14 replies to this topic

[Danny Miller]

So it looks like I'm going on a four park in three days trip for Labor Day weekend, my last hurrah for the summer before I start my co-op in Buffalo the following week.

Here is how it will likely break down:

Saturday:

-Leave around 5:30-6:00am from Allentown area.
-Arrive at Kennywood around roughly 11:00am for opening (Have ridden everything but Sky Rocket)
-Leave Kennywood before 2:00pm
-Arrive at Kings Island around 6:00pm (Have ridden everything but Diamondback)
-Leave Kings Island after closing at 10:00pm

Sunday:

-Stay in Louisville area hotel from 12:00am-7:30am
-Drive to Holiday World for 9:30am CENTRAL TIME opening (First time at park)
-Leave late afternoon to arrive in Pigeon Forge before midnight EASTERN TIME

Monday:
-Leave hotel to arrive at Dollywood by 9:30am for 10:00am opening (First time)
-Leave Dollywood by 3:00pm to arrive back home shortly after midnight

First off, I know crowds are likely to be pretty big. Kennywood we'd like to try and get on everything since my sister will likely be tagging along. 8 coasters including both sides of Racer might be tough, but Sky Rocket is the only one I have not ridden and the kiddie coaster is not a must, so the others should be possible if we get there before opening.

Kings Island there is no way we are doing all the coasters in 4 hours, so the plan will likely be to ride Diamondback once or twice and then ride the Beast at night of course. Where to sit on Diamondback is the question. Mike? Haha

Obviously at Holiday World we will likely ride the Voyage twice right away then head to Raven and Legend. Is that the smartest thing to do? I'd also like to maybe head to Splashin' Safari to get in the two water coasters. Is that possible in say 5-6 hours or so? The #1 priority is getting in the four coasters first and maybe a few other things.

At Dollywood I would assume Wild Eagle is the first thing to go to. Again, the goal is to get on all the coasters and maybe a few other signature attractions.

What do you all suggest? Thanks so much!

[biZarRo]

back row is pretty epic on Diamondback. Beast is amazing at night in the back car, doesn't really matter where. Being late in the season, I would expect Dollywood to be pretty full, so I would go to Wild Eagle first and try and hit everything else after it. I've only been to Dollywood once, and that was earlier this year, when crowds were a lot lighter.

Hope you have a nice time.

[steel-Rock]

I hope that you have someone to share in the driving because that is kind of a lot in a hurry
with not too much sleep.

Unless you have monster luck, I don't think that you are going to get much done at Kennywood
(see my trip report). I would try for Sky Rocket twice. You might have a chance for Jack Rabbit,
Phantom's Revenge, Black Widow, and one other flat. In three hours I don't see anything
else happening.

My last trip to Kings Island was similar in length (1:00 - 8:00). I think that youmight have more
freedom there. I would try this in order: Diamondback (2), Invertigo, Flight Deck, Drop Tower,
Delirium, Backlot Stunt Coaster, Racer, WindSeeker, and Beast. That could be too much but see
what you can do.

Holiday World is spread out but there is not really much there. Again, 5-6 hours is about what
I had. I didn't do any of the waterpark but I spent a lot of time with multiple rides on Voyage.
If you limit the woodens to two rides each and catch the kiddie with a short line, you might be
ok with three flats and two water coasters.

For a first timer you might be a little short at Dollywood. I would be on Wild Eagle
or Thunderhead at least five times each. Except the kiddie, all the other coasters are a
must too. They have a good giant swing and a nice sled type water ride, plus some flats
in the carnival area are cool.

[Mike Strobel]

Seat recommendations

Beast- front or 2nd seat of each car (the non-wheel seats, even 6-2 is great)
Diamondback- anywhere. Front gets you more forceful air and a nice way to eye the first drop, middle has intense floater air, and the back gets you floater which transfers to ejector as the train ups the speed on descents
Vortex- Very front or 5th car back. Cars 2-4 are pretty jarring. Go for the first row of each car for some leg room, make sure to hold on for dear life and brace with your legs on the 2nd hill area and the turn into the MCBR, the back has insane ejector air on the first drop and off the MCBR, the front offers it on the 2nd ascent
Racer- same as beast, blue side is slightly smoother, near the front is more preferred though (1-1 and 1-2 are gems, make sure to ride it whilst its racing)
Flight of Fear- 3rd car and back, it has weird hang time to the side as it stops on the MCBR at times, it doesn't occur in the middle to rear of the train, though the last time I rode it it didn't stop
All others- anywhere, though I find Firehawk and Flight Deck better near the front. Don't pass up on Woodstock Express (the small wood coaster in Planet Snoopy) if you're willing, its still got the PTC buzz bars and has some decent air in the back, seeing you're a Dorney regular, you probably know about Invertigo's habits

I have to agree with steel-Rock in that you're kind of selling yourself short on these parks, especially on your first visit to a few and with it being Labor Day weekend. Consider yourself lucky if this pans out to your plans. I also wouldn't do multiple parks in one day, especially with the distance you have to cover between parks and the major cities you have to pass through (I see Pittsburgh, Columbus, Cincinnati, Louisville and Lexington as cities you'll hit).

There will be a TON of traffic going through the tri-state that weekend as well. There is a HUGE fireworks display on the river Sunday evening where half a million showing up isn't out of the question. Columbus will be packed Saturday afternoon with an Ohio State home game that Saturday as well, ending about the time you'll be going through.

[Danny Miller]

Alrighty...the mindset at Kennywood and KI is to just do as much as we can and leave when we have to. For me the big thing at Kennywood is Sky Rocket and at KI getting on DB and the Beast at the end of the night.

For HW and Dollywood the hope is to get on all the coasters first. If I get to Dollywood at 9 (which is the plan) and go right to Wild Eagle, will it be really difficult to get the coasters all in by 3?

[Vater]

I could easily spend a full day at Holiday World, with 3 of the best wooden coasters (although I haven't ridden Voyage yet) and one of the best waterparks in existence.

[Daniel Westfall]

I would recommend a full day at Holiday World from what I've heard. Also, be prepared for your legs to get a workout there with the hills...there's a reason they give you free soft drink refills.

[Mike Strobel]

Alrighty...the mindset at Kennywood and KI is to just do as much as we can and leave when we have to. For me the big thing at Kennywood is Sky Rocket and at KI getting on DB and the Beast at the end of the night.

To me, going to a park just to ride one or two rides at all is kind of a waste to me when both those parks have so much more to offer, especially in what you're paying for in admission, gas, etc.

[Danny Miller]

Alrighty...the mindset at Kennywood and KI is to just do as much as we can and leave when we have to. For me the big thing at Kennywood is Sky Rocket and at KI getting on DB and the Beast at the end of the night.

To me, going to a park just to ride one or two rides at all is kind of a waste to me when both those parks have so much more to offer, especially in what you're paying for in admission, gas, etc.

Agreed, but I am also getting in for free to Kennywood and KI with my Dorney ID The main focus of the trip is Holiday World. Everything else was pretty much added in by my dad and he booked the hotels and all before I even knew. As far as the driving and money goes that isn't (nor has it ever been) a concern for us because we have done crazier things. We once did a 5 hour day trip to BGW driving 6 hours each way, we did a 5 hour day trip to Kennywood with almost 5 hours each way, and of course on our way to Florida (driving) a few years back we went to KD (3 hours) and Carowinds (5 hours), so doing crazy stuff is nothing new for us haha.

EDIT: A bit of a change here. My aunt is now tagging along and she is paying for the Fast Pass system at Dollywood, so now any doubts about getting everything good in there is now put to rest We may also scratch Kennywood in favor of a few more hours at Kings Island, so we will see.

Edited by Danny Miller, 25 August 2012 - 09:02 PM.

[steel-Rock]

Now that I know that you are not paying for Kennywood or Kings Island the plan makes more since. My main focus too
was Sky Rocket. Since parking was free and I only paid 20 dollars to get in, even with just 4 or 5 hours there I didn't
feel ripped off. If I spent 4 hours at KI and was able to ride my favorites more than once, that would be a good half day.

Seven or so hours at Holiday World and five hours with a fast pass at Dollywood sound like a great idea. I agree with
Daniel though. Between them both, there will be lots of hills, worn out legs, and many trips to get drinks.

[ I MAY be going through Pigeon Forge in late October. Five to seven hours at Dollywood is a possibility. ]

[Danny Miller]

I'm not too worried about our legs because my dad and I did eight parks in six days earlier this year out in Cali, and we spent all day at the parks pretty much. My aunt is in extremely good physical shape (she lost over 50 pounds earlier in her life), and my sister is a softball pitcher and rides horses so 4 parks that aren't even full days should be fine.

My aunt wasn't originally going to go, but my dad mentioned it to her yesterday and she NEEDED to go haha so she bought tickets to every place but Kennywood (we may drop Kennywood in favor of more time at KI), and she bought the Dollywood fast pass already so we will definitely have it.

[biZarRo]

Wow, I wish I had time to go to all of those parks in just one weekend. However, the only park on your list I haven't been to is Holiday World, but I want to wait until they get a new major coaster.

[Danny Miller]

Yea I figured I have to get in as many parks as I can this year because now that I'm starting co-ops for school I'll be on co-op the next few summers so I'll be limited to nearby parks. I'll be in Buffalo next summer so my options are Canada's Wonderland (2 hours or so), Darien Lake (30 mins), Seabreeze (90 mins), Cedar Point (4 hours), Waldameer (2 hours), and Kennywood (4 hours), so big trips are not really in the discussion. We are talking about SWSA and SFOT over X-mas (SFFT is closed) since I just had family move down there, but after that I will be pretty limited the next few seasons, so I need to get these guys in!

[steel-Rock]

^ Since I haven't seen anything from you on the rankings thread suggesting otherwise, I'm guessing that
New Texas Giant and Leviathan would be new credits. If you add Cedar Point's new mind blowing B&M,
you will still have some good times even if your travel is limited.

Edited by steel-Rock, 26 August 2012 - 05:50 PM.

[Danny Miller]

Yes they would be new for me...I am likely getting to CW in a few weeks when I go up to Buffalo, so I will probably have that credit before the season comes to the end.