It
is time to do another year-end review for 2015. It is hard to believe another
year has gone by. I would like to say that I have become wiser but that is
probably not true. Or maybe it is I do not know. I do know however that I have
continued to write in this blog, which is actually quite impressive. While I
only got in nine blog posts last year compared to the nineteen posts (I went a
little crazy) in 2014 I am happy to report that this blog is still a focus of
mine. I hope that you all enjoy it.
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| Pretty much sums it up! |
How
would I summarize my 2015 coaster season? One word comes to mind; fast and fun.
Ok, that is two words. Why was it fast? Well, let me tell you. The year started
out top heavy with me going to four different parks in the span of four weeks
from May to early June. Literally every two weeks from May 1st until
June 6th I was going to an amusement park. Sounds crazy doesn’t it?
Well, I am crazy about roller coasters so I would agree.
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| This shot never gets old |
Why
was it fun? I mean how could it not be fun going to an amusement park? I got to
ride a ride this year that, almost and quite possibly, (I am still torn on
this) beat out my number one overall coaster! That alone is special. Then I got
to ride that coaster 76 times in two days. Many other coaster rides followed
which made me one happy camper.
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| Lovely Kennywood |
Then
after June 6th I didn’t attend another park until the second weekend
in October. This is because of Collin’s Coaster Planning 101 forbidding me to
attend parks in the crowds and heat of the summer (be on the lookout for a
future blog post). See, I am not completely crazy riding coasters all the time.
That being said I feel like I still had a wonderful coaster year and did most
of what I wanted to do.
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| Amazing Cedar Point |
So
what did I do in 2015? Here it goes:
Amusement
Park trips: 5
Amusement
Parks attended: 6 – Carowinds, Kings Island, Holiday World, Kennywood, Cedar
Point, and Dollywood
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| My first park of the year |
New
(to me) Amusement Parks: 1 – Kennywood
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| I finally made it! |
Days
Spent in Amusement Parks: 12
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| Spectacular |
Best
Amusement Park attended: Cedar Point
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| My favorite place |
Coaster
Enthusiast events: 2 – Holiwood Nights @ Holiday World and Coastermania @ Cedar
Point
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| Bri loves Holiday World |
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| I love Cedar Point |
Roller
Coasters Ridden: 49
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| Wild Eagle Soars |
New
(to me) Coasters Ridden: 14
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| Afterburn Loops |
Brand
New 2015 Coasters: Fury 325 @ Carowinds & Thunderbird @ HW
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| Fury is Spectacular |
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| Thunderbird Launches |
Coaster
Count: 165 to 179
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| Coaster #179 for me |
Best
Coaster Ridden: Fury 325
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| Incredible! |
Next
Best Coaster Ridden: Phantom’s Revenge @ Kennywood
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| This ride Rules |
Coaster
I already knew was Awesome: Millennium Force
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| #1 Millennium Force |
Most
Coaster Rides in a Row: 22 on Fury 325
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| I love this element |
Most
Coaster Rides on one Coaster: 76 on Fury 325
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| My first ever ride on Fury = Excitement |
Best
Surprise Coaster: (tie) Backlot Stunt Coaster @ Kings Island and Thunderbird @
Holiday World
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| Underrated Coaster |
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| Look a Coasterbarn |
Best
Coaster at Night: Beast, Fury 325, and Millennium Force
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| Spectacular Lighting |
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| 310 Foot Lifthill in the dark |
On
Ride Photos: 6
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| I love on ride photos |
Best
Park Food: Kennywood – Philly Cheesesteak & Bacon Cheddar
Fries
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| So good! |
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| MMMMMMMM |
Best
Meal: Carowinds – Beef Brisket & Mac N Cheese
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| This was delicious |
Best
Snack: Kings Island & Cedar Point - Pretzel
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| My go-to amusement park food |
Best
Dessert: Dollywood – Cinnamon Bread
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| They will serve this bread in Heaven... |
Next Best Dessert: Kings Island - Blue Ice Cream
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| ...as well as this ice cream |
Best
Food Outside of Parks: Thirsty Pony - Pizza
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| This pizza was legit! |
Best
Hotel: Hotel Breakers @ Cedar Point
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| Awesome resort |
Next
Best Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn (Mason, OH) & Sonesta Inn and Suites
(Charlotte, NC)
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| This hotel was nice |
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| Sonesta Inn and Suites |
Friendliest
Park: Holiday World
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| Holiday World is a great park |
Best
Overall Park Experience: (tie) Holiday World & Cedar Point
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| This is the life! |
Biggest
Thrills: Cedar Point
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| Coaster City |
Highlights:
Getting to ride Fury 325 at Carowinds 76 total times in two days (read my blog
post about this if you haven’t already).
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| 76 times wasn't enough |
Going
to Kings Island with Ashley (her first trip back to the park since 2006).
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| Look at the happy couple... |
Taking
the family to Holiwood Nights at Holiday World.
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| ...and the happy family |
Finally
going to Kennywood, a park that I long wanted to go to, for the first time.
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| Kennywood is that way |
My
three day trip to Cedar Point was amazing! Coastermania! Hanging out with Derk
again.
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| Road Trips are fun |
Attending
my first ever indoor water park. Heading back to Dollywood with the family in
awesome weather.
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| We Love Dollywood |
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| The Eagle has landed |
It
has been another great year of amusement park trips and coaster riding. I
cannot say enough about my passion for roller coasters and just being in an
amusement park. When I reflect on last year I am grateful to my wife Ashley for
allowing me to enjoy my crazy hobby. I am happy to see my family enjoy this
hobby with me. I look forward to the 2016 season and the new adventures that
lay ahead. There are a lot of great new coasters being built, enthusiast events
to go to, and amusement parks to attend. Ride on and Read on.
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| All Smiles after 2015! |
