downunder

The Vekoma I dislike the least would be Deja Vu at SFMM, actually that one isn't bad, when it's operating that is.

^Wow, I've never heard of that coaster before and I was riding coasters in Italy in June, it looks like iSpeed's mini me. It looks great, I think a lot of parks could use a coaster like that.

Thanks, I remember seeing that was an issue years ago but I haven't been following the progress. I've always been curious about Shivering Timbers, it looks amazing, and I hear it is sensational on a good day (does it have good days anymore?). Personally I'd rather go to a park with one amazing coaster than a park 12 average coasters but nothing special.

Sorry about that, with all that I've heard about the problems with i305 it was almost reflex to think re-profile. They are probably putting in an inversion so they can call it Exterminator 305 next year. I like the tunnel idea, I think that might work (Complaint At the Customer Service desk: "I blacked out on that ride. I mean it got dark...oh don't worry.") Maybe because it would be an improvement.

I believe as Paula talked about it when they were there. What I meant was that it was aired the other week on Australian TV. I love Raven Maven's coaster count too, but I think it needs to increase and there's a way HW can do that - hint, hint.

They aired a segment on an Australian Travel show called Getaway, and believe it or not they went to Holiday World - Pilgrim's Plunge and The Voyage were featured.

When I saw the title I thought maybe New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen had visited GAdv and they had renamed El Toro "The Boss" in his honour, at least temporarily.

When I hear of a prospective addition to Michigan's Adventure, the first thing I think is what coasters are on the scrapheap that no other park wants. Don't they have issues with a lack of infrastructure for sewerage?

I'm surprised they are re-profiling the hill, I thought they may have had work to do on the turn after the first drop because that was the killer for customers and the maintenance budget but it's early days and maybe they'll get to that.

I'm hoping with Dick disappearing, Cedar Fair might contemplate getting q-bots, a completely selfish wish but it works for me. I know some people love Dick but I think he started to fall behind in the early noughties.

Nemesis, Montu and Kumba for me. A lot of B & M inverts have their moments of high g-forces but I found these 3 (well, 2 inverts and a sit down) kept the intensity up for most of the ride. Kumba was my first B & M sit down of it's type (only rode it for the first time last month) and it packed a punch, as did Montu.

From my experience, Nemesis and Montu - they maintain the high g-forces pretty much the whole ride.

I've only been going to Halloween events since last year. 2009 - Universal Hollywood HHN & Knott's Scary Farm 2010 - H'wood HHN, KSF, Universal Orlando HHN (including Behind the Screams tour) & Busch Tampa Howl O Scream I would have loved to go to the TPR Knott's Halloween event but I had already made travel plans that I couldn't change easily (missed it by 24 hours). I just didn't know about it far enough in advance because I have to come from overseas and plan everything in advance.

I use coaster counter personally, it misses a few Australian travelling coasters but it's good enough for me. That reminds me I have some additions.

Loos like fun, having visited Busch Tampa for the first time just last week (Kumba and Montu - unbelievable), this appears to be a very solid addition. I have to admit my first impression of a name like "Cheetah Hunt" is that an endangered animal is being hunted and then after some thought I would start thinking that maybe the Cheetah's are doing the hunting. I personally prefer Cheetaka but it's all academic as long as the coaster is good, call it Rhino Poachers or Baby Seal Slaughter or whatever, just make the coaster good.

^She grabbed my hand at the gig, luckily I didn't lose any fingers. I was never going to wash that hand again but then I had a shower later and forgot. My update on Cheetaka - it's a rather handsome looking pile of dirt.

Went through Alone last night - alone. I think it really depends on your disposition whether you find it super scary or not. I'd find going through some of the USH HHN mazes alone more unnerving personally but I had fun in this one, even though I was accused of having sedated myself before doing the maze. Here's a few pics that will hopefully pique your interest. You give them the finger to get in, and your left nut to get out. Facing off against the doorman, maybe my assertion that he was Mr T followed by Eddie Murphy's 80's Mr T is gay routine didn't go down so well. Like two junkyard dogs, neither of us was going to back down. Here's a little snippet from inside the maze, my assertions about the identity of my attacker were not well received. Here's the shirt, I don't think I will be wearing a shirt in public saying I did it alone, I doubt the first thing people will think is - oh yeah, that maze in Tampa. Gratuitous Sylvie shot. I found out she is the offspring of Jigsaw and Joan Jett.

I guess I'm new to Orlando HHN, and I'm learning. I did USO HHN Sunday and last night (Thursday) and using this year and last year at USH HHN as a comparison point, I didn't think the mazes were very scary. They were so dark at times it was difficult to make out what it was that was scaring you, there was plenty of artistry and detail in the mazes but the scare actors mostly just bob out, boo, go back. By comparison I thought the scareactors at HHN had intent like they really wanted to get you, albeit they probably had instructions to do so and for sure, the events are drawing from different pools of scareactors. I thought the crowds were breath taking, crikey, I think they must be at the crossroads capacity wise. Perhaps they need to create a separate event at IOA to split the crowds and deal with what I presume will be increasing crowds in the future. I got to spend an hour with the main creative guys on a behind the scenes tour on Wednesday and their ethos is to create original stuff rather than use movies, and sometimes that works. I guess because I'm new to it, the whole story telling thing hasn't grabbed me yet, and I find I really connect with mazes based on movies especially one's I love like Halloween. Best answer to a question: "How many hours a day do you work?" A: "All of them". Oh well, I'll check out Howl O Scream tonight and see how the extreme house goes. Here's one photo I liked, I ran into the main HHN creative guy last night, and he loved it too. "I'm way better than that Sylvie b*tch at HOS" (okay, okay I believe you).

I want Alone spoilers too, I'm doing it on Friday night and I want to guarantee I get throught and get that t-shirt.

To add, I did the pre-scare dinner last thursday, and even before they dropped the rope for buffet people Ghostrider was available to ride as soon as you left the buffet. For HHN I can't agree enough about getting Front of Line, but also buying you tickets in advance (Club TPR has great discounts) because it sold out Fri-Sun last week (I presume during the night). I was there Fri/Sat and Front of Line was my best friend. Also get to HHN early, like 5.30pm so you don't have to line up for your FOL credentials and also the opening ceremony is pretty cool, it's well worth being at the front to catch it.

Scott, you're in luck, I'm doing Alone on the 8th but I'm sure someone will do it before then. I need tips on how to get through it, I want that t-shirt! Damn Syvie is so hot. I think she's quite kind, she's a woman you'd your right arm for but only wants a few fingers. ^Chuck, the show at the feast this year is called Blood Relations, which looks like a musical show.

Exmpty Grave and Queen Mary are two haunts I'd really love to check out, can't do them this year because I'd have to miss HHN to do it because I'm only in LA for a few days. Maybe next year.

I can't believe I'll actually be USO HHN next week, c'mon October 3 and then a second round on October 7. I like the Jaws ride, it was a lot of fun last time I was there in 2004, the guide definitely makes the ride. They should issue pasengers (or at least the one's on the sides) with Jaws repelling weapons - has Jaws been taken out with a Bazooka yet? I remember Jaws was taken out by utter mediocity in Jaws The Revenge. Sounds like HRRR has been a never ending horror for maintenance.

Great photos, Halloweekends looks like a good time to go CP except perhaps for the Saturdays. Your low light photos look amazing, I've got camera envy now.

Perhaps at dramatic parts of the ride like the launches, the Hummel Boy make an appearance expressing shock as only the Hummel Boy can do. I would have no objections if they kept it as Big Bad Wolf, it had a fierce and ominous logo. A Deliverance theme might be more appropraite for the region, and Steve - your three little pigs will be squealing.