Associated parks:
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Kris, my friend Greg and I left on Friday night and ended up right before stopping to get some sleep. The following morning we departed for my first trip to Branson, MO. This place is kind of a cross between Wisconsin Dells and Nashville. Music is everywhere, but it is very ridiculously corny. As you are heading south on 65 towards the city, there are tons of huge billboards with big smiling faces of no-name music and comedy stars. The last time I heard Yakov Smirnoff's name was back in the 80s on Saturday morning cartoons, but the guy is a total mega-celeb here. Very strange.
My first piece of advice for anyone who is planning a trip here is to plan on getting to the park an hour early so you can actually get in the park about an hour after the gates open. Traffic in this city is horrible. It took us about an hour to go about 5 miles, and it didn't let up at all during the day. I hoped this wouldn't ruin our day...
Well it didn't. SDC is an absolute gem of a park. I would argue that the level of service is superior to Disney, and everything is put on very well. No detail is spared. The food is outstanding, and it's a pleasure to just walk around and not even go on a single attraction, but who would want to do that?
Wildfire - 9.5/10 - What an awesome lil B&M looper. We rode in the back row. Up the lift I was checking out what this ride is all about....drop, immelman, cobra roll, turnies, and a flatspin. Nice and compact, looked fun. Now anyone that has been on a B&M looper would probably say that the drops are pretty lame. Well, as we crested the hill and turned to the left, I remember thinking "wait this looks like it..." and wham! I was ejected up into my harness. It was rather bull-ish! Best drop on a looper, no doubt. The immelman was really awesome, never done it on a sit-down before. The axis that your body turns on is a lot tighter than on that of a invert, so that made is a much cooler experience. The rest of the ride was very standard, although very well pulled off. Great ride.
Buzzsaw falls - 8/10 - Cool ride. Got soaked on the first part because I was in the back. The coaster part is short, but it's very fast and tight. Drop is just like a regular flume only on a track.
Fire in the Hole - 7.5/10 - Is this a coaster? Sure why not. It felt like one, so that's all that counts. Mostly is a dark ride with some cool coaster-ish drops and a spash at the end.
Thunderation - 8.5/10 - What an awesome mine train! Great turns and helixes in the trees followed by a pretty fun drop at the end.
Finished up here and went to Celebration City after sitting in traffic another 30 minutes! Got to this "new" park. Wow did SDC do a great job with this place. Everything is brand new and once again, no detail is spared. The whole theme is sort of an American Celebration and a lot of it focuses on the 50s and 60s. They have some great flat rides here, namely the double shot (didn't go on it), flying carpet, and the Fireball, which is the same thing that Hershey got this year I think. On to the coasters...
Jackrabbit - 5/10 - This ride looks like a deathtrap. It takes hairpin turns at a ridiculous speed and the ride looks like it's going to fall apart every time the train goes by. It's ok, pretty unconventional layout for a portable.
Thunderbolt - 7/10 - This is a Windstorm just like they have at Old Town in Orlando. It's a fun ride. Lots of tight turns and an awesome hairpin drop that almost feels like an upside-down loop. If I remember correctly, at Old Town you are trimmed before the hairpin....not here! Very fun ride!
Ozark Wildcat - 10/10 - I've always really liked GCI rides, but they've always seemed to be missing something. They look stunning and always gave a fun ride. They've always missed that out-of-control feeling that made CCIs so great. Well, they finally did it. The Wildcat is simply amazing. It only goes 45 mph but it remains very constant and feels like it's even faster than that. The first drop is great, does a complete 360 and you really feel the laterals on it, especially in the back. What other GCIs have lacked in the past was air at the top of their hills as well. They always do a good job at making fun directional changes, but have never thrown you out on your seat. On Wildcat, however, you get a great pop of air a the top of each hill and while you are floating, the train twists from under you and pulls you down and to your left or right. I was completely surprised. This ride in my opinion even tops Legend. Any fan of wooden coasters definatley needs to get out here for this one. Ended up with 10 or so rides on this one.
I should also say that their main show, "Celebration," is very cool as well. Lots of "lasers," fireworks, cool lights, and splashing water.
SDC corp really knows how to run a theme park. SDC/CC is a great weekend trip that guarantees a great time.
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NICK
Drop it like it's hot and be my bloody wonderwall, baby
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NICK
Drop it like it's hot and be my bloody wonderwall, baby
Way to write a TR. :) I still can't believe you thought Wildcat was that good! It's pretty incredible that I haven't heard *one* single negative about this ride. Everyone that has ridden has loved it!
I hope it's not a case of anticipointment when I ride it next year though! But with constant reviews like this, I'm sure I'll be thrilled.
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You suck big time.
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G's! They're what's for dinner!
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NICK
Drop it like it's hot and be my bloody wonderwall, baby
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