ValleyFair and mall of America question

A couple of my friends want me to go with them on a trip to Wisconcin. There is talk that we might swing over to the mall of America for a day or two.

I'm curious about how far the mall of America is from Valleyfair. Aren't they both located near Minneapolis? I would think that both parks would be fun, and, with the new sponge bob coaster looking pretty cool at the Mall. I thought it would be a nice trip. But, I would have to talk them into it.

They are more likely to want to go to the Dells, to Mt. olympus like they did last year. I like coasters and stuff, but there doesn't seem to be much of any else to do there, other then the water parks. And, from what I have seen...it's not very cheap.

I am a sucker for flat rides. Go karts aren't my thing. But the carts at olympus look pretty cool.

We are just thinking about it though.

Thanks for any info you can give.

Valleyfair is about 10 minutes from Mall of America. The Twin Cities are about three hours from the Dells. Be aware that many highways are either closed or down to one lane in Wisconsin due to the flooding.

Valleyfair is farther than 10 minutes from MOA. It is 11 miles from VF to MOA, and with traffic, this can easily = 20-25 minutes of drive time.

You obviously drive like a grandmother :) It's never taken me more than 10 minutes.

And if you are a Chicago native, you get there in 5 mins. :)

Being from the area and living close to both VF and MOA, it will be a 20-30 minute drive between them depending on traffic. Hell, it can take you 10 minutes just to find a parking spot in the ramp at MOA if you go on a Saturday afternoon. MOA is in Bloomington, VF is in Shakopee.

It took us about 25 minutes and our hotel was near the MOA. *** Edited 6/21/2008 1:54:57 PM UTC by loriu***

MOA is defnitely worth the time. Depending on what time of day, and the day of the week, you could possibly just kill a few hours there before/after ValleyFair! and get the few coasters in.

The Avatar Airbender and Spongebob Squarepants Rock Bottom Plunge are 2 types of coasters that you don't find in too many places. GO GO GO! *** Edited 6/21/2008 2:19:07 PM UTC by ChicagoCoasterCub***

Looks like my estimate was more accurate. :)

I was going to say 20-30 minutes as well with traffic. A lot of traffic is being detoured through town because of I-35W. MoA can be fun. Lots to unique rides, I love the log flume! Spongebob may still be having issues with it's lift hill.

I had a long connection (just over 3 hours) at MSP going from Los Angeles to Amsertdam and I took the lightrail to MOA and rode the two coasters and then back to the airport I went. It was too bad that I didn't have more time, I think 3 hours would have been perfect.

With the new coasters it would probably take a bit longer, I did this is 2006.

I'm new to MN and I really dig the MOA (the park, that is). Spongebob is a great addition and fun to watch. It's VERY short and just a so-so ride. Airbender is great, but on a pretty short cycle. The Fairly Odd coaster is great and so is the Orange Streak - the new train bodies are really cool! The ride is the longest in the park and makes its way around almost everything! The park (and mall as a whole) are immaculately clean.

I went to Valleyfair for the first time last weekend. It's a great park; you can see it's becoming "cedar fair-ized" slowly but surely. High Roller would be a dynamite woodie, but the 2 sets of trims (especially the first one at the end of the first turn around) really kill the ride. That aside, its very nice (shocking actually) to see a woodie w/o all the 'makeover' items that big park woodies usually get (seat dividers, etc.) It's very well maintained and the trains are beautiful (odd fronts) and comfy.

Excalibur was a big suprise to me. VERY short, but really unique and packs a big punch. Renegade is pretty standard GCI fare - fast and wild but just doesn't have the punch of a GG coaster (the peeps eat it up, so it's a great thing.)

You will love the Dells/Mt. Olympus. Cyclops is a top 10 for me. Operations/employees aside, it's a great place to spend the day. *** Edited 6/21/2008 8:14:34 PM UTC by MNRCoaster***

If only *someone* could predict when trimless rides on HR might be available... ;)

That would be worth a trip to Minnesota all on its own...of course, I still have yet to ride a Eurofighter (an Eurofighter?)...

We just got back from MOA/VF -- Renegade has broken in very nicely and the last part that we were all complaining about (how it sort of let up in intensity) is now a thing of the past as it keeps kicking butt until the brake run now.

Sponge Bob blew me away. It is so much fun. The fact that you are so close to the roof of the mall just adds to the thrills of this thing. The first time I rode it, I just laughed the entire way -- it was great fun.

Avatar is a lot of fun too, but if you do not have the weight on your pod distributed correctly, you will not spin that much and that can take away from the ride. However, once again, getting that close to the roof is unnerving and a lot of fun at the same time.

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rollergator said:
If only *someone* could predict when trimless rides on HR might be available...

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The return run on HR is insane without the trims...from what I remember growing up going there. I just breaks my heart to watch it limp in going past the station.

HR is not in this year's ERT line up for Coaster Craze. Too bad we couldn't talk them into turning off the trims for that.

T-R, It's worth the trip to do both parks. Take a full day for each place because you will obviusly do more than the rides at MOA.

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*** Edited 6/23/2008 1:44:07 PM UTC by WildThingNative***