Amusement Park and Rides

[Kitaman]

We're headed toward the Big E again this year and I'd thought I'd ask:

Where is your favorite amusement park? Gatlinburg TN (area is plentiful in amusements)
What's your favorite type of ride? Go Carts
What rides do you hate? rollercoasters and those spinning around rides

 

[HuskyHawk]

Where is your favorite amusement park? Universal Orlando. Love the skip the line feature and enjoy citywalk too.

What's your favorite type of ride? The new immersive 3D motion rides with screens (Harry Potter, Kong, Transformers). Like Rollercoasters best among traditional rides.

What rides do you hate? Ferris wheels. Can't stand the heights.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

'We're headed toward the Big E again this year'
apparently, we'll soon be heading to the Big E every year.

 

[White Dwarf]

I like the slow rides. Give me a train ride around the park or the river boat ride.

 

[8893]

Love rollercoasters. Hate anything that spins fast. Ferris wheel is fine; rotor is not.

 

[Northbound]

None. I have a healthy fear of rides that are assembled by guys living out of automobiles. I don't want my obit to being with "He died when the tilt a whirl malfunctioned and he was flung 100 yards into the fried dough tent where he was killed on impact."

 

[UConnSean]

Cyclone and Mind Eraser bring back some good memories at Six Flags/Riverside

 

[RichZ]

My favorite amusement park ride as a kid/teen/young adult was the Wild Mouse. Like a Roller Coaster, but instead of speed, it got you with G force. Individual 2 or 4 passenger cars, not a "train." It gets you with momentum and G force by way of abrupt changes in direction, both horizontally and vertically. The one at Quassy was good. The one as Savin Rock was better. FWIW, the Test Track ride at Epcot turns out to be a kind of modernized version of the wild mouse, except for banked turns. The wild mouse don't have no banked turns.
Banked turns are for disney.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

I don't want my obit to [begin] with "He died when the tilt a whirl malfunctioned and he was flung 100 yards into the fried dough tent where he was killed on impact."

Lighten up. You won't be there, and the readers, will love it.

Then again, your intro about the assemblers is truth.

 

[sledog]

Always inquire of the 'puke factor'. Too low, no go.

http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/degrassi/images/6/63/Stewie_vomit_zpsdqjoypiw.gif/revision/latest?cb=20140709014350

 

[Bootsthemonkey]

Best park for coasters IMO is Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH

 

[uconn_jack]

Top 5 parks:

1. Cedar Point
2. Disneyland
3. Cedar Point
4. WDW
5. Cedar Point

 

[Chuck]

As a kid, my favorite was Action Park (also called "Traction" Park) in NJ. We'd go twice per summer with my camp, and with all of the casualties there, I'm surprised we never had any. We did leave a kid up there once and the camp director (who was just a college kid) said, and I quote, "I went with 125 kids, I came back with 124, that's an A in any class."

Now days, I like the immersion of the ride and experience so Harry Potter World and Gringots ride are pretty awesome. My favorite part of the 3D motion rides referenced by @HuskyHawk is that when I get queasy (which I do), I can just close my eyes and the ride stops! I don't even have to admit it to my daughter who could probably be an astronaut with her stomach.

 

[8893]

As a kid, my favorite was Action Park (also called "Traction" Park) in NJ. We'd go twice per summer with my camp, and with all of the casualties there, I'm surprised we never had any. We did leave a kid up there once and the camp director (who was just a college kid) said, and I quote, "I went with 125 kids, I came back with 124, that's an A in any class."

Now days, I like the immersion of the ride and experience so Harry Potter World and Gringots ride are pretty awesome. My favorite part of the 3D motion rides referenced by @HuskyHawk is that when I get queasy (which I do), I can just close my eyes and the ride stops! I don't even have to admit it to my daughter who could probably be an astronaut with her stomach.

I think about Action Park all the time (I always thought the unofficial name was "Accident Park"). I have no idea how it was allowed to exist. As if the attractions and lack of supervision weren't dangerous enough, we somehow smuggled beer in and stashed it in a creek in the park and we were never remotely sober. I can't believe none of us ever sustained serious injuries.

 

[UCONN in OKC]

Top 5 Favorite Parks so far for me:
1. Cedar Point
2. Island Adventure, Universal
3. Six Flags Magic Mountain
4. Six Flags New Jersey
5. Kings island.... Must ride the Beast at Night, best roller coaster experience

 

[August_West]

I think about Action Park all the time (I always thought the unofficial name was "Accident Park"). I have no idea how it was allowed to exist. As if the attractions and lack of supervision weren't dangerous enough, we somehow smuggled beer in and stashed it in a creek in the park and we were never remotely sober. I can't believe none of us ever sustained serious injuries.

I peeled the skin off most of my left thigh on the cement luge track.

Loved that place. Lol.

 

[Fishy]

Went to an amusement park last week for the first time in decades - Tivoli Park.

Some decent rides, but more importantly, a terrific beer selection and great German food.

 

[8893]

cement luge track.

I mean that says it all right there.

 

[John]

My favorite amusement park ride as a kid/teen/young adult was the Wild Mouse. Like a Roller Coaster, but instead of speed, it got you with G force. Individual 2 or 4 passenger cars, not a "train." It gets you with momentum and G force by way of abrupt changes in direction, both horizontally and vertically. The one at Quassy was good. The one as Savin Rock was better. FWIW, the Test Track ride at Epcot turns out to be a kind of modernized version of the wild mouse, except for banked turns. The wild mouse don't have no banked turns.
Banked turns are for disney.

Space Mountain in modeled on the wild mouse. Also, in Animal Kingdom the Primeval Swirl coaster is definitely a classic wild mouse.

 

[Mikey G]

Top Thrill Dragster, Cedar Point hands down

 

[8893]

@August_West @Chuck

This thread sparked a discussion about Action Park among my friends and me. Their memories were even a little hazier than mine so I fired up the google and found some gold in these write-ups from Wiki and The History Channel. I recommend starting with the Wiki sections on Alpine Slide and Cannonball Loop, but the whole story is pretty amazing--and hysterical in a morbid way, in that the incredible stats and facts are delivered with deadpan Joe Friday seriousness. Oh, and there's this beauty:

 

[Husky25]

With the exception of Lake Compounce, I have never been to a water park that I did not at least find enjoyable, but you have to be careful. Water parks can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Have to wash up thoroughly afterwards. We went to both sides of LC at the end of July and I found the water park to be dirty, overcrowded with inconsiderate people, and the slides weren't as fun as say the Ocean City (NJ) Boardwalk Waterpark that we went to 2 weeks later.

Also really like Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg MA. Been there twice. It's a reasonable (but somewhat expensive) way to break up the winter. OTOH, the cost appears more reasonable if you itemize the weekend (3 days water park, 2 nights hotel for 2 adults and 2 kids).

My favorite water park is/was Water Country in New Hampshire, but that was about 30 years ago. It's been through a few owners since then.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Don't have a favorite park but definitely like places with lots of big coasters and thrill rides. Not a fan of using VR or sensory tricks in place of actual movement. For example, Harry Potter and Spider Man at Universal in Orlando.

That being said, I hate the slow creep up to the top of roller coasters. Basically have to close my eyes. Also, the flying chairs are an absolute non-starter. Always expect them to fly off in to infinity.

I did like the Disney water park in Orlando. As much as I want to do some of those large indoor water parks, I can't get past the thought of the smell of chlorine and everything being wet and slippery. And I'm pretty sure they're a giant petri dish of human waste.

 

[Dogdeacon]

@August_West @Chuck

This thread sparked a discussion about Action Park among my friends and me. Their memories were even a little hazier than mine so I fired up the google and found some gold in these write-ups from Wiki and The History Channel. I recommend starting with the Wiki sections on Alpine Slide and Cannonball Loop, but the whole story is pretty amazing--and hysterical in a morbid way, in that the incredible stats and facts are delivered with deadpan Joe Friday seriousness. Oh, and there's this beauty:

I was also an annual visitor to Action Park (1000% called 'Traction park'), mostly in early teenage years, I remember distinctly when the loop slide was built and that it rarely was open. It was briefly open on one visit but was an obvious injury trap and we knew not to try it.

I still really love water parks and that's our families' go to, traction park is the inspiration. Water Wizz in Wareham MA is an underrated low-key fun day (we were there 8/31), went to another decent off brand park in Maine a few years ago that had one or two fun 'drop slides', Volcano Bay is favorite thus far.

I made one final trip to Traction Park while in college (circa 1986?), they had built a six-story-ish platform for Bungee jumping. I'd lost a bet and had to go. My girlfriend went first, at the bottom as she was being un-clipped the guy on the crash pad radio'd the guy about to send me off yelling & lecturing severely "don't ever send anyone off again without checking their straps are secured properly!"
I felt I had no choice since my girlfriend had done it, so I walked the plank & jumped.

 

[storrsroars]

My favorite amusement park ride as a kid/teen/young adult was the Wild Mouse. Like a Roller Coaster, but instead of speed, it got you with G force. Individual 2 or 4 passenger cars, not a "train." It gets you with momentum and G force by way of abrupt changes in direction, both horizontally and vertically. The one at Quassy was good. The one as Savin Rock was better. FWIW, the Test Track ride at Epcot turns out to be a kind of modernized version of the wild mouse, except for banked turns. The wild mouse don't have no banked turns.
Banked turns are for disney.

I used to enjoy that too, until that time when the one at Rye Playland sent a car into the parking lot.

I cannot find a source on this, but I recall it was either late 60s or early 70s and it was an empty car done as part of a test or regular maintenance so nobody was hurt. The ride was shut down for a considerable period.

And that was the same Wild Mouse that Rye Playland sold to Quassy.

I loved coasters up until I got a gut. Then the safety bars combined with G forces became painful.

 

[8893]

I still really love water parks and that's our families' go to, traction park is the inspiration. Water Wizz in Wareham MA is an underrated low-key fun day (we were there 8/31), went to another decent off brand park in Maine a few years ago that had one or two fun 'drop slides', Volcano Bay is favorite thus far.

I agree, that was the first time I had seen any kind of water park, and it would be years until I saw another one. I’ll never forget the feeling of dropping out of that tube, blind, around 10 feet above the water; or getting serious air while racing each other down the water slide with the mats—so much so that I got the wind knocked out of me when I landed.

I still love water parks and we’ve definitely found some with decent thrills, but the sheer novelty and ridiculous level of danger made Action Park tough to top.

 

[Dogdeacon]

I agree, that was the first time I had seen any kind of water park, and it would be years until I saw another one. I’ll never forget the feeling of dropping out of that tube, blind, around 10 feet above the water; or getting serious air while racing each other down the water slide with the mats—so much so that I got the wind knocked out of me when I landed.

I still love water parks and we’ve definitely found some with decent thrills, but the sheer novelty and ridiculous level of danger made Action Park tough to top.

1000% - first time I went into that same tube, no idea what would happen, dark tunnel sudden sharp turn and then tossed into the air might be the best ride I've ever been on. I think my kids get those same thrills at the new parks, the drop slides are actually more extreme, just safer and they don't know it could be better when part of the thrill was a much higher risk of injury.

Splashtown USA in Saco ME is the water park I was thinking of. the Triton's Twist & Poseidon's Plunge dropslides were very similar to something you'd see at traction park back in the day.

 

[Husky25]

1000% - first time I went into that same tube, no idea what would happen, dark tunnel sudden sharp turn and then tossed into the air might be the best ride I've ever been on. I think my kids get those same thrills at the new parks, the drop slides are actually more extreme, just safer and they don't know it could be better when part of the thrill was a much higher risk of injury.

Splashtown USA in Saco ME is the water park I was thinking of. the Triton's Twist & Poseidon's Plunge dropslides were very similar to something you'd see at traction park back in the day.

They have one at Great Wolf Lodge New England (Wolf Tail). The suspense during the countdown is terrible. The first two seconds when the floor drops is exhilarating, but then it just becomes a regular tunneled water slide.

I did it for the first time about 3 years ago. My then 6 YO joined me this past January. It's a great ride.

 

[Dogdeacon]

They have one at Great Wolf Lodge New England (Wolf Tail). The suspense during the countdown is terrible. The first two seconds when the floor drops is exhilarating, but then it just becomes a regular tunneled water slide.

I did it for the first time about 3 years ago. My then 6 YO joined me this past January. It's a great ride.

What I liked about Volcano Bay is they play this really intense bongo drum heavy music before the floor drops so it helps get you fired up for the experience. Much better than others with either a countdown or stone cold silence and a buzzer pre-floor drop or just a super loud bang.

 

[8893]

Obviously I would like her to survive, but it would make the court packing decision easier if the court was 6-3.

They have one at Great Wolf Lodge New England (Wolf Tail). The suspense during the countdown is terrible. The first two seconds when the floor drops is exhilarating, but then it just becomes a regular tunneled water slide.

I did it for the first time about 3 years ago. My then 6 YO joined me this past January. It's a great ride.

What I liked about Volcano Bay is they play this really intense bongo drum heavy music before the floor drops so it helps get you fired up for the experience. Much better than others with either a countdown or stone cold silence and a buzzer pre-floor drop or just a super loud bang.

On a somewhat related note, my favorite rides tend to be the ones that confound expectations, especially at the beginning of the ride. I have yet to have a chance to ride some of the newer, crazier roller coasters because we haven't been to those parks yet, but one of my favorites remains the Rock-n-Roller Coaster at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Whereas most roller coasters start you out slow, this one shoots you straight into the air with G-forces that are apparently something like 4x greater than those experienced by astronauts during lift-off. It's so unexpected and exhilarating every time that the rest of the ride--including several flips and corkscrew turns--seems like a breeze by comparison and it's over before you know it.