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USA Group Tour 2019 - Putting Feelers Out


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Hi All,

I tend to lurk on these forums but think it's about time for a post! I'm a mad coaster nut who also happens to be a travel agent that specializes in groups. I'm looking to put together a group tour next year and was wondering if anyone might be interested in this? 

Currently I have the tour working in three ways -

Tour A is - 11 Days - Starting Orlando, Finishing Arlington - July 7th - 17th 2019

Tour B is - 12 Day - Starting Arlington, Finishing Cleveland - July 16th - 27th 2019

Tour A+B - 21 Day - Full Tour from Orlando to Cleveland - July 7th - 27th 2019

Theme Parks I'm looking to include are: 

Tours A:

Fun Spot Orlando
Fun Spot Kissimmee
Busch Gardens Tampa
Adventure Landing - Jacksonville Beach
Wild Adventures
Six Flags Over Georgia
Carowinds
Dollywood
Lake Winnie
Magic Springs & Crystal Falls
Six Flags Over Texas

Tour B

Six Flags Over Texas
Frontier City
Silver Dollar City
Worlds of Fun
City Museum
Six Flags St Louis
Holiday World
Kentucky Kingdom
Kings Island
Cedar Point

All up, based on these theme parks current offerings the full 21 days would offer the chance to ride up to 138 coasters! 

I'm in the midst of working on pricing but in the meantime, would love any feedback on this and check out the level of interest.

Edited by ambe_bambe
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4 hours ago, ambe_bambe said:

Hi All,

I tend to lurk on these forums but think it's about time for a post! I'm a mad coaster nut who also happens to be a travel agent that specializes in groups. I'm looking to put together a group tour next year and was wondering if anyone might be interested in this? 

Currently I have the tour working in three ways -

Tour A is - 11 Days - Starting Orlando, Finishing Arlington - July 7th - 17th 2019

Tour B is - 12 Day - Starting Arlington, Finishing Cleveland - July 16th - 27th 2019

Tour A+B - 21 Day - Full Tour from Orlando to Cleveland - July 7th - 27th 2019

Theme Parks I'm looking to include are: 

Tours A:

Fun Spot Orlando
Fun Spot Kissimmee
Busch Gardens Tampa
Adventure Landing - Jacksonville Beach
Wild Adventures
Six Flags Over Georgia
Carowinds
Dollywood
Lake Winnie
Magic Springs & Crystal Falls
Six Flags Over Texas

Tour B

Six Flags Over Texas
Frontier City
Silver Dollar City
Worlds of Fun
City Museum
Six Flags St Louis
Holiday World
Kentucky Kingdom
Kings Island
Cedar Point

All up, based on these theme parks current offerings the full 21 days would offer the chance to ride up to 138 coasters! 

I'm in the midst of working on pricing but in the meantime, would love any feedback on this and check out the level of interest.

They are both great options, but in my opinion, Tour A is a bit lacklustre.

Seems like a really cool experience, something me and my family would definitely want to try! ;)

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10 hours ago, pin142 said:

Six Flags Over Texas but not Fiesta Texas? Bit crazy if you ask me!

Was most definitely considered however considering time constraints and the average amount of leave a person can take - I can't make the extra roughly 9 hours of travel work easily. Ideally SFFT and Schlitterbahn would have both been included. After I get this first trip off the ground, this is something I'll be looking to do every year - most likely 1x USA Trip and 1x Somewhere else trip. 

11 hours ago, Flynn_Smith said:

They are both great options, but in my opinion, Tour A is a bit lacklustre.

Seems like a really cool experience, something me and my family would definitely want to try! ;)

Yes I agree Tour A is definitely weaker but has been planned in a way that it could accommodate families that are interested while missing minimal school. It is also designed so people can do Pre-Tour Orlando and visit WDW, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld on their own as these are easy access parks. 

6 minutes ago, AlexB said:

I can't believe a tour starting in Orlando wouldn't have WDW and Universal - although i realise this would up the cost, and the number of days you'd need...

This was done intentionally - those parks are very easy to access and some people will want to spend more time at USO and others more at WDW (and then you have SeaWorld, LegoLand and a myriad of water parks to consider) - so people can fly in early and do those on their own. I personally will be flying in a week before to hit up the Orlando parks again :)

1 hour ago, Naazon said:

This might speak volumes about me as a person... butttt.... how much spare time would there be for things like drinking?

As much as you want inside the parks! Generally alcohol is not allowed on the bus. I unfortunately can't publish approx timings spent at each park yet as I need to make sure the timings I have calculated work with bus driver regulations. 

Potential Coaster List for those interested - I actually had my intial count too low as I added the Fun Spots after my initial count and hadn't accounted for new constructions at Carowinds and Dollywood. 

I don't necessarily agree with the "Scale" I have listed on some of these but I've pulled those straight from RCDB. 

Tour A Tour B Tour A+B Theme Park Ride Name Manufacturer Type Wood/Steel/Hybrid Scale
1   1 Fun Spot Kissimmee Kiddie Coaster E&F Miler Single Helix 11.5ft Steel Family
2   2 Fun Spot Kissimmee Mine Blower Gravitykraft Corporation   Wood Extreme
3   3 Fun Spot Kissimmee Rockstar Coaster Zamperla Wild Mouse Twister Coaster 420STD Steel Thrill
4   4 Fun Spot Orlando Freedom Flyer Vekoma Suspended Family Coaster 395m Steel Family
5   5 Fun Spot Orlando Sea Serpent E&F Miler Oval Steel Family
6   6 Fun Spot Orlando White Lightning GCI   Wood Thrill
7   7 Busch Gardens Tampa Air Grover Zierer Force 190 Steel Family
8   8 Busch Gardens Tampa Cheetah Hunt Intamin Blitz Custom Steel Extreme
9   9 Busch Gardens Tampa Cobra's Curse Mack Spinning Steel Thrill
10   10 Busch Gardens Tampa Kumba B&M Sitting Steel Extreme
11   11 Busch Gardens Tampa Montu B&M Invert Steel Extreme
12   12 Busch Gardens Tampa Sand Serpent Mack Wild Maus Compact Mobile Steel Thrill
13   13 Busch Gardens Tampa Scorpion Schwarzkopf Silverarrow Steel Extreme
14   14 Busch Gardens Tampa SheiKra B&M Dive Coaster Steel Extreme
15   15 Wild Adventures Ant Farm Express Vekoma Junior 207m Steel Family
16   16 Wild Adventures Boomerang Vekoma Boomerang Steel Extreme
17   17 Wild Adventures Cheetah CCI   Wood Extreme
18   18 Wild Adventures Go Bananas! Mack Wild Maus Classic - Right Steel Thrill
19   19 Wild Adventures Swamp Thing Vekoma Suspended Family Coaster 342m Steel Family
20   20 Wild Adventures Twisted Typhoon Vekoma SLC 689m Standard Steel Extreme
21   21 Wild Adventures Viking Voyage E&F Miler Hi-Miler 52ft Steel Family
22   22 Six Flags Over Georgia Batman The Ride B&M Invert - Batman Steel Extreme
23   23 Six Flags Over Georgia Blue Hawk Vekoma Custom MK-1200 Steel Extreme
24   24 Six Flags Over Georgia Dahlonega Mine Train Arrow Dynamics Mine Train Steel Thrill
25   25 Six Flags Over Georgia Dare Devil Dive Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter Custom Steel Extreme
26   26 Six Flags Over Georgia Georgia Scorcher B&M Stand Up Steel Extreme
27   27 Six Flags Over Georgia Goliath B&M Hyper Steel Extreme
28   28 Six Flags Over Georgia Great American Scream Machine PTC   Wood Extreme
29   29 Six Flags Over Georgia Joker Funhouse Coaster Chance Big Dipper Custom Steel Family
30   30 Six Flags Over Georgia Mind Mender Schwarzkopf   Steel Extreme
31   31 Six Flags Over Georgia Superman - Ultimate Flight B&M Flying - Superman Steel Extreme
32   32 Six Flags Over Georgia Twisted Cyclone Rocky Mountain   Hybrid Extreme
33   33 Carowinds UNKNOWN - UNDER CONSTRUCTION Mack   Steel Extreme
34   34 Carowinds Afterburn B&M Invert - Custom Steel Extreme
35   35 Carowinds Carolina Cyclone Arrow Dynamics Custom Looping Steel Extreme
36   36 Carowinds Carolina Goldrusher Arrow Dynamics Mine Train Steel Thrill
37   37 Carowinds Flying Cobras Vekoma Boomerang Steel Extreme
38   38 Carowinds Fury 325 B&M Hyper Steel Extreme
39   39 Carowinds Hurler International Coasters Triple Out and Back Wood Extreme
40   40 Carowinds Intimidator B&M Hyper Steel Extreme
41   41 Carowinds Kiddy Hawk Vekoma Suspended Family Coaster 342m Steel Family
42   42 Carowinds Nighthawk Vekoma Flying Dutchman 843m Prototype Steel Extreme
43   43 Carowinds Ricochet Mack Wild Maus - Compact Park Steel Thrill
44   44 Carowinds Vortex B&M Stand Up Steel Extreme
45   45 Carowinds Wilderness Run E&F Miler 16ft Oval with Helix on Left Steel Family
46   46 Carowinds Woodstock Express PTC   Wood Family
47   47 Dollywood UNKNOWN - UNDER CONSTRUCTION   Suspended Steel Family
48   48 Dollywood Blazing Fury     Steel Family
49   49 Dollywood FireChaser Express Gerstlauer Custom Family Coaster Steel Family
50   50 Dollywood Lightning Rod Rocky Mountain Custom Topper Track Hybrid Extreme
51   51 Dollywood Mystery Mine Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter Custom Steel Extreme
52   52 Dollywood Tenessee Tornado Arrow Dynamics Custom Looping Steel Extreme
53   53 Dollywood Thunderhead GCI Twister Wood Extreme
54   54 Dollywood Whistle Punk Chaser Zamperla Family Gravity Coaster 80STD Steel Family
55   55 Dollywood Wild Eagle B&M Custom Wing Coaster Steel Extreme
56   56 Lake Winnie Cannon Ball PTC Out and Back Wood Thrill
57   57 Lake Winnie Wacky Worm Fajume Big Apple Wacky Worm Steel Kiddie
58   58 Lake Winnie Wild Lightnin' L&T Systems Wild Mouse 30x20 Steel Thrill
59   59 Magic Springs & Crystal Falls Arkansas Twister Michael Black & Associates Out and Back Wood Extreme
60   60 Magic Springs & Crystal Falls Big Bad John Arrow Dynamics Mine Train Steel Thrill
61   61 Magic Springs & Crystal Falls Diamond Mine Run E&F Miler 16ft Outside Spiral CCW Steel Family
62   62 Magic Springs & Crystal Falls Gauntlet Vekoma SLC 689m Standard Steel Extreme
63   63 Magic Springs & Crystal Falls X Coaster Maurer Skyloop XT150 Steel Extreme
64 1 64 Six Flags Over Texas Batman The Ride B&M Invert - Batman Steel Extreme
65 2 65 Six Flags Over Texas Joker S&S Sansei Free Spin Steel Extreme
66 3 66 Six Flags Over Texas Judge Roy Scream     Wood Thrill
67 4 67 Six Flags Over Texas La Vibora Intamin Swiss Bob - Sarajevo Bobsled Steel Thrill
68 5 68 Six Flags Over Texas Mini Mine Train Arrow Dynamics Mine Train Steel Family
69 6 69 Six Flags Over Texas Mr Freeze Reverse Blast Premier LIM Shuttle Loop Steel Extreme
70 7 70 Six Flags Over Texas New Texas Giant Rocky Mountain Ibox Track - Custom Hybrid Extreme
71 8 71 Six Flags Over Texas Pandemonium Gerstlauer Spinning - 420/4 Extended Steel Thrill
72 9 72 Six Flags Over Texas Runaway Mine Train Arrow Dynamics Mine Train Steel Thrill
73 10 73 Six Flags Over Texas Runaway Mountain Premier Standard Coaster Steel Thrill
74 11 74 Six Flags Over Texas Shock Wave Schwarzkopf   Steel Extreme
75 12 75 Six Flags Over Texas Titan Giovanola Mega Coaster Steel Extreme
76 13 76 Six Flags Over Texas Wile E. Coyote's Grand Canyon Blaster Chance Big Dipper Steel Family
  14 77 Frontier City Diamond Back Arrow Dynamics Launched Loop Steel Extreme
  15 78 Frontier City Silver Bullet Schwarzkopf Looping Star Steel Extreme
  16 79 Frontier City Steel Lasso Vekoma Suspended Family Coaster 294m Steel Family
  17 80 Frontier City Wild Kitty Allan Herschell Little Dipper Steel Kiddie
  18 81 Frontier City Wildcat National Amusement Device Company Out and Back Wood Thrill
  19 82 Silver Dollar City Fire in the Hole     Steel Family
  20 83 Silver Dollar City Grand Exposition Coaster Zamperla Family Gravity Coaster 80STD Steel Family
  21 84 Silver Dollar City Outlaw Run Rocky Mountain Custom Topper Track Hybrid Extreme
  22 85 Silver Dollar City Powder Keg: A Blast in the Wilderness Premier & S&S   Steel Extreme
  23 86 Silver Dollar City Thunderation Arrow Dynamics Mine Train Steel Thrill
  24 87 Silver Dollar City Time Traveler Mack X-Treme Spinning Coaster Custom Steel Extreme
  25 88 Silver Dollar City Wildfire B&M Sitting Steel Extreme
  26 89 Worlds of Fun Boomerang Vekoma Boomerang Steel Extreme
  27 90 Worlds of Fun Cosmic Coaster Preston & Barbieri Wacky Worm Steel Family
  28 91 Worlds of Fun Mamba Morgan Out and Back Steel Extreme
  29 92 Worlds of Fun Patriot B&M Invert - Custom Steel Extreme
  30 93 Worlds of Fun Prowler GCI   Wood Extreme
  31 94 Worlds of Fun Spinning Dragons Gerstlauer Spinning - 420/4 Steel Thrill
  32 95 Worlds of Fun Timber Wolf Dinn Corporation   Wood Extreme
  33 96 Six Flags St Louis American Thunder GCI   Wood Thrill
  34 97 Six Flags St Louis Batman The Ride B&M Invert - Batman Steel Extreme
  35 98 Six Flags St Louis Boomerang Vekoma Boomerang Steel Extreme
  36 99 Six Flags St Louis Boss CCI Terrain Wood Extreme
  37 100 Six Flags St Louis Mr Freeze Reverse Blast Premier LIM Shuttle Loop Steel Extreme
  38 101 Six Flags St Louis Ninja Vekoma Custom MK-1200 Steel Extreme
  39 102 Six Flags St Louis Pandemonium Gerstlauer Spinning 420/4 (Extended) Steel Thrill
  40 103 Six Flags St Louis River King Mine Train Arrow Dynamics Mine Train Steel Thrill
  41 104 Six Flags St Louis Screamin Eagle PTC   Wood Extreme
  42 105 Holiday World Howler Zamperla Family Gravity Coaster 80STD Steel Family
  43 106 Holiday World Legend CCI Terrain Wood Extreme
  44 107 Holiday World Raven CCI Terrain Wood Extreme
  45 108 Holiday World Thunderbird B&M Custom Wing Coaster Steel Extreme
  46 109 Holiday World Voyage     Wood Extreme
  47 110 Kentucky Kingdom Lightning Run Chance Hyper GT-X Coaster Steel Extreme
  48 111 Kentucky Kingdom Roller Skater Vekoma Junior 207m Steel Kiddie
  49 112 Kentucky Kingdom Storm Chaser Rocky Mountain Ibox Track - Custom Steel Extreme
  50 113 Kentucky Kingdom T3 Vekoma SLC 662 Prototype Steel Extreme
  51 114 Kentucky Kingdom Thunder Run Dinn Corporation   Wood Thrill
  52 115 Kings Island  Adventure Express Arrow Dynamics Mine Train Steel Thrill
  53 116 Kings Island  Backlot Stunt Coaster Premier   Steel Extreme
  54 117 Kings Island  Banshee B&M Invert - Custom Steel Extreme
  55 118 Kings Island  Bat Arrow Dynamics Suspended Steel Thrill
  56 119 Kings Island  Beast PTC Terrain Wood Extreme
  57 120 Kings Island  Diamondback B&M Hyper Steel Extreme
  58 121 Kings Island  Firehawk Vekoma Flying Dutchman 1018m Steel Extreme
  59 122 Kings Island  Flight of Fear Premier LIM Coaster Steel Extreme
  60 123 Kings Island  Flying Ace Aerial Chase Vekoma Suspended Family Coaster 342m Steel Family
  61 124 Kings Island  Great Pumpkin Coaster E&F Miler Oval Steel Family
  62 125 Kings Island  Invertigo Vekoma Invertigo Steel Extreme
  63 126 Kings Island  Mystic Timbers GCI   Wood Extreme
  64 127 Kings Island  Racer PTC   Wood Extreme
  65 128 Kings Island  Vortex Arrow Dynamics Custom Looping Steel Extreme
  66 129 Kings Island  Woodstock Express PTC   Wood Family
  67 130 Cedar Point Blue Streak PTC   Wood Thrill
  68 131 Cedar Point Cedar Creek Mine Train Arrow Dynamics Mine Train Steel Thrill
  69 132 Cedar Point Corkscrew Arrow Dynamics Custom Looping Steel Extreme
  70 133 Cedar Point GateKeeper B&M Custom Wing Coaster Steel Extreme
  71 134 Cedar Point Gemini Arrow Dynamics Special Coaster Systems Hybrid Thrill
  72 135 Cedar Point Iron Dragon Arrow Dynamics Suspended Steel Thrill
  73 136 Cedar Point Magnum XL-200 Arrow Dynamics Hyper Steel Extreme
  74 137 Cedar Point Maverick Intamin Blitz Custom Steel Extreme
  75 138 Cedar Point Millenium Force Intamin Giga Steel Extreme
  76 139 Cedar Point Raptor B&M Invert - Raptor Steel Extreme
  77 140 Cedar Point Rougarou B&M Floorless Steel Extreme
  78 141 Cedar Point Steel Vengance Rocky Mountain Ibox Track - Custom Hybrid Extreme
  79 142 Cedar Point Top Thrill Dragster Intamin Accelerator Steel Extreme
  80 143 Cedar Point Valravn B&M Dive Coaster Steel Extreme
  81 144 Cedar Point Wicked Twister Intamin Impulse -Twist & Twist Steel Extreme
  82 145 Cedar Point Wilderness Run Intamin Childrens Coaster Steel Kiddie
  83 146 Cedar Point Woodstock Express Vekoma Junior 335m Steel Family
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2 hours ago, ambe_bambe said:

As much as you want inside the parks! Generally alcohol is not allowed on the bus. I unfortunately can't publish approx timings spent at each park yet as I need to make sure the timings I have calculated work with bus driver regulations. 

So what you're saying is, theres hope.

I'm interested. Recently single and no one else to do a trip like this with so a tour would be brilliant, pending price obviously.

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1 hour ago, Naazon said:

So what you're saying is, theres hope.

 I'm interested. Recently single and no one else to do a trip like this with so a tour would be brilliant, pending price obviously.

Slim hope, but hope. I would need to negotiate non-standard terms with the operator. Also keeping in mind this will be a family-friendly tour so I have to ensure any familys are comfortable too. 

I'll keep you posted once I get pricing. 

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33 minutes ago, Santa07 said:

Sounds interesting. Certainly not the best time of year to go though. Going to be a lot more expensive and busier than in September or October. Even a month earlier (June) would probably be a little quieter.

 

It will be marginally more expensive at that time of year, however I have allowed for the fact a lot of the parks are seasonal, and once school goes back in August a lot of parks reduce hours or close weekdays which makes it infinitely harder to do. June is no go as you need to accommodate for any delays in new rides opening. The weather will be hot but if there's a decent water park attached, I'll look to include tickets with the water parks. The dates also work best for Australian School Holidays. The previous set of Holidays over easter are too early and the September Holidays are too late. 

Edited by ambe_bambe
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19 hours ago, pin142 said:

Six Flags Over Texas but not Fiesta Texas? Bit crazy if you ask me!

I guess, especially now Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster exists, but its kind of at a dead end given the way the routing has been done on the map, and if you went to SFFT you'd logically need to add SW San Antonio, and likely ZDT/Schlitterbahn.

The thing with the US is that basically no matter which way you go, there is always another park within 2-3 hours that you can theoretically add on, and you have to say stop somewhere.

The tour finishes at CP, but an idea could be to add Kennywood at the end, since its not really on the way to anywhere.

Edited by Gazza
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12 minutes ago, Gazza said:

I guess, especially now Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster exists, but its kind of at a dead end given the way the routing has been done on the map, and if you went to SFFT you'd logically need to add SW San Antonio, and likely ZDT/Schlitterbahn.

 The thing with the US is that basically no matter which way you go, there is always another park within 2-3 hours that you can theoretically add on, and you have to say stop somewhere.

 The tour finishes at CP, but an idea could be to add Kennywood at the end, since its not really on the way to anywhere.

That's a great point, it's very hard because you're right, there's always a park just a little further away! I was discussing this with an American enthusiast friend and came to the conclusion that if there was anything to offer in LA i would have routed the itinerary that way to accommodate San Antonio. 

I love the idea of adding Kennywood however I'm trying to keep the full trip within 3 weeks so it might be something that could be offered as an optional add on or DIY, I think given it's another bit over 3 hours from Cedar Point and based on the routings coming from Texas there's no way to even make it work at the detriment of another park.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Fastlane or Fastlane Plus? I am about to do a large portion of your trip B and have allocated 1-1.5 days at KI and 2 days at CP so kinda hard to say which I would prefer. That being said 9 hours is a decent amount of time at Kings Island so 9 at KI and 2 days at CP would probably be the better option if I was to choose to do either of those trips.

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8 hours ago, pin142 said:

Fastlane or Fastlane Plus? I am about to do a large portion of your trip B and have allocated 1-1.5 days at KI and 2 days at CP so kinda hard to say which I would prefer. That being said 9 hours is a decent amount of time at Kings Island so 9 at KI and 2 days at CP would probably be the better option if I was to choose to do either of those trips.

Fastlane Plus! Any park with any sort of front of line service I've gone for Top Tier.

Thank you so much for the feedback, this is what I currently have in the plan but I've had an American friend look over it and flag that the time might be quite tight. KI is one the handful of parks on the trip I don't have personal experience with. 

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  • 2 weeks later...
On ‎3‎/‎06‎/‎2018 at 5:26 PM, ambe_bambe said:

I'm in the midst of working on pricing but in the meantime, would love any feedback on this and check out the level of interest.

 

On ‎4‎/‎06‎/‎2018 at 1:36 PM, ambe_bambe said:

I'll keep you posted once I get pricing. 

 

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