Mozart67

I can think of a few but except for one, they're gone now, and a couple that made absolutely no sense to me. The worst is a toss-up between Legend City (Phoenix), which when i was there years ago smelled like a state fair midway about to blow up, and Children's Fairyland (Oakland). I took my grandkids to CF in 98, and had to steer them not once but twice away from some dilapidated theming attraction because I spotted a syringe in the shrubs. I know this sounds like fiction, but I can still see it to this day, and it still turns my stomach. Joyland (Wichita), but that's a case of it's not really the park's fault. it needed a lot of love, particularly Roller Coaster, but after Boeing/Cessna/LearJet had pretty much left the area, the economy fell and there wasnt much money for the park or other similar attractions. Then there's just plain weird ones like WeekiWatchee in Florida, which had people eating, drinking and other things underwater, which was just weird. Worst major park: Astroworld had some great rides (Cyclone, Dexter Frebish, etc.) but its placement wasnt good at all. Granted, the Dome was across the way, but it was like a midway in an industrial park. Just did nothing for me.

Awesome. This answered every pertinent question I could think of. Thanks a million for posting the transcript (now all I need to find out is what this "epic fail, epic win" thing is...) Scott

LOL Nat, your TRs are always fun to absorb. I didn't realize how much EPCOT has changed until I read your and others' reports. Not having been there since '85 (or so), kind of weird to see it now. I cant remember Horizons, though. If I do, though, I'll will the memories to you. Sigh...Figment...you fueled my acid dreams for decades... Fun read, and great to see another TR by you Scott

OMG..KidTums is growing up so fast. She's already as tall as the castle at Disneyland..awesome Robb, Elissa, everyone else who's name I'm too senile to remember, have a great holiday. Since it's also my birthday, have a drink on me, and if you think of it, open your door or window and yell "happy birthday Scott" or "You're an old prat, Eskimo" or "Sega" or something to worry the neighbors. Tis the season Hey, it just crossed my mind. Dokumon reminds me of those little evil things chasing the cat on the old "Everytime you masturbate, a kitten dies" poster. Anyone else spot the resemblance? Have a merry one Scott

Robb, I'm late as usual, but thanks for the opportunity for us to d'l one of the expeditions. The casino has actually been slamming, customer-wise,k for the past 5 days for the first time in six months, so I missed out on this and other Black Friday events, but I'm glad to see that this whacked-out economy hasn't discouraged everyone. Happy belated Thanksgiving to all! Scott

Colin, I have a couple replies from the feelers I sent out the other day, and I'm ready when you are. The zine in the UK and one here in the US show some really good interest, and it doesn't hurt that I do a little freelance music reviews for them as well. Give me a shout and we'll co-ordinate an online interview/exchange of info/whatever. Scott

yup, that's it. Sorry about the language issues; I had forgotten that there was some song/MC-based profanity in it. I think that, over time, I have become desensitized when it comes to that and forget that others haven't been. On a purely visual note, the DVD clips from Defqon1 2007 finale (artist: The Prophet) and Qlimax 2008 (artist: technoboy) blow this away, believe it or not.

Since my online mag is centered around electronics and underground music, I cover a lot of the large European festivals in my columns (Sensation, Defqon 1, Qlimax, etc.) and the marathon shows have unrivaled laser/light arrays among other things, but I had never seen large pyros shot from the frame of a Giant Wheel before, so I thought I would share. The firework footage is somewhere near the 3 minute mark in the video. Scott http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7DK8q_SPIUt

Thanks for the info and stuff. I wasn't sure that I would be able to afford even the Texas trip with us trying to move, new job, etc., but it looks all systems go for the trip, and since it will e my first TPR trip experience, I am so looking forward to it. (Even if I am a chicken...) Question about the trips forum: I know that a live chat will be on Tuesdays; my work schedule is haywire right now, and I work Tues. until around 4am. Will the chat be open any other time or is that the only time it's operational?

Damn! I cant believe they have the lift hill up already and are laying the first descent! Fireball is really looking sharp.

You nailed it perfectly, SFNE! We were second to last in the train and left the park after that ride. The ride itself wasnt bad until one of the nonbanked curves towards the end of the run and it just wasnt my idea of a good time. Ken, I don't want you to think that it disfigured me or anything; hell, after a rough Boomerang or a Zyklon, I need to see a chiro; just have a trick back that acts up sometimes. I did, however, miss a day's work because of Wildcat, and the 5 appoinments were basically one adjustment and 4 prevention. (Still went to SFNE the following weekend anyway, though..) If Giant, Judge Roy, etc. are rougher than that, I'll just sit those out. I got the Roy credit opening year, so I'm set anyway.

lol I think I'm the only one that may bummed out by CG closing, but that's because the last time I was there it was the mid 70's, and all I can remember was the glass-bottom boats. It's weird; the palce is more well known than WeekiWatchee was, buit WatchMeWinkie is the only place I really remember, aside from the Mouse. Odd. I

Colin, I'd just like to say that this is incredibly cool, both from the green standpoint and the getting a prime set of wheels standpoint. I'm a little strapped cash-wise, so how about a little magazine/radio publicity instead? I'm not Rolling Stone (thank god) but I'll send the word out. Cheers and let us know how "Norm: The Ride" feels! Scott

Lol. The Prince idea is really funny. Everyone will get a chance to ride the Purple One... It's not the color i would have chosen, although the name change is somewhat confusing, since the coaster is smack dab in the middle of Land of Overrpiced Justice Heroes land ($7 for a shot glass? you have got to be kidding me..) Maybe the area will go Hanna Barbera instead and the coaster will be called "Grape Ape: the Ride Scott "Texas Trrip 2009--You have just been warned" Mayfield

The lift hill support structure still blows me away. Have seen woodies in recent years with that similar geometric design. Just very cool. Thanks for the pictures!

I'm almost afraid to see what SFoT looks like now. I'm going on the Texas Trip next year (my first TPR trip..woohoo) and while everything sounds great, the last time I was at SFoT was in 1980, just after Judge Roy opened. You know you're aging when you see best Texas coasters and the first three out of your mouth are Big Bend, Texas Cyclone and Shockwave. Question: when you talk about a woodie being rough, are you talking a little discomfort or actual pain? I know that's kind of a dumb-sounding question; the reason being I rode Compounce's Wildcat last summer and needed 5 chiropractic visits to undo what Wildcat did.

Am going out today to find something with Connecticut on it for you. When I went to FrightFest a little over a week ago, they didn't have a single postcard in the entire park, which was really irritating. You probably have a Conn. card by now, but I will do my best to get you one today! Sorry for the delay Scott

sfne, I am so bummed! Sounded like you had a great amount of people with you. Because I'm an airhead, I of course forgot that my older (hacked) email account is hooked to this and not the one I'm using now, which is my fault for not checking. How did you all like it that day? I DO know that it was especially nippy on Superman when i rode it the first couple of times (I think it was maybe 40 degrees outside) but the beer helped. To prevent future mess-ups, I flagged my old account to give me a buzz when i get a response. Really sorry about that. Maybe we can get some folks together for next season. Scott "Senior Moments R Us" Mayfield

ouch. The drop tower price is a little brisk. The coaster looks great though. When was it built?

I have no idea what this whoe epic fail thing means, but that's because I'm old and eat crayons.. Nat, what an awesome and fun report! I haven't laughed that much at something online in a long time. The captions had a great dry wit as well, which is esp. resfreshing for me since I live in southern Conn (i.e. the Land of Polish Rednecks...fear hasa new name and its name is Duhh-ski) I almost made it for this trip and am, very sad that I didn't. You've convinced me though: I have to get my ass in gear and go on a TPR trip. Thanks for the fun! Scott

LOL so I guess it's just me then.. Oh well...feces occurs, I suppose. I'll be there first thing when the park opens. If anyone has the time, would love to ride some things with them. Have a great one! Scott

I totally agree with Elissa. I would so buy your ride and trip photos, Hanno. Really well done and the shot of the people on the Drop Tower was birilliant, although the jury's still out on Robb's Humpty Butt dance. Thanks for the photogs! Scott

Cool! I'll send off one from Conn. this week! Scitt

Howdy all! My daughter in Chicago gave birth to our 5th grandchild last night (9/25/08) and while my wife gets to fly out to see her, the babay, and the son-in-law, all I get is this crappy T-shirt, so I was thinking about hitting FrightFest at SF New England on the 18th. If anyone is interested in meeting up with me, give me a shout! Scott "Grandpa for the 5th time at Age 40" Mayfield

Voted Other because my r/c terminology sucks. I think my all time favortie inversion was the so-called "Kamikaze Loop" that WOF's "Orient Express" had. It will probably be replaced by Fahrenheit's Norwegian inversion when I ride it next year, but there you go.