Riding Solo

Currently, I have a girlfriend that loves coasters too (now that I have introduced her to the vices of the G-thrill)...but, I have been alone in parks on more than one occassion. It's cool and it's easier to get on rides. But when the lines are long, it's nice to have someone to BS with and otherwise impress with your vast store of coaster knowledge...;)


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Decisions determine destiny; Destiny determines decisions.

I perfer it.... my rules.. my schedule... If I want to ride.. I ride.. if I want to sit in the Red Garter at $4.75 a beer and watch every show that day.. I do...

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MF 2000 - 269 laps

MF 2001 - ???

Put me into the "I'll go alone" category, too. Like others have said, when you're by yourself, you can go at your own pace, without the nonenthusiasts dragging you down ;)

Of course, it IS fun to have people to talk to. Wearing an eye-catching shirt, like my PPP shirt, helps. Right, Jeremy? ;)

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--Greg

http://www.pobox.com/~gregleg/

I agree with Red Garter Rob 100%. Plus your not having to search for a bathroom every 5 min.

I hate riding alone. I am not real talkative to strangers so it gets boring when standing in lines. My dad, brother, and friends all love coasters so I don't have to worry about it too much.

I like going alone as well. It's just hard to do because once I tell my wife and daughter I'm going to the park, they start packing a fanny pack and head for the car! And if I don't tell them, and just leave a note...hmmm; not worth the weeks of anguish. :)

And don't forget how often they need a single rider to fill in an empty seat, especially in the front of a B&M. Just keep your eyes open for a group of three.

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coasterbob34 said:
"I rather go alone. You don't have to spend all day riding stuff you really don't want to go on and can leave when YOU want to. I'm heading to Six Flags Great Adventure on Monday alone and I'm looking forward to it!!! (first Park this year)"

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This is a good topic for me. I was planning on going to SFGrAdventure on Monday, also. Live in NYC and none of my friends here are into roller coasters. I felt a little funny at the thought of going alone, but it was good to know other people feel like I do.

Thanks.

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robvia said:
"Many of us go alone. There is nothing wrong with it. In fact, it can reduce your wait times with the single riders queue, and often the loading ops will put up a finger if looking for one, like on Drop Zone at PKI, cut my wait time by half an hour.

I'm 37 yrs old. Last year, I flew to Columbus Ohio all by myself, rented a car, visited PKI, Kennywood, SFO, and Cedar Point, I was never bored or lonely.

2 months ago I went to IOA for a day, I had a blast.

You talk to people in line. They see your coaster shirts and start chatting it up.

Being alone lets you do whatever you want, plus it drastically reduces your costs (plane rides, tickets, food, etc.).

This year, I'm flying to SFMM, KBF in September.

When you add people, they just drag you down and complicate things, especially if they are not true coaster fans.

Yeah, go alone and enjoy yourself."

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Thanks for your info. I am also your age and I also flew (alone) to Columbus last year to meet my brother and his wife, rented a car, and we spent a couple days at PKI. I did have a GREAT time, although I frequently (as the third wheel) had to ride with a stranger next to me. It didn't bother me that much, but the day they left, I went back to PKI for one last hurrah by myself. I had a great time.

By the way, from your experience, don't you think it would be a better idea to fly into Dayton (I think it's closer to PKI) for the next trip?

I go alone to parks particularly KBF after my shift ends there. But I personally enjoy going to parks with my family. For the most part it is more fun that way. But when alone I always end up meeting new people in the queues.

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Home Park: Knotts Berry Farm!
but also Disneyland and DCA

I've been to CP and SFDL by myself. While I got to ride whatever I wanted whenever I wanted, it wasn't as much fun as when I'm with someone. I'll probably be doing SFDL, SFNE, SFGAdv by myself this year, and I'll try to grab my sister for SFWoA...she loves all coasters, and will ride everything, but she's not a fanatic like I am. But she still lives an hour from SFWoA. :)

Jman

Dirk wrote: "By the way, from your experience, don't you think it would be a better idea to fly into Dayton (I think it's closer to PKI) for the next trip?"

If you're only visiting PKI, then yes, you're right. But I hit 4 parks in 4 days (PKI, Kennywood, SFO, and CP in that order). Columbus is the center point. In the hotel rooms, I have a few beers, watch football on tv, then get to bed early because all driving was done in the morning, I was never bored.

Yeah, I wouldn't want to be 3rd wheel, just go alone. Nothing wrong with riding with strangers, again, they see the coaster shirts and start chatting it up.

There is nothing wrong with leaving the wife and kid at home if you are a coaster fan. Sure, they like going, but it costs alot of money to fly them. My wife blows up at the littleiest thing, and ruins my trips. So now I leave them home and go by myself, and I've only got 1 daughter, so I can imagine what happens with 2 or 3 kids. I'm taking my Daughter to BGT because I can drive there, but for SFMM, no way, I'm going alone. I'm sure that could be a new thread, arguments on trips, I could write an entire book. For example, Has your wife slept on the floor of the hotel room instead of in the bed with you? Yep. Has your wife blown up at you, ruined your trip to BGW, then said "sorry" on the plane ride back? Yep. They alway say sorry on the way home, can't do it on the trip 1 hour after the argument, gotta hold that grudge. Forget that scene, leave them home, go alone and enjoy the parks.

i go all by myself, it saves so much time not having a other people to agree where to go next. and you get to do what you want, no going to lunch when everyones hungry except you.

I went to orlando last year for six days on my own and had the best vacation ever. 36 holes of golf plus four solid days of coasters. Was never bored or lonely for a second.

I just went to SFA by myself yesterday, and I have to say I couldn't have had a better time. It is real nice being able to ride what you want, when you want to, and as many times as you want to. Often times when I am with others, I end up riding things (Bumper Cars) that although I don't mind riding, I would rather be riding something else.

It was nice to be able to walk around the park taking pictures whenever I felt like it without slowing everyone else down. I will probably be going to a few more parks by myself this year and I am looking forward to doing it.

On the other hand, I don't like driving alone down I-68 in some of the thickest fog I have ever experienced.

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Joe Cernelli
Head Webmaster, Kennywood Boulevard
http://kennywood.coasterbuzz.com/

It seems like most of the people posting go to ride coasters with non-enthusiasts or something -- what's the sense in that? I could understand if it's family, but with a group of friends or whatever it would be obvious to make sure they're all into coasters. I ALWAYS make a point to be sure everyone in the group is an all-out coaster freak, so there's never any problems with having to drag others along. It works much better that way and you have others to make the rides more fun.

What's the sense in that? Well, the sensible thing is to go with your friends. Personally, I don't judge my friends on whether or not they like coasters, but whether or not I like them. If a friend happens to be a coaster enthusiast, great! But, since coasters aren't the only thing in my life, if they hate 'em with a passion, that's cool too.

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Matt Lynch
Co-Webmaster, Kennywood Boulevard
http://kennywood.coasterbuzz.com

I drove cross country to PKD alone and had a wonderful day after meeting up with Jamin and Michele from CP; by chance, while waiting for the park to open. Last week I went to PKI opening day. As others have said You get to do what you want when you want. The next day at SFKK I met even more Buzzers and you always have someone to talk to when they see your shirt from another park.
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As heard on Amtrak 44: "If you look out the left side of the Train you will see the coasters of Cedar Point."

Like everything else in life, different strokes for different folks.

Having had the fortune to ride with many many people at many many parks and events, there are quite a few which are fine with riding by themselves.

There is also something else to be said for quite a few enthusiasts. They are often single, and or have no children. Nothing to read-into that, just an observation on my part over way too many coasters and parks to count.

I go to some events without my wife, and my daughters have only been to a few events, but many many parks.

My wife and I usually go to several parks a year without our daughters, and enjoy it. We also try to go to 10+ parks a year as a family.

Whatever you do, have fun doing-it. Whether that is riding solo enjoying the ups, downs, forces of a coaster. Or is in the company of others.

Not trying to wax-on in some deep level here.

Just trying to impart the facts of life. Too many people go through life, rather than enjoy-it.