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What if Robb and Elissa grow sick and tired of planning trips for 150 different people a year and the groundhog doesn't see his shadow next year and global warming floods all coastal amusment parks and California falls into the Pacific and France goes to war with England and Fox becomes a 24/7 porn channel and little bo peep can't find her sheep and WHAT THEN OH GOD WON'T SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!1! Hypotheticals on top of "What-ifs" are just plain absurd at this point. Matt

You might have a point if all 50 people on the UK trip could afford and chose to go on three TPR trips a year. Reality paints a different picture, however. Matt

While some of the guys might be cool with it; I, for one, have no desire to be meated by a stranger. I have *some* scrupples. Matt

Have you actually read the flyer? I mean this as nicely as possible, but it was stated very clearly that deposits must be postmarked by Sepetember 28th. I take it you didn't read that flyer either. It is the "optional addon" hence the discussion over the last month about a "Spain Trip with an Italy addon". Matt

If you happen to get accepted to the trip, details like this can be worked out over the next 10 months before you have to leave. They're staying at an hotel near/at the airport, so chances are you can catch a shuttle. Cincinnati also has Taxis. You can probably even rent a limo for the five-minute ride if you so desire. You're forgetting that airports are some of if not the most well-connected land-transportation hubs in each city. Matt

They're going to replace all those strength tester/ lover tester handle things in the arcades with E-Meters, I hear. Matt

You may want to alter the flyer to read this- It is written as "$5 non-refundable service fee per transaction", not per deposit. As I only made one transaction I sent $405. I'll gladly send you the missing $5 if the case warrants. Matt

Just a quick question about the language in the midwest trip. If I read the section on deposits correctly, there isn't a first-come, first-serve approach this time around, right? It appears that all you have to do is get your deposit in before 9/28/06 to make the lottery. Matt It's not really said, but implied that if we don't get too many it will be first come first serve. But yeah, what you said! --Robb Well I ran it by the wifey and the deposit for two on the midwest has been sent to you through this magical system of tubes! Thanks! Matt

Just a quick question about the language in the midwest trip. If I read the section on deposits correctly, there isn't a first-come, first-serve approach this time around, right? It appears that all you have to do is get your deposit in before 9/28/06 to make the lottery. Matt

Scrubs got shafted again. Not only did they not win the one award they were nominated for, but over the last five years they've been horribly under-represented in the areas of acting, writing, and directing. Year after year inferior shows fill the comedy ranks. Why one of the funniest shows on T.V. can't seem to get any recognition is anybody's mystery. That Scrubs still has a following despite NBC's repeated attempts to kill it is a testament to its greatness. The Emmys are about as useful as the Golden Ticket Awards. /end rant Matt

The poll doesn't happen until the end of the year, but when it does, we normally post our "Idiot's Guide To Mitch's Poll" to help guide you through how to submit a ballot. --Robb And if you're still lost, I'll post an "Idiot's Guide to Theme Park Review's Idiot's Guide to Mitch's Poll". Matt

I don't know about Elissa but I'd prefer to thank Mitch for his poll.

I go to Fiesta Texas frequently and I concur. While their shows, unlike other Six Flags parks, are in the "entertaining" category versus the "abysmal" category the others are in, the shows are far from the "jaw-dropping" category offered by Disney. edit: was agreeing with Robb's now-deleted post. Matt

The Golden Ticket "Awards" are nothing but a transparent marketing gimmick for both the magazine, the parks, and the inevitable Travel Channel special. I would say they're inconsequential and harmless but as Robb pointed out, the parks and rides in question milk the award for every dollar possible. Sheeple just eat this stuff up. Even my wife, a borderline coaster addict (we're working on it) was ecstatic at the fact we'll likely be riding 8 of the top ten (according to AT) wooden coasters next year during our various journeys. Matt

I hate to burst your bubble but in all things construction, little (if any) thought goes in to the aesthetics of the actual construction process. It is about "what is the most cost-effective, safe, and proper way to put this thing together". That you think they are purposely trying to lower expectations by building the low sections first is akin to thinking the builders of a skyscraper are trying to lower expectations by constructing the lower floors first. -Matt

I don't collect them but I have a binder packed somewhere with over 1000+ cards from when I was a kid. Some day I should have them appraised and sold off, heh... Matt

I'd like to second what bgwfreak said. My first day at college I had three credit card applications in the dorm-room welcome pack. As I was without a decent means of financial support, I lived off credit cards for over two years. This has come back to bite me in the arse. I'm no longer in any debt (was up to $20,000 at one point...), but even though I now have plenty of money I had to do things like get a cosigner just to buy a car. My credit for at least the next 5 years in ruined, and this is quite devasting as my wife and I want to do things like buy a house/townhome and another car some time in the near future. Matt

It's possable to get to San Antonio in 2-3/4 hours if you drive fast and don't make stops. The Dallas area takes us about 5 1/2hrs. You live in Missouri City- You're a lot closer to I-10 than I am (I live in Spring/The Woodlands). Unless I'm driving in the dead of night it can take me close to 45 minutes to even get to the West side of town. Not coincidentally, I get to Dallas faster than you as I'm closer. It's never taken me 5 1/2 hours, however, and I used to drive back and forth from Houston to Denton for college. Matt

I live in Houston. Fiesta Texas is 3 and a half hours; Over Texas is 4+ hours. After that, it's a lot of nothing for many hours in all directions. That said, my wife and I, despite being native Houstonians, absolutely hate the weather and culture (or lack of) here and are only remaining here due to family ties. We wish to eventually move to somewhere around the Western Virginia region where we would have access to not only all four seasons (Summer/Fall doesn't cut it here) but over 20 amusement parks within four hours. Matt

I thought it was just New Jersey that was sinking. All those landfills are taking their toll. Or was that stinking? Matt

edit: I read the dates wrong. Matt

I just want to point out that you have the "six flags" wrong. It goes Spain, France, Mexico, Texas Republic, USA, Confederacy, (and back to USA) in that order. It's six 'national flags' over Texas, our current state flag (which is the same flag from the Texas Republic by the way) doesn't count. /native Texan and my wife is/was a Texas History teacher Matt

I don't know about your average person, but I'd rather suck it up and pay to leave my car somewhere a bit more secure than a coffee shop's parking lot were I to be gone for ten days. Matt

You should easily find wifi access in the major cities (Washington, New York). If you can't find wifi access other places, look for a coffee shop. Most of them have free or cheap wifi. Avoir un grand temps! Matt

Aaron Burr. Nice photo TR. I'll be heading out to DLR next Spring for the first time. Matt