Philrad71

^ & ^^ Wow...sorry to hear of both plights. Jmicha - that sounds like quite a scary accident...hopefully, everyone was okay? I know that feeling as I got t-boned a few years ago by a teen girl talking on her cell phone while driving. She initially stopped at the stop sign (I had right of way) and then she just gunned it and plowed right into the passenger side of my Saturn - scared the crap out of me! But luckily we both walked away from it unharmed (cars were a different story). Back to IOA...after reading on here about DD possibly being down and HRRR having some technical issues, I am not as devastated about missing it. Just another reason to go back to Florida in 2011! Similar to you missing out on Kraken, I also missed out on Kumba at BGT during my visit a few years ago when they were giving him a new paint job. After hearing and reading about all of the great reviews for Kumba and Manta, I am super-psyched to get a chance to ride both in a few weeks! I'll keep the fingers crossed that both are up & running!

As much as I hate the thought, it looks like I won't be hitting up this park during my January visit after all. At first, I was concerned about DD not being open, but after figuring out finances and purchasing a four day 'Magic Your Way' ticket and a BGT/Sea World combo, I simply won't have the time or money for Universal/IOA. Guess I'm just gonna have to save my money for 2011 and come back when both Harry Potter and DD are open!

I would have to agree with Roller Soaker...especially now that they have the queue area for the Lazy River under part of the ride. That gives the riders a pretty easy target for the water drop when the queue is full! Even though the capacity for the ride is simply awful, it is still a great family ride on a hot day. There was a kid there last year that told us he had been there for three hours hitting people with a water cannon...he could have cared less about the other rides and coasters!

^ This is exactly what I didn't want...a flame war. Let's just drop this at once and say we have a difference of opinion and leave it that peacefully, okay? It's fine that we agree to disagree, but insulting someone's intelligence because you don't agree with their opinion is simply not a nice thing to do.

Okay, maybe I should rephrase that......everything else is simply speculation muddled with the typical "fear of change" that a lot of Conservative Americans seem to have embedded in their minds. There...fixed! I could give a few examples just by stuff I have read in this thread and conversations I have had with friends, relatives, and co-workers, but I am not a preacher, nor am I going to argue. I have stated my thoughts and opinion on the subject and will let it go at that!

While I don't live there to know about every day life, I did not see having the smoke (coffee) shops in Amsterdam as being a problem, but more of an accepted culture. The ingestion of marijuana was in a controlled, casual environment. I had to think to myself...why couldn't they have something similar in America? Would it really be that hard to control it in this type of environment? If it really was that big of a problem and was difficult to control, do you think it would still be legal there??? I would really love to hear from some folks from the Netherlands post on this topic to gain a more realistic approach...everything else is simply speculation muddled with the typical "fear of change" that most Americans seem to have embedded in their minds.

Great video! Can't wait to be there in about four weeks...too bad that I will miss Polar Express, but I'm pretty darn excited about Manta and Kraken!

Hehe...nice report, Chuck! I was thinking of posting something similar. We have started collecting theme park ornaments as well as one from every other place we visit. We are running out of room for ornaments on the tree! BTW...our cats also think that sleeping under the Christmas tree is the greatest thing since sliced bread! Merry Christmas!

I was planning on going to IOA the week of the 18th. Are there specific dates to when the coasters will be down? I can't seem to find any info. This is what happened a few years ago when we went to Busch Gardens with Kumba...they were painting it so I never got a ride.

^ When I visited for Halloweekends, the wait was at least a half hour. Longest line I had seen for this ride in a while, but then again the park was packed that day because of the Christian rock concert. I did wait it out though as I wanted one last chance to ride it before it was removed. I agree that normally it had been a walk-on (or a very little line) for many years, especially once they got Power Tower. I'm still going to miss it!

Wow...it just seems so strange to see that pic with the DD tower gone. Although I didn't ride Demon Drop every year I was at CP, it will be etched in my mind forever as one of the very first thrill rides that I was absolutely terrified to ride during the opening year! Even though a lot of people bash it and the fact that we all have had a good laugh over it's relocation, it truly is sad to see it leaving the CP skyline. Some fun memories there...

My first thought was the Warrior song by Scandal too , then the Dokken song Dream Warrior from the Nightmare on Elm Street 3 soundtrack hit me: "We're the ride warriors!!!!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee2YFJKYF8Y&feature=related

^^Hmmm...I must have walked past Oktoberfest last year, but maybe I snubbed it because it didn't cater to beer drunks like myself! That really is too bad about the campground. We managed to find one about fifteen miles up the interstate last year, but the one next to the park was nice because they had shuttles and it was a nice, leisurely walk to the entrance. In today's economy, I would think that the campground might do better now, as not everyone has $200 per night to blow at an indoor waterpark resort...especially after an expensive day for a family at a theme park! As far as Demon vs. Vortex, I really enjoyed the old launch loopers so it is more of a sentimental thing for me, I guess. I wouldn't say that Vortex is a horrible coaster by any means, it is just your typical Arrow that has gotten rough over the years. I about got killed in that brake run area before the corkscrew & pretzel in seat 2! Talk about a sudden jolt that I wasn't expecting...ouch!

Good with beer..but then again, what isn't? Spicy Pretzel Mix Spray large oven roasting pan with Pam and add: 22 oz bag of mini pretzels 2 large bags of Gardetto's snack mix (or any snack mix - Gardetto's is best if you can find it!) 3/4 box of Cheez-It's 1/2 jar of dry roasted peanuts In a bowl stir & mix: 1-3/4 cup of oil 2 pkg of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix (dry) 2 tsp garlic salt 2 tsp cayenne pepper Pour oil/dressing mixture over pretzel mix and bake in oven at 200 degrees stirring every 15 minutes. Make sure the pretzel mix is well covered with the oil mixture as you stir it. Cool and store unused portions in a covered container.

Awesome! Three things I noticed: * Is it just me, or does that Sky Ride look to be really, really high up in the air? * Wonder why they got rid of the Oktoberfest, Safari Land and especially the campground? BOOO!!!!! * I'd take The Demon and it's kick-ass logo over Vortex any day of the week!

Thanks again for sharing, John! I bought my partner a book on the history of Cedar Point for his birthday - it has a lot of similar photos, plus the really old coasters and park layout. The Cyclone on the beach looked insane!!! And did you know about the Chinese drug den walk-through attraction? I noticed that it looks like Leap The Dips II is really going for a similar look to the original layout with the waterfalls in the middle of the drops and such. I think it is great that they are resurrecting a classic...still wish they could build a Cyclone coaster on the beach someday and bring back the Frontier Lift...and of course, the Hofbrau!!

Okay, I guess I can see them wanting to seperate themselves from Bud products...but beer altogether? EGADS...that would be a travesty!

Bills tickets are the cheapest in the league, I believe. Even with the crap that has been put on the field in the last ten years, they still sell out just about every home game. I can usually get tickets through work for $45 for 100 level (20-25 yard line) or the Van Miller suite seats for $120. Sure beats the $200+ per seat they want for the Toronto series games. Even with these cheap seats, I still can't justify paying that to watch what they put on the field - I did not even bother going to a game this year and I usually go to at least one. Just got tired of the mediocrity. Although, I will say that I am very happy that they finally got rid of Dick 'Skelator' Jauron and promoted Fewell. Great job in motivating the team to beat up on the Dolphins...it was nice to finally see some emotion and some smart, gutsy play calling! PS - I think the unlimited salary cap is about the stupidest idea ever...unless of course you're a Cowboys, Redskins, Giants, Jets or Patriots fan. I see this ruining football as salaries and caps are already way too high, especially for rookies. That is why the seats are so expensive...gotta pay those overpaid and (sometimes) under-achieving athletes!!!

Great name and all..one can only hope that they put eels, sharks and killer whales in the Rhine River at BGE and just drop a flying coaster right into the dang thing. That would be all fine and dandy in my book. The one thing I'm struggling with was the post above the announcement: What is wrong with focusing on free beer? It's beer....it's a delicious and FREE focus!!!!! It's like saying what is wrong with free sex or free cheese on a stick w/cheese dipping sauce! This comment and analogy...it, it, it...why, it just doesn't make any sense! PUHHLLLLEEEEAAASE bring back the free beer HappyGardensSeaBuschOnFireWorldCorp.Com...I don't care if it's Shamu pee in a bottle as long as it's at least 5% and has some hops in it! C'mon!!!!!

Wow...after reading your report and seeing the exhibits in pictures, I can certainly understand your frustrations. I would also have expected (a lot) more from a Busch park, especially considering their steep admission prices. BTW...did you ask them "Who the eff is Donder?" Congrats on your engagement...I am confident that you and your family will have many more theme park visits that turn out better than this one!

Awesome thread...I love looking at old park brochures! Used to collect them myself, but most of what I have has already been posted. I REALLY liked B&B when I went in the 80's. I had always thought it would be cool to have a retro park like that just featuring a couple classic wood coasters (maybe a steel or two), and about every imaginable flat invented from the 30's through the 80's. Have about 150 flat and dark rides and a couple of coasters...wouldn't that be cool?

1. Millennium Force 2. X2 3. Goliath (SFMM) 4. Nitro 5. Storm Runner 6. Tatsu 7. Apollo's Chariot 8. Bizarro (SFNE) 9. Ride of Steel (DL) 10. Blue Fire Megacoaster 11. Fahrenheit 12. Big Bad Wolf (RIP) 13. Behemoth 14. Euro-Mir 15. Olympia Looping

I would assume that they might put it where the Laser was located? But, take out a Schwarzkopf looper and replace it with a freefall? Even though I liked Demon Drop, this doesn't make any sense at all... Maybe it will show up and sit in a scrap heap like the old Batman coaster after it showed up at Darien Lake a few years ago?

Nice report! It's getting me pumped up for my trip to Disney and Universal in January. I have not been to either park since I was a teen. Just wondering what kind of beer they serve at Moe's? Speaking of beer, love the avatar! Is that Ruination IPA?? Just had a bottle of that last week that I picked up from Wegmans...loved it!

I like the thought of Demon Drop going to a place like Michigan's Adventure much more than having it end up at Knott's.