AUG 12-14 Trip Report

Very successful trip, even with the huge amount of rain. Here's some interesting things worth noting

Valravn is still just an excellent coaster. It is IMO still the best dive coaster created to date. The view, the drop, the airtime hill at the end, it's all great. It's also worth noting night rides are pretty fantastic and actually worth waiting till dark to get. Also, this year I've noticed a ton of little things. That's the important thing to take away. The park does a bunch of little things. They don't have to, but they do. The running lights on the lift hill for Valravn are just way too damn cool. I wish I could have went over to Battery Park to get a view of it headed up the hill with that. It has to look fantastic. Aside from ride ops being crazed seat Nazis, excellent crew and excellent ride.

The Beach. I can't say enough about this, I really can't. This is something I've been dying to see for years. The park's management is finally getting it right. That beach is what started it all, it's about time they incorporate it into the day. Breakers started with a nice bit of chairs/stuff out there. This however was so perfect. Little fire pits, music, food, games, etc. It was so awesome to just head out there away from the typical park crowd and enjoy something that honestly makes it feel more like a vacation. I'd honestly say I'd probably be there on the beach more than the park if I had my way this trip. Me and the girl probably stayed out there for a few good hours every day. Worth every bit. I hope this tradition continues or even becomes a typical summer thing. I loved this, and I really couldn't have been more happy with the park. Also DJ Hurrikane was out there. He was the DJ at Luminosity in 2014. His style is so perfect IMO. The DJ for Luminosity currently isn't as good. He's good, but I'm not into big house/acid house style music. Give me bangers/bassline house all day.

Luminosity. Wow, what a show this year. One word to define it now is "artsy." They brought more cirque level performances/props/etc. It's cool and draws your eyes a ton and gives it that "wow" factor. They still have the dance choreography, but the way it's integrated is pretty sweet. Say you've got dancers towards the middle of the stage & up front. Then you have like 4 or so people on those harnesses jumping & spinning in the air. It's just visually impressive. The music is my only gripe this year so far, and it's minimal. The first is the guitarist trying to be mini Van Halen. As a guitarist, I HATE people who showboat & try to just look cool playing. Just play the damn bit and stop looking like a tool lol. It was kinda funny because he was strumming away doing some crazy scale AND broke his high E string. Then the guy that played on the Les Paul played like three notes bent them, and sounded 10x better. Huge smug face from me ensued. Plus, kudos to the guy with the Les Paul playing an electric violin. That bit was the coolest instrumentation from the show. The two drummers are beasts this year too, but that Violin took the stage for me, way too cool. I will miss Ladysticks on that stage, but the two that they put on the Midway are pretty sweet still.

Also, drop the Ozzy Tracks. The guy singing the Ozzy songs just..his voice isn't meant for it. He has the boyband look and voice. It just doesn't work. Like Crazy train just sucked once it got into the vocals. Also, small nitpick, not sure if it's from him or the Choreographer, but teach this guy more moves. I feel like he seriously used the same move almost the whole show. Like..it's sad that I remember it from previous years, that's how much it stuck out: (at 1:40--that dance move)

Other than that, it's excellent. I still love the music set/vocal talent/drum talent of 2014 the most. That year was just PERFECT. I found nothing wrong with it then. This year, it's small, and very nitpicky, but after having a perfect show, you have to keep setting the bar higher. They did in some areas, but not all. I mean hell, in 2014, the woman doing Katy Perry-Roar and the guys doing Avicii-Wake Me Up were just incredible. I mean my skin even just got goosebumps thinking of the notes they hit. I'll be a bit disappointed to know next time I go to the point I won't be able to see the show, but it's a memory this summer worth keeping, and was just absolutely incredible to witness that performance.

Lusty Lil's is still awesome and worth watching every trip at least once. They did such a good job with it this year. I do miss a bit from the previous years like the Barbershop Quartet and the city deal, but you have to bring up new things to keep people like me coming back, I get that.

Mean Streak, can you say squeaky. Please get some graphite on that coaster. The whole second half is just nothing but just metal on metal noise lol

One last point. Obviously it rained this weekend, like, it rained alot. Like..alot. What you find to do on a rainy day is sometimes always the interesting bit. First, we were going to head to the arcade once we got out of Lusty Lil's, so we took the train back to the front. I **** you not, literally as it parked you could see the wall of rain coming in from the marina, and fast. I was drenched from the 15 or so feet between that platform to the restroom right next to the station. We ended up sheltering here for the larger part of the storm intensity. After that we ended up booking it all the way to the arcade, still getting more drenched. From there, obviously the arcade was hot and crowded. We were going to blow some money in here, but interestingly enough, all the ATMs are outside of the coliseum. I was so confused by this. I actually ended up taking the stairs up to the Ballroom to avoid the crowd and heat a packed arcade was giving off. Interestingly enough the Ballroom was open as well! What I'd do to see events happen up here at some point. It was so nice to see everything up here again, and just see such a cool open space. It also gave for a cool little moment with me and the girl. She's studying interior design/architecture, so she was fascinated with it from the start. Then after I explained that it was a dance hall we just stood around for a few minutes and slow danced while the torrential downpour kept going. Way awesome moment, one to keep for many years.

Also, with that storm, damn it was a big one. I'd bet tons of rides got struck. I know Raptor opened late, Maxiar was down, Giant Wheel was down, Millennium was down, it was just a giant cluster. Lots of bright flashes and very loud booms. One seemed maybe 50 or so feet away while we were there waiting. It even got a good scream from the Arcade below, and knocked out the power for a brief second too. What a crazy strong storm, but incredible to witness. It still makes me want to find a way to harness lightning though. That much at one time..man that's a ton of energy.

The last point to bring up was Breakers. Due to a misbooking by a roomate we didn't get to stay in Breakers this time unfortunately. We ended up staying in good ole' Motel 6 on Rye Beach, which was good per usual. However after a walkthrough of the Hotel to stay out of the rain & grab a quick coffee, it reaffirms my belief that future visits will be on Point from now on. The proximity and the overall feel of that hotel, it's perfect. Standing in that rotunda makes me just smile. Looking up at the lights and the nice soft white railing and soft cream walls is just so warm, inviting, and pleasant. What I would have given to be able to crash here during the rain and relax. The wallets going to hurt and not be as economy driven as it used to be with a 90 dollar a night or so room, but the overall mood of the stay I'd bet will be 10x better. What they did with that property is nothing short of perfect. Every bit of that hotel is perfect, every little bit. They knocked it out of the park on every level here. I hope it stays this way, it needs to. After seeing Breakers before this renovation, I'd be terribly disappointed if it ever gets to that again.

Overall, fantastic visit. Lots of good food in the park and at TGI Fridays, great rides, fun memories, and a truly enjoyable weekend given the lackluster weather. One of the best weekends I've had in forever and such a good vacation.

WHERES THE NEGATIVITY?!? Way too much positive in this post. Must not be a TRUE enthusi-ASS.

Nah I just go to a park and enjoy my day as much as I can. The park gives me airtime, fat foods, and an atmosphere away from looking at Profit & Loss reports all day. Why would I be upset? :P

I am actually going to miss the sound Mean Streak makes when it's gone. The beach has really gotten to be a thing. We spent some time there Thursday to cool off because the heat was so horrible.

If Mean Streak RMC has either steel wheels or topper track, you won't miss the sound because it will be there, always.

Awesome report, but I don't agree with Val's lighting package. IMO, it doesn't fit, again IMO only. My family has done the same in regards to finding new or things off beaten paths, to do, and it's been great! So far it's the glass blowing theater-after 4 times, I'm still mesmerized! And Hotel Breakers-WOW !!! I'll go break the bank to stay there every time also. The feel it gives & shows is perfect for my family. It might not be for everyone's taste, needs, desires, or budget though. Great report!