Washington, DC Parks

Okay, quick question: I am going to Washington DC on a conference next month, and if I only have two or three days extra to spend driving/visiting parks, etc., where do I go? I DO NOT want to hit more than one or two parks. And yes, I would be willing to revisit Dorney (with my CP season pass) to ride Talon on the way home. Suggestions?

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"That's DOCTOR Evil. I didn't spend six years in evil medical school to be called 'Mr. Thank You Very Much.'"

Busch Gardens Williamsburg is a 2.5 - 3 hour trip from Washington, D.C.

Kings Dominion is 2 hour trip from Washington D.C.

Six Flags America, depending on where you are in Washington, D.C. is no more than 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic.

Hershey Park is 2-3 hour trip from Washington D.C.

You didn't mention when you were planning this trip but if you are planning a weekday trip, check the park websites, schools are back in session and after labor day most parks will not have weekday hours.

My vote would go (absolutely, totally, and excessively) to PKD. Beautiful park, wonderful staff, flyers that snap effortlessly (but you get yelled at for "bouncing the bird") and more launched coasters than anywhere else on earth!

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- John
Homepark: Cedar Point
Home-away-from-homepark: Paramount's Kings Island

I'd definitely recommend Busch Gardens, Hersheypark, and Kings Dominion in that order. And Six Flags America if you're not really concerned about the whole park experience. Its only saving grace is S:RoS.

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-Mike B.
Son of Hulk
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Tack the extra day on to the trip home and visit Knoebels after Dorney, you won't be dissappointed.

Or, if you decide to do Hershey, Williams Grove park is not far away, and is an experiance in and of itself ;)

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Ask yourself; When was the last time YOU visited Conneaut Lake Park?
*** This post was edited by Black 7 8/27/2003 12:56:59 AM ***

I neglected to mention that I DO NOT want to visit PKD, BGW, or Hershey. I have been to all recently and want to try something new......

Would Knoebel's/Dorney or Knoebels/SFA be a good combination?

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"That's DOCTOR Evil. I didn't spend six years in evil medical school to be called 'Mr. Thank You Very Much.'"
*** This post was edited by ophthodoc 8/27/2003 9:17:41 AM ***

I haven't been to Knoebel's or Dorney so I can't comment on those parks. SFA has several great coasters if that is what you are looking for the rundown is:

Vekoma Flying Dutchman (Batwing)

Intamin Hyper (Superman:Ride of Steel)

Premier Lim (Joker's Jinx)

Vekoma SLC (Mind Eraser)

Vekoma Invertigo (Two Face)

Wild One (Excellent Woodie relocated from Paragon Park in New Jersey in 1986, has several good pops of air)

Roar (Another good GCI woodie roller coaster)

The park isn't always the best operations wise however, you can typcially at least get one ride in on all of the coasters in a matter of 3 or 4 hours. If you go to SFA first, be at the gate when it opens and head straight for Batwing. The coaster has only been running one train consistently all season and the line can easily be one of the longest (the other being Two Face) reaching anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour at times. Other than that, the other coasters are normally no more than a 15-30 minute wait depending on crowd size. The Superman crew has gotten pretty good and the coaster gets to the point where it is a virtual walk on.

If you don't go to SFA expecting CP/BGW quality then you will have a good time. I failed to mention, if you don't have a season pass, I have seen $15 discount coupons at places like Wendy's, Burger King and Exxon/Mobil gas stations. The park is closed Wednesday and Thursday of this week the 13th, 14th, 20th, 21st of September for buyouts, but will reopen on September 27th, 28th. No weekday hours after labor day since schools are in session. I enjoy going on Sunday mornings, most rides are a walk on the first few hours the parks are open and I can typically get five coasters out of the way in the first couple of hours the park is open.

I know that it's fashionable for enthusiasts to b*tch and moan about SFA. However, both times I've been this season I've had plenty of fun. I didn't have full days either visit, which made its proximity to NoVa and the NSF offices a definite plus.

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http://www.eecs.umich.edu/~bnoble/

I've always liked SFA, and generally find that the coaster selection is one of the better among Six Flags parks. The employees are not that rude, save a few bad apples (which you can find at almost any park). Generally, I have a good time there.

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Harry Baer IV

"It's not going to stop 'til you wise up..."

If you are on the east side of DC, SFA is right in the neighborhood. It's a nicer park than many people seem to think. SROS is one of the great coasters. Ride Typhoon Sea Coaster if it is open, a truly unique wet ride. If you are going to be in the area on 9/6 join the Coaster Zombies as we invade the park.

Knobels is a great smaller park. Ride car one, row 3 of Phoenix and hold on to the bar. Also, don't miss the best bumper cars and best traditional haunted house ride in the country. It's kind of hard to get to Knobels, but it's worth it.

Guts:Wild one was relocated from Paragon park in Massachusetts,not from Jersey.

Python onthe other hand did come from SFGRADV in jersey & as we all know it's sitting behind Batwiing collecting rust.

It's good to hear (positive) reviews about SFA. I know very little about this Six Flags park and might go ahead and give it a whirl. I will need to look out for the $15.00 off coupons..... edit: If anyone is planning on being at the park on Sept 13, feel free to join me. I will be by myself! It's always good to meet a fellow enthusi-ass.

Jim Fisher: I am arriving in the Silver Springs (DC) area on 9/6. Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend with you and the Zombies. I am looking to attend either the following Friday or Saturday (I guess it will be Saturday since the park is closed on weekdays?).

Is Knoebel's worth the drive/visit? I've heard wonderful comments about Phoenix. I will be traveling on the PA turnpike - is it very far off the beaten path?

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"That's DOCTOR Evil. I didn't spend six years in evil medical school to be called 'Mr. Thank You Very Much.'"
*** This post was edited by ophthodoc 8/27/2003 10:15:18 PM ***

opthodoc,

SFA is closed on September 13th.... Check my earlier post for other dates they closed.

Knoebels / Dorney would be a good combo. They are only about and hour 1/2, 2 hours apart. SFA is in the D.C. area and to get to Dorney or Knoebels you are looking at roughly a 3 hour drive.

If you have a SF pass Great Adventure would be about an hour and a half from Dorney. I imangine it would be shorter of a drive to Great Adventure if you went there from D.C.

I think out of all your choices I think Dorney and Knoebels would be your best option.

Plus from Knoebels I-80 is only about 20 minutes away and you could hop on that back to Ohio.

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Signature will be closed today. Sorry for the inconveinance.

Knobels is definitely worth the trip. It has 2 world class woodies. It has the best bumper cars in the country. It has the best old fashioned ride through fun house in the country. It has food so good that you can go there just to eat. (Best funnel cakes anywhere, cooked from scratch while you watch.) It has a terrific set of older kiddie rides that will punch your nostalgia button hard even if you can't ride them all. You can ride the High Speed Thrill Coaster.

Coaster zombies is doing the ERT sessions on S:ROS &Batwing on the 6th right?

That's when I plan on visiting the park again,it's bad enough that they close at 8 pm,but it's gonna be even more of a let down not to be able to ride 2 of the parks better coasters to close out the day.

I guess I'll just end the day on Roar then,I havn't had a night ride on it in quite a while anyhow.

JJ is the am ERT and S:ROS is the night time ERT. I believe after the park closes. No Batwing ERT.