pianojohn

HA! Great! I love getting free shows at the parks!

I went on Sunday, and the crowd was pretty rowdy there too. I also agree that they need to limit the amount of alcohol sales during an event such as this since people are already in a heightened state, and the addition of alcohol merely fuels the fire. It was also disconcerting walking through the metal detector at the front of the park with my hands in the air. Hmm...I felt like a criminal, and I didn't even do anything. Just my two cents...

Thanks for the pics and TR. The park reminds me of Opryland and Dollywood. One of these days I will be able to see for myself!

Nice meeting all of you as well! Come and see me sometime playing piano at Comedy Warehouse, Ad Club, or Hoop Dee Doo!

Well, just got back home after spending a few hours with the TPR gang. Yes, I have FINALLY met Robb and Elissa! Have fun tonight at Mickey's Not So Scary...I am going there Sunday night! Here are a few pics from today: Disney Cast Members unite!! After Beer School, I turned the corner and who should I run into?? Hmmm....I think Derek enjoyed Beer School a little too much... Soren, Ryan, and more cheese soup Guy, I, and Cheese soup TPR members on the half shell The obligatory Soren picture In line for Nemo with some Nemo virgins! On the Land boat ride....what have I gotten myself into?

Yeah! One of my favorite movies! Farmer Ted and Jake Ryan

Not sure if this was posted, but when Sheikra opened, they ran all 5 trains. It was INCREDIBLY efficient since they were able to load and unload two trains at the same time. Each train required 4 ride ops, so you got 8 people on the platform, at least one in the control booth, and one at the top of the stairs and one at the entrance to the ride. That's 11 people, but well worth the money it costs to pay them. The last few times I have ridden Sheikra, there was one person at the entrance, no one at the top of the stairs, and 2-3 people loading single trains with one person in the control booth. Granted this is not the busy season, but even with 2-3 trains on the track, they still manage to keep the line moving. I think it comes down to how the ride is designed to run. Sheikra was designed to run 5 trains at once without too much stacking. And Disney always seems to be running the maximum amount of trains on their coasters. Of course, none of their coasters are wood, so they don't have to worry about wear and tear as much as a wood coaster. I am still amazed that The Beast is standing after my brutal rides this past July.

Thanks for the TR...how about some pics! Especially of the King Cobra cars. Thanks!

Just searched on Amazon.com for one...and all they have are used ones going for about $145 each!! Talk about greedy! It reminds me of the Cabbage Pacth craze from the 80's.

Alien: Resurrection (1997) Ok....my turn: Just answer me one question. Yes, you're a total fag. Ha ha ha. That's not the question.

Wouldn't it be cool if all the millions of Disney fans who buy The Little Mermaid DVD start a grass roots effort to get Disney to actually build this ride? I have watched this part of the DVD over and over, and I think it would be a great addition, perhaps replacing the Little Mermaid show at MGM with this attraction. The two levels looks awesome, and if done well (and not on the cheap), it could be as impressive as Pooh's Hunny Hunt, though completely different technology. Just my two cents...

Interesting TR but could you please split it into readable paragraphs? (3-4 sentences). It's hard to get through more than a few sentences without giving up. Thanks

I felt the same way about Fuji Q. I went in December of 2003 and the park was not even crowded. Yet it still took 1 1/2 hours to ride Dodonpa. Sooooooooo not worth the time. It was freezing cold and they would not let us wear our gloves or hats (since they may fly off and someone could get hit in the face with....a knit cap? COME ON!!) so we froze during our 1 minute ride. It is really unfortunate when you travel any distance to ride a particular ride only to be denied it. Space Mountain was closed at TDL when we were there, so I neve got that credit either.

Well, I bought one of the blue cars at the auction back in 1984. I kept it in my parent's garage for about a year and then sold it to a collector. I will have to get the pics of it the next time I am home. As for the ride, it was GREAT. I rode it a lot in 1982 and 1983. In fact, I probably got one of the last rides on it on Labor Day in 1983. It was the last day of the season, and the crowds were non-existent. I probably rode it about 20 times that day. It was an intense ride, and you had to know HOW to ride it to avoid getting banged around too much. The fan curve after the first drop was pretty brutal, and I used to position my hip against the side of the car so it would take the blunt of the slam when we dropped. There was a permanent lap bar that you squeezed under and held onto throughout the ride. That's right: no locking lap bar or even a seat belt. Nowadays, it would probably have new cars with seat dividers, head rests, lap bars, seat belts, and trim brakes everywhere. It was a great ride. Anyone else get to experience it? Here is the car in my parent's garage circa 1984. I tried to restore it but gave up after a few months and sold it.

And don't forget that LOVERBOY is playing there in October! Long live the 80's!!

Awesome! Although I have not been to an ACE Convention since 1984, I see nothing has changed!

Thanks! That is one of the shows I vocal coach. It's called AMERICAN BEAT at the Desert Grille, soon to be replaced by the Christmas show, Emerald Beat (from BGW) and then American Beat again!

I love Photo TR's since I can live vicariously through those who travel! Have fun in Germany and maybe see you down in Orlando sometime!

I went to the auction for Idora Park way back in 1984. It was kind of cool looking at all the stuff for sale, but also very sad knowing that the park would soon be history.

WOW! Now that brings back memories! I worked the Imagination Pavillion in the spring of 1989. Boy I sure do miss that whole ride experience and especially the Image Works upstairs!

Yes, it was a vaudeville show with mostly show tunes and shtick. I did it for 2 years, then 2 years in the country show (which is now torn down and replaced by Skyhawk) and one year doing a 40's show at Centennial Theatre. Going on 20 years now in theme park entertainment! And looking for more cool pics from back in the day....

"It was 20 years ago today..." Well, a little more than 20, but I did find some pics from my first summer working at Cedar Point. I will keep looking for more, but for those who don't remember what the Point was like (or were not even BORN yet!) enjoy!! EDIT: I added a few off season pics from 1989 when they were building Magnum. Pretty cool!! Added a few more pics! Enjoy! Where it all began! Me playing piano for "Ain't We Got Fun!" at Lusty Lil's Golden Palace Theatre in Frontiertown. Now, it's just the Palace Theatre. The view from the skyride. Notice the lack of Iron Dragon, Mantis, Coasters, Power Tower, and Dragster but the PLETHORA of trees! Ah....the old Mill Race. In this spot now sits the Raptor. The Midway Carousel was also there before being moved to the main entrance. From downtown Sandusky. Back then Magnum seemed HUGE! Amazing what 15 years can do! One more pic from the Space Spiral of Corkscrew Midway. Wow...they sure had a lot of trees. This was also in 1986 prior to the closing of the Frontier Lift and the installation of Iron Dragon. Ah...the Mill Race. A pic of Avalanche Run pre Disaster Transport from the sky ride.

OH, one more post! I have not seen it in person yet, but I did watch it on the internet: WICKED at Universal Studios Japan. Yes, this is a 35 minute version of the Broadway musical WICKED. I was skeptical too until I saw the video. WOW! They basically boiled the show down to the best 35 minutes and included all the big songs including "One Short Day," "Popular," "The Wizard and I" and "Defying Gravity" where Elphaba actually flys. The vocalists they hired are amazing. They use an all Japanese cast except for the role of Elphaba which is played by a Westener (3 girls from the USA and one from Australia). To see a short clip of it, check out the Universal Studios Japan audition site: http://www.universalauditions.com/Japan/

Good pics but PLEASE! Break up your TR into readable paragraphs. ie 3-4 sentences. It makes it easier to read and people will most likely read it instead of skip it (like I did). Thanks!

Ok here are a few: Where it all began! I did my first theme park show (playing piano) at The Place Theatre (then known as Lusty Lil's) in the summer of 1986, and twenty years later, I am STILL doing theme park entertainment! About to ride Millenium Force with my partner Shawn! Labor Day weekend at Breaker's Express. No crowds, but the weather was lame (cold and cloudy)