Valleyfair Review, Cedar Fair | Minnesota's Biggest Theme Park

[@ValleyThrills]

Glad to have this park as a home park (Renegade is best coaster in Minnesota), but man do we need more investment! We haven’t gotten ANY new ride since Delirious in 2018 (5 years is too long & every other Cedar Fair park has gotten a new ride this decade except Valleyfair. We could use another inverting coaster since our only one is the 42 year old Corkscrew which isn’t a bad ride, but we need something more modern. We could also use a water park expansion since ours is the weakest one in the chain.

[@chuck4714]

Same!

[@CanobieCoaster]

The lack of a second inverting coaster baffles me for a park this large.

[@KorraDaTrainBuff]

So people think this is one of the worst parks in the chain... Because it doesn't have as many roller coasters as some of the others? This was the first big theme park I ever visited and help get me used to riding roller coasters. I also had a strategy where if you were to go to the park after 5PM, most people would have already left and most of the rides become walk-ons, even Wild Thing. Bigger isn't always better.

[@OklahomaCoasterFan]

It just speaks to the strength of the Cedar Fair chain, that even such a great park would be among their "worst", or least great. It does tend to draw much larger crowds than the other "least great" Cedar Fair parks. On my one day here, I had the same experience with the crowd levels dropping off a ton for the final couple hours. 45-minute waits were down to a walk-on.

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's more a testament to how good Cedar Fairs other parks are.

[@Daynja1]

I love Valleyfair because it's the place I always went to as a kid and I even worked there for a couple years. But all the criticism is valid. They are consistently removing classic rides (enterprise, looping starship and log flume) and not replacing them with anything. I'm sure this is because it's not a destination park and there is no competition. They've been talking about removing excalibur for years, even though it's still a great ride. Corkscrew has gotten so rough that it is no longer fun to ride, but it's their only coaster that goes upside down. I really wish they would get a new big coaster with inversions. Renegade is great, but it's not really enough.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I hope that new coaster eventually comes.

[@lacrls]

Thanks for the fair review of my home park! We desperately need something fresh in this park, but Renegade was a good addition. I'd love a B&M inverter here. The great thing about living close to a "lower tier" park: visit often enough, and you will luck out on some glorious day where multiple rides are walk-on. Once they let us stay on Excalibur as long as we wanted on a cool summer night because there was nobody in line. Ride that thing multiple times in a row and you'll come out walking different. I've also had some great times running marathons on Wild Thing and developing a camaraderie with the other marathoners. There's nothing like the look of Wild Thing. I think it's one of the most iconic-looking coasters, looking like a mutated monster. The brake run is a shame, but you get a lot of fun for what can be a short wait. Please give us something new Valleyfair, we love you!

[@CanobieCoaster]

I really hope this park gets a new looping coaster soon.

[@ejectorairtime]

I was just here in late July and despite the inconsistent ride ops, I was pleasently surprised by this park. So vivid and brightly colored throughout, a charming and pleasent atmosphere, and overall a very fun time. I would 10 for 10 return if I visit the area again. Also thank you for your available offride footage, as your shots of Excalibur helped me to complete my review video of the park.

[@CanobieCoaster]

You're welcome!

[@hfadwarrior5108]

Love this place, I live in Minnesota. Obviously Cedar Point is like 100 times better, I’m glad I got to go to Cedar Point.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Cedar Point is way better.

[@crooked-halo]

I'll probably be here early-mid September. Can't wait to ride Renegade! Got to Mystic Timers and Gold Striker last year (2022) for the first time & they became some of my favorite wood coasters, after riding almost all wood coasters in the U.S. I also rode Apocalypse-The Ride, Patriot, and American Thunder & they're also magnificent GCIs! Renegade will be my last GCI in the States. Thanks for a glowing review & great video.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Enjoy!

[@joehartman8138]

I enjoy valleyfair a lot. I’m glad you are showing it some love. I’ve always had fun when I go there.

[@CanobieCoaster]

It is a solid park.

[@michaeltaylor1603]

Needs some TLC in terms of new coasters and experiences. Coney Island in Ohio that pre-dated Kings Island suffered from flooding. Knobels, Six Flags Over Texas (Johnson's Creek within the park) Six Flags Over Georgia (Chattahoochee River near it) Opryland (river near it) and even defunct AstroWorld would suffer from flooding. Now we know we lost SF New Orleans during Katrina. Maybe they will figure out what will withstand a flood. But, this IS a pretty cool park. As you mentioned paired with MOA, a very nice visit to the region.

[@CanobieCoaster]

At least most of the park is safe from flooding. It's mostly the back area.

[@Cat3465]

SFOG flooded in 2009 but has been thriving after that happened since the water was basically freshwater because it’s close to the Chattahoochee river compared the defunct SFNO from corrosive saltwater in the Gulf of Mexico

[@OklahomaCoasterFan]

I was the first rider of the day on the wild mouse at opening. I had no idea that I was about to sit on the brake run for 15 minutes after my ride, with the restraints still locked. Even if they ran multiple cars on the course, there's still no reason for 8 cars on the track. I'm guessing 5 is the most that could ever be needed. The way they operate this one, 3 or 2 should be enough. That way, you get off right after your ride ends. Renegade made this park worth the full day. I got 9 of my 13 rides within the last 2 hours, after the crowds died down. I wonder if Wild Thing has lightening the mid-course, like they've done with Mamba this year, which I got to ride last weekend. The series of bunny hills were now giving powerful and amazing airtime. Mamba has moved from one of my least favorite hypers to somewhere in the middle of the B&M hypers.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Wild Thing didn't reduce the mid-course and from what I've heard it won't ever again. They used to do it for special employee and ACE nights, but it took a major toll on the final brakes since it's pretty short.

[@mnsirens]

They did do this in 2023. It does still brake to some extent, but it no longer trims for the entire length of the run like it has in years past. The airtime in the second half of the ride still isn’t as strong as a ride like Magnum, but it is enough to make it a fun experience.

[@OklahomaCoasterFan]

@@mnsirens I'll be returning this weekend. I look forward to getting back on all the rides.

[@micahmoore9845]

I live near this park, and I personally think it's a great park. They do have a grand carnival event in July that is fun for the kids, and other seasonal events like a child friendly Halloween event. They used to have Valley Scare during Halloween, people are hoping it returns, time will tell.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I hope they bring back the Halloween event as well.

[@planetcoaductions8820]

They better start beefing this place up with lost island and Adventureland 3 hours away

[@CanobieCoaster]

I just hope Lost Island can have a better second year.

[@stevenohlson5476]

World's of fun is better too

[@bakerguy3844]

True

[@mattolson7037]

It’s really nice for a smaller park. Always well maintained. It definitely could use a new coaster though. It’s been 16 years….

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's definitely due.

[@jodysmith8048]

If you haven't been there I would recommend Six Flags St. Louis as it is the 3rd original Six Flags that was build by the original Six Flags company in America in 1971

[@CanobieCoaster]

I have been there. It's a decent park.

[@kayw6762]

I absolutely love Valley Fair, but I’m biased as I’m from here and it’s the only real big amusement park experience I have (have always wanted to go to Cedar Point but I don’t know if I’ll be able to realize that dream). I went to Valley Fair in September 2023. I still enjoy Wild Thing and Steel Venom. I rode Renegade twice, my teenage daughter loved it but I could not go a third with them. It was riding a bit too rough for me. Did fine on all other rides and due to late season wait times were very short. Thanks for the review of the park I hold dear to my heart!

[@CanobieCoaster]

You're welcome. I didn't find Renegade that rough (neither did my wife and she's more sensitive to that). But I last rode it in 2022 so it may have gotten rougher.

[@sstelten92]

I actually used to operate Mad Mouse at Valleyfair in the 2012 season, and even in those days even operating at full steam it was impossible to operate those Arrow Mouse coasters with anything less than 1 car stacked (so 5 cars stationary in total). Like, my "advance" button would not light up on the ArrowVision console until four cars were in the station and one car was parked in the brake run. Then you had to "advance", the lead car would move to the pre-lift spot, pause for a couple of seconds, and then the AV would let you "dispatch" to the lift. There was actually at least once in 2012 where we had 3 cars down due to maintenance issues and yeah, we could not even move a new car to pre-lift until the one on the track parked on the brakes. Those Arrow mice were just total enigmas. Then it got a brand new control system in like 2016, and then add in iROC and that's how you get one train on the course lol.

[@CanobieCoaster]

That's unfortunate it has to be run with such low capacity.

[@ScottyMania313]

I'm very curious to see if Cedar Point's new Wild Mouse will be slow to load like Valley Fair & Michigan's Adventure is. I personally think that Cedar Point is putting their Wild Mouse next to the Grand Pavilion because of the wait time. While the kids wait in line for 45 minutes during the day, parents could go inside and enjoy a $12 park beer with the great view. By the time the beer is done, it will be time to get the kids and go off to the next ride or to play games or eat.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I imagine Cedar Point's will have better capacity out of need and the fact it's a different manufacturer.

[@Smoolstories]

Was that Airtime Thrills at timestamp 6:21 in the back row.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Yes I ran into him.

[@mitchellries256]

A friend of mine suggested that their next major ride should be named Excelsior. He only thought of that because that Marvel Comics creator Stan Lee's moto but it actually makes sense because of how it would be a tribute to its Predecessor Excelsior Amusement Park in nearby Excelsior, MN.

[@CanobieCoaster]

That would be neat.

[@itsme123669]

I marathoned Renegade in every row this year and it's certainly gotten rougher (or as you put it, it has a shimmy) since last year.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I last rode it in 2019 and it was smoother then.

[@jediknight1313]

Agreed, In 2019 It was much less rough and ran faster than it does now, Overall was far more enjoyable.

[@MrSRArter]

4:51 If that is how Cedar Fair is going to operate their Arrow Wild Mice, they should just remove them.

[@humfree6436]

It was miserable. I went a few months ago and they split up my party of 3 though it’s 4 to a car!

[@CanobieCoaster]

If they can't cycle more cars at once, I wish they at least had less on the track at once so you aren't just sitting there for so long.

[@BruhIGuess]

@@CanobieCoaster I’m fairly sure the park runs that many cars due to the programming, while about 90% of the time there is only 1-2 cars on the course, during opening or near close when dispatches become a lot of faster the ride requires a car to stack in order to dispatch it.

[@mateoalvira3514]

Imagine going again to Valleyfair and riding the park's largest roller coaster. Canobie Coaster would say: It's the tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster in all of Minnesota. But is it a top tier? Not quite. This hyper coaster dominates the park's skyline. With its abundance of camelbacks and bunny hills, this ride looks like it should be good. If I ask you, what? It should? Canobie Coaster would say: A) Wild Thing looks slightly better than it actually is. B) Wild Thing looks a lot better than it actually is. C) Wild Thing is good on and off ride.

[@CanobieCoaster]

B

[@Selenaisais]

Im going to valley fair tomorrow. What is a ride you recommend me to try?

[@CanobieCoaster]

I have a countdown of their best rides.

[@sergeantjadonsoriginalchan3063]

agree with you about power tower it's pretty mild actually even the nickledeon one felt the same.

[@CanobieCoaster]

That tends to happen with a lot of jumbo S&S towers.

[@paninidevOfficial]

One time I waited an hour for High Roller. It felt very short (maybe because my dad was with me) but it was very cool as the queue had a view of some sort of employee area with the old High Roller train which was cool.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Nice!

[@paninidevOfficial]

@@CanobieCoaster Thanks

[@maxhagenauer24]

I have mixed opinions, it's definitely better than Michigan's Adventure buy still could use some more attention from Cedar Fair, it's mainly only in the ride department where this park needs help. A B&M Invert would work absolutely fantastic here, they NEED another looping coaster bad. And as the only Cedar Fair Park to have a Larson Loop, it's instantly bad, ok jk. But the collection is quite different here and I would say it needs improvement.

[@CanobieCoaster]

A good looping coaster is much needed.

[@elevatoralarmcoasterandarc1214]

Hey, Canobie Coaster! I went to this park this year and I will do it again next year!

[@CanobieCoaster]

Enjoy!

[@kylealsleben4140]

Thank you for featuring valleyfair. Npt many do.

[@CanobieCoaster]

No problem

[@dytamic]

We could've gotten Valley Point. But we didn't. We got Cedar Fair.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I prefer Cedar Fair. Valley Point sounds like the name of a park, not a chain.

[@duncantimms3267]

Problem w/ investing heavily in VF is the short operating calendar

[@CanobieCoaster]

That's true.

[@AceAviations2]

However that doesn't excuse it as Cedar Point also has a shorter operating season due to its location and yet they get major investments. Plus there are smaller and cheaper coaster options our there that Cedar Fair could go with. Hopefully Zambezi Zinger is the start of CF giving some love to the smaller parks in the chain.

[@poisoned_ivey]

When i was there yesterday, wild thing was running 2 trains but they fixed the airgate issue, it opened once the train stopped

[@poisoned_ivey]

Also if you go on a weekday, the lines are almost non existent

[@CanobieCoaster]

Great! I went on a weekday and encountered waits. I heard they were pretty busy early in the summer when I went.

[@GloryRenault]

I wish the city hight limit wasn’t 275 feet cus i wanted a giga in place of wild thing

[@CanobieCoaster]

Any new coaster would help.

[@GloryRenault]

Yeah i just really want wild thing removed. And put in by a B&M hyper maybe. In wild things place then RMC renegade. Cus it’s crazy rough

[@The2Handedchannel]

This is my home park and renegade is my favorite ride

[@CanobieCoaster]

My favorite there too.

[@chuck4714]

My home park

[@AmazingElevatorsandClaws]

Same

[@CanobieCoaster]

Nice!

[@festusfive9157]

Gigachad shakopee government keeping excalibur from becoming a part of the shitty ass water park stuff they have in the back lmao

[@CanobieCoaster]

Guess it works out in this case.

[@mlc4050]

Don't judge it until you've seen the Snoopy "Space Beagle" show at Planet Snoopy.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I'll have to try that.

[@giselecastro9760]

ValleyFair needs another thrill ride

[@CanobieCoaster]

Especially a thrill coaster.

[@masoncoastereview9854]

How Valleyfair stayed open in a thunderstorm did not happen for me and the park closed early

[@CanobieCoaster]

Sorry that happened for you. It was a Saturday in summer, which may have been why for me.

[@masoncoastereview9854]

@@CanobieCoaster my visit was on a Monday in summer

[@sergeantjadonsoriginalchan3063]

Was told steel venom's holding break was there to simulate the venom of the snake bite that's why its called steel venom but might be false

[@CanobieCoaster]

Never heard that before.

[@tatubby4513]

My home park ! Not the greatest but definitely not the worst

[@tatubby4513]

I also used to work here as a rides operator for wild thing and renegade and extreme swing !!

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's a solid park.

[@MrSRArter]

0:08 People get smallest and worst mixed up.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Sometimes they can go hand in hand.

[@morganvang6678]

Bro I live in Minnesota so valley fair is like 45 minutes away and plus I’m going tomorrow

[@CanobieCoaster]

Enjoy!

[@stephanievitale-ur1vo]

My fav ride there is wild thing. I got banged up on renegade.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Renegade is my favorite by far.

[@stephanievitale-ur1vo]

@@CanobieCoasterthat’s cool. I was janked around there but it did have a good layout. I loved the water park

[@stephanievitale-ur1vo]

And I get very sick on rides

[@kylealsleben4140]

Not the worst but they don't give it the coasters and other rides it deserves

[@CanobieCoaster]

I wish it got more investment.

[@askjeevescosby2928]

I just realized in the SpongeBob valentines day special sponge Bob gives Patric a Chocolate starfish... that's what they call butt holes!! It was a gay joke that went over my head for 20 years!!!

[@CanobieCoaster]

Never realized that either.

[@AydenChang-zr1ue]

I Love Valleyfair Better Than Dorney Park

[@CanobieCoaster]

I prefer Dorney, but I do like Valleyfair.

[@jodysmith8048]

To me these days people will find any excuse to complain about certain amusement parks when there really is no reason to have these excuses to complain about these amusement parks in the first place

[@CanobieCoaster]

This park is definitely a fun one.

[@360coasters]

Second!!

[@CanobieCoaster]

Nice!