Rye Playland - Changes - Sunday, July 28, 2024

I feel like I have been on a tear lately. Three trip reports in the span of a week.

In any case here is my story...

When I go to parks with my son, it is rare and a different experience. He doesn't love going, and is anxious about thrill rides, but we have a nice - if different time together. We eat while hanging out on benches and savor more of the gentle and mild-thrill attractions that some of the parks offer. It's not about how many rides we can get on or how does this park's scrambler compare with that one's. And that's ok.

We left Long Island on or close to 1 PM. The intent was to pick up a sandwich on the way and head over to Rye...whenever we get there. No rush, no schedule, Sunday traffic, sunny warm - but not too humid day. Who cares? I scored 2 deep discounted tickets from Groupon from earlier in the morning for $25 each - and they printed out as intended.

There were some snags at North 95 in the Bronx and again as we were approaching the Playland Parkway parking lot. Parking was $20 - which felt about right for a Sunday and from my other recent trips and I was surprised that the lot was only half full.

Changes - You can no longer enter the park from the east end area near the lake or the side area near the games and Troll Ride. All wristbands could be purchased at the east end of the park near the fountain. The line to scan our groupon printout wasn't too long in terms of time (About ten minutes). They worked perfectly.

Changes - There was an assortment of entertainers lightly making the rounds throughout the park. Two ladies on stilts, a guy on a very tall old fashioned bicycle, a "cowboy" with a lariat doing tricks. The most effective was "bubble - lady." She was just using a machine to send a slew of bubbles across the midway and the folks were really just enjoying popping them. Even the adults were on board and digging this simple pleasure. I'm sure there were more, but this was a big draw.

Also noticed were tables situated in different areas that offered free face-painting and some type of arts and crafts. Free must have been the right price because a lot of kids...and a few adults were into it.

Changes - Two modern bathrooms opened in the park. One is across from the Troll Ride (No longer next to it) and one is across from the bumper cars. These bathrooms would be in heavy use most of the day and much cleaner than the old ones. The bathroom near the lake (Now Kayak rentals) was out side of the park and I didn't use it. Both in-the-park bathrooms had water fountains and water bottle fillers directly outside.

Security (Park Rangers) were VERY visible and thankfully not very busy. actually, today was another one of those great days where people of all backgrounds, religious beliefs and cultures were just enjoying the day and it made me feel like I was observing a special moment. No line jumping anywhere. No hate speech. No politics. Just people enjoying the day with their family members and friends. Maybe there is a reason these parks exist.

Changes - food offerings. We did not eat anything at the park. My son brought in a sandwich and snacks and I ate in car on the way...but I noticed a hot dog truck....a pizza stand...Burger King and Nathans are gone....the chicken place was closed...no more carvel...a burger truck...a waffle truck....and a few places that offered alcohol. I don't drink but a regular bottle of soda was over $6. There is also a sit down restaurant / bar in the main plaza near the front entrance. It has a new name, so I don't know if it changed hands.

Changes - there are more gift shops selling Playland-branded things...including several new shirts honoring Derby Racer....which was closed today. I like and complete jigsaw puzzles and I liked the Playland puzzles produced by Lantern Press, but I passed on them at $40 each.

Rides:

Main Carousel - STUNNING, but no music and no moving figures on the band box. It took away from the ride.

Ferris Wheel - EXCEPTIONAL views today. (15 Min. wait)

Whip - Lost a little intensity, but still my favorite ride in the park (VERY short cycle). The ceiling was re-plastered.

Mirror Maze - These are rare, so don't skip it. Not at good as the two-level maze that Morey's used to have...but again, spend the 5 minutes and enjoy it for what it is.

Crazy Mouse - Ouch! No leg-room. No arm room. No way to enjoy this without pain.

Bumper Cars - Nice wide lanes. Decent speed. Who doesn't love a good bumper car? (Longest wait....40 min) - Shout out to the ride ops who were really helping the inexperienced drivers.

Catch-A-Wave - Good torque on this one. Shout out to Micha, the ride op who retrieved a girl's cell phone after its cycle

Every ride op was working hard today and making the park run. I was impressed.

But I was NOT impressed with the list of rides that were not open:

Super Flight (Out until 2025)

Log Flume (A New flume Experience is coming in 2025) - so today you get no Flume Experience

Derby Racer

Yo Yo

There was a sign about two kiddie rides that were down too.

The gas powered cars are now gone too.

For a park of PLayland's size...this is a bit much to be down.

We left before the lights would go on....stopped for dinner at a diner and mad eit home by 9.

All-in-all it was a nice day.

Thank you for reading this! If someone can remind me how to post photos with reports, I would be indebted. I forgot.

Nice trip report - sounds like a great day.

Agreed, losing Super Flight (which is a torture device, but never mind that), the flume, and the Derby Racer is three major rides at the park out of - what, six or seven major rides that they have?

Honestly, the fact that Super Flight is being reopened saddens me.

They could do much better with that plot of land.

I've only been on one of those Volares once, but that was enough to let me know never to ride one again.

I thought they where replacing Super Flight with something else?