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Gunkey Monkey Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Posts: 861 Location: Cleveland, Ohio	Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:22 pm    Post subject: Darien Lake 7-5-08 - Awesome Day · Quote First I want to apologize as this TR may be a bit lengthy. Watching the weather earlier in the week and seeing that it was going to be dry for once and looking like a great day ahead on Saturday I ventured out to Darien Lake. It was an awesome day. Got up at 4:30 AM and was out the door a little after 5:00, I was already approaching the Route 77 Corfu exit a little before nine, and that included a stop at the Angola service plaze to refuel and get a couple of sausage burritos from Mickey D's. I thought I was way too early but as I pulled into the parking entrance there were two buses and a few cars already in line. I did see Viper testing while I sat there. The anti-rollbacks are so loud on this vintage Arrow looper that you can hear them as if you were standing next to the coaster. Parking lot opened at 9:30 and had a good spot in front of the small public picnic area by Sunshine Lake, one of the smaller lakes on the property. Promptly at 10:00 the ticket booths and gate opened and I ventured to the rope in front of the fountain. The rides open at 10:30 here so five minutes before that they had a little song and dance to start the day off, sort of a continuation of what Six Flags used to do with the Looney Tunes. Afterward the rope dropped and everyone was off to do their thing. Here's the breakdown of my visit plus a few thoughts afterwards. 1. Orange County Choppers Motocoaster - Having a fairly rough idea as to where the ride was I ventured to the back of the park towards Twister and I noticed there was a good line for it already. It had to be the campers since the coaster is situated right by Darien Square and the campground entrance to the park. I get in line, which wasn't too bad and the line did move pretty good since they were running both trains. When I was about two or three trains away from my ride, it breaks down. It was a lengthy break down too as to make everyone in line leave the ride. The coaster would be down for a few hours and I thought for sure I would not get my chance to ride it. As I said, the ride was down for a few hours in that when I was in line for Boomerang, I saw them testing it and after my ride I headed over there. Luckily I wasn't too far from Motocoaster in that my wait was quite minimal (a one to two cycle [pardon the pun] wait). I rode in the white/arctic blue cycle. I thought the seat was a pretty comfortable. The restraint is the same as on the Zamperla Disk-O rides (for reference, think Cosmic Chaos at Kennywood). You don't sit upright on this but you actually lean forward like if you were on a racing bike.  Once cleared you leave the station, make a right turn, and enter the launching area. You sit there for about a minute when the lights turn on (there is a Dragster-esque lighting system of red and green lights above the launch area) when all of a sudden you are speeding towards the upward curve. I thought the launch was actually quite good. It had a little kick to it. The upward curve had a slight hint of intensity when you first go up it. The rest of the ride was very Wild Mouse-like but with a figure eight layout. I thought the last two turns were quite good and the final brakes are a bit abrupt to say the least. Overall OCC Motocoaster is a decent addition to Darien Lake. The ride sort of reminded me of Italian Job/Backlot Stunt Coaster at KI but shorter and more compact. Now as far as placement, OCC Motocoaster is back between Boomerang and Twister but to get to it you have to go through Darien Square, which I always considered to be outside of the park. For those who may be unfamiliar with the park, Darien Square is an area that caters to the campers in the adjacent campground so that's why there was a line already by the time I got back there. I noticed the location was where the old swimming pool used to be next to Beaver Brothers (for those who may remember it). Despite finally give Twister and Tin Lizzies a neighbor so that theyr'e not all alone in that corner of the park, Motocoaster is not a very easy ride to get to and I personally think the park should have given the ride better access. 2. Viper - Now that OCCM was down for the count in the morning I headed over to Viper next. I think this is my favorite coaster in the park. I rode it three different times and they ran both trains. It's still a relatively smooth coaster (I believe Ray P. had mentioned that it seemed a little rough to him on his earlier visit). I do have one little gripe about this coaster.  The trains are inconsistent. Some cars on the train have the newer style harness with the "hand grips" on them while some cars have the original, old school, narrow harness. My first two rides of the day had the newer harness and the seats that had them were towards the back. On my third and final ride I decided to ride the front seat (it's been a looong time since I took a front seat on Viper) and it had the old school harness on them. A bit uncomfortable and it felt like they were digging into my shoulder blades. While I did not leave the ride with sore shoulders, I really wish Darien would have the same harness throughout Viper's trains. 3. Mind Eraser - Oddly this coaster only ran one train (the teal train). This was only the second time I ever rode this coaster and I made the mistake of sitting in the back seat. It was a bit head bangy in spots but I did not come off the ride with a headache. I miss Thunderhawk alot. I only rode this once. 4. Boomerang - I rode this one twice today. It's a boomerang, not much else to say about it. 5. Predator - Strangely this one was closed today. Not that I missed it or anything but it was odd seeing it quiet. While I waited for the rope to drop they did cycle the black train but it just never opened. PARC, please get new trains for this. 6. Ride of Steel - I thought I'd put this in before someone asks me "Why didn't you ride Superman?" (and yes the GP still calls it that). With my legs I can't fit on it and with the line only in the station it was sure as hell tempting but I was not about to embarrass myself either. They were also running both trains. Simple solution to the Intamin seat belt debacle - retractable seat belts! 7. Flat Rides - One of the main reasons I like Darien Lake so much is their wide assortment of flats even though I only ride a certain few. Sleigh Ride was the first and it seemed just a touch faster than I remember. One rode once. Raging Seas I rode twice. Still two seats broken, what's up with that? Mack still sells the ride on their website. This ride is still a blast despite the fact it's not as fast as it used to be. UFO I only rode once. As the wheel was beginning to lift three kids decided to try and ride it with their faces against the padding. The operator quickly brought the wheel down and gave them a warning and she restarted the ride.  I can't really handle Enterprises but I have no problem with the UFO and they are basically similar rides. Giant Wheel looks like it needs some work. The lighting is gone from the ride except for around the center and the cars still have graffiti and carvings in the seats. I should have written down that girl's number down and cussed her out for writting on the seat. Other than that the Giant Wheel still offers a spectacular view of the park. And finally, I did the Bear Valley Bumper Buggies (and you thought that Beaver Land Mine Ride was a goofy name   ). This was the first time I ever rode these and noticed that these cars, made by Duce btw, have a lap bar that goes across the entire seat instead of the traditional around the shoulder straps. These cars were actually pretty fast but like in Six Flags fashion, they had an island in the middle (like what SF did with GL's old Dodgems back in the day) and had one way only. 8. Overall Thoughts - Darien Lake is like Kennywood. It can be dead when they open but by mid-afternoon it is quite busy. The water park was packed. My first two rides on Viper were walk-ons but by 4:30-5:00ish it had at least a two to three train wait depending on where you stood. It was nice to see the park busy yet it also brought to mind that GL probably would have had similar results this year. The park was offering an Independence Day weekend special. Buy one ticket and you get a coupon good for a free visit the same weekend (with today's receipt). So with my roughly $34.00 admission I can go back tomorrow for free (if you bought your ticket on Friday you can go back for free on Saturday or Sunday). I thought it was a great idea and something rather unique. Too bad I can't go back tomorrow. PARC is still selling food and drink at Six Flags type prices. One thing I do like about Darien is that they at least give you a choice of size for your drink (small, medium, and large). However a small drink is $3.00. How is it that Kennywood can sell a regular drink (which would be Darien's medium) for half that price? It doesn't matter though as there were a lot of souvenir cups being sold today. You get your cup for $7.50 but you can get refills for $1.00 all day. That's not too bad but the downside of that is you have to carry it around all day. The skycoaster is $40.00 for a single rider. That's outrageous. The park was pretty clean and no sign of rude employees. Actually the rude employees were on the New York Thruway toll booths on my way to the park in the morning. Geez. Nice selection of shirts in some of the gift shops. I bought a simple Darien Lake shirt but I thought the coolest shirt was the Viper one, with the great Funtime era logo on it. They have that logo on a hat, too. I'm really glad I went as I like Darien Lake a lot. Though the drive there and back isn't too bad I just wish it was closer to Cleveland. I noticed on the park map Darien is open through October 19. If they have that deal again like last year (free admission but you either get tickets or an all day wristband) I might head back up there again. _________________ On September 21, 2007, a historic 119-year old amusement park had been secretly murdered. Never forget it.
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VGplay Beaver Land Mine Ride User is Offline Joined: 03 Jul 2007 Posts: 57 Location: Akron, Ohio	Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:47 pm    Post subject: · Quote Nice trip report. The more I hear about Darien Lake, the more I want to go. Glad to hear Viper was running well, I love classic Arrow loopers. Hopefully I'll make my way up in the next week or so, depends if my friend can come. But it definitely will be my October park this year.
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geaugalakeinexile Splash Landing User is Offline Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 107	Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 7:11 am    Post subject: · Quote VGplay wrote: Nice trip report. The more I hear about Darien Lake, the more I want to go. Glad to hear Viper was running well, I love classic Arrow loopers. Hopefully I'll make my way up in the next week or so, depends if my friend can come. But it definitely will be my October park this year. Darien Lake is always my early and late season park. In late September and October RV's can be had for $110.00 per night. That includes park entrance for up to 4 people. You DO NOT have to buy more than 1 night in the "off season". With season passes you get 25% off the RV price. During the busy season it gets packed and the price for lodging is much higher. Plus fall in Western New York is nice.
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geaugalakeinexile Splash Landing User is Offline Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 107	Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 3:36 pm    Post subject: · Quote Gunkey Monkey, great trip report. It got me to thinking about Darien Lake and their food. You are right about the pricing, but there are ways to keep the prices down. The General Store in Darien Square will make sandwiches at the deli. You can eat them at the covered outdoor seating area next to Beaver Brothers. Single sodas are also sold at the store. Prices WAY lower than in the park and your sandwich is exactly what you want. Check the store for Ice Cream, snacks etc. While they are more expensive than a Giant Eagle, they are cheaper than a 7-11 and cheaper than anything else in the park. I've never had them stop me when re-entering the park with a soda from the store. They are the same bottles sold from the machines so they have no way of knowing where you got it from. Many people carry the special drink cups with them in small, and not so small backpacks. I do not as we stay on site and just go back to the RV when we want a rest and a cold one. For sit-down dining Beaver Brothers is good. Priced like Applebees. Not as good a price as the Parkside in Kennywood, but not too bad. The Taco Stand in the park has a deal for a Beef or Chicken Burrito and Nachos and Cheese combo for $7.50, a lot of food for the price. The stands in the "food court' area are overpriced. Check out the General Store next trip. You are going to be back there to ride Motocoaster anyway. I've posted a video of the trip from the end of May on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB4kWwwgrY8 Next trip I'll try to cover the food more and see where better food deals can be found. I'll also email my contacts at Darien Lake and ask if they are planning any food deals. Again, great trip report.
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wharfier Beaver Land Mine Ride User is Offline Joined: 25 Jul 2007 Posts: 87 Location: Parma, Oh	Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 8:58 am    Post subject: · Quote Glad you had fun Gunkey. It really does have the Geauga Lake feel to it. Old as well as the recent. The GM for that park really has a grip on how to run a park and keep it interesting. The general store is the best bet for food and drink. I still like Beaver Brothers and they are within reason. Though I might be a bit biased on that. On a trip to the park, it was close to closing time and looking for a place to eat, I walked in an they said they were closed. Asked where I could just get a hot-dog, they said come on in, we can do that for you. Now that is great customer service. Where else would do that at closing time? But this just gives you the idea of how this park is run. Everyone from the Management to  the maintenance guys are very friendly. I also agree about Mind Eraser. I find it to be a bit head-bang'in. Makes you really miss Thunderhawk. Ride of Steel is by far my favorite. They did a great job refurbishing the trains in the last off-season. Wish they would bring the mist back at the bottom of the first drop though. Have to agree about the odd spot for the entrance for the Motocoaster. If you are not familiar with the park, it would be difficult to figure out. Got to love that launch it has. _________________ CEDAR UNFAIR COWARDS!!!!! http://www.geaugalakefuntimes.com/
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Ray P Riptide Run User is Offline Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 337	Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 12:56 pm    Post subject: · Quote As always, great TR GM.  I enjoy seeing the appreciation that Darien Lake is getting lately as it really is an enjoyable "family" amusement park.   I too agree with the OCC Motocoaster's placement.  It's odd "leaving" the park to go on the coaster.  And I was surprised that it's a pretty lengthy walk back there from the front gate.  But overall it is a fun "family" coaster that even those that aren't fans of large coasters can enjoy.  The motorcycle seating is a neat novelty as well.  Its just nice to see PARC Management investing in this park.   Yes, I was the guy that said Viper was rough and I'll stand by that.  However, there were only 3 other people onboard the train the day I went, so that may have had something to do with it.  And you have to love that logo!   Sorry about ROS, but it is good to hear that the park is still running both trains.   Those seats on the Ghetto Boats have been broken since 1999 and possibly even before that.  The program is interesting as the cars still seem to be rotating even while the ride slows down.  I do wish the park would give this ride a full rehab or build a new one, as it seems popular with park guests who don't mind dodging the yellow jackets and wasps that have made the ride's structure their home.   It's unfortunate to hear about the Giant Wheel's lighting package also.  That ride looked awesome at night.  With PARC seeming to be committed to keeping DL in nice shape, perhaps next season we'll see some light replacements.  The view is spectacular and I really do need to get back there in the fall to admire the fall colors.   That $3 drink isn't exactly a bargain.  I think that is a 12-16 oz. size.  I paid $7 for fresh fries and a drink at the stand near the log flume.  Pricey, but at least the fries were plentiful and warm... The employees were exceptionally friendly on my visit as well.  Such a huge difference from the Nazi-esque Six Flags days.  I'll still never forget the UFO operator in 1999 that was threatening to "physically remove" any guest that didn't follow "his" rules on the UFO and the gift shop worker that screamed at me because I asked if I could pick out a different key chain after I had purchased the wrong one.  Good times... good times.   I did not see the Viper shirt.  Next time I go I will have to look.  I picked up a 3 pack of t-shirts for $20, so I am doing my part to promote the park in our neck of the woods!   The 3.5 or so hour drive isn't bad at all.  DL is do-able in a day and of course for compulsive gamblers like me, two casinos are relatively close by (Seneca Allegany and Presque Isle Downs).   Glad you had a good time GM.  And don't forget that if you head out there again that Rochester is only an extra hour east for yet another great amusement park.
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geaugalakeinexile Splash Landing User is Offline Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 107	Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 2:04 pm    Post subject: · Quote Quote: It's unfortunate to hear about the Giant Wheel's lighting package also.  That ride looked awesome at night.  With PARC seeming to be committed to keeping DL in nice shape, perhaps next season we'll see some light replacements.  The view is spectacular and I really do need to get back there in the fall to admire the fall colors.   From what I have heard, I would bet on LED lights on the Giant Wheel fairly soon. If they are taking down the old lights now the new ones should go up soon. Hopefully this year, but you never know until it happens. LED's can be programmed easily and should look great.
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Ray P Riptide Run User is Offline Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 337	Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 2:13 pm    Post subject: · Quote ^ Thanks for that update.  That's good news as Darien's Vekoma wheel is a commanding presence at the park and is one of their main icons.  I'm sure the new LED's will look great.  Again, nice to see PARC Management taking such an interest in this park rather than removing headliner rides and letting it rot.
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Gunkey Monkey Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Posts: 861 Location: Cleveland, Ohio	Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 7:40 pm    Post subject: · Quote Yes, the Vekoma wheel really makes a statement. Wherever you go in the park there it is in the skyline. However I hate how the skycoaster sort of takes away from its commanding presence in the park. _________________ On September 21, 2007, a historic 119-year old amusement park had been secretly murdered. Never forget it.
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