The Most Popular and Expensive Boardwalk Rides

The rides at Seaside Heights boardwalk and pier and at Jenkinson's on Point Pleasant Beach are a staple for tourists and locals.  But how much does one ride cost patrons?

The difference between the Wally Gater children's coaster and the adult thrill rides isn't just the height requirement to ride them. There's a big dollar difference, too.

Here's a rundown of what's new this year at the area's amusement piers, and also the cost to ride some of those attractions.

Walking through Funtown Pier, located at 1930 Boardwalk in Seaside Park, the Skycoaster is pulling riders in the area only to release them through the air over the waters. The Slingshot is throwing people into the air and the Ferris Wheel is filled.

The Skycoaster costs $20 for a single ride, $12 for a video, $10 for a t-shirt, and overall, the ride lasts less than 5 minutes.

"At the top, you're so scared and you drop, and you just let go," said Kelvin Rodriguez, 11, of New York. "It was definitely worth the cost."

The thrill ride is open until midnight or sometimes later, depending on how business is going at night, according to David Petrov, a Skycoaster employee. 

To the right of the Skycoaster stands the SlingShot. A single ride is $20 per person, with t-shirts and videos for $10 each. "The Real Deal" is for two riders, with two t-shirts and a video, for $55. The SlingShot ride lasts for less than two minutes.

John Nash of Toms River rode the SlingShot with his 7-year-old daughter Thomasina. Nash says it was worth the price, and that rides along Casino and Funtown Pier are not too expensive.

Casino Pier, located at 800 Boardwalk, is a five minute walk from Funtown Pier.

At Casino and Funtown Pier, prices are the same for individual tickets and bundles:

• 100 tickets - $50
• 45 tickets - $25
• 20 tickets - $12
• 1 ticket - $.75

Wristbands are available at Funtown Pier for $15 unlimited rides from noon to 6 p.m. on Monday through Friday. 

Brian DeMan, general manager of Funtown Pier, mentioned the new addition of three rides: the Typhooon, TopSpin, and Surf's Up.

Besides the attraction to the new rides, DeMan says the Tower of Fear, where riders are shot 225 feet in the area, and Skycoaster are the most popular rides at the Funtown Pier. 

Casino Pier offers weekly specials for wristbands and unlimited rides throughout the summer. Mondays and Wednesdays are Wristband Day on all Pier rides except Skyscraper and Go Karts for $15 from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays are Midnight Madness days for $15 for unlimited pier rides from 9 p.m. until midnight. 

Ride and Slide passes are also available for Breakwater Beach for $42 for adults, $37 for children, and $27 for seniors from 9 a.m. until pier closing. Prices for Breakwater Beach are available online. 

According to Toby Wolf, a Casino Pier employee, patrons favor the Perfect Storm, an interactive play area with slides and waterfalls, and the Patriot's Plunge, a six lane water racing slide.

Josh Karu, a Casino Pier manager, says the three most popular pier rides are the single cart Starjet rollercoaster, the Music Express, and the Skyscraper. Riders on the Skyscraper swingset can go up to 162 feet high at speeds of 70 miles per hour. 

Kiddie rides at both Casino Pier and Funtown Pier require anywhere from four to six tickets while adult rides run from six to 14 tickets for a ride. The most expensive rides at Funtown Pier are the Tower of Fear and Go Kart Track. At Casino Pier, the Rock Wall requires ten tickets, making it the most expensive on that side of the boardwalk. 

Twenty minutes up Route 35 north stands Jenkinson's Boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach with a number of games, rides, and an entertainment complex for adults.

According to Marilou Halverson, Jenkinson's Marketing Director, the top rides at the boardwalk are the Moby Dick swinging ride, the Boardwalk Bounce freefall ride, Bumper Cars, The Flitzer coaster, and the Super Himalaya.

Flitzer and Moby Dick cost eight tickets each to ride, making them the two most 'expensive' rides on the boardwalk.

Most kiddie rides including the Carousel range from 3 to 6 tickets. Rides are open daily at noon from May 31st to Sept. 12th and until Oct. 11th on weekends only. Every Tuesday from noon to 6 p.m. and Friday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., wristbands can be purchased for $15 a person to ride all of the rides. 

Sixty tickets can be bought online for $25 and 140 tickets can be bought for $50 plus coupons for locations on the boardwalk.