St Louis Blues- silver2005's Missouri TR and Planning (and more)

[silver2005]

I have to say, one underrated part of the CP layout is when you're circling clockwise on the loop, as you pass the Magnun station, there's that added sense of busyness after the quiet walk through Frontiertown that's underrated.

[silver2005]

So yesterday at Cedar Point went mostly well.  Had a few snags like MF only running 2 trains all day, Siren having hiccups, Maverick being down until 5/6 pm, and an hour rain delay (didn't rain, but there was lightning in the area), but overall had a good day, especially the evening.

Today's forecast is all blah after 5, so I'm ditching CP (didn't ride any non-coasters unfortunately, was going to remedy that today), but I'm just going to chill on the lake today (my hotel is on the lakefront in Port Clinton).  Possibly wanted to do the R&RHOF again, but I'm to tired to drive to Cleveland and back.  

[IndyGuy4KI]

Looks like you are having a great trip!

[silver2005]

I might need a break from Cedar Point for a while.  I still rather like the park.  Its more about how they have rides designed to force supposed 'good' operations.  I know why Magnum and SteVe need to have faster loads and unloads, but its annoying the way the crews treat guests.  And while other rides don't have that, there's this arrogance that the staff has that's been rubbing off on me the wrong way my last few visits.  I'll probably swap in either Philly or Gatlinburg next summer instead (probably the former as I've been craving fountain ERT at Longwood, HP and Knoebels something fierce). 

I'm going to wait until July 4th to make my decision for Missouri.  At the very least, I'm planning on keeping SDC to get Thunderation before it bites the dust.  St Louis and KC are iffy depending on how gas prices go the next month (can't discuss further as it breaks KIC's TOS).  

Kentucky Kingdom will be some time before that in case I am making the push to 200 coasters ridden. 

[silver2005]

So I'm thinking of switching out the Reds game in St Louis for the zoo or something.  They've been pathetic.  I'll still swing by Busch Stadium for sure, just not to see the Reds get destroyed.

Any BBQ recommendations for StL or KC would be appreciated. 😉

[silver2005]

I think I will be heading to Louisville to check out the new stuff at Kentucky Kingdom this Sunday.

[silver2005]

It is looking rainy, potentially stormy, in L'ville tomorrow, but I'm going to stick with my KK visit for tomorrow a I want to do KI and possibly Soak City next Sunday.   

I'm really looking forward to seeing how much else Herschend has spruced up KK, especially after my last visit. 

[silver2005]

I really like Flying Fox.  Lapbars on a suspended coaster is really free feeling and it's a fun and interactive course.  Love the colors.

[silver2005]

Lighting Run and Wind Chaser feel tame after doing Magnum, Maverick and SteVe.

[silver2005]

Love the retracked section of Woodland Run.  It really yanks you down the first drop in the back.

[IBEW_Sparky]

59 minutes ago, silver2005 said:

Love the retracked section of Woodland Run.  It really yanks you down the first drop in the back.

Ive not been since Labor Day 2020, what about the back-half?  Does it still run like a pile of.... does it still make old Mean Streak feel smooth in comparison?

[silver2005]

Its a little rattly but smooth enough where I can get used to it. The later bits are comparable to the last half of Ravine Flyer II IMO.

Keep in mind I have a weird tolerance for roughness compared to so enthusiasts. For example, while most people didn't like Wildcat at HP before it was RMCed, I still loved it.

Good news- park is dead and everything is walk on.

Bad news- 2 food stalls open. 

[RollerColt]

21 minutes ago, silver2005 said:

Its a little rattly but smooth enough where I can get used to it. The later bits are comparable to the last half of Ravine Flyer II IMO.

Keep in mind I have a weird tolerance for roughness compared to so enthusiasts. For example, while most people didn't like Wildcat at HP before it was RMCed, I still loved it.

Good news- park is dead and everything is walk on.

Bad news- 2 food stalls open. 

Only 2 in the whole park? That’s no good…

[silver2005]

So I should probably mention there is 1) a threat of rain and 2) a basketball event that has the convention center parking lot filled, I suspect both are keeping KK slow.  I had to circle the whole conversation center and happened to luck out with a spot close to the park. 

I think more food opened after I ate.  I may do a 2nd meal before I leave to check out the BBQ.  I only intend to stay until 530/6 ish.

[IBEW_Sparky]

1 hour ago, silver2005 said:

Its a little rattly but smooth enough where I can get used to it. The later bits are comparable to the last half of Ravine Flyer II IMO.

Keep in mind I have a weird tolerance for roughness compared to so enthusiasts. For example, while most people didn't like Wildcat at HP before it was RMCed, I still loved it.

Good news- park is dead and everything is walk on.

Bad news- 2 food stalls open. 

Sweet deal, I was using MS since its the one everyone used to Love to hate, I didnt mind its roughness it was just stupid slow/shuffly in the second half.  I can get down with Woodland Run with it running as you describe it.  My partner and I may end up heading there before the end of the season and it will be their first time at the park, I wanted to know if it was worth queuing up for.

[silver2005]

I will say, between Siren and Flying Fox, it's weird mentioning Vekoma and the words 'obnoxiously smooth' in the same sentence.

[RollerColt]

2 hours ago, silver2005 said:

I will say, between Siren and Flying Fox, it's weird mentioning Vekoma and the words 'obnoxiously smooth' in the same sentence.

Good Gravy! at Holiday World always surprises us with how smooth it is too. For a family shuttle coaster, I can't get enough of it haha... 

[silver2005]

@IBEW_Sparky for Woodland/Thunder Run, the back seat is the best for the first drop because it's steeper and it gives a nice yank, the front seat is better for everything else.

The one iffy spot is an annoying but tolerable pot hole on the final low curve before the brakes.  

[RollerColt]

1 hour ago, silver2005 said:

@IBEW_Sparky for Woodland/Thunder Run, the back seat is the best for the first drop because it's steeper and it gives a nice yank, the front seat is better for everything else.

The one iffy spot is an annoying but tolerable pot hole on the final low curve before the brakes.  

Good call on skipping the Reds for your trip. They’re straight up awful this year. 

[silver2005]

Kentucky Kingdom TR 7/12/26

This was meant to be a pretty relaxing trip.  Just get the new Flying Fox credit, check out the new section, and re-ride LR, WR and WC a lot.  

So the area around Flying Fox does make the entrance a bit narrow and cluttered.  I'm guessing they won't add much else to that area as there is no room to do so.  The area going back to Wind Chaser is what I do like.  I like how they spread out and relocated some rides to spruce it up, the ship ride by MHF was particularly a clever addition.  

I did pick a good day for re-rides as there was a basketball event at the convention center and rain in the forecast.  Got a few sprinkles and a bit of a brief downpour, the later resulted in a lightning delay for over and hour.  Everything was walk on or 1-2 cycle waits tops.  Pretty good day to take your time.  Ate a burger at Swamp Water, though, I was impatient getting food and should have waited for the BBQ place by Woodland Run to open, but I managed.   Not to hot with some humidity, especially after the rain.  Was hoping to get a post-rain ride on Woodland Run, but with the length of the lightning delay, it was dry by the time I got to it after the rain, though, I did manage to get a rain ride on Kentucky Flyer. 

I go back and forth on whether I like Lightning Run or Wind Chaser more.  Today I was feeling a bit more in the mood for intensity, plus, doing CP so close with Magnum, SteVe and Maverick did make Lightning Run feel tame.  The new track on the drop and the pseudo-bunny hill on Woodland Run are great.  A little bumpy, but I got used to it.  Ended the day on a front seat ride on it and it didn't disappoint. 

Flying Fox-  This definitely was a surprise.  Might be the smoothest coaster I've ridden.  Having a lap bar on such a smooth suspended coaster with some great pops of air and low curves was such a free feeling experience, and I almost feel they went out of their way to add the dip below the path.   I think ratings wise I'd put it above Iron Dragon but not quite as good as Bat.  

With that, I am set up for, as long as everything is open for the 3 Missouri parks,  the push to get to 200.