robbalvey

^ From what I understand it's a requirement by their version of OSHA. In case the ride comes to a stop you need to be able to get to the train quickly and evacuate. The only place where you don't see the catwalks is during an inversion or on an inverted coaster. But I believe pretty much ALL coasters in Japan have the catwalks going all the way around. There are a few exceptions I've seen. --Robb

Hey everybody! This thread is simple! Rather than having a million little threads about everything that goes on at Legoland Florida (formerly Cypress Gardens), this thread is designed to consolidate it all into one user-friendly thread. Feel free to use it to post updates, trip reports, questions, comments, and of course, general discussion. For pictures and videos of the park as well as past updates, see: TPR's Park Index Cypress Gardens Page. TPR's Park Index Legoland Florida Page Legoland Florida’s Official Website Below are some links to past updates from the park, you may be interested in. Enjoy! --Robb _____________________________________________________ 2009 September 23rd, 2009 - Cypress gardens closes for good 2010 January 15th, 2010 - Merlin Entertainment purchases Cypress Gardens January 20th, 2010 - Legoland Florida officially announced October 22nd, 2010 - Legoland announces ride names and themed areas 2011 September 28th, 2011 - TPR attends Media Preview Day November 29th, 2011 - Legoland Water Park announced! Opens in Summer 2012! December 7th, 2011 - LEGO Christmas tree lit for first ever Christmas Bricktacular December 28th, 2011 - Park closed to capacity on December 28th, 2011 2012 January 19th, 2012 - Legoland Florida's General Manager responds to Obama's Executive Order on Tourism January 19th, 2012 - Legoland Florida's releases 2012 calendar of events March 31st, 2012 - HUGE photo report of Greenhouse media event & more! April 3rd, 2012 - Legoland Water Park gets filled with water! May 8th, 2012 - Legoland Water Park lifeguards undergo training May 11th, 2012 - Legoland develops "Roller Coaster Readiness Program" May 28th, 2012 - Legoland Water Park Media Preview & Grand Opening Report! July 18th, 2012 - Legoland Florida is NOT raising ticket prices amidst local competition August 18th, 2012 - Rumors of a new Pirate themed area for the 2013 season September 4th, 2012 - Park teases Star Wars expansion to be announced soon September 7th, 2012 - Park announces the LEGO Star Wars Miniland Expansion! October 19th, 2012 - LEGO Star Wars Miniland to open on November 9th! October 24th, 2012 - LEGO Star Wars Miniland models arrive at the park! November 9th, 2012 - LEGO Star Wars Miniland now open! Media day photos! 2013 January 10th, 2012 - Expansion in the works, though theme is under wraps March 19th, 2013 - World of Chima Splash Battle Ride Announced May 15th, 2013 - World of Chima opening on July 3rd, 2013! June 17th, 2013 - LEGO World of Chima boat christened for first run July 2nd, 2013 - LEGO World of Chima Media Event Coverage! October 4th, 2013 - DUPLO Valley toddler area expansion coming in 2014! November 21st, 2013 - Groundbreaking for Legoland Hotel, Mini-llenium Flyers trains added to Coastersaurus 2014 February 1st, 2014 - Preview of The Lego Movie at Legoland! May 22nd, 2014 - Legoland opens Duplo Valley! December 6th, 2014 - Legoland kicks off Christmas Bricktacular! December 7th, 2014 - Legoland kicks off Christmas Bricktacular! 2015 January 16th, 2015 - Opening date set for Legoland Hotel 2016 March 15th, 2016 - Improvements announced for 2016-2017 2017 September 19th, 2017 - The Great LEGO Race VR Coaster coming to Legoland! 2018 March 25th, 2018 - The Great LEGO Race VR Coaster opening day TR! May 5th, 2018 - LEGO Star Wars Days event photo report posted! May 10th, 2018 - THE LEGO MOVIE WORLD announced for Spring 2019! October 15th, 2018 - THE LEGO MOVIE WORLD details announced! November 20th, 2018 - Third on-site hotel announced for Legoland Florida! 2019 January 21st, 2019 - Pirate Island Hotel opening in Spring 2020 February 15th, 2019 - THE LEGO MOVIE WORLD opens on March 27th, 2019! 2020 January 28th, 2020 - LEGO Ninjago Days photo report posted! October 19th, 2020 - Legoland 10th anniversary plans announced! 2021 January 5th, 2021 - Shade structures coming to Miniland in Summer 2021! February 25th, 2021 - Peppa Pig miniature theme park announced for 2022! 2025 March 25th, 2025 - New indoor coaster announced for 2026! July 15th, 2025 - Space coaster officially announced for 2026! _____________________________________________________ Original Post: http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/l ... ses_092309

Today was our first day in Northern Japan! Sapporo! "Before doing any credit whoring I need a chicken Shaka Shaka appetizer!" "Hey Rich! How's it going?" Our first credit whore stop in the Sapporo area...Teine Olympia! Everyone pack into the trolley that goes to the rides section of the park! Oooh! Another cute Jet Coaster! Ok everyone, let's get whorish on this place! Next up was this little mouse coaster. Two thumbs up from Mr. Credit Whore! Another credit for KidTums. Bonus alpine slide! More Trains! That is where we need to go! Jeff remembers Col. Sanders when he was just a baby! Powered coaster credit! Even KidTums got to ride! The star attraction at Maruyama Kidland was the Togo looping AND corkscrew mouse! It was actually AWESOME! I bet every video game geek wants to go here! Why spend time playing with any other toy when all you need is blow-up giraffe on a leash! Hello next train of the day! Next up was Hokkaido Greenland, sister park of Mitsui Greenland in Southern Japan. Giant A$$ Ferris Wheel! I'm not sure what this is, but it's attacking KidTums! The loop screw was pretty terrible. Seriously it was bad...like taking a dump in a squat toilet bad! And don't we all look cute crammed into the kiddie coaster? Ahh, good 'ol Zamperla Roto Shake. Don't see these very often! (Knott's fanboys get your sad face on!) Peeing instructions: 1. Open Lid. 2. Let it fly! KidTums ended up getting five credits today! This coaster had a very odd "conveyor belt" lift hill. It was like they took left over pieces from the log flume next door to make this ride! TPR Takeover of the mini cars!!! "Your target enemy? Elissa!!!" This mean train will take us to Yakitori! Mmmm...yakitori is better than "normal" sex. OMFG AWESOME!!! The ONLY way I'll eat asparagus...wrapped in freaking BACON! Woah! Woah! Woah! Woah!!!!! Woah! Stop everything! Put down your drink. Look at the monitor. Fixate on it. Just LOOK! Do you see what I'm seeing? That is right...ELISSA IS EATING NORMAL FOOD! The yakitori is amazing but we STRONGLY reccomend staying away from the pork rectum! (it's a bit tough) "Beer and Yakitory makes me easily forget about women!" KidTums gets the miso grilled rice ball! This Yakitori place is awesome! Just as good as the one we ate at in Shibuya! Next up...Rusutsu Resort and our last day in Japan.... --Robb

Two SFOG Videos posted today: Goliath: [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=golaith_sfog_tnuy[/coastertube] Cyclone: [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=cyclone_sfog_pfei[/coastertube] Enjoy! --Robb

Yes, please. It's honestly quite annoying that you keep barking at us to "go here next!" "go there next!" You know, it takes a *LOT* of time to do a photo update and even more to do a video update. I will get to them all eventually. Please just be patient. Thank you. --Robb ps. If you looked at our FaceBook page you might have seen some of these photos already!

^ THAT...is awesome! Look for a new HHN update later today! --Robb

I've merged the two KI threads together. I'm not sure we need a seperate thread discussing Haunt at KI. It can be discussed here and when there is something significant posted, please inform one of the mods to make a change to the topic sub-title. --Robb

Michael, You guys got really, REALLY lucky then! We have visited the parks 19 times now and have only seen the wait times you describe twice. (Once due to a typhoon approaching!) It is pretty much the "norm" for Tokyo Disney to have 60 to 180 min wait times for major attractions during the peak hours of the day. --Robb

OMG! The "Recently Dead Celebrities" are awesome!!! What a great idea. I'm impressed that KI had the balls to do something like this. One display shows Farrah Fawcett's skeleton in her signature pose. --Robb

^ Only 7? --Robb

There is lots of awesomeness in this trip report...somewhere...I'm sure its there. --Robb

And now...for even MORE Tokyo Disney!!! Turtle Talk is coming soon to DisneySea. Wow! Like REAL soon! It soft opened today! The show itself is exactly the same (except in Japanese of course), but what was amazing is that they actually gave it a fairly detailed "back story." In this version the premise is (since it's inside the giant ship) that the people who created the Columbia ship have developed a special porthole that looks into the ocean. There are newsclippings on the queue walls and more backstory about how they invented the hyrophone and how it ties into the ship, etc, etc... Here some of the pictures they fabricated for the queue. Turtle Talk "mock" construction update! You don't often get days like this at Tokyo Disney where the wait times are only 25 min! My fourth favorite flavor behind black pepper, curry, strawberry, honey...wait that's five! Oh hell, I like them all! The Indy queue at Tokyo DisneySea is amazing. Attention to freakin' DETAIL!!! The best part about Tokyo's Indy... "I'm Paco." Jock Strap or Naan Bread... You decide! Ewwww... You just ate a jock strap! "Welcome Home!" Amazing hotel. Here's the deal...I really don't like Pooh...the character that is...honestly can't stand him. BUT...this ride is AMAZING! This is seriously one of the best "non roller coaster" rides I've ever been on! Engrish even at Tokyo Disney! It's a completely trackless ride system and it does things that leave you wet most of the day. Oooh! New popcorn flavor! Well we certainly aren't in California! My favorite location...hands down! The Japanese start camping out for parades VERY early. It's awesome. They all put down their little mats and make sure they take up ONLY that amount of space. Everything is very orderly and polite. CONSTRUCTION UPDATE!!! Amazing food items are sold here. Pumpkin ice cream for the win! They have little awesome food all over both parks at Tokyo Disney. Big Thunder Mountain...yup! On ride photos...ooooh. OMG! Roller coaster track! OMG! WATCH OUT FOR THAT GOAT!!! Sexy. The Japanese have a bizarre infatuation with Jack Sparrow. Yup, they build an entire ship! There really seems like there was no budget limit when it came to building DisneySea. The view as you walk under the hotel into the park. Just amazing. If I wasn't such an Epcot fanboy this would EASILY be the best theme park in the world! (And realistically, it probably is!) One more ride on Journey before we end our visit to Tokyo Disney. Mega Shark versus Giant Octopus!!! You can even by a miniature Journey ride vehicle! Did we mention how amazing this part of the park looks? Spectacular! TAKE THE TUNNEL!!! The floppy Gyoza buns are probably the most popular food item on the resort. This is actually a "short" line for the floppy Gyoza. This awesome Sea Salt ice cream comes served in 1/2 of Ariel's Bra. For those of you with kids, the restrooms come equiped with these "child seats" so they can watch you while you poo. All the toilets also have a "kids seat" on it. Why can't more American parks have stuff like this? And there is even a shelf (in addition to a hook) for you to put your stuff on while you do your buisness!(Yes, I realize this was the "toilet update" but sometimes it's just the little things about this park that make it awesome!) This makes Elissa horny. Swing KidTums! SWING!!! (PS. you can buy those Mickey train handles in the shops!) We found this awesome item in our hotel shop. "What flavor is it? It's DAMN HOT, that's what!" A double decker carousel in most other parks would be a really big deal, but at DisneySea, meh, it's a minor attraction. Camel Toe versus Green Genie...FIGHT! Scuttle's Scooters is a WIN with KidTums! It's pretty much "normal" popcorn, but it's still amazing! More random Journey photos. The elevator that takes you to the center of the earth. Inside said elevator. You do NOT want to mess with this guy! It's time for us to head to the airport and go to Northern Japan! Hey look! It's a monorail with AIR CONDITIONING!!! Hmm...I wonder which stop we need? Haneda Airport! New airport credit for us! Yes, you are seeing that correctly...that IS a Pokemon airplane! Too bad we're not taking that to Sapporo! These things were at the toy store in the airport. They are AWESOME! If you want to get the biggest TPR bag-o-crap you've ever seen...mail these to us!!! Screw Vinylmation! It's all about these Pop N' Step characters!!! Next stop...Northern Japan...SAPPORO!!! --Robb

I have mixed feelings about this... While I'm sad to see the ride go I have to say "Could this be a GOOD move for Six Flags?" In the Premiere days, they would just plop down multiple coasters at parks without a real sense of an idea of what the park "needs." Could it be that the new management is actually doing a bit more research and have found that SFKK "needs" more water park and less big coasters? However if the ride really does go to SFGAm that could really shut the door on that theory (unless of course Iron Wolf is being replaced.) During my last two visits to SFKK the water park was *packed* while the rides were mostly walk-ons with one train operations. --Robb

That is so great that it's already open! It was under construction when we were there in December and we are planning on getting back there once Oasis sets sail! --Robb "We really need a TPR cruise!" Alvey

Keep an eye out for the next issue of Nintendo Power for some great Blob coverage and a fantastic review!!!

Hey Pat! Thanks for the kind words. You need to post more! --Robb

There is no shooting in it at all. You don't even press a button on the flashlight. --Robb

To be quite honest, as a traditional "dark ride" is was pretty good. As a "dark ride with a gimmick" I didn't feel it stacked up to rides like Men in Black, Buzz Lightyear, Cartoon Spin, or Toy Story Mania. In fact, I would say that the ride is much more like "Cartoon Spin" than the others I mentioned in that the "gimmick" doesn't really make the ride any better, it's just there to give you something to do rather than it being just a normal ride through dark ride, but if you took the gimmick away, it would still stand on it's own. As far as the ride being "low tech" I would say that the sets were on par with what is seen on Roger Rabbit, Cat in the Hat, or some of the "better" traditional dark rides out there. IMO it's not worth the insane lines, but this is Tokyo Japan, you have to remember, and they line up like crazy for whatever the "new" thing is. They did the same thing when Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters opened up a few years ago. I remember standing in a FastPass line that started in Toon Town for that ride the year it opened! --Robb

Ok, let's take a break from the credit whoring for a little while and stick to Tokyo Disney Resort! We are back at Tokyo Disney! This looks oddly familiar. Well at least it's better than Florida's Stitch...but not by much! This and Black Pepper are my favorites! Don't make me have to choose! Can't do this in California! Vacation Ho! Totally awesome! The cosplay people are still everywhere! Hell exists even in Japan! Now it's time for the latest addition to Tokyo Disneyland - Monsters Inc. That is actually the line to get FastPasses! Thankfully since we are staying at the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel we got into the park early and didn't have to wait in it! Ok time to ride! See? We got our FastPasses nice and early! FastPass to the right...steerage to the left! The ride is simple...point your flashlight and stuff pops up! A carriage approaches... Sulley gives us the drill on what to do. (It's all in Japanese though!) Randall looks like he's up to no good. Shining my flashlight in Mike's face. He doesn't seem to mind. Sulley and his flashlight. I'm sure if I spoke Japanese this ride may make more sense! Roz all pissed off. Random monster. Randall trying to get Boo, or eat sushi, or something like that. Shining my flashlight at the Chinese Food makes some new characters appear. Dude pops out of the mailbox. Randall totally got pwned! Ahh, happy ending. (que happiness pie music) Hey! One more little dude pops out! The other ride vehicles. Roz giving us attitude. And this is the little guy you're supposed to find...we think! [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=monsters_inc_tdl_i76d[/coastertube] In less then 15 minutes of the park opening, the line was already up to two hours! The Fast Pass line gets so long that they actually need a cast member with a sign to tell people where the line ends. Just one hour after park opening and FastPasses were nearly sold out! That wraps up this Tokyo Disney installment. More Tokyo Disney will be posted soon and remember you can always check out more up to date updates on our FaceBook page: http://www.facebook.com/robbalvey --Robb

Our next day we did a little bit of credit whoring and MORE DISNEY!!! "All I want is coffee. Which one do you think is normal coffee???" Do NOT piss off this guy! I can think of a few TPR members who should go here! Holiday koala's! Awesome!!! Angry food!!! This is porn for Jeff Johnson. Follow that arrow and you will either find an amusement park or flying pink hippos! That elephant looks like he had one too many beers last night. Yay we found a park and no flying hippos. Constuction update of the new Intamin giga coaster going in here!!! Aha! So THIS is the name of the park! Yay! Jet Coaster! TAKE THE TUNNEL!!! Jeff Johnson does his Jesus impression. It's a pretty good impression...as it should be...since he used to hang out with the guy on a regular basis. Jolly...jolly...jolly! Everyone gets the powered credit...even KidTums! This fun house has seen better days. "Hey Kristen...get out and push!" We finished this park in 20 minutes... Back to the taxis! Let's go!!! Another train... Another taxi... Another park... "Hey Dan, is this an acceptable amount of wetness?" Ping pong machine...AWESOME!!! ATTACK of the GIANT A$$ PANDAS!!! We came in, got the credit, battled the giant A$$ pandas, and left. Next stop...BACK TO TOKYO DISNEYLAND. Remember! For live updates, add us as a friend on FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/robbalvey --Robb

^ Ahh... You are clever detective today! Now Mr. Super Sleuth who you think the other glasses belong to?

We have arrived at TOKYO DISNEYLAND!!! Let me introduce you to our "home" for the next three nights.. That's right! It's the brand new "Tokyo Disneyland Hotel!" We are doing TDL in STYLE!!! Let's go check out the best "Disneyland" in the world! Upon entering the park, KidTums instantly gets converted into a princess! Tokyo Disneyland always has characters in the main entrance area. No having to go to Toon Town, no having to wait for anyone, *right* when you enter the park, they are there. That's right bitches! We are back at Tokyo Disneyland! New hotness. Old and busted. Kick A$$ waffles! Now THAT is a lot of waffle machines! Godly. Mickey Monorail. Can you find the hidden Mickey in this picture? It sure will be difficult to find! Yay! We made it to Universal Studios! Oh, wait... The second best theme park in the world! (Sorry, I'm still an Epcot fanboy!) "I will take the cart, please." "Hey Dan, is this the volcano you were talking about?" Fire, Fire Everywhere, we're gotta get burned! No matter what anyone says, Aquatopia at night ROCKS!!! Pin Collectors rejoice! Tokyo Disney has a crap load of pins now. "I WILL SWALLOW YOUR SOUL! I WILL SWALLOW YOUR SOUL!!!" *MUCH* better than D23! Winnie the Cube. Yes, yes, we know! We are here. Our swanky posh home at night! This must be where they are hiding all those CDs. I'm not sure what this is, but it makes me nervous! Nectar of the gods! There it is! Do you see it? DO YOU? DO YOU SEE IT?!?!? Miles says he had only one. Do you believe him? I sure don't! This ride is the dogs bollocks! Just awesome... Yup, I pretty much feel the same way about this park! There's "Good Tower", "Bad Tower", "French Tower", and "Shiriki Tower." Do you know which is which? KidTums' very first "MySpace Photo!!! Remember! For live updates, add us as a friend on FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/robbalvey (We have just posted a VIDEO from Tokyo Disney!) --Robb

Yay! Someone got my movie quote!!!

Old and leathery. Kind of smelled a bit like smoke.

And now...for more CREDIT WHORING ACROSS JAPAN!!! We start our morning off with a "mini escalator credit!" This one can be found in Tokyo station. I'm gonna put this in my mouth! Another bullet train...another nap! We have made it to our next credit whore park... Suntopia World! This is the FIRST THING you see upon entering this park! Hmm...seems to be missing something... MUCH BETTER!!!! I gotta be honest, so far we've just seen statues of chicks! I'm loving this park!!! This could be the best coaster of the trip! It's Jeff Johnson The Ride! That sign says "Hey Jeff, how's your family doing? Been a long time...a REEEAL long time, but it's great to see you again!" You actually get to ride in a real Jeff Johnson! You all excited about riding Jeff Johnson The Ride? Wow Jeff Johnson The Ride is showing it's age! Bling Bling Jeff Johnson! The other coaster was powered. I don't count it as a credit, but what the hell...I'll ride it! THROUGH THE TREES!!! I'm not sure what the hell this is but anything with penguins and darth vader HAS to be awesome! Safari Jeep! This could be cool. "This year, each camper will stalk and kill his own bear in our private wildlife preserve." Some sort of walk through haunted house. Anyone want to jump in the goldfish infested pool? Seems like almost every Japanese small park has one of these "looper" rides. Taiko No Tatsujin RULES!!! There is something very "Laughlin" about this photo. Park map! The looping coaster had a Japanese cloaking device. It was gone the whole day! Yay! More capsule machines! The highlight of the park was that you can BUY these giant A$$ bugs and bring then home with you! I'm not sure what this is, but it makes me nervous! This awesome game was like a "claw game" but here there is scissors abs string and you had to try carefully to cut the string! "Yeah, like that will ever happen!" Back on the bullet train...next stop...Tokyo Disneyland!!! Remember! For live updates, add us as a friend on FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/robbalvey (We have just posted more photos from Tokyo Disney!)