Post by wolfblood on Aug 25, 2008 0:32:28 GMT -8
Hey there everybody, I just recently got back from my weekend trip and boy do I have a lot of things to say.
First off, it's been a while since I've last been to Silverwood. The last time I went the newest thing at the park was the speed slides at Boulder Beach. Now I will say I've always enjoyed all my previous trips to the park, with all the new things and a much more noticable increase in crowds, did I still have a good time?...read on to find out.
8/22
The first day was a kind of a half day since my Mom and I left Everett early to arrive at the park in the afternoon. Now while we were probably going to arrive sometime after 12:00, we ended up at the parking lot at 1:00 due to some pretty lousy traffic on the way up to the park.
Now the first things to describe the park this day is really, really, BUSY. We ended up in a grass overflow lot and soon found out that already the park had 9,000 guests inside.
I can firmly say I have never seen the park this busy before, then again I've never been to the park this late in the month and during the weekend.
Thankfully, crowds do not bother me at all. I know I simply have to wait things out and take my time, so the first thing was to hit Aftershock.
Aftershock-
Ok, I've never been on a Giant Inverted Boomerang before. Even when I've gone to Magic Mountain, the dang thing was never open or broke down for the whole day when I was there. It's also pretty easy to know that these things have had a really rocky relationship with reliability etc.
Thankfully this one was open, and I didn't have to wait long since once I was in the switchback the ride ops called out for a single rider. Next thing I know I'm in the second to last row and sent up the tower.
As for my opinion of the ride, holy crap this thing is INTENSE! From the insane full-body freefall of a first drop to the wicked G's going backwards in the loop, this ride just blew me away on many levels I did not expect. Not to mention the only bit of roughness was the first roll on the cobra roll going forwards and that's it.
So to put things plain and simple, it's my favorite coaster in the park and in the top 5 of my steel coaster list.
What makes things even better was that the ride never gave any trouble for the two days I was at the park, that and I have to give major props to the ride ops for the very quick and smooth dispatch times. They not only made sure to fill up the whole train, but they also sent it out faster then both woodies and were very energetic the whole time.
After my ride on Aftershock, I admit the next few rides I hit were more on the gentle side. I hit the log flume since that's a nice ride for me especially with the swift moving line, then stuff like the carousel.
Walking around the park, it was pretty easy to notice the camera crew doing special photo shoots of the park with people like the Marketing Director Nacy etc. It was also pretty easy to notice the vast amount of landscaping that's in the park, I have to say it's very refreshing and makes the park look fantastic in my opinion.
As for a few quick notes on the rest of the day, the food I had was good. The cinnamon roll at the Victorian Coffee House was nice and Dinner at Lindy's didn't dissapoint as always.
Later in the day I saw Nick Norton's magic show, I've always liked his shows and this was no exception. I saw some favorite tricks of his and he brought in some new ones I haven't seen before. Oh yes, this was extra special since I was a part of the show! I was part of the three card monty act and I gotta say I had a fun time especially seeing up close how good he was with slight of hand.
As for the rest of the day, me and my Mom hit up a few of the Country Carnival rides before we decided to hit Aftershock at night. Now this was my Mom's first time on the ride and lucky for us the very last row was available for us. I can now certainly say that is my favorite row, as for my Mom...she really liked it as well.
So overall on this first day, yes it was busy as heck. But we made the most of it and had a great time.
8/23
This day is pretty easy to go through, we arrived nice and early to get a nice close spot in the parking lot. Thankfully the park was not as busy as yesterday, though there was one major contstruction group that had ERT for the coasters.
Once we were let into the park, I simply ran over and got my only wooden coaster ride on Tremors. I have to say the ride has gotten a bit rougher last time I've been on it, but not to the point of pain I get from a ride like the Voyage at Holiday World.
After that I hit Aftershock again with no problem thanks to the great ride ops working it. Then I hit Thunder Canyon to which I have to give props to the ride op for making things so much easier by trying to fill the rafts full. The result was a short wait and hands down the wildest and wettiest ride I've ever gotten from it, seriously the raft took up so much water it was insane.
Shortly after that I me and mom hit the log flume and got a nice drencing from the more-powerful-then-last-time water cannon. We didn't exactly mind it though since we hit Boulder Beach next.
Boulder Beach was pretty simple since we hit Avalance Mountain, the waves pools, poliwog park and had a couple runs on Rumble Falls. Then we simply dashed out when it started to get more busy.
Had a bit of late lunch at Lindy's, but once again it was very good. The burgers were very nice and oh man I really love the fries they make. (Far better then any fast food joint's.)
After a bit of shopping and scoring a couple prizes from the games we went to the Ice Show. Now while we liked the show we saw years ago, this one was far better. It's was quite a top notch show, and had a nice selection of acts. Two major crowd pleasers was a comedic juggler (Yes, a juggler on ice) and a skating act where a good amount of fire was involved. (I got really giddy during this part since I have actually done one of the fire tricks used in the show.)
To finish the night off, I hit Aftershock one more time and was lucky enough to have the last row once again. What made things even better was the whole train I was on was pumped up even before we left the station, I mean everyone was hootin' and hollerin' before the airhorn sounded off. When we arrived back at the station everyone was cheering before the ride ops could ask us what we thought of the ride.
One the way out me and mom got some ice cream in Country Carnival and I can see why it can have such a long line even when the park is about the close...this stuff is really good.
So overall, it was a great weekend and I will most certainly be comming back next year.
Now for the plusses and minuses.
+Aftershock- Let's see, the fact that Silverwood has taken a ride that is so moody at the Six Flags Parks and has been running it very smoothly is a great achievment. I'd say this was a great move since it's running far better then what the SF parks could do and talking with the GP they really like it.
+Landscaping- Plain and simple, the park looks great and if anyone complains...go to someplace else and enjoy the concreate jungle that's cooked in the sun.
+Package Pickup- Major props to whoever thought of putting that in the park, it really makes things much easier to shop and not worry about carrying the bags around.
+Food, shows and overall friendlyness of the employees.
- Unforntuntly Panic Plunge was never open when I was there. Apparently it needs a certain cable and has been down for about four days, oh well...there's always next year.
-With the large crowds, it's pretty easy for me to see that both woodies really do need a second train. When Aftershock is able to send the train out twice before any woodie sends one out, that's really ludicrious.
But overall, that's really the only complaint I have on the park. Plain and simple, I probably had one of the best times I've had at the park. If they can get a second train for the woodies, then I have to say the thing I would ask for next is a park expansion.
First off, it's been a while since I've last been to Silverwood. The last time I went the newest thing at the park was the speed slides at Boulder Beach. Now I will say I've always enjoyed all my previous trips to the park, with all the new things and a much more noticable increase in crowds, did I still have a good time?...read on to find out.
8/22
The first day was a kind of a half day since my Mom and I left Everett early to arrive at the park in the afternoon. Now while we were probably going to arrive sometime after 12:00, we ended up at the parking lot at 1:00 due to some pretty lousy traffic on the way up to the park.
Now the first things to describe the park this day is really, really, BUSY. We ended up in a grass overflow lot and soon found out that already the park had 9,000 guests inside.
I can firmly say I have never seen the park this busy before, then again I've never been to the park this late in the month and during the weekend.
Thankfully, crowds do not bother me at all. I know I simply have to wait things out and take my time, so the first thing was to hit Aftershock.
Aftershock-
Ok, I've never been on a Giant Inverted Boomerang before. Even when I've gone to Magic Mountain, the dang thing was never open or broke down for the whole day when I was there. It's also pretty easy to know that these things have had a really rocky relationship with reliability etc.
Thankfully this one was open, and I didn't have to wait long since once I was in the switchback the ride ops called out for a single rider. Next thing I know I'm in the second to last row and sent up the tower.
As for my opinion of the ride, holy crap this thing is INTENSE! From the insane full-body freefall of a first drop to the wicked G's going backwards in the loop, this ride just blew me away on many levels I did not expect. Not to mention the only bit of roughness was the first roll on the cobra roll going forwards and that's it.
So to put things plain and simple, it's my favorite coaster in the park and in the top 5 of my steel coaster list.
What makes things even better was that the ride never gave any trouble for the two days I was at the park, that and I have to give major props to the ride ops for the very quick and smooth dispatch times. They not only made sure to fill up the whole train, but they also sent it out faster then both woodies and were very energetic the whole time.
After my ride on Aftershock, I admit the next few rides I hit were more on the gentle side. I hit the log flume since that's a nice ride for me especially with the swift moving line, then stuff like the carousel.
Walking around the park, it was pretty easy to notice the camera crew doing special photo shoots of the park with people like the Marketing Director Nacy etc. It was also pretty easy to notice the vast amount of landscaping that's in the park, I have to say it's very refreshing and makes the park look fantastic in my opinion.
As for a few quick notes on the rest of the day, the food I had was good. The cinnamon roll at the Victorian Coffee House was nice and Dinner at Lindy's didn't dissapoint as always.
Later in the day I saw Nick Norton's magic show, I've always liked his shows and this was no exception. I saw some favorite tricks of his and he brought in some new ones I haven't seen before. Oh yes, this was extra special since I was a part of the show! I was part of the three card monty act and I gotta say I had a fun time especially seeing up close how good he was with slight of hand.
As for the rest of the day, me and my Mom hit up a few of the Country Carnival rides before we decided to hit Aftershock at night. Now this was my Mom's first time on the ride and lucky for us the very last row was available for us. I can now certainly say that is my favorite row, as for my Mom...she really liked it as well.
So overall on this first day, yes it was busy as heck. But we made the most of it and had a great time.
8/23
This day is pretty easy to go through, we arrived nice and early to get a nice close spot in the parking lot. Thankfully the park was not as busy as yesterday, though there was one major contstruction group that had ERT for the coasters.
Once we were let into the park, I simply ran over and got my only wooden coaster ride on Tremors. I have to say the ride has gotten a bit rougher last time I've been on it, but not to the point of pain I get from a ride like the Voyage at Holiday World.
After that I hit Aftershock again with no problem thanks to the great ride ops working it. Then I hit Thunder Canyon to which I have to give props to the ride op for making things so much easier by trying to fill the rafts full. The result was a short wait and hands down the wildest and wettiest ride I've ever gotten from it, seriously the raft took up so much water it was insane.
Shortly after that I me and mom hit the log flume and got a nice drencing from the more-powerful-then-last-time water cannon. We didn't exactly mind it though since we hit Boulder Beach next.
Boulder Beach was pretty simple since we hit Avalance Mountain, the waves pools, poliwog park and had a couple runs on Rumble Falls. Then we simply dashed out when it started to get more busy.
Had a bit of late lunch at Lindy's, but once again it was very good. The burgers were very nice and oh man I really love the fries they make. (Far better then any fast food joint's.)
After a bit of shopping and scoring a couple prizes from the games we went to the Ice Show. Now while we liked the show we saw years ago, this one was far better. It's was quite a top notch show, and had a nice selection of acts. Two major crowd pleasers was a comedic juggler (Yes, a juggler on ice) and a skating act where a good amount of fire was involved. (I got really giddy during this part since I have actually done one of the fire tricks used in the show.)
To finish the night off, I hit Aftershock one more time and was lucky enough to have the last row once again. What made things even better was the whole train I was on was pumped up even before we left the station, I mean everyone was hootin' and hollerin' before the airhorn sounded off. When we arrived back at the station everyone was cheering before the ride ops could ask us what we thought of the ride.
One the way out me and mom got some ice cream in Country Carnival and I can see why it can have such a long line even when the park is about the close...this stuff is really good.
So overall, it was a great weekend and I will most certainly be comming back next year.
Now for the plusses and minuses.
+Aftershock- Let's see, the fact that Silverwood has taken a ride that is so moody at the Six Flags Parks and has been running it very smoothly is a great achievment. I'd say this was a great move since it's running far better then what the SF parks could do and talking with the GP they really like it.
+Landscaping- Plain and simple, the park looks great and if anyone complains...go to someplace else and enjoy the concreate jungle that's cooked in the sun.
+Package Pickup- Major props to whoever thought of putting that in the park, it really makes things much easier to shop and not worry about carrying the bags around.
+Food, shows and overall friendlyness of the employees.
- Unforntuntly Panic Plunge was never open when I was there. Apparently it needs a certain cable and has been down for about four days, oh well...there's always next year.
-With the large crowds, it's pretty easy for me to see that both woodies really do need a second train. When Aftershock is able to send the train out twice before any woodie sends one out, that's really ludicrious.
But overall, that's really the only complaint I have on the park. Plain and simple, I probably had one of the best times I've had at the park. If they can get a second train for the woodies, then I have to say the thing I would ask for next is a park expansion.
As Bud mentioned, even though drop towers are so common, this one actually surprised me. Very different from what I was used to with S&S, and the queue is actually really fun to stand in as you get closer and closer to the center where you see everyone's reaction to the ride - great idea IMO.