TR: Rye Playland 7/13/03
Mark Rosenzweig
company, or method succeed while others fail? Perhaps only those that
win really know.
In my eyes, true success has more to do with longevity than anything
else. If a park or specific ride is popular out of the gate, but then
dies off in a year or two, I hardly consider it to be a success. It
is for that reason that signficant park anniversaries celebrate more
than just the specific number of years they have been open, they also
celebrate longevity.
Playland Park in Rye, NY is historically signficant in many ways. It
was the first planned amusement park. In other words, Playland was a
thought out concept, not just a plot of land where rides would be
randomly plopped everywhere. Today, Playland is one of the only (and
certainly the largest) amusement parks owned and operated by its
respective county. At 75 years old, Playland has entered a
prestigious group of elder parks that continue to entertain guests. I
used to come here with my grandparents. I fully plan on bringing my
grandchildren.
There really isn't any park in America that can be compared to
Playland. The art deco architecture, seaside atmosphere, and overall
traditional feel of Playland all combines to make up one of the great
amusement park scenes anywhere.
"I Wish I Were...Big." Yes, this park is probably best known in movie
terms for having several scenes from Tom Hank's 1988 masterpiece "Big"
filmed there. Mariah Carey held a party in the parking lot and on the
Dragon Coaster during the filming of her "Fantasy" video.
Playland is by no means a huge park, but it is certainly large enough
to fill a day...if you have the money. Without a doubt the most
frustrating thing about Playland is the absence of any POP option.
Guests must fork over between 2-4 tickets per ride (with tickets
costing $1.25 each; slightly less per ticket if purchased in books).
So, it is quite easy to go through quite a bit of money in a short
period of time.
The upside to this is that lines are rarely even remotely an issue
(even on a summer Saturday). Plus, Playland does not sit on its
earnings. They are constantly making new investments into both
infrastructure and new rides (notice how these two areas have recently
seemed to be lacking in many large POP theme parks?) Bottom line: if
you're traveling from far and wide and don't visit Playland often, you
will have to drop between $30-$40 in tickets alone to experience all
of Playland's best rides at least once. If you're a local, Playland
offers a nice alternative to large themers in the NYC area, where one
can go, ride a ride or two, have dinner, play some mini golf, and call
it a night.
Amanda and I made a quick trip to Playland on our way back to Jersey
(convenient way to avoid the Cross Bronx is to drive 40 miles out of
the way for a ride or two).
While lacking a world class coaster, Playland makes up for this in the
way of one of America's best mixes of modern and antique flat rides.
And dark rides? after the rehab job to Zombie Castle and the Old
Mill, this is now one of America's dark ride capitals (with the double
level Flying Witch finishing off the trifecta).
Playland's Old Mill went from nostalgic to a poor man's Disney ride.
The ride now has its own identity and soundtrack. The ride now has
far more going on in the way of stunts and tricks, but has also
maintained several long stretches of inky black make out corridors.
Zombie Castle is perhaps the most intense dark ride in the country if
that makes any sense. The scenes, sound, and overall feel of this
ride are just incredible. Not a ride for the youngins.
Flying Witch is still a better than average ride thru, but has more
standard tricks. Still, this multi level ride gives a good 4 minute
ride or so, and the tricks all seem to work.
We had a great, long ride on the Derby Racer (so glad the
foward/backward motions work again on this thing). From top to
bottom, Rye's Derby really puts CP's to shame. It runs at a far
greater speed (I think Jim reported in his TR about 20 RPM?). This
coupled with the dance show put on by the ride ops leaping on and off
the platform really makes this ride. For the 75th, Playland had all
of the M.C. Illions horses restored to their 1928 colors- they really
look great.
With eight tickets left, a ride on the Dragon Coaster was in order.
While we can gripe all we want about the Morgan Trains (especially
with the P&C lead car situated next to the onride photo booth-
available for photo ops), the Dragon is still a reliable classic,
whose aim is fun over thrills. The last row of the train still gives
a nice pop of air going down the first drop, and the third drop while
getting farted out the back of the Dragon. Amazing layout, less than
thrilling ride, but fine in a classic sense- it wouldn't be Rye
Playland without it.
Walked the rest of the park, noting new paint on the Kiddie Coaster,
and Mangels/Carmel Carousel. I believe the Whip cars also got a new
paint job. The new Crazy Mouse (Zamperla Zig Zag Coaster) was down
for some reason, but has apparently been a big hit at the park thus
far. Being that our visit was at night, we didn't opt to ride the
Hopkins Log Flume or Shoot the Chute 12.
Thanks to nice weather, the park was packed- a good sign.
An even better sign? This is the last year for the Hurricane- the
park's S&MC Windstorm Coaster. What will be of the ride's site next
year? Who knows. This site is no stranger to housing coasters
though, as the famous Aeroplane Coaster, then an Allen Herschell Mad
Mouse, and then a Schwarzkopf Wildcat have been located here over the
years. BTW- you know that Lawn Coaster at Williams Grove? That's the
same Wildcat that operated at Rye (and Steel Pier inbetween them).
In a quiet year for the amusement industry, Rye is getting quite a bit
of publicity for the 75th. There will be a regional ACE event at Rye
in early to mid August (I'm hearing August 9).
You want Batman, Rugrats, or Mickey? You know where to go. You want
a high school kid dressed up like a Dragon? Go to Rye. Heck, go to
Rye anyway.
-Mark
Sandy A. Nicolaysen
wrote:
<a great TR snipped for brevity>
>You want Batman, Rugrats, or Mickey? You know where to go. You want
>a high school kid dressed up like a Dragon? Go to Rye. Heck, go to
>Rye anyway.
>
>-Mark
Mark: Thanks for the great trip report. Rye Playland is on our list
of must-do parks this summer. The ACE day might be the perfect time
to visit.
- Sandy
Dave Sandborg
Rosenzweig <ston...@aol.com> wrote:
> There really isn't any park in America that can be compared to
> Playland. The art deco architecture, seaside atmosphere, and overall
> traditional feel of Playland all combines to make up one of the great
> amusement park scenes anywhere.
I agree. Not much here from the coaster standpoint (but the best
bumper cars this side of Knoebels. Well, I guess for most of us
they're the other side of Knoebels, but you know what I mean...
> Guests must fork over between 2-4 tickets per ride (with tickets
> costing $1.25 each; slightly less per ticket if purchased in books).
> So, it is quite easy to go through quite a bit of money in a short
> period of time.
Yes this is a pain. I would ride the Dragon Coaster quite a bit more
if there were a POP. It's a pretty nothing coaster, but it would be
fun for rerides if you didn't have to fork out a lot of money each
time.
> Flying Witch is still a better than average ride thru, but has more
> standard tricks. Still, this multi level ride gives a good 4 minute
> ride or so, and the tricks all seem to work.
Wait...why don't I remember riding the Flying Witch? Don't tell me I
missed something?
> We had a great, long ride on the Derby Racer (so glad the
> foward/backward motions work again on this thing). From top to
> bottom, Rye's Derby really puts CP's to shame. It runs at a far
> greater speed (I think Jim reported in his TR about 20 RPM?).
20 RPM would mean a revolution every 3 seconds. Can it really be that
fast?
> An even better sign? This is the last year for the Hurricane- the
> park's S&MC Windstorm Coaster.
Woohoo! One coaster I'm not sorry to see go. Unless they replaced
those shoulder harnesses with lap bars, which clearly they're not going
to do.
--
Dave Sandborg
Remove Spam-away to respond via e-mail.
Ride of Steel
>ston...@aol.com wrote:
>> An even better sign? This is the last year for the Hurricane- the
>> park's S&MC Windstorm Coaster.
>Woohoo! One coaster I'm not sorry to see go. Unless they replaced
>those shoulder harnesses with lap bars, which clearly they're not going
>to do.
Whoa, the Windstorm has shoulder bars?! That must be awful. I've never heard
of this. Wow. Are the restraints padded?
/kip
Mamoosh
"Mark Rosenzweig" <ston...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:86034ac2.03071...@posting.google.com...
> You want Batman, Rugrats, or Mickey? You know where to
> go. You want a high school kid dressed up like a Dragon?
> Go to Rye. Heck, go to Rye anyway.
Amen, brother Rosenzweig! Great TR, as always.
mOOSH
Rastus O'Ginga
<sand...@Spam-away.ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>
>Wait...why don't I remember riding the Flying Witch? Don't tell me I
>missed something?
It is the 3rd dark ride there, and is officially called the Haunted
Mansion. It is over by the space shot, I believe. Basically right
across the midway from teh Zombie Castle. It has a HUGE facade with
lots of pop culture references. A long ride, similar in setup to the
one in La Ronde. Plus, it has a great head-tipping stunt near the end
and a surprise circus scene that seems way too big to be in the ride.
Hell, I'll post the pics.
http://www.geocities.com/rastuso2/RyeHauntedMansionsfacade2.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/rastuso2/RyeHauntedMansionfacade.jpg
>
>> We had a great, long ride on the Derby Racer (so glad the
>> foward/backward motions work again on this thing). From top to
>> bottom, Rye's Derby really puts CP's to shame. It runs at a far
>> greater speed (I think Jim reported in his TR about 20 RPM?).
>
>20 RPM would mean a revolution every 3 seconds. Can it really be that
>fast?
That'd be like 40 mph. The ride ops would be hopping on and off at
that speed.
Rastus O'Ginga
Winner of the 2nd Annual C. Montgomery Burns Award for
Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence.
"What an awful dream, 1s and 0s everywhere... I thought I saw a 2." - Bender
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Mark Rosenzweig
> 20 RPM would mean a revolution every 3 seconds. Can it really be that
> fast?
>
Big, stinky, room clearing brain fart. If this thing spun at 20 RPM,
we're talking disaster. Probably more like 10-11 RPM.
-Mark
Mark Rosenzweig
> Whoa, the Windstorm has shoulder bars?! That must be awful. I've never heard
> of this. Wow. Are the restraints padded?
>
Rye's Windstorm does not have OTSRs. It runs the first generation
Windstorm trains that have those silver lapbars and pointy headrests
(ouch). The Windstorms at LI Adventureland and Celebration run what
are the second generation Windstorm trains, with flat headrests and
"T" bars- a vast improvement.
The oddball Windstorm is the mirror image at SFoT (Runaway Mountain).
It seems Premier built the trains for it, as the lapbars are big and
bulky, and resemble to a point the bars on SOB and the LIM coasters
that got the lap bar retrofit.
-Mark
Dave Sandborg
My mistake. I remembered those trains to be horribly uncomfortable,
and assumed that was because of shoulder bars. But the fact remains
that they are horribly uncomfortable nonetheless. And that I know for
sure.
jimvid
can't dispute that - I would say that it runs closer to 20mph. Regardless
it puts CP's Cedar Downs to massive shame. To bad you didn't squeeze a
Whip ride in!!!! (car #10)
Great TR as always Mark - can't wait to see you again soon!
All the best,
Jim 'jimvid' McDonnell
"Mark Rosenzweig" <ston...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:86034ac2.03071...@posting.google.com...
Ride of Steel
>Rye's Windstorm does not have OTSRs. It runs the first generation
>Windstorm trains that have those silver lapbars and pointy headrests
>(ouch). The Windstorms at LI Adventureland and Celebration run what
>are the second generation Windstorm trains, with flat headrests and
>"T" bars- a vast improvement.
Why would Rye have the first generation trains and Adventureland have the
second gen. when Adventureland's opened first, right?
Which trains does the OId Town Windstorm have? I go down there a lot, but I
don't uaully pay attention to little details.
>The oddball Windstorm is the mirror image at SFoT (Runaway Mountain).
>It seems Premier built the trains for it, as the lapbars are big and
>bulky, and resemble to a point the bars on SOB and the LIM coasters
>that got the lap bar retrofit.
Funny, when I rode it opening year in '96, there were no "lap" bars, but there
were "chest" bars. It was a circular restraint that rested against your chest.
I love Windstorms.
/kip
Surf Dance Chris
>>Windstorm trains that have those silver lapbars >and pointy headrests
>>(ouch). The Windstorms at LI Adventureland and >Celebration run what
>>are the second generation Windstorm trains, with >flat headrests and
>>"T" bars- a vast improvement.
>
>Why would Rye have the first generation trains and >Adventureland have the
>second gen. when Adventureland's opened first, >right?
>
Adventureland had their trains redone in 2000 (the chassis is basicly the only
original part). I actually prefer the first generation trains. Then again I'm
skinny, and the T bars can accomodate a much vaster audience (the reason for
the change, according to management there). I find the T bars slightly less
comfortable in some of the turns. However, I do still like Adventureland's the
best due to the speed it gets (no need for the advance wheels before the
"inverted loop).
>>Which trains does the OId Town Windstorm have? I >go down there a lot, but I
>don't uaully pay attention to little details.
They have first generation style trains, similar to Rye's and Adventureland 's
old trains. Although I have noticed that the trains on all 3 of the above
mentioned coasters were never exactly the same in style.
"Surf Dance" Chris,
who will ride the Flip "N" Out before any coaster!
http://members.aol.com/surfdancec
#1 Mondial fan- Super Nova, Top Scan, and Shake
"Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads!"
Mark Rosenzweig
> second gen. when Adventureland's opened first, right?
Adventureland didn't actually get new trains, but they simply updated
their existing trains to second generation mode (new bodies, T-bars,
and flat headrests).
>
> Which trains does the OId Town Windstorm have? I go down there a lot, but I
> don't uaully pay attention to little details.
Old Town's Windstorm (the only one from Zamperla) has the older style
lapbars, but flat headrests (no pointy crap like the S&MC models at
Santa Cruz, Rye, and Fun Forest).
>
> Funny, when I rode it opening year in '96, there were no "lap" bars, but there
> were "chest" bars. It was a circular restraint that rested against your > chest.
Same thing today. To me, they pretty much feel the same as SOB/LIM
coaster lapbars. It's no wonder why- Premier brokered Runaway
Mountain and all of the other S&MC Windstorms. Being that Runaway
Mountain was kinda customized (extended station track so it could run
three trains), I'm sure Premier had a hand in that, as well as
building the trains for it.
>
> I love Windstorms.
>
Me too.
-Mark