Post by luminousaphid on Sept 11, 2015 0:10:17 GMT -8
So, my thoughts after having a month or so to think about it:
Silverwood is awesome! I want to go back there every year now at least once, and most likely twice or more depending on how I like Scarywood. The last time I was there was at least 15 years ago, and I didn't remember thinking much of it back then, but I had the most fun I have ever had the three days I was there in August. The lines were decent--I barely ever saw queues using any switchback sections at all--and the operations seemed pretty good. They can't hire thousands of people and design rides to make everything ultra-efficient like say Disney can, but all of the employees did a really good job helping make this park a really fun, memorable place to visit. There were some things I was anticipating and some things that completely caught me off guard- souvenir prices were ridiculous! Ridiculously LOW! And all the ride ops seemed friendly and were working really hard, the ride ops which some guy was complaining about in another theme park forum. I went back to that forum after visiting the park and made that guy look like a total idiot by pointing out how hard the ride ops work in such brutal heat while dealing with guests... while he complains about it. I would never have worked as hard at that age as these young people were, and I respect them greatly for doing it all so that we can have FUN!
Some interesting thoughts:
- The 3-point challenge actually seemed fairly popular, I heard several young guys planning to go back there later/right now
- Corkscrew was super fun, I loved knowing I was riding a historic coaster but even beyond that, it's a great, smooth ride compared to Wild Waves' Wild Thing- the closest we have to a Corkscrew clone
- I only saw Garfield one time, but it was one of my favorite parts of the trip. Before I got a picture with him he was trying to get this little toddler to come say hi, it was super cute. The next day I went back and he wasn't there at the scheduled time
- SpinCycle was sort of disappointing, I think it would be a lot better with inward-facing seats and also if it was slightly smaller? I think it has too much mass to move forcefully like a smaller model (KMG Freak Out, or even the smaller SBF Visa "Midi" dance party)
- The food was meh, but not horribly priced... I wish most parks would realize they could make everyone happier by offering some higher-quality foods to sell to adults.
- Aftershock was amazing, but it was down for 1 whole day of the 3. Some kind of ghost in the machine or sensor problems it seemed like, as the ride kept cycling but would stop on the first tower at the end
- Tremors was really rough around the first crazy undulating helix, RMC is needed on that section badly. I also don't appreciate the ratchet lap bars, I stapled myself once (pushed the bar down too far) and it was the most painful ride I have ever been on. Nothing was fun about that, and I didn't ride it again (it was the 3rd day)
- Timber Terror is my favorite roller coaster hands down- though I haven't been on many. The back seat, and especially the back-left, was so fun I rode it multiple times in a row when the lines were short. I had fun screaming my lungs out down the first drop and over the airtime hills, and I was always laughing when we got to the brake run. I like myself more when I ride roller coasters
- I think I could have gone a 4th day, but the crowds would have started to get to me and my friends only really wanted to be there 2 days max
Disclaimer: if you are a theme park "veteran" or "regular", your mileage may vary. I never go to theme parks, so this is the opinion of someone completely unjaded and innocent of how things might be at other parks. I have heard Silverwood is smaller and more intimate than mainstream/corporate parks, but it really uses the fact to its advantage. There isn't miles of walking between areas, for example. I think any veteran should be able to appreciate this place just like I did, because while small it's a great little park
I honestly thought about moving to CDA when I got back to Seattle, but then realized I wouldn't constantly be on vacation at Silverwood so it wouldn't be all fun all the time. It was sad leaving and getting back here for Friday pre-season football traffic; I had to drop off my friends downtown and then try to make it back out alive.
So, I have had rooms booked at the same hotel for Scarywood on Oct 22, so if anyone plans on being there, I might see you at the park! I can't wait to see it halloween style
Silverwood is awesome! I want to go back there every year now at least once, and most likely twice or more depending on how I like Scarywood. The last time I was there was at least 15 years ago, and I didn't remember thinking much of it back then, but I had the most fun I have ever had the three days I was there in August. The lines were decent--I barely ever saw queues using any switchback sections at all--and the operations seemed pretty good. They can't hire thousands of people and design rides to make everything ultra-efficient like say Disney can, but all of the employees did a really good job helping make this park a really fun, memorable place to visit. There were some things I was anticipating and some things that completely caught me off guard- souvenir prices were ridiculous! Ridiculously LOW! And all the ride ops seemed friendly and were working really hard, the ride ops which some guy was complaining about in another theme park forum. I went back to that forum after visiting the park and made that guy look like a total idiot by pointing out how hard the ride ops work in such brutal heat while dealing with guests... while he complains about it. I would never have worked as hard at that age as these young people were, and I respect them greatly for doing it all so that we can have FUN!
Some interesting thoughts:
- The 3-point challenge actually seemed fairly popular, I heard several young guys planning to go back there later/right now
- Corkscrew was super fun, I loved knowing I was riding a historic coaster but even beyond that, it's a great, smooth ride compared to Wild Waves' Wild Thing- the closest we have to a Corkscrew clone
- I only saw Garfield one time, but it was one of my favorite parts of the trip. Before I got a picture with him he was trying to get this little toddler to come say hi, it was super cute. The next day I went back and he wasn't there at the scheduled time
- SpinCycle was sort of disappointing, I think it would be a lot better with inward-facing seats and also if it was slightly smaller? I think it has too much mass to move forcefully like a smaller model (KMG Freak Out, or even the smaller SBF Visa "Midi" dance party)
- The food was meh, but not horribly priced... I wish most parks would realize they could make everyone happier by offering some higher-quality foods to sell to adults.
- Aftershock was amazing, but it was down for 1 whole day of the 3. Some kind of ghost in the machine or sensor problems it seemed like, as the ride kept cycling but would stop on the first tower at the end
- Tremors was really rough around the first crazy undulating helix, RMC is needed on that section badly. I also don't appreciate the ratchet lap bars, I stapled myself once (pushed the bar down too far) and it was the most painful ride I have ever been on. Nothing was fun about that, and I didn't ride it again (it was the 3rd day)
- Timber Terror is my favorite roller coaster hands down- though I haven't been on many. The back seat, and especially the back-left, was so fun I rode it multiple times in a row when the lines were short. I had fun screaming my lungs out down the first drop and over the airtime hills, and I was always laughing when we got to the brake run. I like myself more when I ride roller coasters
- I think I could have gone a 4th day, but the crowds would have started to get to me and my friends only really wanted to be there 2 days max
Disclaimer: if you are a theme park "veteran" or "regular", your mileage may vary. I never go to theme parks, so this is the opinion of someone completely unjaded and innocent of how things might be at other parks. I have heard Silverwood is smaller and more intimate than mainstream/corporate parks, but it really uses the fact to its advantage. There isn't miles of walking between areas, for example. I think any veteran should be able to appreciate this place just like I did, because while small it's a great little park
I honestly thought about moving to CDA when I got back to Seattle, but then realized I wouldn't constantly be on vacation at Silverwood so it wouldn't be all fun all the time. It was sad leaving and getting back here for Friday pre-season football traffic; I had to drop off my friends downtown and then try to make it back out alive.
So, I have had rooms booked at the same hotel for Scarywood on Oct 22, so if anyone plans on being there, I might see you at the park! I can't wait to see it halloween style