5/22 Mount Olympus TR featuring Hades

[w00dland]

PARK: Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park
Crowds: Very light, just assume no wait for anything.
WEATHER: Clear skies until around 4, then partly cloudy

While reading a different forum Monday I saw that Hades had opened earlier than expected, so quick got a trip together of me, my Dad, my sister, and my friend.

Picked up my friend around 7:55 and we were off to the Dells. Traffic was non-exhistant although we did see our fair share of cops on the way up. We made it into the Dells around 9:45 with a park opening time of 10:00 AM. WOW, turning the corner the first thing you see is Hades and Zeus towering over everything in the Dells. We met the parking lot of 4 cars and parked in the front row and went up to get our tickets. For 32.00 we were able to have an all day pass for the Go-Carts, Coasters, and Indoor Waterpark. (It will include the outdoor waterpark (Formerally Family Land) that will open after Memorial Day weekend.)

Got into the park before anyone else and went right to Hades which was waiting for us in the station. Grabbed the back seat with my friend while my Dad and sister went into the front row.

HADES REVIEW: Right out of the station I was in for a small dose of ejector air time right up into a double down delivering even more ejector. A turn and another hill went into the lift hill which looked huge. Actually got up the lift quite quickly and dropped into the darkness of the tunnel below. First drop didn't really deliver much in means of airtime but dropping into the cool tunnel was amazing. Everything in there is still a big blur even after riding it 12 times. I think I felt where you go 90 degress on the curve but you are moving around 65 MPH at the time so you don't notice it too much. The tunnel went much faster than I had expected but that's since your going to freakin fast. We crawled up the turn around (yet faster than I expected after hearing how slow it went last weekend) and got some nice airtime before dropping into the tunnel again. The tunnel back had a quick sharp right turn that's very unexpected followed by many small hops. Right before you exit the tunnel the second time the track is turning left but the bank it twords the right which made for an interesting feeling I liked a lot. I'm sad to report that the big hill next to the first drop doesn't deliver much if any airtime at all. The back part of the ride had more small hills and two (I think) helixes that the train absolutly flew through. I believe that's due to to ground being much lower near the station than it is on the other side of the parking lot. Anyways the ride ends with final brakes above the station then the train rolls back in. Altogether I have to say that this ride completely lived up to my expectation and more. Gravity Group what the hell were you thinking making this beast your first project? I can see why they needed a freakin year and a half to build this huge ride and it was worth every minute. My new favorite wood (although it's only beating Viper/Screamin Eagle) If you get the chance to go to the dells this summer, ride Hades.

Well after that monster we decided to jump on Posiedan's Adventure. This is a go-cart track that "goes under water" which really just looks like traveling under a bridge, but oh well it was still a decent track. I came in 2nd out of 9 riders. My Dad and sister had to go the bathroom so my friend and I jumped on the backrow of Zeus all by our selves. It was rougher than I remember but I still loved the ride. Good airtime through the trees (some of them actually growing through the track) and probably better than Screamin Eagle.

Decided on doing some more go-carts after this and went to the Speed Track that supposidly had faster cars (although I didn't think they did). I picked a pretty fast one and raced a few guys that looked about college age that clearly had been here before, trying to fishtail me on every corner oppertunity I gave them. Had two re-rides on that then went over to Medusa's drop where I picked a really crappy go-cart and barely made it up the sprial. It was a good course overall though, I actually got some airtime going down the big hill. After this we took a ride on the smallest woodie there called Pegasus. This was actually the roughest ride of the day and didn't have any airtime that I could speak of. (I was sitting in the backrow) 1 ride was enough for this coaster. We head over to another go-cart track called Helio's. It was probably my favorite track in the park because most of it was round. Very difficult to make passes and the more skill you have in driving the better you'd do overall. It also caused for many spinouts when somebody would try to make an inside pass on a turn. After 4 more re-rides on that we decided it was time for lunch.

Drove to Subway and had a Turkey, ham, and Bacon melt which was fabolus. Drove to the Wonder Spot but it won't open until Memorial Day weekend. (Bummer) Drove back to the park and went on Trojan Horse. It was a decent course and a 50 year old guy and his wife were really racing me. After some bumping and some strategic driving his wife ended up beating us both. Still had a great time on the track though. Went back to Medusa's drop after that. While waiting in line we saw a little girl completely run over the ride op because she wasn't paying attention. He had his foot on her car telling the other row of cars to go and holding hers when she floored it and hit him. If it couldn't get any worse when they were coming back she didn't know where the brake was (although there are signs all over the place and even said it on the speil before riding). So naturally when I don't know where the brake is I just push down on the gas harder. She slammed into the two cars ahead of her and hit the ride op AGAIN! It really looked like it hurt him that time as well. Afterwards he got managment and they snipped her wristband. Her Mom went off on the ride op and I would have stayed and watch but I wanted to ride Trojan Horse.

After Trojan Horse it was time for more coasters. Went on Cyclops first which was definatly the surprise of the day. This coaster has such insane ejector airtime there is a sign saying it's a WI state law prohibiting anyone under the age of 18 to ride in the back car of the coaster. Naturally I sat down in the back row and didn't know what to expect. On the first drop I was already on the seat dividor (which hurt a lot). Every hill had massive ejector airtime and the last hill was the single most airtime I've ever gotten on a roller coaster. The reason for this was because of the lab bar. It was really just one big bar than didn't even lower to your legs, just around halfway down your stomach.

After that amazing experience it was time for more Hades. Sat in the back, second to last, second to front, and somewhere in the middle for the 4 rides I took. The park has a pretty strict no re-ride policy but they also don't send the trains quickly at all. I could easily jump off Hades (if the station was empty) run around and get on the train I just got off of, along with the rest of the go-carts and coasters. I can't get enough of Hades, it's so out of control and intense yet quite smooth (for now). Jumped on Zeus afterwards in the front row which was much smoother and still had some airtime. Went on Cyclops again then it was time for more go-carts (my Dad and sister liked the go-carts a lot more). Did the Speed track, Medusa's drop, Helios another 4 times. Then an unnamed track twice. There was a pool of water from the rain the night before which made the tires on my very VERY slow cart slip up the spiral hill and I got stuck. Nobody noticed me for about two minutes, burning about half my tires down, and creating quite an cloud of smoke an employee found me and helped push my cart up.

It was gettin late (Around 5:15) and the park closed at 6 so it was time for more coasters. We did Hades another 4 times sitting all over the train which all delivered good rides. Jumped on the front row of Zeus and had the train to oursleves. The ride op even let us reride without running around. I went and bought a Hades T-shirt then went back to Cyclops. Rode once in the back and once in the front. The front row really doesn't deliver much airtime at all but again, ride in the back and you'll be happy you did. It was about 6:55 and I wanted to finish the day with Hades. Got into the empty station and sat into the front row for the first time. I liked the front row even though there wasn't as much airtime it was still awesome. The tunnel was even more intense in the front row and my cheeks jiggled. Great ride. For the first time all day they let the entire train re-ride (we had to move since there was someone in our row) to finish out the day. We sat in the 2nd to last row and had a great end to the day.

The park is so much different than how I remember it 4 years ago. More theming all over the place and more of a theme park atmosphere than carnival theme that I remember. If your in the Dells make time for this park and you won't regret it. I'll get pics up ASAP (hopefully tonight, although there aren't many). Sorry so long but a lot happened today!

EDIT: Pictures are up, should be working now: http://community.webshots.com/user/w00dland
Enjoy!

[SFGA 11]

Nice Tr, sounds like you had a good time. I have to get out there.

BTW, Pictures arent working.