Rastuso

I'm starting to wonder how many are going to be there. They handed out a lot on Facebook today. Also wondering how long it lasts . It starts God awful early, that's for sure. Does the internet even work at 4 AM? -RO

Same as always: Who can run the fastest without really running enough to get in trouble by the person with the rope, yet getting far enough ahead that when all hell breaks loose, and chaos ensues, you are in the head of the pack, and successfully run to the entrance. Ahhhh, good times. -RO

Yeah, but you can do it. I would say a more reasonable goal is to be on the first train out. Although that still means hundreds rode it before you. I sucessfully was on the first train out on Batman at SFGAm. And that was without even seeing a test train go to understand just what the hell the coaster did. Talk about a mind-blowing ride. I'll be posting updates at some point later this week... -R

As for log flume #1, it seems to have been in operation a lot more of late. I FINALLY got my credit on it last April. -R

Hopefully i'll be posting a glowing review in about a week. This thing has pretty high expectations from everyone. Hope it delivers. And it looks like Dallas schools are even in session next FridAY! But I'm totally pissed that In n Out Burger won't be open next weekend! RO

Koreans love their hot coffee too. I'll never forget thinking I was starting to get Heat Stress at Everland, where I could find NO A/C at all. I get in line for a bottle of water, and the jackass in front of me orders an espresso. It was 95 and humid. And of course, it took a couple minutes to make for him. Meanwhile, my vision is blurring. -RO

Well, looks like the Sweet Access Pass isn't an option until June 6th, whcih seems odd. At $199 a person, I don't know if I'd do it or not. Since it includes park admission, that doesn't seem too bad. however, you have to stay on site, which is a $300 minimum room night.

I'm well aware of parks on Saturdays, but on a vacation where you are visting a big park every day, one must be on a Saturday. The question still stands about the Sweet Access Pass. I'd love to hear an opinion of its worth, and what exactly it costs. -RO

It looks like we might be at Hershey Saturday, June 4th. Yeah, I know it's a major park on a Saturday, but we have to pick one. I am aware of the Sweet Access Pass, but there is no info on the price anywhere. This is going to be a turbo coaster trip for me and my son, so FOL and free food is going to be quite valuable. However, it also looks like you have to stay at a ridiculously overpriced Hershey hotel. So, just wondering if anyone has used this pass, and if it was worth it. For a Saturday, I could see this pass changing us from getting 4 rides in 5 hours to 20 rides in 5 hours. I haven't been to Hershey in over 30 years. I think it is pretty much the only park that I went to as a kid, and never returned, so I'm really looking forward to it. -RO

I know that. But mine changed to unique things. Elissa was just messing around. -RO

I've noticed my title changing lately. Maybe it has been in the past and I wasn't observant enough to notice. I did like the Indy reference, even if the skeleton is from LEGOland. -RO

Am I missing something, or are people standing behind (and I assume South) of the Southern Most Point marker? -RO

What exactly was the TPR Haunt announcement? Did they announce the day? We're planning an Oct visit, and hopefully can coordinate it so we can hit the event. -RO

Not to mention hiding a line has a huge impact. Many poeple are ignorant of how long the wait is inside, or how slow it will move. Lines will rarely extend far out of the main entrance. It doesn't really matter where you put the ride sign, folks will see the "full queue", and walk away. Pooh at WDW was an awesome example of this last time I was there. They were redoing the line, so the standby was a 15 foot straight shot in. It used to have a cattle area. However, the line still ended at the entrance, even though the standby wait time was probably one tenth of what it used to be. Sometimes, stupid people come in handy. -RO

Texas Giant: Was crap, Now great, WINNING! -RO

Well, it seems Mr. Seibert can't contain himself, once again. He's leaked the New Braunfels rides one day in advance. They are apparently decimating all of the resort buildings along the river by Blastenoff. THose looked pretty old. I never stayed in one. The entire area is going to be replaced by a 3600 foot long tube chute with a conveyor belt lift that drops you off at the sky coaster. It says there are entrances in Surfenburg, Blastenoff, and down by the existing hot tub/pool, which is about the only thing staying in that area. From their resort map, it does look like the resort office building, and maybe the covered picnic area will stay. It's not clear where it ties into Surfenburg, but I'd assume the new treehouses are near the picnic grove in Surfenburg, maybe even cannibalizing some of it, and the entrance will be very close to the gift shop, which is where the sign was years ago, stating a new attraction was coming. So, you will be able to travel from one park to the other YAY!!!! However, it is via a slow river ride, and getting from S-burg to B-off will be a pretty long journey. SO, I would bet there will still be a walkway too, although it will be inside the park, I bet. A KILLER addition. I just hope it's open for Schlittercon, but I think Jeffrey said it was going to be open by the Coaster COn add-on day, but no Schlittercon. Oh well, as long as we still have a celebrity hot tub party both nights, me and the fam will be happy. I think this is a big step from Schlitterbahn to remove some older resort buildings, and add brand-new unique treehouses. I'd love to stay in one next year, but I forsee them being quite the premium. http://www.schlitterbahn.com/nb/new/ Is it Memorial Day weekend yet? -RO

You beat me to it. He ain't Korean. Or Mexican, for that matter. -RO

KC is getting a ton of stuff. The master plan for that park is impressive. It did seem like last year, they had very little. I don't know the details, but the KC park should be much better this year. While the original park is awesome, and Schlitterbahn UAE aka Wild Wadi, was great, their other parks are fairly sparse. The Galveston one only has two blasters, with only two blasts each, a medium torrent river, some very average slides,and a large family slide. Then they have the 20 year old tower from Wet n Wild, and some short, gentle tube chutes. It's a fun place, but nothing compared to New Braunfels, which is the greatest waterpark ever. -RO

Screamscape's update today seems to add credence to my suspicions. They say the whole section between Surfenburg and Blastenoff is under massive construction. About 5 years ago there was a sign at the entrance of Surfenburg hinting at the same construction, as well as rumors. Looks like it's finally a reality. No more long walk between them. I hope for a cool, long tube chute down, and a conveyor belt back up. -RO

Here's the thing - the dress code for the dining room is no shorts, no T-Shirts, basically no Rastus attire! --Robb Hey, I resemble that remark! My wife always gripes at me about wearing a t-shirt when we go out to eat at a decent place. I do wear work clothes when we go to Chez Nous, and other high end places. So, alas, I know I'll have to dress up some to please the snooty ship Gods if we go on one. ALthough we're looking at a Disney cruise, and they are probably the last ones to enforce anthing. Proud to have eaten at Antoine's in New Orleans in a t-shirt and blue jean shorts. -RO

A nice, long alpine coaster going down many levels, though themed dark ride portions! I could design it for them. -RO

So, is there no waterslide on this ship? All the other stuff, but not waterslide in any pool pictures that I've seen. Just seems like a pretty big item to not have. What about skeet shoot off the back of the ship? -RO

Forgive my total NOOB question, but are all the food court items extra charge? I know "all inclusive" is a lie, but I thought booze and pop where the only normal items not included. So, the make your own pizza was upcharge too? We're thinking of doing the new Disney ship this fall, maybe around IAAPA. I have a LOT to learn on cruise ships, including if/when the get totally booked in advance. -RO

The cost of things in the UAE was very similar to the US, surprisingly. Wild Wadi was about $50. Food was very similar, especially if you realize there is no tax, and few places took tips. Outaback was the only place I ate at that had a tip line on the receipt. My hotel, right near the airport, was a bit pricey. I think it was about $200 after the "fees" that were essentially airport taxes. But, it was a very nice hotel, right at the airport. You'd pay the same, if not more in LA. Taxis weren't too bad either. My 30 minute taxi ride to Wild Wadi was around $25, iirc. As for souveniers, the duty free shop at the airport had all the oil lamps, hookas, and dates you needed for very good prices. -RO

I'm not sure if the fountain show is working. When I was there, jsut a few weeks before R&E, there were some construction signs up. Asking around, it seemed like it had been down a while, and perhaps because of the lack of interest. Like perhaps it was down just to save money, since few people were there to watch it anyway. You can see in the pics from the top of the Burj, that the pool doesn't seem to be totally filled. Do you have a link to info on the dark ride? I may try to hit it on my next trip, since I'm a pretty big dark ride fan. -RO