Great Adventure offers Spring Break fun for all ages

JACKSON, N.J. (WPVI) -- Not everyone can get away, so lots of folks are doing Spring Break at Great Adventure, which is now open for daylong getaways with the kids.

"They were going crazy this morning so we got out the door and drove down here so that they could run and have fun," said Lori Kling of Mansville, New Jersey.

"We got here a little bit ago, got on a big roller coaster, did a couple of kiddie rides and on to the next one," said Matt Kling of Mansville, New Jersey.

A group we spoke with from Delran was thrilled to be hitting the rides instead of the books.

"All the homework and stuff, it's like stressing a little bit I guess," said Daneya Jeffers of Delran, New Jersey.

"The excitement of going up, and then building up to falling down to going down on the ride," said Zee Zee Shreter of Delran, New Jersey.

The park is putting the finishing touches on its 14th roller coaster called the Joker, due to open Memorial Day Weekend. At 12 stories high, an animation shows how the free-flying coaster will turn riders upside down.

"You're gonna be flipping head over heels at least six times as you go up and down the dips and dives of this coaster," said Kaitlyn Pitts, Great Adventure. "It's gonna be crazy."

If the coasters are too much, you can check out some adorable animal cubs - a lion named Zuri, a tiger called Nadya and a sweet, but very vocal, bear called Bailey.

Bailey was born Jan. 12. Her mom began taking care of her at first, but then rejected her. So she's being hand-raised by the animal techs at the park.

"That's a very natural sound that bear cubs will make and the suckling is natural, too. So even though it looked like she might have been a little aggressive that is completely natural for bear cubs," said Staci Wheeler, animal training supervisor.

The park is open from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. until April 3.