Godsentone
Posts: 521
Registered: 3/31/2005
Rank: Gold Critic
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 5/2/2005 12:21:11 PM
Day 1
Ok, one of the days I have been waiting for finally came today. I finally got an opportunity to visit the park that started my love and enthusiasm for theme/amusement parks, Visionland Theme Park, here in Alabama.
My day at the park in detail:
I began my short, but exciting drive to Visionland, which took me about 35-40 min, if that. I took the new Visionland Parkway exit, which took me straight to the park. I arrived at the parking lot at exactly 3:30 pm CST as planned.
I was surprised at the number of cars that were present at the park b/c the weather was really rainy earlier in the day and the skies still had overcast. Despite it being a dreary day, I still came with expectation of having a great time.
As I drove up to the parking booth, I noticed that the parking was $7.00--$1 more from last season. I thought to myself that was kind of high, but I know they are in the business of making money, besides the guy working there was old enough to be my great granddad and he was very nice and funny. He was talking to me about fishing and he would have kept talking if another vehicle hadn't have pulled up behind me.
Anyway, I found a parking spot right near the front, which was cool b/c I didn't have to walk far. I walked right up to the front gate and of course there was no line. There were 2 attendents there and one of them scanned my badge and I went in. I have to admit that I was kind of surprised that there was no security there checking my camera bag, but I guess there was a level of trust since I was a season pass holder.
I walked in the park like a little kid experiencing his first day outside. I just kind of walked around Celebration Street looking at what was new that caught my attention. I noticed a few new game areas as I continued towards the entrance to Magic Adventure. I avoided the little squirting fountains so that I wouldn't get wet and damage my camera.
I entered Magic Adventures and the first thing I noticed was there was no one at the entrance gate, which I kind of figured since Season Pass Holders have free access to both parks. The next thing I noticed from a distance, as I looked to my left, was the entire bright yellow structure of the Zoomerang coaster, which seemed to demand attention from all guests. Just to the right of that was the massive wooden structure of the world-renown Rampage as it dominated that side of the park. Straight ahead was the Giant Wheel and behind that the Wild River Gorge's Huge Spiral Pumps.
As I walked past Fender Bender, (The Adult Bumper Cars) I began observation mode looking at the team members, as they are called here at Visionland. I made mental notes on their enthusiasm and attentiveness to the ride. I did the same thing for team members at the Patriot, MindSpinder, Wild Scrambler and Hurricane. I even got a friendly smile, as I was walking by, from one of the attendents at MindSpinder. As I passed by Hurricane, which by the way was playing some nice upbeat music, I noticed the Marvel City sign marking the entrance to the kiddie area.
I entered Marvel City and headed towards the Rampage entrance. I just gazed at the ride as it flew around the tracks. I decided not to ride just yet, so I walked towards Zoomerang. I noticed that they revamped this path, which used to be a service road for maintenance and employees. Keep in mind that this is the same path that leads to the Space Shot. The path had some nice landscaping and it was nice to see how they transformed the hill into a nice grassy spot for Zoomerang. The entrance was still in the process of being constructed as well as the station, the queuing and the retail shop. It looks like the entrance will be similar to Rampage, but it will have shaded covers at various intervals in the line.
As I walked towards the Space Shot, I noticed that they removed Convoy (Kiddie 4x4 Trucks) and its old station is now shaping up to be the new retail shop for Zoomerang. I noticed some plan
Message updated 5/3/2005 8:23:13 AM by Godsentone
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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 5/2/2005 12:44:44 PM
First off, your report was great 
Some questions and comments, but I am too "lazy" to quote:
Honestly, I wouldn't have hesitated riding Rampage first, but hopefully they cleaned up back there because when I went there were multiple fire ant mounds.
About the new shortcut to the Space Shot: is that going up a hill and back through the woods? If so, that's where they did ther Scarefest stuff, and I used it as a shortcut anyway 
It's too bad they only ran one train. I know that attendance was light, but Rampage is really long in duration (the line crawled when I was there), and they could have used that second train to get the operations down if they plan on running two all year. Oh, and that fire-colored train is pretty cool
Did you like the funnel cake? I remember having one on Celebration Street but don't recall if I liked it or not, but I think it was like $4 so that's not too bad (easily $6 at Six Flags)
Overall though, a good trip report, but I have to ask a last question: why are you going tomorrow
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Godsentone
Posts: 521
Registered: 3/31/2005
Rank: Gold Critic
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5/2/2005 2:01:37 PM
Hey man, congrats again on becoming one of the new mods. Keep the innovative ideas coming and please, please, please update the news section if you can lol.
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BobFunland said:
First off, your report was great |
Thanks, I will have Day 2 up soon.
Quote:
Some questions and comments, but I am too "lazy" to quote:
Honestly, I wouldn't have hesitated riding Rampage first, but hopefully they cleaned up back there because when I went there were multiple fire ant mounds. |
When you feel like it, please quote me on what I have said. I will be happy to comment on anything you want to know. I know I shouldn't have hesitated to ride Rampage. I was more like a little kid staring in awe, you know? I have never noticed any fire ant mounds anywhere in Visionland. Where were they?
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About the new shortcut to the Space Shot: is that going up a hill and back through the woods? If so, that's where they did ther Scarefest stuff, and I used it as a shortcut anyway |
Nope, the shortcut is right by Marvel Mania (kiddie coaster) and where the Convoy (Kiddie 4x4 Trucks) were located. This allows Marvel City guests to go right up to Zoomerang and Space Shot, instead of having to walk all the way around near the Rampage entrance/exit.
Quote:
It's too bad they only ran one train. I know that attendance was light, but Rampage is really long in duration (the line crawled when I was there), and they could have used that second train to get the operations down if they plan on running two all year. Oh, and that fire-colored train is pretty cool |
Well, one train operation was good enough. Guests were evenly spread throughout the park, b/c Splash Beach was open as well. Also, I spoke with a maintenance man and he told me that the other train will be back on the tracks soon. The fire-colored train does look great!!!
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Did you like the funnel cake? I remember having one on Celebration Street but don't recall if I liked it or not, but I think it was like $4 so that's not too bad (easily $6 at Six Flags) |
I loved the funnel cake! The price was the same as last year and if you used your season pass, it takes some cents off.
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Overall though, a good trip report, but I have to ask a last question: why are you going tomorrow |
Yeah, I really enjoyed being back in the park again and seeing some old employees that were there when I was an operations supervisor back in 98-99.
I went Sunday, b/c I wanted to bring my wife and kids on a sunny day.
Message updated 5/2/2005 2:05:14 PM by Godsentone
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Godsentone
Posts: 521
Registered: 3/31/2005
Rank: Gold Critic
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 5/2/2005 11:18:44 PM
Day 2
I am sooooooo  I typed a whole review and sent it, but there was one problem, the high speed internet was currently offline, for some reason. Before I could copy and paste, I got a error screen and lost all I had typed. I will have to write it again when I have time or I can sum up my day in nutshell. Anyone have specific questions? Maybe I can address those instead of rehashing on everything I did.
Message updated 5/2/2005 11:47:07 PM by Godsentone
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mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001
Rank: TPC News Minister
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5/9/2005 5:31:41 PM
Nice report. lots of info.
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Godsentone
Posts: 521
Registered: 3/31/2005
Rank: Gold Critic
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5/10/2005 8:36:44 AM
Thanks Mrceagle, even though I wish I could have went for the opener, I will get back to the park so I can keep you guys updated.
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