I was just at Mt. Olympus and Timber Falls yesterday, and unfortunately they have added a 5 ride limit to the Avalanche/HellCat roller coaster. Someone said it was because coaster enthusiasts would ride 100+ times and ware down the track. This seems just like penny pinching, so they have to re-track less often. Also, they changed the name to HellCat on rcdb and Timber Falls' website, but all of the signs and t-shirts still say Avalanche.
Are they saying you can't ride more than 5 times in a row (You have to do something else for 3 minutes, and come back.), or you can only ride that ride 5 times a day? If it's the second, basically they want more money. They want the enthusiasts to come back another day, and spend more on the roller coaster. The ride is probably going to run if there are 2 people in the train, and the track is still going to get worse overtime.
"I've been staring at the world, waiting. All the trouble and all the pain we're facing. Too much light to be livin' in the dark. Why waste time? We only got one life. Together we can be the CHANGE. So go and let your heart burn bright"
Yeah, I went up there a few weeks ago and witnessed the rule. I had a chat with the Op and he said that really you could do something else for a while, wait for employees to rotate, then come back. They just don't want 1 or 2 people cycling the ride all day with them only paying $20. The park needs the money badly.
If anything just buy one ride ticket every time you go up.
^ Safari Land does the same thing with their coaster and the wrist band. You get 2 rides and they mark them or use a punch out.
You know, why even offer a wrist band there? A limit of 5 rides in a park that has a grand total of 3 rides and mini-golf is beyond stupid. What do they want you to do, ride the bumper boats 12 times?
And if the money is an issue, that is not my fault. Maybe they should think about either adding something or advertising better. Various other parks of all sizes (both Go Bananas around here, Kiddieland, SF Great America, Nick Universe, Como Town....) all allow people to ride the same ride all day.
^At Safari Land I always get a point card. What's the point of a wristband that gives you unlimited rides on the bumper cars, frog hopper and tilt-a-whirl but only 2 rides on the roller coaster, simulator and go karts? That doesn't sound worth the 20 bucks to me.
But to get back on topic, Big Chief was always the only theme park in town. Timber Falls thought they could compete by building Avalanche, the tallest and fastest coaster in the Wisconsin Dells. They probably thought people would reconsider going to Big Chief now. The next year, Big Chief, now known as Mt Olympus, Completely blew timber falls out of the water by building Hades. But Timber Falls still appealed to roller coaster enthusiasts because of the re-ride factor.
Now let me get this strait, they want to fight back by implementing a 5 ride limit? I think this will just hurt their reputation, and coaster enthusiasts like ourselves will reconsider going to Timber Falls.
^ To go with the enthusiast part, it will be interesting if they keep the 5 ride policy during the ACE and NAPHA event there this year. It will be even more interesting to see the reactions if they do keep the policy.
^I doubt they would do that, in fact that would be a selling point for that event. If they did, expect an angry mob of pissed acers running through the Wisconsin Dells.
My dad dropped me off when they were going to dinner, since I aready ate at Mt. Olympus. I was expecting to get at least 50 rides. I ended up riding the LOG FLUME 4 times and randomly walking around the park with nothing else to do.
"Our All Day Pass includes unlimited use of the Hellcat roller coaster, Timber Wolf log flune, Logger's Lagoon Bumper Boats, and 4 18-hole mini-golf courses. With the all-day pass, you'll also receive a 50% discount on the Skyscraper thrill ride, regularly priced at $20. All prices plus tax."
"I've been staring at the world, waiting. All the trouble and all the pain we're facing. Too much light to be livin' in the dark. Why waste time? We only got one life. Together we can be the CHANGE. So go and let your heart burn bright"
Doesnt matter because they reserve the right to change prices whenever they want, and there is a huge sign on the ticket booth advertising the change.
Personally I think its just Timber Falls looking for a bigger profit, not because they were losing money. That coaster is cycling all day no matter if there is an Acer sitting on it or not. Sounds to me like park owners just want to see more money, and if they do then charge 30 bucks for an avalanche wristband. Think about it, 20 bucks for 5 rides turns out to 4 bucks a ride on the coaster, thats pretty close to their normal price of 6 bucks a ride.
God I hate the Dells.
Top 5 wood-5-Goliath 4-Ravine Flyer II 3-Phoenix 2-Voyage 1-El Toro Top 5 Steel- 5-Velocicoaster 4- Maverick 3- Fury 325 2-Steel Vengeance 1-X2 Coaster Count: 444
If they really want/need the money, what they should really do is keep the standard pass for $20, and have a deluxe pass for $30-$35 that allows unlimited rides on the roller coaster.
They should also make signs and t-shirts that say HellCat.
I never really rode it more than 2 times anyways which is usually because they sent us off without letting us exit the ride. I do understand why they're running out of money because the GP sees Mt Olympus growing and is easily the best activity at the Dells. I have to agree though, if Mt Olympus packs another bigger coaster in, they could easily drive Timber and maybe Knuckle Heads out. Although, Knuckle is nice for families who have kids so I doubt that.
Top 3 Steel Coasters: 1. The Incredible Hulk 2. Maverick 3. Dragon Challenge (Fireball)
Top 3 Wood Coasters: 1. The Beast 2. American Eagle (Red) 3. Hades