Monday's Question of the Day - May 4, 2015

MoochNNoodles · May 3, 2015

How do you feel about amusement parks? Roller coasters? Go-carts? Funnel cake?

We had a little family BBQ this weekend and my kids got to ride on a battery powered 4 wheeler. My 5 year old took right to it and LOVED making it go faster! My little guy; well he needs to learn to watch where he is driving! (My Dad is so proud of my 5 year old; he used to drag race for real.

) So that lead to lots of discussions about DH and Papa taking my kids on roller coasters and all the rides while my mother and I enjoy the funnel cake.

I used to like some tamer rides; but I've gotten a lot more motion sensitive now. Even some video games make me dizzy and give me a wicked headache! It's just not worth attempting to ride anything. I've never been into go-carts either. But from the look on my 5 year old's face; we will be visiting some go-cart tracks as soon as she is big enough!

micknsnicks2mom · May 4, 2015

i enjoy the rides at amusement parks, but not the long lines or the costs. the long lines and the (high) costs cancel out the enjoyment i might have on the rides, at least for me. so i have no interest in going to amusement parks.

at a smaller scale amusement park, where the lines aren't a mile long and the costs aren't as high, i think i'd be able to enjoy myself.

i've never driven a go-cart, but i would be interested in trying that. i've also never had a funnel cake.

Winchester · May 4, 2015

OMGosh, give me the worst roller coaster ride on the face of this earth and I'll be yours forever and a day. We love the coasters. We've hit pretty much all of the large amusement parks on the east coast, as far in as Ohio. And all we ever do is walk around, from one coaster to the next, to the next, and to the next. Sit down coasters, stand up coasters, we love them all.

There was a coaster at Busch Gardens in Virginia that finally got the best of me. The Drachen Fire. Usually after we've ridden a coaster once, we can pretty well determine where the real head banging against the seat is going to happen and we can prepare ourselves. That coaster? Knocked me for a loop. I rode it once (Rick says I rode it three times, trying to figure it out) and never went back. There were people trying to walk off that ride and walking into bushes and becoming physically ill from that thing. It may have lasted 4-5 years, but I know it wasn't there long; it had a reputation of being a really nasty ride.

We always need either the front seat or the very back seat and we'll wait for as long as it takes to get one or the other.

I think our son rode his first coaster when he was 8. I tried to tell him that he was too young, but he threw a terrible tantrum. He fit the height requirements, so on the coaster with me he went. And he's never looked back. In fact, when he was in his senior year of college, he went to France. Well, while he was gone, Rick and I decided to go to Kennywood, which was an amusement park in western PA (around the Pittsburgh area). Our son was very upset that we were going to an amusement part he had never visited. He was going to France, the snot, and he was upset because we were going to an amusement park.....without him.

There are no other rides worth riding. And that's that!

We haven't been to an amusement park in years. Since I have those blown disks in my lower back, we are hesitant. We really miss the coasters and by now, we know there are a whole bunch of them we haven't ridden. We can't go. There is no way that I could go to the park and not ride any coasters. I'd probably kill my back at this point.

Kat0121 · May 4, 2015

DD and I went to Universal Orlando in February and Disney World in March. I think I'm done. DW tickets are now $107 a day. We got lucky. We bought our tickets right before they hiked up the price AGAIN and we bought them from UCF. They sell them to students at a discounted rate so we paid $75.

I paid $4 for a bottled water that I can get at Wal Mart for $1. The rides weren't worth the wait, either. We waited 90 minutes behind the most obnoxious children on the face of the earth for the Peter Pan ride at DW.

Roller coasters? No thanks. If I was meant to be that high off the ground, I'd have wings.

Funnel cakes are delicious. DD and I had one at Epcot. I would suggest asking them to go easy on the powdered sugar. DD and I looked like extras from the Johnny Depp movie Blow when we were done with them. They were worth it though!

jcat · May 4, 2015

Unfortunately, all our nieces and nephews are well past the age where we can take them to amusement parks, and there aren't any great nieces or nephews in sight! I've always loved amusement parks, especially roller coasters, bumping cars and flumes. The best parks are those with a general admission that covers all rides - I could spend 8 - 10 hours there. :lol3:

Funnel cake is something I haven't had in ages. It always reminds me of Lancaster County, PA.

sneakymom · May 4, 2015

Winchester said:
OMGosh, give me the worst roller coaster ride on the face of this earth and I'll be yours forever and a day. We love the coasters. We've hit pretty much all of the large amusement parks on the east coast, as far in as Ohio. And all we ever do is walk around, from one coaster to the next, to the next, and to the next. Sit down coasters, stand up coasters, we love them all.

There was a coaster at Busch Gardens in Virginia that finally got the best of me. The Drachen Fire. Usually after we've ridden a coaster once, we can pretty well determine where the real head banging against the seat is going to happen and we can prepare ourselves. That coaster? Knocked me for a loop. I rode it once (Rick says I rode it three times, trying to figure it out) and never went back. There were people trying to walk off that ride and walking into bushes and becoming physically ill from that thing. It may have lasted 4-5 years, but I know it wasn't there long; it had a reputation of being a really nasty ride.

We always need either the front seat or the very back seat and we'll wait for as long as it takes to get one or the other.

I think our son rode his first coaster when he was 8. I tried to tell him that he was too young, but he threw a terrible tantrum. He fit the height requirements, so on the coaster with me he went. And he's never looked back. In fact, when he was in his senior year of college, he went to France. Well, while he was gone, Rick and I decided to go to Kennywood, which was an amusement park in western PA (around the Pittsburgh area). Our son was very upset that we were going to an amusement part he had never visited. He was going to France, the snot, and he was upset because we were going to an amusement park.....without him.

There are no other rides worth riding. And that's that!

We haven't been to an amusement park in years. Since I have those blown disks in my lower back, we are hesitant. We really miss the coasters and by now, we know there are a whole bunch of them we haven't ridden. We can't go. There is no way that I could go to the park and not ride any coasters. I'd probably kill my back at this point.

I had to look it up online. We live an hour from BG Wiliamsburg and have season passes there. Drachen Fire closed in 1998, and was dismantled. I can't remember what was put in it's place.

sneakymom · May 4, 2015

As I said in the post above, we've got season passes to BG Williamsburg. And the water park. Got them a few years ago, they weren't obnoxious. It's a nice thing to be able to go do during the summer. If we go to both parks at least 1x/ year the pass pays for itself since we don't have to pay for parking. Sometimes we do food there, sometimes not. I don't know how much longer we will keep our kids on there, they're both in college and it just gets hard getting them there. Dh and I will probably keep ours though. My 15 year old niece LOVES amusement parks, the last few times my family has visited we've made it a point to go to BG with her.

I've gone on 2 rollercoasters there. Alpengeist, and Verbolten (new in 2012). They have a new one that just opened that I won't go on- but I showed a video of it to my niece, we have a friend who works with the construction company that built it, and she can't wait to try it LOL.

Cheryl

Draco · May 4, 2015

I love amusement parks. I love Disney World.. but I agree, the long lines makes it less fun. Every year my sister, nieces, and mom would go to an Amusement park for Halloween (Trick or treat for the kids). We usually go to Hershey's Park. When the kids were younger, we've gone to Sesame Street (thumbs down on this one), and to Story Book Land (great place for toddlers!).

There's a smaller amusement park a few miles from where I now live- Adventureland. I want to take my nieces there this summer, to check it out. I haven't gone since I was a toddler. Looks like it'll be fun for them at least!

I used to LOVE roller coasters.. now I am a bit wary of them, though I still go on them. I refuse to go on wooden roller coasters.. I don't like how they look or sound or feel.

Last time I went Go Karting when I was about 14 years old, give or take. I lost control of my kart.. nearly ran into the worker who was signaling to people to pull the cars in at the end of the race.. and knocked out 4 tires that lined the course. I was OK, but had pretty bad burn on my neck from the seat belt. Never went again after, lol.

Kat0121 · May 4, 2015

Draco said:
I love amusement parks. I love Disney World.. but I agree, the long lines makes it less fun. Every year my sister, nieces, and mom would go to an Amusement park for Halloween (Trick or treat for the kids). We usually go to Hershey's Park. When the kids were younger, we've gone to Sesame Street (thumbs down on this one), and to Story Book Land (great place for toddlers!).

There's a smaller amusement park a few miles from where I now live- Adventureland. I want to take my nieces there this summer, to check it out. I haven't gone since I was a toddler. Looks like it'll be fun for them at least!

I used to LOVE roller coasters.. now I am a bit wary of them, though I still go on them. I refuse to go on wooden roller coasters.. I don't like how they look or sound or feel.

Last time I went Go Karting when I was about 14 years old, give or take. I lost control of my kart.. nearly ran into the worker who was signaling to people to pull the cars in at the end of the race.. and knocked out 4 tires that lined the course. I was OK, but had pretty bad burn on my neck from the seat belt. Never went again after, lol.

I'm a former Long Island girl. I remember Adventureland. I didn't know it was still around.

Willowy · May 4, 2015

I love roller coasters

. I don't like much of the other aspects of amusement parks though. And I will NOT go on free-fall or spinny rides, nope!

We took my niece and nephew to Disney World last year and they didn't really like it. Seems odd, they were 6 and 8 last year so we thought they were old enough. We took my nephew on one roller coaster and that was it for him. My niece refused all "scary" rides and freaked out on one mild ride because the seat belt wouldn't release fast enough after the ride so she felt trapped. We're going to try again this year (my mom got some package deal) and hopefully they'll have more fun this time. Their parents, my other brother and I had a blast though! I think Disney is more for the grownups who wish they were kids again than for the actual kids :tongue2:.

Draco · May 4, 2015

Kat0121 said:
I'm a former Long Island girl. I remember Adventureland. I didn't know it was still around.

Hi Kat!

It is still around

I didn't think it was in "good shape" or clean, but a girl scout troop went last year and they said it was great. So I figured we'll check it out at least! it'll be good to kill a few hours in a day.

Columbine · May 4, 2015

I must be unique - I've never been to an amusement park. Never been particularly attracted to them. When I was a kid I always thought horses were more interesting :lol3:

Kat0121 · May 4, 2015

Columbine said:
I must be unique - I've never been to an amusement park. Never been particularly attracted to them. When I was a kid I always thought horses were more interesting

You're right. They are.

We went to Universal because I got roped into taking my niece and nephew. My FIL asked me to take them when they were sitting 2 feet away from me.

They are great kids. we did have fun despite the fact that it rained all day the first day we were there. Disney was what DD wanted for her birthday. I would have been better off spending time with horses. they don't charge $4 for a bottle of water!!

swampwitch · May 4, 2015

I'm not much of an adrenaline junkie any more, but I'll go along if everyone else is going. As long as the weather isn't too hot, there's usually a lot of fun stuff to see and do. I've never had funnel cakes, but the little donuts they make right there are really good, I love those little things.

sisco1111 · May 4, 2015

I don't do rollar coasters. Even the mini ones.

I prefer water rides. Like lake of the Ozarks in Silver Dollar City. I don't even do the Swinging boat rides!

Willowy · May 4, 2015

We took backpacks full of bottled water and packaged snacks into Disney so we never had to pay park prices for water or little snacks. We bought a case of water at Walmart (mainly because the hotel tap water tasted like sulphur!) so it was cheap. They checked our bags at the entrance and never said anything so I guess they don't care if you bring water/snacks in.

MoochNNoodles · May 4, 2015

sisco1111 said:
I don't do rollar coasters. Even the mini ones.

I prefer water rides. Like lake of the Ozarks in Silver Dollar City. I don't even do the Swinging boat rides!

Water rides I can do! I've always loved water slides especially!!

Willowy said:
We took backpacks full of bottled water and packaged snacks into Disney so we never had to pay park prices for water or little snacks. We bought a case of water at Walmart (mainly because the hotel tap water tasted like sulphur!) so it was cheap. They checked our bags at the entrance and never said anything so I guess they don't care if you bring water/snacks in.

It's funny; i look at things differently now that I'm a Mom. I see myself as the one getting stuck carrying that backpack and pushing the stroller in the heat.

My Mom and Step-dad are the ones pushing us to do a Disney trip with our kids. DD is at the age where she'd LOVE to see the princesses especially. DS is super into Mickey Mouse. We will do it for them eventually; but I'm not that excited about rides or anything like that.

Kat0121 · May 4, 2015

Willowy said:
We took backpacks full of bottled water and packaged snacks into Disney so we never had to pay park prices for water or little snacks. We bought a case of water at Walmart (mainly because the hotel tap water tasted like sulphur!) so it was cheap. They checked our bags at the entrance and never said anything so I guess they don't care if you bring water/snacks in.

They don't care if you bring in outside food and drink. a lot of people do. I didn't this time because I would have been the one who had to lug everything around. DH and I used to take empty water or soda bottles and fill them with vodka or whatever and spike sodas or lemonade that we bought there.

They don't have the time to check every bottle. Brown liquid in a Coke bottle, clear in a water bottle and you're good to go!

Willowy · May 4, 2015

Yeah, we put like 4 bottles of water into each adult's bag and 1 or 2 for the kids so they wouldn't be too heavy. If we ran out we'd refill at a water fountain. And of course we would get lemonades or other yummy drinks at the park---we just didn't want to pay for WATER :tongue2:.

I didn't say anything about funnel cakes! Yummy! I always get one at the riverside arts festival every year. I don't think I've ever had one at an amusement park though; just local fairs/festivals/etc.

I thought my niece would like to see the princesses but I guess she's too shy for that. She wouldn't even consider it. Ah well, I was like that at her age too.

Kat0121 · May 4, 2015

Willowy said:
Yeah, we put like 4 bottles of water into each adult's bag and 1 or 2 for the kids so they wouldn't be too heavy. If we ran out we'd refill at a water fountain. And of course we would get lemonades or other yummy drinks at the park---we just didn't want to pay for WATER

.

I didn't say anything about funnel cakes! Yummy! I always get one at the riverside arts festival every year. I don't think I've ever had one at an amusement park though; just local fairs/festivals/etc.

I thought my niece would like to see the princesses but I guess she's too shy for that. She wouldn't even consider it. Ah well, I was like that at her age too.

The first time we brought DD to the magic kingdom, she was 3. She was in heaven. She and I waited for about 90 minutes in the rain to meet Ariel, the little mermaid. We finally got up to meet her and she took a bunch of pictures. In DD's mind, she was meeting the real Ariel and it was like someone getting to meet Elvis back in the day. It was adorable. The girl playing Ariel was great. She was so patient and gave her lots of hugs, took lots of pictures and signed her little autograph book. DD is 20 now but it feels like that was yesterday.

Monday's Question of the Day - May 4, 2015

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In the kitchen with my cookies

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Mo(w)gli's can opener

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NOT Malfoy!

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NOT Malfoy!

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