We slept in, packed, and got to the park at 10:30. We went straight to Mille and waited about 10 minutes to ride; then we headed to the back of the park where people had been waiting outside SteVe since 10.
Yet again violating my rule of not waiting for a ride that isn’t running, we got in the long, snaking line that had formed, and soon, the attendant allowed people to start through the gate. I told my daughter if I didn’t see a train with people in it before we passed the gate, I was leaving the line, and luckily, that requirement was fulfilled just in time. Once we got settled into the switchbacks, the line seemed pretty long, maybe an hour. But because we’d had the foresight to secure our phones, keys, and other items ahead of time, we were able to skip the lockers. Then, when we were waiting on the stairs to the station, we were able to pass a large group of people who wanted to wait for their friends who went to the lockers. In the end, we’d waited maybe 30 minutes.
Overall, I believe this trip tested and validated my cardinal rule. A great many of those people waited more than an hour, missing out on riding Mille or GateKeeper, to ride 5-10 minutes before us. We were also smart to hit SteVe as soon as it opened, and to skip the lockers.
Lessons Learned
- Hotel Breakers has a lot more to offer in the summertime—beach, outdoor bar, outdoor dining.
- You can get a lot more riding in when you have fewer people. My daughter and I did much more riding in three days two years ago than three of us could in four days this year.
- The meal plan still isn’t worth it.
- Hotel Breakers only does housekeeping on request.
- Toilet paper in the park and at Hotel Breakers is pretty basic—consider bringing our own.
- Never wait in line for a ride that isn’t running!
- Despite the cost and basic amenities, Hotel Breakers is still probably the best place to stay. It’s closer than the cabins to park entrances and easily beats an offsite hotel, which would require re-entering the park and parking every day. It also allows entering the park an hour early to ride GateKeeper and Millenium Force.