Maxie hits SCBB, SFDK & CGA - PTR's Posted!

[Maxamillious]

March 15 – 22 I’ll be in California for an Internship with NVIDIA and visiting some family. There is a possibility that I’ll be hitting up California’s Great America, Santa Cruz Boardwalk and/or Six Flags Discovery Kingdom while I’m there, however I’m not absolutely certain. It’s kinda’ a play it by ear scenario but I’ll keep you guys posted and, at the very least, post up some pictures of my travels. :)

[Michael]

Internship with NVIDIA... I think I just punched in the monitor with envy :stick_tongue:

Hope you have fun! :)

[Sam]

If it comes down to the choice between Great America or Discovery Kingdom, definitely go to SFDK.

[apsterling]

Yes, definitely SFDK. Much better park, though I thoroughly enjoyed both.

[R.C.]

I agree, SFDK is the better park, especially because of the theming and all of the shade.
The best thing at CGA is Flight Deck, which is awesome, but this year at least, SFDK has the better woody.

This would actually be a hard choice for me, because SFDK and CGA have such different coaster collections. I think that you'll have fun at either park. If you go to SFDK I might be able to meet up with you...

Edit: I'm going on the 15th (This Saturday) so if you are going to be at SFDK, let me know if you want to meet up or something.

[Maxamillious]

I'm actually traveling tomorrow. Landing in California around 5:00PM... the same time I'm departing from DC. ;)

Thanks for the recommendations everyone. I'm finishing up packing and leaving tomorrow afternoon. I'll be sure to keep you all posted and which parks I'm able to visit. :)

[R.C.]

^Sweet, that's the cool thing about flying out to the West coast. I hope you have a safe flight!

[Maxamillious]

This is Maxie here, posting at you here from San Jose, California. Today I headed down to the Santa Cruz Board Walk and took a spin on the Giant Dipper which was suprisingly smooth given it's age. I'm uploading my photos from today as I'm typing this, however, because the computer that I have access to is not powerful enough to resize all my photos, I'll have to post my PTR's next week, when I get back to VA. That is, unless Jake want's to be a sweet heart and resize and post a few of my photo's for me (they're on the server in my folder). ;)

Thursday I'll be at SFDK. Wooo! :)

[Jake]

Ah, San Jose.. I used to live there, haha.

I'll get to work resizing those photos, Max and I'll put them in a separate folder.

I'm very jealous that you get to go to Discovery Kingdom, it's been far too long.

[Zonga]

Very cool Max. Be sure to try out the Guitar Hero contest, sign ups start at 3:30 PM. (I worked on getting it all set up, so you better have fun!!) lol

[Maxamillious]

Alright, I'll be sure to try and do that. =)

I'll just wondering also, what can I expect from CGA? I passed the park yesterday on the way home and my uncle said we'd be hitting it up on Friday for a few hours. Its built in the middle business park and didn't look too thrilling from the neighboring roadway... should I really be looking forward to my visit?

[Jake]

Lets just say that after all of the other Nor Cal parks you've been hitting, it'll probably be a disappointment. It's still a fun park, that has a few good coasters (Flight Deck, Invertigo, Vortex). It's definitely worth the visit if you can squeeze it in :).

[JD71]

Even if you dislike for any reason, there's still credits. ;)

[RollermanDan]

What's funny is I just got home from Nor Cal. Went to SFDK on Sunday. Hope your trip is going well.

[Maxamillious]

Thanks, Dan. I think had I come a week earlyer I could have hit up Solace, WCB and had a good few meetups. Just goes to show my good planning, eh. ;)

Thanks, Jake and JD.

[Zonga]

Max, you sound awfully lonely. :cool1:

Perhaps I should go up to DK tomorrow. Care to meet up? 4:30ish?

[Maxamillious]

That sounds awesome and usually I'd say yes but because I'd be there with family I haven't seen in a while and I don't know if it would work for me to be able to meet up. You can hit up the park and I'll PM you my cell phone number and we can play it by ear, but I'm pretty doubtful that we'll be able to meet up, sadly. :(

Its your call but I wouldn't go just to meetup because I don't want to leave you hanging...

[Zonga]

No problem bro, I'm not sure if I'm even going yet. Perhaps if you want to hit me up with a PM just in case.

But at the very least Max, I'd love to hear how your day goes. The park has really been making some strides recently and hearing feedback is always great.

[Maxamillious]

Sure thing.

Yeah, I'll be bringing my camera and I'll be writing a trip report when I head back to VA on Saturday. I should have them both posted by Monday. I've heard and seen many improvements from the park recently and I'm really excited to be able to experience them first hand. I'm sure that I'll have plenty of postive commentary about the park come PTR time. :smile:

[Maxamillious]

Just arrived home from Discovery Kingdom. Had an absolutly fantastic time! Scored two rides on both Medusa and V2 then took a spin on Roar, Kong and Cobra (kiddie rides are for the truely hardcore, lol) there after, as well as a few flats. I also have an exclusive Thomas Town Maxie-commentary and video fottage of the ride, which I'll upload to YouTube a little later. ;)

Over all, I really had a fantastic time. My only complaint is that I collect coaster mugs and shot glasses and SFDK didn't have any specific to their bigger attractions. But other then that SFDK top's my list of Six Flags parks that I've been to. :)

PTR's on Monday.

[Zonga]

SCORE! lol Glad you had a great time at the park without me. :001_cool: It's cool to hear that so many people are having good visits thus far this year.

I'm really looking forward to the PTRs!

[Maxamillious]

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk PTR
March 16, 2008

http://www.amusementcast.com/gallery/scbb/000001.jpg
Welcome to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. :)

http://www.amusementcast.com/gallery/scbb/000002.jpg
First stop on the boardwalk was Giant Dipper.

http://www.amusementcast.com/gallery/scbb/000003.jpg
Inside the station waiting in line, it's evident how technology has evolved in the past eighty-four years since the Giant Dipper opened back in 1924.

http://www.amusementcast.com/gallery/scbb/000004.jpg
A little farther down the boardwalk the Giant Dipper descends down its sixty-five foot first drop.

http://www.amusementcast.com/gallery/scbb/000005.jpg
The first element, a helix behind Loggers Revenge.

http://www.amusementcast.com/gallery/scbb/000006.jpg
To each enthusiast his or her own, but the boardwalk is really quite classy. :)

http://www.amusementcast.com/gallery/scbb/000007.jpg
From outside the boardwalk you can catch a glimpse at riders speeding down the helix.

http://www.amusementcast.com/gallery/scbb/000008.jpg
One last look from across the boardwalk.

http://www.amusementcast.com/gallery/scbb/000009.jpg
Next up we stopped to let the little-in's sample a few flat's.

http://www.amusementcast.com/gallery/scbb/000010.jpg
The collection is actually quite impressive.

http://www.amusementcast.com/gallery/scbb/000011.jpg


http://www.amusementcast.com/gallery/scbb/000012.jpg


http://www.amusementcast.com/gallery/scbb/000013.jpg
After several flat rides the little-in's were exhausted, so we took one last stroll down the boardwalk and headed home.




Thanks for reading!

[Jake]

Great trip report Max. On your next ones I would like to hear a little more about your day though :).

By the way, that's one sexy logo in the corner ;).

[R.C.]

Very nice PTR, Max! I've never been to SCBB, your PTR makes me want to go. I didn't realize they had so many rides. I'm looking forward to hearing about the rest of your trip!

[Jake]

The best time to go to the boardwalk is monday and tuesday nights after 5pm. All the rides only require one ticket, even the Giant Dipper! That's what my family usually does when we go.

[Zonga]

This really makes me want to go to the Boardwalk. I feel so guilty that I've never been there before.

Can't wait for the DK & CGA PTRs!