Your stats for the 2003 season
Previously visited parks:
5 visits / 4 parks
18 previosuly ridden coasters (1 is now defunct)
1 new coaster
New Parks:
10 visits / 10 parks
36 new coasters (2 are now defunct)
New Friends (I assume, of course :)) I made, and not necessarily in order of "preference," but close to the order we met. Then again?:
Jeff (Peabody)
Linda (CPlady)
Kristin DeJonge (kickSthesky and Kristin)
Rob Willi (heyisthatrob?)
Kara (STchick)
Rob (Robocoaster)
Chris (MooreOn)
Dawn (dawnmarie313)
Tim (Vacoaster)
Jess (Jess-pritti kitti)
Bill (Rollergator)
Frank (Sparky687)
Brian (ThemeDesigner)
Scott (Chitown!)
Jeff (THE webmaster)
Stephanie (THE webmasters' wife)
Mike (Incidentalist)
Danny (Koaster King)
Lori (Loriu)
Greg (Gregleg)
Brian (Homey G!)
Josh (Raven-phile)
Kurt (Stark Legend mad)
Joe (Legendary)
Keith (Badnitrus)
Brent (Magnumforce)
Maggie (Chris' girlfriend)
Nathan (Black 7)
Andy (ApolloAndy)
Eric (EchoVictor)
Tina (Coasterqueen)
Mike (Vater)
Dan (Dan the Man)
Robb and Elissa (kind of, as they were in line with us 3 seperate times in May, even at the Dennys in Aurora...)
Justin (Coasterman J)
Matt (Mdomnis)
George (redman822)
New coasters:
I don't care. I got a whole bunch of 'em, but the friends are what make the coasters fun to ride.
BTW, I just KNOW I forgot someone, and yet, no matter how hard I try, I just can't recall any other names. If you think of any, please throw 'em out. Any of the CPG missing is due to me already KNOWING them from last year! ;) *** Edited 12/30/2003 11:09:10 PM UTC by nasai***
The Flying Turns makes all the right people wet - Gonch
Was it in line for Legend? I know I met someone there, but couldn't recall who. It was pandemonium, remember? ;)
The Flying Turns makes all the right people wet - Gonch
I am raw, hear me.. talk about being raw!
nasai said:Was it in line for Legend? I know I met someone there, but couldn't recall who. It was pandemonium, remember?
Yup.
Certain victory.
-Blue Balls *** Edited 12/29/2003 9:40:49 PM UTC by Koaster King***
Turbo - You'd be surprised how much money you can find in between your sofa cushions! ;)
Joe "it's all about the annual passes" C.
EDIT: WTF is a pillow cushion? I meant sofa cushions. Oh, and with this edit, I think I am the first person to say wtf twice in one post. Talk about accomplishments! *** Edited 12/29/2003 10:15:34 PM UTC by Legendary***
Turbo said:
Where does everybody who hits 20-30 parks a season get all of this money?
You'd be surprised at how cheaply you can do trips, with some smart planning and season passes.
We hit 16 parks (not quite the 20 to 30 that yopu question, but...) and here's how we pulled it off:
Pre-season: Renewed SF pass for $50 each, got 2003 Dorney Passes for $80-something.
1. Vegas, KBF, SFMM - My wife had her yearly conference in Vegas. This gave us 4 free hotel nights at Bally's. Her airfare was also paid for and I believe my ticket ran around $240. We paid to ride the coasters in Vegas. Grabed a rental car the last night and drove to Buena Park. Stayed at Hampton Inn near Knotts - free admission with Dorney pass. Drove north to Valencia, stayed at Fairfield Inn near SFMM - free admission with SF pass. Aside from standard eating expenses we basically paid for my airfare, two hotel nights, renatl car and Vegas coasters - around $400 (not including food). Not too bad for 6 days on the west coast, 3 parks and 25 coasters.
2. BGW - we drove 6 hours to Williamsburg, stayed at the Hampton Inn. Visitied the park on opening day and drove home. We had a friend meet us and split the room. We paid for admission to the park. Around $150 (again, minus standard food/gas expenses)
3. SFA/SFGADV - Drove to D.C., stayed at Residence Inn. Next day went to SFA, then that night drove to SFGAdv. Stayed at Fairfield Inn that night. Next day went to SFGAdv and drove home that night. SF passes made for free entry. Two hotel nights (again, split with friend) ran about $100.
4. Summer at Dorney - free admission, free parking for pass holders. 5 miles from my home at the time. 17 visits = free :)
5. Cedar Point - Drove 4 hours to my parents, spent the night, left the kids. Next day drive the addition 3 to CP. Spent the day, drove back to parents to pick up kids, drove home. Free admission with Dorney passes, free stay at Mom & Dad's. Free!
6. Carowinds/SFOG, American Adventure - Drove to Charlotte. Stayed at Hampton Inn & Suites (split with same friend again). Next day, went to Carowinds, bought tix online ahead of time at discount. Left when the park closed at 4pm due to weather and drove to Atlanta. Stayed a week at Residence Inn downtown Atlanta for free (said friend works there). Visited SFOG with SF pass (no cost) and stopped by AmAdv that week with my daughter for a few hours, paid admission. Drove home at end of week. Total cost (minus standard food/gas) - under $150
7. Sesame Place - drove the hour to the park. Paid admission. Stayed less than two hours. Park sucked, got money back. - Free (and that was still too much)
8. Knoebel's/CP/Conneaut/Waldameer - Drove to Danville. Stayed at Hampton Inn. Next day went to Knoebels (paid admission) and continued on to parent's house. Assembled group to visit CP, stayed at Hotel Breakers (split 4 ways) for two nights and spent 3 days at the park (free with Dorney passes). Drove back to parents visited for two days. Drove the hour and a half to Erie, stayed at Hampton Inn. Next day went to Waldameer. Left around 1pm, drove to Conneaut spent the rest of the day there, drove back to parent's house. Drove home the next day. Total cost - Under $400 (and even less than normal for food thanks to Mom & Dad)
9. SFGAdv - drove the hour from home to the park, free entry with passes, drove home that night. Free!
10. Kennywood - drove across town to the park. Reduced admission (courtesy of kpjb) spent the night at the park, drove home. Total cost - $30 for 4 of us.
So not counting food and gas (which I'd be paying for at home anyway - I tend to eat and drive when not at parks too :) ) - we hit 16 parks all over the country for under $1500 over the course of the year and managed to stay at "name" hotels to boot. And that was without being REALLY frugal - if you wanted you could shave $$$ off of that even more by staying at cheaper hotels.
It's really not that hard if you buy passes, plan smart, and take advantage of any connections (friends, relatives, etc) who may be nearby or willing to travel with you.
Not a single coaster this year. Not having to deal with a singe enthusiast. What a peaceful year.
I love you guys! :)
Joe, I guess I shouldn't have added any exclamation points in the names, but I had my reasons. Secretly hoping they'd know why I did it, but hey.......... I guess it does look like favoritism?
Mooshie knows I love him, and he doesn't complain. ;)
The Flying Turns makes all the right people wet - Gonch
Lord Gonchar said:7. Sesame Place - drove the hour to the park. Paid admission. Stayed less than two hours. Park sucked, got money back. - Free (and that was still too much)
It is funny, I live just 10 minutes from this park, and have for 25 years, and have never been there. I just can't see spending the kind of money they want for admission there.
To answer Turbo's question, think small. The smaller parks can offer quite a bit for a fraction of the cost of the bigger parks. As Lord Gonchar said, a little bit of planning can get you along way. I am already planning my raod trip for this coming June.
*** Edited 12/30/2003 5:44:44 AM UTC by Black 7***
Skol Vikings
Let's shoot us some deer Joe Joe!!!!
Here is hoping next year is at least a little better.
I hope to hit Kennywood in 04 and hopefully one other new park. Don't know how that is going to go since I'm taking a big non-coaster related vacation next week that is going to limit my vacation time that I will be able to use the rest of the year. Here's hoping!
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