valleyfair!
Hyper Poster
So my trip was a little last minute, but I’m really glad I got to go and it was a lot of fun. After all of my great fun flying Delt… I made it into the D.C. area and drove down to Kings Dominion. I spent that night and the next morning at KD before driving to Williamsburg where I had a quick queue and spent the rest of the day at BGW which turned out to be more than enough time at the park as well. Then the next day was a break from the parks as I drove up to D.C. again and saw some sights because I had never been to the city before. Next day was Six Flags America to close out the park trip before heading out the next day with more fun with Delta.
So I’ll Start with Kings Dominion. The atmosphere of the park was pretty much what you expect from Cedar Fair parks and I had a great time at the park. I was happy the lines were very short during the time I spent there and I never rode Taxi Jam as though I do like getting credits I have my limits. On with ride reviews…
Anaconda- 6.5/10
It wasn’t as rough as I was expecting it to be but still wasn’t anything to brag about comfort wise. The first drop is the best part of the ride and most of the layout being over the water was a nice touch to the ride.
Ride Count- 1
Avalanche- 6.5/10
This coaster was actually surprisingly better than I was expecting it to be. The pace of the ride was a bit faster then the other bobsled style coasters I had been on. Though still have to take it for what it is, a bobsled coaster.
Ride Count- 1
Back Lot Stunt Coaster- 7/10
Fun little coaster and though I saw a lot about the coaster before I went on the trip the tunnel part was still quite a bit longer then expected. Theme was decent but not all of the effects were working, but I’ll imagine they haven’t worked for quite a while.
Ride Count- 1
Dominator- 10/10
The best floorless coaster I have been on and though it is slightly rough it is one of the better of the B&M’s I have ridden. Don’t really know what else to say about it besides the fact it was one of the best coasters in the park!
Ride Count- 1
Flight of Fear- 7/10
Didn’t know what to expect from this coaster going into it and it was actually themed more then I would expect from a Cedar Fair park. (Don’t be fooled this isn’t Disney.) The first part of the ride was pretty smooth then started to die from there and launch was alright. If you LiveForTheLaunch of course you may get more of a kick out of it. :wink:
Ride Count- 1
Ghoster Coaster- 6/10
Nothing special and pretty short but nevertheless probably a good first coaster for someone.
Ride Count- 1
Grizly- 6/10
I’m probably being nice giving this a 6. Not the smoothest of coasters you will ride.
Ride Count- 1
Hurler- 6/10
A little bit smoother then Grizzly, and also a bit shorter. Not that exciting to be honest and nothing I wish I got a re-ride on.
Ride Count- 1
Intimidator 305- 10/10
Definitely the coaster I was most excited for going into this trip. The new strap restraints had just been put on and I can tell it makes a difference and I think Intamin should consider switching to these on more of their rides. The ride itself was very fun and if you anticipate the transitions they are no problem at all. The first drop you can feel the trims a bit no matter where you sit and it probably ruins some of the airtime later in the ride but still good. I wasn’t that close to blacking out on the first turn but started to get some fuzzy vision on it. I will go out and say that it was probably my favorite coaster of the trip behind Griffon and it beats Millennium Force in my opinion.
Ride Count- 3
Rebel Yell- 6/10
Another not so smooth woodie at KD. I was hoping both sides would be open to at least get an extra credit out of it, but unfortunately for me only the red side was open.
Ride Count- 1
Ricochet- 6/10
It’s a mouse coaster…
The larger drop then your basic mouse ride is nice but nothing special about the ride.
Ride Count- 1
Shockwave- 4/10
Oww. Togo living up to their reputation is all I got to say.
Ride Count- 1
Volcano, The Blast Coaster- 9/10 Biggest Surprise
A nice surprise for me actually. I thought the two launches were pretty good and though the ride was short it was unique and very smooth the whole way. The main ride op was also the most enthusiastic op I came across in the park as well.
Ride Count- 3
Drop Tower- 8/10
Nice drop tower I like the seating style and the crew was pretty funny.
Ride Count- 2
Busch Gardens Williamsburg lived up to the reputation of having the very nice atmosphere and theming that the Busch parks have. I had been to this park before a very long time ago before I could really ride anything. The park really impressed me and got more walking in then I was expecting.
Alpengeist- 9.5/10
Though I still give it a high rating, Alpengeist was probably the biggest let down for me. I had really only heard great things about it and I got off multiple times saying it was great but there were flaws. Those flaws were probably just because of aging. Not the smoothest of B&M inverts and the two parts that give some head banging are the cobra roll and the turn into the blocks. Don’t let me mislead you it is still one of the better coasters I have been on.
Ride Count- 5
Apollo’s Chariot- 9.5/10
Better of the two B&M hypers I have been on by far. Got some great airtime (Thanks to Jerry’s idea of leaving some notches. I didn’t leave quite as much as Jerry but still got about four fingers.) and the first drop was nice. Night rides were probably the best on Apollo’s Chariot of all the coasters I rode on the trip.
Ride Count- 7
Griffon- 10/10
Best coaster of the trip and an easy top 10. Front row end seats are the best seats for sure and is just a bit better then his older sister down in Tampa.
Ride Count- 6
Grover’s Alpine Express- 3/10
Better of the kiddie coasters I’ve been on. Nothing more to say.
Ride Count- 1
Loch Ness Monster- 8/10
One of the smoothest Arrow coasters I have been on. Helix in the tunnel was nice and landscaping was good around the coaster.
Ride Count- 1
Curse of DarKastle 9/10 Biggest Surprise
Though not a coaster it was the biggest surprise for me at BGW. I hadn’t heard much about the ride and it is up there as one of my favorite dark rides I have been on only below Indiana Jones. 3D effects were very well done and the water surprise at the end was a nice touch though it didn’t really seem to have much to do with the video.
Ride Count- 3
Europe in the Air- 6.5/10
Wasn’t sure how great of a simulator it was going to be, but once you see the seats you know it’ll only be average at best. Video quality was just alright some of them seemed a little poorly shot as well. Still fun and has air conditioning which is good for the hot day.
Ride Count- 1
Six Flags America was an alright park. I really don’t think it deserves all the crap it gets but still isn’t the prettiest of parks. Not much more to say so ride reviews…
Batwing- 7.5/10 Biggest Surprise
My first Vekoma flying dutchman and I actually thought it wasn’t that bad. The ride was closed for most of the morning and I must have walked up at the right time because I got on the first train of the day and got my own train as well on that ride.
Ride Count- 4
Great Chase- 2/10
This is usually about where I set my limit for a kiddie coaster. Can you believe you get to go around the circuit three times in one ride!?
Ride Count- 1
Joker’s Jinx- 7.5/10
Expected about the same as Flight of Fear going into it and left feeling it was better. Launch was still mediocre but the ride was actually very smooth the whole way unlike Flight of Fear which gives this an extra .5 in my rating.
Ride Count- 6
Mind Eraser- 7/10
Basic SLC but only my second one. All I can really say is of the two I have ridden the one at Elitch Gardens is better.
Ride Count- 4
Roar- 6/10
Maybe it’s partially the trains and a little older age but you wouldn’t even know this was made by GCI. Not smooth at all and one ride was all I could take.
Ride Count- 1
Superman- Ride of Steel- 9/10
I was actually impressed with this coaster. Though very few airtime hills they had some good ejector airtime on them. The first helix was surprisingly possibly the closest I have ever come to blacking out on a coaster. I did get stuck in the final brake run for about 15 minutes on one of my rides in the heat which wasn’t so fun.
Ride Count- 6
Wild One- 6.5/10
Actually not that bad of a coaster but really not that good either. Don’t get me wrong helixes with almost no banking are fun in all…
Ride Count- 1
Tower of Doom- 7/10
A very small drop tower and I can really only compare it to Pagoda’s Revenge at Leofoo Village in Taiwan in terms of size, but Pagoda’s Revenge actually has some theme to it so it wins.
Trip was very fun and finished with a new coaster count of 156 and thanks to some SFA employees I have the new nickname of Black Superman so look out Marcus. :wink: You all know I'm not a big picture person by now, I have an ORP up in that forum and a few photos when I bother to get them up I'll post them.
So I’ll Start with Kings Dominion. The atmosphere of the park was pretty much what you expect from Cedar Fair parks and I had a great time at the park. I was happy the lines were very short during the time I spent there and I never rode Taxi Jam as though I do like getting credits I have my limits. On with ride reviews…
Anaconda- 6.5/10
It wasn’t as rough as I was expecting it to be but still wasn’t anything to brag about comfort wise. The first drop is the best part of the ride and most of the layout being over the water was a nice touch to the ride.
Ride Count- 1
Avalanche- 6.5/10
This coaster was actually surprisingly better than I was expecting it to be. The pace of the ride was a bit faster then the other bobsled style coasters I had been on. Though still have to take it for what it is, a bobsled coaster.
Ride Count- 1
Back Lot Stunt Coaster- 7/10
Fun little coaster and though I saw a lot about the coaster before I went on the trip the tunnel part was still quite a bit longer then expected. Theme was decent but not all of the effects were working, but I’ll imagine they haven’t worked for quite a while.
Ride Count- 1
Dominator- 10/10
The best floorless coaster I have been on and though it is slightly rough it is one of the better of the B&M’s I have ridden. Don’t really know what else to say about it besides the fact it was one of the best coasters in the park!
Ride Count- 1
Flight of Fear- 7/10
Didn’t know what to expect from this coaster going into it and it was actually themed more then I would expect from a Cedar Fair park. (Don’t be fooled this isn’t Disney.) The first part of the ride was pretty smooth then started to die from there and launch was alright. If you LiveForTheLaunch of course you may get more of a kick out of it. :wink:
Ride Count- 1
Ghoster Coaster- 6/10
Nothing special and pretty short but nevertheless probably a good first coaster for someone.
Ride Count- 1
Grizly- 6/10
I’m probably being nice giving this a 6. Not the smoothest of coasters you will ride.
Ride Count- 1
Hurler- 6/10
A little bit smoother then Grizzly, and also a bit shorter. Not that exciting to be honest and nothing I wish I got a re-ride on.
Ride Count- 1
Intimidator 305- 10/10
Definitely the coaster I was most excited for going into this trip. The new strap restraints had just been put on and I can tell it makes a difference and I think Intamin should consider switching to these on more of their rides. The ride itself was very fun and if you anticipate the transitions they are no problem at all. The first drop you can feel the trims a bit no matter where you sit and it probably ruins some of the airtime later in the ride but still good. I wasn’t that close to blacking out on the first turn but started to get some fuzzy vision on it. I will go out and say that it was probably my favorite coaster of the trip behind Griffon and it beats Millennium Force in my opinion.
Ride Count- 3
Rebel Yell- 6/10
Another not so smooth woodie at KD. I was hoping both sides would be open to at least get an extra credit out of it, but unfortunately for me only the red side was open.
Ride Count- 1
Ricochet- 6/10
It’s a mouse coaster…
The larger drop then your basic mouse ride is nice but nothing special about the ride.
Ride Count- 1
Shockwave- 4/10
Oww. Togo living up to their reputation is all I got to say.
Ride Count- 1
Volcano, The Blast Coaster- 9/10 Biggest Surprise
A nice surprise for me actually. I thought the two launches were pretty good and though the ride was short it was unique and very smooth the whole way. The main ride op was also the most enthusiastic op I came across in the park as well.
Ride Count- 3
Drop Tower- 8/10
Nice drop tower I like the seating style and the crew was pretty funny.
Ride Count- 2
Busch Gardens Williamsburg lived up to the reputation of having the very nice atmosphere and theming that the Busch parks have. I had been to this park before a very long time ago before I could really ride anything. The park really impressed me and got more walking in then I was expecting.
Alpengeist- 9.5/10
Though I still give it a high rating, Alpengeist was probably the biggest let down for me. I had really only heard great things about it and I got off multiple times saying it was great but there were flaws. Those flaws were probably just because of aging. Not the smoothest of B&M inverts and the two parts that give some head banging are the cobra roll and the turn into the blocks. Don’t let me mislead you it is still one of the better coasters I have been on.
Ride Count- 5
Apollo’s Chariot- 9.5/10
Better of the two B&M hypers I have been on by far. Got some great airtime (Thanks to Jerry’s idea of leaving some notches. I didn’t leave quite as much as Jerry but still got about four fingers.) and the first drop was nice. Night rides were probably the best on Apollo’s Chariot of all the coasters I rode on the trip.
Ride Count- 7
Griffon- 10/10
Best coaster of the trip and an easy top 10. Front row end seats are the best seats for sure and is just a bit better then his older sister down in Tampa.
Ride Count- 6
Grover’s Alpine Express- 3/10
Better of the kiddie coasters I’ve been on. Nothing more to say.
Ride Count- 1
Loch Ness Monster- 8/10
One of the smoothest Arrow coasters I have been on. Helix in the tunnel was nice and landscaping was good around the coaster.
Ride Count- 1
Curse of DarKastle 9/10 Biggest Surprise
Though not a coaster it was the biggest surprise for me at BGW. I hadn’t heard much about the ride and it is up there as one of my favorite dark rides I have been on only below Indiana Jones. 3D effects were very well done and the water surprise at the end was a nice touch though it didn’t really seem to have much to do with the video.
Ride Count- 3
Europe in the Air- 6.5/10
Wasn’t sure how great of a simulator it was going to be, but once you see the seats you know it’ll only be average at best. Video quality was just alright some of them seemed a little poorly shot as well. Still fun and has air conditioning which is good for the hot day.
Ride Count- 1
Six Flags America was an alright park. I really don’t think it deserves all the crap it gets but still isn’t the prettiest of parks. Not much more to say so ride reviews…
Batwing- 7.5/10 Biggest Surprise
My first Vekoma flying dutchman and I actually thought it wasn’t that bad. The ride was closed for most of the morning and I must have walked up at the right time because I got on the first train of the day and got my own train as well on that ride.
Ride Count- 4
Great Chase- 2/10
This is usually about where I set my limit for a kiddie coaster. Can you believe you get to go around the circuit three times in one ride!?
Ride Count- 1
Joker’s Jinx- 7.5/10
Expected about the same as Flight of Fear going into it and left feeling it was better. Launch was still mediocre but the ride was actually very smooth the whole way unlike Flight of Fear which gives this an extra .5 in my rating.
Ride Count- 6
Mind Eraser- 7/10
Basic SLC but only my second one. All I can really say is of the two I have ridden the one at Elitch Gardens is better.
Ride Count- 4
Roar- 6/10
Maybe it’s partially the trains and a little older age but you wouldn’t even know this was made by GCI. Not smooth at all and one ride was all I could take.
Ride Count- 1
Superman- Ride of Steel- 9/10
I was actually impressed with this coaster. Though very few airtime hills they had some good ejector airtime on them. The first helix was surprisingly possibly the closest I have ever come to blacking out on a coaster. I did get stuck in the final brake run for about 15 minutes on one of my rides in the heat which wasn’t so fun.
Ride Count- 6
Wild One- 6.5/10
Actually not that bad of a coaster but really not that good either. Don’t get me wrong helixes with almost no banking are fun in all…
Ride Count- 1
Tower of Doom- 7/10
A very small drop tower and I can really only compare it to Pagoda’s Revenge at Leofoo Village in Taiwan in terms of size, but Pagoda’s Revenge actually has some theme to it so it wins.
Trip was very fun and finished with a new coaster count of 156 and thanks to some SFA employees I have the new nickname of Black Superman so look out Marcus. :wink: You all know I'm not a big picture person by now, I have an ORP up in that forum and a few photos when I bother to get them up I'll post them.
