Nrthwnd

Great park. Awesome use of space. The "train" up through the mountain is a must. And I loved the section called Old China Town. Mostly arcades and things to buy, but very nicely done and all the trim on the buildings was perfect. Some great water view shots there, Martin. The park really lends itself to several outstanding locations for photo shots. And yes, that tower just helps add to the beauty of the overall location of Ocean Park, etc. Yeah, it's definitely on the 2016 China Tour, I have no doubt.

^ So they're doing a Hollywood Dream thing, huh? Over in Universal Japan, you pick the music you want screaming into your ears as you hurtle along, now backwards, too! It was fun, especially the Japanese songs that were definite high tech dance music. Could be a fun addition to this one.

^ Pins yes. Ear hats, no. I discovered the non-ears thing at TDL back in 2007, my first visit to the resort. I guess they tried them in the beginning, but the locals there just didn't take to it. They go for headbands and usually large oversize hat stuff.

^ Yep. Heh heh, got it when it first came out in 1982. AND the accompanying ABRIDGED version of the coffee table version - which was widely sold throughout EPCOT and WDW. It also came out in 1982, since Disney wisely thought a smaller version would sell more. And - it did! Left, Original Big "Mickey" Book; right, the "Minnie" for visitors in the parks, to buy on the spot. Not as heavy as... (o;

The cars would have to be really narrow so like two people a row on a train of maybe 7. As for the doors above, I feel that that would be a giant room with doors going everywhere and maybe the train could enter it a few times. Only one of these "door rooms" would be in the ride for that would be a lot of space and a lot of doors. I honestly don't know what the story of the coaster would be since Boo is safe and can be seen again since her door was fixed. The story could have a lot of holes in it since the door train couldn't enter other doors for that wouldn't make sense, and the doers don't go anywhere besides the scare floor and the storage room. Heh, heh, I think I just figured out a total enclosed environment for this attraction. But - Big Change Here - the coaster is NOT an overhead. It is a sit down steel. Everything is in black. Blacklight environment (like Avatar to be) and the "door frames" are built over and around each pair of seats. All "stacked" behind each other - linked on an above trolley line (that of course is a fake to simulate the overhead thing, and disappears until the end of the ride, back into the station). Ready to take off! All track of course is total black, even blacker than DLPs Rock'N Roller, with directed lighting for better effect. GP can even touch the frames and door tops - they're "real". How about that? A little bit higher like these = door frames? (o; This is the (now thankfully) closed White Canyon at Yomuiriland. RIP-WC (And thankyou Captain, for your 2008 tour photo. Much appreciated.)

^ Yes. It has those in it. (looking at it now) OMG, I totally forgot about this! DLP was celebrating it's 15th Anny, and me and David went for our (then) 35th Anny. And I knew about it and was ready to buy it - the book came out the month we were there! And I got a First Edition, April 2002, English Ed...for....45 Euros? I luvs my hobbys. LOL!

^ "THIS is how an OVERLAY is done, now?"

^ Redwoods are amazing things to actually see. I've always loved riding through them, in the N.California redwood forests. Great shot! My two were taken just a few minutes ago. Our little FAMOUS Pizza Neopolitan restaurant does so well (w/o reservations) that lines are in front of it, waiting for net tables. Usually they have nicely fed those waiting, with small thinner pizza slices. For us here, there's no snow or ice or even rain to speak of. But the temp. has gotten very very cold for us here. So, they just made it easier to wait outside for their customers. Good for them! And we don't even go there, LOL! Too noisy now, as it is family-friendly, etc. And we get take away from time to time, which is easy just being across the street. Great Fireballs!!! And tonight, 'they' just made their first appearance. (o: Close up on one. Really cool looking, and from what I see of the gp, they can get pretty close to them, too.

Hmmm... This thing about Disney "vs." Universal in what's opening etc. has turned into a real "David & Goliath" for me. And Disney will do just fine. And Universal will have finally "caught up" with Disney, using their new technologies AND that all important (Disney) theme of Total Environment, without seeing the tech itself (i.e Potter Verse). I think that really, after this year, things might reverse and then all things Disney will be happening (Ratatouille WDS; Iron Man HKDL; Shanghai Disneyland; New Tomorrowland [?] DL). For a few years or so. And then Universal will start catching up again. Like Potter in Hollywood, soon.

I also think really, that Disney is The Winner, when it comes to themeing and disguising a coaster, big or small. There are exceptions (Calif.Screamin'; those uuuugly mouses at DAK...) but they really try to make the ride experience NOT like "a usual coaster ride". Huge steel coasters and big wooden ones are totally impossible to do an entire "themeing" on. Simple. Unless totally enclosed, where sight and sound can be controlled, to an extent. But look at Exp:Everest. Other parks (and franchises) are now starting to "get it", on the theory that total environment means just that. And thankfully, Disney hasn't really done many. But the few are Choice. (Can't wait to see and ride the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Ride. And Gringotts, too.) I mean, I really liked how Disney really tried to hide the mouse and bring out the skies, for Goofy's Sky School. This one is actually on my bucket list, believe it!

With everything that gets built in Seattle, I am surprised no one has thought of this. Maybe Wild Waves keeps everybody happy at this point in time, even with an off-season. Of course, the way PLAYLAND (my home park) is laid out, coaster included, you could put a HUGE rectangular box over it, and it would fit, lol!

Woo hoo! A One-Two medal finish for the sisters from Quebec, in the Freestyle Skiing Event. And this is early for Canada to already start getting some metal from the games. In Vancouver, it was almost into the second week, before some numbers started coming in. Go Team Canada.

Well, honestly, what I have in my house is a "Collection of Collections" heh heh. And that's from buying and keeping the stuff for well over 40 years now! So, there's a Thread here somewhere, about my mug/cup/glass collection, and I've just posted a few of the Theme park cds I pick up from tour to tour. And here's most of my book and video collection - mostly about Disney Parks, but here and there, a few exceptions found. Like the recent "Knotts Preserved" book. I usually buy them when they are first offered and don't wait around too long before they become scarce and "rare." EDIT to add: I realize most of all of this isn't really "bought at the parks" souvenir type stuff. But honestly, it's as much a big part of my over all Theme Park Enjoyment, as any CD, pin, t-shirt, mug, etc. The big original Disney Book of Animation is there on the far left, under the ivy. I also got the Disney Paris book at DLP in 2007 when it was first released. Different Milestone Books, mostly of Disney. And Inside Story by Randy Bright. A bit closer look at some of the titles. I have both the Imagineering Books; some guides of parks, Official and Non- ; the two on POTC and Haunted Mansion; lots and lots to browse through and enjoy. Smaller books, some videos. Including the History Channel's look at WDW; the making of ZED in TDLR; the metal cases hold the tv coverage of DL's 1955 openings and stories and history of other things in the Main Park.

Twisty Red Track Looks Even MORE Sexy!

^^^ Ha! We saw a little girl with this same kind of "Duffy Basket", Neil! We were in the Yucatan Grill line in Disney Sea's Lost River Delta and there she was! Here she is! All Duffy-ed up. On our 2013 TPR Japan Tour.

Just saw Wolf of Wall Street. Very very good movie. Insane at times. De Caprio has never been better, and Jonah Hill definitely deserved his supporting oscar nod, as did Leonardo. Great direction by Scorsese, brilliant screenplay. We enjoyed it, with all the "over the top" of it all.

For me lately, it has to be my collection of Theme Park CDs. Mostly from the Disney Resorts, but a few here and there I wasn't expecting to find. And when I play one, I immediately remember the visits and times spent at the park(s). And there's actually some really good music out there, for just playing at home for background music, etc. I actually got four CDs from Tokyo Disney Resort, 2013. The middle one was from Fuji-Q Park. Leaving Sarkanniemi Park in Finland, 2009. My 100th park AND they gave us each a CD of park music! The Disney CDs from our visit to Japan in 2011.

Actually, my Top Three in this category are... 1 - Tokyo Disney Sea 2 - EPCOT 3 - Efteling Park (the landscaping alone makes this a standout for me)

^ But do remember to take photos, before you pass out with fright.

The TPR Scandi Tour this June, is it for me this year. And all the coasters on it, old and new ones. It's all I can afford right now, for "out of town" park visits. (Other than my own home park, Playland.)

^^ My actual "problem" in comparison, is that I am the reverse of you, and have been to hardly any of the US parks, especially those in the midwest, southeast, northeast. All of mine have pretty much been overseas, lol. Still.... Once you've been to Disney Sea, you're just blown away, right from when you walk in and see that harbor and Mt.Prometheus in front of you. And you haven't even ridden anything, yet!

For myself, TOKYO DISNEY SEA is the ultimate in themeing and literally "taking you away to other places and times". The park hides it's show buildings perfectly, and the transitions from one "land" to the other really can't be beat. Looking at overhead photos of both this park and TDL (or any park), it really shows you how much "backstage" they hide from the gp. Every other park in the world I have been to, does not compare at all, where Disney Sea is concerned. Then, there's a little attraction like this to make TDS (IMHO) The Best Themed Park Ever. GO Lava Monster!

Red Track looks Very Sexy.

Hmmm. "Before and After the Tanning Spa". All I got for now.

Love all the colours of the building outside. You can never go wrong with pure Agave Tequila. The food - faints at the steak - looks awesome. And the four of you in masks need another caption. Great coverage of the restaurant, Robb!