Airtime&Gravity

Great pictures I want to visit Efteling as it looks like a beautiful park, and the park experience looks like a cross between Disneyland and Tivoli Gardens. The rides for the most part don't look like much, but the level of theming is what really seems to set the park apart. Efteling definitely looks like one of the best parks in the world, and your report does a good job of showing it off. It's great to see the expansion Efteling has been going through, and Ravelijn looks like another great addition to the resort.

I agree that something looks odd about the suspended coaster. I think my problem with it is how suddenly it stops. The layout after the lift looks far too short for a ride in its location, and even after the tunnel, instead of doing a twisted finale like Iron Dragon, the ride immediately ends. So even a minor change like extending the end of the ride will probably make it appear better. Also, the dual loading station with a sharp 180* turn looks odd. If you want to keep a dual station, have both stations going in the same direction with a flat piece of track between them. This should make a station easier to build, plus it will add to the realism. Other than that, it looks like a good park. The theming looks great (no Disney, but better than most American parks), and the park's atmosphere currently looks laid back which is a good thing. Keep up the good work, as this looks like a park that will turn out great.

Great job so far, the park looks pretty realistic, and I like the level of detail shown. My only complaint is the flying coaster. The rest of the park looks realistic, yet the coaster looks out of place having an unrealistic layout. A large B&M flying coaster could look great in the park, yet the one currently there doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the park. Other than that, great job on what looks like what will become a great RCT park.

Here(In Your Arms) - Hellogoodbye

^Maybe you could then try opening a Carrabba's franchise in California. I can't think of much people would complain about there, although I'm sure they'll find a way. Nice updates, and it's nice to get more information about what went on, besides the captions to the photos in the trip reports. Sounds like the trip was a lot of fun, and even for the not so good parts of it, it seems like the trip was very enjoyable.

I think a super splash would make a good addition to the park. Granted, thrill seekers will be upset about the park not building another large coaster, but super splashes seem like great rides at the parks they are at. I'm not sure how the new Six Flags management feels about theming this early out of bankruptcy, but with some theming, a super splash could end up looking really nice. If a super splash is added, I wonder if that little area will receive its own theme considering it doesn't really have one. I know the park just received Buccaneer Battle which usually lacks a line, but I think a super splash will still make a good addition. Illinois can have some really hot summers, and considering the ride experience a super splash offers, I think it will be well received. As for a Whizzer replacement clone, I don't think it will happen. Not to mention, if Mack can make a Whizzer clone, why can't they just make us spare parts? I could understand them not matching to what's there, but even then, rebuilding the lift motor, spiral lift, brakes, and/or trains would still be cheaper than a new caster. Unless the entire coaster structure is falling apart, I don't see why it would be necessary to replace Whizzer with a clone of itself. I doubt Iron Wolf or Demon will be around much longer. Even though Demon has been running fairly well with the refurbished trains, Iron Wolf and it only have lines when the park is packed. Both locations could be put to much better use for the park as locations for more flat rides or coasters. With the new management, open park space, and soon to be removed rides, it'll be interesting to see how the park changes over the next 1-5 seasons. Great America has improved a lot, especially this year, and it'll be great if the new management is able to fix the dead spots and bring back some theming.

Link Very sad accident, and hopefully those injured make full recoveries.

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Awesome, I can't wait to see what a real TPR event is like, and I'm looking foreword to meeting the SFGAM crew and the other members who will be there.

http://amusementtoday.com/

Gemini is essentially a large mine train if that counts. I don't remember much about it, but I think I would place it as being one of the smoothest coasters I've ridden. I think Cedar Creek Mine Ride was fairly smooth, but I don't remember since it was six years ago when I rode it. River King at Six Flags St. Louis has some rough parts, but it too was fairly smooth. Then again, it doesn't really do anything.

I know, when I was reading the article, I was wondering why the reporters didn't talk to any adults. Although, Six Flags does (regrettably) serve as day care in the summer, so maybe there weren't any adults in the area. Also, it turns out it was employees that attacked the mascot. Link

Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm

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^Someone brought up a comparison between Shockwave and Great American Scream Machine, which lead to a discussion about whether Great American Scream Machine or Lightning Loops' loop ended up in Great Adventure's safari. I don't really care that we aren't getting Chang. It's a good ride, but unless they changed the trains or had a good marketing team, it would be difficult addition. Since I doubt either would have happened, I see the addition of Chang being a failed attraction like Dark Knight or Buccaneer Battle. I hope they use the space to expand the water park as it continues to fill to capacity, and a significant expansion could bring in visitors who visited it back in 05 but haven't since. Sure thrill seekers will continue to complain, but I'd rather have the park continue to improve like it has the past few years instead of throwing another coaster in. I just hope the plans to bring theming back haven't been canceled since Shapiro left.

When I was there it sounded like there was maintenance work going on inside the mountain. I don't know if it has run at all this season, so I can't say whether it's something as simple as retracking(odd time for it), or if it is something much more serious.

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Greatest Day - Bowling for Soup

On July 3, I made it to Indiana Beach again, and much to my surprise, the park was nowhere near as crowded as I thought. With my visit to SFSTL on July 4, 2008, I should really consider going to parks more on the July 4 weekend. Although crowds did pick up towards the end of my visit, waits, with the exception of Steel Hawg, log flume, and Hurricane towards the end, had a one train max. Although, the park made up for the lack of waits with some atrocious dispatch times. I understand the long dispatch times for when rides breakdown (which was happening a lot), but not for when the ride is properly working. There was always enough to fill a train/ride in line, so it wasn't like we were waiting for a certain number of people. On the Cornball Express and Hoosier Hurricane, ride ops went down making sure there were no loose articles, then they went down tightening every seat belt until there was no more slack, and then they went down again and checked the lap bars. Hoosier Hurricane was having dispatch times approach 10 minutes. Maybe I just get spoiled with the operations at Great America... Also, the frequent ride breakdowns was another frequent problem that day. Cornball Express seemed to be breaking down the most problems, but all over rides were broken down. Other notes: Steel Hawg - While fun, this ride seems a lot rougher than last time. While you can't hit your head on the restraints, the whole ride shakes throughout the ride making it a little unpleasant. It's no t2 or Predator, but it was a shock after how smooth my ride was last year. Lost Coaster - Sadly this ride is still closed. Hoosier Hurricane - Still rough, but it seemed to be running better than last year. It still isn't as good as it looks like it can be, but it's still a fun ride. Cornball Express - I was disappointed last year with how this coaster ran, but it was running great when I went. On the few times my seat belt wasn't tightened all the way, there was crazy airtime throughout the entire ride. It was definitely the surprise of the trip. Double Shot - I couldn't remember the second shot from when I rode this last year, so that powerful moment of airtime came as a surprise. Probably my favorite ride at the park, although Cornball Express will take that title if they change the seat belt rule. Park map, as you can see, the park has a lot of rides in a very small area. With the ride not testing, and no train in the station, I knew Lost Coaster wouldn't be open today. Steel Hawg is one tangled mess of track. Probably the second best part of the ride It might not look like much, but you have some serious speed in this turn I think I liked it, but I'm not sure Yeah everyone has this photo, but it's hard to get photos of Hurricane, so this is all you're going to get Cornball Express was amazing With there being no wait around noon, I did a little marathon. I ended up riding it around 8 times in a row. The Galaxy is still a fun ride, and there are still some good airtime moments to be had For such a small ride, you gain some serious speed in the helices. Scary paratrooper Indiana Beach has a lot of old unsafe looking rides Unlike my previous visit, Air Crow was finally open Den of Lost Thieves had a pretty long wait, so I decided to skip it again. Not Scooters, but still fun Still pretty empty...awesome Going up Probably one of, if not my #1, airtime moment Flying Bobs, sadly I forgot to ride this(I was heading to the Tig'rr Coaster at the time). For being fairly small, Tig'rr coaster is a pretty intense ride. Overview Crazy wave swinger. Hearing the chains strain, and feeling them slip a little, made for a terrifying but awesome ride. Giant Wheel opened up later in the day after some mechanical problems. This is Indiana beach, one of the few places "proving there's more than corn in Indiana," but not much more. Himalayas are always fun Falling Stars are always difficult to get good photos of. Still a fun ride though. I end my day with one last ride on Cornball Express Still a messed up ride If you're ever at Indiana beach You have to do this Boogey Boogey Boogey Jeff Johnson even showed up, although he has lost his head The carp have a diet of fish pellets and line jumpers

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My favorite launched coaster is Kingda Ka. The strength of the launch, and with it seeming to last a lot longer than it really does easily make it my favorite launched coaster. I can't say much about the height as I rode it at night, although that seemingly endless fall in darkness was cool. The ride is just a lot of fun, which is a major part of how I rank coasters. I'm sure my opinion might be different if it wasn't a walk on when I rode it though. The launched coasters I've ridden are: Kingda Ka Mr. Freeze(my second favorite) Greezed Lightning V2 Half Pipe

The last coaster I rode was Cornball Express earlier today, and it was running much better than it was when I rode it last year.

You scared me for a second until I saw the date on the sign. Don't think much about it though as anyone can put photos up on the park's Facebook page.

Well, Terra Mitica is now for sale. Link