Jon's 2012 Coaster Season - WI State Fair

[simon8899I wish they would make Street Fighter Donkey.]

Rides starting to have a maximum height is kind of rediculous. Few years ago no ride had those over here...

Now they start it here also, but gladly most attendants don't argue as long as you fit into the seat - being 77 inches plus shoes I hate those.

[deathbydinnI eat bugs.]

^While I don't think someone who is a little over the maximum height couldn't ride, I do think they might find it very uncomfortable. The biggest problem with the ride seems to be that your restraint lowers through out the course and it can pull the straps down on you very hard. I'm short myself so I haven't had too much of a problem with it, but some of my taller friends have had problems with the straps digging down on them which would be incredibly uncomfortable should the ride breakdown. It does at least seem that people are being notified somewhere before the station as I haven't seen anyone get kicked off the ride for being too tall yet.

[deathbydinnI eat bugs.]

This past weekend I took my annual trip up to the Dells for two days of coasters, waterparks, and mini golf. The hot weather kept us mostly in the waterpark, but I can never turn down a chance to ride Hellcat, although I'm not positive I can say the same about Mt. Olympus' coasters. Despite the heat, it was still a very fun two days filled with a good amount of riding. As for the parks themselves:

Timber Falls: Timber Falls always looks great whenever I go. They do a very good job of keeping the park looking nice and keeping things throughout the park working. A wristband still only gets you 5 Hellcat rides, but that's fine with the current operations as it would take forever to get any more. The log flume only had three boats on it, but that was ok as it had a very short line. The mini golf is in great shape and the course across the road is one of the best looking I've ever seen.

As for those Hellcat operations I mentioned, it's no secret Timber Falls has implemented some changes to save money. From what I experienced, for Hellcat to run it has to either have a full train, or have atleast five minutes between rides if the train isn't full (the times seemed to depend on the ride op.) With the small crowds Timber Falls pulls on the ride side, getting a full train isn't always easy. On one of my rides, I sat in the train alone for about 7 minutes until the ride op closed all the restraints and got ready to dispatch the ride, only for more people to come up so the restraints were unlocked to let them on. Now, I understand the need to save money, but this makes getting 5 rides very time consuming and there is no warning of this before you board. The ride itself is still smooth, full of airtime and just plain fun, but just beware that a visit for what should be a quick five rides, may take up to 25 - 30 minutes depending on the crowds.

Mount Olympus: Mount Olympus in general just has a pretty bad reputation. The fact that they call themselves is a theme park is laughable. Really, it's a waterpark that just happens to have some go karts and coasters as well. Nothing more. Going in with those expectations may somewhat help improve an experience. The ride ops were actually slightly better than in past years, and the park was pretty clean, had a surprisingly good selection of food, and a new dj by the wave pool adds a nice atmosphere to the lower waterpark. As for the rides themselves:

Lost City of Atlantis: This new for 2012 waterpark addition brings 7 new slides to the park ranging from kiddie to family. The slides are fun, but nothing amazing. You will stay very, very wet thanks to water guns aimed at the slide lines and the giant geysers which will absolutely soak you.

Pegasus: This ride just ran weird. It wasn't "rough" but it was..bouncy. It was just weird.

Cyclops: Pretty smooth except for the last big turn. Still full of airtime and you gotta love its restraints that come no where close to touching you.

Zeus: Doesn't do much, a little air, rough. It's a one and done.

Hades: In it's current state, it really sends you to hell and back. It's still fun with its steep drop and crazy tunnel, but it's not exactly a ride you could marathon, even in the front seat. It's a shame as it used to be so much better. It still has enough going for it to bring me back for another ride, but at its current rate of self destruction I'm not sure how much longer that will last. It also will not be released with any empty seats, so if you're a single rider you may be moved to another seat in the train to help fill it up.

I like to write as you can clearly see, but here is what I know you all really care about, the pictures. Enjoy.

[Jerrykoala2112Jo My Oh!]

What a very nice and in depth trip report! I try to make it to the Dells every year, or at least every other year. It's a fun place to go for coasters (not so good ones,) mini golf, and amazing water parks. I agree that Hellcat is an amazing ride, and am glad Timber Falls is doing a great job keeping the park nice and tidy. The log flume is one of my favorites that I've been on, good theming and fun layout.

Mount Olympus, I agree on everything. It's not my favorite water park, but I love the old mat slides in the upper water park. I just feel like they lack the collection that Wilderness and Noah's Ark have, and Mt. Olympus is HUGE! Oh well, I just hope they add more slides to fill up all the empty room.

[TJ27Have I mentioned how awesome donkeys are?]

Great trip report!! I've never been to the Dells which is surprising considering how many times I've been to Wisconsin. I want to go but just for the credits because the parks all seem ghetto to me.

[B.A.BDonkeys are my way of life!]

I just wish the raft lines weren't so long. They're good slides, but I don't think they're really worth the waits they get. IMO they should do away with some of the extra hotel parking by the second entrance and add some newer generation slides there.

Great report too, it seems like every time I go to Mt. O , I somehow manage to barely take any pictures.

[andrewb94I Guess Donkeys Are Okay]

What a wonderful park and trip report! Looks so much more pleasant than Cedar Point. [Is this sucking up enough for you?]

[molemaster43A not-so-awesome title]

Nice TR Jon! I really liked some of the your Timber Falls shots, especially the nights ones of the mini golf course and Avalanche! And I agree, the Hades sign does look pretty epic

[sethdawg17I Guess Donkeys Are Okay]

Great trip report! The Dells has so much potential and I agree the rides need better maintenance. Hopefully I can get up there soon!

[Philrad71Don't put that donkey on the floor!]

Nice report!

I was sorry that I missed Hellcat when we were there last year as that seems to have the reputation as the best ride in the Dells.

Although I have to say that even though I thought Hades was a little rough, I enjoyed my ride on it in the front seat at night. It just seemed crazy fast and out of control for the entire ride. After coming back and reading all the negative reports of the ride, I felt lucky that I seemed to have caught it on a good night. Either that, or it could have been the cocktails we had at the campground before we walked over to the park for the late night rides that loosened me up a bit?

Mt. Olympus was definitely a quirky park, but I still wished that we would have had more time to enjoy it. When we were there, it was cold and rainy so we really had to push ourselves to do a couple of slides and that demonic wave pool! Being that the weather was horrid, that made the indoor park a zoo as everyone at the resort tried to cram into there...they could definitely use an expansion to that indoor park as well.

Would love to go back and visit Noah's Ark!