pianojohn

US Canada Mexico Columbia Panama Costa Rica Japan Australia

Great TR! I really liked the honest opinions of all of the coasters. And the drawings...flawless! Here's to more fun TR's and maybe more drawings. Though it is easier to just upload pics once your camera starts working!

Have fun! And we (or at I) really enjoy living vicariously through your awesome photo TR's! Maybe see you down here in Orlando again for Halloween festivities!

As usual, great pictures, especially the mid-air cork shot! Guess I need to make plans to come back to Australia since 2000 was so long ago!! And this was pre-Superman! But I did get my Wonderland Sydney credits. Ah..not a great coaster but a very pretty park. Shame it is gone.

AWESOME Photo TR! I thought I was the only one stuck in the 80's (well, not stuck but I prefer that music more than almost anything else.) I luckily got to see Oingo Boingo back in 1987 while I was graduating from college. Great show....and one I remember fondly along with shows by The Alarm, Timbuk 3, The Mission UK, Gene Loves Jezebel, and one of my favorite triple bills; Gene Loves Jezebel, Echo and the Bunnymen, and New Order. Thanks for the pics and video! Sure takes me back!!

Great Photo TR! Esp the Spanish eye candy! Come on down to Orlando anytime! (from a fellow pink panther!) Awesome pics and running commentary!

If at all possible, I would suggest just taking the subway to Coney Island. Take the D, F, N or Q. It drops you off right there. Otherwise, I don't know what to tell you! Sorry!

Great photo TR! I have not been to the boardwalk in 8 years so it was great to see it again! Enjoy the rest of your vacation!

Awesome! You got 14 minutes of fame left!

Here is the link in case anyone is interested: http://www.sixflags.com/national/tickets/seasonloyalty.aspx Sounds like a deal to me!! Just need to find time between now and July 31st to hit SFOG!

Well, at least Ride of Steel was open when you visited. I was denied the credit a few weeks ago, and I am not planning to make the trek up there anytime soon to get it!

Hmm....I remember walking through that during the ACE Convention in 1984, but to be honest, I don't remember much about it! I DO remember that the water slides were terrible! About halfway down, the water would stop and you would start freaking out waiting for the person behind you to slam into you! Yeah, good times!

I was also there but did not get to ride. Sure I was frustrated, but since I did not pay for parking or admission, I really could not complain nor should I. A few points for those who need reminding: When you represent ACE or any other coaster group, your behavior reflects on the entire group. For example: water was provided to everyone waiting in line, but several "coaster enthusiasts" felt the need to take more than one. Not cool or classy. This also applied to the free t-shirts being handed out. Be aware of what you say at all times. I could not believe some of the stuff that these other coaster people were saying especially when told the ride would not open. Finally, lose the air of entitlement. Just because we were invited to the park to help them open the coaster does not give us the right to demand special treatment. Anything the park gives you whether it be free admission, parking, or early rides should be accepted with graciousness and appreciation. They could have easily not invited us and saved the headahce of dealing with coaster enthusiasts who act like children. Sorry to vent, but days like these make me embarrassed to be with other coaster fans.

Busch Gardens Tampa tomorrow for work and then Cypress Gardens on Thursday for Media Day for the Starliner!

I also liked how they said "grab a bite at Sunshine Seasons and then hop on Rock and Roller Coaster." Most people out there would assume they are in the same park when in reality they are at Epcot and MGM. Still fun to see all the food. And now I know why Dollywood guests are so huge. Did you see the size of that apple pie? WOW!!

I also liked how they said "grab a bite at Sunshine Seasons and then hop on Rock and Roller Coaster." Most people out there would assume they are in the same park when in reality they are at Epcot and MGM. Still fun to see all the food. And now I know why Dollywood guests are so huge. Did you see the size of that apple pie? WOW!!

Martin's Fantasy Island. On the plus side: 1) Only cost me $10.95 to get in after 5pm, and I was able to do everything as many times as I wanted. 2) The Silver Comet is a GREAT coaster! Lots of speed and drops, and not at all what I was expecting. 3) They sell Sugar Waffles! If you have not had one, they are kind of like a funnel cake but much thinner. See pic below 4) Friendly staff 5) Beautiful location and views of Niagra Falls from the Drop tower And there really aren't any negatives! When you pay $11 to get into a park, you don't expect much, but I was very impressed! Oh...free parking too!!! And this is what 1/2 of one looks like with the powder sugar all over me! This is what a Sugar Waffle looks like Fun flat rides The Silver Comet

These photo TR's are awesome for those of us living vicariously through your travels! Enjoy....and if we are lucky here in Florida, they will get the Starliner open soon! Happy 4th of July!!

Thanks for the updates and pics. In spite of our complaining, I do applaud Cypress Gardens for saving a classic wooden coaster when they could have easily and more cheaply put up a Vekoma Boomerang.

Here here!!! And Mean Streak....and The Beast...and practically ever other coaster out there in need of some sweet lovin'!!

Any idea of where this is in Osaka? Downtown or closer to USJ? Of course, the city is pretty spread out. Thanks!

70mph? This is probably from the same marketing genius who billed Gwazi as having "100mph combined speed!" If they are using this same way of measuring speed and Starliner has 2 trains, than the real speed would be around 35mph. And I also was not surprised it would not open on time. It took them forever to start construction in the first place.

Tomb Raider at Canada's Wonderland. And Viper at SFGreat Adventure. Thank goodness that piece of crap is GONE!!

I was also there on Sunday, but we walked right into Famous Dave's with no wait at noon. And the staff was excellent with lots of service, not to mention GREAT food. I had read a report about how slow it was, but I was very impressed. And the food we got...well....see the pic! My partner Shawn about to dig in ! Yum! The feast for two....but would probably feed 3 or more!

Just got back from going back to Cleveland, Ohio for my 20th college reunion (John Carroll University), and I managed to add 15 credits along the way! Flew in Wed June 20th, got ny rental car, picked up my 12 year old niece and headed out to Cedar Point! My goals: get season pass processed and ride Maverick. The weather was perfect, crowds were not too bad, and I got my credit. Maverick is fun, but my only complaint would be the head rests. For tall people (I am only 5'10 1/2"), the head rest hits you right in the middle of your head. And it takes some effort to keep your head back so you don't get major neck banging. Rode Millennium Force (great as usual though there is a bit of lateral shaking) and a quick upshot on Power Tower. Back home to get some sleep! Thursday June 21st. 5am. OUCH! Drove to Toronto to get some Canada's Wonderland credits. Now the last and only time I was at this park was in 1982. It was only a year old and gorgeous. Fast forward 25 years and it looks like it has been through the ringer. Faded paint everywhere, outdated signs, still lots of Paramount references, and unfortunately, not up to Cedar Fair standards. After waiting in line for about 20 minutes to go through security, I was told my Cedar Point season pass needed to be shown at Guest Relations for a ticket to the park. Of course, there was no signage to tell me so and no employees directing guest flow. I then waited another 15 minutes at Guest Relations, got my tickets, and then had to get BACK in line to wait another 20 to get in the park. Not a good start to my day. As soon as I got in (about 55 minutes AFTER I arrived), I tried to get some credits. Top Gun? Too long a line. Tomb Raider? Ditto. Italian Job? Not opened yet. Geez..... Finally got on my first coaster: Sky Rider, the TOGO stand up. Nothing out of the ordinary, but still a decent ride. After exiting, I noticed Italian Job open. Luckily the line was not too long, though the ride op was VERY slow and not very efficient. When I got to the front of the line, there were still three seats open. I told her I was a single rider, and she said "Next train." COME ON!!! No wonder the line was moving so slow. Not to mention they were only running three trains. Got my other credits: The Fly, The Bat, Top Gun, Tomb Raider, Silver Streak, and The Vortex. Nothing too great. All very average, and I was disappointed in the lack of customer service. If Cedar Fair had just purchased this park, I could forgive a few things. But they have owned it for almost a year now, and it still looks like garbage. Sorry, just stating my opinion. And Tomb Raider? What a horrible design! Nothing the least bit enjoyable about it! Well, after getting the credits I needed, I drove back to the states and Martin's Fantasy Island. What a GREAT little park! I got there after 5pm, so it was only $10.95 to get in. Very clean, friendly, efficient! Everything Canada's Wonderland was not! The Silver Comet is a great ride. Lots of drop, turns, etc. A great surprise since I was not expecting that much out of it. The Crazy Mouse was your typical spinning coaster. Fun, short, no line! Now the drop tower. Who makes this thing? It started out with a hydraulic shot up, and this launch was more intense than any S&S I had ever been on. After losing a little steam, you are then slowly hoisted to the top, and dropped. I rode it about a dozen times! The park closed and I was off to Buffalo and my hotel. ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Friday June 22 Had my free continental breakfast, but then stopped at Tim Horton's for an iced coffee. Tim Horton's (from what I have heard) is a Canadian coffee chain that is also popular up east. And I love my frappucino's! Drove about 30 minutes to Darien Lake! The last time I was there was in 1984 for the ACE Coaster Con at Crystal Beach. The only coaster then was The Viper. I was anxious for my Ride of Steel credit. Upon arriving, there was a HUGE sign out front: "Ride of Steel will be closed today." DAMN! This is the 2nd time I have come to a Six Flags park and ROS was closed (The first time being SFA) Regardless, I still had fun, and the park was very clean and well laid out. The Predator was not bad! I had heard mixed reviews of it, but all in all a decent ride. Did the Boomerang and Mind Eraser, and took a spin on The Viper for old time's sake. These Arrow loopers do NOT age well. It was pretty rough. On the road again, and this time a NEW park: Waldameer. Very cute, clean, reminded me of Idora. The coaster was decent, and the old hand brakes are always a welcome relief from the automated hydraulic ones. The Spinning Dragons was very cool, and this was the first one I had ever been on. I wish parks would install these instead of those spinning Mad Mouses. (Mice?) Back home to Ohio, my college reunion, and back to Cedar Point on Sunday. Thanks for reading. On to the PICS!! Thanks for readin! Steel Dragons Cute as a button! Say what?? Curse you Intamin!! Doing my Nancy Kerrigan "Why? Why??" Guys working on the Ride of Steel lift The Viper. I guess some people like pics of vertical loops. Mind Eraser: a most aptly named ride Trying to do my Tommy impression Hmm...does Sea World know about this?? WAH!!!! At the gate You will be mine! The breakfast of champions. And coaster geeks And the Silver Comet Loved the drop tower! Yes! Awesome little park! Dessert at the all you can eat buffet. I cannot recommend it though as most of the food was not very warm or appetizing. The mountain is pretty though No comment. WoW! What did you think of the ride John? OUCH! Finally inside I got to wait in this line. TWICE!! Arrgghhhh..... Or not.... Yeah! Almost in! Blame Canada! Blame Canada!! All better now! Traffic tie up: They were removing a bridge. I was not amused. On the road again...at 5 am! When in Sandusky, go to Toft's The BEST ice cream, and the biggest sizes ever! I LOVE my new GPS. It got me to Canada and back no problem! Power Tower. My niece is annoyed MF from the queue line Mantis. Do they EVER run more than two trains on this? Lines were too long. The brake run. And the building behind it is where I started my theme park career: The Palace Theatre (but I will always remember her as Lusty Lil's!) Nice theming Loop de loop Ah, yes My MAX Pass! Such a wise investment for someone who lives in FLORIDA! My niece and I at Cedar Point. She was getting annoyed with her uncle taking so many coaster pics. My rental car: A Pontiac G6. Sweet, but it guzzled the gas. Touch down! Looks like Stepford from the air Flying Continental