J4Sing

I know I saw that Witch somewhere in the park, trying to remember....... The Fascination Parlor?

I don't recall seeing anything like that in the Haunted Castle. HC was more gore themed than cartoonish. I think it was a small puppet theater, like the Percy Pelican show. Oops, show was ruled out before I posted. Shooting gallery?

OK, I did think that it was confined to Goodtime Alley, that's why I kept naming rides from there. Does that mean I can still try? The Little Wheel? How about a "hot vs cold" clue if the named ride is within say 1/3 the park's length from the actual ride?

Hmm. Not visible in the completed ride......possibly not in it's finished paint scheme too..... the white car could be much older than an 89, so that doesn't help. Since this is in the Goodtime Alley section,We're running out of rides for that district unless the ride in question was not in Goodtime Alley. If it was in Goodtime Alley, it must have been after the arcade fire. Unless this ride is pre-1979, I would have to go with..... The Joust-about. My final answer, Regis.

It has to be the Shock Wave then.

I would go with support columns for the Scream Machine? I thought of the Sarajevo Bobsleds, but the white car looks like an 88 Skylark. Scream Machine.

Hi folks! I am planning on an epic visit to GA this June 24th to celebrate my 42nd birthday. From 1979 to 1993, I visited the Park multi times every season, until I moved to Oregon, then Florida. Last time I was there, Batman the Ride was brand new. Going with me in June are two old friends whom I haven't seen in years. We always used to go to GA together when we were growing up, and this is going to be a great reunion. When we used to visit, we would get there an hour before opening, and as soon as the rope dropped made a sprint to the Scream Machine to get on before the line got big. Now, there are so many great coasters there, we are unsure which way to run when the park opens that day. Since Kingda Ka is the only one that would close if there was a drizzle out, that would be the likely choice, with Scream macine, Superman, RT, and El Toro a stone's throw away. Then we would skyride over to Nitro. What concerns me is that by the time we get to Nitro there could be a 3 hour wait. But if we go to Nitro first, it will be long waits for all the coasters in the Scream machine district. Would it pay to buy a fast pass? How much do they cost? Is is likely that June 24 (a tuesday) will be a mobbed day? Out of the following 3- 1.Kingda Ka 2.Nitro 3.El Toro which of these has the longest, slowest moving line when the park is busy? Would it be wise to hit the first coaster twice in a row, or hit everything only once then try and get on again later? Some ride specific questions- 1. I read here that the left side track of RT rarely is open. This is a complete reversal of when the ride was brand new. Every time I went in 1979 the right side track was always closed. I always favored the left track due to the larger second hill and the view of the safari in the first turn,as well as the view of the infield just past the gum tunnel. Does anyone know if they fixed the left track's problems so I can have some hope it will be open when I go? 2. El Toro- I want to ride the back seat the first time I go on El Toro, everyone keeps raving about it. Is there an extra line to wait for the back seat, and does the ride have a good reputation for fast dispatches? 3.Kingda Ka-I hope to ride this at least twice in the front seat. Again, would it be wise to go to KK first to ensure I get that seat before the crowd gets too big? Also, how is the back seat of KK as far as air time on the second hill? 4.Nitro-I know very little about this ride except that the pictures freak me out and I must ride this one at least one time each in front and back. How bad do the lines get for this? This ride is a must, I want to ride it almost as much as I want to ride KK. 5.Medusa-I had thought it was a suspended coaster, like Batman or the Montu or Dueling Dragons, and was delighted to learn it is a floorless coaster, like the Kraken at Sea World Orlando. Since this ride seems to be in a remote location, would the lines be less severe during peak hours? 6. The store up the road- Back in 1993, there was a little convenience store maybe a mile past the GA entrance, with a lakeside beach across the street. We used to take a break in the afternoon and get food at this store, then picnic at the beach. Batman was brand new then, and we were able to see it from this beach. I want to return there to see the view of Nitro, I was wondering if that old store is still there as well. 7.Twickets- I had to ask. Do they still have 5 dollar twickets to come back a second day? I suppose that some of these questions would seem kinda dumb, but like I said it has been a very long time since I have been there, and this trip is very special and I want it to go well. If anyone wants to give me some advice, it would be very much appreciated. Best wishes, Jason

I always loved the looping starship and am sad to see it go just months before my first GA visit in 15 years. I'll never forget the first time I rode it, and my buddy sitting next to me was freaking out and the veins on his temples looked like they were going to burst out of his skull. I'll be visiting the park in June with the same buddies, kind of like a reunion because we always went to GA together. To compensate, however, there is the Kingda Ka, which I am sure will finally do the old fellow in. We're all doomed when we get on that thing. Can't wait!

Why do you say the LS is out? The entire ride is intact in this photo and the guys with the crane are working on the Scream Machine's pretzel. Edited: Oh wait, the counterweight is gone. S@#$!

I don't remember the gum targets, they must have been after 1993. I do, however, remember the "gum tunnel" at Rolling Thunder. Back then, visit the park in early May, and there were only a few pieces. Visit in late August, and the entire tunnel was covered in gum. Have they found a way to stop this now, or will I still see a gum tunnel when I visit this June?

Wow! Looks like they cut some trees down to make way for the El Toro track, and only the trees closest to the Rolling Thunder station still survive. I did, however see an older picture from when Kingda Ka was being built, and it seems as if those little trees did indeed grow into a forest before they were taken down. I also noticed the trees on the second infield of Rolling Thunder, by the high first turn.. These trees seem to have grown to the height of the ride track, which I find incredible! The picture you posted above of the Kingda Ka entrance. I had to take a double take- I recognized that section of RT's track from when KK's area was parking lot and we would always drive past it with the car. Now we can actually walk past it when getting on KK. Very cool. It must be a really cool view now for people waiting on line for RT's left track, they get to see RT,KK, and ET all in action at once. Can't wait till June to see it with me own eyes!

What is the Wii experience? I've seen it on the map, but I am not sure what it is. Sorry to go off topic, but I didn't want to start a whole new thread with such a small question.

I think you're right! I remember that smell so vividly too, I remember when we would be waiting on line for the left track we would try and guess how close to the tunnel until "the smell". It was a welcome sign that we would be riding soon. I am really looking forward to riding Rolling Thunder again this June. (is the smell still there?) The infield trees The last time I was there, in 1993, I remember waiting on line for the left track and noticing how large the pines were getting. I still vividly remember those trees from 1979 when they were very small and didn't block the view of the track at all. I would imagine they are fully grown by now and instead of viewing the ride across a field one is viewing it through a small forest. Anyone have a picture of the infield view taken from the left line?

My first trip to Great Adventure was in June of 1979. Rolling Thunder was brand new, and I rode it 6 times that day. On that trip, and all subsequent trips, I always noticed a specific odor right before entering the station, also around the "chewing gum tunnel" that one passes through under the braking stretch when riding the left track. It is a sweet, burning wood kind of smell, and within a few seconds the nose gets used to it and it becomes unnoticeable. I had always thought it was from the friction of the brakes that caused the smell. It was always there, even as late as 1993, which was my last visit before moving to Oregon. Since then, I have been on several wooden coasters, notably the Gwazi double wood at Busch Gardens Tampa and the Mean Streak at Cedar Point, I specifically sniffed the air as I entered the station, but no Rolling Thunder type smell at all. Does anyone know what that smell was/is and if it is still noticeable when entering Rolling Thunder's station?

Having grown up going to Great Adventure, and thereafter traveling the country and visiting it's theme parks, I've seen it all as far as line cutters go. Probably the worst is in Orlando, where thousands of non english speaking tourists converge at once. (primarily huge tour groups from Brazil). The people simply cut the line, then use their inability to understand English as an excuse. At Universal Orlando, I had the cell number of one of the security guys who was my friend. One time I called his cell from the line when 20 brazilians cut at one time,(by simply unhooking the rope for the disabled entrance and walking right into the attraction like no other people were even present) then gleefully watched them get ejected from the attraction. The only thing I would find reasonably acceptable, is if it is a super long line, and if the spot on line has not yet reached the attactions entrance and someone has to go to the bathroom, to secure an understanding with the people both in front and in back of the spot in question to return after relieving oneself, and be sure to return quickly before the line enters the main queue. Usually people don't mind, as long as one communicates respectfully. This was tolerated at Great Adventure back in 93, when Batman the ride had a 2.5 hour wait. (over an hour before even entering the main queue). Of course, times have changed and even this might no longer be tolerated. (i.e. one person gets an ok to leave the line to pee, and 15 come back with the person. It's happened)

Yes indeed! I used to come home from school every day and watch the channel 5 cartoons, and "The Hillarious House of Frightenstein", and the Great Adventure commercial would come on every day. I drove my parents nuts for a long time till we finally got to go.

Hi- My name is Jay, and I just joined this site a couple days ago. This is truly one awesome site, and I've spent many hours already reading all the great stuff. I grew up being a huge fan of Great Adventure. When I was real young, my family took us once a year, but when I got my drivers license (1983) I started going at least 3 times a year. I moved away in 1993(batman the ride year) and that year was the last time I have been to Great Adventure. My, has the park changed!! This June I am visiting up north for the first time post 9-11, and Great Adventure is the big plan for my birthday. I am so stoked! Not sure whether to make a run for Kingda Ka or Nitro first, either way the lines get huge quick. Can't wait! JS

Thanks for the info! I remember now going in 1981 and making a beeline for the Wild Rider, only to discover it was closed but still standing. Completely forgot about that till you mentioned it!

that's it all right! I'll never forget that tune

Does anyone have a video of the original TV commercial with Jerry Lewis? I can still hear in my mind the original song "You are about to begin the greatest day OF YOUR LIFE....at GREAT ADVENTURE!!!" I am not sure if this commercial was promotional for before the Park's grand opening, or whether it was after the park opened. I remember it showing Jerry and some kids sitting on the Giant Wheel too. I also remember the 1975 TV commercial had the same song, with a voice over at the end saying "Ride the all-new HYDRA FLUME!"

Hi- I'm Jay, and this is my first post. My first visit to Great Adventure was in 1979, the year Rolling Thunder opened. At the location that would later be Splashwater Falls was a "wild mouse" type coaster that my sister and I loved. On the 1979 map, it is called "Wild Rider". It was also there in 1980, then it was gone in 1981. This ride seems to be located at the same spot as the "Big Fury" that was there from 1974-1977. Is it the same ride? The archives also show that there was another ride called "Wild Rider" that existed at the park during the same time as Big Fury, but it was not a roller coaster at all. If anyone can shed some light onto this confusion, I would be much obliged. Thanks! JS