Sunday, May 7, 2017

2016 Year In Review

Well, now that it is May and the prime amusement park season is right around the corner I think it would be a good time to recap my awesome coaster season in 2016. It was the busiest coaster year/season I have ever had. I am thankful I had the opportunity to embark on many adventures at amusement parks in 2016. I continue to be grateful for the ability I have to go to these fun and amazing places.
Where is Everyone?

My first trip of the year was to Cedar Point Wednesday – Friday May 18 – 20th. I got to spend three full days at my most favorite place and had a skip the line pass (Fastlane) for two of them so I was able to get in a ton of rides. Then I attended the Coasterstock event at Kings Island on Saturday and Sunday May 21 – 22nd. Always a fun event and I got to ride a lot as well as take in some cool behind the scenes tours.
The Best Amusement Park Ever

One of the Best Amusement Parks Ever

Next trip came closer to home at Alabama Splash Adventure and the Rip Roarin’ Rampage event on Saturday, May 28th. I hung out with Doug on this trip and rode Rampage 25 total times. This park has come a long way under its new owners and I believe it will continue to improve over the coming seasons.
My Home Park

The big family trip of the year came when we all went to Cedar Point Wednesday – Friday June 1st to June 3rd. It was a great trip and I was happy to have the whole family at my favorite amusement park. It was a joy to watch Bri ride her first 48” height roller coasters. I also attended the Coastermania event while we were there. It was the best Coastermania trip I have ever attended. The Jet Express boat cruise was one of the coolest things I have ever done at Cedar Point.
Fun Family Trip

This was a Cool Experience

The heat of the summer included trips to Kentucky Kingdom for the Storm the Kingdom event on Friday June 24th. Then a side trip almost 800 miles out of the way to Michigan’s Adventure the next day. Shivering Timbers cracked my top 10 coasters so it was worth it.
This Park is Great

This Park isn't as Great but does have Shivering Timbers

We spent the Fourth of July at Six Flags over Georgia with Bri and her cousins. I made a solo trip to Carowinds to ride Fury 325 forty-eight times. While on our family beach trip we stopped at the not-so amusement park Race City. They did have a roller coaster that we rode as well as a midway with a few small carnival rides. Then we finished the summer with a family trip to Alabama Splash Adventure.
Our Group had a Blast

Family Time

To close out the year Bri took me to Lake Winnepasukah for my birthday. It was a nice family owned amusement park that I am glad to finally get to attend. We had a great day there. Our last stop was Fun Spot in Orlando on our way down to Miami for our cruise. Fun Spot offered us a great five hours and we had lots to do in the time we were there.
We had a Great time at this Nice Park

This Place was Fun


2016 Stats 

Amusement Park Trips: 10
Amusement Parks Attended: 10
Miles Driven: 5826
States Visited: 10
Pure Michigan

New (to me) Amusement Parks: 4 (Michigan’s Adventure, Race City, Lake Winnepasukah, and Fun Spot Orlando)
Michigan's Adventure

Race City


Lake Winnie

Fun Spot Orlando


Days Spent in Amusement Parks: 17
Best Amusement Park Attended: Cedar Point
America's Roller Coast

Most Improved Amusement Park: Kentucky Kingdom
The Kingdom

Next Best Improved Amusement Park: Alabama Splash Adventure
Nice Entrance

Worst Amusement Park that can hardly be called an Amusement Park: Race City in Panama City Beach
This is pretty much it

Best Amusement Park Trip: Cedar Point/Kings Island (5 Days)
I Love Millennium Force

Coaster Enthusiast Events: 4 (Coasterstock, Rip Roaring Rampage, Coastermania, and Storm the Kingdom)
These Events were all Awesome

Roller Coasters Ridden: 59
New Coaster Credit

New (to me) Coasters Ridden: 18
Three Coasters in this Shot

Cannon Ball

White Lightning & Freedom Flyer

Hurricane

Brand New 2016 Coasters Ridden: 2 (Valravn and Storm Chaser)
Drop!

Storm Chaser

Coaster Count: 179 to 197
Best Coaster Ridden: Fury 325 @ Carowinds
I mean this ride is Amazing


Next Best Coaster Ridden: Storm Chaser @ Kentucky Kingdom
This ride was Fun

Third Best Coaster Ridden: Shivering Timbers @ Cedar Point
This ride Blew Me Away

Coaster I Already Knew Was Awesome: Fury 325
Yup, still Awesome

Most Coaster Rides in a Row: 43 on Fury 325
Me after 40+ Rides

Most Coaster Rides on one Coaster: 48 on Fury 325
Love some Fury 325

Next Most Coaster Rides on one Coaster: 30 on Millennium Force 
Millennium Force is Still at the Top

Best Surprise Coaster: Shivering Timbers @ Michigan’s Adventure
This ride was Huge

Next Best Surprise Coaster: White Lightning @ Fun Spot Orlando
This Coaster Packs a Punch

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

Pretty

Those Colors Rule

On Ride Photos: 6
Derk and I enjoy Valravn...

...and Banshee...

...and The Beast

My 30th ride on Millennium Force

Doug and I enjoyed Shivering Timbers

That's my Girl!

Best Park Food: Kentucky Kingdom
Some Good Ole Fashioned BBQ

Great Ribs and other Good Stuff

Best Meal: Philly Cheesesteak and Fries @ Carowinds
Yes, it was worth the insane $20!

Best Snack: Pretzel @ Kings Island
This is always worth the $5

Best Dessert: Blue Ice Cream @ Kings Island
And this stuff is Priceless

Next Best Dessert: Funnel Cake @ Lake Winnie
Best Food Outside of Parks: Wendy's (my go-to after parks usually)
Best Hotel: Hotel Breakers
Super Nice Lakefront Suite

Next Best Hotel: Residence Inn in Chattanooga
Impressed with Residence Inn

Friendliest Park: Lake Winnepasukah
The Aynes Family Loves Coasters

Best Overall Park Experience: Cedar Point
Living it Up at Cedar Point

Next Best Overall Park Experience: Kentucky Kingdom
What a Coaster, What a Park!

Biggest Thrills: Cedar Point
Top Thrill Dragster is Tall

Next Biggest Thrills: Kings Island
Banshee is Foggy


Worst Coaster: T3 @ Kentucky Kingdom
Melt it to the Ground

Highlights:

Best Cedar Point Coastermania! event yet
I DO Love Roller Coasters

 Finally getting to ride Shivering Timbers
It was a Fantastic Wooden Coaster

 Going back to Kentucky Kingdom for an enthusiast event
I'm Loving this Moment...

 Getting to meet Kentucky Kingdom owner Ed Hart
...and this one!

 Family Trip to Cedar Point
Happy to be here with my Family

 Watching Bri ride big Roller Coasters
Bri Loved these Big Coasters

 Staying in a suite at Hotel Breakers
Soaking it all In

 Another Great Coasterstock Event at Kings Island
Love Kings Island


Taking my first ever behind the scenes Beast Tour
The Beast disappears into the Woods

 Bri taking me to Lake Winnepasukah for my birthday
Thank-you Bri

 Getting to go to Fun Spot Orlando on our way to our cruise in Miami
Bri Loves Coasters

Spur of the moment trip to Carowinds to ride Fury 325 forty-eight times
I see Fury 325!

Taking Bri and her cousins to Six Flags over Georgia on a non-busy Fourth of July in the park
Making Memories

 Five-Day trip to both Cedar Point and Kings Island
Perfect Shot

Hello There

Two days of Fast Lane at Cedar Point
When you have Fastlane you skip these lines


I am a sucker for sunsets so I took a few pictures during the year. Here are some of my favorites. I am just going to let these sunsets do the talking on these pictures.










More Favorite Pics:












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