TRIP REPORT - South Florida Fair

As part of a Jazz Band field trip, I got to miss school to hang out at the South Florida Fair today. I wasn't sure about what to expect, but let me say that the SFF exeeced my so-called expectations. Here is a breakdown of the rides.

 

Turbo Force - aka Kantanga

 

This Turbo Force is a classic fairground ride - four per car, two cars attatched to a 130 foot pole. The pole spins around as the cars flip due to gravity. I went on this four times; it was an amazing ride with short yet fast-moving waits. Basically, the ride is going to hurt on the first part and feel comfortable on the second part (while you're suspended in the air waiting for the other car to load). The view when you're up there is amazing.

 

10/10

 

Space Loop - aka Ripsaw

 

This is just like the Ripsaw at Alton Towers minus the water, only that gravity is not used here; it's completely mechanical. Michael and I went on this twice. It was a severe nut-squisher. Basically, the arms move a bit and you do a backflip. Basically, as Michael screamed while on the ride, "IT'S THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WTF?"

 

7/10

 

Coaster 1

 

This was a close copy of Wildcat at Cedar Point. Fun, but heavily braked and not enough airtime.

 

6/10

 

Crazy Mouse

 

Yeah, they had a crazy mouse. This one didn't spin too bad, although I do remember taking a couple drops backwards. There was a photo on this one, on the drop before the spinning starts.

 

7.5/10

 

Coaster 3

 

This was another Wildcat-ish coaster with a bigger drop and an extra helix. There was a photo on the first drop.

 

7/10

 

Chance Revolution

 

Yeah, they had a Chance Revolution here. This one was running on a medium program - lots of spinning but never going above vertical. It was only me and Michael on this ride, so it was kind of quiet. Good for some relaxing fun, but not very intense or thrilling.

 

6.5/10

 

Yo-Yo - aka "Built in a field!"

 

This was a chairswings with some zip on it. At a couple points on the ride you were banked about 75 degrees. I crashed into the vacant chair in front of me a couple times because of the intensity. The reason for this ride's nickname is because, like some of the rides at William's Grove, it was partially built in a field. Yes, partially. Roughly one-half of the ride was on cement and the other was on grass. *shrugs*

 

8/10

 

Rainbow - aka "Basher"

 

What the hell? This thing hurt like hell! It was me and Michael sitting together. Every time we went up, we experienced what the Fair called "Side Forces". What that translates to is "Being Rammed Against The Side Of The Car And Your Partner". I wouldn't do this again.

 

2/10

 

Top Scan - aka "Scantron"

 

There was literally no one going on the "Scantron". I wondered why because most Top Scans I'd been on were running mild programs that were designed to thrill, not to nauseate.

 

NOT WITH THE FLORIDA FAIR.

 

As me and Michael stepped on and waited for the shoulder harnesses to come down, we were wondering if this was going to be a nut crusher. After the ride, we wondered why we were such idiots.

 

This Top Scan ran an intense program.

 

I have never thrown up or gotten nauseous after a ride at a theme park, and I was just about to toss my cookies after this one. Frontflips, backflips, barrel rolls, all while spinning in random directions. I don't think we were ever straight once. My head was constantly being bashed to the right, and same with Michael's. After the ride, Michael couldn't stand, and I felt so nauseous that I had to sit down and rest my head between my legs in the shade for ten minutes.

 

1/10

 

Pirate Ship - aka "Michael Prigal Monument"

 

After the Top Scan, we decided to go on the Pirate Ship to calm down our senses a bit. It was normal. Didn't go too high, was kind of long. What made this ride so great is that afterwards, as me and Eric (the chicken who refuses to go upside-down) were exiting the ride, Michael lagged behind, pushing himself along on the rail. As he got to the exit, where a trash bin was located, he suddenly collapsed.

 

Only thirty seconds later did Eric tell me, "Dude, slow down, we're losing Michael."

 

I turned around and saw him resting on the side of his legs on the ground near the trash bin, with his hands to support him. All of a sudden, I saw him retch and witnessed the slightest bit of orange come out of his mouth. I turned away.

 

Ten seconds later I looked back and a huge pile of orange chunks (presumably from the chili dog he ate an hour ago) was spread on the ground. At the same time, he bounced up and exclaimed, "I'm fine. What are we gonna ride next?"

 

I rolled on the ground laughing.

 

5/10

 

Bumper Cars

 

Cheap, inefficient, and fragile.

 

3.5/10

 

Haunted House - aka "2¢"

 

This did appear to be made with two cents. You step into a car and turn a corner. A light flahses. Turn another corner. A face lights up. Turn another corner. Another face lights up. Turn a fourth corner. A face lights up. Turn again. You're done.

 

0/10

 

House Of Mirrors - aka "Labrynith"

 

WTF? People said this was so hard yet I never had trouble on this one. It was fun because after you finished with the mirror part, you got to slide down a twisting spiral thingy.

 

3/10

 

Fun House

 

This fun house featured wobbling stairs, a moving walkway split in half, a couple of twisty turny thingies, stairs shifting up and down, stairs shifting forwards and backwards, a random walkway with metal rollers, and a rolling barrel that wasn't working.

 

4/10

 

---------------

 

Overall, it was a fun day, seeing as I spent most of my time on Kantaga and the roller coasters. Oh yeah, we did play some jazz there, but that's beside the point. If you're going to visit the South Florida Fair, buy the unlimited ride wristband for $25, and only ride Kantanga (Turbo Force), the Chance Revolution, and the roller coasters. And don't ride the Top Scan.

Sounds like pure fun.

 

I am surprised you could takr motr rides after being sick, as for me this is the point when I can not get inside any ride. When I read about you riding the pirate ship I was sure at the end of it someone will be very sick as this is not a ride that heals nausea.

What the hell?

 

I woke up today and I have a big bruise on my chest, presumably from being thrown forwards into Turbo Force's restraints too many times.

 

Also, one thing I forgot to add - Big Ben was closed for the entire day.

Man, I wish the OC Fair was like this. Oh well, sounds like you guys had fun!

---Brent