Decided to hit SFGAm for a second time this year but this time I decided I would enjoy it with my 5 year old daughter. Now I knew I would not be able to get on 4 of the coasters in the park due to my daughter being 48 inches tall but I didnt care. This was my daughters time to experience Bugs Bunny and the gang. As soon as we got through the metal detectors my daughters eyes just lit up. When you are that young and you see Looney Tunes characters walking around and the god of all entrances (Columbia Carousel) you know she is going to have a good time. The other thing I noticed is how the employees go out of their way to make sure your child is having a great time and for that I thank them. On to the few coasters we could ride.
1. Whizzer, god I hope they never get rid of this last of a kind Schwartzkopf speed racer. Did 2 laps and it is always fun. Not thrilling, not scary, but just plain fun.
2. Viper, my daughter just made the height requirements to get on and that made her happy. We were both getting great airtime and to her this was a fast coaster. (50 mph, average to us). As always, one of the best woodies out there.
3. Demon, another first for my child. The thrill of going upsidedown. She was screaming and laughing throughout the ride. Made me think of the old days when I was riding this Arrow looper.
4. Spacely Sprocket Rockets, kiddie coaster which is great for the little ones. Since my daughter was already on the previous 3 rides, she was kind of bored with this one.
We rode almost every flat ride that was in the park because this was all a first for my kid and this was another reason why I had a great time. The park was pretty crowded and it was a scorcher today. I now have a lobster face (red!!) but I didnt care. Seeing your child have the time of their life is priceless.
The only sad moment was watching Raging Bull and not being able to get on it. Man, talk about having will power. Oh well, hope you enjoyed this TR.
ⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀⴀ 㰀戀爀㸀∀䐀伀一吀 䘀䤀䜀䠀吀 䤀吀Ⰰ 刀䤀䐀䔀 䤀吀∀ⰀⰀⰀⰀ刀䄀䜀䤀一䜀 䈀唀䰀䰀
Hey Chitown, I was there on the fourteenth too, but only for a few hours (I love having a season pass). I agree with you about Viper, it's a great woodie, but that morning when I was there it was closed. What time did it open? I wish I could have ridden it.
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-BIG ED
For some reason and I was told by others that Viper opens at 2:00 PM during the week. Both times I have gone this year were on a Monday and both times Viper did indeed open at 2:00 PM. I dont know why they do this. Maybe they do daily maintenance to keep the structure from decaying and ruining itself. Whatever the reason, this woody in its 6th year operation feels exactly the same as when it opened in 1995,(Awesome!!!!!).
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"DONT FIGHT IT, RIDE IT",,,,RAGING BULL
On the 14th did they shut one train of the American Eagle down? I was there 8/15 and 8/9 and both days just as I got in line (about 7pm) they shut down one of the trains. A ride op said it was because attendance was low. What a bunch of crap! I waited longer for the eagle than bull, viper or batman!
Only the blue side of American Eagle was open on the 14th. The three times I've gone this year I haven't seent the red side open at all.
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-BIG ED
Yeah, the blue side was the only one open and that is why I didnt ride it that day. The line was long all day with some of the turnstiles underneath the tent filled up. Its wierd because I pass the Eagle once a week and the red side was running every time I passed it but to my dismay it wasnt on the 14th. Oh well!!!!-------------
"DONT FIGHT IT, RIDE IT",,,,RAGING BULL
Maybe they are beginning to re-track it. I know one side was done over the winter, with the other side being done during the season, not sure which side though...
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What's life if you never get to the Point?
http://people.mw.mediaone.net/mckinnie
Retrack it? The red side was done this past winter and the blue side was done within the past few years so that is not the reason. Now if they could get rid of the trim brakes than we are in business.
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"DONT FIGHT IT, RIDE IT",,,,RAGING BULL
How often do they re-track things though? I've heard Mean Squeak is re-tracked fairly often, every other year maybe?
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What's life if you never get to the Point?
http://people.mw.mediaone.net/mckinnie
Good point, but I dont think Eagle tears itself apart as much as Mean Streak. Think about it, when they have to put trims on the first hill of MS you know their is a serious problem that obviously doesnt happen on Eagle.
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"DONT FIGHT IT, RIDE IT",,,,RAGING BULL
Just wondering: would banking the turns on Eagle's helix help at all. I know this would require more than just retracking, but maybe then they could take off the trims, and Eagle would be a great ride once again.
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Countdown to Cedar Point: 1 WEEK
BIG ED, that is a feasible idea but of course you know as well as myself that will never happen. I miss the days of this coaster first hitting the helix and not stopping at all. It would haul*****through the helix in which you were forced to the right of the train. Memories are a beautiful thing but that is all they are today is just memories. I will say that the initial first drop is still one of the best in the business.
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"DONT FIGHT IT, RIDE IT",,,,RAGING BULL
The last two times I went I was on the Raging Bull platform and both trains of the Eagle were operational, and when I got in line they shut down one side (red one day, blue the other). It seems like they retracked both sides fairly recently as it is running smoother and better than it has in awhile. Next year is the 20th anniversary and I really hope they turn one side around like the did for the 10th anniversary.
