robbalvey

ROARgasm! Well, that's at least my vote....

I'll be VERY happy to see a typical "meh" Great Coasters woodie replaced by a totally kick ass RMC! If this goes well, I hope it becomes a trend. Then all those GCI's that I've felt so lackluster about might actually be something I'd want to ride!

Here's our video commemorating Shockwave. Be sure to watch it in 60FPS!

I'm not sure that would be an awesome ride.

The Tron coaster is their Space Mountain.

I'm pretty sure not all billion people live in the same place.

In case you missed it, West Coast Bash tickets are now on sale: http://www.themeparkreview.com/store/index.php?categoryID=22

In case you missed it, West Coast Bash tickets are now on sale: http://www.themeparkreview.com/store/index.php?categoryID=22

Starbucks! Venti Cinnamon Dolce Latte at check in, please!

^ If you can hit up late may or early June (just NOT over the Memorial Day weekend holiday) that's usually a very good time. Make sure the parks are all open during your visit though. Some of them don't go daily until late May.

Here's maybe what I would suggest: Two days at Busch gardens (on your second day, leave early to drive to KD) One full open to close day at kings dominion. Stay somewhere nearby the park Get up early and drive to DC and hit up two days in Washington DC Two days at Hersheypark (The first day should be your driving from Washington DC to Hersheyday, and get the pass that allows you to have the night before included at Hershey, and then do all day the next day.) One full day at Knoebels Two days at six flags great adventure (and like Hershey, drive in the morning, do a half-day in the park, and then the next day to a full open-close day with a Flash Pass) This way your trip isn't "death march-ish" and you have plenty of time to rest and drive without doing a crazy schedule of back to back parks with little to no sleep.

I think that depends on each persons interest level, though. Remember, you're an American. Not sure a British person would have as much interest in American history as someone who is born and raised here. I can tell you that we just recently did a quick Washington D.C. trip and did a *LOT* in a couple of days. You might not hit everything, but you'll most certainly get a very good whirlwind tour of US History in that time. If there is any one thing I'd say to change is that you probably don't *need* two days at Busch and KD if you get the Fast Lane and QuickQueue passes. And that might free up some more time to do hit up another park like Knoebels, which you'll be about 90 minutes away from when you're at Hershey. I'd say a day at KD with a FastLane pass should be plenty.

^ Yes, it really is a B&M flyer with elaborate theming.

We've gone ahead and opened general ticket sales: http://www.themeparkreview.com/store/index.php?categoryID=22

Sure. If you think that Expedition Everest is "just a Vekoma mine train."

Below is a HUGE press release with a detailed look at Shanghai Disneyland. Let's first breakdown the attractions that have been covered: Rides - Fantasia Carousel - Dumbo - Voyage to the Crystal Grotto - Seven Dwarfs Mine Train - Peter Pan Flight - Winnie The Pooh - Soaring over the Horizon - Roaring Rapids - Pirates of the Caribbean – Battle for the Sunken Treasure - Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue - Jet Packs - TRON Lightcycle Power Run Shows - Ignite the Dream, a Nighttime Spectacular - Mickey’s Storybook Express Parade - Tarzan Other Features - Mickey Avenue Character Meet & Greet - Alice in Wonderland Maze - Camp Discovery Trails - Explorer Canoes - Barbossa’s Bounty Restaurant - Star Wars Galaxy Meet & Greet - Skywalker Story Cinematic Experience - Marvel Super Heroes Meet & Greet - Marvel Drawing Class Grand Opening: Spring 2016 Disney Unveils Detailed Look at Shanghai Disneyland— Its First Theme Park in Mainland China Roaring Rapids Treasure Cove Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle of Sunken Treasure TRON Lightcycle Power Run Celebration Square Adventure Isle Sweetheart Confectionary Tomorrowland at Shanghai Disneyland Bob Iger with Shanghai Disneyland scale model. Tron Lightcycles Power Run Tron Lightcycles Power Run ride vehicles Big Hero 6 Meet & Greet Tarzan Show Adventure Isle Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Carousel Scale Model Shanghai Disney Resort Features a Disneyland Park with Six Themed Lands, Innovative Attractions and Immersive Entertainment Designed Especially for Chinese Guests SHANGHAI, July 15, 2015 – Today The Walt Disney Company unveiled key creative elements of Shanghai Disneyland, including its six themed lands filled with world-class attractions and live entertainment spectaculars – many of them a first for a Disney park. Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger revealed a scale model of the world-class theme park and displays showcasing key highlights of unique attractions, entertainment, dining and hotels at a presentation held today at the Shanghai Expo Centre. “We are building something truly special here in Shanghai that not only showcases the best of Disney’s storytelling but also celebrates and incorporates China’s incredibly rich heritage to create a one-of-a-kind destination that will delight and entertain the people of China for generations to come,” said Iger. “We are taking everything we’ve learned from our six decades of exceeding expectations – along with our relentless innovation and famous creativity to create a truly magical place that is both authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese.” A joint venture of Disney and its partner Shanghai Shendi Group, Shanghai Disneyland is designed to appeal to Chinese guests – taking the best of Disney and delivering it in a way that is created especially for this audience. It will extend the 60-year legacy of Disney Parks around the globe. Since breaking ground in 2011, Disney and Shanghai Shendi Group announced that they were expanding the park by adding additional attractions and entertainment to allow more guests to have a spectacular Disney experience at Grand Opening in spring of 2016. Shanghai Disney Resort, part of the Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone, is a complete vacation destination and at opening will include: · Shanghai Disneyland, a theme park with six themed lands: Adventure Isle, Gardens of Imagination, Mickey Avenue, Tomorrowland, Treasure Cove and Fantasyland, with its Enchanted Storybook Castle. · Shanghai Disneyland Hotel and Toy Story Hotel, imaginatively themed and adjacent to the theme park. · Disneytown, an international shopping, dining and entertainment district, adjacent to Shanghai Disneyland and including the Walt Disney Grand Theatre, home to the first-ever Mandarin production of the Broadway hit Disney’s THE LION KING. · Wishing Star Park, a central point of the resort with beautiful gardens, a walking path and a glittering lake. Shanghai Disney Resort guests will find something for everyone. They will be immersed in popular Disney stories that come to life at the largest castle in a Disney park, at the first pirate-themed land in a Disney park, on the longest Disney Parks parade route and in more enchanting places filled with thrills, creativity and adventure. Throughout the resort, visitors will be treated to the Disney difference: warm hospitality and world-renowned guest service delivered by Disney cast members. At Shanghai Disneyland, six themed lands offer something for everyone, memories for all Shanghai Disneyland, the first theme park of its kind in Mainland China, will be a world of possibilities and a place to create memories that last a lifetime. Guests will enjoy the lush gardens, live stage productions and thrilling attractions and will also encounter Disney characters in each land, including Mickey Mouse and his pals, Disney princesses, Captain Jack Sparrow and Winnie the Pooh. Mickey Avenue is the first main entry at a Disney park inspired by the colorful personalities of Mickey Mouse and his pals. In the neighborhoods of this whimsical avenue, guests will share a hug and get a photo with some all-time favorite Disney characters. Avenue M Arcade, one of the many shops along the avenue, will feature the largest selection of gifts and collectibles inside the theme park. Gardens of Imagination celebrates the wonders of nature and the joy of imagination. Guests will take a spin on the Fantasia Carousel, soar on the back of Dumbo the Flying Elephant and enjoy the area’s iconic Disney entertainment, including Castle stage shows and “Ignite the Dream, a Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and Light.” From several places in this land, guests will enjoy “Mickey’s Storybook Express,” a parade with its own musical soundtrack and colorful performers on the longest parade route in a Disney park. Fantasyland, inspired by Disney’s animated films, will be the largest land and home to the Enchanted Storybook Castle. Guests will experience familiar Disney stories as they ride Voyage to the Crystal Grotto, go in and out of tunnels glowing with dazzling diamonds on Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and take flight over the skies of London on Peter Pan’s Flight. They may also explore the Hundred Acre Wood with Winnie the Pooh or follow Alice through a Wonderland maze. Adventure Isle will immerse guests in a newly discovered lost world, filled with hidden treasures. The mighty Roaring Mountain will tower over guests and they may blaze their own trails at Camp Discovery, travel around the world on Soaring over the Horizon or embark on the thrilling rafting adventure through the heart of Adventure Isle on Roaring Rapids. Treasure Cove will be the first pirate-themed land in a Disney park, a place to join the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow and Davy Jones. As guests explore this pirate world, they will enter Pirates of the Caribbean – Battle for the Sunken Treasure, an attraction that transforms a boat ride into a journey with cutting-edge innovations in robotics, animation, set design and multimedia. Guests will board a pirate ship, paddle through the scenic cove on Explorer Canoes and dine at Barbossa’s Bounty. Tomorrowland celebrates the limitless possibilities and optimism of the future in Shanghai. Disney’s innovative use of technology has produced a land where guests will go to infinity and beyond on Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue, a new space ranger adventure, or break the bonds of gravity on Jet Packs. A massive, color-shifting canopy will lure guests to TRON Lightcycle Power Run, a coaster-style attraction where guests board a train of two-wheeled Lightcycles for one of the most thrilling adventures at any Disney park. Nearby Tomorrowland will be two experiences created especially for Shanghai Disneyland – Star Wars Launch Bay and Marvel Universe. In a celebration of the Star Wars Galaxy, guests will meet heroes and villains of the saga, visit iconic intergalactic set-pieces, view props and memorabilia from the most recent Episode, and be immersed in the Skywalker story through a state-of-the-art cinematic experience. In Marvel Universe, guests attend a multimedia mission briefing on the world of Marvel, get up-close with some popular Marvel Super Heroes and take on the role of comic book artist as they learn to draw some favorite characters. At night, the sky above Enchanted Storybook Castle will be painted in dazzling light, with music, special effects and fireworks, adding a special “kiss good night” for all the guests at Shanghai Disney Resort. A Disney Park filled with “firsts” At the center of Shanghai Disneyland, the iconic Enchanted Storybook Castle will be the tallest, largest and most interactive castle at any Disney theme park. It’s also the first castle in a Disney theme park that represents all the Disney princesses. Other “firsts” at Shanghai Disneyland will include: · Adventure Isle, a mysterious land, with an ancient legend about a native tribe, a giant, reptilian creature, and the mighty Roaring Mountain. · Voyage to the Crystal Grotto, an enchanting, new excursion that celebrates classic Disney tales of magic and imagination as it travels the waters of Fantasyland, going underneath Enchanted Story Book Castle for a finale never before seen inside a castle. · Tomorrowland, a venue with an original design and new attractions to celebrate the hope, optimism and potential of the future, created especially for the people of China. · TRON Lightcycle Power Run, which promises to be one of the most thrilling attractions at a Disney park, with a twisting, turning track, high speeds, rich storytelling and a breathtaking view of Shanghai Disneyland. · Garden of the Twelve Friends, where animals of the Chinese zodiac are re-imagined as Disney and DisneyžPixar characters. · Treasure Cove, the first pirate-themed land at a Disney park, leveraging innovative technologies in the new Pirates of the Caribbean – Battle for the Sunken Treasure and a stunt show spectacular featuring Captain Jack Sparrow. Unique Hotels, an Entertainment District and a Nature Park at Resort Opening The Shanghai Disneyland Hotel is an elegant Art Nouveau-inspired resort with a touch of Disney magic and imagination, while the Toy Story Hotel immerses guests in a world inspired by the toys from the Disney-Pixar series of Toy Story animated films. Disneytown, a vibrant shopping, dining and entertainment district adjacent to the theme park, will be tailored to Chinese guests, with familiar experiences, colors, symbols and design integrated into the area, including traditional Shanghai Shikumen architecture. Disneytown is home to the Walt Disney Grand Theatre, the separate-ticket venue for the global premiere in Mandarin of Disney’s theatrical event, THE LION KING, one of the most successful Broadway productions in history. Another “must-see” for guests will be the innovative World of Disney Store, offering a comprehensive collection of Disney merchandise, including many products designed especially for Shanghai Disney Resort. Near Disneytown will be Wishing Star Park, offering guests an opportunity to enjoy greenery and a glittering lake. With approximately 40 hectares, it includes Wishing Star Lake, a 2.5-kilometer walking path and various beautiful gardens. About Shanghai Disney Resort Shanghai Disney Resort is a world-class family entertainment destination, imagined and created especially for the people of China. Ideal for multiple-day visits, the resort consists of Shanghai Disneyland, a theme park with magical experiences for guests of all ages; two richly themed hotels; Disneytown, an international shopping, dining and entertainment district; and Wishing Star Park, a recreational area with peaceful gardens and a glittering lake. The resort’s hotels are the elegant, 420-room Shanghai Disneyland Hotel and the playful, 800-room Toy Story Hotel. The Walt Disney Company and Shanghai Shendi Group have joined together to invest in Shanghai Disney Resort. As part of the agreement, two owner companies were formed with Shanghai Shendi Group holding 57% of the shares and Disney holding the remaining 43% of shares. Shanghai Shendi Group Co., Ltd. is a 100% state-owned joint venture investment holding company formed by three sponsors - Shanghai Lujiazui Group Co., Ltd., Shanghai Radio, Film and Television Development Co., Ltd., and Jinjiang International Group Holding Company. Shanghai Shendi Group Co., Ltd. is involved in project investment, construction, and operation through two full subsidiaries: Shanghai Shendi Resort Development Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Shendi Construction Co., Ltd. For information about Shanghai Disney Resort: Please visit the official website (http://www.shanghaidisneyresort.com/) Park Map

Thunderhead is a top ten woodie?!?!?

I think you're confused. I'm pretty sure he works for Cedar Fair, so he does get into Knott's for free.

Hey everyone! I know I've posted about this and emailed it out, but I keep getting the same question over and over, so here it is one more time... West Coast Bash tickets are on sale now ONLY for Club TPR Members. Club TPR Members can purchase as many tickets as they would like for their guests. YOUR GUESTS DO NOT HAVE TO BE MEMBERS OF CLUB TPR OR THE TPR FORUM. When general ticket sales open, you will need to be a member of Club TPR or TPR's Forum to purchase tickets. YOUR GUESTS DO NOT NEED TO BE MEMBERS OF EITHER. You cannot buy a ticket for someone who has been banned or blocked from TPR. I'm not sure why this is so confusing for so many people, but hey, I realize we are declining into an Idiocracy humanity so none of this should surprise me.

This discussion right here is why I cannot stand going to Disneyland. It's so nice being out here in Orlando when 99.9% of the people you run into are visiting the parks for the first time and aren't pretending to be some sort of stupid know-it-all about the parks. They are just happy to be there and appreciative for what everything is. They aren't complaining about a broken door, they aren't trying to one-up each other with some sort of pointless Disney factoid that makes them feel better about their pathetic insecurities, they are just there to enjoy the parks. Yes, they are dumb tourists, but that's WAAAAAY better than being some self-entitled obnoxious Californian Disney fanboy. Thank you dylanreich for reminding me why I don't miss west coast Disney in any way at all.

Yeah, that's about right! lol But you have to remember that WDW operates VERY differently from most normal parks. First of all, the attractions that people will want to ride most ARE open. Secondly, almost NOBODY pays "ticket booth prices" at WDW. The majority of people are on some sort of length-of-stay pass which means every day you add on to your Disney stay, your average daily cost goes way down. After four days, it usually costs about $10 per day to stay longer on Disney property. So when you look at it that way, you're getting a park for ten bucks, and getting to ride Tower, Coaster, Mania, Star Tours, and GMR for ten bucks is a pretty damn good deal!

I would be shocked if it's still there with the future changes.

I was just about to say the same thing!

Well, maybe the only people who complain about it are people who like really, really enjoyed it. Like I said, die-hard Disney dorks that give a crap. I'll bet if you polled most people that rode it when it worked, most people didn't notice. I think it's great that *YOU* liked it, but businesses aren't going to shift their resources based on *YOUR* personal preferences. The more people would understand this way of thinking, the less annoying California Disney fanboys would be.

Ugh, I wish people would stop going on about the Indy door. It's like the annoying people who always complain about Everest's Yeti. The biggest issue about the door is that most people didn't even notice it, nor did they care. The only people complaining about it are die-hard Disney dorks almost looking to brag that they "know" about the door to make them feel like they are more in the know about pointless Disney Parks trivia that no one really cares about. Seriously, I think I rode Indy a dozen or so times when it first opened until someone pointed it out to me. I *NEVER* even noticed it! lol Tokyo's version doesn't have it, and guess what, NO ONE has ever mentioned that the ride suffers from not having it. So like the Yeti, the flaw here isn't that they haven't fixed it, the flaw is in the actual design that no one notices or cares. Even when the Yeti was fully functional, you zoomed by it so quickly that so many people either missed it or didn't even notice that it had elaborate animation. Why spend the money to fix something that no one will notice? Both effects are a "missed opportunity" that you can only hope that designers benefit by learning from, and the next time they design a ride, they think about examples like this before they make the same mistake again.