Summer trip help needed!!

[jtopicz1]

Well this may be a bit off topic, but I'm hoping someone here can help. I've got some vacation time coming this summer (early June will be using it), and am considering going on a coaster roadtrip. I'm a huge rollercoaster fan, but with the exception to Six Flags Great America (Chicago), I've never been to any parks outside of Florida (Luckily we have BGT and IOA!!).

So what I need everyones help with is planning my trip. Here's some of my plans to work with:

1) I'd like to do this road trip in 5 days or less. This is a short trip and we only need to visit 2 or 3 parks. We are leaving from Tampa, FL. The trip could be as long as 7 days but absolutly no longer. (hey...no one ever said vacationing on a Pizza restaurant managers salary is easy!!...haha)
2) Six Flags over Georgia is pretty much a definate stop. Visionland in Alabama looks cool as well. We will of course make a quick viusit to the best park in America (IOA) on the way home! How long is the drive to SFoG and Visionland from Tampa??
3) What other parks would you suggest along the way?? Other neat attractions?? Places to stay?? Things to see??
4) We would most likely leave Tampa on a SUnday and return on a Thursday late night.
5) Budget is definatly tight, but not really an issue as costs for hotels, gas, food will be split several ways since 3 or 4 of us will be going. I'm figuring we could come up doing this for less than $400 a person.
6) ...please share any other secrets you may have to planning a successful road trip.

Barry and Robin...I know this is somewhat off topic, but I know a lot of other people on this board are also theme park/ coaster fans. This could be a fun thread since the Universal news has been few and far between!

Jim

 

[jtopicz1]

Just had another idea. Since season passes from one Six Flags are good at all Six Flags....would it be feasable to go to the Texas parks, then shoot back over to SFoG instead of doing visionland. Granted this would be a lot of drive time and may take closer to a week, but SFoG season pass costs only $45! That would help a lot on cost....

Jim

 

[robsmom]

I don't know if you have ap's for busch in tampa and if they are good for the virginia location, but that might be a thought. Also, Kings Dominion isn't that far from BG Virginia This would be some driving, but seems like it would be less driving than trying to hit Texas and Georgia.

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[joe]

Consider what I am doing this summer as an idea:

Drive to Paramount King's Island in Cincinati, Ohio. It should take you 13 hours. Spend one day there and then go to Cedar Point which is 4 hours away. Spend 2 days there and drive back home(about 16 hours).

Cedar Point has a Getaway Guide that gives you a coupon for 2 days at 52.00. Call Cedar Point and request one. Paramount King's Island offers half price admission to all members of the American Coaster Enthusiasts club.

On this trip you

 

[joe]

On this trip you have a great selection of wood and steel coasters. You can easily do it for less than 400.00/person. Use priceline to get your hotel rooms.

Have fun, whatever you decide.

 

[CindyZ]

You could keep driving north and hit the Six Flags in New Jersey, and then the Six Flags on the Connecticut/Mass. border. I know that CT is about 22 hours away. You'd be better off with the week or so of driving. So that's 3 Six Flags with just the cost of one AP...pretty good I think. The Six Flags New England used to be a smaller owned park that Six Flags took over recently. They built a new part of the park with some wilder rides...and the Superman coaster is the most popular. Be prepared for the wait though!

As for what's in between...seems like you know better than me.

Have a great time, and let us know what you decide!

CindyZ in CT, and Mom of 3!

 

[CindyZ]

There is a smaller park that would be on your way inbetween the six flags in NJ and the New England one. It's called Lake Compounce. They just put in a brand new wooden coaster that runs in and along the side of a small "mountain"...it was jerky but fun...they also have an older, old fasioned wooden coaster too!

It's fun there too.

Let me know if you decide to come north and I'll get you more info!

CindyZ in CT, and Mom of 3!

 

[BarryHom]

If you are heading up I-75 in Georgia, stop by Wild Adventures in Valdosta, GA. The park has about 5 coasters. The brochure says that you don't have to fight the lines like in other parks. I'll believe that when I see it. Anyway, I will be checking it out in a few months, so I will write a TR about it!

Also, pick up Tim O'Brien's book, The Amusement Park Guide. It lists every park in the country. You can figure out what you want to see on the way.

Oh, Wild Adventure's website is www.wild-adventures.com.

Barry Hom
Moderator, Universal and Sea World Boards

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[Robinrs]

Jim:

I went to SFoG the first week in April. Too bad because they two new attractions weren't open yet, I was looking forward to them, but will be open next month.

They have LOTS of coasters, but it's not my favorite park by long shots because of all the walking. Since you're still youthful, especially compared to ME <IMG WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="15" SRC="/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif" alt="razz"> , you'll probably have a ball.

-------------------------

MOM
Mother of Michael
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<font color=purple>Co-Moderator of the Community and Universal/IOA Boards</font color=purple>

 

[jtopicz1]

Thanks for all the reponses so far! Nothing for sure yet but I'm thinking we'll probably do Wild Adventures and SFoG for sure and maybe head up to either BG Williamsburg (likely do this) or Six Flags and Cedar Point in Ohio (not as likely). If time wasn't an issue I'd shoot straight up the east coast and hit several of the Six Flags, but I really don't want to rush too much! Thanks for the Wild Adventures suggestion Barry. It looks like a typical Carnival-type ride park, but it should be fun and the coasters look decent.
Here's a rough idea of what I'm thinking of doing so far:
Sunday- Leave Tampa around 9am and arrive at Wild Adventures area (Valdosta) around 4pm. Check into hotel and check out nearby attractions (which there probably aren't any because Valdosta sounds like it may be a boring town.
Monday- Wild Adventures. After Wild Adventures (6pm??) Drive to SFoG/Atlanta area. Arrive at 11pm.
Tuesday- SFoG
Wednesday- SFoG again
Thursday- Drive home

If we decide to do BG Williamsburg would it be possible to drive from there back to Tampa in one full (very full) day? If it is possible, we would do just 1 day at SFoG and head to Williamsburg on Weds. Do BGW all day Thurs, then drive home Friday.

Jim

 

[deena]

if you are a coaster fan because they have 2 new rollercaosters that are supposed to be premiering in the park during this summer. Also, they already have other good selections such as Batman and Ninja to name a few.

They have had a limited special sale going on for their season passes here for around $45 (don't know if they are good at all other parks though). Also, they have lowered their one day adult admission price tickets just a little this year so you will be getting a deal compared to years past.

I hope you have a great time at the park!

 

[BarryHom]

If you do BGW, it will be a long drive back home. I would go to BGW, as it is considered one of the most beautiful parks in the nation.

Barry Hom
Moderator, Universal and Sea World Boards

Joey Ramone is gone but he's not forgotten

Click HERE for interesting Universal Orlando information!

 

[Shawn2goUSF]

Just to let you know six flags in new jersey is the and has been voted the largest and best six flags theme park in america. This year the bring a new coaster called NITRO and the have devloped a similar system to universal express pass and disney's fast pass. They call it Six Flags Fast Track.

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