mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001
Rank: TPC News Minister
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 7/23/2007 10:22:30 PM
Having not been to a new park in 5 years I was exited to be going to Rye Playland. I went with my brother and Sister in law also came on this trip. We loaded into the car for the long drive to the park. We hit some traffic which dragged on out travel time to 5 hours. We arrived at the park off of Playland parkway at 2:00 PM. It took us a second to figure out were to go to get out tickets since the booths are located in the center of the park. We got an 8 hour all ride wrist band for $40.00 Dollars.
The architecture within the park stands out greatly. There are still many aspects of the original park remaining including Classic rides. You can see some additions that were time period inspired like the Orange and green flashing on the promenade. But the park worked good and I was very exited to be there.
I’ll lists the rides and describe them to save space and time. The Whip was closed today.
Dragon coaster was first up, 5 times. This was a very enjoyable coaster. It was one of the most Unique layouts I have ever seen. The coaster in all was good but not great. The Morgan train may have been to blame. The trains were uncomfortable I was stapled in nearly every ride. And the trains seemed to drag. Both trains jack hammered pretty bad also. But it was enjoyable watching them operate 2 trains on a coaster using hand pulled brakes.
Old Mill was next up, 6 times. Fantastic attraction! This was the highlight of my trip. The classic Dark ride with a modern dark ride upgrade was well done and very in enjoyable. The ride could us a bit of mending of the walls though. Night rides were the best.
Sky Flyer, 2 times. This ride seems to suffer from too small a foot print. It wasn’t terrible and the inversions were good but the transitions were jerky and a bit rough. First Flying coaster!
We hoped on the Derby Racer. A fantastic Variation on the More common carousel. Good speed and movement. Allot of Fun. My first ever Derby Racer!
After those we took a quick walk t
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mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001
Rank: TPC News Minister
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7/23/2007 10:28:26 PM
Next up Log flume 2 rides - Really good for the Standard Production model. T solid drops and you get reasonably wet. On out second ride I got very wet. I also liked all the rock work around the ride.
Playland Plunge, 1 ride - This is a compact Hopkins Chute. The boat is thin and only holds 2 riders per row. But the splash was god for a small boat. I got soaked like I normally do on Hopkins chute rides. nice addition!
Flying Witch, 3 rides - This was a Fin dark ride. It’s almost coaster like in the fact that you slowly Rise to the top and race down to the bottom. It’s fast passed and very enjoyable. The effects volume was a bit high and the gages were basically walkthrough fun house animatronics with a few traditional ones thrown in.
Wild Mouse, 1 ride - This was a terrible ride. The cars were cramped and overall ti wasn’t enjoyable. The top was Ok the lats were tolerable but the rest of the ride as too strong leaving me in pain. First Wild Mouse coaster!
Zombie Castle, 2 rides - I Thought the ride system was the best part of this ride. The wood cares really stood out for me. The ride was a mix of Traditional and modern gags like flying witch there was allot of Walkthrough gags in it. There was more of a story line to this one. The volume was also a bit too laud.
House of Mirror, 1 time - this attraction made no since. For started I think they reversed the entrance and exit because all the arrows were pointing the opposite way we were going. There was no Maze aspect and The mirrors were very dirty and didn’t reflect well. The end was a large room with a Sleeping attendant and a few funhouse mirrors. Nothing special at all!
We stopped and watched the High school Music show. It was basically a review of Grease which we watched on the way to the park. Good performers for the most part. Allot of locals. The nights in NY show we watched later in the day was better. Had some form High School Musical, Fiddler on the Roof, my fair lady among others. They made the $7.00 parking charge a much better value.
We did a quick walk around the center of the park and hit the Carnival rides: Whip out, not the best I’ve ridden. Starship 2000, Fun ride but I like the Rotors better. Thunderbolt, same old ride. Sea Dragon, a good ride but a short cycle.
Double Shot, 1 ride - I was hoping for a good ride Compared to the other double shot I have been on. The ride though was weak. The launch gave very little feeling and there was only a slight pop at the top. From there the ride simply went in the toilet. No force at the bottom a none existent second shot. I was very disappointed.
[url=http://img517.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cimg4563i
Message updated 7/23/2007 11:03:49 PM by mrceagle
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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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7/24/2007 1:00:37 AM
Great report ceagle. I had a great day at Playland last year and you brought back a lot of fond memories.
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mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001
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7/24/2007 1:29:26 AM
I'm glad I was able to do that. The park was really nice. I might try to get back out there before they remove the dark rides. after that we'll see. it will depend on what they replace them with.
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Canobie Coaster
Posts: 2694
Registered: 7/26/2005
Rank: Platinum Critic
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7/24/2007 8:14:07 AM
Great trip report and nice photos. I still don't know why you didn't get a good ride on the Double Shot.
I too enjoyed Rye Playland a lot and am considering visiting there again this year.
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Timberman
Posts: 845
Registered: 9/21/2004
Rank: Gold Critic
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7/25/2007 12:02:03 AM
Those are some terrific photos, mrceagle. Thanks for sharing. I haven't been to RP since Sky Flyer was installed, but it looks like a bizarre good time. While I've never been a big fan of the Dragon Coaster, it looks great in your pictures.
Message updated 7/25/2007 12:02:59 AM by Timberman
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mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001
Rank: TPC News Minister
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7/25/2007 12:54:30 AM
King Yoshi - i don't either! I was shocked when my ride was that mild. I hope you do get to the park.
Timberman - Thanks for your kind words. it took my about 4-5 hours to get the TR fully constructed. I'm glad the effort didn't go unnoticed.
I was expecting more out of Dragon. it really seems like somewhere there is a monster waiting to come out. But the ride was slow dispite it's reasonably good size.
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hrrytraver
Posts: 1270
Registered: 7/16/2005
Rank: Platinum Critic
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7/25/2007 9:29:45 AM
good work, mrc. forgive me for saying so, but this seems like the farthest south you've been in a while.
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mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001
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7/25/2007 2:27:39 PM
Actually it is. I was out of work last summer and money was really tight so I stayed local. I took a couple TGE trips in 2004 and in 2003. and LC trips over the last few years. But I haven't been Further south since I moved back into NH. I hit Disney and SFOG while Living in GA wanted to hit Carowinds but things never came together. It was nice to take a long trip.
I'm debating Hitting western NY next month and next year I'm most likely going to make a PA trip.
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Canobie Coaster
Posts: 2694
Registered: 7/26/2005
Rank: Platinum Critic
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7/25/2007 10:01:41 PM
^ The last two years I went to Pennsylvania and did the amusement parks on the east coast and had a blast.
As for the Dragon, I was expecting a nice classic coaster, but nothing special in terms of thrills or air-time.
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mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001
Rank: TPC News Minister
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7/25/2007 11:27:12 PM
Ya but look at my Classic examples. Cannonball, Flyer comet, Thunderbolt, TGE comet, and Cyclone. I guess I was expecting a bit more speed out of it's hight and less lagging after it leveled out. but the trains are likely to blame for that.
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Canobie Coaster
Posts: 2694
Registered: 7/26/2005
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7/26/2007 7:17:23 AM
Morgan trains. But, you can't really blame just the trains. Remember the Riverside Cyclone back with Morgan trains.
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mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001
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7/27/2007 11:51:29 AM
I'm not blaming just the trains. Though I remember Riversides Morgan trains being much smoother and allot more comfortable. These trains were in bad shape. allot of jackhammering and and seemed to lag. these trains need work.
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Canobie Coaster
Posts: 2694
Registered: 7/26/2005
Rank: Platinum Critic
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7/27/2007 10:07:16 PM
Last year the trains didn't look to be in bad shape to me, but that was the first time that I had ever seen Morgan trains first hand.
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mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001
Rank: TPC News Minister
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7/30/2007 1:48:28 AM
They normally look good from the top but you can not see the wheels and under body at all. just wasn't a solid ride.
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Koz2393
Posts: 59
Registered: 10/29/2006
Rank: Senior Critic
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8/6/2007 6:42:03 PM
Great review. I had the same exp. with the auto scooter ride ops
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mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001
Rank: TPC News Minister
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8/6/2007 10:50:00 PM
Glad you like it. I have a couple more coming up within the next day.
i liked the park but I don't think I will get back before the end of the year. If the dark rides are removed I have even less of a reason to go. So I may not be back for a few years.
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