This past weekend, Catrina and I hopped in the car for a weekend trip to New Jersey. Like usual, we found some odd ball things to mix up with the trip and here are the results.
Day 1 - Six Flags Great Adventure
After the seven hour drive and a good nights sleep at the Willow Grove (Hey, there used to be a park here) Springhill Suites, we found ourselves back in Jackson, NJ.
We arrived at the park right before opening and I already have my $15 parking fee ready FTW.
First stop of the day. Flash Pass is almost a requirement for those with ADD ... like me.
For those who are curious, this is the 2008 pricing breakdown for Flash Passes at Six Flags Great Adventure. If you do plan on utilizing it, I would suggest reserving one online. Our two person regular unit was $4 cheaper online.
Flash Pass is really of no use unless you can use it on all the big attractions. Here, you can even use it on the park's Top Spin, Rapids, Pirate Ship and Motion Simulator.
Wait ... where are we at again? All these trashcans are confusing me.
On our last trip to the park, El Toro was still under construction and the whole area roped off. This means that Catrina had never had the pleasure of experiencing "Rotting Lumber". That had to be remedied.
Our next stop and one of the primary reasons for our visit was El Toro.
The park had early entry for season passholders this day, but El Toro was still a walk on right into the station. And I swear ... Catrina told me to take this picture.
El Toro is a monster sized woodie and all the hype it has received is well deserved. It might very well be the best coaster in the United States.
The steepness of the first drop is uncanny. Not even halfway down the first drop and the ride already fells like it wants to kick you to the curb. But it is only beginning ...
What follows is a barrage of airtime hills.
Just when you think the ride is going to take a break and let you sit down for a second. It smashes you into the lapbar again and through ground level S-curve.
Next up was Medusa where they were running ... gasp ... THREE TRAINS. I haven't mentioned this yet, but I was super impressed by the state of the park. Every ride in the park (with the exception of Dark Knight) opened at 10:30 or before and operations were killer. Kudos.
After an excellent ride on Medusa, we walked over to the Great American Scream Machine. Catrina had never been on it, but upon further observation decided that she felt "way to good" to ruin it with this ride. So instead we used this opportunity to grab a modest photo.
+1 for having the Absolutely Insane running. I think I may have only seen one of these things run before.
Now in Gotham and posing with the local talent.
Even the Penguin was available for photos.
The Virtual Amry Experience appeared to be very popular, but alas, we did not make it inside. Anyone want to enlighten me to what the draw is. I did see people walking around with game discs around their necks. I imagine that each participant got a game demo of some sorts.
The Dark Knight was now up and running and thank god for QBot. Other than cool preshow, you can get the same experience at Hersheypark by riding their Mack Mouse with really dark sunglasses on.
As soon as we entered the gates of The Dark Knight, I queued up Skull Mountain. By the time we got off the ride, it was ready to go.
Skull Mountain just keeps getting better. Not only do you have a fun dark coaster, but you get the extra added awesomeness of death metal, strobe lights and a giant skull staring at you. I can't wait to see what they add next year. Put in a blood river and I am back in a heartbeat.
See ... Catrina is still smiling from the awesomeness that is Skull Mountain.
Yet another attraction that I had never seen running at Great Adventure.
Mr Freeze is probably the best character I have seen yet at a Six Flags park. He was upbeat, quick to a joke and having a blast. He went on and on about how they were the good guys and the Justice League was evil.
Catrina also joined in the fun.
So long, Six Flags Great Adventure. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
Till next time ... eat at Ted's.
