Trip in 08`--Questions...

Hey, I'm going on an east-coast trip in 2008. I live in Minnesota and I'm willing to go as far as Maryland, St Louis, New Jersey, or Virginia. I am going to minimum 5 parks, and maximum 8. What parks should i go to, and what highways/roads should I take. By the way, I will be going to Cedar Point so that's already one out of the 5-8.
Thanks for your help.

Go where you want to go.

Well, I've never been out east before, and I just want to know what people think about parks that they live by, or that they've been too.

Check the current trip reports. Go to the park's website to learn about what they have and what may interest you. Check out RCDB to see pictures of the coasters at the parks you're interested in. Unofficial sites or fan sites are great tools to use as well.

Saying that you've never been east before and don't know what parks to go to is way too broad for anyone person to give a solid answer. In Pennsylvania alone, you've got eleven parks.

Here's what I would consider (and do consider when planning):

a) If I have a season pass to a certain park/s, which other parks can I get into for free?
b) Which parks are close to each other, so I don't have to do a lot of backtracking?
c) Pick up an almanac or go to RCDB to research distances between parks. RCDB's mileage is as the crow flies–in other words, if you didn't have to get on some crappy two-lane road that's down to one-lane due to construction (sorry Pennsylvania).
d) What is the one thing you've never ridden that you must ride? That could be a big source of where you go. For example, you say "Wow, I've never ridden one of those Mack Bobsled coasters," so you center your trip around King's Dominion.
e) What is going to be built between now and 2008? This could totally derail (pun intended) your trip. For example, if BGE does in fact have the Dive Machine ready for your trip you might have more of a Southern trip, than a Northern trip.

You've got two years, so get crackin'!

I would not recommend planning that far in advance. Wait and see what parks are going to add in 07 and 08 before even thinking about travelling.

Ditto Moosh. Your tastes, budget, schedule, etc. may (and probably will) change between now and then, in addition to learning what happens to each park between now and then.

If you were going overseas...maybe. If you're going across the country, wait.

If you are heading east, then I don't see why you would consider St. Louis as part of your itinerary. Save that for another trip with parks such as SFSL, SDC, WOF, and HW.

Now for points east. I assume that you want to get to one or more of the megaparks near the East coast. These would be SFGA and PKD so your first decision would be, which of these do you want to visit or do you want to go to both?

If you want to do SFGA, other parks to consider are in NJ and eastern PA. The major ones are Moreys Pier, DP, HP, and Knoebels.

If you plan to include PKD, try to get to BGE as well. SFA is also in this region.

If you are looking for a park to hit on the way home, KW would be a good choice. You might also consider GL or IB.

Sorry for the double post *** Edited 5/31/2006 11:05:28 AM UTC by Arthur Bahl***

I think if you hang around the site long enough, look at rcdb.com etc you will find out for yourself where to visit. Pick one park as the your must see destination then plan around that.

My two big coaster trips with my girlfriend were planned that way. We found two of our favorite parks, Knoebels and Indiana Beach through trip reports and general conversation on this site.

Good luck.

Since you are from Minnesota (and presumably near VF) and you plan to go to CP, a Cedar Fair season pass might well help decide some of your plans. CF parks along your possible route include Geauga Lake and Dorney Park along with the Point. If you go to Virginia, PKD should be included in the pass as well by the time that you plan to go.

Six Flags parks in the region are SFGA and SFA. A Six Flags season pass is worth considering if you plan to go to SFGAm at some other time during the year.

Other factors to consider are the type of coasters that you plan to ride. Do you prefer steel or wood or do you want both? Do you like inversions, rocket coasters like TTD and KK, or hypercoasters. What coasters do you just absolutely have to ride?

There are other considerations to consider as well. What flat rides do you enjoy? What kind of park atmosphere do you want? Is the park food important to you? All of these factors can have a effect upon your choice of parks.

I think I personally would hit SFGam,Hershey and Kennywood no matter how far out of the way if I were planing this far ahead I would have plenty of gas money saved up. PKD looks like a nice park maybe I'll take a eastern trip that year too so I can visit yankee stadium before they tear it down in 2009.

Mamoosh, I do agree with you, and that's why I put in the part about let's see if Busch Gardens Europe adds the dive coaster, and in which year. But, it's never bad to have a wishlist of a park or parks that you want to go to someday, no matter what is being built elsewhere. That is why my trip, while it does include the Voyage, also includes a lot of parks that aren't adding anything of a blockbuster nature (S.T.O.P. at SFStl is big, but I've already ridden it in the former location, and been there and done that much higher at PKD/PKI). These parks have been on the hitlist for quite sometime.

VF--New Coaster07 needs to have a realistic view of how far he is willing to travel. He said he is already going to Cedar Point from Minnesota. It's one thing to say you want to travel to a park half-way across the country, and entirely another thing to do the actual driving. If you don't have a riding partner who can also drive, get one in the meantime!

Where I will agree with Moosh is that a lot of things can change in two years. Parks can go under, rides constructed/deconstructed, your health (for example, you gain a lot of weight and can no longer fit on MF) or financial picture changes, gas goes up to $10 a gallon, parking is $50 at Six Flags, you can't get time off from work etc

Thanks guys, I'll consider your advice, and definetly use it when planning this trip out.
Thanks

If you plan to get a Cedar Fair season pass check to make sure you buy it at the right park. Currently, if you buy a pass at either CP or GL, it does not include the other Ohio park unless you pay a significant amount extra. Based upon current pricing, your best bet would be to go to Valleyfair! and get a pass while visiting that park early in the season. (You probably are already doing this since VF would be your home park). That way, CP, GL, and DP will all be included. (along with KBF, WOF, and MiA)

By 2008, of course, some things will change. The most important changes could involve PKI and PKD and the other Paramount parks.

Go to Wisconsin Dells, Indiana Beach, Holiday World, Beech Bend and Six Flags St Louis. Between these Five Parks you'll ride TEN of the Best Wooden Roller Coasters on the Planet! ( Five Out and Backs including Holiday World's A$$Kicking VOYAGE as well as Numbers 2,3,5 and 6, as well as Five Twisters including Numbers 2,3,6,8,9 on my Personal Lists. Add Michigan's Adventure and Dollywood and you'll add 2 More A$$kickers which rank No. 4 on my wood Out and back List and Thunderhead, Which is my NUMBER ONE Wood Twister! :)

Yeah... Sorry to break it to ya, but I prefer steel over wood. But wood is still awesome.