Today I went to a picnic at Dorney Park for my Aunt's company. I shouldn't complain about things I didn't have to really pay for but I'm an enthusiast. I thought today was going to get my day with Voodoo. Driving into the park I could see a crew at the coaster. That elusive ride I thought I finally had my payday with. I already did Wicked Twister and the altered V2 at Six Flags Marine World but this was the original US issued Impulse coaster, first known as Superman: Ultimate Escape and then as Steel Venom. Last year on Geauga Lake's Opening Day I saw the ride still assembled dressed in its blue and red colors but without the towers then.
My family came with my other aunt and uncle that came to America for the first time from Poland so besides this intention to get Voodoo I wanted to show them the unique things that made Dorney well Dorney. After first getting our wristbands at the picnic grove I showed them Zephyr, the park train that got Dorney through the Depression. The train doesn't squeak along its realigned track by Voodoo. We saw the Voodoo crew wave at us. I was impressed. I always like how it rides along the creek that runs through Dorney.
Next up we went to Thunderhawk. I was impressed that my aunt and uncle came along to ride. As I knew, they explained there are not really any coasters in Poland, they're in Germany, so this would be an extreme experience. My aunt loved it. There was that typical wooden coaster shaking from side to side feeling. Thunderhawk was fun with its figure 8 pattern. The trims at the final hills just rob the train too soon. There should just be more brakes leading to the final brake run, the trim where it is should be gone. Is that just the regular maintenance wood for Thunderhawk behind the work fence by the Road Rally car track?
After eating lunch at the nearby picnic grove we went to Steel Force. On the way there I saw Voodoo testing. Finally I got to see the holding brake work in person. The crew wouldn't let people on.
I thought maybe the park was operating rides at a later time like Six Flags. I still held hope. Laser was even still closed after I read a while ago it was being worked on.
Steel Force was first closed when I approached it. That was funny considering the luck I was l already having and the terrible 2007 I had with the coaster. The op at the gate was Polish so my aunt and uncle were talking to her. A few minutes later the ride reopened. It delivered an awesome ride. My aunt loved it. She's a lot different than my mother and my other aunt who are fearful of the big forceful coasters. I would have a later early evening marathon on Steel Force later on. I reconciled with Steel Force. Now I realize how pronounced the airtime is. There is a clear presence and very good balance of positive and negative gs throughout the ride. The train has cool air on the first drop and a neat train thud when it reaches the 3rd hill that wraps down into that cool helix. Steel Force gets more respect from me in 2008.
With Laser and Voodoo down, Steel Force and Thunderhawk became my preferred duo of the day - That's right! They beat out Hydra and Talon. It's a sin that with the "new" attraction down, the classic coaster that's up for sale couldn't be open as consolation. I always and will continue to value my Laser cycles. Did Dorney not want to spend the money on the electricity today to run Voodoo? Was park attendance that bad today on the ride side?
Are Hydra and Talon suffering from having sand in the supports, sending the vibrations more apparently onto the track and throughout the ride? I repeatedly mocked and put Hydra in the doghouse over the years. I thought it still would have been a blessing for Astroworld if it was still around. The ride was still rattling in the valleys today. Entering the 2nd half of the cobra roll was really bad with a ratcheting feeling I felt on Zoomerang a couple days ago. I rode Hydra 3 times at least. I discovered from a friend that rear row has a pop of air on the first drop. The best ride was in the front where I felt the rattles the least. It was a bad sign that the ride was already rattling the first turn after the jo jo roll going into the lift. My train was stopped on the lift 2 different times today! Was there a prelift brake/sensor problem, an undone seatbelt, an onride camera they found? I'm not sure. I'm really glad Geauga didn't have this coaster. Things were already bad enough for them.
I rode Wild Mouse today for the first time in 5 years! The line was only in the station. Did the Dark Knight steal all its thunder? LOL. I appreciate the Dark Knight more now because a regular mouse looks bland and I thought the extreme forces in the turns were not enjoyable.
Talon delivered that rattled ride in every row behind the first. It's less apparent in the first row. It's the second year in a row I noticed that. I'm starting to believe it's now over rated. I guarantee after today I get a smoother ride now on any Batman the Ride along with the intensity. Now I'm starting to question why it went so high in the coaster draft.
The Hangtime is playing the same ride program as most of the other big US parks. That's disappointing. I mentioned before I liked this one because I always see cute girls come off the ride. There was hardly any people riding each cycle. We struggled to get a full first row. Quite disappointed.
Later in the day after I did my Steel Force marathon I went on Revolution and Dominator - Shooting Up. Revolution stopped a minute into the cycle. There was no way that was the cycle. It didn't even go beyond 60 degrees I thought. We got a whole new cycle added. I love the airtime on that flat when it reaches the full swing.
Our group met back up at 7pm. I finished the day with a front row ride with my brother on Talon. That was great for my relationship with my brother that we had the day in the park. I was really excited that my relatives from Poland got their first real coaster credits. My usually coaster fearful mother mentioned she got on Woodstock Express. I'm impressed with that. I have reconciled and strengthened my admiration for Steel Force. Its repainting is not finished but I noticed more progress. It is now forgiven for a spotty operating 2007 season. The park is not forgiven for poor operations today. I did not enjoy not being able to ride Voodoo or the awesome Laser. I heard Voodoo was running last weekend. I knew about the early month troubles it had. I think I overall enjoyed going to the park more 5 years ago than these 2 consecutive years. Now I have to go back an evening to get Voodoo. I probably would not do a whole day there again this season. Most likely I'll return after going to a Lehigh Valley Ironpigs game. They're the Phillies new Triple A affiliate in the area.
Voodoo was PooPoo today. I will get my revenge on you Voodoo!!! No merchandise dollars (Voodoo shirt) spent here Cedar Fair.
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