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originally posted on 5/27/2021

As the unofficial beginning of summer approaches, many begin to dream of amusement parks, beaches and road trips. Are you thinking about hitting the road this summer to visit some amusement parks you have always dreamed of or those of your childhood? Are you returning to a park for your annual vacation? Many coaster enthusiasts are excited to repeat their summer traditions in 2021.

Elizabeth Ringas remembers growing up dreaming of her family’s annual summer visit to Carowinds in North Carolina. Her parents weren’t fans of amusement parks, so she kept the tradition alive by ensuring she earned the free ticket given in her county each year for having perfect attendance! Now that she is a parent, she created her own tradition: her family visits one amusement park each summer that they have never visited before. Elizabeth shared that she loves this because it creates a level of excitement and anticipation but allows them all to come together for planning and strategy conversations ahead of time.

Elizabeth Ringas with friends at Carowinds.
Photo: Elizabeth Ringas Collection. View full-sized image.

Each spring, Cy Kidd makes a return pilgrimage to two of what he considers to be the country’s best theme parks, Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Kings Dominion, which also happen to be within a two-hour drive of his home in Washington, DC, barring heavy DC traffic. It’s a chance to catch up with friends and fellow coaster enthusiasts, take a spin on some of the best coasters in the world, see what’s new or has changed in the off season and take in the comforting sights and sounds that he can get only in an amusement park. He describes it as a homecoming and a wonderful way to start the season.

Cy Kidd and friends at Kings Dominion.
Photo: Cy Kidd Collection. View full-sized image.

Lake George, New York, has been a vacation destination for Mark Rosenzweig since the late 1970s, and while some things have changed, the charm of the village with its amusements, shops and restaurants remains. The Great Escape continues to thrive thanks to a combination of its original “Storytown” roots and modern-day Six Flags ride investments. The Comet, an often forgotten coaster these days, continues to run amazingly well. For Rosenzweig, it is rewarding to see his family appreciate his primary childhood vacation destination – whether it is reliving memories at Great Escape, swimming in the lake, playing skee ball and mini golf or enjoying a romp through the House of Frankenstein in Lake George Village.

Mark and Amanda Rosenzweig with their kids.
Photo: Mark Rosenzweig. View full-sized image.

Dave Hahner’s family always visits their local and regional parks every year. Living in Pittsburgh, they naturally go to Kennywood but also always try to get to surrounding area parks such as Idlewild, Lakemont, DelGrosso’s, Fun Fore All, Waldameer, Knoebels and Conneaut Lake Park. As great as those parks are, the Hahners are always craving more! They purchase Cedar Fair platinum season passes to visit Cedar Point and Kings Island every summer and more recently became Hersheypark passholders. All of these parks offer wonderful, fun-filled attractions that the Hahners love to experience over and over again. Many of the parks ooze with nostalgia, such as Knoebels, Waldameer and Kennywood.

The Hahners usually plan at least one longer trip for the year that involves more extensive travel and usually involves ACE’s Coaster Con. But, other years, they like to make their own plans and head to such wonderful parks as Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Dollywood and the amazing Orlando theme parks, from Fun Spot America to Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World. 2020 was challenging during the pandemic. A shorter season and more travel restrictions kept them closer to home and not as adventurous. Still, they managed one trip to Hersheypark with day trips to whatever local parks were open. So far, 2021 is looking much more promising, and they can’t wait for Coaster Con in eastern Pennsylvania this June!

Some questions to consider as summer approaches:

• Will you keep a tradition alive this summer or will you start a new one as we exit the worst of this pandemic?
• Do you love the adventure of a new park, the excitement of planning the road trip or the familiarity of visiting the same park each year?
• Where will you visit?
• How far do you want to travel? Are you flying or driving?
• Do you want to visit a park in a cooler or warmer part of the country?

As you embark on your 2021 adventures, we have some tips to avoid pitfalls such as those Chevy Chase experienced on his visit to Wally World!

Tips for the initial planning:

• Check the park’s operating calendar. Owing to staffing shortages, many parks are closed on unexpected days. Reservations may be required because of limited capacity.
• Investigate what other parks are located on your route or near the primary park you have chosen to visit. The rcdb.com site is a great resource for this!
• Consider driver safety and plan a solid night’s sleep between park visits.
• Investigate other attractions that you might enjoy visiting. Are any nearby?
• Plan your budget.
• Know the COVID-19 precautions required by the park.

Budget planning tips:

• Check the ACE calendar to see if any events are occurring when you are visiting.
• Check for a member discount at the park(s) you are visiting.
• Check other discount sources like AAA, Costco or Sam’s Club.
• Book your hotels as early as possible for the best rates and selection since many are operating at lower capacity.
• Check out the offerings for all-day dining or beverage plans.
• Consider a season pass. If you are visiting multiple parks in a single chain or visiting for multiple days, a season pass may offer a cheaper option than multiple single-day tickets.
• Maximize reward points by staying within the same family of hotels.
• Investigate hotels in the same price range that include a free breakfast and/or happy hour.
• Find out whether discount tickets, parking or meal plans are available online for advance purchase.

What will make the trip extra special? Consider whether you...

• need time to rest in the afternoon back at the hotel.
• treasure front-of-the-line access.
• want to take a day off mid-trip.
• want to plan time to eat at some local restaurants outside the parks.
• want to explore other aspects of a city, such as historical sites, museums, zoos, wineries or breweries.
• want time to visit friends or family in the area.

Are you traveling with non-coaster riders or riders who are not enthusiasts?

• Have an honest conversation about everyone’s goals for the trip, because it is important to still be friends when you return!
• Are you all okay separating to do what you each enjoy, or do you want to experience all aspects of the trip together?
• Do your nonenthusiast friends understand what a day in the park may look like for you?
• Check in midway through the trip to ensure that everyone feels their interests are being respected.

Tips for traveling with young children:

• What are the COVID-19 precautions for children? Are children required to wear a mask?
• Consider how to incorporate rides throughout the day that children will enjoy.
• Will the children need to nap so everyone enjoys their day? Can they nap on the go?
• Will you take a stroller or rent one?
• Do the parks you are visiting offer baby swap?
• Can you meet friends or travel with another couple who can take turns watching your child?
• Does the park offer rides appropriate for the child’s age?
• Will the food offerings fit your needs?
• Is there a special childcare location for diaper changes and nursing rooms?
• Is there a preventive lost child program? Many parks offer a wristband with an emergency phone number.
• Do you have an emergency meeting location or plan if you are separated?

Most important tip for a great day: arrive early and pack your patience. Happy riding as you hit the roads and rails this summer!

American Coaster Enthusiasts is a nonprofit, volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation, promotion, appreciation and safe enjoyment of roller coasters. With 6,000 members worldwide, ACE is the largest and longest-running enthusiast organization in the world. Members of ACE receive exclusive park benefits, newsletters, magazines and the opportunity to attend national, local and even international tours at parks. You can enjoy the benefits of members today! Join at join.aceonline.org.

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