Nrthwnd

Finally started my Japan Tour thread! Was planning to start it on Monday, but "something just told me inside".... And - "Here We Go........" ( + Tokyo report, eventually)

^ Oops. My bad. Changing now, lol! Man, that jet lag lasts and lasts and.... Thanks for the correction, Elissa. And ^^ Yes, I do! Quite proud of it too. I also noted a number of the others on tour who had digital cams with them, took even less pix than I did, with my nine sad little rolls of film, lol! Will probably keep doing it (to Jeff Johnson's sad sigh) till they stop with the film AND the processing, heh.

Decided the timing was right to get my film in for processing and printing - and yes, there are some places that still do that sort of thing, woo hoo! (o: So "Here we go..." (often said during the tour, espcially at TokyoDisney)... Bonus Park Day - Chiba Zoo + rainfall = No coaster Open The Best Thing about the day, the group of us going for the Bonus Credit on a pretty wet day, was that we all put our trust two "Group Leaders" other than The Alveys...which was great! So THANKYOU EB and Dave-TheBat for getting us to the park and back, even though the credit wasn't to be had that day (others went back later on and got the credit on a sunnier day). We got a nice walk-around the zoo area, and the park staff couldn't be nicer to us, even though they couldn't open the coaster for us, heh heh. So, after that, the next day we travelled to the "Official" First Parks of the TPR Japan Tours (I did the Combo + Disney). And we got there, taking our first ride on Japan's wonderful cross-country rapid Bullet Train, called Shinkansen. Once you've tried it, you'll never go back to pokey old busses, heh heh. ---> Kashiikaen and SpaceWorld - the first, a new park & credits, the second a repeat park with great rides. But at the beginning, with another wet morning behind us, it looked like the two coasters at Kashiikaen weren't going to be available for us to ride, like at Tobu Zoo. But things did dry up, the park staff went (IMhO) overboard to get the coasters ready for our group - and we rode! Bunbun and Pegasus ridden and counted! And THANKYOU Kashiikaen! Basically, that's all we were there for at Kashiikaen, those two credits. Credit whores that we were, we then continued on to our next park...SpaceWorld. Now this park I had been to before, in the TPR 2007 tour, so nothing new to experience for myswelf. But we got there early, the management and staff got us ERT on Venus GP and then escorted us over to Zaturn for ERT there - and then got us over to Titan V, as the park opened, to be "first riders" of the day! How cool was that? THANKYOU Spaceworld! I got to re-ride rides I enjoyed the first time, like the gi-normous SkyWheel they had (my first back in 07) giving great veiws of the park and the surrounding area. The "Panic Attack" walkthru which had a great (SPOILER ALERT)... room showing a false reflection of itself - and THEN the alien comes into the reflection at you!!! Great stuff. And the forward-backward sitting coaster...Boogie-Woogie Space Coaster. Fun and silly. So - here's some pictures to start off my tour of Japan back in June. Enjoy... The Tour Starts - and we start with SHINKANSEN - Japan's Bullet Train! Random Waiting-To-Board-the-Train shot. Kashiikaen Park - Ride Staffer, Elissa and Robb in talks with front-of-park tickets. We're in! And here I am in front of the (one of many thru tour) posted Kashiikaen parkmap. We did get folding maps for most of our parks, and some even in english! First Offical Coaster of Tour! Bunbun Coaster! Aren't we shameless? This is the other coaster at Kashiikaen - Pegasus - its a bit bigger than Bunbun, lol. For you Animal Totem freeks - this is mine, really! And I have the (shhh) tattoo of Pegasus on my left arm, too! Back to waiting for Japan transit, always/usually on time, and ever so air-conditioned, lol! Space World Lunchtime! Emma, JC, myself and my roomie Bob enjoying great local cuisine - and at a theme park too! SkyWheel overview. Was warm, but overcast that day I remember. Still a good view of everything below. Not the best 'view' of Venus GP. But I like the tangle of the green track. And the Space Shuttle must have taken off, hee hee.

BUMP to announce... Just read in this morning's local city paper, Atmosfear is (in the ad) Opening on.... Saturday! The same day that our Annual GAY DAY happens at Playland. (Don't forget to wear a red shirt! ) Hmmm. There should be some really big girly-type screams a-plenty that day and on that ride, lol. Looking forward to seeing it in action - and riding it after it's opened, probably in the following week. Saturday will be nuts with the crowd size.

Bump to post new pix of Atmosfear. They're currently testing the ride w/o any riders on it. And hopefully, as they've been advertising, the thing will be ready and operable "sometime this month." We wait - be patient - and hope for the best, lol. Here's the photos I took on Sat. July 9... Walking to the park - what do I spy there on the left of Hellevator? Getting closer now, with both towers poking through the trees in Exhibition Park. And here's the view from Playland's main entrance. Doing artsy fartsy shots of Atmosfear with Hellevator in front. Looking good, from what I see at ground level. Everything appears to be assembled (I hope) properly, lol. A view from the ferris wheel. Another view, bit higher up on the wheel. Last shot, another artsy one. "Opening in July"! Here's hoping, soon.

"Don't Break the Rules" sung by Norbert Leo Butz & Co. from the Broadway cast CD of Great score by the guys who scored Hairspray!

^^ (after watching video...) That was great, Brandy! Pretty good, w/o costumes, makup, lighting and...everything else, LOL. But am curious - the 'bear' on (my) the left of you. I take it he will be shaving soon, to help with his Chinese Henchman makeup? That asked, is he the one who falls in love with Miss Dorothy - or is it the (already clean shaven) other Henchman of yours, heh heh? Looking foward to a steller Opening Night (Merde and Break-a-Leg or Three), Incredi-OMG-Mazing Reviews and of course, the all-important Opening Night PAR-TAY!

Damn. I wish that thing had been available to ride when the TPR tour was there, back in late June. But it's not open till July 13th, I remember seeing on posters and stuff. Oh well - next Fuji-Q visit, heh heh. Thanks for posting the video!

Random question to ask but... Has anybody lately been at the Studios, to check and see what progress (if any) is being made with the Ratatouille attraction, etc.? Been awhile, wondering if any foundation has been put down, etc. Posted photos would be great, thanks in advance!

In Cosmoworld the ERT they gave to us on Vanish was awesome! And on the spinning coaster, as well! It was all great, that day. And I got the Meat Rooster, which was pretty cool to get. And in Sea Paradise Park, I got to tour thru their big and massive Aquarium and see a bit of the Outdoor Stage Show, thanks to Rosie's insistence we do so. Plus of course, <3 Blue Fall <3 and a great haunted walk-thru with Matt - us staying 'connected' by way of a short, knotted rope which was interesting, lol. That was a great day, to be sure. (EDIT to add a pic of my newly-aquired Meat Rooster, woo hoo!) Minus the feet, unfort. But heeere's Meat Rooster! Found at The Only Meat ____ Capsule machine we found, on the tour! (o:

Got home from TPR Japan tour yesterday, and found out my partner had gone out and got us tix to Thurs.' performance (it it's last week) of local professional company's production of HAIRSPRAY Excellent! Can't wait to see it live onstage!

^ & ^^ Sorry. I was making personal notes after just coming home from the Japan Tour, and somehow while following the first pages of Robb's TR here, I allowed myself to post comments, w/o any references/meaning to what I was posting. Which means, I need to get my own TR going, soon. My bad. Call it jet lag, please?

After running thru the first several pages of the tour (finally, after much-needed sleep and time-and-space re-orienting...) Notes on Pages 1 - 9: - Didn't do Disney add-to at beginning of tour, so not important to me, HA! - Note to Bob/gisco, his "stick" isn't up any more at Mitsui Greenland. They probably burned it, hee hee hee. - Remember Chiba Zoo as a fuzzy, soaked... um, maybe next time, better weather? - Missed Namja Town - See myself in First Official "Listen to Elissa, Important Information" Group Photo. (squeel!) Remind self to suck in gut, more often for group pix. - First Offical Coaster of Tour to Ride - and it's my animal totem - Pegasus @ Kashiikaen! (DBL SQEEEL!) - First park to learn/remember that RED = GO, not Stop. Tee hee. - Missed Meat-on-Stix meal. Instead, picked up Strawberry Bread mix for home Breadmaker at multi-level Electronics store near hotel... Who knew? - Likes group shots in moving transport. Tokyo's moving transport rawks!!! (To be continued...)

And different from Canadian porn, too! Or so I am told ...

I mean... Forget the coasters! It's all Meat-on-Sticks with you guys this Japan tour, hmmm?

Hey'all. Am back from the TPR Japan Tours, so am planning to head over to the park before this coming weekend, and check out what's happening lately with Atmosfear, take a few pix, etc. And I also will have an interesting comparison opportunity as I just rode an identical (in design and height) StarFlyer at Fuji-Q Highland Park, one week ago today! Hopefully, the ride cycle here will be just as cool as it was at Fuji. Stay tuned, lol.

Am back home now - right where I should be here - for the TR on the day I skipped a park for a ... swimming pool, LOL! Your Yomuirland Day looked awesome, everybody. Sorry I missed out. But then again - mmmmm... sauna and jacuzzi. And Spin Bullet (when I caught up with y'all) was every bit as WTF as I expected it to be, LOLOL! And the rest of the indoor park was great too, as I certainly got my fill of simulationBzzzzzzzT! But a really good Bzzzzzzz. . Dem dolls, dem dolls dem.......... dolls. Am fuzzy with memories of all and when which day, etc, hmmmmm... So going back and catching up - looks great, so far Robb! Muchas Arigato!

"Baptize me." from the multi-Tony-awarded The Book of Mormon 9 Tonys and The Most Amazing "Best Musical" You've Ever....Heard! (o: HELLO!

Ii's the same layout as the one at Duinrell park outside of Amsterdam. Called Falcon, I believe? (Sorry if I repeat, but it's been awhile for me to catch up, lol.) Ran great too - and especially with all the trees so close, surrounding it. And the paintjob on the track and supports also helped heighten the effect of the ride experience, too. Very camo-RIFIC, lol! Have fun on it, everybody who gets to ride this one! Should be good.

I love the Nightlife. Broadway cast cd of Priscilla, Queen of The Desert.

Thanks Joey for helping rev me up - leaving tomorrow for Japan. Yes!!! (And listening to cd of Broadway cast singing ~Go West~ from "Priscilla, Queen of The Desert"!)

Here's the last pix I could take of Atmosfear, today. On the ground, and one from the ferris wheel, close to it. I leave mid-week for the first of the two TPR Japan Tours (with a little bit of Tokyo Disney in between, heh heh) so hopefully, by the time I get back, this thing will be finally up and running. But... I chatted with one of the ride ops, and she wasn't too convinced Atmosfear would meet it's July 1st Opening Day. But whatever happens, I'll find out when I get back from Japan on July 4th, lol! See y'all! Lots of Atmosfear's pieces there, all surrounding the main tower. The 'device' that holds the chains/seats is behind the tower. Sort of the same shot as yesterday. And you can sort of see the 'device' that holds the chains and swings - and swings, lol. Another shot of the seats, still snugged together, ready for separation and attachment to the 'device'. (o: I am not totally sure what this is for, except to enable the 'device' to go up and down the tower? Could I have a Star Flyer expert HERE on this, please? Thanks in advance. Looking a bit closer at the 'device' back there, being worked on. Sorry about pic fuzziness. It's a cheap mini-digi cam, lol! They have started to put the actual tower together, which is great! And last look/shot of Atmosfear-in-the-making, before I take off for Japan! Hopefully, it will be completed and operating by July 1st.

This whole petting zoo thing is really very common I know with travelling fairs, or state/provincial fairs, etc. And most always with farm animals of a kind and age/temperment. The only difference is, dogs and cats are thrown into the petting mix as it were, LOL. I know I will be missing my cat Camille, and actually being able to spend a few seconds or minutes with a cat who 'takes' (I hope) to me... a good neat memory of the tour, to be sure, heh heh.

One car. One long - really long - lift hill. And only two people per car. Hmmm. I think we have the makings of a First-Ever 6 HOUR QUEUE at Fuj-Q! (Hoping to the Coaster Gawds it doesn't REALLY lead to this. Eep.)

Wasn't there a pet play area at Mitsui Greenland as well? I remember being on one of those wtf skyglider seat-thingies? And looked to one side and saw this sudo-petting area, all enclosed with netting and stuff. That also had dogs & puppies in it. Which when we saw it, a few of us thought it was .... creepy. But that's Japanese culture, as it applies to their parks. And not everyone can have a pet of their own, all the time, for whatever reasons. But it was certainly different, for a theme park. Any park. And oooooooo kittiessssssss.