TR: 45 Minutes at SFKK

Hey all,

We were in Louisville today having a nice family day out. We spent
most of the day over at the Falls Of The Ohio State Park where they had a nice little festival. Unfortunately we were unable to go crawl around the fossil beds because the river was very high due to spring rains but we still had a great time as there was plenty to do.

After that and a few other things we decided to go have a quick play day at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom. Waking a napping Bond up to the fact that we were at the park which thrilled him (and got him awake very fast) we headed on in.

Carrie headed on over to the Thrill Park Theatre to sample the new Stargate Simulator film as she loves sim rides while Bond and I headed for the Looney Tunes Acme Fun Factory. Carrie's review of the
Stargate Sim was that it was almost as bad as Sea World's Mission Bermuda Triangle. As she put it "it's a great idea poorly executed". Most of it's CG and had about three minutes of just going around and
around a circular shaped room which would have made me leave a protein spill all over the place. Carrie wishes SFKK would put one of the Dino Island films back or get her favorite which is the James Bond sim ride that was at PKI a few years ago.

Bond and I ran around in the Fun Factory throwing balls at each other, loading cannons, blasting them and then getting showered upon by thousands of balls. IMHO they need to add these to more parks because they are a lot of fun for families with not a huge investment. My only critique of it would be that they need to wash the foam balls more often because after a month of being open they were a bit nasty.

Carrie met up with us after the Stargate ride and took Bond over to ride the trucks while I headed off to fill my Greezed Lightnin' craving. After a two train wait which wasn't that long due to efficient ride ops I hopped into 1.2 and immediately noticed a little bit more of a kick with the launch than on opening day. The loop was great and the spike was just heavenly. I think one of the things I like about shuttles like GL or Mr. Freeze (TR and pics coming soon from last weekend's visit to SFSTL) is heading up the spike with nothing but blue sky surrounding you. It's a nice moment of peace before being yanked back down to Earth.

After a second trip this time on the back of Greezed Lightnin' it was time to leave the park for some supper and other family things. I headed out and around to grab a few photos of GL from a close up
position outside of the park. If you want to check them out here's a
link to them.

All in all we had a nice visit to SFKK. Their customer service and ride op efficiency is improving from years past. The park was very clean and unlike our last several visits we never smelled trash anywhere. If they continue improving the park and our big complaint with them in the past, poor attitude from their staff we just may end up making more trips here than SFStL which is the SF that we visit most often.

Have Fun!

Paul Drabek

Great little TR Paul. Those pics of GL are fantastic! Gotta love that ride...so glad it's closer to me now. Anyway, I'm planning to make a trip up to SFKK next weekend, and I was wondering if you saw both sides of Twisted Twins working or if it was just Stella like last year.

Hey Thrillerman,

Just to let you know next weekend is the Derby but we went there on Sunday of Derby weekend last year and the park was empty. I think the rest of the city was hung over and there were more employees than guests so it's a good time to go. I didn't get back to the Sisters (aka: twins) because we were just there for 45 minutes but I hear they are now both running.

Have Fun!

Paul Drabek

Hopefully they are running as awesome as they were last year. :-)

Cool pics Paul!

-Tina

They were both running 2 weeks ago when I went, although I didn't really enjoy them that much. Thunder Run was far superior IMO. It sucks you didn't get to cross the bridge and take a lap on TR.

I'm glad you enjoyed KK, but I don't think it even comes close to being as good as SFStL.

Word, comparing SFKK to SFStL as a family SFKK has a far superior area for Bond to play in and with good customer service that would make us visit there more as SFKK is a hour away and SFStL is 3 1/2. Plus I'm a Schwartzkopf addict and I love Greezed Lightnin. It's no big deal that I didn't get a run on TR because I got to ride it opening day and my heart was set on getting my GL fix.

Have Fun!

Paul Drabek

To each his own

Derby Paul? As in the Kentucky Derby? Hmmm I wonder what effect that will have on the crowds.

I've always wanted to go to SFKK because of Chang. I've never ridden a Gerstluaer train, so I don't know. I've never ridden a launching coaster either.

Thrillerman1, yes the Kentucky Derby. The Derby is HUGE in Louisville. Everyone and their mother will either go to the derby, or watch it on TV. I think kids even get Friday off of school for the friday race. SFKK will be almost empty all weekend.

When we went last year the Sunday of Derby weekend there were more employees there than guests. I think for about 30 minutes Carrie, Bond, Robert Ulrich, Sam Ulrich and I were the only ones in the back half of SFKK. Go because there are so many other things going on in Louisville that weekend that no one goes to SFKK.

Have Fun!

Paul Drabek

John, Chang rocks! Gerstlauer does not. Count your blessings for never having been exposed to them. Looks like I'm in really good fortune for next weekend then with everyone distracted by horses and Jim Beam. Plus SFKK will be open til 9. Night rides on TR mmmmmmm!

If I was you, I would just go to the derby. Derby > SFKK IMO.

But let me guess. Derby<SFStl, right?

I think I got my dates wrong on another post.

We were there 4/10(PKI 4/9). The twins were running then. It was so slow we stayed on several times. My kids loved racing to finish. Chang rates a close2nd to my favorite stand up Riddlers Revenge. It is a very nice park for a smaller one.

OH-BTW-did you know that Greezed Lightnin was originally at SFGAm as Tidal Wave?

Kentucky Derby > CP. . .IMO (Just call me "Captain Symbols"). The derby is a crazy event that everyone should experience sometime. Also, the girls are amazing.

I am not a HUGE fan of SFStL either, but I just think it is a little better than SFKK. Had I known that Paul Drabek lived so much closer to Louisville than St. Louis, I would have said nothing.

Word,

I'd love to go to the Derby but after reading Hunter S. Thompson's description of it would I take Bond within 50 miles of it. From what I hear the Derby and especially the infield would put the debauchery of Rome in decline to shame. Also if I have to close a local park to visit actually I'd prefer to go to the park that's about a 10 minute down the road but they don't open until this Saturday.

Have Fun!

Paul Drabek

Word...Kentucky Derby > CP??? Blasphemy!

Oh, I'm not attacking you. I should have added a winky smiley to my post.

My decision stands. Mint Julep anyone?

Paul Drabek, leave the kid at home. ;)