Mechanic

The Santa Cruz Giant Dipper still feels like it was built yesterday. Well, maybe not yesterday, but it is exceptionally well maintained. It's really hard to believe that it's as old as it is. The coaster delivers a ride that is truly deserving of its landmark status.

Fake? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN_USnoJLuI&NR=1

The sky ride cable and wheels from CGA?

I'd try here: ebay discussion forums

Have fun Bebes! I wish I could come out and meet up with you, but this little thing called work will prevent that. As for dining choices, I would like to suggest Caffe Lucio in Santa Cruz. It's almost more of a show than a restaurant. I can almost guarantee you won't forget the experience any time soon.

This would be about the point where we may need some clues.

^ Looks like Santa goes for a pretty intense ride there.

Speaking of floorless B&Ms, Medusa at SFDK, which I had the opportunity to ride a total of about 10 times during Bay Area Bash (Thanks to 3 rides during morning ERT and the rest using Gold Flashpass) , rode distinctly differently depending on which of the 2 trains I was on. One train was smooth as glass, while the other was very noticeably rattling/shaking. I'd say the rattling train was about on par with just about every ride I've ever taken on Scream. I only mention this because it made me very acutely aware of how much effect the train had on the ride when both trains were obviously running on the same exact track. I even had a brief discussion about the very noticeable difference from one train to the other with a couple of the other event attendees. It makes me wonder how much of Scream's shake and rattle is train related vs track related.

So is Terminator, but... Well, 'ya know.

That World Of Color show platform just looks simply amazing in its complexity and vast size. I think there are going to be a lot of people picking their jaw up off of the ground when that show opens.

QFT! They could make a fortune if they opened a chiropractor office at the exit.

The rescue obviously went just fine and all is well for the riders, but I can't help but wonder why they couldn't simply manually release the catch car and have the station brakes stop the train. I'm sure there's a very good reason why that isn't the way they handle such a failure. I'm just interested to know more about why ride evacuations are handled the way they are.

Honestly, and particularly since you're a Disney fan, I believe you would seriously regret missing DL/DCA. Walking under the railroad tracks and onto Main Street is like entering another world. All you'll need to do to know you made the right decision is look up at the lamp in the window of Walt's apartment above the Firehouse. It feels like he's still there, and there's just no other way to feel that than to be there. I hope it does work out for you that you can visit Legoland as well, but given the choice of only DLR vs Legoland, DLR wins in a landslide.

Tony's Hawk's "Water Challenge" during the TPR Bay Area Bash ERT. It was exceptionally awesome and I hope it becomes an annual tradition.

^ I couldn't have said it better myself. Simply a GREAT time at the park today. TPR events rule.

May I suggest "Dirty little secret" as the background song for the Zuma POV?

8/20, and about half of the 8 I did get right were guesses.

Robb and Elissa, I hope you know, (and I'm sure you probably do), that a great many of us sincerely appreciate all that you do for the members of TPR. I have yet to be able to see my way clear to make it on a TPR trip, but I have immensely enjoyed the 3 single-day SFMM events that I have attended thanks to them being made available by TPR (and Ride World, in the case of WCB) . I've only spoken with you briefly at each event, but you've always asked how our day was going and have seemed genuinely concerned that everyone is having a good time. I am truly impressed by all the work you do to make it possible for so many other people to have a great time. Trust me, we have had some of the best theme park experiences ever when we attend TPR events. I can certainly understand that opening up certain days of your trips to the rest of us involves extra work for you. I just want to make sure that you know that there are a lot of us that don't take that for granted. Here's looking forward to seeing a bunch of CRAZY TPR people having an AWESOME time a week from tomorrow!

^ I think we need Eric Cartman to come to Santa Cruz and get rid of all the hippies.

I can't imagine how I had missed this TR before, but I must say it is absolutely oustanding. Thank you for sharing.

I have a feeling this is going to end up being the - Don't Miss It! - event this year for Northern California theme park enthusiasts. My daughter, who wants to work with animals someday, is particularly excited for the early part of the day. Thanks for all you do to set up great events like this for all of us here at TPR.

I've never experienced much of a bad element in the clientele at Knott's.

I counted 4 duckies. Nice TR as always.

Chernabog is in Fantasmic as well.