Electerik

^ I'd be more inclined towards a Christmas-themed carousel right inside the front gate. Of course, that might simply be because Pat Koch told me that she wants one there. (No, I'm not special. Holiday World is.)

So...every time someone asks about cost...should I link to it? You know, to help you out? Seriously though, if this thread and the spam one were merged, it might create a giant black hole of suck that could destoy the entire Alveyverse.

Knott's used to be my favorite park, bar none. But there have simply been too many negative changes in the last few years. True, a couple of (okay) things have been added, but look at what's been removed recently: Kingdom of the Dinosaurs, Gran Slammer, The Tampico Tumbler, The Haunted Shack, and The Sky Jump. Plus, the Boardwalk section has been turned into a big ugly concrete and mud zone. And the indoor part of the indoor scrambler was lost in that ride's relocation. Operations have also slipped badly, as others have mentioned. And many rides that used to have "Greeters" now do not. I think that one is particularly telling, as the KBF I used to work at preached that "Greeter is the most important position on the ride." Still, I don't hate the park by any means. It's still top 10 in my book. It's just not my number 1 anymore.

I love Arrow Mad Mouses. Also, while I wouldn't go so far as to say I loved it, I thought SFDL's Predator was certainly far better than its reputation suggested.

The way I describe Millennium Force to people who haven't ridden it is: "You know when you're driving and you go around a corner just a little bit too fast and you think "whoa, I'd better slow down"? The whole ride is like that moment." Of course, MF just literally is fast. As for "illusion of speed," I'd go with Thunderhead.

Well, since I'm really way more into actual rides than haunted walk through type dealies...I'm gonna go with Knott's Berry Farm's Timber Mountain Log Ride and Calico Mine Ride re-themes. Erik "Worked Halloween Haunt and Horror Nights" Elness

Yes, indeed, "Orlando's Best Half Day Attraction" still exists, and is doing just fine as far as I know. http://www.gatorland.com

Wasn't Ouimet supposed to be the Great White Hope for Disneyland? The guy that recognized the problems and was willing to spend the money to fix them? Maybe his bosses weren't quite as willing, eh? Interesting news, regardless. Thanks for posting it.

Just got my copy yesterday. (Thanks, Robb!) Here’s my review: It’s been a while since I’ve seen a full-scale TPR video extravaganza. In fact, I think the last one I saw was “Home Movies 2000.” (And it was on videotape, no less!) And though Robb’s work has always been impressive, time and experience (or maybe Elissa) have clearly resulted in a streamlined, fine-tuned, and superior offering here in the year 2006. Although it doesn’t quite cover as many countries as the title might suggest--sticking mostly to Asia, England, and the US as it does--the number and variety of parks is still quite impressive. And there are quite a few “non music video” segments sprinkled throughout (including random snippets of strange Japanese TV programs) to break up the format and keep things interesting. Of course, the “music videos” are still the heart of the presentation--chock full of theme park footage, coaster POV, Robb going “wheee,” and lots of random “WTF” moments. The musical selections remain esoteric, but entertaining. In fact, I was surprised at how many songs I didn’t recognize this time around. And though I didn’t intend to, I ended up blowing through the entire DVD in one sitting last night--and I’ll probably watch it again today. It’s that good. As always, this latest TPR offering makes you want to hang out with Robb, Elissa, the one they call “the Quaker,” Derek, and the whole rest of their wacky gang during the upcoming year, in hopes of becoming a big time DVD star yourself. But if you can’t quite afford that yet, these DVD’s make for a pretty darned swell alternative. Thanks, guys!

Okay, I was almost down with it...until this: WTF?!?

Wait, Shock Wave is green now?! Anyway, thanks for the pictures. SFOT is my favorite Six Flags park! (Or does that smack of faint praise? )

Can't we just accept that people have different opinions without having to concoct wild conspirarcy theories about why everyone else is lying? I think Holiday World is a very nice park. Top 10 for sure. You may not. But that doesn't make your opinion any more "honest" than mine, thank you very much.

This park definately needs a Volare Flying Coaster. What was the name of that stupid hat-thingy with the blades that drop down and cut your head off?!

^ At the risk of starting a philosophical debate, I'm not sure I would consider Strom Runner to even have a first drop! At least, in the context of the question. Which is to say, launching up and over the first hill sort makes the "first" drop not very much like a first drop at all, but more like a second hill (in terms of experience/sensation). I think that's sort of the idea behind the inclusion of the word "first" in the original poster's question. Otherwise, I'll take GhostRider's mid-course drop over Voyage's first drop.

The immelman, baby! And there are two, in particular, that I am extemely fond of: Top Gun - The Jet Coaster (also my favorite multi-looper) and SheiKra.

Wooden coaster? The Voyage, methinks. Although Millenium Force still has the best first drop overall, in my book.

About a year ago, I participated in a supervisor training program in which we were each given two hours to come up with a new ride for either USF or IOA and then pitch it to a panel of upper management types. Of course, it was just "for fun." Nothing that would ever get built. But it was still the coolest training exersize ever. Anyway, of the dozen or so people in the program, three pitched almost identical "dueling rocket coasters themed to The Fast And The Furious," and all placed them behind BTTF. Me, I pitched an indoor swinging ship with a Viking theme between Mythos and the Enchanted Oak, and emphasized how affordable it would be to build. I won, too. (At least, that part of the program.) I have no real point. Except maybe that the whole "dueling rocket coasters themed to The Fast and the Furious" thing is a bit pedestrian.

1. Men In Black: Alien Attack 2. Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye 3. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man 4. (Disneyland's) Space Mountain 5. Dueling Dragons

Here's the best part:

The Voyage's "triple down" tunnel is my favorite. First, you drop into a tunnel. Nothing really special, but still fun. Then, it gets darker and you drop again. Now you're in complete darkness as the train drops out from under you yet again. I mean, it just doesn't get much cooler than that.

I agree that Mystery Mine is perhaps suspiciously a bit too much like Blazing Fury. Plus, all the rumors I've heard about connecting the two paths involved it happening "by Blazing Fury," and I can't really picture where that would be (with BF still there). Also keep in mind that Blazing Fury is just a tad wild/violent at the end, and there was a lawsuit involving it fairly recently. Of course, I'd hate to see it go, but that does seem to fit the pattern.

Yeah, exactly. It should be a monster (Apollo's Chariot not withstanding). I like it.

Yay, ice cream! "Caveman Chocolate" at Toft's, in Sandusky "Winter White Chocolate" at Baskin Robbins "Truffle In Paradise" at Baskin Robbins Not really a flavor, of course, but as far as I'm concerned, Denny's only exists for their Banana Split!

Something like this: 01: Indiana Beach 02: Busch Gardens Williamsburg 03: Islands Of Adventure 04: Knott’s Berry Farm (Easily my #1 a few years ago.) 05: Disneyland 06: Holiday World 07: Kennywood 08: Disney’s California Adventure 09: Dollywood 10: Six Flags Over Texas All rankings subject to change without notice.

My understanding is this: By making you go around, there can be no doubt that you are agreeing to go again, and are in a proper state of mind to consciously make that decision. If that sounds a bit extreme...well, it is. But here's a hypothetical: You go on the ride and have a stroke (or something). When the train comes back in, you're conscious, but you make no move to get out. The op asks if you want to go again, and you either answer yes (not really understanding where you are or what's going on), or you make some noise (or say nothing) and the op takes it as acquiescence. Perhaps an unlikely occurence...but it only takes one.