gigacoaster2k

I left my house for Cedar Point around 5:30 am, hoping to get to the park by 8:30. What was really weird was that my iPod kept shuffling to songs in my CP playlist on the way there. By the way, the road closed signs on Route 6 are now gone. No more detours! I got to the park around 8:30 am, fearing for the worst since some had told me that there would be leftover crowds from the 4th. I couldn't have been more wrong. There were maybe 10 cars in the GP lot. The guy directing traffic pointed me to the left after I showed my pass at the parking tolls. Very odd, since he pretty much pointed me to the road that goes around the causeway.. I'd planned on driving around to the Soak City lot anyway. It was a warm, sunny, beautiful morning. Crystal blue sky and brilliant sunshine. I parked in the Gemini lot, and walked to the gate by Magnum. There were maybe 30 people there, and even less behind me as 9 am drew closer. They opened the gates and started scanning passes at 8:50. When the rope dropped, I didn't run, but jogged. I made it to Maverick at exactly 9 am, and the line wasn't even to the bottom of the stairs. I rode in the very front seat. I ran back for 2 more rides, took advantage of the SRL (which was open!) and both times I was assigned to seat 5 (6 is the very rear). WOW! Maverick in the rear seats is pretty intense. I saw white dots in front of my eyes after the first drop! It was only 9:45, and I'd gotten 3 rides on Maverick. I headed for Millie. The ride was a walk on. By this, I mean I ran all the way to the station. I was sitting in my seat when they called out for a single rider.. and I saw a familiar face coming toward the empty seat in a bright yellow shirt! I got to ride with Single Rider Bob on my first MF ride of the day! I asked him what his total MF ride count was, and he said it was almost 3,000. I got 1 more ride in before the 10 am rope drop in the very rear seat. On one of these rides, I almost completely grayed out from the first drop all the way to the first airtime hill. I realized I was sweating, so I grabbed a free ice water to remedy that. I looked at my phone, saw that it was 10:04, squeezed in another ride in the very second seat, and then I figured the rest of the day would be horribly packed. I decided to make my way to the front of the park because I wanted my buy one get one Skyscraper ride coupons from Guest Relations (you can only get these with a CF platinum pass). I hit the Space Shot side of Power Tower, which had no wait whatsoever. I was getting hungry, but I wanted a ride on Dragster. I didn't wait long at all. The line was barely past the bottom of the ramp. I rode in the very rear seat for maximum launch power.. whoa. If you really want that launch to punch you in the stomach, ride in the rear seat! Good stuff. It was about this time that I decided I needed to eat. I grabbed some mini corn dogs from some place in front of Raptor. They made them fresh for me, and they were delicious. I think that I brainwashed myself by sitting at a table facing Raptor while I ate. The deafening, monstrous roar that thing makes when it flies down the first hill and glides through the loop gives me goosebumps every time. I was mesmerized by it. I went to Guest Relations, showed them my platinum pass, and they gave me a full sheet of coupons including the one I wanted. They were very kind to me, and even the person that was helping someone else told me to have a great day. I was craving some Raptor, and wanted to see my friend Schuyler, so I headed over there. I feared for a 2 hour wait.. not even close. I waited all of 20 minutes. I saw my friend but he was very busy.. that crew is hellbent on getting out trains as fast as they can, they do a fantastic job! I rode in the very rear seat, of course. For anyone who likes being thrown around when it comes to rides, I insist you try the very rear seat of Raptor.. wow. Since I was over that way, I crossed over to maXair and rode that. I waited all of 10 minutes to ride. It was only 1 pm and I had been on 10 rides in 4 hours. Around this time, it got a little busier, but it wasn't bad. Giant Wheel from maXair's queue. I headed over to Wicked Twister, which had about a 20 minute wait. We heard loud music and cheers from the Extreme Sports Stadium, and I looked over to see people doing inline skate and BMX tricks on a half pipe, complete with some pretty nice looking cheerleaders, haha (sorry, no pic of those!). Here is a view from Wicked Twister's queue. I noticed that all but one of the jet skis were gone. The water was really busy with parasailers, jet skis, pontoon boats, motor boats and big elaborate sailboats. Look at that beautiful blue sky! I rode in the "cool seat" (still don't know which seat number that is after all this time). On our ride, the ride op said you are launching in "3..2.. dippin dots" and launched us. I then decided I would work my way to the back of the park and get one of my Skyscraper rides in. I hit Space Shot again on the way, still no wait whatsoever. Walked all the way to an open seat. What's funny is that it was seat 7, which I had the last time. The ride op said "I think that seat was meant for you!" LOL! I was feeling pretty brave and confident by this time of the day. Lines were short if nonexistent, I was totally getting my way with every ride, and the weather was just glorious. So I decided to see if I could handle Witches Wheel (the vertical spinning ride by Magnum's exit). It was a walk on too. There is nothing but gravitational force holding you in your seat. That was weird, but fun. I stepped off the ride, and I wasn't dizzy at all! So there's another spinning ride I can do! I was so happy! I went to Magnum, which had maybe a 10 minute wait. The ride ops were hilarious, joking with each other about the craziest things. I joined in and they loved it. I rode in the second seat from the back.. oh how I love Magnum. It was time for my ride on Skyscraper. I exited and got my wrist stamp, and went to the ticket booth. I presented my coupon and they handed it back to me.. wow. So I can use it next time! $10 for 2 Skyscraper rides, YES! Sorry for the fisheye. My phone's camera sucks. I rode, and WOW. I love intense rides, definitely still a big favorite. The ride ops told me not to flip the cage, but I did it anyway and they didn't even notice. I walked over to my car to apply more sunscreen, and re-entered the park. I figured I might as well ride Magnum while I was there.. STILL a walk on. Tom said I should ride Skyhawk for him, so I walked over to Frontiertown and checked the line. I waited one ride cycle and got on. I couldn't resist a second ride with that short of a wait time, so I rode again. On the second ride, someone peed their pants on the swing opposite the one I was on. I wanted another ride on Millie, so I headed that way. The line was around 20 minutes to half an hour. Still not bad. I saw my friend Jon that works the ride. When I got to the station, they were assigning seats! I did not understand this. The ride ops were not very nice about it either, shouting at and pointing at the guests in the station. I didn't wait for someone to yell at me, because I'm the type to yell back. I walked to the very back of the train without being called out. That was my only complaint for the day. I hit Space Shot again on my way to the front of the park.. still walk on. I was thirsty and felt myself yawning, and I caved and bought a bottle of Mountain Dew. Yes, it was $3, but it was freezing cold, and it tasted glorious. I went over to Blue Streak (by this time it was about 4:30 pm), and chatted with my friend Scott. Old Blue was a walk on.. but the sign at the front read 1 hour. I told him, and he wasn't happy about that.. apparently some park guests have figured out how to adjust those signs. I rode in the very back on the right.. that lap bar gives a little more than the one on the left.. hee hee. I headed over to Raptor, and finally caught Schuyler when he wasn't crazy busy. I rode twice in the very back seat, only having waited 1 train each time. After that, I decided I needed to chill out for a while. I had done an awful lot of riding, and was at a point where I didn't know what to do next, I'd made several circles around the park and every ride had a welcoming empty queue. I exited the park, and walked out to the beach by the water. I sat down in the sand and just chilled out, listening to the gulls' cries, the waves hitting the shore, and the distant screams of riders. I let myself recharge, and went back to the park. I headed back to Blue so I could visit Scott and pick on him some more, he's really funny. He wasn't working, but I rode in the same seat. This time I took a brutal punch to the head from the head rest on the brake run. I went back over to Raptor, which had gone down to a station wait. It was here that I realized I'd barely paid any attention to Millie today. I was all about Raptor and wanted to just keep riding it and riding it. Rode in the very front, about a 2 train wait. Back over to Blue I went, which was STILL a walk on. I was 1 of maybe 7 people on the train.. that's IT. I love Old Blue.. it has some nice air. Throws you around a little, which I like. I headed over to maXair, which had about a 15 minute wait. That thing packs some serious air when it swings to its apex, and really plasters you to your seat on the down swings! I love it. I headed over to Space Spiral to take a shot of the parking lot to show you guys what I was talking about. Look at how packed the main lot is. I tried to get a shot of the Soak City lot, but I was too far away to get a good pic. Full parking lots, fantastic weather, crowded midways.. yet everything was walk on or had a very short wait. Very odd, but I was definitely not complaining. I wondered at one point if I was dreaming, or if you all would even believe this trip report when you read it. Decided I wanted my other ride on Skyscraper, so I started to make my way back to the rear of the park. Hit Space Shot again on my way back, still no line whatsoever. I passed up Magnum on the way to Challenge Park because I really wanted that Skyscraper ride again. I think the ride ops like my enthusiasm. They spun my seat before they started my ride, gave a me a ride almost twice as long as my last one, and cranked that bad boy up to Mach 4. I could hear the tower whirring through the air as I flipped and spun. I left Challenge Park very happy. Off to Magnum I went, and it was a station wait. I waited one train for seat 1:3.. which hurts much more than I remembered. On the first bunny hill coming back, the lap bar slammed down on my thighs and I was thrown violently against the back of the seat as my butt came up and slammed down on the hard seat. I yelled a few expletives. That was NOT fun. Checked the wait for Dragster on the way back, and it was posted at half an hour. I passed on that. I wasn't leaving the park without a funnel cake, so I got one. After destroying that, I went straight to Raptor.. it was a station wait. I decided at this point that I was going to lap Raptor for the last hour. Tom texted me and said I should end my night with Millie. After 3 rides on the rear seat of Raptor, which had no wait at all for that seat, I caved and headed for Millie. It was about a 20 minute wait. I decided I'd ride that once and then go back to Raptor. While in the station, I saw people in the front row on the train coming back, spitting, gagging and wiping their shirts (that is exactly why I do not ride front row on Millie at night.. bugs, bugs, and more bugs!). I should have listened to Tom. I walked all the way to Raptor from Millie, to see the coaster dark and quiet. Horrified that I hadn't been paying attention to the time, I looked at my phone to see that it was 9:52! I booked it back to Millie and waited for last train, only to see all the Raptor employees waiting at the back of the station. I gave up on getting last ride, and jumped on the next empty seat I saw. When my ride was over, I kissed my hand and slapped it on the train as I left the station. I realized that on my way to the SC lot, I got to walk through Starlight Experience. It's pretty cool how it takes you through all four seasons.. but I got chomped by quite a few mosquitoes on the way through. I still cannot believe this day was so wonderful and amazing. I felt like the park had been waiting for me all day. Drumroll, please.. here is my ride count for 13.5 hours at the park. Raptor - 7 Millennium Force - 6 Space Shot - 4 Maverick - 3 Blue Streak - 3 Magnum - 3 Skyscraper - 2 maXair - 2 Skyhawk - 2 Dragster - 1 Wicked Twister - 1 Witches Wheel - 1 Space Spiral - 1 THIRTY-SIX RIDES even with stopping to eat twice, going to the car, and chilling on the beach.. I told you I was a ride warrior.

WOW is all I have to say, Zach. Your photos always blow me away. And I agree 100% with everything you said about Voyage. It was my first ride on my first visit.. several minutes later after I was able to speak, I told Adam in a dead serious tone that Voyage alone was worth the 4.5 hour drive.

So I was a last resort? I see how it is!

I had just gotten home from work, and got a text from Tom(76257) asking me if I wanted to ride Diamondback, and that he was going to the park. I gave that a few seconds of thought, jumped in the shower, and hopped in my car to go to KI. I was barely 15 miles down I75 when there was a very nasty traffic jam just north of Dayton due to an accident. It finally un-jammed, and I hit the gas only to see more brake lights less than a mile ahead and lined up as far as the eye could see.. there was another freaking traffic jam, and for no reason. Thanks to these delays, it took me about 1 hour 20 min to get to KI, usually takes me an hour tops. I arrived at the park, and had to park way out in BFE by the passenger drop off. Tom and I met up at Diamondback, where both queues were full. We decided against DB since the wait was just too long, and headed for Red Racer. Rode in the second seat from the back since wheel seat equals ouch. Racer is a much better ride without trims. Otherwise, it's kind of boring and really doesn't deliver much airtime.. maybe I'm just spoiled by Voyage? I suggested we ride Drop Tower (gee what a surprise coming from me), so we headed that way. Tom saw 2 coins fall from the top of the tower when it dropped. We also saw Danielle (keiko_coaster) getting on the ride in front of us, and while we were waiting for DT, we watched her having fun on Skyflyer. We both really wanted to ride Diamondback, so we headed that way and waited it out. When we were almost to the second queue, it broke down for a while. We decided to wait it out, and saw markr in line ahead of us. I am not sure how long we waited, but it had to be at least an hour. When we finally got to the station, we were assigned to row 1! I was ecstatic. Tom wanted to request row 16, but I wasn't having it. I went straight for our assigned seat. It was so worth it, waiting all that time and being assigned to row 1.. wow, just wow. Then we headed for a night ride on Drop Tower, where it too broke down right before we were supposed to get on. The queue pretty much emptied out to about 2 ride cycles when the announcement was made. I also noticed while waiting that Congo Falls was running empty boats. We saw distant fireworks from the top of the tower.. too cool. Our last ride of the night was DB. We saw the fireworks from the queue, and it looked pretty wicked with a full moon and creepy dark clouds. We waited for the night's last train, and Gabe (Captain Nemo) rode with us. We saw fairly close fireworks from the coaster while riding too. Tom walked me to my car as I didn't feel comfortable walking that far out by myself. We saw a fantastic display of fireworks with an amazing grand finale, I am not sure where they came from, but people were getting out of their cars to watch. As I was about to leave, we saw Jared (rotag1299). The three of us ended up chatting until the lot was almost empty. Jared tells some colorful stories, and kept us entertained. I decided it was time to leave when I saw employees leaving, and saw a street sweeper cleaning the parking lot. For a short trip, I had fun. Tom is awesome and fun to ride with (thanks for twisting my arm and MAKING ME come out, 76257 ) Fireworks - 4 Diamond - 2 Drop - 2 Red - 1

I voted for Action Zone. As nice as Rivertown looks, I always find myself back in Action Zone. There's so much energy in that part of the park, especially with Drop Tower on center stage.

I get picked on a lot because I get hungry about twice during the day when I go to a park. I am hypoglycemic and have a high metabolism. I have been like this since my preteen years. Therefore, anything I eat is quickly burned off. I have actually passed out cold, and have gotten sick to my stomach, from not eating for several hours. The adrenaline rush I get from the extreme rides I love so much helps curb mild to moderate hunger. However, if I step off of, say, Diamondback or Drop Tower and my stomach growls, I need to get food. So when I say I am hungry, I mean it.

That's a great idea. You know, I find it hilarious that most arguments are coming from people who have never visited the park, or rarely visit because any park with less than 946 coasters is "not worth their time." But to each his or her own. On a positive note, for those who do decide not to go, that just means less people in line for Voyage when I go again!

I heard that. I got 2 slices of pepperoni pizza, a chocolate chip cookie, fries, and a soda.. all for $7.49.

I just realized that I paid a $42.95 preregistration to get into HoliWood Nights. My bad. (But it was worth every single penny!) Aside from that mistake, I will try one last time to make my point. At CF parks, parking fees are based on what type of admission you are paying. Then you pay a reasonable price for a ticket or season pass. Then in the park, you pay gouged prices for food, drinks, sunscreen, gifts, pretty much everything. You pay and you pay and you pay. At HW, you do not have to pay to park. Then you pay a gouged price for your admission ticket or season pass. Then in the park, you don't have to pay for drinks or sunscreen. Food and other items are reasonably priced. From a guest's point of view: One marketing strategy very obviously puts the company first. The other very obviously puts the customer first. (THAT SHOULD BE MORE IMPORTANT!) What does each marketing strategy say to the park guest, whether enthusiast or not? What would you rather have people say or think? "Wow, the people on the corporate ladder are really trying hard to make money" or, "Wow, this park really cares about their customers" ? *As much as I love the rides at the parks I've mentioned, the magic I feel on the midway, and the many friends I have made there, I see exactly what is going on when I see the price tags.

Yes, but CF dangles great deals in your face for a very limited time, and then yanks them away for the rest of the year. From a park visitor's point, it seems that the people in the ivory tower have dollar signs gleaming in their eyes. Charge for everything you can possibly charge for, and gouge the prices of the things people need the most. I am aware that the cash flow all evens out to a certain point, but the way it is executed is what I am trying to get at.

Technically I didn't buy a ticket for either visit to Holiday World. I got into HoliWood Nights without paying a penny to HW because I'm an ACE member. My season pass price on my second visit to HW was $84.95, compared to the normal $139.95 (thanks again to my ACE membership). That's a difference of $55. So my $60 ACE membership basically paid for itself, and as I see it from what I just wrote, I got one heck of a deal. Even if parking, drinks, and sunscreen aren't technically free, it seems that way because things like hydration and proper sun care are far more important. Sunburn and dehydration are very serious, and if you are suffering from both, you can get sick in a heartbeat. I appreciate not having to pay a gouged price every time for food, drinks, or sunscreen at HW. The park takes care of you.. I like that.

On my very first visit to the park, only a few hours after arriving, I was so blown away by the park that I proclaimed that I was going to buy a season pass on my next visit. Which I did. I am now a season passholder, only having visited HW twice in my entire life. By the way, HW is 4.5 hours from where I sit (3.5 with the time zone change from EST to CDT). If that doesn't tell you how impressed I am, I don't know what else to say.

YES. *Free drinks including soda, Gatorade, lemonade and iced tea *Free SPF 30 sunscreen *Free parking *Trim-free coasters *Park is very, very, very clean *Employees, ride ops, and management are all extremely hospitable, and will go out of their way to help you with anything *Theming throughout the park is wonderfully done *Weather alerts will sound over the PA system when bad weather is approaching, and again when the weather has left *Low food prices *Great food quality In fact, I was so blown away by the park on my first visit that only a few hours into the day, I looked at my friend and announced that I was getting a season pass on my next visit.. which I did.

Were you at HoliWood Nights? That looks almost exactly like one of my Legend walkback photos!

Really? Wow, that was just down right disrespectful, and mean. No it isn't. He tells the truth. I have met several people that will bash, disrespect and badmouth any park that isn't their home park. It really annoys me to hear these narrow minded people call themselves enthusiasts.

I thought some of you would find this interesting.. guess I was mistaken. Sorry I said anything.

So people can make topics titled Z0MGZ IT'S MY 100TH POST SDFKJSDAKFJSDKJF, ..but capacity improvement on the world's tallest water ride (that just opened a few months ago) is not worth posting? LOL.

http://holidayworld.com/node/2858

Haha.. mystery giga. I like it.