BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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 10/4/2004 10:36:20 AM
Well, its not a must ride for me. I mean, it would be nice, but I wouldnt be too disappointed if I missed it 
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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10/30/2004 1:17:41 AM
OK, I have my not-quite-etched-in-stone itinerary.
Expected Itinerary
May 18th
Travel to New Jersey
Travel Distance: 865 miles
Approx. Time: 14:10
Stay at: Quality Inn, Cookstown NJ, 08511
Price: $89.10
May 19th
Travel to SFGAdv
Travel Distance: 13 miles
Approx Time: 0:23
Go to Six Flags Great Adventure (10AM – 8PM)
Coaster Count: 12
Admission: Free
Parking: $10
Travel to Allentown Hotel for the Night
Travel Distance: 98 miles
Approx Time: 1:38
Hotel: Microtel Inn, Allentown PA 18109
Price: About $70
May 20th
Go to Dorney Park (10AM – 10PM)
Coaster Count: 6-7
Admission: $21.00
Parking: $7
Hotel: Microtel Inn, Allentown PA, 18109
Price: About $70
May 21st
Travel to Knoebels for the Day
Travel Distance: 81 miles
Approx Time: 1:57
Go to Knoebels (noon – 8PM)
Price: $15.75
Coaster Count: 3-4 (Depends on Whirlwind Removal)
Travel to Hershey Hotel
Travel Distance: 62 miles
Approx Time: 1:30
Hotel: Milton Motel, Hershey PA, 17033
Price: $109
May 22nd
Go to Hersheypark (10AM - ??)
Coaster Count: 11
Price: $37.95
Parking: $7
Hotel: Milton Motel, Hershey PA, 17033
Price: $109
May 23rd
Go Home
Travel Distance: 775 miles
Approx Time: 12:46
Trip Totals:
Mileage: 1894
Approximate Gas Consumption (30mpg avg.): 63
Total Cost of Fuel (based on $2.00/gal): $126.00
Total Hotel Costs: $447.10 (without Taxes and Fees)
Total Park Costs: $98.70 (1), $193.40 (2)
Grand Total, sans food/souvenirs: $671.80 (1), 766.50 (2)
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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10/30/2004 2:36:09 AM
A couple of things to remember. If you stay at Milton Hotel, check ahead if they have shuttle bus to save you the parking fee, also check if they have discounted tickets otherwise you can buy cheap tickets from a local supermarket. For SFGAdv, you should try one of the motels listed at Sixflags.com, then go to pick a park then click the lodging tab. I just checked Sidestep.com and the Ramada Inn in Tom's River is listed at about $60. I stayed there for a wedding once and it is pretty clean and about 20 minutes from the park.
Message updated 10/30/2004 3:15:15 AM by larrygator
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
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10/30/2004 4:42:25 PM
I just checked Sidestep.com for Allentown and the same Microtel is listed for the same nights at $42.50 per night. Check out sidestep.com. You could also cut your Hershey hotel cost quite a bit if you don't mind being 10-15 miles from the park.
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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10/30/2004 8:13:22 PM
Thanks larry, will do
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
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10/31/2004 12:30:20 AM
Quote:
BobFunland said:
Thanks larry, will do |
It's a great site it saved me about $20 a night on my road trips last year. I never heard about the site until someone at work told me about it.
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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11/1/2004 1:35:13 PM
Thanks Larry, I used the Sidestep tool today, and I should be able to save about $100-150 on my trip with it. Thank you so much. As far as the Hershey deal, the Milton Motel was the only one that I could come up with on expedia (I think it was expedia), but the Sidestep tool gave me a ton of other hotels in the area, so I now have more options, because compared to the Hershey resort prices, that Milton motel was seeming pretty good. Again, thank you
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ABR
Posts: 277
Registered: 3/22/2003
Rank: Silver Critic
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11/7/2004 1:55:15 AM
I hope to be going to Great Adventure around that time myself. I will go on rides like Nitro, Batman, and I will stare at the "Kingda Ka is closed for the day" sign.
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Swimace
Posts: 5916
Registered: 8/28/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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11/7/2004 7:18:19 PM
I didn't know that Dorney, SFGADV, and Knoebels wee so close. I knew they were close, but I didn't know the driving time. As a Penn. park, Kennywood is really isolated, right? how far is it from the other penn. parks
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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 11/7/2004 7:27:01 PM
Quote:
Swimace said:
I didn't know that Dorney, SFGADV, and Knoebels wee so close. I knew they were close, but I didn't know the driving time. As a Penn. park, Kennywood is really isolated, right? how far is it from the other penn. parks |
Yea, they are all within like 100 miles of each other. Kennywood is on the opposite end of the state, some five hours away I think. There are a few smaller parks, like Idewile (I might have spelled that correctly:lol: ) and Conneaut, but nothing like Eastern PA with so many large parks. Trust me, I would love to hit Kennywood on that same trip, but I have family in the Pittsburgh area, so I figured eventually I will be there at the right time.
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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11/7/2004 7:54:32 PM
Kennywood is right outside Pittsburg and probably within three hours from all the Ohio parks.
you got the Western Pa parks: Kennywood, Idlewild, Conneaut and Waldameer
Eastern Pa parks: Dorney, Knoebels, Hershey and Williams Grove
Middle Pa. has two small parks: Delgrosso's and Lakemont
Swimace - to give you some reference Gainesville to North Miami takes about the same driving time as Dorney to Kennywood
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Swimace
Posts: 5916
Registered: 8/28/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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11/7/2004 9:41:56 PM
Oh Crap. I've been on that drive too many times. I have relatives down in South Florida. Ugh, nothing but everglades once you get past Orlando. So boring
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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11/7/2004 9:45:45 PM
but in Pennsylvania it is mountainous terrain (at least for the East Coast) and the speed limit is only 55MPH and the State Troopers are usually out in force (hence my ticket two months ago)
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Swimace
Posts: 5916
Registered: 8/28/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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11/8/2004 8:16:14 PM
Yeah, Florida traffic doesnt get bad until you hit the Keys, at which point it becomes hell. To anybody reading this: DON"T DRIVE THROUGH THE FLORIDA KEYS. TWO LANE ROAD THE WHOLE WAY: NO PASSING!!! It's basically like one big traffic jam
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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11/8/2004 8:54:03 PM
My Dad has made that journey a few times. I tell him just to fly to Key West but he's a dummy  Sounds dangerous to me, in case a fast-moving hurricane comes through. Plus, every time a hurricane comes near, they have to evacuate many days in advance 
Then again, all of his photos from there looks sweet
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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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11/8/2004 8:54:06 PM
Yeah, all of those parks are close together, which makes me pretty happy living in Pike County and being here in Center Valley for college... being just 5 minutes from Dorney. I can make it to Hershey in about 2 hours from here, about eh a little over 3 from my house. I can make Six Flags from my house in a little over 2, but I haven't made the trip from here, I think it is closer. Knoebels is like 2 and a half from home, not sure from here either. It is nice 
Kennywood, forget about that drive... hear it would be like 5 or 6 hours and from home give it about 7. That would suck. I just hit the big 4 up.
I want to get to SFGAm. I am only about 2 hours from there from school and I want to get up to SFNE, which I think is about 3 hours from my house. I really want to get to Coney Island to ride the Cyclone too before it gets knocked down, like it ever will. I'm only like about an 1 and a half from the city (New York). There is a lot around me in these small little Pennsylvania towns of mine.
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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11/8/2004 10:57:47 PM
yea Herc, next time someone knocks Pennsyltucky you tell 'em
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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11/10/2004 10:57:13 AM
Larry, I did a spyware scan of my computer, and that SideStep program came up as a minor threat. Now, Im not too worried, but have you or your coworkers had any issues cause by it?
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Swimace
Posts: 5916
Registered: 8/28/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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11/10/2004 7:14:43 PM
Hercules, where do you live? I got confused when you threw in SFGAM. SFGAM isn't close to Penn at all.
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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11/11/2004 5:09:38 PM
Quote:
BobFunland said:
Larry, I did a spyware scan of my computer, and that SideStep program came up as a minor threat. Now, Im not too worried, but have you or your coworkers had any issues cause by it? |
I saw that on my home PC when I ran a scan the day after I told you about the site, I had not run Spybot for awhile. We can still use it at work and we have a pretty good corporate IT department, so I don't worry it. Sorry for any inconvenience.
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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11/11/2004 6:02:27 PM
Quote:
larrygator said:
I saw that on my home PC when I ran a scan the day after I told you about the site, I had not run Spybot for awhile. We can still use it at work and we have a pretty good corporate IT department, so I don't worry it. Sorry for any inconvenience. |
That's fine, I just wondered if you knew about that. I definately trust IT guys, besides, it did say a minor threat, so Im not really worried. It saved me a bunch of money so I still appreciate it exponentially
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My Track Record
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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11/11/2004 6:13:14 PM
Quote:
BobFunland said:
That's fine, I just wondered if you knew about that. I definately trust IT guys, besides, it did say a minor threat, so Im not really worried. It saved me a bunch of money so I still appreciate it exponentially |
I used to be pretty vigilant about running Spybot on my home PC but just got lax about it.
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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 12/7/2004 2:41:21 AM
Just to let y'all know, I created a webpage with all of my 2005 plans, it is available through a link on the top of my coaster page, which can be found here.
Just an interesting little site that Im uploading all of my new reviews to, posting some of my TRs, and starting next year (well, next month), I plan on creating a sort of online journal of my adventures. Check it out, its ok for now, but it will get better.
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"I speak my mind 'cause biting my tounge hurts"
My Track Record
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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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12/7/2004 3:29:37 PM
Quote:
Swimace said:
Hercules, where do you live? I got confused when you threw in SFGAM. SFGAM isn't close to Penn at all. |
Sorry dude, I meant Six Flags America, which is a little more than about 2 hours from my school.
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"I could never design another ride like Hercules." - Curtis Summers
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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 1/12/2005 5:01:06 PM
Question, can you eventually buy the tickets for Hershey online (ie, is it just not yet available) or do you have to purchase at the gate? I just bought my Dorney tickets and I'm trying to get the Hershey ones too (I don't need SF tickets and I don't think the POP plan is available online for Knoebels). Just wondering if I'll have to wait in line at the gate...
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The Steelers are champs too! What a great holiday season (I'll forget about Gonzaga)
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Red Rascal
Posts: 7284
Registered: 1/28/2003
Rank: Croatian Critic
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1/12/2005 5:08:36 PM
I'm not sure on the online thing, but the hotels in the area offer discounted tickets.
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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1/12/2005 5:24:50 PM
Thanks for the tip, I think I should give the hotels a call and see what kind of discounts are available (esp. for Hershey... 38 bucks or so turns into almost 100 when you're buying for two after the taxes and all)
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
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1/12/2005 6:45:30 PM
Also one of the locals should be able to help on this. Last year there was a supermarket in the area that sold discounted tickets to HP. You bought the ticket right at the supermarket.
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
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1/22/2005 5:38:20 PM
Damn.. I had this thing where I just felt really guilty about being so close to Coney Island and not going up there, I checked their website, and they are only open on weekends, and it just isn't possible 
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3r1c
Posts: 5466
Registered: 6/7/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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1/22/2005 6:23:11 PM
Giant grocery stories sell Hersheypark tickets at discount prices - I'm not sure how much, I'm thinking $10 or so.
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