Shockwave

So if this goes, that means the best coaster in Vegas is now at the Mini Grand Prix.

^Don't agree in the slightest. For a start, expansion isn't an issue. If the want something new to go in, they'll make room for it. That goes for any park. And they've recently added a upmarket hotel to their complex and continually have the capital to invest year after year. If we are talking parks which could succumb in the next decade, I would say anything along the British seaside, including Blackpool Pleasure Beach. For the Pleasure Beach, the acid test will be how the loss of free entry next year has an impact on business. The wristbands have been a good idea since they were introduced nearly 10 years ago, but taking away the option of just walking around the park and sticking two fingers up at British seaside culture is either very brave or a shot in the foot. The £5 minimum entry fee will either get the park the people they want into the park who will spend their money in there, or alienate a lot of people. And in these times of economic instability, it will be cricital.

Saw this on Motorway Cops last night. Two Swedish women, both sisters run into the oncoming traffic on one of Britain's busiest motorways. What the hell they were thinking I don't know. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7636577.stm

^Even more creepy when you look and see that he's wearing half of a prison jumpsuit! I rode this other month. Only got one credit though, because there's four different snails to ride.

Can someone please forward this to Cedar Fair and Six Flags? Oh, and I'm guessing the Acers of the world will continue to be ticked off that Eagle Fortress will still rate high in Mitch's poll. ^Too bad. They'll keep giving their hard earned subscriptions for the trips of the group's higher echelons and never get to go there themselves. I honestly think getting Cedar Fair to put an Intamin wooden coaster in one of their parks is like telling people from the middle ages that the world is round.

^You'll have to sacrifice one of your legs. The park might need a few to stand on soon.

I'd forgotten what an awesome week or so that was. Eagle Fortress was one of the best coasters I've ever been one! Next time I'll be first on the bus to get to Everland! R&E - Thanks again for some awesome memories of an awesome time!

The slo-motion replays cracked me up. I've never seen someone so lackadaisical winning the 100m Olympic final!

Well done to Becky Adlington who won her second gold medal in the pool the other day. And to the mens cycling pursuit team who won gold as well. Fantastic stuff!

^Marineland must be clamping down on them using their free parking. It's a strange place, which from what I can tell, is very much a constant work in progress. The size of the park must be getting close to Alton Towers, yet there's massive gaps between the rides. Almost seems like they didn't quite have the backing to make it the park it probably should have been, hence the Volcano on Dragon Mountain coming 24 years late, and the Topple Tower taking about 2 years to build.

That was hysterical. Props to Paul for taking one for the team! Amd while we're on the topic of Marineland, did anybody see any protesters this year?

Wild Mouse has always been af fave of mine. It's jsut ridiculously vilent to the point where you have to just laugh. Can't wait to go back on it in a month or so!

I've already seen most of Orlando from 300ft up. It wasn't anything special, so then I pulled the ripcord on the Skycoaster.

^I'm very much agreed there Rich. I went to Waldameer last year when Ravine Flyer was still a mound of dirt and I really liked the place. I also have to say that I don't think Beech Bend is that bad a park. Sure the rides aren't exactly top of the range, but on my visit the staff and courteous and friendly and I had a great time there. I'm surprised that hasn't been mentioned yet but... Shivering Timbers at Michigan's Adventure. Now I know some of you hardended geeks go on about Timbers' good days and bad days, but for me it ran really smoothly with lots and lots of airtime. The rest of the park can royally sod off. There's almost no shade, no good rides apart from Timbers, and almost more concrete than the parking lot has asphalt. And because it's a park run by Cedar Fair, there's a million ugly, ugly rubbish bins and less atmosphere than outer space.

Me at Alton Towers on Saturday just gone.

I love it! Great report so far Dave, can't wait for chapter 2 of Ice Bat!

Like any ride, if they are kept well, Vekoma coasters can be really good. I really liked all the Big Thunder Mountain rides and the giant SLC is a lot of fun.

Supertramp - Breakfast In America

Robb, Elissa, Hanno and all those who've contributed to the awesome trip report, you've done a great job! I keep seeing all these amazing pictures and amazing rides in Germany, and yet I'm a 90 minute flight away and the only park I've been to in Germnay is Tolk Schau! I think I'm gonna have to change that next year!

This sounds awfully reminiscent of Jubilee Odyssey, the original giant Vekoma SLC, which, was supposed to be 262ft high, have a near vertical drop (the term vertical is open to interpretation) and become the longest inverted coaster in the world. Now that ride got reduced to 163ft and as a result the length of the ride was shortened after local residents complained, so I wonder whether Chimelong might be getting something similar to what Fantasy Island would have originally got. But then there's a million different things you could read into this, so right now who knows how this could pan out.

I don't normally check Screamscape, but a friend showed me this and it caught my eye. http://www.screamscape.com/html/small_international_parks.htm#Chimelong

^Looks like someone's coaster has sunk. Corkscrew was certainly a huge step forward for Alton Towers and UK rollerocasters when it was built, but it's well past its sell-by-date now.

Son of Beast/Kings Island? Steel Dragon 2000/Nagashima Spa Land? Both of those coasters had some pretty significant and widely-reported accidents, both coasters reopened, and both parks suffered essentially no drops in attendance. Japan is THE most superstitious country in the world when it comes to ride accidents, and if people will still ride Steel Dragon 2000 there, people will still ride this coaster if it reopens. Both of those rides happened in huge parks with tons of other attractions. And none of them actually "fell off the tracks and slammed into the ground" as the news is reporting on this one. I just don't see the park reopening this ride or anyone wanting to ride it again. Hang on. There have been previous incidents where small parks have suffered ride malfunctions and been able to carry on their business. People still ride the Twister at Lightwater Valley which had a major malfunction circa 2001 which resulted in fatal injuries to one of the riders. No doubt this is gonna cause some negative press for the park, but in their defence, they have been very responsible about how they have dealt with this accident. They have been very honest and open so far about what has happened, and what is being done, and what the future may hold for the ride. Perhaps that is a reflection of the culture there, but I can't think of many parks that would have the balls the release a statement in the manner that this one reads. I'll be interested to see what the final report into this says. It's very tragic for the unlucky people who were injured, and my sympathy goes out to them because this was a very rare mechanical failure.

Thanks for the responses everyone! Day 2 Part 2 - Karolinelund So after a great day at Fårup Sommerland, it was time to go back to the other park near the hotel. Karolinelund is a small park near the Quality Hotel we stayed at in Aalborg. It's a nice way to spend an hour or so in the evening. The park was really quiet when we got there, so it didn't take us long to get around it. Creditwise, it's not spectacular. Vekoma Boomerangs and Pinfari Looping coasters aren't great if you're less than fond of head trauma, but there is quiet possibly the Wackiest of all the Wacky Worms out there, and there's a dark ride with plently of full frontal nudity! Here's a few photos... And now I shall leave you with this artsy picture of the Boomerang. We went for an early-ish night at the hotel bar, as we've got a long day tomorrow! Part 3 coming soon. Sorry Divv, no X-Box 360 this time! Most of the people in the park were having dinner while watching these guys. Hey Casey, they have your megaphone here! Smag for Toms??? Yeah, why not!!! After the Wacky Worm wackiness, it was time to check out the shop. Yep, we can't quite believe it! This is way cooler than that thing that Mr. Freeze has to switch its trains! And yes we know there's one at Coney Island as well, but right now who cares! Oh yeah, there's also lots of tunnels as well! Surely the wackiest wacky worm ever!!! And a turntable so the other train can be switched over! But this one has big humps! From here it could be any other Wacky Worm. Grab your tissues credit whores, it's the Wacky Worm with 2 TRAINS and a TURNTABLE!!! Then we remembered... And it wasn't the evil Mickey Mouse kiddy carousel ride. After the nudity, Divv had remembered something we passed on the way in that was puzzling him. If you're wondering why this chick has a skullhead, look at where the wire from the plug socket goes! ...I wasn't joking!!! And plastic monkeys. And you know I mentioned S&M being popular around here earlier... Inside, there's more broom action. And hopfeully not this! And maybe this as well. I'm sure there's a site member who looks like this. It's time for a crazy European dark ride! But we survived this one too. Just. Not the most accurate description ever. It should say KNEE BASHING, SPINE JARRING DEATH MACHINE! But our torture wasn't over yet. Lucky for us, we didn't need to use it or have to call for one after we got off. It was at this point that the ride op told us the safe word. It was Ambulance. We look a little nervous. You'll soon discover that Aalborg is the S&M capital of Denmark. Here's one reason! Unfortunately, we could also see this. We could see the drop tower from our hotel room! Funky fountains come free of charge. And here's what its got. Denmark and small city parks go hand in hand!

^Yeah, your notepads must be huge!