ParkTrips

^ Bingo.

I really can't believe you brought up the WBC - that's like saying all Muslims are bad based on the actions of a few radical terrorists. Most who disapprove of gay marriage are just conservative people who value their church and beliefs above all actually, whether or not marriage is a right is the $64k question being challenged in court. Basically, they have to prove that marriage is a right to be in violation of the 14th amendment (which I believe will be done, over and over again)

I think he's saying that the NFL and MLB/NBA/NHL are on different levels - and I agree. NO WAY the NFL has a lockout (feel free to quote this post if it DOES actually happen)

Efteling?

^ I think the reason that Christians seem to think they can control the laws is the belief that we are a nation founded on "Christian values". I saw this posted elsewhere: if only more religious people felt this way... if they were truly devoted to God, a marriage outside the church shouldn't matter to them.

I lol'd

eh, for a religious person (and in the eyes of the church, which is of course a secular body), marriage is a religious bond first, and the legal side of it is just that: a legal formality. Those are his beliefs, and many people share them (including, apparently, a majority of Californians). If we're going to let gays marry, we should let the religious folks hold their beliefs too, whatever they may be, and no matter how wrong they may (or may not) be. We, as a society, would be better if we all just butt out of people's personal lives and beliefs... so long as no one is getting hurt.

I remember seeing some at Tripsdrill, but I don't remember if they were just "crafts" or park-labeled souvenirs. Same with EPCOT. I'd bet the Disney parks sell souvenir wine glasses (especially during Food&Wine fests). Etched wine glasses would be a cool souvenir!

I'd be in if we did this at Holiday World

You're asking opinions on HUNDREDS of parks across the world - you really should share some personal info to get help in the right direction, like are you looking for the most credits? The best parks? Do you like/dislike any kinds of parks or rides? Is money an issue? Do you want to seek out good flat rides/food/shows/whatever? What time of year? Do you like to mix in any other activities into your travels (museums/nature/beaches/pubs/zoos/etc.) Your original post is pretty much impossible to reply to without some more info.

Post of the year!!! I really hope you are 1. serious, and 2. real (ie, not Wes)

revenues =/= profits

I think he's saying that the $3-6 million is the loss the county is eating. The only other article I could find on the possibility of Playland shutting down (here) mentions an operating budget of $16 million. The "master plan" I linked to earlier had this to say: Sounds like the park was barely breaking even at those attendance figures, so I could see a big drop in attendance running the park in the red. Seems to me like the problem is the contractors are getting paid while the county is not (as monsterfan alluded to) MAYBE (23%, btw) - you could easily day-trip the park from 30 miles away, but you wouldn't fall under the 77% of 'locals'. That could include taking a train from the city: that IS how the park got its start, right? You also have to remember that the park is very close to Connecticut, so visitors from there could easily buy any gas and or pre/post-park meals in another state. But, out of curiousity, say all 70% of park patrons who come from outside the county (as stated by the county exec) -- they spend $20 on admission, $20 inside the park, and another $20 outside the park (but still within the county). A nice round attendance number to use would be 750k. 525k out of county guests * $60 each = $31.5 million generated. Tax that at 7% and you've got a little over $2 million in tax revenue that could be lost. If they are losing between $3-6 million by keeping the park open (which is my translation of the article), they are still looking at a "gain" of $1-4 million even after the loss in tax revenues Sure, there is the loss of jobs with the park, but most of them are seasonal kids who could likely find other employment. The 100 or so (at max) full time employees would be a loss in both spending power and local income taxes, but that's assuming they couldn't find other work (not to mention, in a county of one million residents, 100 jobs is barely a splash) I really don't see why it's a surprise - its a local park, not a big draw like a Disneyland or Sea World, and there are a ton of people who live within 25 miles of the park (which would run into the northern parts of New York City) Maybe, but who's to say they wouldn't have eaten out either way? Or that they wouldn't eat when they got back home, or in Connecticut or NYC? In the end, I think public opinion of the decisions of elected officials will prevent the park from closing (see the poll in the original article Adam posted). Guess it will depend on how the constituency feels. Like Larry, I see no reason this place can't at least break even. I think the county is just looking for ways to cut losses, and if its losing money now, then it makes sense from that perspective at this time. A net gain of $1-4 million works out to 20-80 teacher/firefighter/police/etc jobs that might not need to be cut (@50k/year)

Well, yeah, that's expected from a crappy, low-volume midwest airport - not a place like LAX which is one of the biggest, busiest airports on earth. LAX sucks.

Doesn't California have more important things to discuss... like, the whole economy thing? And LOL @ all the people who said "this is too hot of an issue to touch" yet still responded

Just because visitors are "out of state" doesn't mean they book hotels in the area, especially when the next county over is "out of state". 77% of visitors come from within 25 miles of the park (link, page 11), so the overwhelming majority of patrons are simply locals who already spend money in the area - also note that per capita spending is rather low, hence them losing money despite "all reports from the park that I have seen, the place is packed" The article said 3-6 million, go with that unless you can prove it was wrong. It's actually a great time to buy, since the values are so deflated. If you've got the cash, buy. Speculators love these down times

Well, for one, they said that condos are "out of the question", but more importantly, since government revenue streams have likely declined, would you rather them save $3-6MM by cutting education/health/police/etc funds, or an amusement park?

Flyers are the only rides I ever take them off for (unless required). Otherwise, I feel they are safer on my face than in my pocket.

I don't drink caffeinated beverages anymore, so I stick to Sprite and Fanta as my favorite "soda" (whatever that is! ) I used to really like regular Coke, vanilla Coke, Surge>Vault, Dr Pepper etc etc - it's amazing how crappy they taste after you haven't had any in a few years. Well, Coke can still taste good, it just needs some liquor in it

Its actually more impressive that you had Registration! :jealous:

^ It probably was, but the editor was intelligent enough to edit it out to make him look like less of a tool

^ Ditto that! Winjas is the gimmicky coaster that doesn't get old! And Hollywood Tour is, uh, amazing.

So was Olympia Looping a surprise, or did the trip participants vote on it as a substitute for Geforce? I was thinking it was the former, which of course would have caused me to flip my shit, and the only way I could see people being disappointed would be if you voted and their choice wasn't picked. And ERT...? still amazing.

I finally canceled my Busch platinum pass earlier this year, and now have no season passes left. In the past, I've also held passes to Six Flags, Dollywood, Universal Orlando, Cypress Gardens, and Wild Adventures (one park one year, the other the next)

Its not like its some stupid European principality At least I still have her in US State and roller coaster credits... of course I also have her by 21 years so that kinda helps