Philrad71

Whiletheyhaven'tgottenatonofnewridestheyhavegreatlyexpandedthewaterpark&addedadroptowerandskiddieridesinthepastfewyears It's pretty bad when I think that Darienlaker posts are actually pretty intelligent.

Mmmm...fried rice machine.

^^ Likely because not very many people give two sh%ts about what's in the shed.

It had been simmering for a while & there was cheap tequila involved soooo.....

^ And that's what likely ruined the challenge...people were saying that the winners were cheating and then decided to boo and talk shit to them once they were announced. If I recall, it was a freaking family of four with two smaller children! I admit that we thought that they may have been cheating because I was pretty sure that they weren't supposed to be bringing refillable soda cups on rides...but we weren't going to sit and bitch about it. We didn't care because....WE HAD FUN!!!! I admit that we actually said at the time..."Gee, why didn't we think of that??" But we don't drink soda...only beer, so we didn't have soda cups! The funniest part of the challenge for us was where the 4th guy on our team (I can't recall his TPR name) got the idea to try and hold the entire amount of water in his mouth during the ride and then try to spit it into the cup at the end. I won't go into details, but let's just say that it didn't work out well too for him.

I have no desire to watch the video - although yes, that looks like a tagada ride in the photo... But I have to ask....where in the world is Chili? I thought that Chili was a southern Tex-Mex American staple - a spicy stew containing chili peppers, meat (usually beef), and often tomatoes and beans. Other seasonings may include garlic, onions, and cumin. ...or is it a small town outside of Rochester, NY? Or perhaps you mean Chile - the country in South America??? Chile - the country. Chili - I don't care for Tex-Mex Chili, but prefer the Cincinnati Chili (minus the kidney beans). Mmmmm...Cincinnati Chili. Yay Kings Island!

I agree with you from a coaster fans perspective but I am curious how well the ride will be received by the average park guest like 3 or 4 or 10 years down the road. I could see how some people might see this ride as "kinda like the Beast but way shorter/slower/not as good". Especially considering how iconic the Beast is to that park and the people who visit it on an annual basis. I may be completely and totally wrong here but it was a thought I had back when this was announced. I have thought of this as well... I think that it's a given that this coaster will give some phenomenal rides (both day and night) during the first couple years of operations. But as we know, there are a lot of wooden coasters that simply don't age well. So do you think that MT will be great for a couple of years and then turn into a rough crap-fest after 5+ years? (ala - SoB, Apocalypse, Hurler, Voyage, Mean Streak (w/o Coasterbills technique), Texas Giant (old version), Rattler (old version), etc) Or do you have confidence that this coaster will age like fine wine to where you won't want to be speed dialing the chiropractor after the first drop? (Ala - RFII, Prowler, Silver Comet, Comet, Gold Striker, etc)

I remember laughing until I almost puked doing the water cup challenge at Canada's Wonderland on Stunt Coaster! It sounded like it would be so easy and then after you ended up with a lap-ful of water after the initial launch and helix, you realized it wasn't as easy as it sounded. Our entire team was soaking wet by the end of the challenge! I remember me, my Dad and partner saying that it was the highlight of our day (not that it wasn't ALL awesome)...but we all thought that was just the most fun idea ever. Although I do seem to remember some folks complaining or booing about a team (or family?) that came up with the idea of pouring all of their water into another container and then pouring it back into the cups at the end of the ride. I believe that they won the challenge?

Shit...total shit. Snowing like a b%itch and my snowblower decides it's not going to start today. Finally got it started with a spark plug change though, so all hope is not lost. I'm soooo over winter!

^ I was watching a show where they were talking about the differences in virgin versus extra virgin olive oil...in Italy. Much stricter rules over there versus here in the US where anyone can just call their olive oil "extra virgin". Today I bought some Cabot Hot Habanero Cheese at Wegmans. I have yet to try it and was wondering how hot it was - anyone else had this before? I'm thinking about trying it on a grilled cheese in the next couple of days!

^ That's Magnum that you're thinking of there.

Bill - try the cheese fries at some point. I have not tried the garlic, but I will the next time I visit. I like the stand across from Gemini as it usually doesn't get too crowded with lines, but I think that there are two other locations towards the front of the park that pretty much serve the same ones. One on the main midway near Raptor and one over by Windseeker. CP Fries

Jazz, R&B & pop singer Al Jarreau has died at age 76. I remember quite a few songs of his from the 80's - great singer with a smooth voice. Al Jarreau

^^ Southern Tier represent - this brewery is less than four miles from my house! How did you like the beer? I am not into a lot of the fruit flavored beers, but I admit that if you mix the raspberry wheat mixed with a Southern Tier porter, it is quite tasty...tastes like chocolate raspberry. If you can get both, mix the two and give it a try!

I know, right? I would have gone with 'Steel Magnolias' instead...

^ I gotta admit that this one was pure f%cking comedy gold...I about spit my coffee out when I read it.

I have a weird feeling that I know where this post is going to ultimately wind up. Edit - it's already there! LMAO!

^ LOL...you wouldn't make it out here in Western NY, Bill! Given that I posted, I might as well rant about this stupid cold that I have that is keeping me from visiting my guy in the skilled nursing/rehab!

Yes, it was a bit of a disappointment to not have 80* weather all 3 days. Luckily the cooler weather was only the first day and was mainly in the morning. By the time we left later in the week, temps were in the upper 70's. Either way, I was able to break out shorts and t-shirts for some of the trip, so overall I was happy. Tis the same thing that happened with us. We were there for seven days and while the first few days were cold, it then got back into the 70's for the last few days which allowed us time at the pool as well as to get to IOA and ride Dudley Do-Right and Popeye. Although it was still somewhat chilly afterwards because we didn't realize that we were going to get pretty much drowned like rats! I will say that it was well worth it though...we all ended up loving those two rides. Most fun & well-themed rapids and flumes that we have ridden to date!

And lets not forget the Chernobyl Diaries horror film too.

I know all about it being a Momma's boy, Bert...I was too. But you will find that going to these events will cheer your spirit because you know that it's what she would have wanted. If Michael gets better before you guys head to CP, we'd love to meet up with you and Bill for a beer or soda and few coasters! Speaking of Michael, he continues to heal, but still has a way to go before he can return home. He is in a skilled nursing and rehab center about 40 minutes from here so the drives are still long, but not as long as they were to Buffalo or Erie. The thing that ticks me off the most is that the main thing keeping him from rehabbing and coming home sooner is a massive bedsore that he got on his backside while in Buffalo. Due to this being on his bottom, it limits the amount of time that he can spend in a wheelchair, which also decreases the amount of time in physical therapy. It's like a double-edged sword in that he needs to be out of bed, but he can't sit on the chair for more than an hour per day. Hopefully we can find a happy medium, but the main thing is that he has battled through it. I almost lost him three times, so there can be no more regression from here! Unfortunately I have come down with a stupid cold so that is keeping us apart as I can't change going there and giving him what I have. Sometimes life just isn't fair.

^^ I'm not a huge breakfast fan either, but when I am in Europe or Asia...man, those breakfast buffets at the hotel are better than most dinner buffets that you can get here in the states!

^ I just watched a special on this place not too long ago - definitely a creepy destination. Thanks for sharing!

Have a great time, Bert...you know that your mother would want this for you. And yes, we definitely want to see a trip report! Michael's friend belongs to one of the bear groups around Boston and we have heard that they do a lot of fun trips and events together.