Trip Decisions :( - CoasterBuzz

Trip 1) HW, SFKK, Beast Buzz Airfare for 2: $620

OR

Trip 2) Dollywood, Lake Winnie, SFOG Airfare for 2: $527.40

NOTE: I have already been to HW.

I like #2 myself, but I wanted to get some other opinions.

"All of our parties at CCI were so...sedate," said Dinn this afternoon. "Wine, appetizers, some jazz. But this Stan Checketts guy...wow, those S&S dudes can party their asses off. Out of control."

Trip 1: You have the amazing Holiday World, and the various Kings Island coasters. Then SFKK, nothing special there.

Trip 2: Dollywood, the gem of the south (With Thunderhead and Arrow's smoothest ride, Tennessee Tornado), SFOG, the gem of the south in the 70s(With three classic coasters, Mindbender, Scream Machine and Georgia Cyclone), and Lake Winnie which has the Cannon Ball and a nice lakeside setting.

I would say Trip 2, since it appears to be new territory for you.

But if your looking for more thrills then I think Kings Island and Trip 1 would be the better choice.

I say #2. You've already been to HW. SFKK is a blast but I'm not big on PKI. Plus it's cheaper.

Frank, who thinks the Beast is way overrated.

Monkey killing monkey killing monkey over pieces of the ground, silly monkeys give them thumbs they forge a blade and weapons by the pound to divide it, right in two - Tool

Unrelated subquestion: does anyone here think that $700 for a road trip from New Jersey to the midwest, covering up to six parks over seven days, is unreasonable? (Yes, this includes hotel and admissions.)

[Nitro Dave -- Track Record: 231 coasters] [url="http://rapturousverbatim.blogspot.com"]A Rapturous Verbatim[/url] & [url="http://atournamentoflies.blogspot.com"]A Tournament of Lies[/url] -- my blogs...they're blogtastic.

My take on it all... do what you feel would be the most fun. Forget the monetary part of it (for now) Just go with what you think would be the most fun and if it turns out that you choose the more expensive one, heck just work another day or two extra. (any job paying around 10 bux an hour will take care of this in about 2 work days) Just remember: take more pictures than you can possibly imagine for the memory value of it all.

and to the person who said, "nothing special at SFKK" I say to you PUH! There's allot to be said for Thunder Run, Chang, Greezed Lightning, and other great attractions. It's not always about having the biggest and fastest coaster around trust me. :)

This ain't no book you can close, when the big light hits your eyes. Cropduster-Riot Act-Pearl Jam

Joey Stewart said:
and to the person who said, "nothing special at SFKK" I say to you PUH! There's allot to be said for Thunder Run, Chang, Greezed Lightning, and other great attractions. It's not always about having the biggest and fastest coaster around trust me.

Something else special about it is the Highway that runs right down the middle, and the small footbridge across it.

I doubt I would have suggested Dollywood if I'm such a thrill/extreme rides whore. ;)

Nitro Dave said:
Unrelated subquestion: does anyone here think that $700 for a road trip from New Jersey to the midwest, covering up to six parks over seven days, is unreasonable? (Yes, this includes hotel and admissions.)

ND, that is cheap! Are you serious? I did my trip last year for a mere $1300. One week. 7 parks.

Yay for me. Even better, yay for you! :)

The Flying Turns makes all the right people wet - Gonch

Right on Joey. Thunder Run consistently gives me great rides and amazing airtime. Chang = rock n roll too. Pretty damn special in my book.

Hmmm Brahma2003, that's a difficult decision. Screw it...go to CP.

I survived a Japanese typhoon and the Togo flat ride of death!!!!!!

Dukeis#1 said:

Something else special about it is the Highway that runs right down the middle, and the small footbridge across it.

Yeah, that situation with the road that cuts the park in two parts and the bridge across said roadway does stink in ways, BUT I challenge anyone to find a park anywhere in the world where everything is perfect. Considering what that park has to work with, I think they've done one helluva good job.

This ain't no book you can close, when the big light hits your eyes. Cropduster-Riot Act-Pearl Jam

Yeah, that comment by Duke about SFKK is completely wrong. Thunder Run is special, and better than any wood coaster I've ridden(sans SOB).

HW beats Dollywood in pretty much every department(definately not saying Dollywood is bad), although Thunderhead is almost getting the win for DW.

I would have to say that I'd rather go to SFKK than Lake Winnie, but of course, I've been to Lake Winnie every year of my life, so It's getting a little old for me. SFKK really gets it on Thunder Run almost by itsself. It's that good. Then again, the Fly-O-Planes can't be ridden anywhere else, and are insanely awesome, as well as the also crazy wild mouse.
I prefer Bigger rides over better atmosphere, so SFKK would absolutely win in my case.

Now SFOG vs. PKI is much harder to choose. I loved Vortex and Son of Beast, but then again other people don't like them. I also think that the waterpark will be great this year, if you're into that. Mindbender,S:UF, and Deja Vu are great as well as their great wooden supporting/lead cast.I've gotten a little sick of SFOG, having been there a lot, but I'd have to give it the win.

So, in my case trip 1 wins 2-1. I did take that trip last year, so it's pretty fresh on my mind, and it was very fun. Although, for you, you've never been to any of the parks on Trip 2, and it's cheaper. So I'd suggest Trip 2.

Chattanooga needs a [B][I]ITG2[/I][/B] Machine!

Nitro Dave -that is a deal you should manage my trips from now on.The first time I went to CP I spent $900.00-thats hotel,rental car,3 nite stay way down the road,food ,gas, tolls,(2) two day tickets,and souvineers.that was two years ago.

Cedar Point -How an amusement park should be run.

SFKK:

Get a variance, put a 2-way skyride over the road, and that bridge becomes WAY less of a problem all around....AND you get a cool ride...:)

I think they also need a better bridge for wheelchair accessibility, as the one there is seemed REALLY bad when there were strollers AND wheelchairs (with a full park, at peak traffic times, I can only imagine a nightmare)....:(

As for those trips, I haven't been to Dollywood since 1982, and NEVER been to Lake Winnie.....then again, I *do* like SFKK (love TR), and HW absolutely ROCKS (but you already know that, LOL). I always love coaster events though, good times with great friends on rides running at their very best...:):):)

You still have Zoidberg.... You ALL have Zoidberg! (V) (;,,;) (V)

I've pretty much decieded on #2... now I need some tips for them!

"All of our parties at CCI were so...sedate," said Dinn this afternoon. "Wine, appetizers, some jazz. But this Stan Checketts guy...wow, those S&S dudes can party their asses off. Out of control."

Since I used to live in Chattanooga, TN, I would say #2 because all 3 of those parks are excellent. SFOG has your SF setting and variety, Dollywood is in my opinion one of the most beautiful parts of the country and has good rides, and Lake Winnie (ive been there countless times) is good for a family day at a nice peaceful park.

5 out of 4 people have problems with fractions. Everyone makes mistakes, thats why they put erasers on pencils. IOA rules! CP rules! A7x- my favorite band

Well, you know all my tips and opinions on Lake Winnie, from that topic you posted a while back, and there are plenty of SFOG help threads so that leaves Dollywood.

Definately do not miss Daredevil Falls, or for that matter, any of the water rides. TT is best ridden in the back seat, with a few minimal air spots, but is really the same everywhere, so go for the shortest lines.

The food everywhere is excellent, so it doesn't really matter where you eat.

And if you want to go back on forth from TT and Thunderhead, be prepared to do a lot of walking.

Chattanooga needs a [B][I]ITG2[/I][/B] Machine!

For the Lake Winnie experts: Do you think it would be plenty of time to spend an afternoon and evening and still have an enjoyable time?

"All of our parties at CCI were so...sedate," said Dinn this afternoon. "Wine, appetizers, some jazz. But this Stan Checketts guy...wow, those S&S dudes can party their asses off. Out of control."

Lake Winnie is not a large park and is basically flat. It will be a major contrast to DW and SFoG where everything is spread out and hilly. You should have plenty of time to do everything at Winnie in an afternoon and evening. Be sure and ride the park's Old Mill Chute (the oldest operating in the US), Fly-O-Plane, and of course Cannon Ball.

I survived a Japanese typhoon and the Togo flat ride of death!!!!!!

brahma2003 said:
I've pretty much decieded on #2... now I need some tips for them!

When at Dollywood, see some of the shows! The park has some great live entertainment.

Be sure to check out some of the more unique rides at Dollywood: The Dollywood Express, 5 mile ride into the Smokies aboard a 110-ton steam train, Blazing Fury, an indoor roller coaster through a burning town, and the Mountain Slidewinder, a log flume combined with a waterslide.

Dollywood also has some wonderful food. Not much freeze'n'fry stuff.

Lines don't normally get that bad, except on a few of the water rides like the River Rampage and the Slidewinder.

Have fun! :)

*** Edited 3/20/2004 6:37:19 PM UTC by Dukeis#1***

You guys must stay in some decked out hotels....I've been looking at a 10 park east coast trip with about a $600-$700 pricetag.

"Find yourself a dream and, when you find it, chase it like a bull chasing a rodeo clown; don't give that clown an inch, not one inch" -Sean Kelly

brahma2003 said:
For the Lake Winnie experts: Do you think it would be plenty of time to spend an afternoon and evening and still have an enjoyable time?

Yes.

I can do everything at Lake Winnie in 5 hours and have a plenty enjoyable time. But I would suggest about 8 hours would be good for a first timer, if you want plenty of re-rides on everything, and some simple sitting down time.

And don't forget the Alpine Ride. It's very relaxing.

Chattanooga needs a [B][I]ITG2[/I][/B] Machine!