Philrad71

^ Sounds similar to where I work. Each "team" has an annual budget and the manager of each team has to attend (I used to be a "finance" team member so I got to attend a couple of these) an annual AOP (Annual Operating Plan) meeting around the beginning of Q4 to bring their team's budget proposal to the table for the following year. That budget proposal then goes in front of a council to see if the $$ amount gets approved or shot down - usually first at the facility (or park if you will) council and then on to a corporate council. And yes, you better bring your big guns (as well as a sh%t-ton of good data) to the table if you are looking for a significant increase in $$ for spending. I assume that it's probably very similar to how these corporate chains would run their parks where each park would consist of a team that would bring their ideas to the park AOP meetings seeking approval and if it's approved by management there, then it would head to corporate to get the final approval (or denial).

^ Still fighting this stupid cold/sore throat that I have had for over four days now...and that's four days of not seeing my guy because I do not want him catching this cold in the hospital! I miss him, but thank goodness for video chat so we can at least do that!

Thanks for posting, Bert...looks like a great time so far, but sorry to hear about your hubbies illness on the first night. Looking forward to the rest!

I thought pagoda gift shop was the main gift shop at the park? And if you take US 2 to Milan Road is pretty easy getting to the park as well from Cleveland. I have heard that using the Milan Rd exit can be a nightmare around park opening because all of the hotels in the area, the traffic from the turnpike as well as Rt. 2 all merging onto Cleveland Rd (two lane). Plus they were doing a lot of construction on it last summer - although that could (or should) very well be finished by now. If you are coming in later in the morning or afternoon, using that route shouldn't be an issue, but if trying to get in for early entry or around 10, I would highly recommend the Rye Beach Rd. exit off of Rt. 2.

^ In other words, it pretty much lived up to expectations from a lot of folks on here?

The other option is to take 90W to route 2 West and get off at Rye Beach road. No tolls and very minimal traffic. This is definitely the best way to go if you are coming in from Cleveland. Also - as some have mentioned, most of the decent gift shops are near the front of the park on the main Midway, Bill!

^ Or "whenever the hell we get around to it".

^ I imagine that a certain quote will be added to your post shortly...I'd do it it, but I'm too lazy to go digging for it. Edit....oh wait, here it is!

Most enthusiasts are all about Cornball Express at IB, but I preferred Hoosier Hurricane above and beyond it. Front seat riding on the lake while I was practically the only rider on the train was pure bliss. Not sure if people really "hate" Hoosier Hurricane, but I know that almost everyone claims that CE is the much better coaster. TBH, I don't even really even remember CE, that's how bland it was to me. Another coaster that surprised me last year was Predator at Darien Lake. I very much enjoyed my ride on it in the front seat...perhaps because my expectations were so low going in?

^ My vote would be to pick a nice, sunny day where the high is about 75 degrees as well as on a day when crowds are light. Seriously though...probably any weekday would be pretty light as this is more of a local weekend resort than a season-long, every day resort. We went there on a weekday and pretty much everything was a walk-on. Some of the ride attendants looked happy to see us just so that they would have something to do, while others looked annoyed because we were pulling them away from their smartphones for five minutes.

Yea, this is why I avoid discussing the subject matter with my sister altogether. She and her boyfriend are hardcore marine life activists and are some of the most Anti-Sea World folks I know. Heck, her boyfriend's cousin is Eli Despres, the co-writer and editor of Blackfish. Imagine having THAT in the family while being a big theme park geek. There's no point in having any conversation with them on the subject matter because it's just gonna drive rifts into the family, so we've learned to never bring it up again. I imagine that would be awkward at family events...especially while digging into that big, juicy Thanksgiving turkey. I'll give you $5 if you'd say, "Ya know what would go good with this here turkey? Some good ole' dolphin! Maybe next year, we could have turdolphawhale for Thanksgiving!"

Hey it could be worse...you could be getting a Larson Loop. Oh wait...

It doesn't seem like that long ago when we did the bash out there and we were all given a tour of the site where Terminator/Apocalypse was rising. At the conclusion, they gave us all a piece of wood used to build it...think that they might want it back now?

^ I can't believe it, Bert...but I have lost over 15 pounds since this whole ordeal started with Michael. I have been eating just about the same as always, but I think that the stress is the culprit. People have been telling me that I look like I have lost weight, but didn't really believe it until I weighed myself last week! Interesting how stress will take it's toll differently on individuals. But you were motivated to lose the weight once before, so I am sure that you will do it again! I went and bought some new pants for work today (just to get out of the house for a bit) and I am down from a waist size 34 to a 32...I haven't been a 32 since I was a teen into my early 20's! I also need to exercise more too...hopefully as the weather gets warmer going into spring, I'll be able to take the dog for more long walks. On a fairly positive note, the hospital called me today and said that Michael is ready to go back to the skilled nursing and rehab facility on the 13th and that the target to get him home is down to about six weeks from today!

^ If you are going for the night ride, try the front seat if you haven't already...it truly is damn close to a religious experience. Especially with a little beer buzz going. I agree with what you mean about riding in a certain seat, but this coaster is so much better at night in front that I usually skip riding it during the day and wait for that mind-blowing night time ride. I really would like to try Voyage (despite getting my a$$ beat on it last time) and see if that's anywhere near as crazy as The Beast in the front seat in the pitch black darkness.

You are probably referring to the one across from Gemini past TTD & Camp Snoopy? Yeah, not sure if I could go for plain fries that are that thick...we always get them with cheese so perhaps that's the key. I have read on here that the Parmesan/garlic ones are also very good, but I have yet to sample them (hopefully change that this season). Sorry to hear that the combo of getting plain fries, coupled with the long wait for soggy fries that may have been sitting under a heat lamp soured your experience. Must have hit them on a bad day at the wrong time, because the fries that we have gotten there in the past have always been fresh, hot and delicious. We had a similar experience at Famous Dave's with the burnt ends and rib tips (which were anything short of awful) last year. The saving grace was that we had an awesome view of MF and TTD on the patio and the drinks/beers were good! I gave them a pass though as our previous visit, the burnt ends and ribs were amazing! Just caught it on a bad day, I guess....it happens.

^ Thanks Bert...the visitation is tomorrow and the funeral is on Saturday so we could allow family time to travel. Then I wake up this morning with a sore throat and feel like I'm coming down with something - so much that I ended up calling off of work. Looks like we're both a little down in the dumps, but hope that you are starting to feel a bit better?

You people keep overlooking something very important...WTF is wrong with you?

^^

Wait...they had a male cruise director that wasn't gay? Or maybe he was, but he was into twinks versus bears? That's almost like having a straight steward on an airplane flight.

Really surprised to hear that about the fresh cut fries because we have always enjoyed ours. May I ask which stand you got them at? Did you get them with cheese, chili cheese, plain or parm/garlic? I agree. Chickie and Pete's crab fries are delicious with beer.

Damn....how can I love Sweden before I have actually ever visited? Maybe the same way that I already love Japan despite having never been there?

Good for you, Bert...you really needed that after the loss of your mother. What a cool way to honor her too...the hats and Mai Tai's - woot!!!!

Who cares about new games or Coke vs freaking Pepsi when you have.... Coasterbill was right... DL ain't gettin' sh%t - they're getting Beef & Beer!!!!