2015 Year In Review

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

My first park of the year

New (to me) Amusement Parks: 1 – Kennywood

I finally made it!

 

Days Spent in Amusement Parks: 12

Spectacular

Best Amusement Park attended: Cedar Point

My favorite place

 

Coaster Enthusiast events: 2 – Holiwood Nights @ Holiday World and Coastermania @ Cedar Point

Bri loves Holiday World

I love Cedar Point

 

Roller Coasters Ridden: 49

Wild Eagle Soars

 

New (to me) Coasters Ridden: 14

Afterburn Loops

Brand New 2015 Coasters: Fury 325 @ Carowinds & Thunderbird @ HW

Fury is Spectacular

Thunderbird Launches

 

Coaster Count: 165 to 179

Coaster #179 for me

Best Coaster Ridden: Fury 325

Incredible!

 

Next Best Coaster Ridden: Phantom’s Revenge @ Kennywood

This ride Rules

 

Coaster I already knew was Awesome: Millennium Force

#1 Millennium Force

 

Most Coaster Rides in a Row: 22 on Fury 325

I love this element

 

Most Coaster Rides on one Coaster: 76 on Fury 325

My first ever ride on Fury = Excitement

Best Surprise Coaster: (tie) Backlot Stunt Coaster @ Kings Island and Thunderbird @ Holiday World

Underrated Coaster

Look a Coasterbarn

 

Best Coaster at Night: Beast, Fury 325, and Millennium Force

Spectacular Lighting

310 Foot Lifthill in the dark

 

On Ride Photos: 6

I love on ride photos

 

Best Park Food: Kennywood – Philly Cheesesteak & Bacon Cheddar Fries

So good!

 

MMMMMMMM

Best Meal: Carowinds – Beef Brisket & Mac N Cheese

This was delicious

Best Snack: Kings Island & Cedar Point - Pretzel

My go-to amusement park food

Best Dessert: Dollywood – Cinnamon Bread

They will serve this bread in Heaven...

Next Best Dessert: Kings Island - Blue Ice Cream

...as well as this ice cream

Best Food Outside of Parks: Thirsty Pony - Pizza

This pizza was legit!

Best Hotel: Hotel Breakers @ Cedar Point

Awesome resort

Next Best Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn (Mason, OH) & Sonesta Inn and Suites (Charlotte, NC)

This hotel was nice

 

Sonesta Inn and Suites

Friendliest Park: Holiday World

Holiday World is a great park

 

Best Overall Park Experience: (tie) Holiday World & Cedar Point

This is the life!

Biggest Thrills: Cedar Point

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).



76 times wasn't enough

Going to Kings Island with Ashley (her first trip back to the park since 2006).

Look at the happy couple...

Taking the family to Holiwood Nights at Holiday World.

...and the happy family

Finally going to Kennywood, a park that I long wanted to go to, for the first time.

Kennywood is that way

My three day trip to Cedar Point was amazing! Coastermania! Hanging out with Derk again.

Road Trips are fun

Attending my first ever indoor water park. Heading back to Dollywood with the family in awesome weather.

We Love Dollywood

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.

All Smiles after 2015!