Story from "Detroit Free Press" and Cedar Fair coasters dominate the list.  But I do not believe they have a correct picture of "The Beast".

 

 

http://www.freep.com/story/travel/michigan/2015/04/25/best-coasters-near-detroit/26189307/

Son of a Beast..

 

I like how this article shows (right or wrong) that Cedar Fair parks are the only short-trip options from Metro Detroit.

Nothing from the Wonderland of Canada?

Hmm, international border crossing requirements might be why they were left out. That's the biggest thing keeping me from checking the place out - the need for a passport. But indeed, what of Behemoth, Leviathan, and co.?

^ For land or sea crossings, an enhanced driver license from a participating state/province works as well.

Also, why wouldn't they make it an even ten and include Banshee?

Some of us don't want an "enhanced" license, but yes, that's technically an option..

Also, why wouldn't they make it an even ten and include Banshee?

Heck I don't know why Banshee wasn't on there in place of others like Thunderhawk. Banshee is definitely the superior invert between the two.

Follow-up: I did take a moment to look into what an enhanced driver license involves and it seems to be relatively harmless.  They say it's just storing basically a unique ID or token on the RFID chip that's meaningless without access to the government's database.  The only questionable part that I can find is that it involves data sharing between various state and federal governmental agencies.

 

Still interested in getting a passport (for other reasons) but maybe I'll just get an enhanced license and check Canada's Wonderland out.  

Passports are super easy to obtain, and they're good for a decade.

I know its 5-ish hours away, but would SFGAm be kind of considered to be within Detroit's reach?

The only parks I've seen advertised in the DTW area are Cedar Point and Michigan's Adventure. Banshee might've made the local news but I don't recall.

Chicago is a popular day trip from here but generally not for thrill rides.

Passports are indeed rather easy to obtain, so long as one isn't faced by budget constraints. I'm trying to limit expenditures until more money starts rolling in.

Passports become much more expensive if you need to obtain one in short order.

The major thing stopping me from going to Canada's Wonderland (other than budget) is Customs. I don't know what it would take to get my daily prescription medication across the border in both directions. I know I researched it once, but I can't recall what I found out.

I just checked and the main thing getting prescription drugs into Canada is to have them in their original containers, a copy of your doctor's prescription, and no more than a 90 day supply as to a few of the country's requirements. http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/medication.  

lol what is Thunderhawk doing on this list!

Original containers and a prescription are also requirements for travelers transporting drugs within the USA. I had to argue this with my Mom, as she liked to split up dosages in those pillbox containers separated by day of the week. Not a good idea to travel with those like that.

Chicago is a popular day trip from here but generally not for thrill rides.

 

 

Unless there are no enthusiasts in the Detroit area, I'm pretty sure some have likely partaken in such a trip to Gurnee.  

SFGAm seems mighty busy with thrillseekers.

Unless there are no enthusiasts in the Detroit area, I'm pretty sure some have likely partaken in such a trip to Gurnee.  

 

Indeed.  I'm personally interested in making a trip out there, now that I've been gifted a SIX pass.  That said, I did say that we generally do not head to Chicago for that reason.  Most people in Metro Detroit, on most of their thrill ride-seeking trips, do not go to Illinois.  If we did, the park might see fit to advertise to keep us going back.

Given the place operates at near capacity most days, why would they do that?

Thanks for the link. I did some digging from there, and it seems that I just need the original labeled containers provided by the pharmacy, with a copy of the prescription for backup. I always carry my medication in the original containers when I travel, so I would just need to make a copy of the prescription to bring with me as well.

Exactly, their target markets provide sufficient attendance that they do not need to pull in guests from five hours away who have other parks within half that distance.  One of those is the flagship of Six Flags' direct competitor no less.

Actually Six Flags and Cedar Fair compete only in Southern California.

They occupy the same industry under similar business models..  They've been known to partake in competitive acts before.  See also: opening Kingda Ka a mere two years after Top Thrill Dragster, for one.

 

While most of their parks are not directly in the same market, they are competitive businesses overall.

 

Your post though is exactly what I was saying regarding the Metro Detroit market.  SFGAm and CP are not direct competitors.  Some might choose to visit Gurnee but most of the time, they'll be down at Sandusky, or in Orlando or LA.

I thought SIX and FUN compete with each other in Philly?

But they do not serve the same markets. This is why both Avenue Capital and Apollo Global contemplated acquiring both and merging them.

I thought SIX and FUN compete with each other in Philly?

To a limited extent. Dorney Park and Great Adventure don't really compete for the same customers. Philly is a market for both but not the primary market for either.

Just asking for knowledge sake-

 

I can probably guess at what NJFTP's primary market would be, but does what would Dorney's be?

Most of eastern Pennsylvania. It competes more with Hersheypark than with Great Adventure.