coolhandluke

I also love the view at the top of TTD. Not that you can see it for very long, but the aerial view of Millennium Force is just incredible. And yeah, I love the lap bars. So awesome.

Hmm. Very interesting remarks. I'm planning my first trip to SFGAdv later this summer, and I have to say I am really looking forward to it. This discussion is really setting my expectations high. Though I must also say that CP hasn't been as bad to me as it has been to others on this forum. Before I discuss CP I will admit that I am from Ohio, so I do hold a special liking for CP. I went this past weekend, and it was an absolutely fantastic trip. On Friday alone, we had 14 rides on 11 coasters (Raptor, Wildcat, Mantis, and Iron Dragon left off) and 2 flats (Power Tower and Skyhawk). And that was just the Starlight hours of 4.30-10.00. They were running max trains on all rides except TTD and Maverick (both ran 5), we never waited over 22 minutes for a ride (that was for Maverick after an advertised 45 minutes), and the ops were actually quite enthused about their jobs. Saturday was more of the same, as it was a continuation of Friday (though Raptor and TTD were closed for considerable amts of time for winds). Now, I will admit that it never legitimately rained while we were there. A few drops did fall in little spritzes, and nothing closed, so their policy isn't quite as strict as some may make it out to be. But again, I couldn't fully judge the policy this year, as it wasn't extensively tested. I think the main reason I'm looking forward to GAdv is for legit wood and inversions, something CP desperately needs. If you're into that, go there. I think CP may have the overall edge in terms of speed machines though (and yes, I know about KK). Depends on what you like. I know, very original answer...

I just rode it twice this past weekend. Once front row and once back row. Front row wasn't really that rough, though I can't say the ride did a lot in terms of elements and maneuvering. Though I will say my two friends in the second row had two different experiences. One had one similar to me, the other came off limping. Back row...I basically died. Hideous ride. Pure pain for over a mile.

^Yeah, like a flyer.

^Think that may be a possibility for Manta @ Sea World as well? I like the splashdowns, but I can see where people dissent. Not sure of practicality, but I always thought a double-pump splashdown would be kinda cool--quick dive into the water for a splash, then a little bunny hill back into the water for a prolonged splash. Not that that would be considered, but just something I was reminded of with the people mentioning how they'd rather have a little airtime hill over a long splashdown. In any event, I am growing increasingly restless with this construction...patience is not a friend of mine...

Oh yeah. I have similar experiences with the GP regarding X-Flight/Firehawk, and that was from one Ohio park to another. In Dayton, I have friends who rode it as Firehawk who I talk to about it being a used and relocated ride. On campus in Columbus, I have friends who rode it as X-Flight, who I tell that the ride is still running, just in a new place (typically to their delight). And in a few cases in both locations, I have friends who have ridden it at GL and at KI who had no idea they rode the exact same ride both times. So yeah, KD is doing a great job publicizing this thing. For all intents and purposes, it is a brand new ride for 98% of their patrons.

One too many negatives...you want to assume the reader knows nothing on the subject. Or never assume the reader knows anything on the subject. I'm pretty sure you knew that, but just in case someone else didn't. And actually, that just goes to show how one little mistake in grammar can completely screw up an idea. BE CAREFUL when wording your paper. Watch out for simple things like double negatives, misplaced prepositional phrases, adjectives separated from their subject, splitting infinitives ("to not go" should be "not to go", keeping "to [verb]" adjacent), etc. And going back to the knowledge of the reader thing, you should really look out for that. In your part on the different elements, you explicitly describe the characteristics, purpose, and sensation of a "camelback", but then rattle off "cobra roll", "Immelman", "zero-g roll", with no additional info. Just work on trying to focus more specifically on some aspect of amusement parks, and expand that area with more insight, CITED evidence, and well-constructed sentences, and you shouldn't have a problem with pulling out a nice grade. Good luck!

Made a quick one after seeing the above sign...

^According to one of the studies, you're 7. Not quite in US News... . Nah, I have nothing against the Tide. I'm pleasantly surprised my Bucks are top 20 in both. Yay

Well thank you Big Mike, all your efforts are appreciated even more after that! I'm still struggling to decide between the two though. You the man!

I am really looking forward to your future installments here! And I'd just like to mention that "Example 3" is my favorite.

^ I don't like you. Just kidding, but that is borderlline evil! Now it's even more agonizing waiting. I wish it had been more like, "yeah, this looks a lot like what I had pictured" or something to indicate with more conviction that it is what we've discussed. Now, I don't know if you mean the layout is a little different but is still a B&M hyper or if it's a completely different style of coaster...ugh. I guess I'll enjoy the 2008 year, wait for track and supports, and continue my speculation!

Right. I'm saying that if they aren't filled with sand, that'd be a possible explanation. Maverick's supports are so small in most places it doesn't matter if they have sand or not. If they didn't have sand in Fahrenheit, that could explain the roar. But then again, this is all based on a video. I'll digress from my speculation. And revel in its glory.

Maverick's supports are no where as big as Fahrenheit's (since most of Mav is practically on the ground). Fahrenheit has more elevation, so the height of the supports is probably what makes it louder.

Is this basically the same thing they're doing with the Dark Knight up in Jackson, NJ, just personally sending out an invitation to TPR people in this case? In any event, it sounds like a great time--camping and roller coasters are two of my greatest loves. But alas, I live in the heart of Cedar Fair Land. I guess I'll just hold out till Kings Island does the same thing for their hyper in '09 or Cedar Point does this with their next biggun...yeah, right.

^^^^^ & ^^^^Yep, definitely meant Hershey. LR and Wildcat vs. ET, SR vs. KK, GB vs. B:TR, etc. And now this baby gives something I would imagine being similar to Medusa or a smooth, less redundant GASM. And a Maverick drop on crack. Mav already holds claim to my favorite drop, so this ride is making me absolutely drool. Can't wait to get there eventually.

Yes! Loop, dive loop, zero-g, cobra roll, MCBR, 2 corkscrews (oftentimes interlocking). Sub an Immelman for the dive loop, batwing or roll-over for the cobra, 2nd loop for a corkscrew, add a loop--there's about 10 B&M floorless, inverts, and sitdowns with those layouts. I constantly enjoy watching Intamin release their new stuff, especially inverting coasters. B&Ms are certainly fun, just a little redundant (though Led Z. threw me off a bit). I'm trying to decide between this park or SFGAdv this summer. It was originally GAdv, but this is making it closer...

Is this the new politically-correct way of saying "gay"? Or just roommates/housemates. Multiple people keep costs down. And looking at what these dudes did, they need all the dough they can get and keep their hands on.

^Also looks like a great movie. My most anticipated PIXAR film to date. And I loved Finding Nemo.

Nothing will delight me more! Although ginzo reminded me that Drop Tower is Intamin, as well as the Eiffel Tower...to be technical...

^^Not only is the big helix covered, but that isn't the part that is made to be flying through the woods. The first half of the ride is the part they better not touch. The helix is just forces, not nature, so I agree that it wouldn't be a huge deal if they get it close to that.

^Even if it is scrap, why would they let you take it and make a profit when they can do it themselves and get the money? Basically, it's just pretty dumb to steal scrap metal like that. Coaster track or live copper wires with several thousand volts surging through looking for a ground... Amen. God, I love my fellow Daytonians.

I think B&M actually did away with the pre-drop. I believe there was a discussion on it in the Behemoth thread with a quote from a B&M spokesperson. The pre-drop was used to reduce stress on the chain lift, as the train picking up speed down a drop would pull the chain faster than it goes. Pre-drops let the chain pull the train over the hill, then down the drop. However, they recently decided to just speed up the chain lift when it reached the top, thus saving money on all the extra stuff up there. Thus, some of the more recent B&Ms don't have the pre-drop--actually Raging Bull and Apollo are the only two hypers to have it. Hydra, Led Z, etc are following this trend. Not to completely shatter any hopes of it, but it seems like B&M is moving away from the pre-drop. I've never experienced one, but it seems like it'd be a cool experience. Pre-drop or not, though, I've really got my hopes up for this new baby!

^^More and more schools are offering Exploration programs because they are finally beginning to realize a bunch of teens just aren't ready to choose a life path. Word on the street is the average college student will change majors 3 times. I'm in OSU's exploration program, and it's pretty helpful. Miami has a similar option I know, as I was going to go there until I changed my mind in March of my senior year. And I would just like to say that Wright State (my hometown state school) is one of the most impressive "cheap schools" I have seen. No one thinks of them, but they have a couple programs in the top 20 nationwide (including a top 3 program).

^^^While that was an interesting story told on Wikipedia, I couldn't find any reference to Sea World or a height limit of any kind for any business. A little extra info on how "people like Donna Frye" hinder Sea World's bid for a B&M (or any coaster besides JTA) would be appreciated for those citizens outside of California.