scooterdoug

Great TR! I've always heard about Lagoon, but this is the first time I've got to get a detailed look at the park. Also, any TR that follows in Adam Richman's footsteps to not one, but two restaurants is A+ in my book. Thanks for the awesome report. -Doug

13/20 on Rest of the World 14/20 on European Coasters 19/20 on US/Canada Coasters...an impressive score that I will likely never attain again on a future quiz.

14/20...my highest score yet. The aforementioned process of elimination was a great strategy with this one.

I answered this question. I was just giving my thoughts as to perhaps why that piece of track is there. It's obviously there for a trim brake, possibly because the of the small and aggressive nature of the elements following it. Just adding to the discussion.

^I'd say that straight piece is there out of necessity. I am no fan of straight pieces of track on B&Ms. However, trim brakes can only be installed on straight pieces of track (Intamin, on the other hand, can install their magnetic brakes on curved track). Seeing as how tight and sharp that Immelmann is, those trims could be necessary if the train is going a bit too fast. At least, that's the way it looks to me. Only the folks at B&M know for sure.

Hi, I've done the same trip you are doing. It is a good trip. I don't think you need so many days at all the parks. One day should be enough at SFGAdv, especially if you buy a FlashPass. Hershey MIGHT require two days, depending on the crowds. It is a charming park, I could have easily spent a second day there. Four days seems like a lot at CP. If you plan on spending time at Soak City, then three days should be plenty (one at Soak City, two at CP). With those extra days, you could visit Kennywood, which is right on the way from Hershey to Cedar Point. While I have never been, I have heard only good things about that park. It could be well worth a visit. To answer your other questions: It is quite easy driving on American highways (though have plenty of quarters ready for toll booths). Car rental agencies don't rent manual transmission (unfortunately), you'll be renting automatic. Google maps is a great way to go, I recommend it. Although, if there is road construction and detours, Google maps won't list it, which could make things difficult. GPS could be a good idea. Also, when booking hotels, use Expedia. It's a great way to find lots of hotels (though there's nothing within 20km of SFGAdv). Another tip, when you find a hotel on Expedia, try contacting the hotel directly to book a room. Sometimes, the room is cheaper directly through the hotel rather than through Expedia. For staying in Hershey, I stayed at the Hershey Travel Inn (www.hersheytravelinnpa.com). It was affordable and pleasant. The rooms were nothing fancy, but clean and comfortable. Finally, buy your park tickets on the park websites and print them at home, if you can do that from outside of the USA (though I'm sure you were already planning on doing that). They're usually the cheapest price, and you don't have to wait in an extra line to buy your tickets at the beginning of the day. That's all the advice I have. Let us know if you have any more questions, and we'll be happy to answer them. -Doug

Medusa @ SFDK. Still my favorite of the B&M floorless variety. Smooth and enjoyable.

I went to SCBB last Friday for my first time ever. I really enjoyed myself. The atmosphere was simply delightful, my first time at a "classic" boardwalk. My wife told me that the Giant Dipper was really smooth. I was dubious that a roller coaster *that* old could be smooth. However, low and behold, the ride was REALLY smooth. There were many parts where it felt like the train was floating...I couldn't perceive any friction. The airtime was delightful (especially rising up into the second turnaround), and the crew was HAULING A$$! I mean, 2 minute dispatches, average waits of 10 minutes for the front like clockwork. Hurricane was nothing special...however, it was my 100th coaster, so I was glad to join the 100+ club. That crazy diving close-to-vertical-helix type thing was rather jarring. All in all, I had a great time. I do enjoy riding old woodies. The look of the ride, the sounds, the smells...it definitely feels like a piece of history. -Doug

I can't believe I haven't posted to here yet. This is Phyllis, my Treeing Walker Coonhound. She's a big sweetheart, as passive a dog as you could hope to find, and has the best hound dog bark ever! Yep, I love her. My vicious attack dog. Kidding...Angus McNasty could beat her up. Actually, an ant could beat her up.

MacBook...Google Chrome...works perfectly!

^Those trims couldn't have been turned off altogether, that would make for some deadly g-forces. Could it perhaps be that the trims are not biting as hard now, as opposed to when it first opened? They might have aired on the safe safe side at first, slowing the train down a little more. After seeing the effect of the coaster on riders, they might have turned down the trims on that first hill. The train does seem to go over those hills faster in your video than in the stock footage. Also, those POVs were taken before the trains had a chance to break in, which means slower rides. For example, if you look at the POV of Millennium Force when it was first built, it rides significantly slower than it does now. Same thing: new trains that hadn't been broken in yet. So, it could be either of those things, or a combination. Or, perhaps something else all together. Just my guess. -Doug "Even though the course indeed looks 'meh', I still would love to ride it" Heim

Nobody has said this yet... Steel: Kingda Ka Wood: El Toro -Doug P.S. - Top Thrill Dragster is WAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY better than Ka!

I haven't eaten theme park food in years, mainly due to my SFMM culinary experiences in the past. I have a hard time paying that much money for mediocre (at best) food. Usually, I eat a big, calorically dense breakfast, and don't end up hungry until dinner time after leaving the park. In those cases where I do get hungry during the day, a quick trip out to the parking lot to the cooler in the trunk of my car tides me over until dinner. I'm just not that big on theme park food. Though, I have to admit, the smell from Zambia Smokehouse at Busch Gardens Tampa was quite mouth watering. -Doug "Taking time to dine at a park eats into my riding time" Heim

^Yes, Steven Seagal is a 7th dan in Aikido. He was also the first foreigner to run a dojo in Japan. His Aikido is powerful, efficient, and brutal. You can find videos on youtube of him just ripping opponents apart in demos. I wouldn't want to take ukemi (falls) for him. It makes me cringe just watching it.

Hello all, Here is a very different sort of TR. As some of you might know, I train in a martial art called Aikido (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aikido). About a month ago, I finally took my black belt test. It was brutal, clocking in at about 2 hours. But, all that hard work and training paid off...I am now a black belt! I thought I'd share some pictures and videos of my test. The test was arranged in this order: 1. Suwariwaza (techniques from kneeling) 2. Taichiwaza (techniques from standing) 3. Variations (demonstrating multiple techniques from the same attack) 4. Henkawaza ("change" technique...performing one technique, having your partner lock you out, and changing the technique in response). 5. Hamni Handachi (I'm kneeling, attacker is standing) 6. Ken (sword vs. sword...wooden swords, or "bokken" are used) 7. Tachidori (sword take-aways) 8. Jo (staff vs. staff) 9. Jodori (staff take-aways) 10. Tantodori (knife take-away...a wooden knife, or "tanto" is used) 11. Jiyuwaza (literally "freestyle"...your partner attacks with a variety of attacks, and you have to respond appropriately...no set techniques). 12. Randori (like jiyuwaza, but with multiple attackers) Photos are a sampling of the different parts of the test. I sorted through many blurry photos and picked my favorite dozen. Videos are of jiyuwaza and randori. My technique looks somewhat sloppy in those videos. This is because these parts come at the very end of the test, after close to 2 hours of grueling physical display. You're utterly exhausted, and everyone ends up getting "tied up" during the randori. So, I hope you enjoy the photos and video. It seems very appropriate to post this now, as this is a Japanese martial art and TPR just finished their Japan trip. Enjoy, and domo arigato! -Doug "I'm lucky that test didn't kill me!" Heim This first video is my jiyuwaza. Though I was pretty tired by this point, I still managed to keep my form pretty clean. This second video is my randori. At this point, I was more tired than I have ever felt in my life. That is why my opponents manage to cluster around me and hang on. Technique from kneeling. Please forgive the blurriness, my camera is not that great at capturing motion. Traditional pin from kneeling. Taking him down for a pin. Throwing my opponent in a technique called "kotegashi". Throwing my opponent "kokyunage". Ready for samurai battle... Sword fight! Taking the sword from my opponent after an attack. Staff vs. Staff. Back off!!! I'm quicker. Knife disarming. This is what happens when you try to kick me. I began my 3rd randori with 4 attackers already grabbing me. Somehow, I managed to break free.

I've been following this, as I love those Intamin Prefabs. I have also had the idea of a double drop for a coaster. That hill does seem large. Perhaps you could shrink the first drop and following hill, leaving a larger second (or main) "first drop". So, instead of two larger drops, you could have more of a pre-drop that feeds into a small airtime hill. The airtime from that small hill would then be sustained throughout the entire large "main" first drop. That way, you still get the double drop, but still have a very tall and distinct first drop. I'll be interested to see how your creation turns out. Keep up the good work! -Doug

To me, this is a no-brainer...Six Flags. CGA is definitely a cool park, and there's certainly the feeling of urgency to visit it due to its uncertain future. However, I think that Discovery Kingdom is the better park. First, the coasters are better (I'll take Medusa over anything at CGA any day). While CGA has many coasters, Flight Deck is the only standout. The rest are mediocre headbangers (especially Votrtex...what happened B&M?!?). Second, there's actually theming, with the oceanic and wildlife theme still integrated into the park. CGA does not have much theming to speak of. Finally, there's the issue of crowds. At CGA, if it's crowded, you're stuck in long lines. However, SFDK offers the FlashPass, which can easily turn a crowded day into a productive, ride-your-favorite-repeatedly kind of day. Those are my 2 cents. I've been to both once. If I go back to ride again, it will be SFDK without hesitation. Hope this helps! -Doug

Well, well, well...look who got a Bag o' Crap in the mail today! I must say, I'm impressed with the sheer volume of craptitude. I especially like the international crap included. What treasures did I find inside? Well... -A Coaster Expedition Volume 6 DVD (Yipee!!!) -A Universal Studios Singapore guide -A Sea World Australia park map -A Gulliver's Warrington guide -A Nasu Highland guide -A Movieland gude -A Legoland California guide -A Drayton Manor guide -A Mirabilandia guide (Oh iSpeed, how I long to ride thee...) -A Six Flags Great America guide -A Madagascar Crate Adventure Express Pass -An Eftling Hotel guide and park map -An Adventureland guide -A Freitzpark Plohn map -A Wild Adventure tattoo -3 Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party stickers -An official TPR pen -3 TPR breath mints (but my dentist said my teeth are so very clean!) -Teh Big Dipper coaster (Sweet!) -A TPR luggage identifier (Wait, that's not crap, that's actually useful) And, finally, some pictures to prove it. Thanks Robb, Elissa, and the rest of the TPR people who had a hand in guiding this veritable cornucopia of crap to my loverly home. -Doug - This TPR Bag o' Crap is Baby Rachel approved! What's inside...

I can take dry heat, but humid heat is a whole different beast. So, I know just what it was like for you. I have a few things I do, all logical, some of which you already did. First, drink plenty of water. I make sure to stop and take a long drink EVERY time I pass a drinking fountain. Ditto on the shade. I mean, you don't have to stop at every bench in the shade. However, in between rides, have yourself a 5-minute sit-down in the shade. Finally, dress cool (as you are well aware). Those 3 simple steps will go a long way towards helping you feel better. -Doug

Great thread! I grew up a couple of miles from Castle Park in Sherman Oaks. I used to go there all of the time. That's some top notch mini golf. The theming and scenery is thorough and immersive. Went to many a birthday party there during my elementary school years. The arcade was (I haven't been there in at least a decade) pretty good as well. I look forward to seeing more golf courses in this thread. -Doug

I was once at Tokyo Dome City marathoning Thunder Dolphin. One of my last rides was alone. Actually, the train was full, but I was the only one without one of those nifty Japanese cloaking devices. The ride crew was totally laughing at me, evidently quite amused that I would devote 2 hours of my life to back-to-back rides on that Intamin mediocrity. -Doug

I just sent him an e-mail telling him to buy a box of Tim Tams and do a "Tim Tam Slam". The rest of you on the trip would be wise to try the same thing. Absolutely delicious! Decadent even. Life-changing, really. -Doug "Has 2 boxes of Tim Tams in his cupboard right now" Heim

My top five, in reverse order: 5. Dive Loops 4. Zero-G Rolls 3. Pretzel Loops (specifically Tatsu's) 2. Stengel Dives (only been on Maverick's, but that rocked my world) 1. Airtime Hills (specifically El Toro's...Holy $h!t!!!) -Doug "I'll take airtime over being upside down any day" Heim

I am torn between two coasters. The first would be The Roller Coaster/Manhattan Express at the New York, New York hotel in Las Vegas. That ride is so horrible, I wouldn't even want to see it replaced with something else. Empty space would be better than that horrid POS. I'll probably catch some flack for this, but Revolution at SFMM. I know that it's very iconic, and it used to be pretty cool. However, the addition of OTSR's made for some horrible head banging. Furthermore, I can't think of a ride with more trims than that. That terrain could be used for something far cooler. I'm thinking a quality GG woodie or a sweet Intamin terrain coaster. Aside from looking pretty, I don't feel that Revolution is useful for anything beyond viewing at a safe distance. I skip it every time I go. -Doug

Took roughly 3 seconds to load. Very speedy. I'm also have cable internet, if that's any help to you.