A.J.

Miler makes the best kids' coasters. Kozmo's Kurves is boss.

Didn't everyone say that they were "going to become a big player" back in 2010 when the park opened in the first place?

Represent!

Yeah, I even got caught in Interstate 4's slow-moving traffic on my way there from Walt Disney World property the other day, and it still only took me about 25 minutes.

You should probably...work on that a bit.

You guys and your matching shirts... So, I'll add to this. It is very much a "you get out what you put in" experience. The problem you've got here is that any company possibly seeking interns for the summer (regardless of whether they're in the entertainment industry or not) isn't going to really want to do any searching until January or February in the earliest. I would consider the IAAPA Attractions Expo as a "starting point" - that time when you make first contact with a company. You get a business card and / or a name, and follow up soon afterward, and then make the contact again when the time comes to really start looking. If whoever you contacted remembers you months down the road, then you had a good show. It's why I always wear my bow tie. The other problem is that the IAAPA Attractions Expo is NOT a networking mixer, by any standard. Sure, opportunities do arise (moreso after normal hours), but the number one goal of companies exhibiting at the show is to do business, and not to interview the next generation (especially considering companies can be as small as eight people). That's why if you're not actually buying the next great Intamin coaster, it's best to only go to the show for a few days at the end of the week, when most companies have made their deals (though it's never guaranteed that they will be willing to talk with you). That being said, it's completely appropriate to treat the IAAPA Attractions Expo as a fun experience. I got to take a run on the Sky Trail course, ride the SBF coaster going to Beech Bend, ride the Cloud Coaster, get a photo with the zombie, completely embarrass myself (in a good way) on the Strike-U-Up... If you're acting too professional to enjoy yourself at the Expo you might as well not come at all. Myself? I came looking for inspiration. I'm continuing my college experience with an MFA at SCAD, and I've got some ideas for the self-driven design projects that I want to work on, as well as for my second thesis next year. I took it as a learning experience first, talk to people experience second, and I had a good show. I know exactly what I want to work on, and I still got to make first contact with people from firms like Forrec and Falcon's. I've been going to the show for four years now, and it's turned from a "wow" experience to an "I appreciate this" experience.

There you go Rocky Mountain fans, there's your Lightning Rod car on display.

I'll be there later in the week! Excited to check out everything for myself!

Yes, but regardless of how much they've "proven" themselves, when a manufacturer launches a new product, that's all out the window.

I'm interested in exterminating it unless you post some screenshots.

This one's from the press release - So, same trains.

No linked source but this was posted back when the announcement was made: I emailed Jen, the amazing spokeswomen and she said the trains will stay the same, but will receive many upgrades and enhancements for a better ride experience.

Yeah, Grover's Alpine Express in Williamsburg is pretty good too, but I'm talking about those coasters with the 20-car long trains.

Going along with the family coaster trend, the Zierer "Tivoli Large" coasters (Blackbeard's Lost Treasure Train, Catwoman's Whip, et al) are insanely fun, especially near the back of the train.

To add to this - even the established manufacturers do this. The B&M inverted coaster trains have been redesigned twice, Intamin looping coaster trains twice (three if you count the launched coaster trains introduced on Storm Runner), Vekoma looping coaster trains three times - the list goes on. The difference is that because Rocky Mountain is still relatively new, lots of little revisions are being made to their train design as opposed to big redesigns - until they nail it. In the case of New England, Superman is a coaster that's had two generations of Intamin mega coaster riding on its tracks. Though, their second design was a little bit custom with the U-bars instead of the T-Bars, but wasn't that because of state regulations?

Allow me. KNOEBELS IS SO UNDER-RATED. Okay, now that that's out of the way, it's not really under-rated, it's more unknown. It's the stuff of legends to people like us, but it's most certainly a regional attraction. If you ask someone outside of the state of Pennsylvania what Knoebels was, they likely wouldn't know.

Bingo. Regardless of the NoLimits simulation's accuracy, it's a refreshing change of pace to see a graceful Intamin as opposed to an aggressive one.

What's an Aquatrax?

Don't forget the chest crushing. Never forget the chest crushing.

Zoo culture has really been coming under scrutiny lately. The only locations that may be even "remotely safe" from the naysayers are the ones designated as non-profits.

I agree, Hulk and Dragon Challenge are OMG INTENSE, but I like Rip Ride Rockit better because it's YAY FUN.

Even if we knew exactly what an AquaTrax was (which we don't), it likely isn't one. The rescue coaster looks like one of these... ...and the example in this photo is a jet ski coaster, called "Jet Rescue", in another park called Sea World (two words), unaffiliated with the SeaWorld parks in the US, making it either the biggest rip-off or the biggest coincidence in theme park history.

Am I happy about this situation? I'm not sure. However, I can accept this not just because of the whole orca thing, but as a sign that SeaWorld can listen to the needs of its guests, its supporters and its critics and continue to evolve as an entertainment destination.

Not with a 54" height restriction it won't. If they're looking for a family-accessible attraction, a big bad B&M is out of the picture because all types are at least 52" except for the new family inverted coaster. Fi-re-cha-ser. Fi-re-cha-ser. Fi-re-cha-ser. My goodness, I want more of those things in the world.

In fairness, a graceful, drawn-out coaster may have been what the park wanted. Intamin (or insert other manufacturer here) doesn't have free-reign when they design a coaster for a park, the park has to like it before they fork over their money.