I have narrowed down the list of themeparks my partner and I want to go to and am in the process of planning the traveling around the parks and their locations, however I am still waiting for opening hours in 2010 for a few places - especially those parks in the northern part of the US. Therefore we are anticipating traveling for 4 - 5 weeks in May to June.The current themeparks on my 'dream' rollercoaster tour are:
Cedar Point, Ohio
Kings Island, Ohio
Six Flags Magic Mountain, California
Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey
Six Flags Over Georgia
Hersheypark, Pennsylvania
Dollywood, Tennessee
Busch Gardens, Virgina
Circus Circus, Las VegasI am also starting my rollercoaster tour on the Gold Coast in Queensland Australia to ride the Tower of Terror at Dreamworld (and add some local flavour!
I'm going to lean on you folks, Theme Park Insider's readers, for this one, especially tips on hotels, side trips and money saving tips around the parks. Here are the coasters I would pick for this trip, in the order in which I would drive to the parks. Note that I'm dropping Six Flags Over Georgia from the list, since its coasters are pretty much redundant to what you'll have found elsewhere on the trip. But I am adding three Orlando parks, thanks to some top-quality original coasters at Universal Orlando. (See update below.) I've also skipped Adventuredome at Circus Circus in Las Vegas because it really only has the one coaster, Canyon Blaster, and I'd try to avoid any park where I could bag only one top coaster.
Also, rather than simply flying to LA and renting a car (which might be difficult, if not impossible, given the number of states and distance covered during this trip), I'm suggesting flying to three U.S. cities, then hitting parks in those regions of the country. This would be a three-stop "open jaw" itinerary, so check with a travel agent in Australia for help in booking the best airline deal.
The other option might be simply to buy an inexpensive used car in L.A. and use it to drive across the country and back, then selling it back to a dealer at the end of the trip. You'd need to do some research on reliability of various used U.S. car models first, though, as you wouldn't want to be caught paying for expensive repairs during your trip. (Or, finally, you could simply agree to take along a Theme Park Insider reader who'd be willing to drive you across in the country in exchange for being invited on this trip!)
1. Fly to LA
2. Fly to Washington, D.C. (You could try Baltimore of Philadelphia, as well, to find the best deal from LA)
3. Fly to Orlando
As for park tickets, buy a Play Pass for $54.99 online for Six Flags Magic Mountain. That will also get you in to Great Adventure in New Jersey, for no additional fee.
Consider buying a Platinum Pass to Knott's Berry Farm online for $160. This will get you into Knott's, Cedar Point and Kings Island, with free parking at each. That works out to about $53 per park. With the parking fee, if you can find one-day ticket deals online under $40 for each park, you might go with those instead of the Platinum Pass.
I wouldn't bother with the Platinum pass for the Busch and SeaWorld parks. At nearly $300 for the two-year pass, it's cheaper to buy one-day tickets for the two parks on this itinerary.
Get the online $99 7-day/2-park ticket for Universal Orlando, though.
Okay, it's your turn: Additions, suggestions and thoughts in the comments, please.
Update: Much better suggestions in the comments. In fact, I'm now suggested dumping the Orlando leg in favor of adding Holiday World and Kings Dominion to the midwest/mid-Atlantic leg of the trip. Read the comments for more.
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Who wouldn't want to throw an extra park in for free?
Also, if you are already going to Hersey park, Knoebel's Amusement park (the best family owned amusement park in the country) is just an hour or so away.
JOhn Bosler
Since I would have done Terminator: Salvation at SFMM and Vortex at KI, I'd skip Dollywood in favor of Holiday World, to keep the coaster count the same. Or... you could drop the Orlando leg, keep Dollywood and add Holiday World, then pick up three extra coasters at parks currently on the itinerary to make up the difference, or do as suggested and stop by Kings Dominion using the Knott's Platinum Pass and ride the new Intimidator 305, as well as Volcano and Dominator.
It all depends on where it will be the cheapest to fly from LA or Vegas. An idea is to fly into Indianapolis or Louisville and rent a car, making all the stops as you drive east and then a shade south. From either airport your route would go something like this.
1.Holiday World- Santa Claus, Indiana
2.Kings Island- Cincinatti, Ohio
(optional stop) Columbus Zoo in Columbus Ohio on your way to the third park. It's one of the better zoos in the country, also has a waterpark.
3.Cedar Point- Sandusky Ohio. Recommended hotel is the Breakers Express. It's inexpensive, yet nice, and you will get early entry into Cedar Point...which is a very good thing to have.
(optional stops on the way to the next park) Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
4.(added stop) Kennywood-Pittsburgh, PA. Highly underrated park. Good value, some of the oldest and most well kept wooden coasters in the country, and they are getting a new steel coaster next year.
5 Six Flags Great Adventure. Jersey Shore is nice in many spots. Atlantic City and Wildwood aren't too far away either.
6. Hersheypark-Hershey PA. Another coaster park relatively close to Hershey is Dorney Park in Allentown, PA. Not a bad stop to make if you have the time.
7. Busch Gardens- Williamsburg, Va. A handful of other things to do in that town, as well as a proximity to D.C.
8 (added stop) Kings Dominion- Richmond, Va. Another Cedar Fair park full of coasters to ride, including a new 300 footer for 2010.
9. Dollywood- Pigeon Forge TN. There are lots of other attractions in the area. Gatlinburg is just down the road, which has some things to do as well.
From Dollywood I would do one of two things if you wish to continue riding. The first option, head west to Nashville and catch a plane to Orlando, where you have Universal and Sea World, as well as Busch Gardens in Tampa. Another option is to drive towards Charlotte, where Carowinds and their new coaster resides. From there you can either fly to Orlando or drive, which is all interstate, and eventually runs close to the Atlantic Coast. Six Flags over Georgia isn't a bad park, but I wouldn't call it a must stop by any means. Traveling to the above parks in that sequence will prevent backtracking and keep the drive time between destinations to a minimum, reducing your time on the road. Most of this route is by car, but most parks are only a few hours apart, with plenty of other things to do around them and/or on the way.
If you do visit all the parks on the list, purchasing a Cedar Fair Platinum pass is highly recommended. There are 5 Cedar Fair parks on my list, and the pass will get you into all of them with free parking. They are about $150 a piece. If you go to Orlando, you can get a break with the Universal/SeaWorld/Busch Gardens combo pass that is available.
Good luck and have fun!
In that case, you'd need to add Holiday World and Kings Dominion to replace the Orlando coasters, and you'd need to pick up nine coasters to replace those from Southern California.
If money becomes a big factor I would suggest a major trim to your trip... make it a two week vacation and try hitting only our top three (IMO) regions...
1. LA
SFMM, KBF, Disneyland Resort, SeaWorld CA, and Legoland
2. Fly to Orlando
USF, SeaWorld/ Aquatica. Disney (other than Magic Kingdom since you did that in LA) and BGT.
3. Fly to Indianapolis or Cincinnati
Kings Island, Cedar Point, and Holiday World
The only 'great' park that I think you would be missing then would be Busch Gardens Williamsburg, so if you want to add a fourth then I would suggest...
4. Fly to Philadelphia
SF Great Adventure, BGW, Kings Dominion, Hersey Park, Dorney then fly home from Philly
Just my two cents-- I hope your trip works out what ever you choose!
As to Busch Gardens, it is 3 hours from DC. I would go there first then north to Hersey and Six Flags Jersey. Then go to Kennywood. Its a great small park that has tons of classic rides and some great coasters. Its in Pittsburgh. After that head west to Cedar Point and Kings Island. Then fly to Los Angeles for Magic Mountain, Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm. I included Disneyland because you are really missing out if you don't go there or to the WDW in Florida. After doing LA fly to Florida. WDW, Universal Studios Florida and Busch Gardens Tampa are all great parks. There is no easy way to get to Dollywood. You could either drive from Florida or fly.
BTW, if you are going to both SF Great Adventure (the jersey park) and Magic Mountain buy Season passes to one of the parks it will save you a lot of money.
I hesitate to mention it 'cause it is almost a joke at this point, but IF Flying Turns is done that'd be a neat thing to catch also.
Knoebels won some more Golden Tickets for food and their carousel where you still grab the brass ring and they have the number one rated Dark Ride too. I know, not coasters but still good reasons to visit.
Here's why.
1. Five rides: Revenge of the Mummy, Manta, Kraken, Space mountain and Hollywood rip ride rockit.
The mummy is consistently on top lists and is a favorite of those who love great rides. Its unique and unexpected, and is my personal favorite- not to mention a major award winner as recently as last year!! Manta is by far the best flying coaster in existence. its almost a religious experience your first time. It should not be missed. Kraken has an edge over almost all other roller coasters for me- it still frightens me. The twists and turns are unexpected, it lends beautiful views and is incredibly smooth. Space mountain is a classic, and is fresh out of rehab!!! Lastly, the Rockit. For all its drama getting open, it really is a good ride and in a class all its own- there is truly nothing like it out there.
2. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter... Hello! Will be brand spankin new and the talk of all theme park junkies worldwide!!! How can you pass that up?
3. Disney world- in general. Any trip of roller coasters and theme parks is incomplete without the best of the best- the walk disney world complex. You'd be doing yourself an injustice to miss out. And your partner- if they've only visited cali and nevada, it would be the first time- how amazing!!!
And I would avoid Busch Gardens Tampa, certainly if you are visiting BG williamsburg. Sheikra has its doppelganger Griffon, and Montu is great, yes, but not enough to take a whole trip to BG. I won't even ride kumba these days- ouch!!!! Its rusty and rattley and needs major rehab.
Don't skip out on Orlando!!! We have some of the best!!!
Here's why.
1. Five rides: Revenge of the Mummy, Manta, Kraken, Space mountain and Hollywood rip ride rockit.
The mummy is consistently on top lists and is a favorite of those who love great rides. Its unique and unexpected, and is my personal favorite- not to mention a major award winner as recently as last year!! Manta is by far the best flying coaster in existence. its almost a religious experience your first time. It should not be missed. Kraken has an edge over almost all other roller coasters for me- it still frightens me. The twists and turns are unexpected, it lends beautiful views and is incredibly smooth. Space mountain is a classic, and is fresh out of rehab!!! Lastly, the Rockit. For all its drama getting open, it really is a good ride and in a class all its own- there is truly nothing like it out there.
2. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter... Hello! Will be brand spankin new and the talk of all theme park junkies worldwide!!! How can you pass that up?
3. Disney world- in general. Any trip of roller coasters and theme parks is incomplete without the best of the best- the walk disney world complex. You'd be doing yourself an injustice to miss out. And your partner- if they've only visited cali and nevada, it would be the first time- how amazing!!!
And I would avoid Busch Gardens Tampa, certainly if you are visiting BG williamsburg. Sheikra has its doppelganger Griffon, and Montu is great, yes, but not enough to take a whole trip to BG. I won't even ride kumba these days- ouch!!!! Its rusty and rattley and needs major rehab.
Don't skip out on Orlando!!! We have some of the best!!!
Here's why.
1. Five rides: Revenge of the Mummy, Manta, Kraken, Space mountain and Hollywood rip ride rockit.
The mummy is consistently on top lists and is a favorite of those who love great rides. Its unique and unexpected, and is my personal favorite- not to mention a major award winner as recently as last year!! Manta is by far the best flying coaster in existence. its almost a religious experience your first time. It should not be missed. Kraken has an edge over almost all other roller coasters for me- it still frightens me. The twists and turns are unexpected, it lends beautiful views and is incredibly smooth. Space mountain is a classic, and is fresh out of rehab!!! Lastly, the Rockit. For all its drama getting open, it really is a good ride and in a class all its own- there is truly nothing like it out there.
2. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter... Hello! Will be brand spankin new and the talk of all theme park junkies worldwide!!! How can you pass that up?
3. Disney world- in general. Any trip of roller coasters and theme parks is incomplete without the best of the best- the walk disney world complex. You'd be doing yourself an injustice to miss out. And your partner- if they've only visited cali and nevada, it would be the first time- how amazing!!!
And I would avoid Busch Gardens Tampa, certainly if you are visiting BG williamsburg. Sheikra has its doppelganger Griffon, and Montu is great, yes, but not enough to take a whole trip to BG. I won't even ride kumba these days- ouch!!!! Its rusty and rattley and needs major rehab.
Don't skip out on Orlando!!! We have some of the best!!!
Here's why.
1. Five rides: Revenge of the Mummy, Manta, Kraken, Space mountain and Hollywood rip ride rockit.
The mummy is consistently on top lists and is a favorite of those who love great rides. Its unique and unexpected, and is my personal favorite- not to mention a major award winner as recently as last year!! Manta is by far the best flying coaster in existence. its almost a religious experience your first time. It should not be missed. Kraken has an edge over almost all other roller coasters for me- it still frightens me. The twists and turns are unexpected, it lends beautiful views and is incredibly smooth. Space mountain is a classic, and is fresh out of rehab!!! Lastly, the Rockit. For all its drama getting open, it really is a good ride and in a class all its own- there is truly nothing like it out there.
2. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter... Hello! Will be brand spankin new and the talk of all theme park junkies worldwide!!! How can you pass that up?
3. Disney world- in general. Any trip of roller coasters and theme parks is incomplete without the best of the best- the walk disney world complex. You'd be doing yourself an injustice to miss out. And your partner- if they've only visited cali and nevada, it would be the first time- how amazing!!!
And I would avoid Busch Gardens Tampa, certainly if you are visiting BG williamsburg. Sheikra has its doppelganger Griffon, and Montu is great, yes, but not enough to take a whole trip to BG. I won't even ride kumba these days- ouch!!!! Its rusty and rattley and needs major rehab.
Don't skip out on Orlando!!! We have some of the best!!!
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And I know I am in the minority, but I really do not like the Mummy as a Roller Coaster. Dragon Challenge and the Hulk are great, but the Mummy would not be top of my list.
If she wants roller coasters, a trip to Cedar Point and Six Flags Great America are in order. They are not that far away from each other! Also, with Great Adventure, she gets the whole SF experience with arguably the best parks that the chain offers.