markr Posted June 22, 2008 Share Posted June 22, 2008 Took a trip with PKI Boy and our friend Phil to Hershey Park, Dorney Park, and Six Flags Great America 6/14 to 6/20. It is going to be difficult but I will try to be as brief as possible. We went to Hershey Park on Sunday 6/15. The crowds were very light so we were able to get on the rides right away. We first went to Farenheit, the new Itamin which is very similar to Maverick at CP. The lift hill lifts the train 90 degrees so you are laying on your back, which was awesome. The ride itself had great inversions but didn't have the speed of Maverick. Still, a lot of fun. Next we went to Storm Runner, an intamin launch similar to Top Thrill Dragster at CP except about half the height. I liked it better than Farenheit-again, lots of great inversions and much more speed-about 75 mph. There was also a B and M inverted, Great Bear-had some great elements including a dive loop similar to Mantis at CP. Not quite as good as Raptor at CP but still a fun ride. I liked Hershey's wooden coasters, especially Comet ( which had the buzz bars instead of the lap bars.) and the Lightning Racer. Hershey is all and all a very nice, charming park-I got a big kick out of the dancing candy bars along the midway. Next was Dorney Park on Monday 6/16 and Tuesday, 6/17. Again the crowds were very light, almost all walk-ons. We loved Talon which is their B and M inverted. Unfortunately I lost my cel phone on this one. ( Miraculously we got a call a few days later that it was found. ) My fav there was Hydra, the B and M floorless. That ride was best on the front seat. Also, their woodie, Thunderhawk, was great. We also rode Voodoo which was moved from GL ( Cannot remember what it was called at GL-when it was Six Flags it was called Superman. ) This is the Itamin that is like Wicked Twister except there is no spiral when you go backwards. On the second launch backwards, you suddenly stop at the top before going back down-another great ride but we rode it in the back which limits your exposure to the front spiral- would suggest this ride at the front of the train. Steel Force which is Dorney's steel hyper was kind of dissappointing. While the trains were a lot more comfortable than Magnum ( didn't beat up your legs) and while there was great air time, it just didn't have the speed of Magnum. All and all another nice, old fashioned amusement park. And the food prices were a lot more reasonable than KI. Had a double burger and fries for $7.89 and the burger was just out of this world. It was grilled to order and was nice and juicy. We saved the best park for last, Six Flags Great Adventure on 6/18 and 6/19. We got there when the park opened at 10:30a and went straight to, you guessed it, Kingda Ka. Only about a 10-15 minute wait. While I had ridden Dragster before, was still very nervous about Ka. Was nervous for nothing- like Dragster, was a total adreneline rush. The verdict: while a slam bang ride, I thought Dragster was a little better because of the freedom of movement without the shoulder gear-however I liked the finish of Ka a little better than Dragster because unlike Dragster, you go over a smaller hill on Ka which provides great air time before the train stops. Next we went to El Toro, the Itamin Woodie- while I still love KI's Beast, El Toro totally blows Beast away with its great air time and continuous twists and turns. My personal fav at the park was Nitro, the B and M hyper floorless. What air time!!! Would have loved to ride that on the front seat but we didn't want to wait. We also rode Batman, the mother of the B and M inverted coaster. I loved the theming of the queue area which was made to look like The Bat Cave. While not quite as good as Raptor ( because no cobra roll.) nevertheless another fun ride with lots quick turns. Also rode the B and M Flyer, Superman the Ultimate Flight. Unlike Firehawk, instead of turning you on your back for the lift hill, you are laying on your stomach below the track pretty much the entire ride. While I love Firehawk, Superman seemed to have a lot more speed. Medusa was Six Flags' B and M Floorless looping coaster-huge loops. Our least favorite was Great American Scream Machine, the arrow looper similar to Vortex. That ride really hurt my neck and back around the sudden turns. I thought I was going to get whip lash. All and all, another great park, very clean. My only gripe is that they don't allow fanny packs on the rides unlike all the other parks I have been to. Basically, if you ask me, an excuse to get your money for the lockers. However, wore some good shorts with velcro ( sp?) pockets on the second day, so was able to secure my contents perfectly. I give you a more detailed trip report but I am still exhausted from the long ride back yesterday. I think PKI Boy is going to down load some photos for your viewing pleasure. All and all we all had a blast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted June 22, 2008 Share Posted June 22, 2008 Voodoo was Steel Venom at Geauga Lake! Anyway, I'm curious...did y'all ride Rolling Thunder? Or Runaway Mine Train? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkiboy Posted June 22, 2008 Share Posted June 22, 2008 OMG Rolling Thunder Hurt my ears yes we did that and Runaway Train. Pics up soon im uploading them now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zl422 Posted June 22, 2008 Share Posted June 22, 2008 nitros not floorless, medusa is. rode both. and i thoght that kingda ka was better than dragster, they both equla out though, dragster has a better view and less protection ( i didnt fell a difference in freedom), and kingda ka is faster higher and has a second hill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted June 22, 2008 Share Posted June 22, 2008 How in the world did Rolling Thunder hurt your ears, pkiboy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOPGUN1993 Posted June 22, 2008 Share Posted June 22, 2008 Well, Thunder is loud..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkiboy Posted June 22, 2008 Share Posted June 22, 2008 How in the world did Rolling Thunder hurt your ears, pkiboy? It needs to be Grezzed up It squeeks to much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersNSich Posted June 22, 2008 Share Posted June 22, 2008 So, you went to New Jersey, eh?! Just kidding.... SFGAdv is on my must do list, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markr Posted June 22, 2008 Author Share Posted June 22, 2008 nitros not floorless, medusa is. rode both. and i thoght that kingda ka was better than dragster, they both equla out though, dragster has a better view and less protection ( i didnt fell a difference in freedom), and kingda ka is faster higher and has a second hill. Maybe I missed something-I remember Nitro being floorless because our legs were dangling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted June 22, 2008 Share Posted June 22, 2008 You didn't miss anything....the floor is down there, but you sit tilted back so that your feet can't reach the floor (unless you are very, very tall), as on Goliath at SFOG. Medusa is the floorless wonder...and far, far better than Hydra at Dorney.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markr Posted June 22, 2008 Author Share Posted June 22, 2008 Voodoo was Steel Venom at Geauga Lake! Anyway, I'm curious...did y'all ride Rolling Thunder? Or Runaway Mine Train? Rolling Thunder was just ok-liked the old fashioned buzz bars but just didn't have the air time I like. Listening to the Rawhide theme in the station over and over and over again got to be annoying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkiboy Posted June 22, 2008 Share Posted June 22, 2008 Photos Dorney Park Great Adventure I took more pics but didnt have the time to post all of them had a fun full trip its just the drive home was really long and boring lol. If any of you guys want to use my photos for like backrounds just pm me I took good pics from all 3 parks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigellinus Posted June 22, 2008 Share Posted June 22, 2008 ^^Why do those pics take so long to load?? Also, another question I have is if you spent so much time at Great Adventure (2 days) how were you not able to squeeze in a front row ride on Nitro?? The good news for you, if KI gets what many think it will get, we'll have our own little Nitro in the not too distant future which we can ride all we want (including the first row!) without having to travel to NJ!! Note I say "little" because looking at KI's footprint more and more, I fear our hyper will be much shorter and smaller than Nitro (or any recently built B&M hyper out there), but at least we'll finally have a hyper and I love being proven wrong as well!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterKrazy Posted June 22, 2008 Share Posted June 22, 2008 Voodoo was Steel Venom at Geauga Lake! Anyway, I'm curious...did y'all ride Rolling Thunder? Or Runaway Mine Train? I also just got back from a trip to Six Flags Great Adventure, and rode both. Rolling Thunder was not at all enjoyable, in my opinion. I found it to be quite rough. Runaway Mine Train was a typical Arrow mine train with a few hard transitions, but a relatively smooth ride. It was comparable to Adventure Express, but I think I prefer our coaster at Kings Island. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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