robbalvey

Ted, if you do have time at some point to get down to the Dipper, the best rides on it are always right after it comes back from rehab. Although, keep in mind that it's not an 'amazing' ride by any means, but it's still good fun. --Robb

LOL! Yes, guys, the sign is a photoshop job! The real sign actually just said some things about the weather! --Robb "It was meant as a joke!" Alvey

Here are the photos: http://www.themeparkreview.com/kbf0304/kbf0304.shtml Hey everyone! Yet another Knott's update! Here are some notes from their visit: - XLR8R still closed. Both trains had parts missing. Let's hope they can get this operating with two trains for Solace! - Jaguar closed. Jaguar fulfilled today's 'random closed ride' quota. I don't think we've had a visit where at LEAST two of the parks major attractions weren't closed at the same time. - Riptide. Um...this only does one flip? Are you kidding me? Worst Top Spin program ever! - Funniest moment of the day - Even the "Silver Bullet Test Seat" was closed! LMAO!!! - Ghostrider - OMFG!!!! Most brutal ride I think I have ever had on it! Both Dan and I looked at each other... "WTF was that???" Today's ride cancels out any 'improvements' we said we felt on the ride last week. - Random clothing. We kept finding random clothing all over the park! The funniest one was the 'random jacket' seen hanging out by the CLOSED bathrooms! - "No filming chicks taking dumps" was the gist of the 'no cameras' sign we saw posted by the women's restrooms. So anyway, today was just 'going through the motions' at Knott's. It wasn't a horrible day, yet it wasn't very inspiring: Wander around, try to find an open ride, ride Silver Bullet, wander around some more, ride Ghostrider...ouch! ouch! ouch! wander around some more...ride Montezooma's...Wheeeeeeeeeeee! --Robb

^ Same here... --Robb "It's hard to take anything from him seriously....just look at the avatar!" Alvey

Thanks for posting the pics! I take it that track over the restaurant no longer crashes into tables full of people? --Robb

^ Taxis are very...VERY expensive. Look, my advice would just be to plan NOT to travel on the subways between 7:00 and 9:00 and between 16:00 and 18:00. I think you should be fine if you plan your day around that. --Robb

It's up to you....I mean, we HAVE had cursing in some of our videos, and I believe in a "PG-13" rated movie you can get away with saying fuck at least once. Just do your best to cover it up, if you can. --Robb

It's a new ride. Here's the quote from the article: I wonder how far that would set back Italian Job from opening? --Robb

^ Perhaps, but it most countries, rush hour is rush hour...meaning mostly businesses, etc. For example, my drive on I-405 every morning isn't any busier in the summer versus winter because of tourists. I've been in a LOT of different countries during different parts of the year, and yeah, maybe the trains could be more crowded, but I don't see them being THAT much more crowded....Like Ken said, there becomes a physical limit of people that can be packed into the trains....but then again, Japan is known to have "pushers" Taken from: http://ist-socrates.berkeley.edu/~lpark/japan/japan.html This is not considered to be crowded by Japan's standards. During rush hour, there will be pushers (no, not drug pushers) who will push people around and into crowded subways. It was really exciting for me to see one. They wear uniforms and work very efficiently.

Yes, we count fair coasters...but only the 1st time we ride them. For example, I know the Hi Miler is the ONLY one of those around, so it counts once on my list. It's actually pretty easy to know which ones you have and haven't ridden. I mean there aren't THAT many full sizes fair coasters out there, and for the kiddies, we usually have a good idea of what fair company puts on a show, and if we've ridden their coasters or not. --Robb "Who maybe has 25 fair credits out of 700 on my list." Alvey

I actually didn't find the Tokyo subways to be as crowded as the horror stories I've heard. If you are used to the London Underground, the worst I saw in Japan was very much like rush hour around Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Covent Garden, King's Cross, Embankment, etc. Either lines, JR or the subway, worked just fine, of course the JR lines are included with your pass (if you are getting a JR Rail Pass) but I wouldn't worry too much about crowds. --Robb

^ Yes! We actually were thinking about some cool 'coaster swag' at the end of last year....but the Japan DVD put all those ideas on hold. Also, we didn't really know if there interest was there...but now that we see it is....hmm...... --Robb

^ And it's also, IMO a better launch! --Robb "Who likes XLR8R *way* more than TTD" Alvey

I had no problem at all using my Mastercard & Visa at Tokyo Disneyland. However, very few of the other parks take credit cards. I did find that my debit card worked just fine to get cash at "select" ATM's. For example, the Citibank ATM (cashpoint) in Shinjuku worked great, as did ALL of the ATM's at the post offices (which are all over the place.) But your local ATM in most 7-11's and AM/PM mini markets in Japan did NOT work with my US debit card. Most larger restraurants, hotels, etc also took my Mastercard or Visa card. Of the locations we saw that took credit cards very, VERY few took AMEX and none of them took Discover. --Robb "Hope that helps!" Alvey

I'd much rather have a kick-ass ride, like Expedition GeForce or a theme ride. But if you can make BOTH happen, like Nemesis and Dueling Dragons, I'm cool with that too, but I'll take a kick-ass ride over theming anyday. --Robb

To me, TTD was a dissapointment. It wasn't the most forceful launch I had ever felt (that award goes to either Hypersonic, Dodonpa, or XLR8R) and I thought the twisty drop was kind of lame. And the ride was over in 16 seconds. Not at ALL worth the 7 hours we waited for it. I *MUCH* prefer the straight down drop on XLR8R and Storm Runner. --Robb "I'd rather ride MF" Alvey

http://press.arrivenet.com/bus/article.php/605493.html

http://www.newutah.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=49351&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 http://tv.ksl.com/index.php?nid=39&sid=154093 Anyone have any idea what this company makes or what ride the cars may have been for? --Robb

Arriving at LAX at 11:30 with the park closing at 5:30 *might* be kind of tough. You should assume it's going to take you 2-3 hours to get to Sea World because that area can have very heavy traffic at times. There have been days I've made it from Valencia to Legoland in two hours, and days it's taken my four hours. According to my Rand McNally Tripmaker, LAX to Sea World is 129 miles. So assume this schedule. You land at 11:30, you are out of the airport with baggage and rental car by, worst case scenario, 12:30. You arrive at Sea World by 3pm which gives you two hours. That should be plenty of time to get in JtA, the sky ride, and one show. Then head over to Belmont which is about 10 minutes away. Assuming the coaster is still open at night, which according to their calendar it is: http://www.giantdipper.com/calendar_jan_05_may_05.html Although, they DO close that ride early if there is no one riding it, and I can tell you this happens quite often. I've gone down there many times on a weekday and have seen the coaster closed by 5pm. I would certainly call ahead to make sure. (858) 488-1549 So yeah, you're crazy...but aren't we all? --Robb "I hope this information helps!" Alvey

Hey everyone, Looking at the calendar above there are quite a few parks opening up this weekend. Who is going to parks and what parks are you visiting? Now that the season is starting back up again, please post your TR's and photos from your trips! And if anyone goes to the Black Hole event at Alton Towers, please post a report of that too! --Robb

^ You know, it's funny....we thought that too after last year's contest was announced at the same time, but NOT ONE came through!!!! --Robb "C'mon guys....let's see your solace videos!!!" Alvey

Why.....why....WHY....does there need to be a sticker on EVERY peice of fruit?!?!!?

I just accidently watched 2 minutes of the Drew Carey show and now I feel dumber. --Robb

Yeah....it's been asked: http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=300

^^ Hehe...I just came back from working out where I played Time Pilot and Burgertime on my GBA while I was on the bike! --Robb "I love classic games!" Alvey