There it is. You’ve been waiting all winter for this. An empty seat. Your seat. To kick off another year of theme park riding.
For many of us, it’s been a long cold winter, but the beautiful sound of a chain lift is only weeks away. To kick off a new season of Coaster Questions, I thought it’d be good to ask, what your first ride of the year will be?
For me, my first ride won’t be as exhilarating as the one pictured above (Wild Eagle). I know that a visit to Carowinds will be my first opportunity to ride. And, it’ll likely be a family trip so my first ride could be the something in Planet Snoopy with my oldest daughter. The junior woodie, Woodstock Express would be a fun way to kick off the year.
How about you? Do you already have your first ride of the year in your sights? What will be your first roller coaster or other theme park ride of the year? Let us know below and Happy Coastering!
March 17, 2013 at 15:40
There is nothing like the first ride of the season! I love the rush of hopping on train, getting strapped in, and pulling out of the station. Then, climbing up the lift before being thrilled for the first time of the season. I hope my first ride will be Goliath at SFOG. I’m craving it so much right now…. Just a few weeks away! Have a great time with your family Joel!
March 17, 2013 at 16:15
Not sure if going to a park yet… If do, my first coaster of the year will be GateKeeper.
March 17, 2013 at 17:37
Gatekeeper on may 11th
March 17, 2013 at 19:02
Most likely Magnum XL-200 at Cedar Point if we use the plan to get through all the coasters in the park with time to spare. If not Magnum then GateKeeper.
March 18, 2013 at 03:46
Gatekeeper at Cedar point on opening day!
March 18, 2013 at 05:33
I was hoping that my first ride would be on El Toro at 6 Flags Great Adventure, but the logistics involved in getting a good deal on a 6 Flags pass seems to have changed that plan. Great Adventure does NOT offer a season pass good at all 6 Flags parks that includes FREE PARKING. Since I hope to hit several 6 Flags parks this year, free parking (at over $20 per day!) is a must.
Sooooooooooo… the current plan for next Saturday, March 23, is to get a pre-dawn start on my drive from Pittsburgh to 6 Flags America in Washington, D.C. where I will obtain a 6 Flags pass that is not only cheaper than the one offered at Great Adventure, but includes free parking at all 6 Flags parks. I’m not sure yet whether I will spend my first day of coaster season there, then head up to Great Adventure to join my friends or just take a ride or 2 before hot-footing it to Great Adventure, hitting both parks on opening day. Great Adventure is to be the site of a large concert that day, complete with famous stars, so it may be in my best interst to save Great Adventure … and my current favorite, El Toro … for Sunday. After that, it’s back to school for 3 days, then off to Dollywood for March 28-29. My recently purchased season pass for that park includes a surprise offer of 50% off Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO where I hope to ride Outlaw Run later this summer.
The only other opening day that I’ve endrued was at Cedar Point a few years ago and I vowed to never again attempt an opening day at that particular park. The crowd was huge, the ride ops were inexperienced and the coaster operations were inconsistent. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this will be a much more pleasant experience.
Joel, how about a quicky post on strategies for surviving opening day at a park? I know I have some of my own ideas, but I wouldn’t mind hearing from others.
2013 … let the coastering begin!!
March 18, 2013 at 18:19
Thanks for your post Judy. I didn’t realise there was a Six Flags near Washington DC. We are also travelling from Pittsburgh with relatives who live there & won’t have time to get to Six Flags Great Adventure, but now may be able to fit in Six Flags America instead. We are buying our Season Passes at Six Flags Magic Mountain. I think theirs one includes parking at all parks. Will look into it!
March 18, 2013 at 06:55
My first ride is going to be the intimidator at carowinds. It is my home park. I have planned two other trips this year which are dollywood and sixflags over goergia.
March 18, 2013 at 12:28
Probably either GateKeeper or Blue Streak
March 18, 2013 at 14:13
Mine will likely be either Rock Bottom Plunge or Avatar Airbender at NickU, this spring break, and since there’s no way that we’ll go out to SDC, and whatever other parks are open in the midwest now.
March 18, 2013 at 17:16
My first ride will be my favorite roller coaster, Nitro! This will be the first time in my coastering life that Nitro will be my first ride of the season, and that six flags great adventure will be the first park I visit. I usually go to dorney before going to six flags but I got my six flags passes early this year and dorney is opening late. Can’t wait to be riding up that lift hill in those comfy seats for my first ride of the year!
March 20, 2013 at 06:42
If you’re going on opening day (March 23), Matt, you’d better brace yourself. There is supposed to be a huge concert in the park with lots of celebrities. Check the Great Adventure website for details. I have changed my plans and will spend Saturday at 6 Flags America, then head up to Great Adventure for a day of fun on Sunday when things will hopefully be a little calmer. El Toro and Nitro, here I come!
March 18, 2013 at 18:10
Our first ride of 2013 will be Giant Dipper at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Followed by whatever else takes our fancy there, then 2 days later hopefully EVERY thrill ride at Six Flags Magic Mountain!!
March 18, 2013 at 22:28
I would LIKE my first ride of 2013 to be Bizarro in SFNE. It unfortunately will probably not happen though, and I am guessing that my first ride this year will be Talon at Dorney (as it usually is).
March 19, 2013 at 19:13
Already had it unfortunately. Mt. Olympus’ Opa. I hate how it takes the corners!
March 19, 2013 at 21:39
You kiddin’ me (I’m so ghetto
)? When I went, it was smoother than Hades! My first ride will be Mr. Freeze @ SFSTL. Like always.
March 19, 2013 at 22:32
First ride of the season will probably be Nitro. Although I love that coaster and have ridden it about 40 times, it would be nice to try something new but that will have to wait until later. Am meeting up with one of my online coaster buddies in person for the first time on Easter, and as Nitro is closer to the park entrance than my all-time favorite, El Toro, Nitro it will most likely be. Boulder Dash, Outlaw Run and Gatekeeper will have to wait until May and June.
March 20, 2013 at 14:29
Although we technically don’t have “seasons” here in Florida, I haven’t been to the local parks in a while so my first ride will most likely be Kumba or Manta depending on whether I go to Seaworld or Busch Gardens first. Didn’t ride either one during my last trips to their respective parks.
March 20, 2013 at 22:31
GateKeeper may 11th
March 21, 2013 at 17:07
Already got my first rides in last month, The Incredible Hulk at IOA, first in 2013. A nice plus was that I got a couple friends on it with me who hadn’t been to the park before and somehow managed to get them in line quick enough that they didn’t realize it was a launched coaster. Surprise! Next up in just a few weeks will be Outlaw Run. Haven’t been to Silver Dollar City before, so I can’t wait to check out Wildfire and Powder Keg as well.
March 22, 2013 at 14:11
Can’t wait for the Cheetah at Wild Adventures!
March 22, 2013 at 14:52
That ride really had some potential and I think they’ve upgraded it a bit since I’ve ridden it. Have fun.
April 3, 2013 at 18:51
Same as every year… Thunderhead at my home park, Dollywood. One of the most fun, for the sake of fun, rides I’ve ever ridden. Despite not being the most intense or thrilling ride I’ve tried, it’s probably my favorite.
April 11, 2013 at 06:19
My first was Intimidator at Carowinds. My family just moved to Raleigh.