Pete Trabucco is an aviation expert, amusement park enthusiast, vacation expert, licensed private pilot and author of America’s Top Roller Coasters and Amusement Parks. A native New Yorker, Trabucco has had more than 100 articles published in various aviation, space, health and sports magazines, and has appeared on both network television stations (including msnbc, FOX News and the CW) and local radio and television shows across the country. Over the past 15 years, he has traveled to hundreds of cities around the world and really enjoys the journey as much as the final destination.
Cheapflights: You’re the maven when it comes to roller coasters and amusement parks. When’s the best time to visit amusement parks with the family?
Pete Trabucco: It’s always best to visit amusement parks early in the morning and later in the day. If you go during mid-day, most amusement parks are crowded and wait times for rides and attraction are very long. Plus it is the hottest part of the day, and your patience (as well as you children’s) can be short. I recommend leaving the park and getting lunch or using the hotel pool and coming back later in the day. Most amusement parks will stamp your hand, so that your ticket (even if it isn’t a season pass ticket) will be good for the entire day. So take advantage.
CF: When traveling with kids (or even adults), what’s the best advice for overcoming the fear of an amusement park ride?
PT: First, never force someone to ride a roller coaster or thrill ride unless they really want to do it. As someone who used to be very afraid of thrill rides, I can tell you it was never fun to go to these places with people who teased ya and tried to push you into doing something you didn’t want to do. A person really needs to have an open mind and want to try this experience in order to really have fun on a thrill ride or roller coaster. It is also a great idea to keep your eyes open while you fly down the track of a roller coaster. Closing your eyes will cause you to become disoriented and that is never a good thing. Also make sure you breathe on these rides. I learned early on as a aerobactic pilot that breathing (and screaming) on a roller coaster will keep the blood in your upper extremities (head) and will keep you from browning or even blacking out to High-G maneuvers. Finally, know that these rides are extremely safe and are checked for their safety every day. You have a much better chance of getting into an accident driving to the amusement park than when you are actually in it.
CF: Which is your favorite roller coaster and/or amusement park?
PT: I have ridden over 350 roller coasters and over 40 amusement parks around the country. It is very hard to just name one so I will need to talk about a few. For themeing, no one beats Disney. Whether you go to Disney World in Orlando, Florida or Disneyland in Anaheim, California – no one does this better than Disney. Some of my favorites there are Space Mountain and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster in Orlando and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and California Screamin’ in Anaheim, the roller coaster Mecca. For all-thrill rides, enthusiasts would have to visit Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. There you will find incredible rides like Millennium Force and Top Thrill Dragster, two of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in America. I also like Universal Studios’ Islands of Adventure and its Dragon Challenge Roller Coaster, in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Busch Gardens in Williamsburg is one the cleanest and friendliest parks around and its top ride, the dive coaster Griffon, is great.
CF: What is an absolute must on your packing list?
PT: When traveling, I always try to pack as light as possible. After many trips, you sort of know what you need depending on how long your stay will be. Make sure all the essentials you will absolutely need are with you and know that other non-essentials can always be purchased on an as-needed basis. Essentials include things like eye glasses, contact lenses and any medicines that you will need that can’t be purchased during this trip. I also can’t go anywhere without my camera. Sure you can buy one, but there is nothing better than knowing it is your “tried and true” camera that is taking the pictures.
CF: What’s your routine before you fly?
PT: I like to plan my trips well in advance. I also make sure that I book early and try and get the best deals I can along the way. This includes using mileage points and charging everything on those cards where extra points are earned just for using them. I like to always pack most of my items days before I go, but sometimes will already have a bag packed (for short trips) just waiting to be used in a pinch.
CF: Any tips on researching a new destination before taking off?
PT: If I am going on a trip and someplace I have never been before, I will usually go online and get all the info on the sights and sounds that are paramount to where I will be going and research them as best I can. Even if I am there or business (doing interviews or working in the aviation industry), I try and set aside some time to sightsee. Planning out what to do during your down time is extremely crucial in keeping your positive energy up.
CF: Of the airports you’ve passed through – Stateside and abroad – which is the most convenient?
PT: Well I believe that Orlando International airport is very good; its on-time record is extremely impressive. Since it receives many vacationers daily, the airport seems to have worked out most of the bugs in order to give travelers a good experience. After all, your vacation usually starts and ends at the airport! It might not be the most convenient airport around but I really like Kona International Airport on the big Island of Hawaii as well.
CF: Who’s the most memorable seatmate (or what’s the most memorable conversation) you’ve had on a plane?
PT: I have had many… but onetime I was with an engineer whose main job was to go around to the biggest airports around the world and come up with ways to have these airport terminals better accommodate the new Airbus 380 aircraft. As you know, this flying monster is the world’s largest passenger aircraft and can carry as many as 1,000 passengers at a time. With passengers boarding on two levels at the same time, the logistics to doing this from the current terminals can really be a challenge. By the time we got off the airplane, I knew them all!
CF: How do you discover local or off-the-beaten-path places?
PT: Whenever I am in a city that I am not that familiar with, the best way to find out of the way and memorable locations is to simply ask the locals where they are. Sure everyone can find the best tourist traps online, but ask those who actually live there where the best places are and they will be more than happy to tell ya.
CF: What countries or regions do you believe offer the best bang for your buck when traveling with the family?
PT: I like Europe right now. Some of the countries where you will get the best deals are the beautiful cities of Barcelona, Paris and Rome. Also consider the Paris of the East, Budapest, and, of course, London – if you don’t mind paying a little more for the experience. Even though I am a New Yorker (New York is still of the greatest cities in America), I really like San Francisco, Honolulu, Savannah, San Diego and Sedona.
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