robbalvey

What keeps it from flying off that end spike?

You're also making the assumption that the perks we listed are the ONLY benefits we are going to offer...almost as though our "hey check this out and give us your feedback" post was actually our "we are announcing this and here is the final deal" post. I totally respect and want feedback and opinions, ABSOLUTELY! And we are already making changes to this program based on a lot of the input we have received. I guess what I don't understand is your multiple responses saying the same things over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again and again and again and again and again when I've told you, Elissa has told, other members have told that we have HEARD you! And I'm actually assuming that when we release the final list of benefits, there might actually be something else on there that might interest you more than what we initially posted. And you know, there almost might not be, but I can tell you that we WILL expand our list of benefits. We have heard your thoughts and opinions on this Tomi, absolutely we have. And we will hopefully be addressing some of them, too. --Robb

^ Oh, c'mon! You fit the bill PERFECTLY!!!

^ I like this guy. We need to keep him around.

Don't forget to unwrap your present! http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=28 If you haven't downloaded it yet, it's still there waiting for you!!! --Robb

I just *barely* had Creepy Crawlers. I was a kid during the small two year window where Mattel was trying to revive the product line after the original was deemed "unsafe" with the "Creepy Crawlers Thingmaker II" which didn't go over so well and then the toy was shelved until the early 90s when ToyMax bought the rights from Mattel. I loved it! I remember being so disappointed when I was told you could no longer get goop for it. --Robb The very short lived Thingmaker II.

I was just looking through some of our past trip reports and I ran across this Flowrider video from our Cruise last Christmas. Man I can't wait to do the Flowrider on Royal Caribbean again in March!!! --Robb

Here are the past few years' rankings for OzCat: 21 16 16 15 14 14 9

Also looking at the statistics of GCI coasters, since Elissa wasn't actually judging Prowler as some totally insane, whacked out midwest nutjobs seem to be trying to convice her of, there is something very interesting about their rides that I notice. It almost seems like whatever "last year's higher ranking GCI coaster was" is getting cannibalized by "this year's higher ranking GCI." It's almost like a new one opens, everyone rides it, loves it, but then seems to forget that they loved it by the next year when they've ridden the new one. I'm not sure I'm explaining this well, but just look at the rankings of coasters like Kentucky Rumbler, Troy, Thunderbird, Renegade, Lightning Racer, and even Ozark Wildcat. They all started out in the top 20 and then dropped. But to be honest, I think most of those coasters ride just as good as they do today and they did when they were built. So why the drop in ranking? The only one that seems to have had staying power is Thunderhead. Then look at some of the older CCI's and a few other coasters - Rampage, Phoenix, The Raven, Tremors, and even a coaster like Timber Terror. While they too have also slipped, some of them have slipped, come back up again, and held onto their ranking. I can't imagine that a coaster like Kentucky Rumbler has gone down in quality. That ride is awesome! It's not like GCI has had a GhostRider where a once great coaster has turned into a rough pile of crap. I too expect a drop in Prowler next year (and probably Plohn's El Toro too) but I figure their spots will be replaced by Efteling's new woodie... --Robb

Oh dear...

Well, I know we don't have that many...BUT...each year we keep adding more and more... We did do Behemoth Bash & a Hersheypark day in 2008. We opened up our Texas days in 2009. We had our first Bay Area Bash in 2009. And we are planning at least one Mid-West, one East Coast, and one UK event for 2010 in addition to West Coast Bash & Bay Area Bash. --Robb

I rode the one at Europa and it felt very much like a roller skater. Basically a really nice, smooth coaster for kids. Not as big as a mine train and not as small as an oval little kiddie coaster. Wasn't anything amazing, but it's great for kids. --Robb

^ TPR is in no way in danger of closing and I really hope no one thinks that is the reason we are doing this. A paid TPR membership has been something we have been thinking about for well over a year. TPR as a community is huge now and there is no reason why our members shouldn't be albe to participate in some park sponsored events or park discounts, extra perks, etc. But the reality is that most parks won't extend an invite or many of those offers to a site for free or that practically give them away. Because if that was the case then anyone can pretty much print out a "free coupon" that can allow them quite a few discounts and entrance to special events. That kind of cannibalizes the relationships the parks have with other groups they are partnered with for promotions. I have already received emails from parks that are happy to see that we aren't taking the route of underselling our membership to be the "cheapest" but instead to offer something really compelling. And we're not done. What you see on page 1 is our "start." I have a feeling once we announce what parks we will be able to offer events and discounts to no one will question the price. And yes, I've already heard back from international parks. My goal is to have this appeal to everyone. And that's why we posted this thread in the first place. Put the idea out there and see what people want. And that's what we'll end up giving you. --Robb "We would like TPR club members, premium members, spongebathers, whatever, to be able to attend 2010 park sponsored events." Alvey

^ Yes, it's been moved around the kiddie area and re-themed like 4 times! I rode it as the "Clown Coaster" in the 80s. --Robb

Interesting...because the "idea" is EXACTLY the same, just with a different name. I just don't understand why people don't seem to believe me that this WON'T create any sort of "elitest" or "clique" within TPR when there are ALREADY EIGHTEEN PRIVATE FORUMS BASED ON AN UPCHARGE SERVICE TPR OFFERS! And this has been going on for nearly five years now! I mean, let's just say we started calling all of our trip participants "TPR Trippers" and they all get their private forum. Hey, guess what? WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT FOR FIVE YEARS!!! What I'm really just trying to get through to everyone is this - Stop focusing on the "clique" or what you think might become of this, and focus on what we have offered. Don't you WANT your TPR membership to get you into events like HoliWood Nights? Wouldn't that be a great perk of being a TPR member? That's what we are offering. Extra perks and bonuses for TPR members. Not a TPR Clique. How is that ANY different than any other label that people think will create a special group? We could call it "TPR Spongebathers" and you'd STILL have some people who would think that the non-spongebathers are some sort of second class member. Quite honestly, if we move forward with this, you all will just have to trust us that we won't f**k it up. I mean, have we ever done something with the site that wasn't well thought out and produced of high quality? --Robb

And what I want to keep making sure everyone understands is that we would NOT be turnin TPR into a "Paid Site" and what we are proposing will simply be "in addition" to what you are already familiar with. The more and more I think about it, I feel that "Club TPR" is a much better name for this than a "Premium Member." Because it will, for the most part, live as it's own entity, much like the TPR trips do each year, so perhaps it having it's own name is the best idea. I do think what I am most impressed with is that in just a short 24 hours we have been able to get feedback from 500 members during a holiday period where many people are out on vacation. That impresses me and speaks volumes for this group. I can't thank you guys enough for your input! --Robb

Agreed. The only thing I can even think of that comes close to an epic fail of that financial magnatude in the past 10 years for a single park or project is the whole Geuaga Lake -> Six Flags Ohio -> Six Flags Worlds of Adventure -> Geauga Lake -> Empty lot blunder. But I have a feeling all the parties involved did a bit better financially in raping Geuaga Lake than the people involved with Hard Rock Park did. --Robb

Take this as a bit of constructive criticism but I wish I knew if I should be taking this poll seriously or not. Your categories and at a "quick glance" makes this look like a pretty decent, serious poll but when I read the text and see things like " This is a light-hearted contest - it is by no means supposed to be a representation of the actual “bests” of the decade" it's a little confusing. TPR gets behind the Mitch Hawker poll because it's a well thought out, well managed poll and it's goal is very clear as to what it's supposed to be. I'm not sure I can get behind a poll like this because I can't tell if you really want this to be a poll that fans and industry professionals take seriously, or if it's more of a joke. Your information is a little contradicting. And before I participate, I would like to know how you arrive at your results. Is it a "most votes wins" meaning that do 500 people from Ohio who vote for Millennium Force but haven't ridden GeForce outweigh the 100 riders who vote Expedition GeForce over MF? I'm only asking because I have no idea how to react to this poll or what to think of it. Other than you tell me the end result doesn't actually represent what this poll is supposed to highlight. --Robb "I'm confused." Alvey

^ Understood

Yes. However I don't think it's the end-all, be-all solution to some of the Windows XP/Vista problems people have been having. It's a worthwhile improvement, yes, but not as significant as I was led to believe. I like it, but don't have the urge to make sweet, sweet love to it. --Robb

If you were allowed to ride it with her, we would totally be selling her to everyone at the event. Unfortunatley, adults are not allowed on Percy...AT ALL. Not even if you're with a kid. I haven't even been on that coaster since I was a kid! I actually don't know of anyone, outside of people who work at the park and have to do a safety ride, that have actually been on that coaster, unless they rode it when they were children. --Robb

Agreed! It's also worth pointing out that Intamin has only made 4 of their plug & play woodies and they are all in the top 15! --Robb

I think the "average age of the TPR member" versus the "average age of the TPR member who posts on the forum regularly" may be two different numbers. While I'd say the average age of our forum posters is between 22 and 25, I'd say the average age of members we have on TPR trips is probably closer to 30. This tells me that the are a lot of older members out there who just don't have as much time as our younger members to dedicate writing on the forum as frequently. --Robb

We posted what we would be offering on the front page of this thread: That is already *LOT* more than any other online website offers to their premium members. And keep in mind this is by no means a "final list." I've already gotten a number of responses back from several parks, both US and international who are interested in participating in this with us. I think when we are able to announce the final details, the $40 annual fee will be a no-brainer. --Robb