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Had my first visit of 2022 today, Sunday. The changes this season begin in the parking lot. There are at least 5 security camera masts throughout the lot now. Approaching the entrance the canopy over the ticket takers has been repainted and it's blue and white now. Which if memory serves is more like it was a couple decades ago with the old structure. Catwoman is coming along, though a fair amount is still framing. There are still stairs from Bugs Bunny National Park to the upper bit of Illinois but they're all-new. As for Eagle. The entrance is improved but they aren't done with it. Looks like it'll have full ADA-compliance with a new ramp still going in. It leads to the entrance side of the platform though. Also got a couple shots of the changes to the Palace area. That's about it for my short stop. Never got to see the DC comics and Log Flume/American Thunder loop. Mooseburger being converted to 100% mobile ordering only is pretty nice and the menu has been expanded. But there are still some omissions from this menu (no loaded nacho option, nothing with a hot dog in it). Macho Nacho and World's Fair Hot Dogs are both back this year. I'll leave you with the rest of my Catwoman photos.

Some photos from todays construction tour

In honor of National Pet Day (at least in the USA):

Found a clip of the brave ride op -

Jeez, certainly no shortage of trees at this park.

So what year is this thing supposed to open?

^True, but wasn't this an empty corn field before this? They should have been planting trees long before now, but it's not like they had anything to start with. Like I said earlier, I have a feeling landscaping is going to be a work in progress for awhile.

I'm sorry, but you're wrong. Ramses: The Revenge was a ton of fun. Robot aliens in Egypt...that's just bonkers and awesome.

Yep was an Awesome Egyptian themed dark ride called ‘La Valle dei Re’ that was turned into an awful shooting interactive ride few years back. Some of the old ride set pieces were included in this version’s queue line. Very glad they updated it, looks like a dynamic much more fun version of the previous

Jumanji opened at Gardaland a couple of days ago, here’s a POV of the attraction:

Am I the only one that gets rocked like a baby to sleep on these rides?

This sign appeared on the entrance of Zoom. Seems like they're teasing some kind of archeology theme to the renovation??

A small sneak peak, just 13 more days until park opening.

Some impressions from this weekend’s park opening - the park looks better than ever. Pictures taken from: https://www.rideonblog.com/vor-ort/phantasialand/2022/phantasialand-saisonstart-2022

And we have a train reveal!!

Here today for an event and got an amazing behind the scenes tour of Dr Ds Cliffhanger way more pics later. But sharing a couple now

Artist rendering of the new hotel.

I did not have that issue when I rode Xcelerator back in August, nor on any Californian coaster.

Yeah. "If the buckle doesn't reach, I can't start the ride" makes sense, and doesn't rely on the operator scrutinizing every large rider.

Why allow the machine to operate with the restraint that far up? You have to be exceeding the limit in that case. If the ops "got a green light" I just don't see it being their fault. Still seems like this is a poorly engineered variation of their standard model and that is what caused him to slip out.

RIP in peace

Funeral for the young man is happening today in St. Louis, it's been a major story on the local news. They are having the service at St. Louis University which is run by the Jesuits. I'm kind of assuming this was arranged as a donation through catholic charities, I know Cardinal Ritter, an elite private catholic high school here, was courting him for a possible football scholarship. He was from East St. Louis which is one of the poorest/roughest neighborhoods in the St. Louis area and his success at football would have been his way out.