favorite all time park in the whole wide world at least a hundred times.
Not a phenomenal season but worth mentioning.
I have been working at parks for the last 3 seasons, with a full year in Orlando ending my work expierance last November of '01. While it was a fun 3 years, I didn't get to visit my semi-homeparks. This Spring/Summer/Fall was my first to see them again.
Kennywood (1 visit, early in the spring)- First time on PR and I was very surprised at how fun it's new transformation was. I did get to visit KW back in '00 while working at CP.
Idlewild (1 visit, late in the spring)- I had never been to this quaint, under rated park, yet heard a lot about it over the years. I didn't plan on going until the night before. I really liked this park, and I am planning on takeing my nephue next spring when he is old enough. It's definately geared more towards the kids, but a great park none-the-less. I wonder why I had never been before seeing that it is only 1 and 1/2 hours from my house.
Hershypark (two visits durring Summer)- This park keeps getting better and better. The second time I went, I took a young (12 y/o) friend of mine who hasn't had the privilege of visiting large parks outside of the two in our hometown. I had one of the greatest times in my life getting his reaction from his first looping coaster (SDL) and first water rides (and remember kids, to prevent your sholders and chest from turning pink, never dye your hair florecent red the day before you go to an amusement park).
Six Flags Americia (only 1 visit, on the count of me not likeing D.C. traffic,on the last opperating day of the year)- I hadn't been here in years, and it had changed a lot. I got a few new rides on my coaster count (Batwing, Superman, Jokers Jinx, Face Off, Vecoma SLC (clased last time), and Loony Tunes themed Kiddy Coaster). Nice park, some really nice employees and some really nasty employees.
I guess I should include my homeparks DelGrosso's and Lakemont. I visited them many time durring the year, mostly takeing the nephue and other kids. Nothing really new with Lakemont except for "Tin Lizzies". Delgrosso's had a few new flats. The kids and I have a ball on the Sea Dragon, a swing ship ride.
I hope to have a little more funds to be able to get to more parks next summer. Maybe I'll even buy a season pass or two.
If you are still reading, thanks. I left a lot out just to make it this short.
1 - 50th rides on Shivering Timbers. Truly amazing.
1st ride on Wicked Twister
1st ride on Magnum
1 - 3rd rides on Raptor
And many more GREAT memories...
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Millennium Timbers - 310 foot tall wooden GG comming to the Michigan's Adventure nearest to you
I visited lots of parks today and got my count up to 115.
1. Many visits to SFgadv.
2. First time to Knoebels, Lake Compounce, Great Escape, SFA, Canobie, Funtown, Playland and many more.
3. Trip to SFA and PKD and teh highlight of the trip was definitely Hypersonic XLC being my 100th coaster.
4. I picked up about 50-60 coasters this year. Next year after So-Cal, SRM trip, CP trip, gadv opening day I will have about 160 coasters.
The one thing that will remain for me as the best part of my 2002 season, is Pheonix Phall Phunfest weekend!
Saturday at Knoebels was a blast. I got to meet a lot of people that I had been speaking to over message boards etc and made many new friends! Great fun!
On Sunday I headed out to Six Flags Great Adventure with some RRC buddies, and then met up with some buzzers. The fun I had that day riveled the fun I had on Saturday.
Some other things worth mentioning...
-First flying coaster (X-Flight)
-First impulses (SUE and Wicked Twister)
-Screechin Eagle! 'nugh said.
-First Holiday World trip
-3 click rides on Nitro during CC!!
For being 15 and having younger siblings, my summer turned out extremely well.
1. I managed 2 trips to CP with a last ride of the night on MF getting the front seat which was simply amazing, and another standout was the backseat on WT. A whole different experience than S:UE.
2. I got my first season pass to SFWoA and made it up 15 times which is quite a bit from last year going up only twice. I made it for my first time to fright fest which was actually really good, I discovered the wonderful airtime on the Big Dipper, and I got a front seat ride on the Villain which is also a great seat.
3. The highlight of my summer had to be a two day trip to SFGAm from Akron Ohio that was completed in just two days. I fell in love with every ride in the park and will be back next year without a doubt. Even though DV was down for a valley the second day it was still fun having the hope that I was going to get a ride on it. I rode Whizzer after the announcement that it had been spared, and just barely missed SW but I know I would have loved it. I'm a sucker for Arrow. This has been the best summer ever and I'm really going to take advantage of driving the summer of '03. This entire season I had to endure with family and friends of mine that have their license and I was named "The roller coaster NAZI" which is very appropriate because I skip flat rides and don't mess around in the park. I am very much anticipating next year and hope to get rides on the new rides at SFGAm and CP.
'00 season = 4 trips to parks
'01 season = 3 trips to parks
'02 season = 19 trips to parks
'03 season = I'm not messing around!
This year's highlight reel:
1. Coaster Alley Convergence, Seattle, Puyallup Fair, PNE - a great trip with all the right elements: great group of people to go with (we missed ya Moosh!), great coasters (Tremors! Timber Terror! Coaster! Coaster Thrill Ride! Even got the Windstorm by the Space Needle), and good beer! I think we've "educated" the Silverwood ride ops in the ways of SRM coaster operation as well. =)
2. SRM - I don't think I've had more fun hanging out with friends from across the country, riding 2 excellent coasters, drinking free Pepsi products and then road tripping across Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Missouri. A great group of friends from Florida combined with all the great parks and coasters made it a blast. Cornball knocked my socks off, so did Mr. Freeze at SFStL - unfortunately the Boss didn't (one of those great cases of expectations not meeting the reality - it was really rough). Not to mention how ghetto SFKK is - its like beer+sexual innuendo+barbed wire to keep the guests from escaping = unique park experience. Can't wait to do it again.
3. What does a rainy day and a really great wooden coaster equal? Georgia Cyclone airtime insanity. I got to relive the hayday of the GA Cyclone from when I was in college and it was awesome.
Have Fun!
George
I finally went to SFGADV. I loved this park from top to bottom great coasters. Medusa was off the the meter! Nitro blew me away, Best B&M I've ridden so far.
Hershey Park was another first this season. I love this park! Lightning Racer holds a #1 spot in my book in the "Woodie" dept. Wildcat lived totally up to it's name, sweet ride. But the highlight of the park was Great Bear, this ride was very intense and the helix first drop is amazing! You would have to ride this to understand.
I had one low and that was visting Paramount's Canada's Wonderland. This park was in total disarray when I visited. Not trying to park bash or anything but I would have rather visted SFWOA which was the first choice.
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Someone Who Hopes Their Homepark wakes up and smells the coffee!
*** This post was edited by darienlakefan on 11/11/2002. ***
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