Here's an update on park happenings from today. I'll also include my first-ever Boardwalk review as well.
Crowds were moderate when I arrived around 2pm, but after 5pm just about every ride was reduced to either a one to two train wait or it was a walk-on. On to the Boardwalk!
Since when it was built in 2007, I have only walked through it once and have never ridden anything. After today, I can't believe what I missed out on! Here's my review on what I have ridden in order:
Roller Soaker: I wouldn't compare it to Trailblazer because it kind of has it's own unique feel to it. Once I got in line, the ride broke down. Given that I came very close to getting the credit back in 2006 and was not about ready to have the oppertunity slip away from me again so I waited the 15 to 20 minutes in the station for maintenance to get it back up and running. Got soaked and while it wasn't an intense, airtime-filled coaster, it is very gentile and what makes it good is the ability to drop water on others. I wouldn't wait more than 15 minutes for it from here on out.
Intercoastal Waterway: I have never stepped foot inside The SeaQuel when it was finished and it was kind of cool trying to think back to when it was under construction. This Lazy River I rank to be better than any of Dorney's on the fact that it's very nicely themed (infact more than what I realized!). One great option is the fact that you can go around as many times as you want and not have to get off!
Tidal Force: Best Hopkins Shoot-the-Chute I've been on. Only a 10 minute wait for the front and if you get off dry, then you never rode it.
Coastline Plunge: I can now see why Western Chute Out was removed. Since I was alone, I was only allowed to ride Vortex and Riptide:
-Vortex: Waited close to 15 minutes for this slide and the only minor problem I have for this ride is the queue going up to the loading platform. The stairs share the same queue for these two slides and when one is a different queue length, you would sometimes get people from the other line blocking the other side creating confusion. As for the ride, you enter the bowl at a great rate of speed that felt faster than the one I've been on up in Erie. I got a good 3 to 4 rotations in before entering the splash pool. Great slide.
-Riptide: Whenever would look at the slide tower before, I would always think that the 2 normal slides would probably be very tame and not very intense. I was wrong and I must say Riptide has to be my favorite slide so far. The double drop at the top creates a good airtime feel and the ending was intense with my tube being almost 90 degrees. I should've rode this again since it had less than a 5 minute wait.
East Coast Water Works was closed briefly so I decided to try that another time.
The Shore: If there weren't so many school groups there, I think it would be better. 5 minutes with the waves off and 10 minutes with the waves on really works and it really completes the Boardwalk.
I then rode ICWW again then went over to the rest of the park. My final verdict is that while the Boardwalk doesn't have a tremendous amount of slides like Dorney's has, the place makes up for itself in quality. The theming is excellent for the rides, it's not all generic concrete, the structures are themed, and I feel I had a great time overall. I just now need to ride Whirlwind and Surge and the body slides in ECWW.
Here's what I rode in order and the wait times:
Lightning Racer: 1 train wait with a one train operation.
Boardwalk
Wildcat: Less than 5 minutes for front row with two train operation.
Sidewinder: walk-on all day (see below for some new sponsor-related stuff around the ride).
Looper: Walk-on for front row (the station was completely empty).
Comet: Walk-on for back seat (2 trains).
RECC: Walk-on
Monorail: 1 train wait (1 train).
Great Bear: walk-on (2 trains).
Storm Runner: walk-on (2 trains).
Sidewinder again (only me and 2 other people rode).
Fahrenheit: 3 times in a row until closing sitting in the middle, back, then front (3 train operation).
Rides Closed:
Pirate was closed all day.
Kissing Tower was closed a lot, but opened later.
Oh, I also want to make note that they have new trading pins. Most of these from what I saw range from $5.99 to $9.99. The now have quite a few new ride-related ones.
Yet again they tie the sponsoring into the theme of the ride. That would be fun to hear how Six Flags would tie Stride gum train wraps into the El Toro theme.
The old snack stand is finally being used for something. There are also some strange footprints of a bear or lizard in the first queue row (similar to the gekko footprints at Fender Bender).
I'll leave you with a shot of Storm Runner. Hope you enjoyed my update!
Crowds were moderate when I arrived around 2pm, but after 5pm just about every ride was reduced to either a one to two train wait or it was a walk-on. On to the Boardwalk!
Since when it was built in 2007, I have only walked through it once and have never ridden anything. After today, I can't believe what I missed out on! Here's my review on what I have ridden in order:
Roller Soaker: I wouldn't compare it to Trailblazer because it kind of has it's own unique feel to it. Once I got in line, the ride broke down. Given that I came very close to getting the credit back in 2006 and was not about ready to have the oppertunity slip away from me again so I waited the 15 to 20 minutes in the station for maintenance to get it back up and running. Got soaked and while it wasn't an intense, airtime-filled coaster, it is very gentile and what makes it good is the ability to drop water on others. I wouldn't wait more than 15 minutes for it from here on out.
Intercoastal Waterway: I have never stepped foot inside The SeaQuel when it was finished and it was kind of cool trying to think back to when it was under construction. This Lazy River I rank to be better than any of Dorney's on the fact that it's very nicely themed (infact more than what I realized!). One great option is the fact that you can go around as many times as you want and not have to get off!
Tidal Force: Best Hopkins Shoot-the-Chute I've been on. Only a 10 minute wait for the front and if you get off dry, then you never rode it.
Coastline Plunge: I can now see why Western Chute Out was removed. Since I was alone, I was only allowed to ride Vortex and Riptide:
-Vortex: Waited close to 15 minutes for this slide and the only minor problem I have for this ride is the queue going up to the loading platform. The stairs share the same queue for these two slides and when one is a different queue length, you would sometimes get people from the other line blocking the other side creating confusion. As for the ride, you enter the bowl at a great rate of speed that felt faster than the one I've been on up in Erie. I got a good 3 to 4 rotations in before entering the splash pool. Great slide.
-Riptide: Whenever would look at the slide tower before, I would always think that the 2 normal slides would probably be very tame and not very intense. I was wrong and I must say Riptide has to be my favorite slide so far. The double drop at the top creates a good airtime feel and the ending was intense with my tube being almost 90 degrees. I should've rode this again since it had less than a 5 minute wait.
East Coast Water Works was closed briefly so I decided to try that another time.
The Shore: If there weren't so many school groups there, I think it would be better. 5 minutes with the waves off and 10 minutes with the waves on really works and it really completes the Boardwalk.
I then rode ICWW again then went over to the rest of the park. My final verdict is that while the Boardwalk doesn't have a tremendous amount of slides like Dorney's has, the place makes up for itself in quality. The theming is excellent for the rides, it's not all generic concrete, the structures are themed, and I feel I had a great time overall. I just now need to ride Whirlwind and Surge and the body slides in ECWW.
Here's what I rode in order and the wait times:
Lightning Racer: 1 train wait with a one train operation.
Boardwalk
Wildcat: Less than 5 minutes for front row with two train operation.
Sidewinder: walk-on all day (see below for some new sponsor-related stuff around the ride).
Looper: Walk-on for front row (the station was completely empty).
Comet: Walk-on for back seat (2 trains).
RECC: Walk-on
Monorail: 1 train wait (1 train).
Great Bear: walk-on (2 trains).
Storm Runner: walk-on (2 trains).
Sidewinder again (only me and 2 other people rode).
Fahrenheit: 3 times in a row until closing sitting in the middle, back, then front (3 train operation).
Rides Closed:
Pirate was closed all day.
Kissing Tower was closed a lot, but opened later.
Oh, I also want to make note that they have new trading pins. Most of these from what I saw range from $5.99 to $9.99. The now have quite a few new ride-related ones.
Yet again they tie the sponsoring into the theme of the ride. That would be fun to hear how Six Flags would tie Stride gum train wraps into the El Toro theme.
The old snack stand is finally being used for something. There are also some strange footprints of a bear or lizard in the first queue row (similar to the gekko footprints at Fender Bender).
I'll leave you with a shot of Storm Runner. Hope you enjoyed my update!
Last edited by Ccron10 on Tue Feb 21, 2012 11:00 pm; edited 1 time in total