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pianojohn

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Everything posted by pianojohn

  1. The shortest path is down the steps next to Loch Nessa, along the Rhine River, and back up the steep hill by Land of the Dragons. This is the most direct route, but it also involves a steep descent and ascent. Once you come up the hill, go straight ahead and Darkastle should be on your right. The guests coming the other way have to walk through Banbury Cross, pass the horses, through Ireland, around the old Threadneedle Faire, through France, into NEW France, across the bridge by Alpengeist and then through Reinfeld to the ride. If you have a stroller or wheelchair, this is the only way you can go.
  2. Thanks for asking! A campy musical about the business behind theme park entertainment, THEME PARK DIVA explores the seedier side of putting on a show for the roller coaster and cotton candy crowd. A show within a show, THEME PARK DIVA follows the adventures of Suzi Ditty, a "bright eyed innocent country gal" who lands a role in "Music Music Music Music and More!", the new musical spectacular being presented at Galaxy World USA. She ends up confronting Amber Crystal, a veteran of theme park shows and a true DIVA in every sense of the word. Yet it's not all fun and games for the gals. This is the year that Galaxy World wants to win the coveted Silver Stub award for the best theme park show in the country. And this year's new show: "Music Music Music Music and More!" may just be the one to do it! From the initial audition through rehearsals, backstage antics to numerous rewrites and revisions and finally the show's BIG patriotic finale "The USA is A-OK", THEME PARK DIVA celebrates the joy that is corporate entertainment. Will Suzi ever fit in? Will Amber finally leave theme parks once and for all? Will the show win the award? FIND OUT!! SEE THEME PARK DIVA! Whew! I think that about sums it up! Maybe you guys can come and see it when you are in Orlando! Let me know! We have shows Memorial Day weekend on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. I know, I know... it seriously cuts into riding time! I am with you there!! Amber Crystal, the reigning Theme Park Diva!
  3. I loved the first one after reading the book and imagining what they would do with it. JP2 was OK and JP3 was a poor excuse for a movie. Are there any sequels that were actually BETTER than the original? My vote would be for T2. AWESOME movie!
  4. Hello all! Just a quick plug for my show THEME PARK DIVA which will be presented at the 2005 Orlando Fringe Festival. 30 words about the show: “Favorite Fringe Show” Orlando Sentinel, “Brilliant, great songs, great singing” Ink 19. DIVA returns with more seats, more songs, more fun! Join the gang and celebrate corporate entertainment! It’s AWESOME! If interested, check out my show's website www.themeparkdiva.com. Tickets can be purchased online at www.orlandofringe.org. And what's a theme park show without a BIG patriotic fianle! Logo for park in show. I will be selling buttons at the show...could be the next WallyWorld! Poster for show with all the dates and times
  5. Wish I could go, but I will be driving up to Roanoke, VA for a show. Have fun and maybe I can meet some of you next time!!
  6. 1986 Pianist for Ain't We Got Fun at Lusty Lil's at Cedar Point 1987 Pianist for Ain't We Got Fun at Lusty Lil's at Cedar Point 1988 Pianist for Country Sunshine at Frontier Theatre Cedar Point 1989 Pianist for Jumpin' at the Jukebox at Centennial Theatre at CP 1990 Pianist for Country Sunshine at Frontier Theatre Cedar Point 2000 Vocal Coach and Show Writer/Director at Cedar Point 1994-1997 Senior Area Supervisor (Vocal) at Busch Gardens VA 1999-2002 Vocal Coach for Universal Studios Orlando, FL 1999-2000 Organist at Circus McGurkus at Islands of Adventure 1999 Professor X at X-Men Street Show Islands of Adventure 2000-01 Vocal Coach for Universal Studios Japan Osaka 1999-present Pianist at Comedy Warehouse @ Pleasure Island at WDW 1999 Pianist for Miss Minnie's Country Christmas at MK 1999-2003 Organist for Candlelight Processional at EPCOT 2000 Keyboard Player for Cast in Bronze at EPCOT 2003-present Pianist at Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue at Pioneer Hall at Fort Wilderness WDW 2004-present Pianist at Adventurers Club @ Pleasure Island at WDW 2003-04 Pianist for Rico and Rosa's Musical Feast at the Waterfront at Sea World, Orlando, FL 2005-present Vocal Coach at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, FL WHEW!! My first show at Cedar Point!
  7. I gotta disagree with you. If you get to IOA first thing in the morning, you can technically do almost everything within a few hours. Start at the Hulk, Dr. Doom, Spiderman, then do both water rides, Jurassic Park, and Dueling Dragons. We did this during Easter Week and managed to get to the back of the park by noon. Then we had practically an entire day to spend at Universal Studios which for some reason is always more crowded then IOA. As for doing Magic Kingdom and EPCOT in a single day, it is possible, but you will spend at least a half hour going from park to park. And that is being optimistic. When you go from MK to EPCOT, you take one monorail from MK to the Ticket and Transportation Center, then a 2nd monorail to EPCOT. Add to that the walking, and you've spent almost an hour just traveling. My advice is to spend an entire day at both parks, getting there as soon as they open and staying as late as you can handle. There are so many things to do at MK and EPCOT that spending just a half day there you will miss out on a lot. Must sees at MK: Thunder, Space, and Splash Montains, Haunted Mansion, Philharmagic, Small World (just because it looks so great now), Pirates, Jungle Cruise,and possible some of the dark rides in Fantasyland. And you MUST see WISHES, the nightly fireworks show. EPCOT must see's: Mission: SPACE, Test Track, Soarin', and for kitsch factor the biggies up front: Spaceship Earth, Living Seas, Universe of Energy, The Land, Imagination. Spend a few hours in World Showcase and don't miss Illuminations. MGM can be done in a half day if all you are doing is Tower of Terror and Rock 'n RollerCoaster. FANTASMIC is cool, but I still prefere Disneyland's version and the fact that you don't have to sit on a metal bench in a stadium waiting for it to start. You can literally waste 2 hours for that show, and that's not right! Good luck!
  8. Here are a few of my favorites! Enjoy! The Villian at Geauga Lake in 2000, its first year of operation. Thunder Dolphin from the Artist's Cafe, a nightclub about 45 stories above LA Qua Amusement Park in Tokyo Kraken from the Sky Tower WDW Castle during Wishes WDW Castle at night...one of my favorite pics.
  9. Thanks for taking the time to do that! I appreciate it for those of us who would give up looking after a park or two!
  10. For me, Kraken is the best B&M in Orlando. Yeah, I know Hulk is cool and has a great launch, but I feel there are two many elements in too short a time and space. Kraken, on the other hand, spaces everything out. I love the way one element flows into the next. I also love the location right over the water, and the fact that most days you can walk right on it. Great ride!
  11. They rotate the menu a little bit each time I have gone. I would recommend almost everything on the menu, and they usually have a dessert display as well. The best part, though, is the atmosphere. I just love the setting, decor, and location right on the water. Make sure you check ahead since the hours change quite often. The best time is a late lunch (1:30-2) or just before sunset. That way, you can check out the great neon from across the water at Marvel Superhero Island.
  12. Since they just held auditions down here for the host of the show, I would think mid to late May before it debuts at the old Wild West show stage. Not sure how long this show will last before the novelty wears off, ie. Millionaire at MGM.
  13. Just got back from BGT with some more pics. I think the coaster looks awesome, and one of the best features is the way the first drop is visible from the lift hill. It is probably more psychological than anything, but as you ascend the 200 feet, a look to your right and all you see is track headed straight down. That should freak some people out! Also, I don't think the crowds are ever that bad at BGT. One of the reasons is that the usual crowd there is 60+ if not older, and they tend to avoid the thrill rides. When I went on Tuesday, everything was a walk on. At one point, I was the only one on Cheetah Chase. Not the only one in my car, but the only one on the whole ride! Of course, the ride is sort of lame, but nevertheless! But DO avoid HallowScream for crowds. It took us an hour just to get into the parking lot, and everything in the park was an hour to 1 1/2 hour wait. They really need to do a better job with traffic off I-75 to that left turn at the park. They recently completed the underpass for trams from the parking lot, but it is still a 2 lane road that leads to the parking lot.
  14. There is a Starbucks at Universal Studios Orlando right across from the Beetlejuice show, and the prices are not that out of line with out of park locations. And when you compare the price to "normal" theme park inflated prices, it all evens out. Besides, I'd rather pay $4 for a Frappucinno than $4 for a coke. It just feels like you're not getting "as" ripped off, although I am sure you are!
  15. As a person who has made his living in theme park entertainment (5 years at Cedar Point, 4 at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, 3 at Universal Orlando, 1 at Universal Japan, 1 at Sea World and 6 and counting at Walt Disney World), Opryland was considered the premier theme park for entertainment, and it has yet to be matched anywhere. They spared no expense with their shows, often employing live bands of 6-12 members, an unheard of amount of musicians in today's world. I visited it twice and truly miss the last place you could see live music wherever you turn! And CHAOS was awesome its first year of operation!
  16. I liked Rampage back in 1999 at the Spring Coaster Con. I am not sure how it has held up since then. Also, Wildcat at Hersheypark is cool. Pretty much any curving twisting first drop works for me.
  17. Just rode Soarin' today during Cast Previews and I love it! I think it is an awesome addition to EPCOT, and will hopefully revitalize the other side of Future World in the same way Test Track and Mission:SPACE revitalized the opposite side. The que (SP?) is great. It really feels like an airport and the music and lights really add to the ambiance. I rode it in the back row first and then the front row. Two different experiences, but both equally rewarding. I cannot wait to ride it again!
  18. Why don't we reserve judgment on the coaster until we ride it! Lots of coasters look lame in videos and then end up being great rides and vice versa. Case in point: I was so psyched to ride Texas Giant after seeing all the videos on it. MAN was I disappointed once I got to ride it. I think it will be a fun ride and definitely and lot more convenient than Oblivion and L5 (I think that's the name of the other one.) I will be there next Tuesday so I can see if they are still testing and give a first hand account of the speed from the ground view.
  19. Crowds should not be too bad. I had family visit me Easter week, and even with the HUGE crowds, we still managed to do quite a bit. The trick is to get there as soon as the parks open and hit the E ticket rides at whatever park you are at (Space Mtn, Big Thunder, Splash Mtn, Mission Space, Test Track, TOT, RnR Coaster). AVOID Magic Kingdom on weekends and Mondays. For some reason, most tourists hit MK on Mondays and you will deal with huge crowds there no matter what time of year. The weather has been great here lately, so you have a great time!
  20. I rode the Ultra Twisters at both Nagashima Spaland and Ikoma Skyland in Japan. Both were very smooth and actually a lot of fun! This one also looks cool. Here are some pics of the Ikoma one. They wouldn't let me videotape while I was riding it, so I let them use my video camera and tape me from the platform. It is pretty funny because they kept talking throughout in Japanese, and when I got off the ride, I tried to thank them in what little Japanese I knew. Great day!
  21. Since I will be doing a show in Roanoke, VA for 6 weeks this summer, I am hoping to spend my one day off each week at the following parks: Dollywood, Six Flags America, King's Dominion, and Busch Gardens VA. When the show ends, I plan to drive up to see the family in Cleveland with stops at King's Island and Cedar Point. Driving BACK down to Orlando will necessitate stops at Six Flags Over Georgia, POSSIBLY Wild Adventures, and then home to Orlando. I am still hoping to make it out to CA for Disney's 50th with stops at Knotts and Magic Mountain. And since I am in NYC about once every two months, perhaps a trip to Six Flags Great Adventure would be in order. Still haven't made it out to Cypress Gardens yet!
  22. For me, it's BGW all the way. Of course, I am prejudiced since I worked there for 4 years as a supervisor. The attention to detail, theming, everything is just something you don't see at many parks including Disney. I also love the lush setting with all of the trees. In the summer, it is a sea of green, but in the fall, the leaves just pop out at you. It really is the most beautiful park in the world. I also love the coasters. I could ride Apollo's Chariot and Alpengeist all day, and BBWolf and Loch Ness are still fun. At PKD, I could do each coaster maybe once or twice, but that's about it. They beat you up too much, and the ride ops have never been that friendly. Food: hands down BGW has some of the best park food anywhere. But if you still cannot decide, do them both. They are about 1 1/2 hours apart.
  23. Maybe not my favorite coaster, but some of my favorite pics are of the faces of riders on coasters! It is always a challenge to snap the shot at exactly the right time, but it is worth it when you get shots like these. Enjoy! Great Bear at Hersheypark in 1998. For this one, I had to shoot through a chain link fence right before the train hit the Immelman. HersheyPark Wildcat in 1998. I love the faces on this one!! William's Grove Cyclone in 1998.
  24. I was just at Busch last month working in the Entertainment Departmenr and got a close up look at Sheikra from backstage. Let me just say that first drop looks AWESOME! Even better is the view from across the street in the McDonald's parking lot. I can't wait to ride it, but I still hold out hope that one day a Central Florida park will build an Intamin Hyper or Giga Coaster!
  25. I had family visiting me this week from Ohio, and as a Disney cast member, I was obligated to show them around! The crowds were pretty crazy all week, and they closed Magic Kingdom and both water parks on Tuesday due to capacity. That being said, we still had a great time and did almost everything in all of the parks. The key is to get there EARLY, beat the crowds, do the big "E" ticket rides, and get out! We did the fast pass for TOT, waited 40 minutes for RNR Coaster, then back over to TOT, basically spending an hour to do the two big rides at MGM. Mission:Space was a 2 hour wait on Tuesday, and all of the fast passes for Test Track were gone by 11:30am. In my opinoin, TT is NOT worth the wait, and their single rider line is not very efficient. Universal was also very busy, but we did everything we wanted to do in both parks. Thank goodness for single rider lines on Spiderman, Mummy, and Men in Black. I wish Disney would do a single rider line on Space Mountain! But I guess there would be nowhere to put it since both in lines are already being used with Stand By guests and Fast Pass guests.
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