BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The only thing missing are the screams, as ride operators begin running the thrilling rides at Luna Park.

It’s all part of the preparation for Saturday at Coney Island, when the first guests of the season will descend upon the amusement park.

"It's fine tuning, really making sure in terms of the mechanical side so all the maintenance aspects and also the operational aspects are taken care of," said Alessandro Zamperla, President and CEO of Central Amusement International, which operates Luna Park.

You can't help but sense the excitement from Zamperla, after all, five generations of his family have been in the amusement park business.

And after missing the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 shutdown and operating mainly at limited capacity last year, they are opening their gates a week ahead of the traditional Coney Island Palm Sunday opening.

That day will include the opening of the famous Cyclone rollercoaster, which turns 95-years-old this year and will be christened in a ceremony on Saturday using a traditional Brooklyn egg cream.

"The one thing that we want to do, is really one, extend the season, so offer more days of fun, more days for the whole economic engine of the amusement district," said Zamperla.

On opening day, Luna Park plans to keep its charitable tradition of donating all proceeds for the day to three organizations that benefit local kids.

Zamperla says they will have a staff of 500 full and part-time workers when they open, but that number rises to 1,200 on Memorial Day weekend, when the park begins opening daily.

That's also when they are expecting to add three new attractions to the park – a flume ride, rollercoaster and ropes course – plus street improvements on West 12th Street and Stillwell Avenue.

The other big player in Coney's amusement district is Deno's Wonder Wheel Park, which will open its Phoenix rollercoaster on Saturday.

All proceeds from those rides will also go towards the UNICEF Save the Children of Ukraine Fund. 

"We're going to ask people for a five dollar donation, but you can pay more, you can pay less, if you want to ride for free you are more than welcome to ride for free we just ask that you do a kind deed to a stranger that day," said DJ Vourderis, whose family owns Deno's including its iconic Wonder Wheel, which is more than a century old.

Unlike Luna Park, Deno's is sticking with tradition and will fully open on Palm Sunday.