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^^ That looks waaay more manageable than I what I got two years ago! As you saw in a previous post, the one I got surely could feed two people, lol! With fries. ^ Yeah, well, it looks not too good for Playland this PNE. At the beginning of it, any way. So, are you and your friends still planning to go to The Fair on Saturday? I'm still going, just to check everything out, etc. And eat some food! And have a drink or two. But no rides.

"Two Days To Go..." Here's a a few more food items (and one sweet cocktail) to have at this year's PNE - opening Saturday! Chana Tater Tots – Travel the world at the Fair and get a taste of India from Wiggle Chips! These crispy tater tots are topped with sliced onion, green chilies, diced tomato, chickpeas and sliced chicken, all tossed in a house-made chana masala sauce and garnished with fresh coriander and ginger. Did we get you hungry yet? Italian Pizza Perogies – You’ll definitely want a piz-za this from International Perogies. This is the perfect dish if you don’t want to get your hands dirty from pizzas and still want the taste of Italy all in one plate. Banana Bread French Toast & Bacon Pancake Dippers – Get breakfast all day at Stacks Bacon Pancake House! These brunchy bites are great choices for those who crave sweet and savoury flavours. The Mighty Zeus Onion – It’s a whole onion cut and dipped in homemade batter and garnished with green pepper, red onion, tomato, feta cheese and much more from The Onion Factory. Onion breath may be included. Tipsy Unicorn – It’s as magical as it sounds. This colourful, smoking cocktail will be sure to make your Fair experience a special one. And it looks good on Instagram. Chana Tater Tots Italian Pizza Perogies Banana Bread French Toast & Bacon Pancake Dippers The Mighty Zeus Onion The Tipsy Unicorn

"Three Days To Go..." Nice day today at Playland. Coaster and Beast were still down, so I really don't think they'll make it, to be running for Opening Day this Saturday. Ah well. Stuff happens. Well, those blue fences are definitely up and around the perimater of the PNE Grounds. So no "sneak peek of "anything PNEish" for me. Yep. All the way to the PNE Main Entrance Gate. Western Amusement vehicles. I find out they've brought the same crappy flat rides for this year's Fair. Ad at Playland bus stop, using Coaster for it's own public relations. Nice shot, though. Yeah. Well... I don't ride it much, any more. But it's still sad to see it not running. )o: More PNE Games set up. Woo hoo, "Ring The Bell" for kids! What's this? What's this? It's running! It's running! So I rode it three times!!! (o; The (not so) secret passageway is still open, beside the Glass House. Back of the Roll-A-Ball game truck. I'm in the queue for the West Coast Wheel, and once the PNE starts, you can't see anything from the queue, until you're on the Wheel. Games trucks block off your POV. Sucks. Nice seeing The Twins, again. Hmmm. Looks like the Poutine Place (black) will be sharing space with Henry's Chicken BBQ (red/white). SBNO Gawd, that awful Haunted Mansion dark ride is back! That's a pass from me. "The Caboose is down. I repeat... The Caboose is down!" "Arrrrrrr.......gots no skin on me!" What I find silly is, the "specialty popcorn" is bagged in, and NOT popped in that popper there. I mean WTF? Last Shot - Spinner going nuts.

^^ How did those fries taste? They look a bit too well done, to me. But if they taste great, who cares, right? ^ Does the lettuce wrap hold up, that way? I have thought of trying a burger that way, but I would still miss The Bun, etc. Or was there no wrap for your burger? Fun photo I found on the net.

Trot.

Rob Zombie is one of my heroes. In my collection of "Action Figures" HA!

Nothing beats KERCHUNK like what we heard (and felt, yes?) at the top of the loop of this 2012 China Tour shuttle coaster. Even those watching could hear that sound. After riding it, even I could hear that "sound" from where I took this.

^

^ I hope so too, for the PNE's sake, heh. I'm planning to hit Playland two more times: tomorrow and then Friday, checking out what's ready on the PNE grounds, etc. But also of course, finding out if Playland is actually "ready" for Saturday's opening. That said, I am also going to The Fair on Opening Day. I leave around 1130 on transit, and should be there around noon. I do this every year, with a rea$onable two week pass (under $45), and for myself as a "Senior," just a few visits pays for itself. For my first day, I take the clockwise route from the main gate, not going into any of the exhibit buildings. Just casually walking along, taking in everything that's available, including The Food. And taking photos, too. I don't ride any of the PNE rides that are brought in by Western Amusements, because a) They are all OLD flat rides. b) They never bring anything in really NEW for The Fair. Unless it's actually something new and OMG-rideable, I won't pay PNE prices for rides. Including Coaster, though I am tempted some time. My route takes me right over to the Coliseum, then down Miller Drive past the Agrodome, stables and farm exhibits (on my right). Leading into (what's now called) Revel District, then into Playland on the West Coast Wheel's side. I'll probably hit the Ride Side Bar for a brew, then continue on around Playland. Then, back past where the Doll Factory haunt house is, put the big park on my left, and I head uphill, through the FOOD STALLS ALLEY (what I call it), over to Festival Park....and I am essentially done. So if you guys want to "run into me," that's my basic Opening Day Route. And you already know what I look like, it's no big deal, you coming up and saying hi. I look old, gray hair/beard, mean and miserable.....but am approachable, LOL. P.S. If it happens to be somewhat rainy on Saturday, I'll be running around in my red poncho from Nagashima Spaland, Japan. Small reminder of who to look for. Without the neon ...on. (o;

^ Cool! (literally) I remember seeing that set up last winter, beside BC Place Stadium. I never went to it to see what it was, but I knew it was a special event thing for the season. And probably mostly for kids and their families, too. There was a ferris wheel as part of it. And everything was in white, too. So maybe I'll make a visit this time 'round. As for The Beast ^^..... Playland is having an awful time with their rides this season, including the recent shut down of Coaster. And they're not getting rid of (i.e. selling) Corkscrew yet, either. So it just sits there, SBNO. What a world, what a world. And the PNE opens in four days? Eep. And here's the site for the Aurora Winter Festival: https://www.aurorawinterfestival.com/vancouver

Huh. I didn't really see that overhead track, until you just told me, lol. My eyes are getting bad, I guess. Thanks for the info.

^ I think all of TPR should take this park over. And run it as the 1st TPR Amusement Center. Just a suggestion.

Damn, how far down do they go, to hit water? That's pretty something. Makes one appreciate how much effort, work, and materials go into creating a new thrill for the gp.

wait - i posted something. now it's gone but I'm still listed as posting,. wha' happend?

^ Wait! Is their Haunted Mansion trackless in this park? That's very cool how 'normal' this new method of dark ride is catching on. And in the previous park, I thought the bench was a Knott's copy of.... just saying. Great ongoing report. You make me anxious having hardly (read: none) any seaside amusement parks/centers around, here.

^^ First, I hope nobody gets ....uh...."hooked" by that metal piece (hand?) in the Pirate Bench, there? Second, any park with a Rock-O-Plane is A-Okay in my books!

^ Great TR! Especially all that you saw of the Disney Exhibit! It's amazing to remember, that there was a great lull in Animation for Disney... and then "The Little Mermaid" opened and the future looked better. And then "Beauty & The Beast" opened, and became the first animated feature film ever, to get a Best Picture Oscar Nomination! And after that, the Best Animated Feature Film category was created. And Animated Feature Films (both Disney and others) improved, for the better...and sometimes the worse, lol. Thanks for sharing your tour of this wonderful Exhibit! And the School Of Rock concert, too!

"Five Days Before The PNE Starts!..." I was going to go at least two more times to Playland, before The Fair started, which is this coming Saturday. Weather forecasts aren't looking too good, for now. Rain coming in by the time the PNE opens. Ick. Oh well. Life in Vancouver.... Five rides down, including the Coaster, still. I asked at the main gate if they knew what happened with the purple train, and they said, they still haven't figured out what happened a week ago. I then said "that's what comes from scrapping the Red Train!" and we all laughed. (myself, with bitterness) Picked up some more popcorn and Pina Colada fudge. And got a few prize tickets from Monopoly Quarters Drop. Easy visit. SBNO Back wall of Pizza Pizza. The pizza is 'that old' hmm? (o; Still Not Sold. "But now with newer benches to block you even more!" And that fountain keeps churning along. (Churning?) A good shot, I thought. PNE set up is slowly going on down there, somewhere. No mountains for you, today. Additional ride ticket/pass booths set up for The Fair. Today's fudge was... Noted with sadness. Hope most of this (COASTER!) is ready by Saturday.

^ We'll be at Disneyland first on Monday/9th, then DCA Tuesday/10th, with park hopping as needed. Have a four day hopper, but won't do the Magic Morning in DL until Thurs/12th. Then DCA FridayThe13th (eep?) to finish off.

^ Ooooo a steampunk overlay on SuperGirl! That visualizes very c-c-c-cool, to me.

Great start for this park, Chuck! All I remember of this park (and 2008), is f-ing little buggers jumping the Pendulum attraction queue; riding one of my first (and sadly not last) face down flying flats...a Volares? Hated it. Always looking forward to more from you. Oh, and a quick glance at this in a photo, made me incorrectly giggle. Hey it "almost" looked that spelling, right? Right? French for Nerd? Not quite. But nice to know they get table signs, too. (o;

Yes. Is the weather nice where you are, now?

^ Well, since Oblivion in Alton Towers was the first dive coaster of it's kind, I'd say they've been pretty popular through the years. And gotten much MUCH bigger, too! And honestly, everything's a "one trick donkey," even if it has a custom built layout etc.

Lots of great reaction shots there, lol. But - only two guys putting their hands up??? (third + second to last photo) Sad. Thanks for sharing these ones. The coaster looks great!

^ Yep, that's the Big Pickle Dog! After chomping half way through it, I thought this would be a good deal for two people. Don't think I'll have that again, since there's so many other "interesting eats" to try this year. On the left, there. I also got a poutine from another stall, which proved to be A LOT of food for one person. But I ate it all, lol! I also like a good amount of mustard on my dogs. Pardon the messiness, there. Nearly done! And pardon if this is a little tooooo messy for some, to see.