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Took a trip up to COTA last night, to check out the Peppermint Parkway Christmas Event - which thanks to the Director of Park Operations (Matt Hughey), and the local SW chapter of American Coaster Enthusiasts included free admission and rides on Circuit Breaker. lots of pics below, but will get the burning question out of the way up front. Circuit Breaker is amazing. Very smooth, has multiple inversions- including my favorite element - a short stall at the 1/2 way point on the ride, and wll be 100% worth the trip to Texas to ride. they have two trains running: Red and Yellow, both with onboard audio. Very loud onboard audio, I'll note. I mentioned that to Matt and he said they have brought that up to Vekoma, but apparently it's a program that cycles and they don't really have any control over whether the audio will be BLASTING loud, or not. for what it's worth? I thought the Audio was much better/quieter on the Red train. oh..they also lowered the price. at least during Peppermint Parkway, it's now $15 to get into the event, but once in? only $15 (3 tickets) to ride it. almost every other ride is only 1 ticket. (Circuit Breaker was prior $25 for one ride). Or you could do the Gold Band that is $50 and offers unlimited rides on everything, and includes Circuit Breaker. the only thing not included in the Gold Band are the Go Kart racing, and the upcharge "lap around the track" also even tho it's the weekend before Christmas? it looks like they are expanding the ride options - adding in a new section that has another kiddie coaster (Orient Express), an Octopus, a kiddie motorcycle carousel, and a ferris wheel - tho this section was not quite ready to open. As you'll see tho, they did have the lights on some of the new rides going tho. ok. .on to pictures. .it really is a good event, and we had a great time. more info scattered thruout the pics at the moment, the Entrance to what will be COTALand is via Peppermint Parkway. So it's just to the left of the main Grandstands, and the parking is mainly in lot A behind us is the startingline/main granstands and the Minigolf. to the right is the Karting for adults (and under that white shade back there is the kids Karting) bright and sunny, as they just changed the hours of Peppermint Parkway so it starts at 4 instead of 5:30. . but they haven't really gotten that memo out to folks, so it was actually pretty quiet (and almost ERT like) until about 5:30, which had been the starting time. entrance is not free - it's $15 per ticket to enjoy the carnival grounds, and the lights. then you can either purchase individual tickets for rides/attractions (each ticket is $5) or buy one of multiple wristbands that include different levels of activities (ie: all the 1 ticket rides, the mini-golf, the activities such as paint a dreidel or ornament, cookie decorating, smores, etc. . .) They did a really nice job. . tho I must admit the COTALand area looks much better at night, once the darkness hides the dirt/construction. the exit of the entry tunnel. . again, this will look incredible at night. I absolutely adore that they put up "wacky Santa inflatables". .. immediately put a smile on our faces the only thing actually open during Peppermint Parkway in COTALand "proper" is Circuit Breaker. . so it's off by itself after a bit of a walk on the left. but they actually DO have quite a bit done already. it was impressive to see. the Schwarzkopf Wildcat is not moved and pieced back together, but was not quite ready to go yet. and the S&S Screaming Swing has been topped off, and Matt said they will be back next week to complete work on it. as you might note, there are LOTS of ride pads, and pillars poured. so there will be things everywhere. . . I believe what's going right next to Circuit Breaker is the Starflyer. there will be no dedicated "kiddie area", but instead the kids rides will be scattered thruout the park so there will things for families to do in each area. this is the base of what will be a 250' drop tower! and off in the distance (beyond the final curve of the F1 track - there will be a path that connects the park to that side along the track), is Palindrome, the Gerstlaur infinity coaster. it also is not open yet, but WAS testing during our visit, to the delight of many. hard to see in this pic, but the lift hill/final drop of the log flume is up and done too. but here's what most came for. and as noted above, Circuit Breaker is amazing. Wildcat seen from the Circuit Breaker gift shop exit. these trains are covered in LEDs. . and really do look incredible at night. tho I rode several times in a couple of places (on both trains). . I really do prefer the back row. to be fair tho, the front really does have a ton of airtime. walkways are designed well over here, with tons of spots to get great pics. we pulled Matt over for a pic in the sleigh that's for use by a Santa later in the evening to pose for a pic. this coaster is a great success, in terms of rideability, smoothness, and thrill. walking back over to the main Peppermint Parkway after rides on Circuit Breaker, another pic of just how far out COTALand will extend (tho please note the big area in the center is the F1 track, so mainly along that path connecting the two sides of the park will be nothing but path). Matt did confirm for me there are still plans for the "most thrilling ride that will be in the park" - the multi seated "skycoaster" type ride, that will be rising over on the Palindrome side. but this pic gives a good idea of how many ride pads / supports have been done already, and a better view of the flume and Palindrome. looking back at Circuit Breaker a final time before leaving this section to head over to the main Peppermint Parkway area. tons and tons of lights, and things to do / photo ops over here. they did a Menorah Lighting at 5:45, which I appreciated, as last night was night 7 of Hanukkah. one of my favorite things is that they have the grandstands open (mainly for use of the Concession stands and bathrooms), but you can sit and watch the folks that did the "take a lap on the track".. so very loud and fun to see the cars zoom by at 100+ MPH. some of the stuff they had up was a bit "scary" for kids I thought. . but most of the adults loved it. and they had a screen set up playing movies (we saw the end of Grinch, and most of Elf playing during our visit) the smaller rides that used to be over by the Concert Venue entrance have been moved over to the front of the Grandstands to be included in Peppermint Parkway. Matt told me these are only here temporarily, and I'd say the vast majority of them will end up placed in COTALand - as many of the smaller kiddie rides are COTA branded already in the paintjobs and ride vehicles. but over here is also the Wacky Worm. . and since Jim wouldn't ride Circuit Breaker (it's too big a coaster for him still, so he freaks himself out), he WAS willing to ride the Wacky Worm with me. from the temporary placement, one does get a lovely view of the F1 track starting line from the lift hill. lots of other temporary rides have been set up over here, and tons and tons of lights. and would it be a "carnival atmosphere" without food carts? including the Donut place that is operated by Matt's wife. . yummmmm. . .a giant bucket of fried donuts! (and hot apple cider too). just a sampling of the lights over here. . which would look so much better as it got darker. back here is the new section, which as noted, didn't open last night as it wasn't fully ready. but they are assembling an Octopus there, the Orient Express looked ready to go (and was lit up!), but I guess it's not safe to operate while they are building a ride next to it. of course they have a kissing booth too. (and yes, we did kiss, but not sharing that pic here ) the only "permanent" things over here are the Zipline, the Mini Golf and the two karting tracks (Kids/Adults). but as noted, I would say most of these rides will make it over to COTALand proper eventually. it was time for the tree lighting ceremony, and it got PACKED over here. Princess Peppermint came out and did a little skit to light the tree. it really is pretty cool looking once the tree lighting happened, the crowd spread out, and since the place is so large? it never did feel crowded. tho I would estimate the line of cars to get in, as we were leaving, was at least a mile long. would it BE an event at COTA without some race cars? How about RaceCar driver Santa? (the line for him was at least 40 minutes, so I just waited outside the queue and snapped them between visitors) you could also queue to meet Mrs Claus (she had a much shorter line at about 15 minutes) THIS nightmare fuel: as well as Rudolf, and the "Ice Queen and Snow Princess" (aka: NOT FROZEN, but kinda, but we don't wanna get sued). . LOL the line for those two was easily the longest of the night other than Santa tho. so we kept walking and stopping for pics. we did bump into Princess Peppermint as she was making her way back towards the main entrance for her photo-op spot. she was kind enough to pose for a pic with us. the entrance gate at night. stunning. and the tunnel at night is pretty impressive too but our feet were hurting, so it was time to go. heading back to the car, a few final pics of Circuit Breaker - with the LEDs on the cars .. they start off the color of the train, then switch to Red/White/Blue, as the train runs the course. here's that Stall I love. well worth a visit if you're in the Austin Area this holiday season. . . .

The power of Claus compels you! The power of Clause compels you! Merry Christmas Town 2025! It's time for our annual stroll through Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. There's every thing you'd expect: "millions" of Christmas lights, lots of festive decorations and music, different types of holiday grog and goodies, and, of course, Santa's Workshop. In fact, this event is much the same as last year, only with some minor changes in decorations and two new holiday shows: Christmas Town Live in the Festhaus and the Merry Misfits trio in France. Returning for this season are Scrooge No More, the park's popular version of A Christmas Carol, in England's Globe Theatre; Gloria, a retelling of the Christ story, in Ireland; Wiseman, a singing trio in Italy (I think their stage got an upgrade for this season, though); O'Tannenbaum, a synchronized music-and-light show outside the Festhaus in Germany; the Polar Pathway Spectacle of Lights in the Escape from Pompeii area; Elmo's Christmas Wish in the Sesame Street Forest of Fun; and 'Twas that Night, an ice-skating show in France's Palace Theatre. The park is running a few coasters, weather permitting, during Christmas Town: Pantheon, Verbolten, Invadr, and DarKoaster (not affected by weather, of course). Most of the flat rides are running, along with the Christmas Town Express (round trips only starting at Caribou Station) and the Skyride. Let's take it in, shall we? Bundle up--it's a chilly winter's night. The Giant Snowman bids you welcome to Christmas Town--unless you use VIP parking, which means you won't lay eyes on him. The Tree with the Big Balls is back! Carolers greet you in England with traditional Christmas songs, but don't expect to hear "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" or "Christmas at Ground Zero." In Ireland, you can pray for the immortal souls of those who decided to stop at Grogan's Pub for a pint of Christmas Town Stout. You can see Gloria in the Abbeystone Theatre, too. You can also partake of Santa's Fireside Feast, where you will be under the protection of the Great Stone Fist of the Elves. Oh, you also get cookies from Mrs. Claus. The path between Ireland and France is very peaceful--one of my favorite spots during Christmas Town. This peaceful setting brought to you by Coca Cola. In France, all will make merry, or they will taunt you with hearty laughter. "You are impressed by our enormous Christmas lights, n'est-ce pas?" They're a bit more laid back in Canada. But you do have to watch out for frolicking caribou. In Germany, gingerbread men and gum drops reach unnatural sizes. I found this in one of Oktoberfest's gift shops. Nothing says "German Christmas" more than a Scottish Highland Cow on a t-shirt. Santa's Workshop is in Germany, so suck it North Pole! Why is the very tall wooden soldier trying to choke herself? The Festhaus looks even more festive than usual during Christmas Town. The O'Tannenbaum show is always a crowd pleaser. Christmas Town Live harkens back to the Christmas TV specials of the past. The timing was wrong for me to catch the show that night. The stage is decorated like an old-time TV studio. Peace out on the bridge between Germany and Italy. It looks like the Wiseman show was upgraded a bit from last year's version. This year's version looks a lot like one of those Hallmark movies. This is my single favorite tree at Christmas Town--beautiful in its dignity and simplicity. Meanwhile, across the bridge from that same tree, Christmas is going completely nuts at Holiday Hills (aka Festa Italia). I like the Polar Pathway by Escape from Pompei, too. They have another synchronized music-and-light extravaganza on the Pompei show building. "Hmm--Cookie Monster wish for more bourbon in his hot chocolate." It's getting pretty cold. In fact, it's snowing in Williamsburg as I write this today. Time to head out via Scotland. A Merry Christmas Town to all, and to all, a good night!

A few days later I was able to take a day to explore Universal Studios Singapore at Resorts World Sentosa. This was one of the two remaining Universal resorts I'd yet to visit (Universal Studios Beijing is all that remains for now) but also my third Resorts World property (Resorts World Las Vegas and Resorts World Genting). Not unlike Resorts World Genting, Resorts World Sentosa is an integrated resort property centered around casinos but offering extensive choices in hotels, shopping, dining and attractions. The main anchors for Resorts World Sentosa are Universal Studios Singapore, the Singapore Oceanarium and the Adventure Cove Waterpark along with a few smaller attractions scattered throughout the property. In the remaining moments of downtime of my trip, I would try to check a few more of those off but with my one full day, I would focus on Universal Studios Singapore. Like the other parks, I knew a decent amount about what to expect. Universal Studios Singapore is a smaller park with a collection of "greatest hits" from the other Universal parks with a few exclusives thrown in the mix. The lands are mostly unique compared to the other parks but the attractions within are mostly found elsewhere. Not long before my visit Minions Land had opened in the plot of land that originally opened with the park as Madagascar. And you could absolutely feel the Minion fever throughout the park. At the heart of Resorts World Sentosa is the casino itself, and many of the methods of arrival to the complex lead directly to the casinos. Obligatory entrance shot. Obligatory globe photo. Just to the left of the park's entrance is a size-able construction plot where the future Super Nintendo World will be located. Work has been underway for some time, but they were working onsite throughout the evenings during each visit I had to this area. From the Universal Studios Singapore entrance plaza you can see the SkyHelix Sentosa in flight. One benefit of Sentosa's integrated resort approach is the inclusion of a resort monorail with stations dotting the entirety of the Sentosa island property. It was neat to see The Count helping with the rope-drop procedures at Universal Studios Singapore. The park's Hollywood section, along with much of the New York area are covered. Halloween merchandise could be found in the park's entrance shops. Minion Mart was one of many Minions-focused merchandise locations in the park. Similar but different. Well this is different. This tangled mess of Vekoma track is Battlestar Galactica: Human vs. Cylon. If there is one thing this version of Revenge of the Mummy has going for it, it is the scale and quality of the theming around it. Minions Land and Far Far Away are on the opposite side of the park. The Lost World is found between Ancient Egypt and Far Far Away and all lands encircle the park's small central lagoon. The Pantages hosts a variety of shows in Universal Studios parks around the globe. I didn't get to see this one during timing, but it was neat to see the theater being used for a totally different show than the Beetlejuice or Horror Make-Up shows I've seen in the other parks. Sesame Street Spaghetti Space Chase was an addition that joined the park's lineup several years after opening. Originally intended to be a Stage 28 walk through experience that was ultimately cancelled, the family-friend ride opened in its place in 2013. Sadly the ride was closed for refurbishment during our visit. Besides Spaghetti Space Chase, the other major attraction in the New York section of the park is Lights, Camera, Action! The land features a few shops plus their own take on Finnegan's, which was serving as a Blumhouse Bar during the Halloween Horror Nights season. I love this. Transformers: The Ride was the first version of the attraction to open. Somehow over the years I managed to ride each version in the reverse chronological order of their debut (excluding Beijing's) starting with Florida's, then Hollywood's and finally the one in Singapore. Battlestar Galactica was running two trains on each side, and while they weren't dueling, they were operating in such a way that you could sometimes see both sides running at roughly the same time. Overall I thought this was an interesting concept for a ride, that would have been more enjoyable if it was operated dueling. The Cylon (suspending) coaster was quite punchy and forceful where the Human (sit-down) side was far more tame and meandering. They were incredibly strict about loose articles in this park so I couldn't bring my camera into the queue, but I appreciated that the queue had a video loop playing that featured characters/actors from both the original Battlestar Galactica series as well as the more modern version that aired on SyFy in the early 2000's. The scale of the Ancient Egypt section of the park is truly impressive. As with Battlestar Galactica, lockers were a hard requirement for Revenge of the Mummy so I couldn't take any photos beyond this point. That said, it is in most ways, a copied and plussed version of Universal Studios Florida's attraction. The queue abandons the "making of a third Mummy movie" plot in favorite of a fully-themed Egyptian tomb, but most of the same beats of the Florida queue, right down to the staircase surrounding the statue leading to the station are nearly identical. The coaster's layout is identical to that of Florida's with minor story tweaks to account for the non-movie-set themed story. That said, the coaster was operating with minimal effects (no fire in any rooms) and the coaster seemed to crawl through its entire layout, including the launches. I'd heard many good things about this version, so I was disappointed to find it was my least favorite of the three, theming-aside. Up next... Not sure what all of these structures are meant to be for... I do love the Jurassic Park III influences in this land. Universal... Keeping Setpoint busy since 1999. Canopy Flyer has a higher capacity than Pteranodon Flyers, so it has that going for it. To its credit, the coaster spans most of The Lost World and even has an unusually forceful helix before its end. Of all of the "similar but different" things I was looking forward to in this park, it was this. Let the record show that while I enjoy water rides, I rarely experience them when I go to parks because I hate getting wet on otherwise dry park days. That said, I wasn't going to pass up a chance to experience the alternate universe Jurassic Park River Adventure. Still kind of a greatest hits of its sister rides, the choice of ride system and the Hydroelectric Plant drop finale make for a unique experience. And I got drenched for riding it. This ride's name amused me far more than it should have. It was a very cute take on a Dumbo-style flat ride though. Rather than having a dedicated meet and greet for Blue like some of the other Universal parks, Universal Studios Singapore brings her out on a roaming truck in Jurassic Park. Several other dinos were a part of the show too. I was very curious to see how a land, centered around Shrek 4-D could turn out... Scaffolding aside, this was pretty neat. Puss in Boots Giant Journey is another one of those strange, unique offerings at Universal Studios Singapore. It's like someone asked Zamperla to build a Volare (spiral lift included) replace the grill-rack flying coaster trains with a strange suspended seated train. The whole thing is slow, nonsensical and unique. A closer look at one of the ride's trains. Donkey Live! in Far Far Away is more like Stitch Encounter or Turtle Talk with Crush than the puppet-style versions you've seen in Florida or Hollywood. Sadly we didn't have time to experience this due to other time commitments before the park's early closing that day. Clever. It isn't just a clever gag from the film. Frier's Good Food is an actual eatery in Far Far Away. And it lives up to its name as having good food. They even had a delicious Gingy sundae! As we crossed the halfway point in our day, we started to realize we were fighting the clock to have time in Minions Land and to do the few more unique attractions that were exclusive to Universal Studios Singapore, so sadly, a showing of Shrek 4-D would not be in the cards. But there was still more to see and do...

Interesting video. Tormenta looks incredible!

Part 3: Europa Park day 2 Continued: with less of a crowd up here, as it wasn't opening time now, I was able to get closer to the Berlin Wall pieces and read the history of the display and snap a couple more pics of Silver Star doing it's thing although I didn't go out the main gate completely, I believe that's the Monorail station there on the left. I absolutely adore this statue. . . Viewed from the front: but if you look at it the other direction? I need to find a small model of this, as I'd love to have it. headed back towards the gardens/restaurant, as we had to meet in about 20 minutes, I stumbled across this behind a "storefront" on the main street. the Mack museum! with all kinds of history of the park, awards they've won, patents, and design concepts for the park. very, very interesting, and I was the only one in there! (as I had been in the mask museum too) as I was about to head out, I heard some commotion from outside. so stepped out and was treated to: the clock going off, and doing a presentation, that I hadn't even realized was an option here back inside for a couple more pics then on my way back over to the restaurant here's the full menu I ended up having the "Baden" set menu, and it was all excellent (tho the service was kind of a mess. (I think we confused them since we all ordered separately) cream of pumpkin soup (so good) pork shoulder and potatoes and apple bread pudding with black forest cherries. after our meal, I took a quick look around the rest of the restaurant, as it really was in theme as a Medieval home after finishing up eating, it was getting pretty late in the day, and we decided to head back to the hotel to change for Traumatica - which happened starting at 7pm since we hadn't yet taken the "big" monrail, we headed up to that station near Germany and hopped on to head back to Colosseo to change clothes for something warmer pretty cool station. map showing where the Monorail went from and to, that gives a good overview of just how large this park is. changed and back into the park, this was outfit for Traumatica the lady in Spain seemed to like it. we had some skip the lines for Wodan from earlier in the day, so we had all decided to meet up at that entrance, but first I decided to climb this lookout tower section that overlooked the splash battle ride really nice views from up here too. . . and even slightly higher than that other monorail we had ridden earlier in the day even tho it had gotten cooler? tonight, the splash battle WAS running, and had takers. great view of Blue Fire from here too and of course, Wodan. and even lots of theming up here - on a lookout that wasn't gonna get many folks bothering to go up to. I love this park. met up and rode Wodan (it was fantastic as always, and yes, my headgear stayed on as it has a chin strap) this is the skip the line entrance for virtual queue and then we headed over to the main Wodan entrance, as we wanted to check out that free haunt they had over here it was mainly just lots of smoke and a few scare actors. . but for a free house? it was ok. it wasn't quite time for Traumatica yet, so we decided to head over to the Arthur area to grab some single rider rides. passing thru Fairy Tale land stopping to use the restroom over here, I just about pissed myself laughing. there was a gnome urinal in these toilets over here. and yes, it actually "peed". . . hysterical. using single rider is the way to go on Arthur, we were on it in moments. and then started heading towards the direction of the Traumatica entrance. we knew it was over near Croatia (by Voltron), so we went over that way. and once it starts to get dark? it comes quickly. this was when we started walking. and this is when we got to Voltron. and the temps started to drop too. I caught part of this "Animatronic" show, it was about Nikola Tesla. to be concluded in part 4: Traumatica !!!

pics from yesterday's visit for "Feliz Fiesta" during Holiday in the Park. (and yes, they got TONS of lights from SFA - I asked and was confirmed that the Texas parks got things from several other parks as well that were no longer doing Holiday in the Park) the park is looking amazing, and the shows remain top notch! Majesty of Christmas, and the Dickens shows alone are worth price of admission, tho all the other shows are great as well. because of Texas Department of Transportation sending out a crapload of warnings about how I10 & Loop 1604 (ie: right were the park is) being closed all weekend for construction, we allowed just over 2 hours for the trip to the park from Austin today. so of course, we were so early that even tho the cones were up, they hadn't started any work yet, and traffic flowed - resulting in us being the first ones at the park, and stopped at the entrance gate. so we took advantage to get out of the car, and snap this pic which typically you only can get while driving by. but after about 15 minutes, the parking gates opened and we headed in (with all the other folks that had backed up behind us). of COURSE, this was right when the Six Flags app decided to update, and that made getting thru the toll booths a nightmare - how nice Six Flags stopped handing out physical (hard card) passes JUST before they updated the app and made it a huge mess to access your digital stuff. note: we did chat with mgmt about this during the day as lots of folks had issues, so it came up. they are aware of issues, and are working on solutions, so "please stand by" anyways, the park looks great. the Day ended up being PERFECT (low 70s after a week of temps in the 40s and 50s), and the construction kept many away from the area, resulting in a very crowd comfortable day. lots and lots of photo ops thru the park. as mentioned, I'm guessing some of them came from other parks no longer doing HitP and no trip to SFFT is complete without a stop in to say hi to "miss Connie" in Sangerfest halle. she's a celebrity, and my friends all know I tend to go there first to get a pic. after 1st rides of the day on Chubacabra, those of us attending Feliz Fiesta got to go backstage for a tour of the construction site that I posted yesterday. as part of that tour, we also got to go down into the Gully Washer reservoir (drained during the off season upkeep) for some fantastic shots of Iron Rattler's drops. and then it was time to eat something for lunch (as our dinner wasn't until almost 5). we headed into Blues BBQ, where here at Fiesta Texas, the Turkey Leg with stuffing is still included on the meal plan. and as it's Holiday in the Park? Santa was out all day, so we had to pop in and say hello. naughty bert! (and how fantastic that Santa played along) one of the shows in the main square. . I believe this was the Tinker-Belles and the wooden soldiers one of 3 large trees SFFT has on display. this one is at the end of the main avenue into the park (and the tinkerbelles stage is at the bottom) many, many characters were available today for Meet and Greets. not just the Looney Tunes in Holiday garb, but also multiple DC Heroes, and tons of Holiday themed characters. and the "handlers" are happy to take your phone to snap pics for you. this makes me laugh - this is what happens when they start snapping before you're ready for the picture. . . LOL durrrrrrrr. . . . . but we did get some great pics regardless another throne. .and I do love my thrones more characters. . a bit horrifying, I thought, but happy to take pics after this great meet and greet in DCU, I asked them how about an "action pose". .and that's the 2nd pic. they understood the assignment - particularly Flash walking back to the front for dinner in the picnic grove, caught the end of a Tinkerbelles & soldiers performance, and they were hanging around for pictures. and yet, ANOTHER throne. they must have gotten these from other parks. a night time shot of the tree at the end of the main corridor. here's the MAIN tree in the park, in Rockville, during the Tree Lighting ceremony (that includes fireworks, Looney Tunes characters, dancers, and Santa on the stage in front of it) .. oh, and "snow" Jim and I in front of the main tree, before heading into the Rockville High Theater to see the Dicken's show - one of the parks two signature HitP shows didnt' take any pics of the 1st part of the show, but it's a full on production with sets, dancing, and very good singing. the camera came out during Ghost of Christmas Future, as I love the design of it. ltr: Scrooge, Ghost of Christmas Present, Ghost of Christmas Past, Ghost of Marley, and Ghost of Christmas future. Scrooge seeing the error of his ways before he gets tossed into his own grave by Marley (oh. . "spoilers". . . LOL) after the show (and a few rides) we made our way up to the "big" theater in the park, for the amazing "Majesty of Christmas" - which, yes, includes live animals on stage in a wonderful production. after this show, the park was about to shut down, but attendees of Feliz Fiesta get some ERT on the CrackAxle coasters (Iron Rattler, Roadrunner Express, and Dr. Diabolical's Cliffhanger). . so we took the "Holiday Express" which is what they transform the train into, for a full loop around the park complete with Holiday songs and tons and tons of lights. including new this year, lights representing the 12 days of Christmas. . . that you pass on the train, AS the song is playing synched to what you are passing. so simple, but so effective and impressive. another photo op in front of Hurricane Harbor area and the 3rd and final tree, in Crackaxle, which I was told came from another park that is no longer doing HitP. it's a great event, and well worth going to.

After last year's unexpected trip to Kuala Lumpur, I was once again surprised when I found out I would be working in Singapore. Over the course of my two weeks there, I managed to use my time in between work efforts to see what the city had to offer. A first for me this time when traveling to this side of the world, was flying through Doha, Qatar. My hotel was attached to one of the city's many large shopping complexes. After over 24 hours in transit from Orlando and a quick need to adjust to the current timezone to start work the next day, I ran down to the food court to get a bite before passing out. I was pleasantly surprised to find a Michelin-Starred venue (a counter-service one in a food court, at that). I didn't need much but I wasn't going to pass up the chance to have authentic roast duck and BBQ pork. The next morning I was pleased to find a Toast Box in the same attached mall. I had eaten at the same company's former location during my Shanghai Disneyland honeymoon in 2017, and this curry laksa became a comfort meal throughout my trip. When driving through the Raffles City and Marina Bay Sands area of Singapore I saw lots of F1-related structures as the event was only a few weeks away from taking place during my visit. Marina Bay Sands is the most iconic (and photographed) part of Singapore, and my hosts brought me here early into my trip to enjoy the sights. And yes, I did have a Singapore Sling or two along the way... Merlion Park is another key stop while touring Marina Bay Sands. I had a chance to see Sentosa from high above, getting an early sneak peek at Universal Studios Singapore, which I would visit both as a day guest and later for Halloween Horror Nights... But more on that later! One evening between working sessions, I used my downtime to go to Gardens by the Bay... The complex is absolutely huge and could easily fill a full day. I didn't have that much time, so I prioritized the things that interested me most and that would be open during my brief window of time available. Cloud Forest was first on my list, including the recently-opened Jurassic World: The Experience produced by Neon. The complex is incredibly impressive and the Jurassic World overlay fits really well into the normal year-round elements of the space. As one of two Neon-produced offerings I experienced while in Singapore, I was very impressed with the quality of what I saw here. The waterfall in Cloud Forest is kind of a signature element. The dinosaurs from Jurassic World are carefully integrated into the walk-through environment in ways that feel organic and immersive. The absolute show-stopper of the experience was this large-scale T-Rex animatronic with fully articulated movement in its head, neck and tail. If I wasn't so pressed for time, I could have watched it perform for a half hour or more. There were several other clever animatronic dinosaurs in the experience. The awe of the Jurassic franchise comes to life here and is only amplified by John Williams' and Michael Giacchino's scores playing majestically in the background. If you're a fan of the IP, it's hard not to get swept up by it all and to feel at least a little emotional by how "real" it feels. I'm a huge fan of Dale Chihuly's work and so I was greatly pleased to find a work of his in Cloud Forest. A sneak peak at Supertree Grove from inside of Cloud Forest. While Universal has shown us Jurassic incubators before, it was super cool (and cute) to see animatronic baby dinos warming in their own incubator next to the more traditional egg incubators. Mr. D.N.A.! Some of the year-round elements of Cloud Forest remain unaltered for the Jurassic World exhibition. I've seen dinosaurs like these at Universal before, but they were equally fun to see here. There's an immersive projection space inside of Cloud Forest tucked within the mountain structure. Yes, they did have the iconic park gates represented... No, they weren't the most impressive element of the experience. Being able to see this dino from the ground and from the elevated walking paths was neat. A look down on the T. Rex from above. Cloud Forest is such a unique environment! Didn't think you'd escape Isla Nublar without running into a few of these, did you? Pro lighting setup here. No, I wasn't queuing for Velocicoaster when this photo was taken. The experience's finale is a live showing where guests can see Blue the velociraptor up close. She did the pose! Admission to the Flower Dome is included with your Cloud Forest ticket... It is a large, indoor botanical garden that, if you're into greenery, can be very impressive. In addition to natural wonders, there are some pieces of art made with natural materials embedded in the habitats. There was a Switzerland-themed event going on during my visit... Oh, and they have rides here too. Fun for all ages! Supertree Grove is incredibly impressive in person. For those looking for an observation deck-style experience, Supertree Grove has both the OCBC Skyway (pictured here) as well as The Supertree Observatory (the center tree in the previous photo). Each of them has their own admission ticket required, so I chose the more unique of the two. The view is fantastic! I felt like I was in the Eloi village from The Time Machine (2002). On the grounds nearby is the United Buddy Bears exhibition with 145 unique, artistic bears representing different countries and territories around the world. After the sun sets, Supertree Grove takes on a different life with a bioluminescent glow. Otherworldly and beautiful. A special version of the twice-nightly light show was running during my visit, featuring "Worlds of Fantasy" music from Disney, Universal and Warner Brothers including Super Mario Bros, Harry Potter, The Little Mermaid and Star Wars. I might've had an out-of-body experience when the show started dancing to Star Wars' "Duel of the Fates." The Singapore Flyer can be seen from many vantage points throughout the city. This is one attraction I didn't get to experience firsthand during my trip. Gardens by the Bay is a short walk from the Marina Bay Sands mall and casino, so I stopped in to visit the famous mall. I was pleased to find multiple TeamLab experiences on the grounds. This very unique, three story fountain drains water in a pool found in the open air above this portion of the mall, draining into the mall's indoor lagoon. It is equally mesmerizing to watch from outside. One of the most unique Apple Store locations I've ever been to. And there's a downstairs floor that connects directly with the indoor mall! And there's a Bellagio/World of Color-style fountain show outside of the mall that I managed to see end right as I got to the railing... So this is the best and only photo I took to prove its existence. My time exploring Marina Bay Sands was a highlight of the trip. While there was a lot more work to do, I felt recharged after my time here. But there was still more adventure ahead...

Day 9: Holiday Park (now, Plopsaland Deutschland) this one ended up being a long, but fantastic day. we got up in the morning at Europa Park and after breakfast met in the lobby to check out and hop on the bus. before leaving tho, I made sure to get some daytime pics of Hotel Colosseo. . our amazing resort hotel. after loading up the bus, and after a drive, we ended up in Haßloch Germany, home to what was called "Holiday Park" but has now been renamed as of mid 2025 "Plopsaland Deutschland" so this was my last visit to "Holiday Park" ever. . it's a medium sized park, with some nice thrills, a lot of wasted space/closed attractions, and a killer top coaster in Expedition GeForce. we were also there during the Halloween event, called "Halloween Fright Nights". . tho not certain if they are still doing that now that it's a Plopsa park. there were certainly signs it was transitioning more towards a "tweens" park tho. . . as you'll see below in comments. Front gates Front Gates with TPR, pic courtesy of Robb. loved the light fixture additions. they were cutsey, but fit this front area of the park. I believe this is/was the park's mascot. . tho never saw him really anywhere other than near the front and by one ride at the back of the park. this was the main reason for our stop tho. . the excellent Expedition GeForce - this amazing Intamin Mega coaster, with tons of airtime pops, and that fantastic curving first drop. TPR on GeForce. Hawk seems to imply it was a bit chilly this day. Happy TPR train on Expedition GeForce the Starflyer, which ran a so-so program in an area that was almost completely shut down/abandoned. it LOOKED like they were getting ready to do some construction over here tho, so hopefully Plopsa has put some $$ into adding a bunch of stuff. the other "big" ride at this park: Skyscream (a Premier Skyrocket). i pass on riding, as I've been on several (including this one) before. the queue is really well done tho, and they leaned into the Halloween Season for this area, as the queue already was in the realm of "spooky" I rode this, tho I wasn't as good as getting the planes to flip as others on the TPR trip were. but, yup, it's "Plane on Stick!" the only other place I saw this mascot in the park. This was back over by the Starflyer. . not opening until this year (so yeah, they've been working on it for a while), but per RCDB, it's a Gerstlauer Family coaster with a booster lift, a chain lift, and a roll back. the flume that's over by the "animated" section that was a big "tweens" area already in the park. it has a nice double dip drop. . tho doesn't get one super wet TPR on the flume! and they DIDN'T make us all cram into one log. this was my face upon discovering that my *favorite* ride in the park, is no longer there. oh, Expedition GeForce is my favorite coaster, but my favorite ride in Holiday Park was the Castle Frankenstein dark ride. It was kinda / sorta Haunted Mansion, but done just different enough it wasn't a direct rip off. even tho the ride system is the same. last time I was here? I rode this, easily, a dozen times. this time ? closed down. and why? they are turning it into a Smurfs ride !! SMURFS !!!! bahhhhhh! oh well, I'd drown my sorrow in food, as our day included a meal voucher (along with skip the line passes). not sure what the heck this was, but suitably freaky for the time of year. lunch was pretty good tho. . I had the Schnitzel and a ride on the Carousel will always cheer me up. since I had last been here, a new section of the park had opened up near the front. so we went to check it out. and yeah, it seemed targeting children as well.. so signs were there that the park was gonna get a name change. the scenery looked pretty tho and the rides were all "tween type" rides. mini drop tower, dumbo type ride, and a galloping horse type ride tho instead of horses, one would ride Grasshoppers. I thought it was adorable, but didn't want to try riding in case there was a weight limit. the indoor section is still there, and looks pretty much the same - with the same family rides, including the classic wood carved roundabout, the kiddie roller coaster, and the fairy flight ride. even Jon was willing to pose for a pic on the St. Bernard that's a WHOLE LOTTA SAUSAGE for a teeny tiny bun! tho we had planned to leave after a few hours, the park offered us admittance to the Haunts if we wanted. so a vote was taken, and tho we had been planning to get to Phantasialand earlier in the day, overwhelmingly we all voted to stay at Holiday Park for a few more hours. which meant we got to hang out and drink coffee, and enjoy the Parade. oh look.. there IS the Mascot! so I was incorrect. tho Andrew doesn't look too impressed hmm. this parade has a lot of little kids in it (tried my best to take pics around them), but it's pretty spooky. maybe this is gonna be really fun? Spoiler - it was! I've always found the scariest thing about the Grimm Reaper to be his Nike's really cool parade. . and as the sun started to set, the park was getting ready for the monsters to come out, and to open up the houses. this was the entrance to the first house we'd be going thru: Freak Circus but much like Six Flags has "the Arrival". . .Holiday Park has a show, that brings out all the haunt actors for the houses. TPR anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Monsters Sponsored by a local radio station. . . the "show" was about what you'd expect, but I loved that they leave the stage and weave thru the audience as they head towards their houses they have arrived and Bob looks amused. she was great! and ended up in the "Disco Ball Room" of the first haunt. so many flashing lights. in the Freak Circus house, they send you thru in small groups. (actually all the houses did that - groups of 6-8), and in one room the "ringmaster" yells to all get together and smile for a picture that they take, and then hand to you upon exiting. for all the posing and direction the ringmaster gives you, the pictures are hysterically awful - blurry/out of focus - and they got worse as the groups went. she even missed half the group. hysterical! snapping a pic of the drop tower that is a park icon as we passed by it. (it's more of a "floating drop" than a sharp drop. . but it's ok, and it looks great) yes. they have a "Titty Twister" house. and yes! staffed by Vampires, including a door guy who says absolutely FILTHY things to people as they wait to go thru (a'la Cheech Marin in the movie" what I found absolutely the most hysterical thing about this? most of the scare actors - and the park guide who was walking us thru - had NO IDEA this was based on a movie! they were just working off scripts and getting into character that way. HAHAHAHAHA and don't even ask about "Ms Mona". . . poor Jon. no pics allowed inside the houses, but it's an experience we'll never forget (and I bet Jon won't either). this is also brilliant - right next to Titty Twister. This is an actual park restaurant. They closed it down for the Halloween Season, and turned it into a cannibal restaurant house. so you really ARE walking thru a restaurant. lots of random scare actors hanging about outside the main houses. . but that was really the only areas. if you weren't nearby a house, you were "safe" the fourth "house" is an outdoor maze, that seemed to be themed to Rats mutated by toxic sludge, and out front in the queue were protestors arguing for rat's rights. funny. (not really "scary" tho) a peek into the animated Norse land I mentioned earlier that has been the central area in the park (and is also at Plopsa). . with a Disc-o, a splash battle, the flume and a couple of other family rides. of course, it was never a trip to Holiday Park if you didn't stop into the "pipi station" bathroom next to Expedition GeForce. I really hope they kept this! as we finished up with the last TPR group thru the outdoor house, we headed towards the front of the park. as we passed between two "houses". . there was a scare zone here. so some scare actors to interact with. and crossing across the main square by the front entrance, they had turned off the fountains, and had a DJ on stage getting a dance party going. a final shot as we headed to the parking lot to get on the bus. and a pic from either Robb or Andy (since my camera lightened up the above, and theirs captures the beautiful sky) and then back on the bus and continuing on to Phantasialand. . where we were staying at the Hotel Charles Lindbergh on property. I don't think I took any pics of the room this time, as I have stayed in this hotel on prior trips. But snagged some areas I probably didn't get before. like the steampunk registration desk: and the park entrance to the hotel (yup, that's F.L.Y. track on the right. it goes thru the hotel). a sunset shot from the rooftop of the hotel, with F.L.Y. track underneath. could be mine, but I suspect I have to thank Andy for this. time for dinner (included with our hotel stay), the place looks really great at night. hungry TPR ready to chow down. and the food here is so dang good! best part of staying in this hotel? the ride may shut down with the park, but the area (Rooksville) stays open for hotel guests to wander around in if they so please. so able to get some wonderful pics. and then it was off to bed. tomorrow was the 1st of two full days at Phantasialand to end the trip

I'm surprised you didn't mention that the Scrambler, The Flash/Musik Express, Enterprise, Zforce, Flashback, Mountain Express, Galaxy, Jolly Monster, Metro, Skyway, Circus Wheel, Crazy Barrels, El Bumpo, Dragon, the Ski Show/Magic Lake, and Magic Pagoda are all gone now, too. I hope somebody told you that Magic Flyer, Tweety's Escpae, and Speedy Gonzalez Hot Rod are also leaving, too.

Thank you for demonstrating that having an actual discussion with you is impossible.

Day 3 concluded: Tiananmen Square back on the bus, and a short time later, we were back near where we had been the day before, closeby the Forbidden City. this structure is just outside of Tiananmen Square, and is the Zhengyangmen Gate Tower marking the south end of Tiananmen Square (so we were going around the outside to be let off the bus to walk to the security). Security at Tiananmen Square is incredibly strict - not only do you need a ticket to set foot into the square (which must be applied for way in advance, but we had an excellent tour guide who was able to swing getting tickets for those who wanted to go this evening), but there is a serious bag check, security pat down, metal detectors, and passport screen before you are even let into the square. in the below pic, Tiananmen Square is on the right. . the security check point is across the street on the left random buildings across from the square, as we headed towards security. the is the Mausoleum of Chairman Mao (taken from the security line to get into the square), that sits at the South side of Tiananmen Square inside this Mausoleum is Mao in the Crystal Coffin that preserves his body. tho tourists are welcome, tickets must be gotten in advance (and we didn't have tickets for that), and it was already late in the day so they had stopped letting folks in. it was still incredible to see even just the building in person. another pic of the Mausoleum from the Security line across the street. as noted, they are VERY serious about Security here. camera was put away all thru the security process. . not even gonna chance it. but here are pics from actually Inside Tiananmen Square. the monument in the center is: "the Monument to People's Heroes" and behind that, across the square is: National Museum of China behind me across the street (beyond security) is the Great Hall of the People. . another pic of the museum. . mainly to capture all the cameras that are on the light poles here. a look towards the most famous part of the Square: the Tiananmen gate on the North side of the square, that enters into the Forbidden City. the big basket of flowers is from the "Celebration of the 75th anniversay of People' Republic of China" in 2024 heading towards Mao's Mausoleum. . .this is one of the giant sculptures out front and in particular over here in front of the Mausoleum was heavy police presence the other giant sculpture out front, on the opposite side of the entrance to the Mausoleum the Monument to People's Heroes a selfie to capture the amount of cameras on site a closeup of the flower sculpture. . now celebrating 76 years (they changed the date to 2025) about as close as you really can get to the Tiananmen Gate while in the square. That photo of Mao is huge, but it looks small when viewing from where you can stand. looking out at one of Beijing's unique buildings in the smog, from Tiananmen Square. \ we were going to stay for the flag ceremony at the end of the night, but it was still an hour plus away, and my feet were kinda hurting, as were Stacy's. It was getting a little chilly too, and there really wasn't anything much to do other than sit in the crowd (getting larger by the moment) until the time for the ceremony. so we decided to bail. Probably shouldn't have, as it was a once in a lifetime, but ya gotta do what your body is saying to do - and mine was saying "go sit, and get a meal, you've done a LOT of walking today" luckily, Andy planned to stay, and not only shared photos he took of the ceremony, but also the video I'm sharing below. it's quite impressive and I'm super glad he shared it with the group, so I can share here! KBKD2717.MP4 once you're in the square via the security? there's really no exit other than at the corner that will bring you to the other buildings or the subway station. so we followed the crowd down into the underground (with SO MUCH police presence), but instead of going left to the Tiananmen Gate. . . or right to the Palace Museum. . . we headed straight ahead and out thru exit security to the Tiananmen station for the subway even once thru the "exit".. we still saw quite a bit of security around heading to the trains but, ahhhhh. . . sitting. (no issue finding a seat as people were coming TO the square, not leaving, so we got to sit for the ~1 hour ride back to the Universal Hotel) the Universal stop lets you out near CityWalk. . and as we were checking out of the Hotel in the morning, it was our last chance to sample things here at Universal Studios Beijing. at prices WAY below what they would be at a USA Universal park. so we headed to Toothsomes' Chocolate Factory for a late dinner, before going back to the room to pack. sounded kinda gross, but kinda good. . .but the urge for alcohol disappeared when we saw the offerings of milkshakes. and roaming characters coming from table to table. Stacy got a Chocolate and Strawberry shake. I went a little rogue and went for one that was pistachio and cheese. yeah. . it was very strange, but oddly satisfying. She got a burger, but I tried Chocolate braised pork. it was a bit too sweet for me, so didn't finish, but I did like it and glad I tried it. the offerings of shakes. . . and then it was up to the room (after paying way less than I expected it to be) to pack and be ready for tomorrow. was gonna be a tiring day, as after checkout, we were headed to the Great Wall (another bucket list item), and then we had a flight to another city. but after packing and before heading to bed, Andy sent the below pic, and i found it to be a perfect ending to what had been another great day on a TPR trip.

Day 2 concluded: a trip to the Olympic Green Stacy has a great sense of direction, so i wasn't worried about getting lost. and we ended up with a small group that she led on the subway to the Olympic Green it's a very large park area, that's home to several well known sites from the Beijing Olympics: the Birds Nest (Beijing National Stadium), the Water Cube (Beijing National Aquatics Stadium), the Fan (Beijing National Indoor Stadium) , the Speed Skating Oval, the Fields, and the Promenade - home to the Olympic Tower and the Beijing Olympic TV tower. I liked that you could watch the operator of the train at the front of the car, if you chose to do so. stepping out of the Metro station onto the Promenade one of the multiple Olympic Mascots for the 2008 & 2022 Beijing Olympics. the tower in the back is the Olympic Tower (which you can go up to the observation levels) and the closer one is the Ling Long Pagoda (Olympic TV tower) that was used for Broadcasting here's the "Birds Nest". . .it just looks incredible at night and the "Water Cube" - also amazing. . tho now home to car/truck ads on the outside. thanks to Andy for these wonderful pics of the group of us that went to the Olympic Green this night. LOL. . we were trying to do "rings" and now attempting the Olympic Rings. hey. . it was an attempt! loved this sculpture in front of the Water Cube some Winter Olympics Mascot the base of the Ling Long Pagoda is home to a giant "Friendship Store".. . we didn't go in, but seemed to offer a lot of Russian themed things looking at the Bird's Nest from the Field next door (where the outdoor events were held) the Olympic Torch from across the field Anth and I sitting, while others with more energy walked to the Olympic Torch. (I was saving my steps for the Olympic Tower) here's "the Fan" . . where all the gymnastics were held not sure what this one is. . but it was all lit up, so must have been used for something (perhaps the Tennis Center?) walking the Promenade down to the Olympic Tower wasn't too expensive to go up. . and we walked all the way here, no way was I NOT going up. some of the floors have glass panels up here. . . oh my! gahhh!!!! incredible views up here. that blue blur is the speed skating stadium. . the lights on it are amazing. oh wait, that building next to it is the Tennis Stadium a bit overcast / pollution. . but great views of Beijing at night from here Birds Nest and fields on the left straight ahead, Water Cube and the Fan on the right, with convention center next to it. time to say goodbye and head back. . it had been a very long day, lots of steps. and the metro would take us about an hour to get back. it was a little busy, but once we got to the Universal Line? it was a TPR Train Takeover! the metro station at Universal was pretty neon. some folks rushed to get a last drink before everything shut down for the night, but Stacy and I were exhausted. . so one quick stop to ride the "Snail" sculpture in front of Dogfish at City Walk (thanks Sara for the pic!), and then it was back to the hotel for me. signing off with a great pic of Birds Nest from Andy that he shared with the group. he's such a great photographer! back in the room, a shower, and then collapsed into bed and out immediately. tomorrow was another packed day: Most of it would be spent at Happy Valley Beijing, but then some of us were gonna head to Tiananmen Square as our guide had managed to get us tickets to go tomorrow. but for now? sleep! hope you've enjoyed following along. SO MUCH MORE to come in future weeks.

Part 4: Europa Park day 2 concluded: Traumatica so Traumatica is a separately ticketed event that is attached to the park, and in 2024 included parts of the park that allowed two coasters to operate (Pegasus and Matterhorn blitz) as well as the Kassandra's Kurse madhouse, that ran with a graphic horror overlay via VR goggles. There was also a brand new VR ride in a tent that had lots of effects, love music and performances, a large bar area with food stands, and the marquee attractions are the 6 Haunts that are long, and detailed and the good ones are REALLY REALLY good. oh. .and there's an added attraction where you can ask for a glow necklace, and that gives the scare actors permission for physical contact. Yeah. it blew USA haunts out of the water. no pictures allowed in the houses, but I can say that my favorite was probably the Circus themed one where it climaxed in a giant big top with 8 entrances/exits that looked exactly the same but only one of them led out. the rest of them either looped back into the center of the tent, or dead ended. Meanwhile the ringmaster clown stood on a pedestal in the center, twirling around and yelling at you in German. seriously, some folks were stuck in that house for a good 15-20 minutes trying to find their way out. others had some great ideas - like the zombie attack one, where you were sent thru in groups of 4-6 with laser guns, and you had to shoot them so they don't attack you in the giant murder dome. or an elevator that transports you thru the 13 levels of an office building that has descended to hell. they were all decent, and honestly the only one I didn't care much for was "the Hill". . which was a very long, outdoors in the woods, scare maze with spirits , ghosts, and spooks. it didn't' do much for me, but that could have been because it was all outside with a lot of uneven walking surfaces in the dark. still. . .excellent event. here are lots of pics from it to end our stay at Europa Park! the whole site has a spooky and creepy atmosphere. and the haunts are most all really impressive looking. Tarot House was another favorite of mine (one the left) as was the theming in Cinema Macabre (off shot on the right, tho the queue line is there) ' this is Wakala. . he's kinda the mascot of Traumatica, and I ended up buying quite a bit of merch with him on it. the main stage, that hosted sideshow acts, as well as band performances thruout the event. random ghouls all thruout the crowd, providing jumpscares, even if not in the houses. Wakala wandering Cinema Macabre obscured by smoke, as seen from the Tarot House queue Silver Star behind the trees. . to give you an idea where we are in relation to the park notice a glow necklace or two in the queue line. . means they are ok with being touched. one of the Traumatica Event managers. . she was very very cool, and I enjoyed chatting with her and telling her how much I was enjoying the event walking around with an active torch light.. that was shooting sparks everywhere. no way in USA. . but VERY cool here. Hans has made it to the Bar area even tho outdoors? very well done. more TPR folks joined Hans! Andrew goes "Rarrrrrrrgh" Jon making the long walk into up the queue (we had quick queue thank goodness, on the left is the stand by line) for the outdoor haunt int he woods. this one is so far up and out, you get a great view of Blue Fire from the Haunt. that polka dot tent beneath us is that big top with the multiple ins/outs, as you can see from the fabric-ed off paths to confuse everyone. TPR found Wakala! Grim's Funhouse was another really well done house. . with some great props inside. not part of the event (at least not in 2024), but a great view of Voltron. .and one would go this way for the VR ride, and to access the rides that were available in the park Jon enjoying spiraled potato at the Traumatica food court/bar area lots of photo ops around here too. it really is a fantastic event, and highly recommended the temps were really starting to drop.. . so the crowds were starting to thin. myself? I headed to the merch tent and ended up spending way too much money, but I did get a Traumatica jean jacket that I wore the whole rest of the trip, and still wear pretty often. so it was a great buy but then it was time to monorail back to the hotel and pack up. we were headed out tomorrow morning to continue the Oktoberfest trip. eventual final destination? Phantasialand.

Part 2: Europa Park day 2 Continued: a peek inside the Roller Coaster restaurant (it opened later in the day and was booked solid. not a great loss, as I find the RCR food to be a bit "meh". . but it very cool to experience if you've never done one before). Then we continued on up to the loading platform for the other monorail. this one goes over an entirely different area of the park than any of the other "elevated" rides, and so gives different views. the carousel here (which I love). . and in the foreground are the racecars, that ride on a track similar to the old taxis in the other section. I say again, a slow moving, silly/stupid ride is what I love to do. Coasters and Carousels too, but I just love these type of things paddle boats, and a balloon ride. this is such a big park. a view from across the way of where we came from - that's the Roller Coaster restaurant under the blue top hat (which is the monorail station) the slow moving "Princess" boat ride. another of my favorites here. and those docks across the way in the back? that's where the larger splashboats come from that share this lagoon and you can spray the princess boats with handle powered spinning. (the splashboats were not operating today, probably because it was a little chilly, or perhaps being refurbed) That's not Amity down there, but there is a big hanging shark photo op and over here are the river rapids, that we'll pass over twice on this monorail yeah. . you'll get wet. you also pass right over Atlantica Supersplash the river rapids load station and Wodan. and if you're lucky with the timing, even get a train zooming by the park also has a swinging ship and lots of other rides tucked away in nooks and crannies. better view of the shark photo op that pirate is on the top of one of the park's TWO SeaStorm rides (one indoors in Spain, and this one outdoors) more characters just out and about. . TPR in a fairy tale village yurt because of course, I wanted to ride the princess boat ride next. first there is a photo op that both I (and Christopher) wanted the storyline on this had changed a little since my last visit. . oh, it still had a Princess marrying storyline, but they had shoehorned in troll type characters (I guess to make it fit in better with the fairytale village section on the other side of the lake). but the ride is basically the same, so I enjoyed. and there are still ducks in the lake that swim along side the princess boats we got divided among a couple of boats tho, as we were too heavy to all go in one. the monorail we had just ridden passes over us. lots of fountains and "squirting" things on this ride too and of COURSE it has an "indoor" section she has found her prince wheee! dogs are welcome in this park, and there were some really nice doggos here today. we were getting hungry, and looking at the park info, it appeared there was a park restaurant off to the left of the main entrance - I hadn't even realized there was anything over there. so we headed back towards the front gates, and passed by a popular show going on "Scary Movie Hits" with characters from horror films singing. apparently "Cruella DeVille" is a horror film icon? wow. . . it's just lovely over here!! a giant gardens area with fountains, walking paths. . and an old villa that housed the restaurant the menu looked really good, so we decided we'd check it out. I couldn't believe I had no idea this was even over here! we went in and asked and they had no seating available, but told us if we came back in an hour, we could make a reservation. so of those I was hanging with had wanted to shop, and we were right near the front gate shops, so we went ahead and made a reservation and then all split off, to meet back up in an hour. i had done all my shopping already, so I decided to explore the area over here. lots of cool art and installations over in these gardens a passerby offered to take this pic. I think it came out lovely. lots of pumpkins over here in these gardens too. these tree sculptures are QUITE judgemental! after wandering the area for 20 or so minutes, I decided to check out what else was near the main entrance. and I stumbled across this interesting Museum tucked away in a corner. there were some folks having a meeting inside, but when they saw me looking thru the window, they welcomed me in to look around and told me all about the masks and the traditions behind them. turns out this is actually listed as an "attraction" but it does appear that not many really realize it's there, as the folks in the meeting were VERY excited that I expressed interest. apparently it's not always open, and some of the masks on display are quite valuable. https://www.europapark.de/en/theme-park/attractions/carnival-barn The world of fools Carnival fans young and old can marvel at the precious and extensive collection of Carnival masks in the Carnival Barn. Over 150 Swabian-Alemanic masks have found a unique home in the rustic barn in the German themed area, heralding in the so called fifth time of the year. As well as the wide collection of Swabian-Alemanic masks, you will also find particularly unusual and rare samples from the south-west German Carnival clubs, like the yellow-blue Jokili of the ‘Krakeelia’ Waldkirch or the Balthasar Witch from Rust. Each area of the exhibition is organised by region, with pieces identifiable by a small sign containing names and origins. I ended up going into at least one gift shop, to check out the designs on the ceiling, but then headed back down the main street. to be continued in part 3. . .

I love when parks fly the flag when topping tracks. Beautiful. It really towers over the rest of the park from those angles.

I will likely never visit (for a multitude of reasons), or at least not for a very long time, but I cannot help but geek out over Falcon's Flight from a technical standpoint. I remember seeing the original announcement and thinking it would never get built. The fact that it actually exists and is operating is absolutely wild. It seems like a sandbox fantasy NoLimits or Planet Coaster creation. Also slightly less talked about, but Iron Rattler also looks amazing. Is this Vekoma's biggest coaster?

Based on you calling it "Swiss Twist" I have to guess that your last trip there was pre-1993, when the ride was renamed. You know that Log Jammer has been gone for almost 15 years now (removed in 2011), and they still have another log flume, right? Spinout and and Sierra (nee Swiss) Twist have been gone since 2008. I agree that Rotors and Bayern Kurves are fun rides, but all things wear out eventually. The Spillikin Corner area of the park is still there, it's just called something else. Like did you seriously not expect the park to change in literally over 30 years? Yeah, legacy SF parks aren't the best, but these are all something to complain about, especially this long after the fact.

My general advice is to buy fast lane plus no matter when you go, busiest six flags park period, never been there where I didn"t absolutely need it. I have found that both thursday and friday from open until about 2 P.M. are the slowest, even with FLP it:s nuts, after 3 P.M., fuhgeddaboudit. All of our (U.S ) holidays are always slammed there. I have tried spring, U.S. holidays, summer, fall, Canadian holidays and every weekday, ect. I am not local, but live just across the border in NY and go frequently. I go to Cedar point more often and this place is just busier always, just no relief of crowds ever. All of that being said, great park in a great city. FLP here is very much like Kings Island as the FLP lines are generally short , less Alpen fury (average of 45 minute FLP wait), everything else is 5 to15 minute wait. My best park attack is to get your FLP first thing as the line just for the FLP can be 30 minutes and you can only purchase from 3 locations in the park (Main entrance, by Leviathan and a little kiosk back near Yukon Striker) the latter 2 do not open at gate drop, only after FLP can be used. Hit up Alpen Futy as the lines will never get shorter, ever. Then go either to Yukon Striker and behemoth (there are way more rides back there), or go marathon Leviathan. If you want to ride the non FLP rides, hit them up first, as gaurdians and thunder run, ect., the lines just get insane. This park is really awesome and I hope you have a great trip. If you have time , the city in itself is awesome, so much to enjoy.

Since when has FoF had a "pre-show"? Do you mean the TVs in the queue?

great pics!

I know! the fact they dropped the price, and still no one really knows about it. it's SO smooth too. I liked it better than the Vekoma tilt I rode in China! I honestly think tho, that they are waiting to at least get Wildcat back up and running (it was assembled but not yet testing in the new location) before they really start a media blitz. Palindrome is testing, but there's simply no way to get to it from the Circuit Breaker side (yet). . so even if they did open it, I doubt we'd get an announcement. but once they get Wildcat running again, and that S&S swing? there's enough there to really start advertising a reason to come to the track.

It's so weird to me that we finally are starting to get some awesome Vekoma Tilt Coasters and no one is talking about this one. I had no idea it even was open! I really hope word gets out and they do well.

Wow! I had no idea they were doing this event. The park already seems to be a hit with the locals! Can't wait to see it grow over the next few years.

Disneyland Paris has released a number of new updates focused on the changes big and small coming to the parks, resorts and beyond! https://news.disneylandparis.com/en/exciting-new-details-on-projects-coming-to-life-in-2026-at-disneyland-paris-to-elevate-the-guest-experience/ While transformation work is in full swing at Walt Disney Studios® Park – soon to be called Disney Adventure World – ahead of the opening of World of Frozen and Adventure Way on next March 29, many other projects are underway throughout the destination, elevating the guest experience when coming to life in 2026 & beyond. More magic for Rivers of the Far West at Frontierland® in 2026 By the end of summer 2026, guests will enjoy an enhanced experience at Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing, thanks to new scenes added along the route of Rivers of the Far West, and inspired by the original drawings of Imagineer and Disney Legend Marc Davis. The new figures, including a buffalo on a prairie, and adorable racoons and a skunk on a floating log, have been specially redesigned and produced for the project by Walt Disney Imagineering Paris teams. Guests will catch a glimpse of these new additions while enjoying arelaxing cruise aboard the iconic Molly Brown boat, which has recently been renovated from stem to stern. New improvements around the Hollywood Tower Hotel In Walt Disney Studios® Park, work is in progress at The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ new covered outdoor waiting area, that will open in Spring 2026. This themed area will enrich the story of The Hollywood Tower Hotel, by representing the remnants of the Patio, that was once a relaxing courtyard with an outdoor pool, greatly appreciated by the show business elite, but fell into disarray. Every material element has been carefully selected to fit with the theme, and to echo the Pueblo Deco architecture of the premises. The props and elements of decor disseminated in the queue will give more clues about the tragic events that occurred at The Hollywood Tower Hotel – preparing guests for what’s awaiting them inside. Next door, the new merchandise location inspired by the 1930s flower shops will open early 2026. The existing structure have been completely reworked to create a boutique harmoniously blending into World Premiere Plaza and its Art Deco-inspired theatre district area. It will offer an authentic atmosphere thanks to an array of props scattered around the boutique, including flower bouquets, pictures celebrating its historical milestones, and even a fridge similar to those used by Californian florists at the time. The major refurbishment of Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy, started in October 2025, is underway for Imagineers and Disneyland Paris teams. On the menu for this renovation is a generous serving of technical upgrades and scenic enhancements, all carefully crafted to offer guests an even more immersive experience into the world of the Pixar Animation Studios film Ratatouille. The queue will be enhanced with a new scene depicting a Parisian artist’s studio teeming with details and accessories such as canvases on the walls, paint splatters, and a fruit basket that may well whet the appetite of all the adorable rats in the neighbourhood. Inside the attraction, new props, enhanced projections, and larger-than-life props and set pieces – currently being produced – will add extra flavour to key scenes, and enhance guests’ perception of being shrunk to the size of Remy and his friends. Upcoming renovation of Annette’s Diner: Imagineers are getting ready to hit the floor! At Disney Village, Annette’s Diner will temporarily close on 5 January 2026, for a major refurbishment lasting several months. The renovation will focus on enlarging the kitchens and completely refurbishing the dining room, including floors and furniture, while preserving its charm and the retro atmosphere that has been so popular since 1992. Some iconic features will be completely reimagined, such as the bar, whose layout and aesthetic will be redesigned to pay tribute to the distinctive chrome look of classic diners. The booths will also sport a new design inspired by 1950s car seats, in colours typical of the era such as pink, blue and vanilla yellow. When it reopens, Annette’s Diner — with a slightly increased seating capacity — will continue to bring the golden age of Rock ’n’ Roll and the 1950s back to life, much to the delight of its guests. Major renovation of Disney Sequoia Lodge to begin soon! Starting January 2026, major refurbishment work will be carried out to enhance and elevate the experience offered at Disney Sequoia Lodge, while preserving its wooden décor along with its authentic and warm atmosphere. The design will elevate the tribute to the beauty of nature to inspiring new heights. while taking inspiration from the forests following the tradition started by Walt Disney and his team of animators. Every space, from the rooms to the lobby, as well as the shopping and dininglocations, will be reinvented as an ode to wildlife, offering the perfect environment to unwind and let one’s mind wander. As a reminder, the hotel will remain open during the refurbishment work, which will be carried out in phases. These various projects offer just a glimpse of the many upcoming works throughout the destination, and many other projects are being considered to surprise guests during their next visit to Disneyland® Paris. More information to come! https://news.disneylandparis.com/en/unveiling-the-source-of-disney-cascade-of-lights/ At Adventure Bay, the entire team behind Disney Cascade of Lights, the destination’s upcoming second night-time show, is busy getting everything ready for its official launch on 29 March 2026. Here’s your chance to learn more about the design and behind-the-scenes magic of this dazzling production created for Disney Adventure World, the second reimagined park of Disneyland Paris. A CASCADE OF REHEARSALS Darkness has fully settled over Adventure Bay. The construction workers who were still on site at Disney Adventure World a few hours ago have left. Around the lake, a surge of activity breaks the quiet, as the creators and technicians of Disney Cascade of Lights are hard at work. They are currently rehearsing the placement of the impressive structure that will be positioned in the centre of the lake each evening from 29 March 2026, housing key equipment for the show – fountains, lights, projectors, and pyrotechnics. This structure consists of five elements: a 14 m² central platform, connected to four barges whose extending arms form an almost circular shape, echoing the lake’s contours. All of this is done in total silence, with fully electric pusher boats moving the various components from the backstage marina, capable of handling the entire structure’s approximate 160 tonnes. The barge operators have received specialised training to manoeuvre the barges with maximum precision, especially when passing the iconic swing bridge from World of Frozen. Once the structure is securely moored and connected, all that remains are the 379 aerial and aquatic drones specially developed for the show, before rehearsals can begin. A NEW WAVE OF DRONES Producer Ben Spalding has been dreaming of this show for over 7 years. Back then, he was working on Disneyland Paris’ first drone shows, as part of the resort’s 30th anniversary celebrations. First came Disney D-Light, and the following year, Avengers: Power the Night. At both Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios® Park, the aim was to bring stories to life in the sky – reaching up to 120 m high. Soon, he was already thinking ahead to the next experiment, one in which the drones would fly lower and nearer to the audience. Truly revolutionary! The Adventure Bay lake project provided the backdrop for him to turn his vision into reality. Working closely with Dronisos, Disneyland Paris’ official high-tech partner from the outset of this adventure, new drones were developed: aerial drones that are more resistant to wind and rain, as well as aquatic drones, nicknamed ‘ducks’. Thanks to these groundbreaking innovations, the light show will come closer to the audience than ever before and be even more dazzling. ‘The water acts like a mirror that multiplies all our light sources,’ explains Ben Spalding. ‘Our aquatic drones light up the surface of the lake, combined with low-angled lights all around the edges of the lake. And then there are the fountains, each with its own light sources, and the various pyrotechnic effects. It’s a spectacular cascade of lights!’ All these elements come together to create an extraordinary display of water and light, adjusted down to the millimetre so that every component fits perfectly without disrupting the others. ‘The secret is teamwork.The entire show was previewed in 3D. As part of this programme, we used a detailed model of the park, from which each team member – responsible for drones, pyrotechnics, lighting, and more – developed their own plan. This made it possible to visualise, plan and choreograph things in advance so that everything came together perfectly when live.’ To bring this luminous festival to life, a team of 24 technicians will be present each evening. ‘That’s more than twice as many as for shows like Disney Dreams or Disney Illumination. That just goes to show the complexity and richness of Disney Cascade of Lights!’ A RUSH OF EMOTIONS All this technology would be meaningless if it didn’t serve the audience’s emotions, guided by a strong, engaging story. ‘Focusing on emotion and storytelling was a key priority. We wanted a concept that could resonate with all European audiences, and that’s how we came up with the idea of Inspiration,’recalls Ben. Like Peter Pan’s shadow in Disney Dreams, Inspiration has become a character in its own right and the show’s guiding light. It’s also the link between the audience and the characters in the story. And every one of these characters was carefully selected. Mulan’s commitment is driven by honour and family, just as Moana’s is guided by the ocean, inspiring her to embark on adventures for the good of her community. It is Hercules’ courage of heart that makes him a true hero, just as Judy Hopps’ sense of duty drives her to rise above prejudices and become part of the Zootopia police force. Each Avenger followed their own inspiration and path before becoming a hero, just as Carl Fredriksen did in his unique way, driven by the promise he made to a loved one. Director Susan Plyer (Minnie’s Dream Factory ) was particularly inspired by this concept and these characters. ‘Each and every one of them embodies an emotion that can strike a chord with every guest,’ Susan says. ‘They are an endless source of inspiration in our lives, whether in helping others, supporting family, or finding the courage to face daily challenges.’ The character’s visuals have been meticulously crafted, with both design and colour carefully calibrated to suit projection onto a water curtain. Music is both the emotional driver of the show and the metronome that keeps all its elements in perfect harmony. Composed by Mark Hammond (‘Lost in the Magic’) and produced by Jonathan Barr, the show’s score was recorded in the legendary Abbey Road studios in London by a 90-piece orchestra, and is accompanied by an original song, ‘We Can Be Heroes’, which in itself embodies the show’s spirit. A 360° VIEW The creators of Disney Cascade of Lights paid close attention to ensuring that spectators enjoyed the best possible experience from every seat – a major challenge given the scale of this massive 3-hectare lake. Not only was the design of the central structure crucial, but so too was the placement of 240-plus floodlights and light points directed at the lake, as well as the sound setup throughout Adventure Bay. Taking a 360° approach also requires addressing the environmental impact of a production of this scale. From the fully electric power supply for the boats, reducing the carbon footprint, to the lake’s filtration system employing different fish species, to the residue-free materials used in fireworks and pyrotechnics, every aspect has been meticulously planned. As a result, the show leaves a minimal environmental footprint, but a maximal emotional one, giving the audience unforgettable memories shaped by the flood of emotion poured in by every creator, from the initial concept down to the final technical detail. https://news.disneylandparis.com/en/a-new-original-soundtrack-for-adventure-way-at-disney-adventure-world/ From 29 March 2026, guests arriving on Adventure Way will be welcomed by an original soundtrack specially created for this promenade by composer Philippe Rombi. This brand-new theme, lasting more than 40 minutes and recorded at the legendary Abbey Road studios, will offer guests a magical interlude at the heart of Disney Adventure World. On Saturday 13 December, French composer Philippe Rombi surprised Disneyland® Paris fans during an event in the heart of the resort by personally unveiling the new musical theme written for Adventure Way, the new lush alley that will, from spring 2026, link together the immersive worlds of Disney Adventure World. Alongside Michel den Dulk, Portfolio Executive Creative Director at Walt Disney Imagineering Paris, he spoke about the inspiration behind the composition of this suite. While the music for worlds such as World of Frozen is naturally based on the animated films, an area as unique as Adventure Way could only have an original score — a first for Disneyland Paris since 1992 and the original soundtrack heard in Discoveryland. To rise to this musical challenge, and inspired by his distinctive style, the Imagineers decided to call upon a composer well known in French cinema: Philippe Rombi. Nominated four times for the César Awards, notably for the film Joyeux Noël, whose soundtrack was recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra at the legendary Abbey Road studios, he recorded the music for Adventure Way under the same conditions, during the summer of 2025, with the 84 musicians of this iconic orchestra. It was a return to his roots for the composer, who worked as a pianist at the Disneyland Hotel when Disneyland Paris opened in 1992! Building on creative discussions, concept reviews, and even a visit to the Disney Adventure World construction site, Philippe Rombi devised two main themes inspired by notions of adventure, travel, wonder, and distant horizons. From these two main motifs, he composed a magnificent suite of nearly 40 minutes that resonates throughout Adventure Way, including the various themed gardens that are part of it. For these gardens, he added subtle nods to Disney themes — Peter Pan and 101 Dalmatians for the Gazebo Garden, and Tangled for its dedicated garden. A special piano version can also be heard at The Regal View Restaurant & Lounge. The result is a perfect blend of Philippe Rombi’s artistic identity and Disney’s musical universe! “Choosing to create original music for an entire area of a Disney Park is extremely rare, and it’s even rarer to entrust this job to a French composer. It’s a true recognition of my work and a real honour. I’ve always composed from the heart, driven by my passion. The fact that my music moved the Imagineers to the point where they felt they could entrust me with this huge responsibility means a great deal to me”, declared Philippe Rombi. https://news.disneylandparis.com/en/exclusive-spotlight-on-minnies-dream-factory/ After six magical seasons, the Dream Factory is reopening its doors from 7 February 2026 for a reimagined show, this time starring Minnie and friends. A NEW ADVENTURE STARRING MINNIE AND FRIENDS After a short break, the dream machine at the Dream Factory is back in action and ready to turn dreams into magic. Everything began back in 2024, when director Susan Plyer had the idea of putting Minnie and all her Disney friends in the spotlight. ‘I wanted to give the show a new twist, so I suggested that Minnie and her friends should be in charge of the Dream Factory. Our Disney Characters are the very heart of Disney, so who better than them to nurture our dreams?’ In this new story, Minnie lovingly leads all her friends who work in the Dream Factory, including Chip & Dale, who are the comedy duo of the show. Meanwhile, Donald looks after each and every technical detail, while Daisy brings her energy and enthusiasm to the challenges and helps motivate her colleagues – a real dream team! ‘This is a new vision of the Dream Factory,’ explains Susan. We’ve kept the idea of this marvellous machine that transforms our dreams into magic, while offering a more up-to-date story that’s even closer to our guests. In this adventure, when problems arise, they’re solved as a team! Achieving your dreams is always a challenge, and it’s only by helping each other that you can succeed. That’s what this show is all about.’ A UNIQUE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE As in any self-respecting musical, the songs take centre stage. They move the story along and allow the various characters to share their emotions with the audience. To create the soundtrack, Susan went through the Disney Channel music archives and selected the songs whose lyrics best suited the new experience. These songs were then specially adapted to meet the needs of each scene, giving the audience the chance to sing along with the Disney Characters to iconic tunes from the Disney Channel repertoire in new version, featuring a new original score. The show’s creators also wanted guests to feel closer to the action, with more opportunities for interaction. For example, Susan worked closely with lighting designer Adrien Mourey to highlight the front of the stage area, where much of the interaction with the audience will take place. ‘My aim is for visitors to feel even more involved in the show. Including the stage and the mezzanine, we now have three levels, three places from which to tell our story, with the front-of-stage area providing a privileged space for sharing.’ This strong bond with the audience is also expressed in the script, written in collaboration with the author of the very first show, Ludovic-Alexandre Vidal. ‘His approach matches this new vision perfectly. Since he is familiar with every detail of the first version, he was able to add a host of subtle touches to bring alive the proximity I was looking for.’ The Factory’s appearance has also been redesigned. From the moment they arrive, audiences will be immersed in a brand-new lighting atmosphere, then discover a set adapted by scenographer Tiphaine Bonin, filled with playful nods to Minnie. The new costumes worn by the Disney Characters in the show were designed and created at Disneyland Paris. The special effects are equally spectacular, featuring favourites like the dream bubbles, and introducing some brand-new surprises. A DREAM CAST On stage, alongside Donald, Daisy, and Chip & Dale, Minnie has a whole dream team to keep the Factory up and running. These exceptional colleagues are not only singers, but also actors and dancers. This is referred to as ‘triple talent’: a distinctive quality of musical-theatre artists, trained across all three disciplines. ‘I know this world well, and that is exactly the energy I wanted to give to our show. After all, this is World Premiere Plaza!’ To form this team, over 800 hopefuls took part in the auditions, including newcomers and veterans of the show, all determined to continue this adventure, at both an artistic and human level. The first selections focused on solo singing before concentrating on dance and then singing in harmony. Improvisation was also at the heart of the process, both individually and in groups. Finally, fourteen of the applicants were chosen to join the show’s cast. They are all rehearsing hard as we speak to be ready for the launch of the new season. ‘These rehearsals are very intense because all three of my teams – the vocal coach, the acting coach and the dance captains – are present at the same time to ensure that each discipline reaches its highest level. That’s why we had to recruit only the very best!’ The cast also includes actors who sign in French sign language (LSF). This season, they move beyond narrating, becoming fully integrated into the production itself. As in previous years, this ‘multilingual’ version will be available at weekends, on public holidays and during the school holidays. Join us on 7 February to dream together and discover a show that will appeal to young and old alike, brought to you by Disneyland Paris. ‘All too often, we tend to forget our dreams, letting daily life take priority over our aspirations,’Susan concludes. But you can dream at any age and in any situation. It might be something as simple as taking some time for yourself, or something magical … such as staging a show at Disneyland Paris! I really wanted this new story to inspire everyone. Because dreams have no limits …’

yup. . look at Day 1. . . Raclette was day one.

Day 2: Forbidden City, Lunch, and Sun Park! Bonus visit to Olympic park area this night with smaller group too. Day 2 part 1: up and ready to go, but first, breakfast! another character from Despicable Me. . one of the girls, no idea which one tho this time I remembered to snap a pic of some of the food on my plate before diving in and then it was everyone onto the bus, as we headed back into Central Beijing from the Universal Resort area. today was gonna start with Culture, and end with our first "traditional" Chinese park. view of some of the massive clusters of buildings as you approach the outskirts of Beijing this is where it starts to get interesting, as we get into the "inner walls" area of the City, over the Canal guardians. the building on the far left is the Southeast Corner Tower, of the Beijing Ming City Wall. it's over 550 years old, and anchors an area called "Beijing Ming City Wall Ruins Park" - that features an almost 1 mile long section of the Beijing City wall from the Ming Dynasty. we didn't stop to see it, but got a great view of it as we passed it on our way to the nearby Forbidden City. closer view of the southeast corner tower and some snaps of the actual wall, as we drive along side it. the tightening Security is VERY noticeable as we get closer to the Forbidden City Imperial Palace - a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is arguably the most famous palace in all of Chinese history, and is the largest preserved royal palace complex still standing in the world. (per Wikipedia). tour buses and cars are not allowed within a few blocks of the Forbidden City, so a tourism spot has sprung up in the blocks around it, as buses and taxis drop of groups that then walk to the front entrance. so these next pics are walking from the drop off, up to the palace walls. the "fruit on a stick" encased in Sugar seemed to be VERY popular in China, and saw it at every park we went to, and at many street stands. it basically is just fresh fruit and sugar, but it IS very good, and I had it several times. finally approaching the outside (side) wall of the Forbidden City. . tho we still had to go around to the front for entry we'd be heading up this way to go thru the gates around the corner for the main entrance / security screening but this is the inner canal that surrounds the Forbidden City. .the last line of defense against attack other than the high palace walls. TPR listening to facts from our guide about the Forbidden City. walking along the side wall to get to the front entrance it really is quite impressive from the outside. . and once you're inside, it's even more so - with courtyard after courtyard opening up, and seeming to go on for miles! some folks out doing photo shoots off the canal that goes around the Forbidden City still heading towards the main entrance and here are the main gates into the front of the Forbidden City - not into the actual palace, but into the area that gets you into the palace the "Door Nails" that the wonderful Dumpling I had the day before were named after! and NOW we're in the courtyard that serves as the main entrance to the Forbidden City complex. yeah and this was on a TUESDAY!!! just the crowds were impressive this is the security screening line to get it and have tickets scanned thru these main gates, you are then in the Palace grounds our guide, with her "fish on a stick" so we wouldn't lose her in the masses of people! to see it with your own eyes. . truly, you aren't prepared for the sight once you go thru this tunnel. breathtaking and this is just the first, of many, courtyards a quiet back alley off the main square (we had all gone to the side for a bathroom break) the people lined up in these stanchions are for entrance to the building just off to the right, and it's to view the Imperial Jewels. A separate ticket (and wait) was required for that, so we didn't do that on this trip - perhaps a visit back just for that in the future. . .but I saw enough stunning things to not miss at all not going into the Imperial Jewels building. up the stairs and thru these buildings to the next courtyard over the beautiful carved bridges. TPR at the Forbidden City - thanks to Robb for the picture up and thru to the next courtyard. and it's just as breathtaking and awe inspiring as the entry courtyard up the next set of stairs, and we come across flame pots to light and warm the complex and thru to another courtyard. this one including a building with intricate woodwork laced with gold, and containing a throne (it was gated off, but the doors were open to peek in. there were SO many people there tho, I got the best pics I could of said throne) these giant golden / bronze vats that were used to store oil were on either side of many of the "main" buildings in each square. Our guide told me that these are replicas, but they are all so worn from visitors rubbing them for luck. all of the buildings in the Forbidden City complex are beautifully detailed, and have intricate carvings on each corner, that represent many things (that I can't recall, or would share with you) going into the next courtyard - that building way, WAY off in the distance? is part of the complex. . that's how big this palace is. but that far back is not open to the Public, which only can view a portion of the Palace. Oh, it's a HUGE portion of the complex, but not even close to a third of it. stepping down into the next courtyard. it truly is awe inspiring and overwhelming looking down into yet another courtyard, as we made our way thru the areas open to the public this carving up the back side of one of the main buildings in this courtyard is made from just 3 giant pieces of stone. it's incredible. one of the many maps in the Forbidden City. This one just for the Inner court courtyards. our guide specifically wanted to bring us down this way - saying it would be less crowded, as many aren't aware it's here (and she was correct) she wanted to show us into this building/vault that contains some really amazing Jade carvings. just a sampling of the wonderful pieces on display here: and then it was off to the back of the "open to the public" areas - the Imperial Garden area - where the Emperor allowed his Concubines to relax, and play (since they were confined to Imperial Palace grounds) it really was a bit of surprise to turn the corner and find these amazing gardens back here! and with that, we had walked a (mostly) straight line thru the public areas in the Forbidden City, and headed towards the back gate. we were off to have our first group lunch on the trip before heading to the next stop. I am so thankful I got to experience this, it truly is a wonder to see in person. one of the other buildings off in the distance that's part of the Imperial Palace / Forbidden City the back exit gate is just as crowded, but less chaotic than the front entrance an overall map of the palace sections that are open to the public walking back towards the bus. . one final look back at the Forbidden City to be continued. . .

All those 'loop' sculptures in the display case ... those were awards? Interesting. And ....any raclette during this visit to the park? Thought I'd inquire.

Särkänniemi has announced the addition of a new family coaster, Konect which will open at the park in the summer of 2026. The park's largest investment of the decade will be longest family coaster Vekoma has built in Europe and among the tallest family coasters of its type. https://sarkanniemi.fi/en/rides/konect Konect is a tribute to Tampere, to courage, and to shared moments Tampere. A city that has always moved boldly forward. The clatter of hooves turned into the chug of steam locomotives. The hum of Nysse buses became the ringing of the tram. Now something new is appearing on the horizon: a track that makes traveling together more memorable than ever. The adventure begins, of course, at the world’s center of joy, Särkänniemi. Along the way you will see world class landmarks: the sky reaching Näsinneula tower and Lake Näsijärvi stretching into the distance, and of course the whole of Särkänniemi. The ride itself is the finishing touch: Konect brings together the youngest and the oldest, the bravest and the calmest, because the best journey is created when it is shared. Särkänniemi’s largest investment of the decade, the family roller coaster named Konect, will open for summer 2026. This unique coaster has been designed specifically for Särkänniemi, so there is nothing quite like it anywhere else. Konect is the first major roller coaster in Finland that riders as short as 100 cm can enjoy with an adult. Without an adult, riders must be over 120 cm tall. The track, more than half a kilometer long, will run above the amusement park area, partly skimming right along the shoreline of Lake Näsijärvi. The coaster will spread across the Troika, X, and Tyrsky areas, significantly changing the park’s skyline. Konect will be the longest family roller coaster Vekoma has ever built in Europe. It will also be the highest rising family coaster in its class. This wonderful family roller coaster has been designed for a very wide audience, as even a 100 cm tall child can ride with an adult. The goal is to offer shared experiences and joy for larger groups as well, with just the right amount of thrilling fun for small children, teenagers, adults, and grandparents alike. Family Rides Minimum height limit with an adult - 100 cm Minimum height limit alone - 120 cm Top speed - 68 km / h Track length - 525 m Highest point - 27 m

Holy crap. Reading your TR's made me remember that Europa Park is on my bucket list.

My wife and our kindergartner went to KK for their Christmas event last Saturday. It was very cold, so it wasn't that crowded. They only had portions of the park open, including most of the children and family sections. The Christmas lights were really well done. The buildings were covered with mostly traditional red, green, and white colors. They had a group singing Christmas carols to the left when you came in. The big Christmas tree was also lit up for photo ops at the main entrance. The videos we saw from years prior recommended to skip the wait for Rudolph. However, they didn't have kids with them, so we decided to wait it out about 30 minutes. The show was a very well done condensed 5D version of the classic Rudolph. Our little girl loved it. The abominable snowman was in the shop at the exit, which we didn't see until our daughter noticed him and excitedly pranced over there. KK was selling photo-ops with the creature (and aforementioned tree). However, most of the kids just wanted to meet him. That, and even with the tree, they had large unobstructed areas to the side where you could take your own decent pictures that just weren't directly in front of you. Every roller coaster in the park was closed, including the small children and family coaster. That didn't bother me, since I usually get one ride in at most when we're with our daughter. We have a lot more fun going on the bullshit kid rides and watching her, anyway. Crazy how things change. The park had a small snow area for young kids. There was also a 150 foot ice/tubing slide. My isn't brave, so she wasn't having anything to do with that. It was predictable, and I was thankful because the lines were packed. The antique cars looked like they had a few light displays throughout, but our daughter decided she had to pee badly when we were about to board soon, after about 20 minutes. Lol. IYKYK KK did not serve alcohol during this event. Instead, they had hot cider and hot chocolate. They really nailed the temperature of the hot drinks, so kids could dive right in without burning their lips. KK had plenty of Christmas merch throughout the store. I got my first park Christmas ornament. It's a metal Ferris wheel with Christmas colors and "Kentucky Kingdom" on it. However, I wasn't allowed to put it on our Christmas tree, since there are no "custom" ornaments on it...... We had a good time. We were there for about 3 hours. I wouldn't say it was worth a weekend trip from Saint Louis to Louisville alone, but we planned other events along with it. If you're int he area, I can't recommend Lights Under Louisville, enough. It's about a 30 minute drive-thru light display through a quarry, and it was so well done. For me, it was by far the best Christmas light display activity I had ever done. Be aware, lines will back up several hours long onto the interstate, it's that popular. We went at 2PM on a Saturday and waited about 45 minutes, which wasn't bad. I wouldn't go any later than that, unless you buy the priority pass. That can still be a lengthy wait from what I read.

Not sure this is the place, but I needed to say something. My roommate of 4 years recently passed away quite suddenly and unexpectedly. He has been living upstairs in the home I share with my husband. He was a great guy, and we truly miss him. I am now going on week 3 of cleaning out and boxing up his rooms. Unfortunately, there was no list of password or logins, so an iMac, several lap tops, a few iPads, and other electronics are locked and may never be able to be used again. Also, he has a few bank and stock accounts. My advice: make a list of passwords and logins and share it with your husband, wife, partner, etc. That's it. That's the post.

Hell yessss, that drop lives in my dreams.

We now have an official, full-length, nighttime POV of Falcons Flight! Six Flags Qiddiya City, Saudi Arabia’s first-of-its-kind theme park and entertainment destination, celebrated its grand opening Dec. 31 by welcoming guests from across the Kingdom and globe. The debut marks Six Flags Entertainment’s first theme park designed and built outside North America. The trailblazing new park blends immersive entertainment with innovative technology across its six themed lands. Qiddiya City is the world’s first global destination built entirely upon the “Power of Play.” Located at the heart of the Tuwaiq Mountains, just 40 minutes from Riyadh, this vibrant city, once complete, will bring world-class entertainment, sports and cultural experiences together in a way never seen before. Six Flags Qiddiya City, Qiddiya City’s inaugural entertainment development, brings next-level thrills and unforgettable experiences to families, friends and adventure-seekers from across the Kingdom and beyond. It features 28 rides and attractions including record-breaking experiences, such as: Falcons Flight - the world’s tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster Iron Rattler - the world’s tallest tilt coaster Spitfire - the world’s tallest inverting coaster "Six Flags is proud to announce the opening of Six Flags Qiddiya City in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia, a landmark project that will redefine entertainment in the region. This world-class destination combines cutting-edge, record-breaking attractions, immersive experiences for all ages, and the signature thrills that have made Six Flags a global leader. We look forward to welcoming guests from across the Kingdom and beyond to experience the future of fun at Qiddiya City,” said John Reilly, president and CEO of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation. With 18 rides specially designed for families and younger entertainment-seekers, the park ensures entertainment for all generations. Guests can also look forward to a variety of international dining options, along with retail outlets offering exclusive Six Flags merchandise and souvenirs.

Yeah! Im planning on the USGP in 2026 which reminded me of this park and I was shocked that according to RCDB Circuit Breaker was open! I didn't see even the slightest thing about it! The POV looks epic!

Great PERK of your WORK! (Sry, had to do that) Awesome photos of all that you saw and toured through. Love all that vege -----tation.

Compagnie des Alpes quietly announced as part of the release of their financial results for 2024-2025 that Belantis will gradually transform into Parc Astérix Germany. (Photo courtesy of HHappy on the TPR Park Index) https://news.compagniedesalpes.com/financial-results-2024-2025-objectives-oultook/?lang=en Compagnie des Alpes also continues to demonstrate agility in capturing growth opportunities: following the acquisitions of MMV and the Urban Group, we are very proud to have acquired the Belantis leisure park in Germany this year and to have signed a new public service delegation agreement with the Pralognan-la-Vanoise resort. We now look forward to launching the ambitious transformation plans we will undertake at both Parc Astérix and Belantis, the future Parc Astérix Germany.

LEGOLAND Florida has announced that Galacticoaster will open on February 27th, 2026! https://www.legoland.com/florida/things-to-do/theme-park/2026-news/ Galacticoaster Launches February 27, 2026! The ULTIMATE Indoor Family Coaster The countdown is on for the launch of LEGOLAND® Florida Resort’s first-ever indoor family coaster, Galacticoaster! Families will board their own customizable LEGO® spacecraft and launch into an interstellar mission packed with thrills, immersive storytelling, and cosmic LEGO fun through the LEGO® Galaxy.

Pics courtesy of Six Flags Over Texas!

The park's Facebook page posted photos early this morning showing the ride topped out.

^ I thought I had thoroughly checked your TRs on Europa. My oops.

Day 2 part 2: back on the bus, we were headed to lunch. This would be the first of many group meals we were gonna have on this trip (a change from many prior TPR trips I'd been on, in that we only had a couple of group meals. . . on this trip there would be many of them, mostly in office buildings that were set up to handle tour group style trips). I honestly really enjoyed these "lazy susan" meals. There were always lots of options, at various levels of "spice". . and if we wanted to go off and have truly specific types of Chinese food, we could always get a meal in the evenings. but these lazy susan meals were perfect in that there was always something that somebody liked to eat in the options. here is where our first group meal was pretty neat design on the building, I thought. Didn't get a pic before we all dived in. . but here's my one attempt at the main food on the table. I DID remember to take a picture of my plate. the winner here was that Bok Choy/ Chinese Cabbage, which I loved, and seemed to be on most lazy susan dinners. so I was glad I discovered I loved it early in the trip wasn't a fan of these dumplings, but I tried almost everything on the entire trip. (there was really only one thing I refused to try, and I'll get to that in Hong Kong (eventually)) the surprise in this first meal is that Elissa and the guide arranged for us to have true Peking Duck in China! the Chef wheeled it into the room and sliced it thin, right behind us here were the thin pancakes and the veggies that you are supposed to put on the strips of duck to eat them. to be honest, I didn't really care for it. oh, it was good, but a bit too fatty for my tastes. . . not to worry tho, as the Chef left the room and came back in with these two that he called "the Sisters" and these two were gloriously crispy and made up for anything I thought the first duck lacked in terms of texture. I absolutely adored this, and was only a bit sad that it came at the end of the meal and I was already pretty full. but the crispy duck was so, so good. Jonathan's pic of our happy table, most chewing food during pic. . LOL after the meal, and the culture, it was time for the theme park we were gonna go to today. a traditional Chinese park. very large, very spread out, and containing lots of individual rides, that were owned and operated by many different people. Sun Park. these were the "main gates" as far as I could tell. . . the park wasn't enclosed, and entry was really available from anywhere. it's a lovely setting. . tho so big, it really felt like we were the only ones in the park. Tho we did draw a crowd when we rode the Tagada as a group as we walked into the park from the lot, we spotted a star flyer, so I knew we were in the right spot (not that I don't trust Robb & Elissa to take us to great places regardless). this park is home to (supposedly) six operating coasters, and a couple of SBNO ones. we were gonna see what would operate for us, as it truly was a little hard to tell what was running and what had been abandoned. . . overall view of this large park. this was the first coaster we came too: Happy Journey Cars. there didn't really seem to be anyone around, but an operator came over, and spoke with Robb/Elissa, and they took a headcount on who wanted to ride, and the operator agreed to let adults ride, as long as it was only 1 per side. they looked like "spinning" cars, but they seemed to slowly rotate only once on the ride. it wasn't much of a layout, and to ME, this is a kiddie coaster. as I don't count credits, and don't tend to ride straight out kiddie coasters, I passed on this and just took pics as others rode. hey, it's got lions (for some reason) and Giraffes Anth was enjoying it. so were Steven, Colin, and Chris Johnathan was terrified, but Daniel is having a blast as were Colin and Adam Andy also took pics. as noted, the park seemed pretty empty on a Tuesday afternoon. . . this is the operator's wife, if I'm not mistaken, watching him run it for TPR. "Space Journey". . no idea what it was at one point, but it seemed to be abandoned now. this mini flume seemed to be likewise closed. . but I did see it running later that afternoon for a customer. oooo. . a wild mouse. well, actually this is "Jungle Mouse" and it has been sitting here SBNO (Standing But Not Operating) since 2023. so we weren't gonna get to ride this today. I think these had operators in case anyone wanted to ride, but no customers when we walked by. the large flume didn't quite look abandoned, but it didn't have any water or people around it either. so another no-go this is the largest coaster in the park, and tho it too, looked abandoned? there were people who appeared to be there to operate it if there were any takers. this is "Flying Coaster". . . tho it seemed to have a couple of different names, and is a Moto Coaster (underneath it was a tiny 4D theater experience called "Tsunami" that was operated by the same owner. . but passed on that as it did not look like a good time) yeah.. they were drying laundry in between the coaster track, so the exit was closed to keep people from going out that way) but it's a moto coaster. they fired it up for us, and I don't recall them even testing it - they just opened it up, and then discussed (a lot) about restraints while they decided if it was gonna kill us or not - I assume. LOL they only loaded up the front half of the train. . . but here we are smiling. (this was before anyone had ridden it, we were the first riders of the day apparently.. . possibly the month?) I mean, it LOOKED like it might be decent. I was thinking Pony Express at Knotts sorta and you ride it kinda like "Tron" style. here's Hawk & Dove, and Daniel and Elissa all smiles on the ride after ours. yeah..I felt for them. it was . . . um. . . . not good. for a ride with mainly Helixes? the transitions are rough, and it was really shaky. . but it IS a large coaster, and looks good. I will admit, being off ride for this run? the groans and grunts as the train passed over us WAS pretty funny. yeah. .that smiling Daniel pic from the launch? I caught him after the ride before he saw the camera and smiled. LOL. . true feelings on the ride two down. . apparently 4 to go! let's try to find them. I was tempted by this, but we were on a mission as a group, and since this isn't a pay one fee park, we had to stay together as Elissa was paying each operator for rides. so didn't even attempt to ride this tho it was running. I was impressed with how much signage they have in the park. and how most of it has English as well. next coaster found (also a kiddie, so I didn't ride this one either): Fruit Worm Coaster but most of the folks on this trip lined up to ride it interesting Seashell themed Tilt a Whirl next door, that looked to be in pieces. wow. .this is a FUNKY transition here. . . John and Bill enjoying the ride with Colin, Adam, and Andy bringing up the rear there were several of these in the park at different locations. . and none of them seemed to be operating. maybe they are busier on a weekend? but some folks were out fishing in the lakes not "Free Willy" but "Free Whale".. a kiddie whale themed swinging ship. that looked like it was about to fall apart, but DID have an operator standing by to run it if asked! coaster #4 was also a kiddie coaster: "Rainbow Children Coaster" tho honestly, it was more of a family coaster thank a kiddie and I should have ridden. but I was feeling a little shook from the Moto Coaster full, so passed on this one too. it had some interesting theming: with a monkey on the front (sharing it's Banana with Steve) I think I had a stroke reading this sign. . .LOL as a tourist, I made sure to read the notice before participating! there were several small trains I saw in this park. . all adorable, but none of them operating today the Carousel was a double decker set up to run in opposite directions (as this was the first one I'd seen "in the wild" in China, I didn't realize that the double decker, running in opposite directions - tho only one side at a time - was pretty standard in China). it sadly looked like it hadn't operated in a long while, tho it seemed to be in pretty good condition. saw this "game" at a lot of places. . . children "fishing" for gold fish. cute. it was getting late in the afternoon and the park was closing down, but we still had two potential coasters if we could find them. first a potty break tho. so yeah, another toilet pic at the big pavilion in the center of the park, there seemed to be a photo shoot going on for wedding planners. with lots of "brides" and "grooms" Robb found out where the last coaster was (the other one was not operating) and we headed over there, bypassing this Tagada. which was running - and we did end up going back as a group and riding after Robb/Elissa slipped the operator some cash to open up for us after close time. so I got to ride my first Tagada on this trip. it ran a really gentle cycle, but was perfect for my first one. and as noted earlier, we drew quite the crowd who came over to watch the "ghosts" ride this is the coaster that was "new" and not in operation. "Crazy Skateboard" apparently replacing the ride that had been there - seemingly the exact same model, also called "Crazy Skateboard" note the workmen on the lift hill. .they were not only painting, but *welding*.. . but with encouragement, Robb and Elissa went and talked to them and there was some discussion on if they could open it up for riders. (RCDB still listed it as not open/unknown) across from it was the last coaster in the park: "Space Scooter" - that one had already shut down for the day, but when they saw the crowd around the Crazy Skateboard while Robb and Elissa talked to them, the operator offered to open it up for us, if TPR wanted to ride. so they started testing it again. the Star Flyer also seemed to open back up. . tho we didn't ride it, several of the models from the wedding photoshoot did come over and ride. "Space Scooter" testing and with TPR on it! as mentioned. . Star Flyer now going too. . which started to draw some folks over to this part of the park. Robb and Elissa had worked their magic, and the coaster guys agreed to run Crazy Skateboard for us.. .and started testing it. the cars weren't set up to "spin" yet, so it was a non spinning coaster, but they tested it, and then gave the OK. notice our tour guide Paul, laughing in the bottom corner. that's likely because as you can see on the steps? the workmen just put the blowtorches down, and stepped away to see what would happen if they operate it. Robb and these folks are FAR more brave than I. I (and a couple of others) decided not to take a chance on this, and chose NOT to ride this. It was really the beginning of my trip, I didn't want to take any risks for any reason. . but good on them for giving it a shot. and absolutely hysterical watching the workmen "nod" as the car crested the lift hill with no issue. there are the workmen watching the first car with people in it. . . Barry has just noticed the Blowtorch sitting on the steps as they passed by it. they survived! yay!!! most everyone else on the trip gave it a whirl (tho not a spin, as the spinning wasn't working yet)..and the folks riding it drew more folks to this ride as well, as they eagerly lined up to ride something that had been "not operating" yet. after the Tagada ride, and with the sun starting to set, Robb, Elissa, and some in the group were headed back to Universal Resort. some went to dinner or to sightsee in downtown Beijing. and a group of about 10 of us wanted to go visit the Olympic Green - site of the 2008 Summer Olympics, and 2022 Winter Olympics. The metro would take us back to Universal later. lovely sunset made the buildings around Sun Park look very interesting to be concluded. . .

Tinkers Toy Factory Christmas Show!

Europa Park, Day one, concluded. Atlantica Supersplash (with the mini monorail behind it) wet TPR folks, giving the thumbs down. . .LOL while we hadn't done the whole park - there were still quite a bit of attractions we hadn't made it to - Austria was back over by Spain (and resort entrance/exit), so we made a point of stopping by there to take a look. Alpine Express and the Log Flume - which had been in one big adventure mountain area, had been lost in a massive fire in 2023, and they had rebuilt it, and opened it back up in 2024. we we really wanted to get a look at it. the coaster is now called Alpenexpress Enzian, and seems to have a VR option (don't recall seeing that when there, so maybe it's new? or an upcharge?). anyways, the line was a bit too long to make it before park close (and it was too cool to ride the flume, so I'd ride that tomorrow). So instead we checked out the rebuilt area via the new adventure trails, that replaced the caves that had burnt down. it's a powered coaster, but it's a good one. theming! and when walking the "trail" it interacts with both the coaster, and the log flume. which has squirt guns rigged along the trail, so you can squirt the folks riding the flume. there's a bunch of interactive stuff along the way too. . .like this "fireplace" that changes color based on touch. a great example of the coaster track and flume, and trail, interaction I asked about this, and was told that they kept the lead car from the prior ride (that had burned down) and put it on display as a memorial. very cool of them to do this, I think. I really liked the redone versions.. great job by the park rebuilding! and when we left the trail, we noticed that tho the park was only open for another 10 minutes, the line for the Alpenexpress Enzian had dropped to 5 minutes. so we ended up hopping on to end our first day in the park on this coaster! even tho Nick is blinking, we look so happy goodnight Europa Park! will see you again tomorrow for a full day 2. including Traumatica!

Day 7 - 1st full day at Europa Park this is a wonderful park, and I seem have over 700 pics from the two days we spent there (!) But I'll severely edit down in hopes of quicker updates today we started out the day with some ERT on Euro Mir (which sadly the park has announced they will be removing to make way for a new coaster in this spot). I love this coaster, as it's a spinner with a super unique layout . . and the "disco lifthill" that plays funky techno the whole way up (tho for our visit, they had already switched the music over to Halloween music, so it was odd to ride it without hearing the blasting tchno). I love that you never know for sure if you're going down the first drop forwards or backwards. . it's just luck of the draw on your ride. I just love the way it winds among the glass towers (one of which hides the spiral lift hill) before the drop. and the space themed station is great too. after rides on Euro-Mir, the group backtracked to get some ERT on Blue Fire before the park opened to the public. love how Wodan looks in the morning fog. since I'm on this train, thanks for this pic go to Elissa. and since Elissa is IN this one? thanks to either Andy or Robb after a few rides on Blue Fire, the park opened for general guests, and we were cut lose for the day. tho a good number of TPR trip folks stuck together as a group of 8-10 to hit things up together. Voltron was first up, to grab in the morning before lines got too long. since it's a launch, it was running just as great first thing in the morning as it had at end of day yesterday. I believe we next headed towards the front gate, to grab a ride on Silver Star (the park's B&M Hyper), passing a bunch of rides on the way including Matterhorn Blitz (the Wild Mouse with the elevator lift hill). . but we'd come back for that. and Euro Sat (the Can-Can coaster) very cool they had the original trains from Euro Sat (before it converted to Can-Can coaster) on display outside the ride. monorail notes Oktoberfest as it passes overhead. noted! if I'm recalling correctly (it's been over a year!), Silver Star was having some issues this morning and hadn't quite opened yet. So we went next door to ride Can-Can Coaster it's such a good ride. Myself, Nick and Andrew walking the empty queue (everyone was at Voltron. . LOL) since we were near the front gate, we decided to go ahead and knock out this park's version of Soarin, that flies over Europe. . it's really well themed, but if you've been on Soarin? you've been on it. tons of cool stuff and photo ops in this front area of the park tho by the main gate. Such as this: and the Italy Section. . which houses one of my favorite rides in the park. but we'd come back to this area, as we wanted to head up to the front gate as I'd never come in that entrance and wanted some pics the park's mascot was out doing meet and greets and some street entertainment welcoming guests to the park. Silver Star was now starting to cycle. . so we'd head to that shortly . . . but first stepping out front for a picture! also on display near the main entrance to the park? an original part of the Berlin Wall. very neat to see, and counts as "culture" in my book! going up the steps in the Voletarium (the Soarin ride) - yeah, pic is a little out of order, sorry. stilt walkers greeting park guests these guys seemed to be local celebrities, as there was quite the queue to take pics with this scene, where you could pic a song, and the projected guys in the car would sing along to it. a quick ride on Silver Star (great as always) and we headed back over to Italy. . . for Europa's version of the Haunted Mansion. Europa has a LOT of dark rides. many of them extremely silly/bizarre, and slow moving. . and they are "hidden" just everywhere. Silly / bizarre / stupid is right up my alley, so of COURSE i love this park. . . but this Horror dark ride is among my favorites here. it's NOT the "haunted mansion". . but is very inspired by it in places. Particularly the queue, where you go into a trick room that has a hanged man in it. the Italy section also has bewbs. (tho it's Europe, so there are multiple places in this park with bewbs). another slow / silly dark ride I love: Piccolo Mondo - think of the very basic things you would boil down to "Italian". . and put them all into one ride. is it racist? slightly. but is it amazing and makes me laugh? yup! and the ride vehicle is a Gondola.. paddled by a Parrot. what's not to love? Pizza and Breadsticks. . . Italian! Leonardo Da Vinci / Mona Lisa . . . Italian! Gelato . . Italian! Canals and gondolas . . . Italian! it really is so much fun. after these dark rides, it was time for the observation tower to get some great views of the park and the surrounding area. there are lots of walk around characters too.. .not sure if all the "Country" sections have their royalty represented, but I met this Queen over by Norway. a "haunted tunnel" set up for Halloween activities within the park (Traumatica - the big Fright party is a separately ticketed event and does not include most of the park) Europa is one of those parks that's so lovely, it's easy to forget you're actually in a theme park. I'd held it off long enough. . so I noodged the group I was with to ride my *favorite* dark ride at Europa, it's over in Russia, and it's lovingly called by fans "Bench: the ride" the operator is giving me that look because we were literally the only ones in the queue for it, and it was walk on every time I rode it. but I love it so, and i hope they never get rid of this stupid ride. whee! frozen / dead king of the north? Never quite figured it out, but I love it. Russia is kinda close to Holland. . so next stop HAD to be Piraten in Batavia - the park's Pirates of the Caribbean style ride. It had completely burned down in 2018. and was rebuilt from the ground up to reopen in 2020. and it's still amazing. this is all in the queue line! bewbs. and a wonderful photo op outside too. Arrrrghh! a pirate themed Stilt walker was over here. and tho i tend not to ride Teacups rides? they had wrapped their Koffiekopjes ride completely and made it "spooky". . so we had to check it out. TPR Ready to ride. looked like they had just hung some spooky pics on the walls. but once the ride started? lasers, fog, some lights - it was really a lot of fun. and an easy thing to do for Halloween by any park. starting to get hungry, so we decided to head to find some food. . . but found a food fight instead, with the angry corn display in one of the nice grassy areas. with Schweizer Bobbahn just above us? of course we ended up going to the Swiss area. it was time for Raclette! one of the very best reasons to visit this park. yummmmmmmmm pumpkin bug has got back! and since right here? of course gonna ride Schweizer Bobbahn before leaving. It's a Mack Bobsled, and is a lot of fun, tho my favorite part are the wood carvings in the station. and sorta next door to it? the Matterhorn Blitz wild mouse, that also has a wonderful queue with some really basic but great animatronics in the queue. whee!!! to be continued. . .

dinner was in the Colosseo buffet - basically all you can eat Brazillian style, as well as a la carte items a peek at the menu after dinner, it was time for the TPR snack exchange! we took over a hallway in the hotel for the Speed Puzzle contest, and set up favorite snacks that folks bring to share with the rest of the group. and then it was time for the puzzle challenge. we worked in teams (I teamed with Chris), and we had to solve a puzzle that was created for the contest by William for us. of course he kept it themed, and the puzzle was Olympia Looping. it was so much harder than it looked like it would be - especially when competing against others. here's what our puzzle looked like when the winner was called. and a pic of the winner's complete puzzle. sorry I can't recall who the winners were - was it Hans' team? Someone speak up and remind me they got a cool trophy tho. and then it was time to clean up and hit the bed. it had been a long day, and tomorrow was our first (of two) full days at Europa Park.

after a bit of a break. . continuing on with last year's Oktoberfest trip! (i know, I know. . . but whattayagonnado???) Day 6: Leaving Munich and headed to Europa Park! not too early of a check out, but up and out early, saying goodbye to Munich and climbing aboard the buss for the drive to Europa Park (about a 3 1/2 hour drive) Elissa surprised us during the drive with everyone getting a gingerbread cookie medallion to congratulate us on surviving Oktoberfest looking out the window and enjoying the beautiful German countryside these tiny tractors on a transport next to us were adorable! we made a pit stop at a roadside rest area for a lunch break and were rewarded with some beautiful views from the back patio of the Burger King there: and if this hadn't freaked me out so much, I would have bought it. . . FASHION!!! very soon tho, we were arriving at Europa Park! this trip we were staying at the Coloseo - the Roman themed resort . . and it, like the park, was all done up for Halloween. the view out of the front of the hotel, looking at the resort across the street (where I had stayed my prior visit to Europa with TPR), and the back of the Water/coaster ride from Mack. getting to my room. . the view out the window. not of the park this time, but it was really quite lovely, and that street was not noisy at all. simple, but very heavily themed rooms here. I'd expect no less from Europa Park, and they exceeded my expectation. solo room this trip, so no need for the bunk beds. . . but loved the design of them. BRILLIANT placement of Vitruvian Man, making use of the mirror to complete the image. it was around this time that we got a message from Robb - the park (and Robb/Elissa) were surprising us with admittance to the park for the last hour of operation (if we wanted) and some ERT on Voltron, the newest coaster. of course, I think pretty much everyone wanted, and we all met in the lobby and headed over to the resort entrance to go into the park. the park is HEAVILY decorated with over 1 million pumpkins (I recall them telling me) - and after Halloween, guests are encouraged to take pumpkins home with them! it was chilly, but that didn't stop people from riding the flume - newly open and rebuilt after a fairly recent fire took out almost the whole ride the prior summer. where would we head? we had just under an hour before we were supposed to meet up at Voltron. so many of us headed towards Wodan (one of the best wooden coasters in the world) and Blue Fire. Splash battle wasn't popular this late in the day - and at this temp.. but still get some great pics of the park's incredible theming. the main entrance to Wodan (and there is a free haunt back there too, for those that don't want to pay the upcharge for Traumatica - which was worth EVERY PENNY by the way). But that's what that smoke is from, the free haunt. it really is such an amazing coaster, and the theming in the queue is great as well. happy TPR folks, about to ride Wodan! Christopher loved it! so did I ! following the arc of the park, to head to Voltron, we had to pass Blue Fire. so of COURSE! again, happy TPR folks about to go on Blue Fire I do like this coaster a lot. . that last heartline roll tho? that part I don't care for. having just ridden a clone of it in China, can confirm, yeah, I don't like that last heartline roll. LOL passing by the Blue Fire entrance again after riding. . yeah, they have blue sheep on the roof. why? Europa Park! that's why theming *everywhere* and shortly, we were standing in front of Voltron. . . it's quite intimidating right out front. it was right near closing time for the park, hence why not a lot of folks around in these pics. and you really can't tell how long it is. . it is a long ride capturing Euro Mir and Voltron trains in the same pic. Sadly, I think I just saw something about Europa will be removing Euro Mir to replace it with a new coaster. gahhh!!! TPR is ready to ride Voltron! Yay!!! after our rides, the park allowed us to peek into the main queue line and snap some pics, and observe the "singing" Tesla Coils that trigger while folks wait in line. it was so cool to have this opportunity. what did I think of Voltron ? it's really intense. . . I liked it a lot, but I wasn't able to ride every train during our surprise ERT. . .I did every 3rd train. in particular, the "wing" seats were the most intense. . .it's good tho! especially that "turntable / launch" section that is hidden, and then you realize the ride isn't over and you haven't returned to the station. after our rides, we headed back to the hotel, as we had a buffet dinner planned, and a 1st - a TPR speed puzzling competition, organized by William. loved the theming in the park tho, and kept stopping for pics. "Angry Corn" more angry corn!

These pics are credited to Jonathan McNair and Jeffrey Siebert. They show Tormenta construction progress from the parking lot and tower.

Tormenta will soon reach 309ft! Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Siebert and Six Flags Over Texas!

a Section of tilt track (as on Winja's) is not anything at all like a Tilt Coaster. you are incorrect on your list above, only because I'm talking about real, Vekoma, "Tilt Coasters" . . . not the Chinese Knockoff that they call "Broken Rail Coasters" (if I'm being pedantic) there is currently ONE Vekoma tilt coaster in existence - open and operating: Gravity Max at Discoveryland in Taiwan. there are 3 under constructions - Circuit Breaker at COTA, which has gone vertical and is moving along nicely, Iron Rattler at Six Flags Quiddiy City, and the just announced today, Siren's Curse at Cedar Point.

I'm more curious to see what will happen with relationships like the one Disney has with Vekoma. That relationship has helped Disney produce some of the best rides we've seen at their parks yet (Expedition Everest, Tron, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, etc) and a change in owners could impact that. We shall see... I think it's safe to add the Guardians coaster to that list as well. We don't know that for sure. Remember, Disney did NOT go with Vekoma for their most recent coaster.