robbalvey

^ Run down? Not at all! PortAventura is one of the nicest parks in Europe. Did you watch the video? Did it look run down at all to you? --Robb

Hey everyone! Roller Coasters in the RAW Vol 3 is almost here, but we do need some additional footage. If you have or know anyone that has footage of the following coasters, please let me know! - Wacky Soap Box Racers - Elitch's original Mr. Twister - Texas Tornado (Morcambe, UK) - Phantasialand's Grand Canyon Bahn - Joyland's Roller Coaster - Idora Park's Wildcat - CNE Flyer - Katapult - Mountain Flyer - Zingo - Steel Phantom - Screechin' Eagle (Americana) - Shock Wave (SFGam) We are looking for offride footage and complete POV's. The footage also needs to be in a high quality (looks good on a TV) and not compressed for web. If you have good footage of any of these rides, email me ASAP at robbalvey@aol.com Thank you! --Robb

I am totally voting for Janice! (Elissa's Mom!)

They will not be coming up with a GBA adapter and it really hasn't been receiving that much criticism for not having it. --Robb

I hope this doesn't come off a rude or anything, but I think we've probably answered about 20 posts in the last couple of months with tips on So Cal parks. Here's a few that might help you out: http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=49655&highlight=cal+help http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=49992&highlight=california+help http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=47351&highlight=california+help http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=49839&highlight=california http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=49839&highlight=california http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=49421&highlight=california http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=48263&highlight=california http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=42537&highlight=california http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=42015&highlight=california

^ It will be coming this week! --Robb

^ Yes, Chris. They are correct. It may sound insane, but this is actually happening! Why would a park want to draw more attention to a potential flaw in the design of the ride? Seriously, please tell me what the point would be? To set a bunch of coaster enthusiasts who pretend to know everything about the engineering of a ride at ease? There is no good reason for the park to create a press release around something that could generate "bad press." The interesting thing about this is that I would say this is "par for the course" for most projects of this caliber. What many of you have to realize as this is far more "visible" because the park is open year round. I can tell you with confidence that almost ever major coaster has some sort of issues that need to be resolved mid-project it's just that we don't hear about many of them because most parks do construction during off-season closed periods, or many times the construction isn't smack in the middle of the park! IMO, this doesn't seem like that major of a delay and in my years of watching rides go up I've seen FAR worse things happen.... Superman: The Escape delayed a year. Mr. Freeze and Chiller delayed a year. Splash Mountain at Disneyland delayed six months. Test Track delayed, what...TWO years??? This is nothing... --Robb

Sorry, dude, I'm not able to fulfill a personal request of sending a POV because if I did that I'd be doing nothing but emailing everyone POVs all day long! BUT, like Dave said above, Dragon Khan is available on Roller Coasters in the RAW Vol 2 which you can download to your iPhone/iPod/MP4 player from the TPR store here: http://www.themeparkreview.com/store/index.php?categoryID=10

Awesome! If you want to post any more teasers, I'm sure we all won't mind! --Robb ps. Here is Jeremy's trailer again if you've missed it: [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=H2traileryoutube_f7wt[/coastertube]

I've re-compressed a higher res and a 16x9 version of our PortAventura video. This is probably my favorite segment I've done for our recent DVDs (Vol 9, 10, 11). Not sure why, it just came out REALLY well. The song fits, the coaster footage was great, and I think it shows off what a TPR trip is like! Lots of fun, friends, and coasters! Enjoy! [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=portaventura_xw6s[/coastertube]ps. And don't forget, if you want to help keep TPR ad-free pick up a couple of our DVDs: http://www.themeparkreview.com/store/

It's really awesome. Go ride it. Take pictures. Do a report. 'Nuff said! --Robb

The interesting thing about this picture: It looks like the train is there. When we were there in 2007 I was pretty sure the train was GONE. So perhaps they may have gotten it back up and running then sold it? Not sure. Speaking of closed Japanese shuttle loops, anyone know what ever happened to the one at Yokohama Dreamland: --Robb

It depends on what is worth more to you - $62 or your time. If you go on a busy day, that $62 could save you HOURS of waiting in line and mean you get multiple rides on each coaster as opposed to just maybe one. --Robb

^ That's kind of my problem with Trip Advisor....I don't think most people are "constructive" they just want to complain or bash. And personally when I read a review like that I believe it's exaggerated. --Robb

The orignal Nintendo DS was released in 2004, the DS Lite came out in 2006, which was exactly the same system as the DS just "sexier." The DSi is basically a DS with a few added features minus the GBA cartridge port. It's the first "new hardward" since the DS first came out 5 years ago, and technically it's not really "new" just an upgrade. All your Nintendo DS games will play on your DSi. The DS has already had a lifespan of 5 years and I'm sure the DSi will prolong that at least another 2-3 years before we'll see any "new" hardware from Nintendo. I don't agree that Nintendo releases new hardware too quickly. In fact, as a developer I'd say they don't release new hardware quick enough! --Robb

It reads more like a GP that has a little bit of enthusaist information than it does like someone who actually has any idea what they are talking about. Personally I don't put much weight into the reviews on Trip Advisor. I've found that most of the reviews are people who just want to bitch about something. I can tell you that we have stayed at some hotels that were rated "terrible" on Trip Advisor which turned out to be just fine. --Robb

Like Elissa, the only ones I have are: - Six Flags - Universal Orlando - Busch / Sea World Florida - WDW 10-day park hopper (if that counts!) I have had in the past: - Six Flags - Universal Orlando - Universal Hollywood - Busch / Sea World Florida - Paramount - Walibi - Disney Florida - Disney California - Cedar Fair - Disneyland Paris - Alton Towers - Hersheypark - Knott's Berry Farm (Pre-Cedar Fair) Funny thing is, I only have a pass to one of my three major local parks! I haven't had a Disneyland pass since 2002 or a Knott's (Cedar Fair) pass since 2003. --Robb

^^ Yes, watch the documentary! Your question will be answered! Also, Tyler...with all those photos of the Wheelie, did you not get a picture of the awesome big sign that is outside of it? Personally I think without a shot of the Wheelie sign your update and video is an epic fail! --Robb

OMG! That thing is insanely huge! --Robb

I also want to point out that in Window's original post about driving in So Cal that he specifically asked "Is it as easy as in Florida?" and some of my initial responses have been about that, but others have drifted off to taking about driving in parts of the use where THEY live, but not actually contributing any help to which the original poster was requesting. I think Terrance's post was right on the money. Miami drivers are the closest thing I've seen to LA Drivers. But if you're comparing Orlando to Los Angeles, it's a VERY different world out there. I find Orlando (and most of Florida outside of Miami for that matter) drivers to be courteous, laid back, and respectful of others on the road. If that is what your experience is driving in the US, then be prepared for driving in So Cal to be very different because I don't feel that most Los Angeles drivers display any of those traits. --Robb

No offense dude, but your only 24 years old. That means you moved out of California when you were 17 and barely driving in So Cal on a regular basis. Having driven in California for the past 20 out of 23 years of my life (with the other three years being on the East Coast) I can say with absolute confidence that California drivers are anything BUT "wonderful." --Robb

Please ask this question in our general SFMM discussion thread. This thread is about Terminator. --Robb

Hey everyone! New Fireball photos in from Martin & Vleminckx! Here is what they told me about the current status of the woodie: As today all structural is install and 95% of the track is completed. All mechanical components are install. The control installation is going very well. If weather permit we should start testing the Coaster on April 25 or even before. A nice overview of Fireball. It's looking AWESOME! (Is that the Megalite I see in the right hand side of the photo?) Nerd Shot! Parts of this ride are looking very "Voyage-like" Awesome looking drop! Duck your head! Lots of track has been laid down already. If you are on our Shanghai 2009 TPR trip you will get to ride this!

We've had several of them in the office for months. They really are a great little system! I think everyone's biggest issue is the lack of GBA support, but it makes sense as Nintendo wants to transition away from GBA and move forward on the DS. I think the additional wi-fi capabilities could be very cool and the addition of the DSi store will be cool for new downloadable games at a cheap price. In short, it's a very cool system and a really nice "upgrade" to the original DS. --Robb

^ Apparently it was put there to block out noise. Much like the shields that are found on California Screamin' --Robb