With that, I made my final visit of the season to Great America. I traveled with my dad and got to the lot at around 9:45. We got into the park and traveled as far as the Madi Gras section. While traveling to that section, I was remembering how me and my friends were in front of hometown square opening day. From there, we ran and got the first public ride of the season on Raging Bull. Now, looking back, it's weird knowing this is it this year. After today, it was back to hard studying, school, intersolastic sports, ect. Anyway, once 10 o'clock rolled around, my dad and I headed stright for Batman. We got first dispatch of the day. From there, we went to Vertical Velocity and waited a few trains for front row. After that, we walked to American Eagle Red where we rode front row. I have to say, I've enjoyed the ride more since they turned off the mid course brakes after the helixs. Anyhow, after Eagle, we followed a trail that would lead us to a thirty minute wait for Vu for 1B. What a great ride as usual, and as i would find out later, one of my last. Afterwards, we grabbed a ride on Giant Drop. At that time (which was around 11:30 i think) we had to leave the park to run some errands. While we were leaving, we noticed Raging Bull's lines was half full and spilling out to the midway. Weird in my opinion considering it was a sunday.
After the long afternoon of errands, we returned to the park at 6. That gave us enough time to renew our season passes, check out Bull's line (which was longer since we checked up on it) and grab some seats for the last performance of LAFF. What a great show! The cast was amazing this year. I personally thought the jokes were funnier from last season. When we left the show after an encore (which i never saw this season until today) we went stright for Bull where we used two exit passes we got earlier this season. Coincidently, we got to the exit just as two seats opened up in the front. So, that was a treat! Keeping in mind at this point we had to meet up to pick up our wristbands for the Ace event for Deja Vu, we went in line for Viper and waited twenty minutes for 1:3. To me, i always get a spectacular ride in the front. There seems to be the most airtime out of any ride in that row. Anyway, after getting off the ride, me and my dad went stright to Vu where we picked up our wristbands for the extra ride on Deja Vu. We quickly looked at the time and saw we had three minutes to reach Raging Bull for one final ride. We made it with some time to spare, but coinincidently didn't get the last ride of the year on it.
Finally, after bull, we approched Vu and saw the last train of Vu depart for the general public. After the public got their last ride, the Ace riders were allowed into the queeue for their last rides. Me and my dad decided to go for 1A for our last rides. Man, we were the third group in line and once we entered that row, we heard that they were going to cycle three trains for the group. So, in general, we had the last ride for the Ace event in the front. Man, as soon as we boarded the seats and heard some speech about how the operator operated that ride when it first opened and how he was going to do it manually, i knew it was it for Deja Vu. After our ride, I said my good byes, thanked the coordinator of the event, and slowly proceeded to the exit of the park. At this point, I realized the off season had begun. While walking to the front, i flashed back on how wonderful my last ride on Deja Vu and how i would miss my second favorite ride in the park. Oh well, at least I know this time the park will be changing for the better. Hopefully, that dive coaster that is a rumor right now will become a reality in '09. Anyway, I would like to thank everyone for reading my first trip report and wish you all a great off season.
The wait time for Raging Bull from this point is six months.
