boweryboy

The Demon at Great America in California.

This coaster is all kinds of awesome.

It's like we were writing the same thing at the same time - see my post below yours.

I grew up in San Jose and remember when CGA was Marriott's and they still had my first roller coaster ride ever - Willard's Whizzer. By the '90s it was just a light rail ride away but I would never go - even with a season pass ( I would make just enough visits to get a return on my investment) and by the time I moved away in '97 there was no draw for me at all. Even now when I visit friends and family we'll make the 90 minute drive up to SFDK instead of the 10 minute light rail ride to CGA. However, this will definitely get me to come back to CGA after 15 years. It's pretty exciting.

This trip report is all kinds of awesome! I have some photos of me from my first visit to Disneyland in 1974 (I was four years old) but none of them compares to these. Thanks!

This is a totally for real question: What's up with the disdain for the general public that is often expressed here? Is it because they're not in the know and ask questions that is common sense to those in the know? I mean, do you have to go on a TPR trip to no longer be considered general public? Or do you have to work in the industry or something? What's the differential? I come to this website everyday, I have a moderate knowledge of rollercoasters - past and present - and I share the same enthusiasm for coasters as everyone else here. Does this make me general public or non-general public? A part of my fear in joining a TPR event is that I will be looked down upon as a member of the general public who crashed a fantastic party or something.

So...these wing rider coasters are basically 4th dimension coasters without the 4th dimension? I've never rode X at SFMM the last time I was there because the wait was over 2 1/2 hours (I mean, I could have easily watched my favorite Fellini movie in that time frame). Is there that great of a difference between the two and how they ride? Is there a reason that there aren't that many 4th dimension coasters out there? I suppose I'm coming across as a GP lurker with these questions but I'm not as knowledgeable in these matters as so many others are on this site (and I must say it's fairly impressive).

This is by far the best Disneysea post evah. I got a greater feel of the overall park, the attractions, the nooks and crannies. Now I understand why every one rants and raves over how amazing this park is. It truly is. Thanks.

The Hurricane is an awful coaster. I remember how crestfallen I was when it replaced the Schwarzkopf Jet Star in the early '90s. Jet Star was one of the the first coasters I ever rode - along with Willard's Whizzer at Great America when it was Marriott's. That same Jet Star is now rusting in a defunct amusement park in Oregon. Makes me sad to think about it.

Roar at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, March 2011. The back seat was fun albeit a bit rough. The front seat hurt like hell. Sadly I don't get out to theme parks as much as I would like. My partner isn't a fan of the crowds and lines and the PacNorthwest is largely devoid of theme parks with substantial coaster line ups. Hopefully I'll eventually make it to a TPR trip some time soon. What a fun thread. Thanks.

Such a gorgeously surreal park and really beautiful photos. Thanks for the trip report.

Yes. They go into the audience with one of those fiber optic cameras and pick a person at random (I think). Since I was up in the balcony (not at this particular venue but in Seattle) I don't know if they actually crammed it down his throat but it was pretty...umm... gross yet funny at the same time.

They did this same show when they were in Seattle last year. I loved the giant iPhone skit and the finale was mindblowing. I was enthralled by the giant glowing balls. The people on the mainfloor kept bouncing them up to us in the balcony. For a brief moment my partner and I felt like giddy little kids. When it was over we were all "Boy...I'd hate to be the guy who has to clean up that mess everynight."

I, for one, say Opryland can take back Kong/Hangman from SFDK. Oy.

You make a valid point - but what about the possibility of rocks under the surface of the water on the side of the ship with the hole? Afterall it sank in shallow water so it seems fairly logical. It's already been explained that the ship made a U-turn after hitting the rocks. My bad. I must have missed that.

You make a valid point - but what about the possibility of rocks under the surface of the water on the side of the ship with the hole? Afterall it sank in shallow water so it seems fairly logical.

^This. My thoughts exactly.

I didn't realize it was an actual ride. The last time I was at Universal Studios in California (almost a lifetime ago) Jaws was a part of the tram tour.

It wasn't until I realized there's a man standing on the scaffolding next to the drop that I truly grasped the enormity of this. Very very impressive.

Thanks! The alas is because if we weren't socking the cash away for the house I would've definitely been able to go on a trip next year. It will happen.

One day I will manage to attend a TPR trip but alas, my partner and I are getting our finances together to purchase a house next year. Perhaps 2013...

^ Thanks. That makes perfect sense.

Primarily a five year lurker here but I must say it's very cool that you're planning to make it up to the Pac Northwest! Since I live in Seattle, I'll finally get a chance to participate in a TPR trip. Our coaster pickings are really slim up here. However, Silverwood and Playland are definitely worth the trip (and Vancouver B.C. is a really fun city). Hopefully you'll be able to swing a deal with the Puyallup fairgrounds to ride the woodie since the fair is only open twice a year in September and April. I'm going in two weeks. It's my end-of-the-summer ritual. Wild Waves' (Enchanted Village) woodie is just ok: decent first drop, no airtime and very, very short. The Arrow corkscrew hurts like hell. They cycle you through twice unless you want to get off after the first cycle. I don't ride it anymore. I've suggested a few times that they tear it down and put an El Loco in it's place. One question: what would be the cost breakdown (if you know yet) if I only want to do Silverwood, Playland and Wild Waves with no need for a hotel in Seattle?

Well poop. I'll be in the Bay Area the next weekend.

Since I'm primarily a lurker who visits the site at least once a day I didn't want to be blunt for fear of it coming across as rude or disrepectful. However, I do agree with angryemobeaver. The site does look a bit dated and a bit dark. Updating the front page and graphics to look a bit more current, modern and sleek would be a nice change. In my opinion minor tweaks is pretty much the only changes I would suggest. With that being said, as a lurker of 5 years I do take comfort in the familarity of the look of the site but I do think that sometimes change is a good thing.