robbalvey

I'm wondering why you're even asking this question? Common courtesy for other people would tell you that you are not entitled to leave the queue and come back for any reason at any time. This shouldn't even be a question on this forum.

Except they're there to sell product, not to meet and mingle with "fans." Although I'm sure they're cordial, it has to be somewhat of an annoyance for fanboy Jim to take their time and say "zomg I luv ur coasterz." THIS! Exactly THIS! One of the reasons why we stopped doing longer interviews with companies was for several reasons: 1. It takes time out of many companies actual reason for being at the show. (Selling product.) 2. They can't really answer many of the questions anyway mostly due to confidentiality or agreements they have with parks. 3. The reality is, those kinds of videos just don't have a huge audience. I have tended to go more mainstream with some of the videos we produced from the show and interviews focusing on uber-geeky questions for ride manufacturers (most of which end up being the same questions year after year) just don't have that big of an interest base. And I witness it every year. Bloggers come in with all this equipment, big cameras, tri-pods, boom mics, etc, spend lots of time interviewing someone, and only getting a few hundred views. That tells me there isn't a big enough audience that is worth wasting someone's time. And even from my own personal experience, yes, while the representatives from the ride companies are "cordial" and will talk with you, you can sometimes tell that this is not what they are there to be doing, and I think more people need to respect that. And I can say that because I have been guilty of this in the past, too. Instead, we now focus our IAAPA coverage on what people want to see based on our viewership over the years. Pictures of the booths, videos of actual rides (The Mack Blue Fire Spinning video already has 37k views), and *maybe* a super short interview for very selective products or a company that is hosting a press conference. For example, Sally Corp specifically asked us to come interview them for their Walking Dead attraction. Which we did and it looks awesome, but out of all the videos we put together, that one has the least amount of views. Why? Because people would rather see a video of the actual RIDE than someone talking about it, so while we were happy to feature the interview, when the ride comes out, you bet that will be a huge focus for us! I only spent a day and a half at the show this year. Went in, got what we needed and what we wanted to cover, and we were done. We spoke with the people that we had business with or requested that we come by their booth, and I didn't bother anyone else. It was a "working" show for me, and IMO, that's the way it should be. We do a lot of work with ride vendors who have us come out to film their coasters and rides so along with the updates for the website, we do actually have legit business with many of these companies. Our photos & video were at just about every major ride company at the show this year! But yes, going back to what I quoted above, I have seen many fanboys come to the show and start geeking out with their "coaster idols" asking them a million questions. I get it. You're happy to finally meet some of them. But remember, they ARE there to "work" and sell their products so that the fanboys will have even more awesome coasters to ride. So if you do go to IAAPA, and you do meet your coaster idols, my advice to you is keep it short. "Hello Mr. Bollinger, thank you for many years of awesome work. We really enjoy your coasters!" Shake hands. Done. Walk away. Don't spend 45 minutes asking them about the types of bolts they used on a project 13 years ago. I've seen this happen, witnessed it just the other day, and it's not appropriate.

US Thrill Rides designed the tower. Ride Centerline (same people who design Rocky Mountain and many S&S Coasters) designed the coaster, and Intamin is building the coaster and the drop tower. Just wanted to set that record straight.

^ Loved that ride!

Wasn't much in the amount of food to be honest. "Backwards compatible" meant that it will work on any coaster currently running a PTC train, not that the trains can run backwards.

Skyplex just sent us a new "vision" video for the combo tower and it looks NUTS!!! Vertical LIM lift?!?!!? WTF!!!! AMAZING!!! They said they will have another video next week with even more details specific to Skyplex! Remember! To help this project out, click this link and submit an email! http://www.pixelsattheparks.com/skyplex/

It's crazy! Every year I can't believe how well received the IAAPA coverage is. What's funny about it is that other than the Kuka Robocoaster video where I used my GoPro, I did 100% of it with an iPhone. I see so many people out there with giant cameras, DSLR's, tripods, boom mics, etc, pretending to be important as though their equipment demands respect, and then we come in with a mobile phone and do crazy numbers! lol Sometimes it's not the equipment you use, but the quality of the content you can produce with it! Thank you to everyone who kept up with our reports on Tuesday & Wednesday!

Yes technically anyone can attend but you're right it is more expensive if you're not an IAAPA member. This is true. If you really want to go to IAAPA, you can. It's $385 for a non-member ticket. But keep in mind this trade show is not "play time" as it's an industry trade show for the people who are doing business with other industry vendors to attend. If you're sole purpose is going there just to "check it out" or "play" then you're going for the wrong reasons.

No. Not that I was aware of, but then again, I don't know what "Google Cardboard Technology" is. The units and devices were supplied by Samsung.

Also, we've started giving away stuff on our Twitter page. So if you're interested in things like Rocky Mountain, Intamin, or B&M brochures, go re-tweet as many of our IAAPA tweets as you can!

This is the Australian version. I was just going by what they had on display. You should be correcting them, not us. Thank you.

Guys, I realize there is a lot of different IAAPA coverage out there, and we would really appreciate it if you could focus your comments on the coverage that TPR is doing on the TPR forums. We get that other outlets might have different coverage, and that's a conversation that should take place on THEIR discussion forums, not ours. I wouldn't go on another forum and say "TPR covered this, why didn't you?" because that's rude to your host. We have been busting our ass for two days trying to get as much coverage as we can. Please don't reference other sites coverage on TPR. Thank you.

This couldn't have happened in time for Rebel Yell's 40th anniversary last year?! Why would that have made any difference?

We are going tonight!

Here's one I took today. I'll get a more close-up of it tomorrow.

^ Oops! Good catch! Just added it.

That's the only train at the B&M booth. You have to remember, that these companies are at IAAPA to sell their product, not to appease a bunch of roller coaster nerds. Trust me, a Fury 325 train just a FINE JOB of selling B&M's rides!

IAAPA 2015 is here! Keep up with our live updates over the next couple of days by checking out this thread or following us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/themeparkreview. IAAPA 2015 Coverage Part One Click HERE! IAAPA 2015 Coverage Part Two Click HERE! IAAPA 2015 Coverage Part Three Click HERE! IAAPA 2015 Coverage Part Four Click HERE! IAAPA 2015 Coverage Part Five Click HERE! IAAPA 2015 Coverage Part Six Click HERE! IAAPA 2015 Coverage Part Seven Click HERE! IAAPA 2015 Coverage Part Eight Click HERE! IAAPA 2015 Coverage Part Nine Click HERE! IAAPA 2015 Coverage Part Ten Click HERE! IAAPA 2015 Coverage Part Eleven Click HERE! And now we are about to walk in! Tell us what you'd like to see from the show floor! And now we are about to walk in! Tell us what you'd like to see from the show floor! And now we are about to walk in! Tell us what you'd like to see from the show floor! And now we are about to walk in! Tell us what you'd like to see from the show floor! Just a few of the companies helping sponsor the trade show. Yay! IAAPA welcome us! How nice of them! Everything you need to know about IAAPA is in this book!

Universal Studios Hollywood announced three new Annual Pass options today. What's interesting about this is that NONE of them are year-round 365 days without blockout dates. And none of them seem to offer parking as an option. Interesting...

One of our followers on social media have sent us these pics from Disneyland Paris this morning...

Someone on Facebook posted that the parks will also be closed tomorrow. Any confirmation of this?

Look like they did post on their Facebook page on November 7th about getting tickets for the 2016 season. Hmmm...

Has there been any update on this?

^ Yes, please!