Associated parks:
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This trip started off as a one day trip to Johnstown, PA for my wife's cousin's wedding, and turned into a 5 day, 3 state, 1,000 mile vacation that included visits to 4 parks (along with stops at 7 light houses along Lake Erie).
First park was Six Flags Darien Lake.
The night before on our way to Batavia NY (where we stayed that night) we made a drive by of the park in the dark. It was kind of sureal to see the park all lit up but yet closed. Anyway, the next morning found us waiting in line at around 9:30am to park. Being about the 7th car through the gates, we were very close and by a little after the 10:00am opening, we were in the park.
On the way to S:RoS, I saw Predator was a walk on so I hopped my first ride of the day on here. Nothing spectacular, but better than I expected from all of the negative comments about it. Next up was Superman. Because she had to work, my wife missed my trip to SFA and my first encounter with S:RoS, so when we boarded this near clone (and I say that not in a negative way) at DL, she was not sure what to expect. When we made that first drop, I thought her eyes were going to bug out of her head! When the ride was over, it was she, not I, who said "Let's go again!" (of course I had that in mind all of the time). This time was a front seat ride. She could not get over the speed and the air on the hills.
After our second ride on S:RoS, I grabbed a quick re-ride on Predator. My wife, not beeing a wood fan, set this one out again Loving wife that she is, she was thinking of me and had a frozen lemonade waiting when I returned, though she had finished most of it by that time. Of course we had to each get another.
Next up, in order were Boomerang (which I thought was the smoothest ride of this type around), a quick turn on the ferriswheel, and then Viper. A picturesque setting (with the mini golf course under its layout), Viper only reinforced my theory that Arrow loopers and corkscrews are neck and ear breakers (Loch Ness Monster being the sole exception so far). Of course, I had to jump on a for a re-ride.
Near the exit of Viper I saw something I had only ever encountered while playing RCT... the Swinging Inverting Ship... this one named Ranger. It warented a ride. Nothing thrilling, but I can now say I tried one. Seeing Mind Eraser, my wife remembered how rough she found Morey's Piers Great Nor'Easter and decided to sit this out as well. Kind of wished I would have as well. The only other SLC's I have ridden were Great Nor'Easter and SFA's Mind Eraser and I did not really find them rough at all. However, SFDL's version showed me why they call these rides "Hang and Bangs". Is my memory fuzzy or was this an older style OTSR than at Morey's and SFA? Anyway, one front seat ride and one mid train ride and I was on my way. Okay... I rode it twice... it was rough but not THAT rough.
A few photo ops of Viper (like I said, it is picturesque even if it is not that great of a ride) and on to Twister. I guess this is what you call a Huss Top Spin(?). Anyway, a very disorineting ride. And then it was on to lunch. I don't remember the name of the restaurant... was it Beavre Brother's Lodge or Cafe in the back of the park? Anyway, it was a sit down restaurant and it had AC so we were in no real hurry to leave.
When we finally did get on our way, I grabbed a quick walk on front seat ride of Boomerang before we grabbed another spin on the Ferris Wheel to snap a few photo's.
Near the Wheel was a strange little flat ride called Raging Sea which I hit before we returned to S:RoS. We decided on a front seat ride again and got in that line. It was nearing 5pm (closing time on that day) and as we boarded the train we heard them say "Each line should have 6 people in it... we will be running only 3 more trains". Before we pulled out of the station, my wife asked the one op how fast the coaster goes. He said they officially say around 70mph, but on hot days near the end of the day it can go near 80-85. Not sure if he was pulling our leg or not, however I will say that on this last ride of the day it certainly felt like it was going much faster than in the morning. It roared through the course... we hardly knew what hit us!
With the rides closed, we exited the gift shop of S:RoS and headed toward the front gate again. The only dissapointment of the day came when we found that the Frozen Lemonade stand had already closed!
Not a bad day at all. We found most rides were walk ons or short waits, with the two exceptions being Mind Eraser and S:RoS (front seat). Total time of visit was 7 hrs (opening to closing). We maybe could have done more rides, but we took our time and enjoyed the park.
Next up: Down the southern shore of Lake Erie and to Waldameer Park.
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"I wasn't always this cynical, but then I started kindergarden..."
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Im the #1 Canobie Lake Park Fan!!!These are my top 3 coasters:
1. S:RoS @ SFNE 2. Yankee Cannonball 3. Cyclone
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