Aug 2, 20223 min read

Luna Park & Deno's Wonder Wheel Park

Updated: Aug 4

Following a morning at the New York City Aquarium in Brooklyn, Luna Park finally opened its doors for the day. I was excited to visit this park as it was where I would have the opportunity to experience one of the most renowned historical wooden rollercoasters, The Cyclone.

Coney Island Cyclone

Approaching the Cyclone, I noticed that the rollercoaster occupies its own little section up to the boardwalk by the ocean. The ride has had a turbulent past and was nearly demolished at one point. Now, it was commemorating one of its 90th anniversaries and thriving. I made my way to the station, handed my tickets to the ride attendant, and boarded. One notable issue was that the lap bar restraint was quite ineffective, leaving a significant gap between my thighs and the bar. As the ride commenced, the train climbed its 85-foot tall lift hill, and after the initial drop, I felt like I was barely seated for the rest of the ride. Particularly during the first turn around the curve on the boardwalk side, I was thrown to the side like a rag doll. It's astonishing that no one has fallen off this ride. Nevertheless, it is perhaps the most exhilarating wooden rollercoaster I've experienced, and surprisingly not overly rough. Overall, it's a fantastic ride and a must-try for anyone in the New York City area.

Lunch & The Tickler

Afterwards, I purchased a delicious hot dog from the renowned food stand called Nathans Famous on the boardwalk. It was quite enjoyable! Following that, I made my way to Luna Park, which is located just a couple of blocks away. Since I was running short on time to reach the American Dream Mall, I decided to prioritize riding the rollercoasters. The first one I tried was the Tickler, a spinning wild mouse rollercoaster featuring the eerie coney island mascot on its front. Overall, the ride offered some thrilling spins and hairpin turns throughout its layout, making it an enjoyable experience.

Soaring Eagle

The next attraction I tried was the steeplechase roller-coaster in their Scream zone section of the park. Unfortunately, I noticed that the ride's cars were being taken apart from the track, so I couldn't experience it. However, I did manage to ride their flying rollercoaster called Soaring Eagle. This ride ascends 50 feet and features uncomfortable medieval torture device-like trains where passengers have to lie on their stomachs throughout the ride. Overall, the experience was not very enjoyable. Subsequently, I made my way to Thunderbolt, their looping rollercoaster, only to find out that it was also closed. Hence, it was time to explore the rides at Deno's Wonder Wheel Park.

Deno's Wonder Wheel and Phoenix

Located within an amusement park on the Coney Island boardwalk, Deno's Wonderwheel park is a compact section. On arrival, my first stop was the renowned Wonderwheel, a sizable ferris wheel featuring stationary and swinging cars. Choosing the swinging cars, I was delighted by the thrill of swaying while the cars circled the track during a complete rotation on the wheel.

Following was the inverted rollercoaster named Phoenix, designed specifically for the park by the owners. It featured a custom layout and provided thrilling forces throughout the ride. Additionally, riders could enjoy stunning views while on the coaster.

In general, this park offers a sufficient amount of attractions considering the space available. It is definitely worth a visit if you find yourself in the area.

As always, trip report pictures are below. Keep Coast'n'

A nice morning to walk the Coney Island Boardwalk. The Amusement rides are to the right and the beach is to the left.

There she is1 The famous Coney Island Cyclone! I used to see this in every rollercoaster book as a kid!

Don't let her size fool you, the track configuration should tell you all. Its the closest rollercoaster you can get to literally flying out of your seat!