ABR
Posts: 277
Registered: 3/22/2003
Rank: Silver Critic
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 10/19/2004 12:48:08 AM
Well, the summers long gone, halloween is almost here, which for those of us who don't live near the equator (and are unable to travel), means it's our last chance to visit amusement parks until at least march. Well, last week, a Fright Fest commercial came on, and it dawned on me, I haven't visited my home park this year, so on Saturday, I set out for SFA.
Well, the park is about 40-60 minutes from my house (traffic depending). I set out a little after 10:00 (for the parks 12:00 opening), planning to stop for lunch at one of the shopping centers near the park. After lunch (at KFC) I left for the park, and after parking my car it was about 11:10. No ticket booths were open yet, so I just walked around. One thing I noticed that they did not have last year was a bag less entry. So those of us with no bags don't have to stand around forever and ever waiting for everyones bag to be strip searched. Around 11:35, someone noticed that the guest relations window was selling the tickets (thanks for the announcement, LOL) so I got in line. I bought a season pass, they were only $50 (admission to the park is $37) and are good for the rest of 2004, and 2005. Seemed like the right choice, with it being my home park and my hopes to visit great adventure in 2005. Around 11:50, I was standing in the BAG LESS entry line. It took no time at all to get into the park. After that I went and got my season pass processed. Then I went off to the rides.
My 1st ride is what makes this park my choice over Kings Dominion, a hyper coaster. I love hyper coasters, and it's a shame PKD doesn't have one, but anyway, I went to Superman Ride of steel. There were no other riders in the station, so I took the front. Then I went and rode it 2 more times in the middle (the front now had a line), and I went and got in line a 4th time, but it got closed for rain, but then it reopened in 5 minutes. I rode, but then when the ride endedthe station was full of people, so I decided to hit up Batwing. It was only a 5 minute wait, so that was good. After that, I decided to make the "rounds" of my old favorites. I went over to Coyote Creek, spent a few minutes in the arcade, and then went on Mid Eraser. This was a walk on, with the exception of the front, so I took the very back. After that I went on Roar. There was on lane with no one in it, so I took that one. I then went on Wild One, this was a walk on for the "less favorable rows" so I took a middle one. It seemed like it was only 12:00 (I'm used to 10:00 park openings) but it was 2:30 and I was rather hungry. I decided to hit up Memphis BBQ, but when I walk over there, suprise suprise, it was a Panda Express chinese restaurant. I decided "Oh well" and ate there anyway. This was, at least in my mind, decently priced, with the exception of the soda. I got Orange Chicken, Mandarin Chicken, and Fried Rice (big servings of each) for $6.99, I can't imagine doing that much better in a park. Well, anyway I then went back to Gotham City. I wanted to go on Superman, but the line was about the longest I have ever seen it (keep in mind this is my home park) and they were only running one train. So I went back to Batwing... CLOSED... something was wrong with the train. So I went back to "civilization" and went on Penguin's Blizzard river. I was suprised that this was open, from my experience the water rides were always closed for the halloween events (Shipwreck falls was open, renigade rapids and Typhoon SeaCoaster were closed). This was a five minute wait, however, I think that the ride operator that Swimace was talking about in his trip report from the ride Roar was operating this ride today. He was whispering "I see dead people" and making funny noises on the intercom. When I got on the ride, I was sad to see that they installed seatbelts on the rafts. The "restraintless rafts" kind of gave this ride it's edge. I then walked over to Joker's Jinx. There were only a few people in the station, I took the second row from the fr
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