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VGplay Beaver Land Mine Ride User is Offline Joined: 03 Jul 2007 Posts: 57 Location: Akron, Ohio	Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 3:17 pm    Post subject: Waldameer 6-26-08 · Quote While at summer camp my mind became set on going to Waldameer again in the next week. I asked my brother, whose become an awesome traveling partner since he started riding coasters, if he wanted to come and of course he did. I had Monday and Thursday off from work, and looking at the weather we decided on Thursday. Waldameer Park 6-26-08 Weather: Sunny to cloudy to thunderstorms. Temperatures around 80. Crowds: The park was busy but lines were minimal. My first trip to Waldameer was a month ago and instantly I loved the park. Ravine Flyer II quickly became my favorite coaster and a month was way too long to go and not ride it again. The drive is exactly two hours and the park opens at 1pm, so we left just before 11am. I like how the express lane on 271 just turns into 90, no need for merging. Its a fairly relaxing drive with a bit of construction and mild traffic. We got to the park at exactly 1pm and as we got out the national anthem was playing. We bought our wristbands and went straight to Ravine Flyer II. Ravine Flyer II Part One: The ride was a walk-on so we grabbed three quick rides. My brother said it was his favorite wooden coaster and maybe even favorite overall. It wasn't as wild as it was opening day, but I decided to wait until I ride it a bit more to be disappointed or not. After three rides a line had formed so we moved on and rode Whacky Shack. I really like this ride and it makes me want to seek out more Bill Tracy dark rides. Waldameer's drop tower is probably the scariest I've been on, and I can't help but yell whenever I drop. I would love to see a taller version. Steel Dragon: I didn't get a whole lot of spinning action last trip but that might of been because there were only two people in a car at a time. This time things were better. It really is a different ride every time. Heading back down the midway we walked through Pirate's Cove. Some of the stunts are pretty cool while I'm not sure I "got" the others. We rode Ali Baba which provides a nice view and a neat "floating" sensation (I wouldn't quite call it airtime). We looked at Ravine Flyer's line and noticed it again was a walk-on so we got a few more rides. Ravine Flyer II Part Two: Much better! The ride must need to warm up or something, because by now it was running like my daytime rides on opening day. I do think my favorite seat is 5-2. The drop just gets my stomach better than in the back row or front, for whatever reason. We also noticed that while the airtime is better in the front, we agreed that the ride is better in the back. It feels faster and more out of control. We headed down the other leg of the midway riding the Paratrooper, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite classic flats, and coming to Comet. Comet: A pleasant ride through the trees, which you could touch if you wanted. They must use the green train for parts or something, because it only has three cars while the orange train has four. We then rode the Scrambler where I succeeded in sitting on the inside. After riding the lap bar bumper cars we waited for the train. It eventually came after probably around 10 minutes, it must've just left when we got there. The train offers a good view of the water park and under the ferris wheel, as well as Ravine Flyer II, though we weren't lucky enough to have a train go by when we were close. Back down the midway and onto the Skyride. We must be in a mood for good views because after that we ride the Ferris Wheel. We get stopped at the top which gives me the chance for some good pictures. I will point out I had the most intense ride on a Tilt-a-Whirl I have ever had. Every other "tilt" and we were spinning like crazy. It was awesome. We make another lap of the park and clouds start coming in. As it is getting dark we get in line for the Paratrooper and as we're waiting a single raindrop falls on each of us. "I felt a raindrop." I told my brother. Then all of a sudden, it just starts downpouring about as hard as it can. We have no chance to get to cover and we're drenched as we get to a tree. Everyone on the midway was running in panic for cover, it was actually quite comical. Along with the rain comes lightning and there's an announcement, but we can't hear what it says. We assume it was announcing the closure of the rides for lightning. But the guy running the Paratrooper says it was only for the tall rides, Ravine Flyer, X-Scream, the Ferris Wheel, and Steel Dragon. He said the flat rides will continue running. We're already wet so we ride the Paratrooper. In a downpour. It had to be one of the most exciting Paratrooper rides ever. When we get off we head towards the gift shop. We look around a bit and I notice a few new Ravine Flyer shirts. I also see a group of people in Ravine Flyer's station. The ride was still closed, but it was still an hour and a half until the park closed so I talked my brother into waiting for it to open. There's about half a train's worth of people in line wondering when the ride will reopen. After 15 minutes or so the rain slows to a drizzle. Mr. Gorman and (I assume) a supervisor come into the station to make the call. There's a few more flashes with groans from the line but they cycle the train and get in themselves. After their ride we wait about 10 minutes more and they let us in. Mr. Gorman and the supervisor leave and there's another flash. Everyone moans but the operator says they will keep running the ride since the park will close early at 9:30. The first thing I think of is that I won't get a ride in the total dark, darn. Ravine Flyer II Part Three: This ride is an absolutely fabulous rain ride. Its like the rain unlocks another gear and the ride flies through the track. We ended up with two rain rides, the last being the last train of the night. Opening day wasn't a fluke, because these two rides were just as good as the evening rides on opening day, and I'm very happy about that. It almost makes me want to go on a rainy day. Ravine Flyer closed 15 minutes before the rest of the park. I bought a cool beach towel with the ride's layout on it and we rode Whacky Shack. We assume it was the last ride of the night as the operator left once we got off. On our way out  we saw Comet was running and we got two consecutive rides on it, with the second being the last train of the night. We stopped at Burger King on the way home and got back just before midnight. We had a great time and now my brother wants to come with me to the Great Ohio Coaster Club's event at Waldameer in August. I'm even thinking about returning next week before I leave for Philmont. Thanks for reading! Pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/vgplay/Waldameer62608
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coasterdad Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Posts: 1618	Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 3:35 pm    Post subject: · Quote Nice TR vgplay. I took my second trip to Waldamer July 6th, and while the park seemed very busy the lines were short. I took my nephew and his two kids that were contemplating other parks but just didnt feel like bending over - if you know what I mean. His family of four was able to eat for under $20! Thats amazing. He was hesitant at first but he is now a Waldamer addict, he is already trying to schedule a return trip. What also made the park very family friendly was that most of the adult rides can be ridden by kids over 36" - imagine that! Ravine Flyer 3 looks like a cool little kiddie coaster as it runs over water, a very nice touch! I wont go not a full TR but suffice it to say I had a great time, RF2 is simply an awesome ride, Waldamer is such a laid back and relaxing place to spend an afternoon. It reminds me of another park I use to go to. Ravine Flyer 2 is now running two trains so the wait was minimal all five rides I had on it. I was there for five hours and was able to ride every adult ride, some more than once and my nephews kids were able to ride most all the kids rides and have lunch. It sure beats standing in line half the day. Ride - err stand and wait on! _________________ Greed is what caused GL's demise and that just makes me sick. Lets do what we can to rat out Kinzel - hes a snake. In the end the truth will come out and we will then see whos laughing at who.
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swdaze Double Loop User is Offline Joined: 22 Sep 2007 Posts: 229	Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 3:22 am    Post subject: · Quote How is the park on the weekends?  Too busy?  Not bad?
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