philthephorce

Cool video! After seeing the shaking people after the pumpkin, I thought there'd be cut back to Robb closing out this chapter of the IAAPA coverage...shaking too.

I voted for Nitro. It was much better than I expected it to be, and is longer than Apollo's Chariot. I like S:ROS/Bizarro at SFNE too, but I wonder how much love it would get if the 4th hill's air wasn't as strong.

The original Steel Phantom didn't open on time. It was almost a month late, but that was when KW used to open in mid/late April.

I like that name. I like it a lot, actually! I'm just happy they didn't try to squeeze "Pittsburgh" or "Pitt" into the name. (ie Pittsburgh Push!) I'm not so sure most people will just shorten it to "The Rocket" since skyrocket is a word commonly used for other things like prices, morale and so forth.

I just paid my initial deposit via PayPal. I didn't see an option for e-check or accept PayPal fees, but it says that the transaction is free if you send the payment directly from your bank account rather than from a credit/ debit card. So I sent it from my bank account. Is this ok? I'm hoping I didn't miss anything (beyond the fee options) and that there's no delay or anything that could mess this up.

^ I'm kind of surprised to hear that from you, as I've sort of labeled you as an Intamin fanboy....-ish....type of person. When asked what my #1 is overall, I usually respond with Kumba, although I really have never made a list. Don't get me wrong, I love airtime too, but Kumba is a flat out great time!

It's nice to see Kumba get some love! I thought everyone defected to Dragon Kahn...but me (who's never been on it.) Nice report. Robb didn't seem too disappointed with the sorority sisters.

That was AWESOME!!! As if you didn't know that already... GJ: you da man!

Name: Philip Age: 34 What is your roller coaster count? 125 What is your home park? Kennywood What is the nearest big city? Pittsburgh, PA What is your occupation? Patient Transporter About how many times a year do you visit a park (including your home park)? 4-5 About how many times a year do you travel to a park that is not your home park? 2-3 When you travel do you go primarily to amusement parks or do you also try and hit other sites? Mostly parks What is the farthest you’ve traveled to go to an amusement park? As far south as Orlando, as far west as Kansas City. Not sure which is further. Does roller coaster time get in the way of family time? (Do you choose to miss your children’s or family’s sporting events, holidays, birthdays, etc…) No. Do you have any other major hobbies? Art, running, videogames. Do you get feelings of sadness in the offseason? Do you even have an offseason? Do you travel during the offseason? Have an offseason? Yes. Sadness? Absolutely! Do you consider yourself friends with someone you met who works at an amusement park? (Or reverse it, if you work or worked and an amusement park have you made friends with enthusiasts?) No. Would it bother you to go to an amusement park by yourself? No. Have you gone to an amusement park by yourself? If so have you ever ran into another enthusiast and tagged along with them? Yes and No. Do you find it easy to make friends with other enthusiasts? Sometimes. How do you get your coaster news? TPR How many different forum sites do you regularly post on? 1 If there was a poll that asked a large pool of enthusiasts what their favorite roller coaster is, what do you think would be the top 3 responses be for wood? And for steel? Wood: Balder, El Toro, Phoenix. Steel: Bizzaro SFNE, EGF, Millennium Force. Same scenario but for amusement parks, what would be the top 3? USO/ IOA, CP, DW. Have you ever “stole a kid” to get a credit on a kiddie coaster? lol, no. Do you cut other categories out of your budget to make trips to parks? (Entertainment, fast food, holidays, tobacco or alcohol, etc…) Yes, I don't drink or smoke and will taper off on the movies and fast food to save. Before you visit a new park do you research the park finding the best way to navigate the park, get the best deals, or what days to go? Generally no. Do you feel the roller coaster enthusiast community is a warm and accepting community, or a negative and discouraging community? Mostly warm and accepting...mostly. Do you like to talk about your hobby with people who are not roller coaster enthusiasts? Certainly!

Thanks for posting Bullet, Robb! I've been wondering for a very long time how exactly that type of shuttle loop worked...and if it was a painful ride (it appeared not to be). Edit: LOL @ the new title I have...

Answer 1: Yes, but I can't tell you. Answer 2: I met Devious at opening day this year, but that's it. Reaction/response 1: Darn it! Reaction/response 2: Any Pittsburghers fair game to meet up at KW either this year or next for a sort of 'meet and greet?' It's a shame there are quite a few of us from around here but it seems that many of us don't really know each other...regardless of one major common interest. Okaaaayy....Didn't mean to kill the thread! LOL

2 Questions: Anyone heard anymore info on the new ride such as tentative names or perhaps a better computer rendition? How many of you from the Pgh. area know each other personally (or at least have met)?

Oh fountain of wisdom that is the Title Fairy, I would appreciate a custom title even more than my fellow trip members appreciated me for twice neglecting a certain unwritten rule of roommatership.

I hope it's soon...not "next year" soon, but within 5 years. I really hate skipping that ride.

Phantom's Revenge, last Saturday night.

^^^I remember the tour guide telling us that they decided on a pneumatic system to make the cars tilt, as opposed to a hydraulic system similar to that of Spiderman. It makes for slightly milder movements, but as Robb already said, it really depends on how well the visuals sell themselves that make you think you're moving more than you actually are.

Great update! There are so many familiar faces in those pics. I really, really, really wish I was there.

I think the ride looks great. It looks like it'll have more 'action' than MF. The only thing that seems kind of odd to me about it...and this isn't a complaint, merely an observation...is that aside from the huge drop, the layout looks like something I'd expect on a launched coaster. I wonder if that was ever considered at any point during the design process.

Wow, they were correct!!! I am a fan of roller coasters, and I am pleased... How uncanny?!

I haven't been this anxious in a very long time. The last time I felt like this was some Christmas Eve or another... And yes, they did buy the land at the bottom of the ravine behind Jack Rabbit and Racer a couple years ago. I'm too lazy to provide a link to the news though...

I kind of like it when people scream whether it's genuine or not. I'm usually ninja silent during a ride, and it takes people around me yelling to get me to hoot and holler with them.

That's a pretty awesome feat. Earlier this month he did a high wire walk over the Allegheny River here in Pittsburgh as part of our Regatta. Unfortunately I didn't get to see it, so I don't know if he laid down and whatnot.

I second everything Adam just said. It's really cool to see you come back to this trip once in a while and feed us a little more. Maybe by the time you're really all done with it, I'd have signed up for another trip...

Coney Island Cyclone. The drop itself seems too steep for a ride of that height and age, and the g's you pull at the bottom only confirmed my suspicions...omg.

I'll either follow Robb's lead and go with KC...or Busy Child - Crystal Method. Both songs bring back good memories.