larrygator

Don't worry about your posts being too long. This size post is not excessive for a Trip Report. Energylandia has matured enough that many people (including myself) are visiting Poland this summer. You are doing a good job, keep up the good work. Yes, it does take more time that anticipated to tell a good story.

It's that time of the year when I add all the new rides for 2019. I'll remove rides from these pages as I add photos to the Park Index. OPEN THOSE NEW RIDES! You can submit photos in this thread without the need to resize. Or you can use the submission tool in the Park Index, but in that case please resize your photos to 800x600 or smaller before submitting, otherwise they are difficult for me to review and place in the Park Index. Or if you have any of those photos already in an existing Photo TR just send me a PM and let me know. Please submit only your own photos. Do not take them from another person or website. If anyone has an opportunity to review the ride list for their home park in the Park Index and provide feedback (about missing or closed rides) we can keep The Park Index as accurate as possible, I can't do it all myself. For this first listing of rides we need any pictures you have of the ride (and signs if the ride is new): USA/Canada/Mexico Bay Beach - 2nd train loop to be added, new Big Wheel Bosque Magico - Policias y Ratones, Zombie Calaway Park - current log flume, Bumble Blast Cedar Point - Forbidden Frontier CJ Barrymores -S&S Drop Tower and Saddle Swing Clementon - Dragon Coaster, Tilt-a-Whirl and Scrambler Cliffs - Downdraft Disneyland - Smugglers Run Disney's California Adventure - Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind, Jessie's Critter Carousel Dollywood - Dragonflyer, Flyers Edaville - Kersplash Elitch Gardens - Meow Wolf's Kaleidoscape Fantasy Island - Dragon Wagon, Dragon's Flight Frontier City - Frankie's Mine Hersheypark -Reeses Cupfusion Joyland - Sand Storm Roller Coaster, Dragon Wagon, X-Factor Extreme Jungle Jack's (at Columbus Zoo) - Falcon Fall (Drop Tower), Sugar Glider(Paratrooper) Lakeside Amusement Park - Pinfari Zyklon (from FunPlex) Legoland Florida - THE LEGO MOVIE WORLD Magic Springs - Brain Drain Morey Piers - Runaway Tram Oaks Amusement Park - Adrenaline Peak Palace Playland - Wave Swinger Park at OWA - shooting dark ride, Rockin Raft, Flying Carousel SeaWorld San Antonio - Riptide rescue and Sea Swinger Sea World San Diego - Tidal Twister Silverwood - Krazy Koaster Six Flags Magic Mountain - West Coast Racers Six Flags over Texas - Lone Star Revolution Storybook Land - Cinderoller Coaster WDW Disney's Hollywood Studios - Mickey's Runaway Railway Western Playland - LOCO 360 Wild Adventures - the return of their Fiesta Express themed as Swampwater Snake Wonderland - Spin'o'Saurus UK/Ireland Alton Towers - Alton Towers Dungeon Botton’s Pleasure Beach – Cup and Saucer, Gallopers, Rockin Tug, Freak Out Chessington's World of Adventure - A Room on a Broom Codona's - Vertigo (Ropes Course) Flamingoland – Dodgems, StarFlyer, Hero, Twistosaurus Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach - Whirlwind, FamilyStar, AirMaxx Gulliver’s Warrington – Barrel Ride, Joker, Sky Tours Observation Tower, Tree Tops Swing Legoland Windsor - Haunted House Monster Party Oakwood - Dizzy Disk Pleasure Island – GoGator, Falls of Fear, Galleon Tayto Park - Viking Voyage, Ladybird Loop, Zierer family coaster Thorpe Park - Derren Brown's Ghost Train (ride vehicle, area) Germany Europa Park - Can Can Coaster, Madame Freudenreich Curiosities Freizeitpark Plohn - Drachenwirbel, Dynamite Hansa Park - Kleine Zar, Barcos Del Mar, Highlander Heide Park - Ghostbusters 5D shooting dark ride, re-opening Colossus Holiday Park - Tabalugas Achterbahn Legoland Deutschland - Ninjago: The Ride Movie Park Germany - Excalibur: Secrets of the Dark Forest Phantasialand - FLY Tripsdrill - Gerstlauer Sky Fly Wunderland Kalkar - Kernie's Boot (Rockin Tug), Tea Cups Denmark Djurs Sommerland - Jungle Rally, Tigeren Farup Sommerland - Hvirvelvinden Legoland Billund - Flyvende Ørn Tivoli Friheden - Gerstlauer Sky Fly Tivoli Gardens - Tik Tak, Mælkevejen, Kamelen, Fata Morgana refurb France Fraisperituis City - Golden Driller Jardin d'Acclimation - Rockets, all new ride package Le Pal - Yukon Quad Mer de Sable – Wild Mouse "La Mine Bleue" (formerly at Compagnie des Alpes), Riviere Sauvage, Train du Desert, Jungle des Chikapas (Indoor Tow Boat), Babagattaux (Outdoor Tow Boat) Walibi Rhone Alps - Timber, Mystic Italy Cavalinno Matto - Freestyle Etnaland - Dragon River, El Dorado, Hip Hop Coaster, Storm Mirabilandia - Desmo Race Rainbow Magicland - Battaglia Navale, Haunted Hotel Netherlands/Belgium Bobbejaanland - Fury Efteling - De Zes Swanen Walibi Belgium - Sky Pilot and Popcorn Revenge Finland/Sweden/Norway Furuvik - Fireball, interactive dark ride Linnamaki - Magia, Tiaga Särkänniemi - High Voltage (Zamperla Power Surge) Skara Sommerland - Rodeo and Jr. Drop Tower Spain Parque d'Attractiones Madrid - Los Rapidos Ferrari Land - Junior Red Force PortAventura - Sesame Street dark ride Other Europe Majaland Kownaty - GCI woodie Wiener Prater - Insider, Olympia Looping, Race, Testtrecke Connyland - 184 foot catapult tower China China Dinosaur Park - Super Swing (Wave Swinger), Coaster Brontosaurus (Disko) Happy Valley Beijing - Family Roller Coaster and Music Roller Coaster Happy Valley Szenzhen - a shuttle coaster Hong Kong Disneyland - AntMan and Wasp Shanghai Disney - Toy Story Land rides including RC Racer Japan Legoland Japan - Brick Party, Imagination Celebration, Lego Ninjago Live Nagashima Spa Land - Hakugei Tokyo DisneySea - Soaring: Fantastic Flight Korea Australia Aussie World - Drop Tower (40m), Air Race, WindstarZ, Star Fly and Aerobat Dreamworld - Zamperla Air Race other Asia/Middle East Ferrari World - Mission Ferrari, Vortex South America Beto Carrero World - relocated Batman and Robin: The Chiller from SFGAdv Fantasilandia - Tren Minero ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the following rides we only need pictures of the ride sign: USA/Canada Busch Gardens Tampa - Tigris LaRonde - Aqua Twist, Gravitor Lake Winnie - Sea Warrior Silverwood - Spin Cycle Valleyfair - NorthStar UK Blackpool Pleasure Beach - Red Arrows Sky Force Flamingoland – Navigator, Sky Flyer Pleasure Island (UK) - GoGator Other Europe Bobbejaanland - Naga Bay Djurs Sommerland - Drageskibet, Soulken Farup Sommerland - Wave Swinger Hansa Park - Hanse Fleiger, Karnapulten Legoland Deutschland - Flying Ninjago Liseberg - Liseberghjulet (Giant Wheel) Parc St. Paul - Aerotrain, Wood Express Parque d'Attractiones Madrid - Noriavision (Giant Wheel), Ford T Plopsaland de Panne - Viktor's Race Power Park – Pegasus (Evolution) Tivoli Friheden – Forhindringsbane (Obstacle Course) Walibi Rhone Alps - Boomerang, Coccinelle WalyGator - G-Lock, Dino Raft Other Asia/Australia Adventure World (AUS) - Dragon Express Legoland Japan - SQUID Surfer, Splash Battle If you have photos of a non-kiddie ride that is not in TPR's Park Index, please submit that also. The list of what we need is not complete, only based on rides that appear on my personal park maps. High quality photos, please (not blurry, distorted or out of focus).

^thanks

An accurate recap of the past 10 years https://www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/27033-2009-ghost-town-comes-crashing-down 2009: Ghost Town comes crashing down Written by Cory Vaillancourt, Smoky Mountain News, 05 June 2019 Decades after it first opened in 1962, Ghost Town in the Sky still commands a wistful loyalty from thousands of people who remember it during its heyday and are eager to return. Even now, Facebook groups devoted to the mountaintop amusement park in Maggie Valley see regular posts from people around the world asking, “It is open? Will it open? When?” It’s not, and hasn’t been for some time; almost 20 years ago, the park began a long, slow slide into disrepair that opportunistic entrepreneurs are still trying to sort out, but 2009 was the year it all really started to fall apart. As current park owner Alaska Presley tells it, Virginia native R.B. Coburn was all set to put his amusement park in Ratcliff Cove, on the other end of Haywood County, until someone sent him to her. Kim's Pharmacy “We got acquainted with him and then Hubert, my husband, took him over to see uncle Dan Carpenter who owned that property on the mountain,” Presley told The Smoky Mountain News in April of this year. “He and my husband built Ghost Town.” Up to 400,000 people a year flocked to the park, accessed from its iconic chair lift 1,400 feet below. When they arrived at the top, they were greeted by an old-timey wild west-themed main street, carnival-style rides and dozens of costumed performers — dancers, merchants and gunslingers who each day would act out cowboy gunfights in the streets. “I had to hide behind my daddy because I was afraid of the gunfire,” said Spartanburg resident Libby Withers Wilder, who nonetheless still holds fond memories of going there as a child in the 1960s with her family. After years of declining revenues, likely due to the growing prominence of more modern mega-parks featuring licensed characters — from Bugs Bunny to Batman — R.B. Coburn finally retired in 2002, and closed the park. There it sat, for five long years, until new owners reopened it just in time for the greatest recession in modern history. Ticket sales in 2008 were reported as “sluggish,” as gas prices surged and the Great Recession laid waste to the lifetime investments of millions of working-class Americans of the type who’d kept the park afloat all those years. By 2009, almost $500,000 worth of liens had been placed on the property, according to Ghost Town’s then-General Manager Steve Shiver, and Ghost Town LLC — more than $12 million in debt — also owed $2.5 million to 220 local vendors and contractors, including more than $97,000 in sales tax collections owed to the state and $70,000 in municipal and county property taxes. The company approached tight-fisted lenders without success, and ended up pouring nearly $4 million of its own money into the constant repairs and renovations required, but still had to declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy. “We were on the cusp of making this thing work, and then the credit markets absolutely fell apart,” said Shiver in March 2009. As Shiver — and thousands of others — looked forward to the park’s May 2009 opening, Ghost Town’s signature attraction, a roller coaster called “The Cliffhanger,” hadn’t run since 2002 and was still having trouble getting certified by the state regulatory agency charged with amusement ride inspections. In late April of 2009, Ghost Town asked the Town of Maggie Valley for a $200,000 loan — about $125 per taxpayer — and said it was critically needed if the park was to reopen at all. “We are in a tedious and precarious time. We wouldn’t be here unless we were at the end of our rope,” said Shiver. “My whole livelihood is at stake and my whole future is at stake.” Alderman Mark DeMeola told Shiver he was reluctant to put taxpayers on the hook, but Shiver countered that without a healthy Ghost Town, taxpayers would suffer as well. After a contentious few weeks arguing over the issue with Shiver, the town held a public hearing on May 18, just days before the park’s scheduled May 22 opening. In an odd twist, Shiver told Maggie Valley Aldermen at that meeting that he would withdraw his loan request because a private business owner had offered to help. Although the park did open on time, albeit with a $3 increase in the $28 adult ticket price, the roller coaster still wasn’t licensed. That didn’t sit well with some, like Greenville, South Carolina residents Judy and Keith Parker who at the time owned a second home in Maggie Valley and told The Smoky Mountain News that they wouldn’t go up the mountain until everything was working. “We are kind of holding off until then,” said Judy. The rebuilt coaster did indeed open, on July 1, but only for that day; state inspectors shut it down the next morning over a hairline crack in the seat frame on one of the cars. In August, The Smoky Mountain News reported that even the $1.53 million in revenue the park took in during May, June and July wasn’t enough to cover operating costs of $1.85 million. When the park closed for the season in the fall of 2009, workers were stiffed on their last two weeks of pay. The Maggie Valley Sanitary District even had to shut off water to the site, due to unpaid bills. The situation only worsened from there. Months after that ill-fated 2009 season, in February 2010, a 175-foot-wide mudslide stretching more than half a mile brought 30-foot high heaps of debris down Rich Cove Road at 30 miles per hour. Rich Cove Road is an access road that leads up to the park. Two weeks later, creditors voted to reorganize, rather than liquidate, the park and its massive debt. In May, owner of the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Al Harper offered to put up $7 million to stave off foreclosure and buy out all of the original 2006 investors. That plan fell through, and Ghost Town never reopened for the 2010 season. In August, BB&T foreclosed on the park, citing $9.5 million it had been owed, dating back to 2007. The park didn’t open in 2011, either, but in February 2012, that same “private business owner” who helped Shiver with the last-minute $200,000 loan in 2009 stepped up to buy the park at auction, for $2.5 million. “Only an Alaska Presley could ever get Ghost Town to run again,” Waynesville Mayor Gavin Brown told SMN writer Caitlin Bowling at the time. “She is a very sharp lady; she sees value there. [but] in today’s market, in today’s world, I don’t see any value there.” Presley quickly found major mechanical and cosmetic issues at the park, including with the coaster, the chair lift and the water supply. She estimated it would cost about $11 million to restore it to its former glory. “Poor management and bad debts has plagued it for years,” Presley told Bowling in that same story. “A friend thought there was demons on that mountain, it has had such bad luck.” The park stumbled along for the next four years, opening periodically, sporadically, partially or temporarily, until in June 2016, more than 15 years after R.B. Coburn first closed it, it failed to open and hasn’t reopened since. A month later, Libby Withers Wilder was lucky enough to be given permission to visit Ghost Town once more, with her brother Mike. “He had been sick for probably the last 20 years of his life,” said Wilder, who sprinkled Mike’s earthly remains near Ghost Town’s church and faux cemetery. “He would joke about it — he didn’t want a memorial, he didn’t want an obituary posted, he didn’t want a gravesite. He said ‘If you can take me to the mountains, and you can take me to Ghost Town, that would be fine.’” Not long after Mike’s visit, the property was put up for sale by Presley at $5.95 million. In June 2018, another group of investors sought to succeed where others, including Presley, had failed. Former Disney executives Valerie and Spence Oberle said a deal was in the works to rehab the park, but as the rest of 2018 played out, that deal was revealed to be little more than a wish upon a star. It started with a series of botched public relations events that had even longtime Maggie Valley residents scratching their heads; a promised media event, memorabilia sale and late fall reopening never happened, and then a strange series of anonymous letters began showing up at The Smoky Mountain News. The Oberles, as it turns out, had another business partner who they’d kept in the background, perhaps purposely. Lamar Berry, once the chief marketing officer of well-known fried chicken chain Popeye’s, was the money man — charged with rustling up the dollars they’d need to purchase Ghost Town from Presley. Turns out, Berry was haunted by allegations of fraud and failure in regard to a unsuccessful 2005 effort to establish a chain of sandwich shops modeled after epic layabout and passionate sandwich-eater Dagwood, of the classic Chic Young comic strips. Peter J. Tamulonis, an investor in the franchise, sued Berry and others, settling in arbitration. “When you think about the legal position for what we were saying, we were able to prove we were lied to and misled,” Tamulonis told SMN in 2018, “I would say I had a horrible experience and you should investigate this guy. I would be very concerned about letting him touch my money or any of my loved ones’ money.” Another Berry project, a proposed boardwalk in Lake Charles, Louisiana, also fell apart in 2010 “because those behind it say they never could get the financing to pull it all together,” according to an October 2016 report by KPLC-TV. In October 2018, a lien was filed against Ghost Town by local engineering firm Clark and Leatherwood for $52,551 in labor and materials used in the rehabilitation of the park’s A-frame entrance building from June 4 through Aug. 31. That same month, Berry was sued by a local innkeeper who said he was owed more than $3,000 for lodgings. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Berry wasn’t able to come up with the money to buy the park by a previously established Nov. 30 deadline and subsequently left town. Presley’s still looking for a buyer, and the Oberles are again purportedly in the mix, but nothing’s really changed since the last futile attempt to revive the park. Even though people continue to clamor for it — Haywood Tourism Development Authority Executive Director Lynn Collins recently said she still gets regular calls inquiring as to the status of the park — residents of the tiny Haywood County town of Maggie Valley have learned to live without it, even though they’d welcome a rejuvenated Ghost Town. “Everybody bases everything on Ghost Town,” said Brenda O’Keefe, former owner of equally-iconic Joey’s Pancake House, in Maggie Valley. “I don’t. I have tried to say, ‘People, this is not about Ghost Town anymore. This is 50 or 60 years later. We have the national park, we have the Smoky Mountains, we have the Blue Ridge Parkway.’ That’s what Maggie Valley is really about. We have the Appalachian culture, clean streams and rivers and we’re the closest mountain range to Florida. That’s why people are coming here.”

I can't even comment on this saga anymore. https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/2019/06/03/playland-standard-sues-westchester-asks-court-keep-operating-deal/1326744001/ Playland: Standard sues Westchester, asks court to preserve its deal to run amusement park Mark Lungariello, Rockland/Westchester Journal News Published 7:54 a.m. ET June 3, 2019 | Updated 4:14 p.m. ET June 3, 2019 Westchester is set to approve a $500K contract for an outside attorney. Standard was to take over management in November. The company that was supposed to take over management of Playland amusement park is suing Westchester County in bankruptcy court. Westchester, which owns Playland, is trying to kill a 30-year contract with Standard Amusements but the company said in federal court papers Sunday that it wants to invalidate the termination – and have the county pay its legal fees, costs and other relief. Standard filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy May 27, one day before the county was going to dissolve the company’s contract to operate the park on Rye’s Long Island Sound Shore. County Executive George Latimer, a Democrat, sought to end the deal that was struck in 2016 – two years before he was in office. Attorney John Rapisardi, of the firm O’Melveny & Myers, asserted in an adversary proceeding complaint that the county had sought a way to get out of the deal since the changeover from Latimer’s predecessor, Republican Rob Astorino. “It was clear from Mr. Latimer’s public statements, and his conduct, that he had no interest in preserving the Agreement or even talking to SA,” Rapisardi wrote in the 26-page filing. “He had one goal: terminate the Agreement by any means necessary.” Elsewhere in the complaint, the attorney said Westchester couldn’t reverse a deal from a previous administration when a contract is in place. “Rather, just as a corporation’s new management cannot abrogate the contracts prior management entered into, a government cannot walk away from binding agreements made by past administrations simply because the new administration does not like them,” the court filing said. Adversary proceedings are decided within a bankruptcy case, usually with the goal of wiping out a debt to the company that is in the midst of reorganizing. Although the company denies any breaches of its contract, it’s asking the court to rule the breaches are fixable and give the company a change to comply. Westchester lawmakers were set to approve a contract Monday with the law firm Paul, Riskind, Wharton and Garrison for up to $500,000 to represent the county in bankruptcy court. Usually contracts beyond $75,000 need to go out to written bidding, but John Nonna, attorney for the Latimer administration, said there wasn't enough time to go through the formal process. Catherine Cioffi, a spokeswoman for Latimer, said she wouldn't comment on pending litigation. She said the county is "focused on having a great 2019 season at Playland." Standard was supposed to take over management in November, after this season. Standard has said losing its contract would eliminate its only source of revenue. Westchester has taken the position that the company breached the terms of its contract but Standard denied that and says it has been rebuffed in efforts to address the county’s concerns. It said while county officials said they were unhappy with the deal, they never identified any potential changes to Standard. The county formally accused Standard of breaching the deal last year, taking issue with the company’s claimed investment in the park, which included salaries, travel and expenses. The company has contended the spending was allowed under the terms of its contract which allows for “overheard” and has a section that says any spending by the manager after May 1, 2016, will count toward the investment. It had offered to write off that spending in recent months and it had also offered to increase its overall investment. Under the terms of the deal, Standard was to pay an annual management fee and invest more than $27 million into the park. Standard said that in a May 2018 deal with Jadian UP Holdings, a real estate and asset investment company, $40 million was committed to Standard’s parent, United Parks. The filing said $20 million was drawn so far and the remainder would be available if the contract is preserved. The suit names the county, Latimer, parks Commissioner Kathleen O’Connor and Hugh Greechan, commissioner of the Department of Public Works. A Standard spokesman didn't immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.

Clockworkz and Atlantic Aviator open at Luna Park. Atlantic Aviator is the latest Air Race model and replaces the original Air Race https://www.silive.com/news/2019/06/report-2-new-rides-open-at-coney-islands-luna-park.html Report: 2 new rides open at Coney Island’s Luna Park Today 3:06 PM By Annalise Knudson | aknudson@siadvance.com STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Two new thrill rides opened at Coney Island’s Luna Park on Sunday, according to a report by Time Out. At 11:30 a.m., Brooklyn’s Luna Park hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the two rides, Clockworkz and Atlantic Aviator, according to the report. According to Time out, Clockworkz is dubbed as a “family thrill ride." It is a 33-foot attraction that rotates on a vertical axis while its arms swing in circular motions at 13 revolutions per minute. Riders soar through the air as the clock’s arms move in opposite directions, the report said. Atlantic Aviator is a 51-foot attraction suited for older thrill-seekers. Riders will have an experience similar to acrobatic airplane flight courtesy of loops, dips and speeds of up to 25 revolutions per minute, Time Out reported. “With the celebration of a new summer season and a fresh beginning for two new rides, we are excited to grow and to continue to provide quality entertainment for the millions of visitors that come through every year,” Alessandro Zamperla, president of Central Amusement International said in a statement, according to Time Out. "We look forward to embracing the legacy of Coney Island by bringing new and exhilarating attractions like Clockworkz and Atlantic Aviator to Luna Park.” Luna Park is also expanding for the 2019 and 2020 season, according to its website. Its expansion will include a new log flume ride, zip lines and a rope course that will be constructed on vacant land between Surf Avenue and the boardwalk.

Eftleling has reopened Carnival Festival after a 3 million Euro rehab to update and eliminate "racist" scenes. https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&u=https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/editienl/artikel/4722206/carnaval-festival-efteling-weer-open-na-renovatie&prev=search Carnival Festival in Efteling open again, nose rings and frizzy hair gone May 23, 2019 10:57 AM : May 23, 2019 11:24 Carnival Festival in the Efteling is reopened after months of renovation. With an budget of 3 million euros, the amusement park tackled the technology and gave a number of dolls a new look. The 35-year-old attraction closed in January for the major refurbishment. The Efteling reported that the 'current time picture' would also be considered. Carnival Festival Efteling tackled, no more frizzy hair and nose rings A number of dolls in the Africa and Asia scenes were given a whole new look. For example, the Chinese dolls no longer have large teeth and the dolls with nose rings and frizzy hair have disappeared completely. Dolls with instruments, shields and traditional clothing can now be seen in that section. Criticism of old scenes There was a lot of criticism of the old scenes, especially from foreign visitors. They would be racist and offensive. De Efteling, however, stated earlier that the changes were not a reaction to that, but were done in own initiative. "Now all scenes fit in well with the original theme: partying through different cultures around the world." 454 LED lights In addition to these adjustments, a hundred other dolls were given a new layer of paint. Efteling also took a thorough look at the technology. The existing lighting has been replaced by 454 LED lamps. The renovation of the 118 gondolas has not yet been completed, as they are being refurbished in phases. Finally, there is a new photo point. That can now be found in the Confetti souvenir shop, which is located next to the Carnival Festival.

Since there are multiple teams in Tokyo/suburbs and the subway/train systems is great you should consider one of those teams. Yakult Swallows, Yomiuri Giants, Chiba Lotte Marines, Yokohama Bay Stars, Saitama Seibu Lions

I'll leave most of the answers to others, especially Robb and Elissa who have instructed many people in visiting Japan. However, the first thing you should do it look at flying on different weekdays. It might be $2,500 using heavy travel days like Friday, but i just searched 6/25 - 7/13 and saw a page of non-stop Air Canada flights between $1,100 - $1,400. Even if it means using different NYC airports (departure and arrival) it's worth saving $1,000. Elissa or Robb will be able to elaborate more as far as language. It is not a big problem in the major cities or major tourist stops, certainly not an issue in Tokyo. Many adults under the age 40 in the major cities studied English in school. If you need t ask question in a random place the best approach is to ask someone in their 20's any ask if they speak English, some will say no because their English is not perfect, but once someone starts talking to you, compliment their English and they will able most like want to and be able to converse. I'm sure it will be tougher in Hiroshima outside of tourist attractions. Generally the more cosmopolitan and younger the better their English. I have never seen a cost comparison between driving versus train in Japan, but know gas is extremely expensive in Japan. But the Japanese rail system is relatively cheap, very easy to use, convenient and clean.

If you are at Canada's Wonderland from open to close you will get on all coasters and enjoy their excellent flat ride collection. However, you may not get multiple rides. The park is generally massively crowded on summer weekends. You will need Fast Lane to get on all coasters and multiple rides on the big ones. The food is not in the park but there is plenty to snack on (mini donuts and beaver tails). If you like typical park food (dogs,burgers,chicken strips) the one day dining pass or $32 is worth if you are in the park long enough to eat three meals. You can get more food after 90 minutes from your last meal. La Ronde, operations are ridiculously poor and it is not uncommon for all coasters to have one hour plus waits on a typical summer weekend. Flash Pass is recommend for your own sanity. If it is clear you are American you won't encounter any bias from the French speakers, however, to do hold a slight grudge against English speaking Canadians. Great Escape - The park is not an all day park unless you do the water park or have youngsters. The Comet is the only standout coaster, but Bobsled coasters are still rare, and this one rarely opens. The beer options are better than the food options. Seabreeze - You won't need more than four hours if you can get on Bobsleds quickly. It is a slow moving line, but worth riding for its historical significance and it is fun.

I also stopped by the park for the first time in April, after avoiding this park during multiple trips to Atlanta. This liddie coaster get me to return, but a woodie would.

It was not misplaced.

The advice you get is more likely to be useful if the respondents know more about what you and your co-travelers enjoy. For example, Are you traveling alone, with kids, how old, etc...? Do you like water rides? Do you want to ride every coaster or just the ones considered better or unique? Do you enjoy flat rides, spinning rides, etc...? Are you looking for food /drink suggestions inside and/or outside of the parks?

[attachment=0]stop.gif[/attachment] She is free to express her opinion even if the rest of us don't care or understand. The badgering of those with unpopular opinions only leads to flame wars.

The Allentown Call visited Bushkill earlier this week to see what's been going on at Bushkill Park. The article mentions the techniques Chuck Burnham used to strip away levels of paint through scrapping and use of a heat gun, until they were down to a level that would not melt away. Chuck immediately realized, from his apprenticeship under Peter Rasulo at Lake Compounce, that the paint that remained was not going away because it was lead based. As mentioned in the article, former co-owner Neal Fehnel is now officially gone and has no stake in any part of the park. As far the park opening this weekend, Fences for all the rides have been completed by John Klein. John Cory is attending to all the rides electrical boxes. The state ride inspector was at the park today making sure everything is in order for Saturday. https://www.mcall.com/news/local/easton/mc-nws-easton-bushkill-park-renovations-20190521-3l7723pswrb7paolbszwksa724-story.html Renovations to Bushkill Park’s ‘Barl of Fun’ reveal new clues about its past By Christina Tatu | The Morning Call | May 21, 2019 | 9:10 PM This spring, employees at Bushkill Park spent weeks scraping layers of paint from the facade of the park’s “Barl of Fun.” What they found is that the funhouse, believed to be among the oldest in the country, could be even older than previously thought. “I can’t even describe it. It was like unwrapping a present,” said Kelly Feathers, the park’s historian, as she explained the process of scraping and using a heat gun to melt away an estimated 100 years of paint, revealing the funhouse was once known as “Hilarity Hall.” The work melted away paint from later years, but the lead-based paint of the early 1900s remained. Employees found the faint outline of a 20-foot-tall woman dressed in a red circus costume as she balances on a giant ball next to the Hilarity Hall sign, which has round socket holes in the letters where lights were once fastened. The funhouse, which has been featured on the Discovery Channel, was believed to be built between 1932-1935. But based on the type of paint used, a newspaper article and an old fire insurance map, Feathers thinks the funhouse could have been built as early as 1914. Started by the Northampton Traction trolley company in 1902, Bushkill Park, along the banks of the Bushkill Creek in Forks Township, was once known for its antique rides, including bumper cars, the Whip and a haunted house. But since a series of devastating floods forced him to close the doors in 2006, owner Sammy Baurkot has been struggling to reopen the park. Most of the park is still inaccessible to visitors, through the roller rink reopened three years ago and operates every weekend. Now when Bushkill Park opens for the season on Saturday, employees and volunteers hope to have some of the kiddie rides up and running. They’ll have a grand opening celebration to mark the park’s 117th anniversary on July 3. Later this year, they hope to reopen the historic funhouse under its original name with a new facade closer to what visitors would have seen more than 100 years ago, said Jeremy Carrington, the park’s director of operations. The park will also continue without Baurkot’s longtime business partner, Neal Fehnel. “There’s no bad blood. At this point I’m getting older. ... My other businesses are growing,” said Fehnel, who will turn 60 later this year and wants to focus on Fun Affairs, his entertainment rental company. Carrington and Baurkot brought in “dark ride artist” Chuck Burnham to oversee renovations on the funhouse and to eventually bring back the haunted house ride known as the “Dark Pretzel,” a nod to the Pretzel Amusement Ride Company that built it. Burnham moved from Connecticut in September to start working at the park. Over the course of his career, he’s painted dozens of “dark rides” — indoor amusements where passengers board guided cars that take them past artistic scenes. “There was this piece of tin above the entrance, and I thought ‘What is that covering?’” Burnham said of the funhouse. “I looked behind it and saw socket holes through the center,” which turned out to be the sign for Hilarity Hall. The restored funhouse will still include its walk-through spinning barrel, tilted stairs, mirrors and a floor where guests can test their balance by running across a set a rollers, Burnham said. He will also restore some of the exterior and interior paintings. He’s already added a new character outside ― a monkey hanging from the roof of the funhouse ― to pay homage to the previous owners, Tom Long and Mabel Long. Tom Long started operating the park in 1932, said Feathers, who is also working on a history book about Bushkill Park. He officially purchased the park in 1940 for $20,000, according to real estate records, she said. Tom died in 1965, and Mabel continued operating the park through 1989. Mabel loved monkeys and would display them in cages throughout the park over the summer. At the end of the season, they would be shipped back to an animal dealer in upstate New York, Feathers said. Work inside the funhouse also revealed more clues about its past. Workers removed several feet of mud from underneath the walk-through spinning barrel — the namesake attraction near the entrance of Barl of Fun — and found a large concrete disk and other mechanical elements. An article published in the April 12, 1914, edition of the Easton Express talked about a new “human roulette table,” an attraction similar to Coney Island’s Steeplechase Park that had been installed in 1908. Riders, often emboldened by alcohol, would pile onto the wheel ― which would start to spin wildly ― flinging them off in all directions, Burnham explained. “It is claimed for this amusement that it gives one a sensation that is a cross between ecstasy and dizziness,” said the Express story. Back then, the funhouse would have most likely been a wide-open room with seats around the perimeter so visitors could watch those brave enough to take on attractions like the roulette wheel. Later on, management added elements like a maze, tilted floors and a hall of mirrors to encourage patrons to keep moving through the attraction, Feathers said. Carrington hopes the newspaper article and a Sandborn fire insurance map from 1927 that shows the funhouse will help park officials get the structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Doing so could help the park qualify for grants to make repairs. Carrington wouldn’t comment on how much it cost to rebuild the park. “It’s a labor of love. A cash-in-your-401(k) kind of project,” he joked. It also takes a lot of volunteers, but nostalgia has drawn them in, Carrington said. Feathers worked as an operator at the funhouse in 1992, and Carrington also worked at the park after getting out of high school in the 1990s. “I think it’s neat we were all here as children,” Carrington said, adding that old-timers like Sammy Baurkot can watch their grandkids ride the same rides they did. Carrington acknowledged the challenge of being in a flood plain, but park officials have been working on their response should another event happen. They’ve been in contact with management at Knoebels Amusement Park in Northumberland County, where floodwaters frequently breech the banks of the creeks that run through the property. Bushkill employees have learned how to set up rides for quick disassembly and storage. When Bushkill Park’s midway was flooded with three feet of water last summer, a group of more than a dozen volunteers was on hand to quickly sweep away the mud and debris, Carrington said. Ironically, the floodwaters that forced Bushkill Park to close have also helped preserve it, Feathers said. “No one could sell the land for redevelopment since it’s in a flood zone,” she said. Bushkill Park 2019 season The park will reopen from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday. Hours will be 4 to 8 p.m. Fridays, and noon to 8 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Current state of the funhouse

They should have just gone with "Orlando's only motorcycle coaster"

^and ^^ thanks

A legitimate drop tower in the future???????? https://www.vagazette.com/news/va-vg-james-city-busch-gardens-0515-story.html Supervisors table height limitation waiver for Busch Gardens attraction Jack Jacobs Staff writer Due to an outpouring of public criticism, the James City County Board of Supervisors decided to hold off on a decision regarding a height wavier for an attraction at Busch Gardens Tuesday. SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment LLC, which owns Busch Gardens, requested a height waiver for a project not to exceed 355 feet in height above finished grade, or 435 feet above sea level, according to a staff report. Kevin Lembke, president of Busch Gardens, cast the new attraction as a critical need for the park, which has to innovate to keep up with competing amusement parks. “This is a very critical decision going forward for our park,” he said. “This is the first major step to realize that development in future years.” But supervisors decided to table its decision, owing to criticism of the project by Kingsmill residents and a desire for further study of the attraction’s noise impacts. The board intends to revisit the application June 11. “Hopefully that will give us some extra time,” Supervisor Ruth Larson said. But it wasn’t unanimous. Supervisor Sue Sadler voted against the deferral. “They are a good community asset for us. They help keep our tax rates low,” Sadler said, adding that people should know what they’re in for when they move somewhere. It’s unclear exactly what the attraction will look like. “It will be a tall, slender structure,” said Suzy Cheely, Busch Gardens senior leader for design and engineering. She said the attraction will be near the center of the park. The staff report states the attraction will have a “lattice-type construction.” The ambiguity rankled some Kingsmill residents, several of whom voiced strong opposition to the project during the public hearing on the request. High on the list of complaints were a lack of understanding about what the project will be and fears that the project would be an eyesore and create too much noise. “The nature of the proposed attraction is still not defined, so you must assume the worst,” said Andrew Lloyd-Williams, a Kingsmill resident. The park had not done a good job in public outreach to the Kingsmill community, and its efforts haven’t addressed resident’s questions, Lloyd-Williams said. Though planned to be built in an interior area of the park, the attraction is expected to be visible in areas of the Kingsmill development and along Route 143 where the park’s existing attractions can’t be seen, according to the staff report. Cheely noted that though the park tries to be engaged with the wider community on its activity, it’s a business practice to keep details of new attractions under wraps. That tends to unravel as time goes on and a project develops. “We can’t keep everything secret because as we get closer there are certain permits that are required,” she said. “We do try to keep our cards close to the vest for competitive reasons. Our business is such that it really requires that.”

I tried to stop by two weeks ago after a softball game but I couldn't find anyplace to park. I'll try to stop by again on the night of May 22nd after my next softball game. Edit: I stopped by on Wednesday night May 22nd, and groundbreaking has not started for any of the 2019 additions.

^thanks

I hope it does better over time than Yeti.

Stephenie - I know I missed meeting up with you and Dave, by after 15 minutes, a few Sunday's ago.

Posting in this thread is easier for me, thanks.

It was a busy weekend at Bushkill Park. Volunteers were at the park, most of the volunteer work involves painting - fence pickets, ride platforms, benches, picnic tables. Trees were also recently planted for additional shade in the park The Funhouse is cleaned out and prepping is being done for the installation of props and tricks, thanks to John Cory. Some tricks need to be cleaned up, others need to be fixed and lastly some need to be recreated. Over on the Haunted Pretzel, a manager and operator of a major dark ride has been offering Chuck his assistance in any matters. Unfortunately, Chuck's electrician (Mike Raffensburger) passed away a few months ago. Mike was the electrician who installed the original Williams Grove rolling stock and modified the hot lane in 1985. Mike was excited about the chance to work on his old ride again and shared many stories with Chuck. One thing Chuck is planning is to incorporate Mike's idea to have rolling hills on the ride. Additional info on the pretzel plans will be revealed soon During the current phase Chuck is working on the Haunted Pretzel plans, restoring props/tricks and facade of the Funhouse while also chipping in on the Whip. John Cory continues to work on wiring and rebuilding the smaller rides along with major tasks within the Funhouse. The park's historian. Kelly Feathers, also volunteers quite a bit at the park (she has been doing this for years) and is finishing up her book on the history of Bushkill Park. I will provide info on the book release and pre-ordering information when that is available. The US has lost so many old trolley parks over the past 3 decades, it's nice to see one coming back.

I just added it. Will need pictures of the Ferris Wheel and let me know If I missed any other rides