rollin_n_coastin

Just put in $10 for Michael, did that do it? Dorney's Page is bogged down, which can only mean good things--lots of love for Dorney?

A huge thanks to all the stealth TPR donations that have popped up over the past week from Joey R. Jason (Bubala), Chris A., Daron A., Paul F., Yellow Jacket, Reed and Nick C.! Thanks for the support! I'm slowly but surely making my way around doing the same plus saving some of the budget for those that may need some help getting up to their minimum $75.00 target. Keep everyone posted if you need any help as we get closer to June and I'm sure many of us will be willing to do what we can...every little bit helps. Cheers, Jason

Hey everyone: Some really inspiring stories and profiles so far! The response to this over such a short period of time is very motivating. I have no doubt that we’ll be able to keep the momentum going until June! I’m Jason and I’m from the Toronto area. I’ve pretty much lived in and around the area all my life. I’m a hospitality grad from 2003 that’s worked in hotel operations throughout school and still in the hotel/ resort/ vacation home industry. Give Kids the World Village is right up my alley and what they do is outstanding. I’ve been around TPR since 2007 and it has become part of my life each year like no other hobby to date. I’ve loved theme parks, rides and coasters since I was a kid—something about trying to understand how all the big machinery worked, similar to my other hobbies of motorsports and electronics/ tech. I’ve actually only started not being completely afraid of coasters over the past ten or so years. Truth be told, they still make my stomach turn a bit climbing up lifts but the fun makes up for any of that. Some of the best trips that I’ve ever been on have been with all the great people I’ve met through this hobby and being able to give back through Coasting for Kids is such a perfect fit. After hearing about it last year, I’m so glad to be able to give it a go this year. I’m doing this because I feel so very lucky and blessed to have had so much fun along the way and really feel that no one should go through life without similar opportunities with family and friends. Give Kids the World Village certainly helps make fun, memories and smiles a reality for many kids who deserve it. It is such a pleasure to help out. I’ll be riding at Canada’s Wonderland with Nick, Josh and Paul. Definitely consider joining if you’re in the area! If you’d like to sponsor a rider or give a little bit more, please consider clicking on the banner below. Every $1.00 counts and it would be so very much appreciated! Best of luck to all of the riders and Team TPR! Thank you for your support! Some Niagara Falls action Part of a Scandinavian adventure that was about parks..who would have thought?

Guys, thanks for the great update! Another great looking coaster for 2012. It's cool to see how each wing rider looks in their own location.

Hey all: Thanks to everyone who has donated to Team TPR at Canada's Wonderland so far! The support and response has been fantastic! It is really motivating given the cause. The sponsorship so far I'm sure could get all of us on Time Warp or Flight Deck for the entire event Team TPR at Canada's Wonderland has so far raised $485.00! Doubling that would be awesome! To do that, I think we're definitely going to need others to join in. My offer is still out there--$5.00 each for the first five to join the team from now. Just a little something to get the fundraising kick started. ^That would be awesome! It was on Behemoth last year so my guess would be either Behemoth or Leviathan, but that is just a guess. We'll see when the park officially announces the itinerary. Here's the team: http://www.firstgiving.com/process/teamarea/default.asp?did=1785&teamid=182002 Team member pages: Nick http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/nick-cramer-1/CanadasWonderland Paul http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/paulfowler/CanadasWonderland Josh http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/joshuamclachlan/CanadasWonderland Me http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/jasonatcw/CanadasWonderland If you're in the area and around that day, consider joining in! Or, if you'd like to sponsor any of us, we'd appreciate it. -Jason

^^Good luck! Sent a little something over. So how about that Valley Fair? Would love to do the same. Chuck totally has the right idea

This is looking awesome! Great vids again. I think I'll be hanging out in the back row. Wasn't Escape from Dino a Island classic from 1998? Better bringing that back than importing Panda Vision or something.... ^I'm sure one of us will measure it for you

Reed, thank you for that spontaneous multi-team support! Thanks for those who have donated and joined so far--Canada's Wonderland over the coutrse of one night is up to four members and $140.00! Here's our team so far! Please join us if you're in the area! Registering is easy! http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/jasonatcw/CanadasWonderland/team In addition to those who have joined already, the next five Team TPR members to join Canada's Wonderland, starting now, $5.00 to kick start your fundraising! If you're not in the area, please consider sponsoring and donating by clicking on the banner below Thanks for your support! Jason

I know huh? It clicked in after that it wasn't ON for Ontario after all. Maybe it won't be all that bad pretending to be from the midwest?

There's a little issue where I had to choose a US state to register...so I randomly picked OH? Here's the page: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/jasonatcw/CanadasWonderland Very excited about this! Those of you in the area, hope to see you registered on Team TPR soon!

Wow, missed a lot in here over the past while. Have to bump this up--those awesome videos plus the warm weather plus Leviathan Bash being announced = a great week so far! ^I bet they're going to look a little more menacing than they already are! It's so cool seeing the four across seating at Wonderland.

^Larry, hopefully you can make that drive up again, with your wipers working this time

Yay!! Ryan, you're coming?? Yah, I don't have that credit either haha

Hmm, tough decision...yes? Yes!

The pics are awesome! I had a few good laughs yesterday and again this morning already. The mascot frightens me though, almost as much as Golden Corral quality escargot and that lasagna... Glad you guys are having an awesome time! Keep Klassy and keep the pics koming!

Chuck, awesome stuff! This coaster is looking fantastic. I was doubtful if Busch Gardens would theme to the extent of Dark Castle again, but wow, are they ever on track to meeting and even exceeded those standards. I think a return trip to Busch Gardens, along with Pierce's Pitt, is a must

Green Lantern still had that insane scary moment before that first drop. We had a very unbalanced ride yet all it accomplished was a lot of intense, painful rocking and no flipping. Just that one spin before going into the station. On Insane's and even Kirnu's unbalanced rides, you do flip at least three times on those. I personally found the intense rocking much more uncomfortable than an actual flip. The style of ride can be really awesome. I still enjoyed Green Lantern regardless since I still find it scary. The worst part of the ride for me was that really strange plastic thing around my arm during the ride, talk about bizarre.

Thanks for posting these Kevin! I'm still bummed that my phone was stolen along with most of my WCB/ vacation pics...but at least there are awesome photo TRs!

LOL This is the most interesting interpretation of the tour I've seen...I hope you pre-authorized everyone's credit cards before you started writing this update... Definitely a really fun ride! So glad that Knott's has kept it.

Thanks all! Eric, I totally agree, I actually stayed on to ride it a second time since there was no line after saying "no" right away and then thinking....why not? Maybe some tolerance is developing haha

As someone who is still terrified of these things, I'm really proud that I got through Supreme Scream at Knott's during a very awesome WCB ERT! It definitely got a scream or two out of me. For me, it's not all about the height. The towers that offer the least amount of a "controlled" feeling are the most terrifying ones ever. while they all are scary, the A.R.M. towers, like the ones at Morey's Piers and Waldameer, take the cake. The fact that the horrifying free fall feeling doesn't end until your feet touch the ground is pure insanity and gets me just as much as the height, every time. Would love to compare to Lex Luther, but I don't think that I'll ever get in that one

That is really sad. I remember my parents loved here when she first started out in the 80s and watching her on the Grammy's was always something special. But unlike MJ, she just disappeared without doing anything else since the mid 90s and only surfaced because of cocaine, other drugs, alcohol or marriage issues. Sure, MJ had major issues as well but he was still performing and planning to right up to his last days. Not sure how to feel about the fact that the only recent and lasting memory I have of her is Debra Wilson's impression on MAD TV.

The folks got the family tickets for the In the Heights Touring show for this afternoon. I saw this in New York in '08 and was really good but I could tell without those actors, it may not be as good. Now, we found out through the papers and reviews that this is a Non-Equity show? Does anyone know what this means exactly? The newspapers have basically explained it as saying that the producers have cheaped out and have not hired professional actors and supporting crew, that are part of the actor's union in Canada and the US. It's gotten slammed critically so far...not sure what to expect. Kind of just want to stay home haha If this is the case, not sure why they are charging full price for non-professional talent? The thing is, the producer didn't make anyone aware that it was a non-equity show, they just say people buying tickets would know. Uhm..no, we were never aware. I remember it was a big deal when Blue Man Group came as a non-union show since it wasn't touring and they renovated a theatre for it for a long run. It shut down after a few months since no one went. Not sure if the quality had anything got do with it though.

Guys, awesome update! I'm still in awe of all the supporting work that goes on that we can't normally see or take for granted--landscaping, wiring, finishing, etc. The station and surrounding area are looking amazing. Will people be able to walk under the turn around from the looks of it? ^The trims are definitely fully retractable. Hopefully they will stay fully retracted more often than not

Heard lots of great things about the Sportage too for years now. For small 'utes, Sportage and Soul are definitely worth a look. The Forte is a great car too. Got to drive one in October - Thanks Jay! On the Hyundai side: The Tuscon is similar in size to the Sportage I think. My aunt and uncle just got a Veloster and it is the coolest economy car that I've seen, but the style is totally take it or leave it.