Garet

This update was 90% easier for youtube/facebook commenters to read.

Garet, I'll add any (Non-kiddie) ride that exists to the index. A few years ago, when I had more free time, I went through every major park's website (or map if I had one) and cross checked all the existing rides with the one listed in TPR's Park Index. Since that time I have tried to keep take of any new rides as they are announced (In my "What's New for 20__?" threads). However, not all park's make formal announcements and many of the foreign park non-coaster announcements (especially in Asia) are never reported to TPR. So it is only natural that some rides are missing because I don't know about them. I'm sure the Park Index also has a lot of rides listed as open that have been removed. No problem, just wanted to clarify so I know what to keep my eyes open for (e.g. ride signs etc) when I check out a new ride.

Another update from Korea: Everland's opened their new flume ride featuring two turntables, a u-turn and backwards drop. I'll try and get out and take pictures soon.there's been quite a few POV's uploaded on youtube lately by korean bloggers, here's one I found in 4k by themeparkstory: [youtu_be] [/youtu_be] The empty space I pictured where the fun-house once stood before the accident now has a construction wall up around it, it will be replaced by a new fun-house/play area themed around Everland's new mascot and candy. Everland has a new indoor attraction called Pride in Korea, it's kind of almost like an interactive museum with a 4D movie at the end. Like a few of Everland's attractions it's also reservation based. No word on if it's a permanent fixture or just this year to celebrate 70 years since liberation from Japan. The goddard group have published some concept art from what would have been a follow-up to Terminator 3D for Everland only themed around Aliens: Eagle's Fortress has now been completely ripped out and a lot of land has opened up, sadly according to Korean blogs (who are normally quite accurate) it will be replaced by a hotel since currently the only place to stay is the hostel located near the gardens. The park is pretty empty when it is hot, even though it is summer vacation the park has been empty all weekend with everything open, even T Express is walk-on and the new super flume peaking around 60 minute waits. The same can't be said for the waterpark however, the new mega-storm and boomerang slide have Everland's famous reservation policy in place. Getting there at opening should be a priority. The lines build up about an hour after opening and will stay high apart from the aqualoops. The lines are hitting 3 hours for Mega Storm (i've seen 210 minutes on weekdays) and all other slides are around 60-100 minutes for any tube slides or speed body slides, the shortest lines seem to strangely be the aqua loop in the afternoons/evenings, it's the one slide you have to do in just your swim-suit (all the others you can wear stuff over your swim-suit) and so people tend to hit it in the morning since some of the line is outdoors and it can drop to 10 minutes later on, considering even the normal speed slides indoors and out have 40-60 around then, it may be the only slide that's quiet in the whole park.

Is it only things off the list you add to the PI or things unlisted as well? Might be trekking out to check out Everland's new flume ride in the near future to add to my earlier update.

Not sure how many people outside of England will have heard of her: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3182908/Former-singer-TV-presenter-Cilla-Black-dies-aged-72.html

Lotte World have also announced something new to go along with the wild-trio of simulators in the Underland area. This one might get you less excited though. A kids road-train called Dragon Train Source

Though I predicted the opening could be delayed from July after the ride was missing from the park map, it seems the ride will be here around the end of August. Everland have released the micro-site and the name for their 2015 attraction: Thunder Falls Website: http://www.everland.com/thunderfalls/ Some facts from the site: Backwards drop, turntable and U turn section Boats will take 8 people each compared to 4 people like the old ride. The height of the ride is now 20m compared to 11m. 485m long (old flume was 443m) 45 degree drop which will is 10 degree steeper. I'll try and bring a TR sometime in the fall, seeing as I can only get out on weekends I normally end up waiting a few months before I hit up new rides since lines could be up to 3 hours on the old flume ride I can see lines being huge for this into the autumn. I have yet to try the new water slide with lines in the water-park being extremely long on weekends and the new slide pulling lines of almost an hour even on very wet weekdays. However Caribbean Bay is going to be open until 10PM for a month, along with Everland having 11PM closing so just maybe I might take my chances and hope to get a night ride.

Just saw the newest update: http://dejiki.com/2015/07/uss-update-2015jul/ Sad news if Battlestar is not dueling anymore. I can't believe those lines either, I know the trains only have 2 seats now but that seems a huge leap from when it seemed to be one of the quietest rides in the park.

Saw this coming up on a korean blog this morning, even though it's an old video some people have just noticed it. It's apparently comments made by one of the higher ups in the Goddard Group. It's interesting the comments made considering how many projects have come from the Goddard Group and Lotte Worlds partnership. [youtu_be] [/youtu_be]

If the name is the same as in Korea, it's an Asian citrus fruit. Though it was already used for teas and other things, they just started making flavored soju and Yuzu is one of the flavors. Most other foreigners here just end up calling it the lemon soju lol.

Not to go too off-topic, Robb, but what is it about Shambhala that separates it from the rest of the B&M hypers/gigas? I've watched the videos and to me, I can't really tell any differentiating factors from other ones. In my opinion, nothing. I have no idea why it ranked so much higher than the others. I definitely prefer nitro. I won't say it's much better but I have no doubts I'll rank it higher. Shambhala does have a great first drop but the airtime provided by the hills isn't as good or solid (in my opinion) as nitro's plus it has a terrible ending with a MCBR so near the end. It surely is a pretty good ride and one that everyone can enjoy but the stronger air, the forceful helix and that great triple hill ending on nitro are better. Don't new coasters normally do quite well in the poll and then drop over the years? Or could it be European voters ranking it high?

Granted it's not a true hyper since it's under 200ft but the only ride I've ever been on with those trains is Hollywood Dream at USJ and literally the only thing I remember after 4-5 rides using the single rider line is on my first ride thinking how comfy the seat was and wondering if I could get one for my living room. Whereas for either really good reasons or bad reasons, I remember quite a bit about nearly all the other hypers and gigas I've been on. That was kind of my issue with my ride on Hollywood Dream, it was fun but not good enough to be overly memorable and not bad enough to leave a mark in my mind won't forget. If I ever ranked my coasters from top to bottom, it'd sit probably right in the middle.

Watched the prestige a little while ago and was trying to work out who the actor was playing Owens. Turns out he died 3 days ago: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11736417/Roger-Rees-actor-obituary.html

I found a lot more English in Tokyo than other places. After being spoiled in Korea with multiple language options everywhere, I started my trip in Osaka and was quite surprised when I left the airport to find the airports subway station's machines had no English (this was a few years ago though). Luckily some-one showed me how to just put in the minimum cash without a destination and then you just pay the extra once you get off at a fare adjustment machine. Although it didn't help that I wrote down the tiny airport by mistake in my notebook and not the main one so the hotel I'd booked next to Universal was not a few stops away lol. There was a great website Robb or Elissa posted somewhere on an old TR that was really really helpful that would tell you train times, routes, transfers etc (I think it was a guide to getting around in Japan) that I used to note down routes and transfers before I left when I knew I'd be going out to smaller and rural areas in case there was no English but again this was a few years ago.

I would put it Falcon > Blue Fall > Zumanjaro > Lex Luthor I dunno, though. Blue Fall is still REALLY REALLY good. And Falcons is just really different. I'm not even sure I should compare them. Thanks for the clarification, I really need to get out to Florida eventually and try FF. I guess since FF is different from all the other drop towers, it'd be like trying to compare one of the Intamin woodies to an RMC coaster. Both of them would be world class wooden coasters for what they are but different enough experiences that they can't be lumped under the same category.

I'm kind of curious, I remember Robb saying in an older post or TR (sorry if that wasn't stated and I've accidentally made something up) that blue-fall was the best drop tower in the world. I'm wondering if that is still true with the opening of Lex Luthor, Zumanjaro and what is probably the biggest contender to steal that crown: Falcons Fury.

So many games he had a hand in: http://nintendo.wikia.com/wiki/Satoru_Iwata

They've also painted Chris Pratt's face onto each track piece. Early indications suggest 2016 will see a 400% foreign visor increase as a result.

Just got home from work to see this on the VOD when I turned on the TV (I've never brought off the VOD though $10 to rent a movie once is too much for me,) Korea must have the most ridiculously short time between cinema release and digital anywhere. Although I've also seen a lot of pirated dvd stands here and a lot of people download movies that have delayed releases if they come out on DVD in other countries before they hit cinemas here like Frozen and Big Hero 6 (not that it hurt ticket sales, seems everyone who downloaded Frozen or the kids who watched it at school then decided they really wanted to see it on the big screen.) It'll be interesting to see how Ant-Man does here, the marvel movies have always done very well at filling seats in Korean cinemas but this is the first one that is getting a severely delayed release.

So true! I'm going to have to disagree, Everland is my home park right now and I know the layout of T Express off by heart but after what must be close to 100 rides by now I'm still enjoying it immensely even if I know each and every turn. Sure it's probably not as much as my first ever time but I definitely wouldn't use the word boring.

For those interested in seeing the interview: http://www.itv.com/news/2015-07-08/rollercoaster-victim-joe-pugh-tells-itv-news-im-not-angry-at-alton-towers/

The Hwaseong government has announced they are aiming to have an "international park" come to the area in 2021. The hashtags mention Universal Studios and Disneyland as examples but it could be anyone's guess, an international chain could be anything. The post also mentions Sentosa as an idea of what they want the area to become. It's worth mentioning since the Hwaseong area is the same province where Universal Studios Korea was originally going to be built. They ask what people like about parks: scary rides, cute characters or dinosaurs (the area has some tourist attractions based on fossilized eggs in the area, a dinosaur is also the areas mascot and little statues of him and others can be seen in a few cities around here) the pictures they chose to represent these options are.... interesting. In other theme park news Caribbean Bay, Everland's water park, now has a queue time app. It's been a long time since I've been to a waterpark outside of Asia, are smart phones a common appearance in waterparks while people are swimming there too? Waterproof bags to wear around your neck are quite popular at Caribbean Bay and people tend to take their smart phones into the water... I'm just not that brave. With lines that can be over an hour long for even ordinary tube slides, an app is quite handy to have without having to trek to the entrance to see the board.

Turns out we have a KidZania here in Korea too, not sure how it would compare to Japan but was quite surprised how many options they also have: http://www.kidzania.co.kr/web/eng/facility

Is this an edited photo or photographer humor? I see Maverick in there! Great photos by the way, especially the ones with fireworks! He means getting Maverick's train in shot. You can see TTD and MF's train going round, he probably meant he wanted all 3 trains in one shot.

Our Tuesday/Wednesday days were pretty light at both parks. I think it has less to do with weather and more to do with timing. Sunday/Monday were significantly busier at both parks. We saw 60-90 minute lines for Journey on Monday, but 25-45 on Tuesday/Wednesday. Rain most certainly will affect the crowds, but on a weekend day, not as much as you might think. Thanks for the advice, maybe it's just me stuck with the Korean school year deciding my holidays that leaves me with 3-4 hour lines. Apart from either the last week of July or Christmas week, I get some time off in February every 2-3 years as a reward but I think like Korean schools, a lot of the Japanese schools are probably closed then. Maybe I just need to wait even longer between trips and hope the Korean Thanksgiving lines up nicely with a weekend to give me a 5 day break