The Beast Rider

For some reason, this caught me funny. I can just see CoastersRZ going to the ticket booth with a toy gun saying "stick 'em up!" LOL!

Maybe they all had season passes that they bought last fall and fell on hard times since. I hope that is not the case. I hate to see people suffer.

I am afraid I have to agree, Beatle. I do not much care for the idea of this Fast Lane system, and I do not care for all the other upcharges either. Not to mention that this has caused yet more seat assigners on different coasters, which is another system that needed to leave before it ever got started.

Match 1 The Beast (2) vs. Top Thrill Dragster (1) Match 2 Magnum XL-200 (1) vs. Millennium Force (2)

Match 1 The Beast(9) vs. Wicked Twister(4) Match 2 Firehawk(6) vs. Adventure Express(6) Match 3 Invertigo(0) vs. Top Thrill Dragster(10) Match 4 Flying Ace Aerial Chase(0) vs. Maverick(10) Match 5 Son of Beast(1) vs. Diamondback(10) Match 6 Wildcat(6) vs. Iron Dragon(6) Match 7 Mantis(4) vs. Vortex(7) Match 8 Surf Dog(1) vs. Blue Streak(10) Match 9 Woodstock Express CP(1) vs. Flight Deck(10) Match 10 Woodstock Express KI(6) vs. Mean Streak(6) Match 11 The Racer(10) vs. Corkscrew(2) Match 12 Flight of Fear(11) vs. Great Pumpkin Coaster(0) Match 13 Millennium Force(10) vs. Backlot Stunt Coaster(1) Match 14 Gemini(10) vs. Junior Gemini(1) Match 15 Magnum XL-200(10) vs. Disaster Transport(2) Match 16 Cedar Creek Mine Ride(1) vs. Raptor(10)

My link Here is a picture of a real Octopus. It really is a very different ride from a Spider, even though they both work on the same principle. Enjoy!!

My link Here is a link to another story about Vortex, this time they actually say that the chain broke. The paper also states that according to Don, a replacement link (not a whole chain) has been ordered. If that is indeed true, I do not believe that there is any excuse for the ride to be closed for a month if the chain is the only problem.

The same reason you have a spare tire, because things happen. In my estimation, not having a spare link for those lift chains is silly, and they probably need a master link or two as well. As to your second point, I'm afraid you'd be mighty disappointed. Installing a new link in a used chain is done all the time. It works without issue, provided the used chain is not stretched beyond its service limit, which means it should be replaced anyway. Besides, if it was a new chain as you state, then it should not be stretched much yet. Earlier when? I thought it was last spring, but it was May 28, 2009. It was testing on June 1, 2009. If they can get a cable from Intamin and get it installed that fast, there should be no reason that a chain from S&S should take a month.

^^ I notice is says that they are waiting on a replacement "link" for the chain, and it could be a couple of weeks. If they are only waiting for a "link" and not a whole chain, then yes, CF is very cheap for not having a spare link on hand. That is ridiculous, as is four weeks total to get a "link" for the existing chain. Good grief. How long did it take them to get the lift cable replaced on M.F. when it broke earlier?

^ That's because Holiday World knows what a midcourse brake run is for. They use it properly, unlike KI where every single midcourse they have is set up as a trim brake. Couple that with having trim brakes every 100 yards or so and you end up with a KI coaster, nothing at all like anything at Holiday World.

I guess they got a little carried away and made one of the dinosaurs a fire-breather. It seems like it worked! (for about a minute)

I think this sounds like it is going to be a neat thing for the park. I always enjoyed walking through Tower Gardens before it became a smoking area. I still enjoy walking up the exit to Whitewater Canyon and people watching (OK, shooting the water cannons at them) back by the overlook. All the people that are disappointed because it's not a coaster should really take a step back and think about what they are saying. A week ago, we knew nothing about this. Don put on a good show this past week with the teaser videos and pictures. It's a shame that he doesn't do things like that more often with behind the scenes pictures and the like to help pass the off season.

I know, that's the scary part. With all the countries in the Mideast that are a hotbed for trouble, all it is going to take is another one or two of them to start something and we really will be in trouble. I am afraid that we are in for a really rough ride, one that I have a feeling will make Son of Beast look smooth.

When they did $4 the last time, it put the global economy on it's ear. Not just the US, but the world. What makes them think this time will be any different, especially since the economy is still in a very fragile state? I don't get it. Not to get political, but what happened to all the tough talk about "big oil" during the last election? All I hear now is silence....and I really don't like the volumes that it is speaking.

^ What a good picture of Son of Beast! If only it were going to be running this year....

Now, that is just a little bit silly and over the top. The only one you will hurt with something like that is yourself. While I do not like the change in ERT rides, to go to that extreme is something completely different. The only reason the change aggravates me is that it was made after the passes were sold. Had they announced this before the passes went on sale, and not promised that we would have ERT on The Beast and Diamondback every operating day of the 2011 season excluding Friday night Haunts, there would be no issue.

Also, just because it is not an "emergency" issue to you does not mean it is not to someone else. You, also, need to put on your grown up pants and realize that your opinion is not the only one that matters.

The way I see it, it is no different than promising free parking with your gold pass and then retracting it once passes have been sold. How would you like to have that happen then be told to "get over it"? This is no different. It is not good PR to promise something then take it back.

I hope they replace the blacktop with pavers as well. The work they did in Rivertown and on International Street looks really nice! I am surprised that no one has mentioned that being in the back of Coney Mall, WindSeeker should provide some interesting views of The Beast as well!

The best one I have heard this season: Enjoy your ride on Flight Deck, the coaster that goes through the danger zone and takes your breath away. I enjoyed that line. And my ride on Flight Deck.

^ I guess I'm a little spoiled. The closest I have ever been to seat assignment is on coasters like Tornado at Stricker's Grove or Screechin' Eagle at LeSourdsville. I really do not see the point of assigning seats at all, separating the line is different. Are you showing your age a little there, Terpy? As far as complaining goes, at least I didn't launch into a tirade about trim brakes.

Assigned seats on The Beast? No thanks. Just like all the other coasters I ride, I know where I want to sit and will gladly wait for my seat. I have no desire to wait in line for hours and be told where to sit, on The Beast, Diamondback, or any other coaster. Pulse people into the station if you want, but leave the seat choice up to the rider. Next thing you know they will be blocking off half the train on slow days like they do up north.

Why? What was the point of a statement like that?

I never will forget the first time I rode my motorcycle to the park. The lady at the toll was a super nice lady, probably in her 60's. She scanned my pass, looked at the picture, and because I had my helmet on proceeded to ask me "is that you in there?" I flipped up the visor so she could see me dying laughing from being asked that. I suppose to her, I looked like I belonged in Flight of Fear! That set the tone for a very nice day in the park. Is that you in there??

Imagine a roll back in the front seat I don't have to imagine it! Happened to me a couple of years back, with Sean Flaharty... It's quite the experience, and was very unexpected... It is something to experience isn't it? It happened to me last season with Dare-to-Fly. We brought our aunt to the park for the first time in years and she got to experience it too. She didn't think it was nearly as much fun as we did for some reason...