robbalvey

LMAO!!! Those photos look like someone's "I saw a UFO, I SWEAR!!!! Look I even have photos..."

^ It's like the Oscars. How many times does a film/director/actor actually WIN that most of the movie-going audience actually wants to see win? --Robb

I prefer the Paris one. The pre-show, the ride effects, etc, seem to be better on the Paris version. Although I will say that this last visit to DSP there seemed to be "fewer lights" in RnR than there were in 2002. I'm not if that is really the case, or if some lights were just out, or if they really have reduced the amount of lightning in the ride. --Robb

At the end of the day the poll "is what it is." IMO, people who weren't invited to partake in it have every right to complain, beacuse their opinion wasn't heard. That's why I prefer Mitch Hawker's poll because everyone has a chance to give their input and there really isn't any room for complaints, just differeing opinions. I really have a feeling that if the exact same questions that are asked on AT's ballot were asked of Mitch Hawker's worldwide group of participants, the outcome would be a lot more realistic. But like Ted said, the only "poll" that really matters to me is the one I plan my personal trips around! --Robb

You mean if you "bought" Six Flags! --Robb "Please try to at least spell the words in the topic title correctly!" Alvey

Right, well - - - several major national respected news papers are good enough for me thanks. Barring catastrophic failure in Hong Kong, the project is going ahead (WDI is already involved). Competition like Universal in the area also is a major factor. Carefull who you roll your eyes at. There are members of this board that really DO know what they are talking about, regardless of your "opinions" --Robb "It's never nice to annoy people when you don't know who they are!" Alvey

I could see how the park could have been better had we actually gotten to ride more stuff. I mean, as far as dark rides or themed rides go, I'll be the first to admit I'm not a "dark ride fan" and if I don't get on all the dark rides in a park, I don't care. Even if I'm told it's the "BEST DARK RIDE ON THE PLANET" I don't care. Keep in mind, I'm the one that thinks Spider-Man at Islands of Adventure is overrated and I don't 'get it'. I will ride dark rides if the time permits, but I will not go out of the way or stand in a line for a dark ride because they just aren't really my thing. It's not that I hate them, the just aren't my thing, other than MiB! Although Dave on the other hand might feel differently! That being said, the only two coasters we didn't do were the SLC and the kiddie coaster. I would have liked to do the drop ride, but it's just a drop ride with some theming and if I want a drop ride with theming I'll ride Tower of Terror. What annoyed me the most is that the park offered a two-day ticket for only about 9 euros more than the one day. When we arrived at the park, there were beautiful clear skies so we didn't expect the storm so we didn't expect to need the two-day pass. And we also didn't expect them the lower the capacity by closing rides (and not reopening them after the ride had cleared) and for the rides that they did re-open, they took trains off the train when the crowd was just as busy after the storm as it was before! Had the park operations not been a massive suck-fest and had their customer service not been so dick-ish about upgrading our ticket or at least giving us a discount to come back the next day, that would have been fine, we would have come back, did the two coasters, and probably done the other couple of dark rides we missed. Keep in mind we were staying two nights at their on-property hotel, and between that, park admission, dinner, etc, our group had already spent over $1000 and they were just so un-willing to help us come back the next day. The attitude just screamed "We already have your money, so please f**k off!" With that, we opted to spend more time at Movie Studios Park, which we all thought totally rocked, and ironically, they didn't even have a coaster there! But they knew how to treat guests. We also took the opportunity to head out of Italy earlier because we had the hundred mile long tunnel of death the deal with that night. (which of course turned out to be the 10 second long tunnel of fluffy bunnies!) So anyway, that's our Gardaland story. Overall, slightly above average looking park, craptactular ride selection, and some of the worst operations and customer service I've ever encountered. --Robb

http://www.themeparkreview.com/europe2005/europe2005.htm Gardaland Photos added! Highlights of this update include: - S&S's Screamin Squirrel Photos! - A coaster called "Magic Mountain" which certainly was themed to "Magic Mountain!" - The rain is gone, but where are the open rides? - The most interesting gift shop items of the trip! I really wish there was more to say, but overall we had a pretty miserable visit to this park. They didn't seem to know what to do in a thunder storm, and the customer service at the park was just appalling. Probably our worst park day of the trip. It's too bad because this place seemed to have potential, but fell short in every aspect! Enjoy today's installment!

There is a reason why we have a "Movies" thread! If you'd like to get responses to your original post, please copy and paste your post into that thread. Otherwise.... --Robb "Thread closed." Alvey

I took the liberty of re-doing the original post and adding a poll because, well, when you ask a question that has a finite amount of answers, it just makes sense to turn it into a poll! --Robb

Really? I was under the impression it was mostly enthusaists or people who had something to do with the industry/enthusiast community. I forget what the actual letter says that comes with our ballot, but I was damn sure it said something to that effect. --Robb

^ Tom Saywer's Island was Walt's idea and all these "playground" areas of parks are pretty much off shoots of that. For the record, if an adult wants to go play around in most of those areas, they can. I have been through the Honey I Shrunk Whatever and the California Adventure one with my kids several times. Most adults just "choose" not to. These areas are totally in line with the stuff Walt used to build! And as far as rides the entire family can enjoy? What is Splash Mountain, Test Track, Expedition Everest, Journey To The Center Of The Earth, Lights Motors Action Stunt Show, and even Tower of Terror with it's only 40" height restriction! I don't see how things now are THAT much different from when Walt installed Matterhorn, Pirates, etc. --Robb

^ The hot pink pants were originally mine, but they didn't fit right, so Elissa wore them. --Robb

These awards seem to get more 'political' every year. I stick with the Mitch Hawker poll for a more acurate 'top coaster' list. --Robb

Wow! Kick ass TR! Both you and Soren rule at these! What that a "Euro Bungee Trampoline" I saw in the background of one of the pics? Those are so much fun. I haven't been water skiing since I was probably Fynn's age! Keep the random TR's coming! --Robb

So it seems as thought everything is back to normal (except for the Statistics module) so I'm going to un-stick this. If anyone sees anything big or little going wrong, please post in this thread or PM me ASAP! Thanks! --Robb

I mean, quite honestly, when it comes to video editing software "You get what you pay for." I've used Abobe Premiere, and I've stuck with it for years. I'm sure there are other really good, less expensive options out there, but off hand I'm not experienced enough in those to say what is good and what's not. And remember, you don't make great videos over night. You should see some of the crap I made in '98 and '99. Hell you should see some of the crap I made last week!!!! --Robb

Yeah, that photo was taken just after opening. In fact, what I am saying in the video is "Two thumbs up for the theming" sarcastically because they had just dug up the ground and were working on it! I believe that there were construction workers JUST outside the camera's view. --Robb "What's in the pictures isn't always as it seems!" Alvey

And those 20,000 hispanics that visit Disneyland every summer day are multi-millionaires? Give me a friggin break! Where do you pull your information from? Oh wait, I know! Let's face it, people are very protective of "their" Disney park. No one cares if 20 more Six Flags parks are built because none of them are that much better than the next. It's like little kids and toys, YOU want to be the first and only one who has the latest awesome toy and you can't stand to see your next door neighbor get one too. And every neighboor who gets one makes YOURS less special to YOU. But that doesn't make the toy any less awesome, especially to the kid who doesn't have one yet. And I agree with Rosscoe. We are spoiled because we have TWO of the biggest Disney resorts within a few hours plane ride of each other. But try living in an area where it will costs you years of savings to get to those destinations. I for one am excited because this will give me an excuse to travel to someplace I normally wouldn't have gone! --Robb "Disney parks are not common, they just aren't!" Alvey

http://www.themeparkreview.com/europe2005/europe2005.htm Mirabilandia Photos added! Highlights of this update include: - Lots of Katun Photos! Great lesser known B&M Inverted Coaster! - Fun "Italian Style" with friends from http://www.theparks.it/ - The "Smiley Faced" pizza. - Oblivious Joey - The best Blues Brothers show...EVER! - A link to a video interview with Robb & Elissa...and it doesn't suck!!! Enjoy today's installment!

^ OMFG!!!! If the next Europe update doesn't make it until tomorrow, it's Wes' fault! --Robb "LMAO instead of doing the Mirabilandia update!!!" Alvey

And how exactly are Disney parks "common." I mean, when the Shanghai park open, they will only have *six* resorts built over what, FIFTY SEVEN years?!??! --Robb

^ What do you feel MK is failing at? --Robb

Everything you talked about isn't a "new" thing. They have been cloning rides since day one! Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, Big Thunder, Splash Mountain, Star Tours, Tower of Terror, etc, etc, etc.... How is what they are doing today different from the company philosophy of 1955? I agree that I would like to see some original "E Tickets" but the reality is they ARE being built, they just aren't being built in Southern California because we aren't a market that requires it. Just look at the past 10 years and you'll see a LOT of originality: 1994 - Tower of Terror 1995 - Indy 1995 - Space Mountain (DLP) 1999 - Rock N Roller Coaster 1999 - Test Track 2000 - Pooh's Hunny Hunt 2001 - Journey To The Center Of The Earth 2001 - Soarin' 2001 - California Screamin' 2003 - Mission: Space 2006 - Expedition Everest That's a hell of a lot of activity going on in the past 10 years! As far as the Pixar thing goes, well, yeah it kind of sucks that Disney has gotten themselves in this bind where they haven't releases what I would consider a GREAT animated movie since what? The Lion King? But creating attractions based on someone else's intellectual property is not new to Disney. I mean, Star Tours opening 1987 based on a Lucas property, same thing with Indy, and heck, most of the Disney "classics" were not invented by Disney, they were just "re-invented." I at least give props to Pixar to have the extra-ordinary ability to create NEW stories that might someday become the next Peter Pan, etc. They need to fix that relationship. Pixar is probably the best thing to happen to Disney since Walt died. Who else has brought such fantastic, original new content to the company since? As far as taking risks, was this REALLY ever a company that took risks? Think about it, most of the original Disneyland was funded by someone else, and almost EVERY major attraction added while Walt was alive was paid for by a sponser. Just rememer the 1964 World's Fair gave Disneyland four attractions....for FREE! Having worked with/for the company for about 10 years of my life, yes, I am dissapointed at where they are today, especially when it comes to feature animation and their current relationship with Pixar. But most of their corporate philosophies have not changed much in 50 years. I for one am all for Disney to build more parks. They build quality parks and each one that is built gives the opporotunity to add yet another "E Ticket" and if it's a good one, I hope it gets cloned to ALL the parks! And remember, when it comes to Disney parks...Disneyland *IS* the core product. All the other parks are extensions of that. That's how it's always been, and I'm damn sure that's how it always will be. Building a Disney resort without a "Disneyland" would be like building a McDonlads that didn't sell hamburgers. Who knows where they next Tower of Terror, Journey, or Expedition Everest will be built, but history shows that if they create a success, then all the parks will reap the rewards. What's wrong with that? /end rant. --Robb

^ DEAL!