July 4: The good, the bad, the ugly

Good: 20oz pop is now $2.50. Great fireworks show, even though the grand finale was delayed by what must have been some technical difficulties.

Bad: Crowds on the boardwalk and beach. But we all had fun.

Ugly: Getting out of the Soak City parking lot. Show ended around 10:30. We sat in the parking lot until 11:30. Then we decided we weren't going anywhere, so we sat on the beach for another hour. Then at 12:30, noticed that the parking lot had made no progress. At 1:15am, we're still in the Soak City parking lot trying to get out. We finally escaped and made it home around 1:45am.

I can understand the traffic problems. I expected the traffic problems. But what irritated me was seeing the a couple people from Park Operations and a couple of very helpful guests working in vain to get an entire parking lot out through the lone exit. I figured that part of the problem was the congestion in the main parking lot. Nope - when we got around, we found the main parking lot empty. The frustrating part was seeing at least 10 traffic control employees standing around, looking as if they need something to do, while in the Soak City lot, guests were needed to help move traffic along. I think better distribution of these employees would have prevented the problem being as large as it was.

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Virtual Midway
http://www.virtualmidway.com

This was my third year for the fireworks show. First year, parked in the back lot, and was stuck there for hours. Second year I parked in the last row of the soak city lot, still waited forever, but also overheard a traffic director saying they were emptying the front lot first. This year, I parked by the lookout in the main lot, and got out of the park in about 15 minutes. It appears that they do empty the main lot first before letting the soak city lot out. I will be parking in the same spot next year. Typically, I park in the back because of traffic, you leave the lot, then go straight out, you do not have to fight anybody in the lines of the main lot.

--j

I fully expected traffic problems in the back parking lot. I had no problem with that. What was frustrating was seeing the lack of personnel back there (even guests were having to help direct traffic), most of the personnel that was there didn't appear to be from traffic operations - I think one was even a lifeguard, and seeing upon our exit almost a dozen traffic people in the main parking lot standing around.

If even a few of those 'extra' traffic employees were in the back lot helping cars file out orderly, then the problem wouldn't have been nearly as bad as it was.

Forget the main lot - next year we're getting a room :)

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Virtual Midway
http://www.virtualmidway.com

I heard the reason the grand finale was delayed was because it got too windy. Thank god they got that off because it got even more windy as the night went on. It was funny that most people left during the delay. I heard so many people complaining, boy that sucked etc. Then 5 minutes later the sky lit up with a great finale.

I parked in the last spot before the Chausee and was out in no more than 2 minutes. I recommend to anyone to park way way out there. It is worth walking past all the people trying to leave to get to your car and then get right out.

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Steve Sergent
MF count: 174

I was parked in the small lot right next to Gemini. Easy access to Perimeter Rd. Only took an hour to get around. Most of the delay that I saw was at the two stop signs by the Marina gate and Marina parking lot.

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Scott W. Short, Rail Junkie
mailto:scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com