OldJJman

Jason, I love the way you describe things in detail. Having been in Japan last year, I can actually see the situations you're experiencing better thru the words than in the pics. Now I'm really looking forward to Kawasemi next month!! Yes, the Shinjuku station is huge, but just wait until you go to the TDR! I'm assuming that you'll be taking a train (Yamanote line?) to the Tokyo main station, then connecting to the line out to Disney. It is SERIOUSLY over a mile walk (and down 3-4 levels) from the outer line drop off to connect with the train to Disney. All inside the station! The Tokyo main train station is mindblowing!! Keep up the reports! Loving them all! JJ

I was thinking about the Ozark Wildcat, until I saw KR. You may be right Ted. JJ

Look in the other "Hard Rock Park" threads. Unfortunately, this park WILL fail. Jeff "I told you so" Johnson

Actually, I just copied a picture from the photoshop contest that happened during the Spain trip last year. I have NO idea! But I'm looking forward to it like everyone else!! JJ

Yup! Sounds about right!!! Couldn't agree more! JJ

Guardian21 your attempts are greatly appreciated!! Yes, I have heard from others as well, that they REALLY "FROWN" on taking pictures in the parks in that part of the world, for the reasons he cited. Taking pictures of women and/or children is a BIG no-no! Even if you are only trying to get pics of the coaster, some woman or child may wander into the frame, and (in their eyes) it would still be your fault. As far as RCDB goes, give Duane some time. He will get back to you, and he would definitely be interested in pics of coasters that aren't already on the site. Good luck in your future picture taking attempts. JJ

Plain and simple. No. That amount of tourism "about 14 million people" COULD NOT and DID NOT support Myrtle Beach Pavilion. MBP was a much smaller park, (and nicer than HRP, IMO) with a smaller entry fee and IT WAS LOSING MONEY!! That's why the owners, despite the pleas from the mayor and others, sold the land to the developers. A smart business decision on the owners part. No amount of tourism could have kept them open. They knew that. They knew it was a failing economy for the amusement park in 2005! That's why they closed up in 2006. They got out while they could, and turned a profit by selling the land. It's only a matter of time before Family Kingdom meets the same fate. But with deeper roots, and not as large of a financial hole as HRP is in, it may outlast HRP. JJ

That's quite true. I said it from day 1 (I'm not going to bother looking up where I said it though.), this park will fail. Reason - That area of the country CAN NOT support a quality amusement park. They could barely support MBP. MBP was losing money. plain and simple. The locals couldn't support it enough to keep it alive. The owners saw an opportunity to sell, and did. It is now my understanding that the condo towers that were supposed to go up there, have stalled due to lack of sales. (i.e. NO MONEY coming in.) The property that HRP was built on, (IIRC) or near, an ABANDONED shopping mall. It take quite a lot to kill an indoor shopping mall! If the local economy can kill a shopping mall, what chance does an amusement park have? Look at the demographics: it's damn close to being a retirement community. No other real points of interest (unless you LOVE playing golf!) that could bring in the tourist dollars needed to make it survive, because the locals can't support it. It just won't happen. Myrtle Beach IS NOT a major tourist destination anymore!! It will never be that way again. Scott is right. It all boils down to location. The Hard Rock people made a POOR decision by building the park in Myrtle Beach. Especially, considering the initial investment made by the Hard Rock company. It would be interesting You can argue that "Where else would they go?" There's plenty of available land in SoCal or Orlando that could have been looked at. That way they could have been a year 'round operation. Even with the stiff competition, they could've had a fighting chance. Especially with so many more attractions to draw people in, and (very important I might add) better, larger airport accessibility. The first year, IOA didn't do all that great. I believe that USF still outdraws IOA in sheer numbers. But IOA is gaining ground. Plus, it's open all year to keep up with the Disneys, and other attractions down I-4. Think about it, with no real competition, HRP is falling way below expectations. They have nothing else to offer. I see the park opening next year, and the same thing happening. By then the locals will have already have that "been there, done that" syndrome. After that, I seriously doubt that they will be open for a 3rd season. JJ

Having ridden pretty much all of the "big" rides in GB, I'd have to say: Steel 1. Nemesis 2. Dragon's Fury 3. Nemesis Inferno 4. Kumali Wood 1. Big Dipper 2. Wild Mouse at Blackpool 3. Grand National (The new PTC's just ruined the ride for me!) However a few years ago, it would have been: Wood 1. Grand National 2. King Solomon's mines @ Southport 3. Big Dipper 4. Wild Mouse @ Blackpool Note: I've never understood the love for Megaphobia. I've ridden it some 20 times or so. It's fun, but nothing spectacular. JJ

Shawn, Thanks for the continued updates! I find your travels quite amazing! Under one of your pictures you wrote: "Unfortunately the coaster wasn't operating because of the rain. (No matter how hard I tried to convince them to let me ride!)" I'm assuming that you don't speak Chinese. (I could be wrong!) Do many of the Chinese people you've encountered speak English? Or do you end up making begging gestures like I probably would (only to still be denied)? JJ

I'm STILL having nightmares about that damned "Ice Bat" (aka Dave's alter ego!). JJ

^^ My opinion is a bit different than Steve's. During my ride on Anaconda, I felt like I needed a bra, because my body was being jarred that much! I will NO DOUBT put Anaconda at the BOTTOM of Mitch's poll this year. Below Bandit, and Grizzly. JJ

Excuse me?? Having been there since almost the beginning (as so eloquently documented by John (Jon?)) I have outlived: Adam & Eve Moses Methuselah George Washington Napoleon Stalin Churchill Ronald Reagan And the list goes on and on ....... forever! So what makes you think I can't outlive you piddly little A$$???

John, Die! Dave, Die! Matt, Die! Elissa, Die! Joey, Die! Lou, Die! Robb, Die! Dave Thomas, Die! Anyone who laughs at this, DIE! JJ Edited to add: The last few people on the list were chosen because I know they would laugh!

Hanno, excellent pics in quality and content, as usual! I'm actually grateful you got a pic of me on that damn rib-bruising thing with Gage. It's been hard to explain without the picture! Anyway, this PTR is really missing one thing - Hanno. Well, I happened to catch Hanno on his first drop tower experience. Enjoy! How do you uncross your legs when you're in this much pain?? Hanno grunting severely, while Lou is Joygasming! (crappy pic) Hanno is still not sure what he's in for. All of the sudden, a wedgie doesn't seem so bad, does it? Lou is having too much fun at Hanno's pain! Hano thinks that hand placement will protect his jewels. Lou feels dirty tricking Hanno into riding.

Love the "Vomit Bucket""!!! Have to look for that when we're there!! JJ

Not. I have to agree with the people that mention the gravity railways. I would ride it, but not count it. It's too much along the lines of an Alpine slide (which I do not count either!). JJ

Larry did!!! Hi Larry!!

I was on the trip, and I have NO idea what they're talking about! Please tell! JJ

I'm with Jon on this. TdZ, Troy, then Colossos. TdZ ran exceptionally well, much better than in 2002!! It really was the great coaster I imagined it was in 2002. It was something like 98 degrees when we were there that day and the track seemed like it was bending under the heat. Not a bad ride, but bumpier than I expected. This time it was just awesome!! I really enjoy the latest batch of GCI coasters (except for Renegade) and Troy comes in second of my favorite GCI's only to the Ozark Wildcat, Kentucky Rumbler third, and Thunderhead a distant forth. Colossos is a good, airtime filled ride. Not what I look for in a wood coaster though. I like directional changes, heavy laterals and airtime. I like the out-of-control feeling that many do deliver. JJ

I, obviously, haven't ridden Colossos as much as others (5x in 2002 and 7x on this visit), but I've never come across this opinion. Granted in 2002, all rides were in the rain, and this time the early morning rides were also in the rain. But the afternoon rides were dry. It was, both times, a very smooth ride. No "square wheel" type rides whatsoever. I don't think anyone in our group had any problems with it at all. that's why we kept riding. Great first drop and plenty of airtime over the course of the ride. It's not my favorite woodie by any means (somewhere in my top 15 though) but a good ride nonetheless. As far as Bandit - Bad ride. Painful throughout. But still much better than Anaconda. OMG! That's the first coaster I ever felt like I needed a bra to ride. I hope Anaconda takes the LAST spot in Mitch's poll this year. Much worse than Bandit, White Cyclone or Grizzly - IMO. Much worse. JJ

Umm... We did. We had so much fun there, I would imagine it will be in a separate update. Someone needs to post the video of Steve and Lou on Bandit!

During the recent TPR trip to Toverland, I rode Troy 48 times. But it was the 45 consecutive rides during ERT that was the most fun! JJ

Great pics! Love the wheel of death!! Thanks for the info about the lines, as I believe we are going there on the TPR trip in September!! JJ

Nice TR Jimbo! Glad you made it up there! (Though you should have been in Europe!!) I am somewhat kind of surprised that there are no pics of you with a beer in your hand. WTF? What gives? JJ BTW - the avatar doesn't count.