JD's '08 Vegas Thread

[JD71]

February 16th, 17th, and 18th I was in Las Vegas. My parents went for a wedding, I came along for credits.


Parks hit in order
Saturday the 16th: Buffalo Bill's, Nascar Cafe, NYNY -PTR (http://www.rollercoasterpro.com/community/showpost.php?p=11487&postcount=3)
Sunday the 17th: Adventuredome -PTR (http://www.rollercoasterpro.com/community/showpost.php?p=11488&postcount=4)
Monday the 18: Buffalo Bill's, Victorville Scandia -PTR (http://www.rollercoasterpro.com/community/showpost.php?p=11518&postcount=9)

I tried for the stratosphere on monday, but the security line was long as hell. Since there weren't any credits it wasn't the highest on my priorities.

[Dan]

Aw, that's unfortunate. Stratosphere was my favorite thing in the city.

Can't wait for the PTRs!

[JD71]

So this past weekend my parents and I went to Las Vegas. My dad’s old college roommate was getting married, and I came along for precious credits.


On the way to, we stopped by Buffalo Bill’s.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010001.jpg
LIES!!!

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010003.jpg
Two things about the sign: 1) No loose articles/on-ride media. 2) Report all injuries? Great…

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010002.jpg
Oh, and Turbo Drop was closed this visit..

Desperado… Incredibly painful, incredibly fun. :tongue:

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010005.jpg
I must admit, the trains look awesome.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010006.jpg
ZOMG PRE-DROP MADNESS!

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010008.jpg
From outside, which explains the sunlight.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010009.jpg
Yes the ride is rough, but that’s what makes it awesome.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010010.jpg
A big cheer for Ron Toomer!

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010013.jpg
A train full of happy riders on the beginning of a fun journey through the land of PAIN.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010014.jpg
It was hard to walk after the ride because of the immense ejector air on the hills. :love:

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010015.jpg
And one more pic.

Got to Vegas, checked into our room (stayed at a timeshare, because I know at least one person is just dying to know where I lodged), then went out to the strip for some yummy credits.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010017.jpg
Next, I did Speed …the ride.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010018.jpg
Station shot.

Got front row, the ride was good. The vertical spike was pretty sweet. :p

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010021.jpg
Curvy

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010022.jpg
Secluded...

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010023.jpg
...or out in the open?

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010026.jpg
A train going through the second launch/MCBR.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010028.jpg
More curvyness

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010029.jpg
Fun ride.

The next ride seemed more like rape than a coaster.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010031.jpg
When I was younger I started through this ride’s switchbacks then chickened out (pre-enthusiast days) and played games in the arcade while my sister rode it. I must have been a smart kid.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010032.jpg
Stupid support, you’re ruining the shot!

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010034.jpg
It looks so innocent…

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010035.jpg
The Roller Coaster, Manhattan Express, whatever you want to call it its still a horrible ride.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010037.jpg
Worst use of $14.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010038.jpg
No onride media here too.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010039.jpg
All those OTSRs do is give your neck something to bang against..

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010041.jpg
And one last shot from the worst coaster of the trip.

Well that concludes day one, stay tuned for day two shortly!


Thank you for reading.

[JD71]

Let’s continue on with the story. In the last installment I had just been raped by a Togo, and after a night of rest a new day came forth and I spent it at Circus Circus’s Adventuredome while my parents went to the wedding.

Also, discussed in previous Vegas PTRs, the park has pink air, though your eyes just get used to it after 10 or so minutes in it.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010043.jpg
I didn’t take a pic of the park entrance, so here’s a well timed shot of Canyon Blaster!

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010045.jpg
Surprisingly, it was a great Arrow!

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010046.jpg
Its actually kinda smooth.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010051.jpg
Bonus points for having a Chaos, gotta love the things.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010053.jpg
Loop

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010055.jpg
A train disembarking onto the course.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010066.jpg
Thank god for Arrow.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010067.jpg
I had gotten so used to Viper’s slow corks that I was surprised by CB’s quick, yet enjoyable ones.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010070.jpg
Once again, Chaos are awesome rides.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010074.jpg
Heres the part where I’m going to leave some of the pics captionless. Just sit back and enjoy the photography.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010075.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010076.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010087.jpg
One of my fav shots from the entire trip.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010089.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010090.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010096.jpg
Didn’t ride Rim Runner.

Took a spin on the Inverter, then I finally rode Disk-o.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010113.jpg
The ride may look insane, but its just meh.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010110.jpg
Just a head up for any guys wanting to ride it. The restraints aren’t that comfortable in the manly area.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010115.jpg
Well at least I can say I’ve ridden it.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010106.jpg
The Disk-o was ok, I didn’t exactly know what to expect. It was fun, but not ZOMG AMAZING BEST RIDE EVAR.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010116.jpg
Gotta love people’s expressions when on rides.

And back to Canyon Blaster.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010122.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010129.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010135.jpg
Yeah, I am an arrow fanboy…

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010144.jpg
Track close up! Oooo, a weld!

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010149.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010152.jpg
One more Canyon Blaster shot.

And now some random stuff.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010145.jpg
I was too tall for the Miner-Mike. :’(

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010125.jpg
I bet there’s a funny story behind that.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010132.jpg
I wonder if Billy has anything to do with this…

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010132c.jpg
:D

Stay tuned for part 3.

Thank you for reading.

[R.C.]

You have some very nice pictures so far! A lot of the Canyon Blaster pictures look really awesome. I didn't know how themed Canyon Blaster is.

When I was in Vegas, that was the only coaster I got to ride, but I really liked it. I agree with you, the vertical spike is pretty awesome!

[rollercoasterfreak91]

Nice! I've gotta get out to Vegas sometime...maybe in college...

[Dan]

Great trip report! I loved the sheer amount of photos, it really made for a good morning read :smile:

I'm surprised you dislike Manhattan Express so much, I actually thought the second half was pretty enjoyable.

[ArrowOwnzU]

I love the ejector airtime that is to be had on Desperado and Canyon Blaster. So rad. Also, Desperado is my favorite hyper ever. If you lean forward through most the ride and sit in the last car row 2 its AMAZING.

[JD71]

And now, the 3rd part.

Woke up, got ready, packed up, checked out, went over to the stratosphere. When we got to the tower entrance we noticed an extremely long security line, as well as rip off prices. We decided to keep it for the next trip. No pics from the strat, sorry.

So we started home, but first we stopped by Buffalo Bill’s again.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010157.jpg
Trains still lookin good.

Also, this time Turbo Drop was indeed open, and I was the only one on the tower. Fun ride.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010158.jpg
Left the casino and drove around the entire course for shots, unlike the previous time where I just stopped at one spot for pics.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010160.jpg
Airtime!!

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010161.jpg
The highest point of the ride. You get great views of empty desert from above.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010165.jpg
And I thought it was going to be a bad ride.:p

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010166.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010167.jpg
Missed the timing..

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010168.jpg
TUNNEL OF DEWM.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010169.jpg
Doesn’t that look like the smoothest ride you’ve ever seen?

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010171.jpg
Air… so much.. air…

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010172.jpg
If you ever go through Primm, stop by Buffalo Bills.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010173.jpg
Oh yeah, heres Turbo Drop.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010174.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010175.jpg
And my last shot from Nevada.

So we were on the road again, then I noticed that we were going to go through Brandon’s favourite place on earth, Victorville! So I said “I don’t know if its open, I don’t even know exactly where it is, but if we can, I’d like to stop by Scandia in Victorville. They don’t have any coasters but if we can stop by there’s a ride I’d like to hit.”

So while on the freeway we see this tall red spike on the side of the freeway, then we noticed a windmill under it, then a sign saying Scandia, we found it! We got off the freeway and sure enough, they were indeed open.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010177.jpg
This seems so familiar…

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010178.jpg
Ow, my wallet!

So the ticket booth was empty, after a bit someone came. Then I went off to the Sky Screamer.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010179.jpg
Just like the other Scandia I went to. They say a ride is open, but they’re understaffed and wait till someone gets in line till they send ops over…

Sky Screamer was actually really fun. If it was cheaper and the atmosphere was nicer I would’ve gone for a second ride.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/jdsmartdude911/Vegas%2008/P1010180.jpg
So I conclude this PTR with one final shot, Sky Screamer from below.


Thank you for reading.

[thatdancingbear]

Sounds like you had fun, and its great to know you liked Desperado!
I also liked how you split the TR's into 3 days, easier to read than all of them combined.

Overall, Great PTR! Thanks for Posting JD!