Electerik

Done.

Thanks for this. Very interesting! I never visited during that era, but I absolutely love SeaWorld Orlando in its current state.

Really? I interpret that as, "We have no idea what we're going to do with it."

^ Legal or not, the whale clearly failed to file a "kill trainer" form before it attacked, and is therefore due for a very poor performance review, if nothing else. /I suppose we could lock it in a cage for the rest of its life. That'd show it.

That pretty much sums up my feelings. It's sad, yes. But isn't the whole point of the trainers riding around on the whales that it's cool because it's kind of dangerous? (I now that isn't exactly what was going on here, but still.) Seems like they've done pretty well so far, on balance. You try to minimize risk, but ultimately, you could die on your couch watching TV. When a plane crashes, nobody suggests we no longer fly airplanes. When a car crashes, no one even really takes note of it. As for this particular orca, I suspect that humans are no longer going to be allowed within striking distance of it. Beyond that, nothing really needs to be done, in my admittedly-uninformed opinion.

Although Pleasure Island in its prime wasn't really my cup of tea, I agree that the area is quite sad and somewhat unsightly now. Why close it down with no plan for a replacement? It's like Disney just woke up one day and said, "Oh, wait, we can't have nightclubs on our property. Close it all down immediately!" - "But what about the comedy clubs, sir? Those aren't offensive." - "I don't care! Close them all, too!"

^^ I agree. I mean, it's not really a huge departure from what was already there, theming-wise. So, really, the whole thing is just one new ride. (Better be a good one.)

I was on the fence. But I'm coming around. /Liking the sound of the quarterly DVD thing a lot.

I very much agree with your premise, Chuck, but I think you've picked a dubious example. I am firmly in the camp of paranoid delusionals who think Disney built an animal park because of BGT, not despite it. Just like they built Disney/MGM is response to USF. And I'm sure, even as we speak, some big Disney mucky-muck is trying to figure out how to out-lego Legoland. But back to agreeing. BGT and IOA both have a rapids rides, log flumes, and shoot-the chutes. MK and USF both have shooting dark rides. Everyone and their mom has 4-D shows (sometimes, multiple ones in the same park!) You get the idea. Even from a marketing perspective, how much of the GP is going to be savvy enough to see an advertisement for DarKastle and think, "Hey, that's just like Spider-Man"? Dark rides are important to the Central Florida market. And BGT needs one. /And also, a hypercoaster.

^ Man, that sucks. And it's really cool, too! /Too bad we can't talk about it here.

Having now actually clicked on the link above, it seems the Sky Ride is scheduled to be down June 1 - December 31. So, presumably, it's still open now. Honestly, I think I'll be slightly disappointed if BGT's next coaster (whenever it happens) isn't a hyper. They have too much upsidedown-ness as it is, in my opinion. Having said that, it always makes me laugh when someone says, "X-park NEEDS another big coaster." Because that need will never end (from that person's perspective). I find that I prefer parks that have from two to six coasters. More than that, and they tend to become pretty unbalanced: All coasters (many of which they clearly don't care about anymore) and no fun.

The seperate admission sounds like a win/win for them, to me. If it keeps some people out, it's a better experience for the guests there--since water parks generally have lousy capacity. Of course, if everyone just pays it anyway...that works out pretty good for them, too. I would treat it like a toll road: you have to charge enough so that everyone doesn't do it (gets too crowded), but not so much that no one uses it.

Best ride in the park. Down until at least the end of the year? It's only February! /This had better be a hyper or a dark ride.

^ Wow, nice job. /Not convinced, just impressed.

Yes. And I hope I win the lottery the day after I die.

Die. KI's Flight Deck may have a stupid name now, but it's still my favorite suspended coaster. /SoB can burn, though.

Sounds awesome! My favorite line from the website:

^ Oooooh...that makes sense. I thought it was something to do with the pricing of the end table or something. Thanks for explaining it. /Been to IKEA recently. Noticed all the awesome names. Still just didn't get it.

I'm ashamed to admit it, but I'm not sure I get Elissa's. Can someone explain it to me, real slow like?

^ Hey, that's my photo! Yay! As for my choice, it's hard to beat Hanno:

The best, most unique ride there was Blizzard River Rapids--which, as a big concrete trough, is obviously not going to get moved anywhere. I tell you what I'd do if I ran Holiday World, though: try to buy Greezed Lightnin' (or any Schwarzkopf shuttle loop). Marketing gold! (Well, in my head, anyway). /Not that they need to. It would just be a supercool move.

Hey, thanks. That's some dedication right there. I've never even gone through the thread in one sitting. And yes, the Turtle House is exactly like the Bunny Ranch, except you have sex with turtles instead of rabbits. BrownStreak: Sorry I missed your post originally, but I just sent you a PM. brilinjo: You will always be "Poster of the Week" to me. Emiroo: Great idea for the Orlando thread name: "Erik & Misty's Wang Adventures!" Robb & co: Yay! We made the front page (again)! Haven't been on much, as we've been too busy settling in in Florida. But thanks again, everyone. You guys are the best!

Misty and I would like to thank everyone for your kind words and encouragement. Except for Larry. (But he can make it up to us by finding a way to link to this thread in the park index. ) We've made it to Florida, but not Orlando yet. We're in St. Augustine, doing...well...exactly what you'd expect us to be doing. Thanks again. And feel free to keep talking about how great we are.

^ Nope. Just one of the things we never got to. Even living here, we couldn't do it all. The End Beautiful Tennessee Good ol' Rocky Top, Rocky Top Tennessee Rocky Top you'll always be, home sweet home to me All I know is it's a pity life, can't be simple again I've had years of cramped-up city life, trapped like a duck in a pen Good ol' Rocky Top, Rocky Top Tennessee Rocky Top you'll always be, home sweet home to me That's why all the folks on Rocky Top, get their corn from a jar Corn won't grow at all on Rocky Top, dirt's too rocky by far Good ol' Rocky Top, Rocky Top Tennessee Rocky Top you'll always be, home sweet home to me Strangers ain't come down from Rocky Top, reckon they never will Once two strangers climbed ol' Rocky Top, lookin' for a moonshine still Good ol' Rocky Top, Rocky Top Tennessee Rocky Top you'll always be, home sweet home to me Wild as a mink but sweet as soda pop, I still dream about that Once I had a girl on Rocky Top, half bear other half cat Ain't no smoggy smoke on Rocky Top, ain't no telephone bills Wish that I was on ol' Rocky Top, down in the Tennessee hills

Wow, your favorite? That's pretty awesome. Thanks! No, it was pretty calm. At one point, the pilot asked if he had scared anyone yet. To which we replied, "No. Try to scare us!"