Everyone deserves a break, right? Well if I ever took a break from We Were Inverted since it’s opening on June 29, 2020, it was last month. While I would have loved to have at openings of Ice Breaker at Sea World Orlando (SWO), Emperor at Sea World San Diego (SWSD), and Iron Gwazi at Busch Gardens Tampa (BGT), long distance travel just wasn’t in the budget for me at this time. I will be in attendance for a preview of least one new for 2022 coaster on Friday, however. More on that in a bit.
There are only two items of note from the month of February, so this CAG Report will be short. If you haven’t had a chance to check out these items, hopefully this recap will pique your interest into checking them out.
Influential Coasters & Modern Take Series
I’ve been wanting to add a new installment of the Influential Coasters of My Childhood series for months. Toward the end of January I began working on an installment covering three Vekoma Boomerangs – Sea Serpent at Morey’s Piers, Tidal Wave at Trimper Rides, and Sidewinder at Hersheypark. It took me time to figure out how I wanted to cover more three coasters being in a single entry for the first time in the series’ history. By time I settled on how to present all three, January was coming to a close. I decided to wait until February to put the finishing touches on the piece and to attack its Modern Take follow up.
Talk about timing! Shortly after “Influential Coasters of My Childhood – Vekoma Boomerangs” was published, Hersheypark announced what everyone already knew – Sidewinder is getting a Jolly Rancher retheme. This allowed for me to include a bit about the upcoming changes in, “Modern Take on Influential Coasters of My Childhood – Vekoma Boomerangs.” I’d say I planned for this, but I’d be lying.
Sitting at 699 Pins Due to Shipping Issue
The Space Mountain pin and Big Bad Wolf button above have my pin collection sitting at number 699, just one shy of 700. The thing is though, I should be sitting at 701! Weeks ago I purchased two Ice Breaker pins, but they never arrived. According to the tracking number they did, but… They didn’t. I don’t blame the seller at all. I have bought from her before and she’s amazing. This error is solely upon the United States Postal Service. Having dealt with them a few years ago with another lost package, going to them for help will be a lost cause.
I still want those two pins in my collection, so I guess I’ll have to pony up the money to repurchase them. I doubt I’d get them in to have them be the pins to break 700, however. Another new for 2022 coaster, the same one I mentioned riding on Friday, will most likely be the ride represented in pin 700. Now let’s talk about this coaster!
Platinum on Pantheon
This Friday marks the first of six scheduled Member Exclusive Early Preview Dates for Pantheon at Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW). Friday is only open to Platinum Members only I’m planning on meeting up with Chris D. and Carrie to ride this much-anticipated Intamin creation. Kaylee will be down there too before heading out on a road trip that will see her visit several other parks throughout Georgia and Florida.
Be on the lookout for the upcoming trip report and vlog in the days to come. I don’t know if BGW will allow for filming on this ride like they do with the others, but I’ve decided I don’t want to worry about filming on lone preview ride. We’re limited to just one ride and I want to enjoy it and not be focused on my camera. The park already has an amazing POV on YouTube. Mine can wait. I’m want to focus more on my immediate thoughts after the ride and hopefully get some words from the crew.
As for pin number 700, new Pantheon pins are being released with the coaster’s opening that I will be picking up. I’ve also been wanting to grab a few mystery boxes of their license plate series. I’m falling behind on all the amazing Busch Gardens and Sea World coaster pins they’ve released thus far in 2022.
Look for things to pick up again here in March. I’m so excited to kick things off with Pantheon’s opening and I want to figure out a few more features I can bring your way. Thanks for coming along for the ride each and every month.
