Favorite rides
Lightning Racer: This was our first experience with a dueling coaster, and we both loved it! We rode “Thunder” and “Lightning” in the dark and then both during the day. Each coaster was fun in and of itself, but watching for and racing the other train added to the enjoyment.
Storm Chaser: We’ve both been on Hypersonic XLC at King’s Dominion, and we were looking forward to riding this launch coaster with the added bonus of the inversions. It did not disappoint. We rode three times…the first time in the front row in the evening. We went first thing the next morning and rode twice in 15-20 minutes (of course not waiting for front row).
Least favorite ride
Wildcat: My husband described this wooden coaster as “evil.” It was probably the second-worst coaster we’ve been on our life (after “Psyclone”? at Magic Mountain). It was very rough…much rougher than the much older “Comet” in the park.
Favorite shows
The Great Candy Caper: From what we were able to determine, this is a new show in the “Aquatheater.” A sign outside the theater said the dolphins that used to perform here were relocated after Hurricane Katrina destroyed their home on the gulf. Anyway, this show is a slapstick comedy featuring sea lions and divers. The sea lions plus one guy are the “good detectives,” while the divers portray the “bad mobsters.” Be warned, though, the first few rows are in danger of a good splashing.
Trash Time: The Beat Bros.: This was a “Stomp”-style show in the Music Box Theater. A group of “plumbers” used a variety of objects such as garbage cans, pipes, lunchboxes, etc. to make percussion-style music. As a couple of Gen-Xers, we enjoyed the homage to the Mario Brothers at the end of the show.
Least favorite show:
The Milkmen: The singing was fine for a theme park show…we just couldn’t figure out if it was supposed to be a comedy, a public service announcement or blatant product advertising.
General observations
Positives: The preview program was nice. We arrived at the park at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday night, purchased tickets for Thursday and enjoyed the park for the rest of the evening. I would say the nicest part of the program was that we didn’t have to pay for the parking again the next day.
My husband is a chocoholic, and he quite enjoyed the aroma of cocoa and sugar from the factory. Of course, he had to sample several products throughout the day, and he said the item that came closest to that smell was the “Death by Chocolate” fudge.
Negative: The performers in the outdoor shows had to compete with the music being piped over the speakers. They need to find some way to cut the speakers while the shows are in progress. It was very difficult to listen to “Karl Hausman - The Piano Man” with Carrie Underwood singing “Jesus Take the Wheel’ as backup.
Other rides
Comet, Wave Swinger, Dry Gulch Railroad, Reese’s Xtreme Cup Challenge, Skyview, Coal Cracker, Flying Falcon, Great Bear, Twin Turnpike, Canyon River Rapids, Frontier Flyers, Sidewinder, Tidal Force, Trailblazer, Western Chute Out and Roller Soaker
Other shows
Karl Hausman - The Piano Man, Great Country, In Your Own Backyard and The Soda Pops
Closed attractions during our visit: The Kissing Tower and SOOPERDOOPERLOOPER
