‘Lots of G-Forces’: Fun Zoners React to 13 New Rides on County Fair’s Opening Day

“Exciting,” “beautiful view,” “lots of G-forces” and “calming” were some of the reactions on Opening Day to a baker’s dozen new rides in the Fun Zone at the San Diego County Fair.

Gates opened Wednesday at the Del Mar Fairgrounds for a new season running through July 7.

Seventy rides total are featured in the Fun Zone and the Kids Zone of Family Funville.

Times of San Diego asked riders to describe their impressions as they exited.

The most common answer was “fun.” But we delved deeper.

Thirty-eight rides — 13 new — are geared for fun-seeking adults and older children in the Fun Zone, while 32 rides and adventures — five new — are designed for younger kids and accompanying adults.

Rides like Overdrive, Infinity, Thunderfest, Raptor Roller Coaster, Insomniac and Kraken are designed for adrenaline rushes.

Rides where thrill-seekers are high enough to see the ocean and horizon or the valley to the east include Defender, Crazy Mouse, Kraken, Sky Flyer, Raptor Coaster and both Ferris Wheels.

Kids Zone features these new rides: Dragon Wagon, Pump & Jump, Hog Rally Mardi Gras and Beach Shack.

The swing rides will be familiar, but different ride companies are making their debut.

One ride, Thunderfest, seemed to appeal to younger folks, rather than an older couple interviewed.

A sampling of fairgoers’ reactions seconds after they got off the new rides.

BEACH PARTY

“Really, really fun.”

“There are a lot of turns and it goes up and down, and it makes your stomach turn. It’s really fun.”

BIG BAMBOO FUN HOUSE

“It’s fun. It’s tricky. You have to keep your balance.”

“It has lots of surprises.”

“I love the idea of the bamboo vibe, Hawaiian. So fun.”

BIG TOP SWINGER

“My favorite.”

“Exciting because it kept going.”

“Cool.”

DEFENDER



“So much fun. I like the view and got to go twice.”

“Beautiful view.”

“Felt comfortable. I don’t think I’m going to fly out of it or anything.”

“It was really great.”

DOWNDRAFT


“A lot of G-forces.”

“It’s pretty damn fast.”

“Your neck kind of hurts.”

“It puts pressure on your neck going around, but it was fun.”

“One of the fastest ones we’ve been on where you really feel like you’re forced out and we’re glad we took our shoes off because if I was shocked at how fast.”


HAUNTED HOUSE

“It’s not really that scary.”

“I was scared at first, but it wasn’t that scary. A short ride.”

“It was really hot in there.”

“It was horrible, laughable. Don’t do it. Boring.”


INFINITY

“Wild, wild ride”

“They started teasing you, you know. You’re going one way, then all of a sudden, you start going backwards.”

INSOMNIAC

“A lot of fun.”

“Dizzy, but a good kind of dizzy.”



KRAKEN

“It’s really like calming.”

“Kind of relaxing.”

“Thrilling, adventurous and exciting.”

“Scary and it makes my stomach flip.”

OVERDRIVE

“Really fun.”

“Crazy crazy, crazy.”

“You spun around real fast.”

“Exhilarating.”

“It was like fun, but kind of scary.”

“Easy.”

RAPTOR ROLLER COASTER

“I like the speed and how it turns very close to the ground.”

“You’re going superfast.”

“There’s not a lot of roller coasters, so this makes it more fun.”

“It was fun and scary.”

“It was pretty cool. It was like an unexpected turn every time.”



SKYLINER


“It was nice. It was a little higher than last year’s.”

“Slanted like about 45 degrees, and you got a little nauseous towards the end, but it’s a quick one. It’s fun.”


THUNDERFEST

“Because it was bumpy and it jerks your body from side to side. Old people shouldn’t ride that.”

“Awful. I can describe it with one word: Whiplash. It was a little bumpy.”