PAL

^Almost all of that news was posted here several pages ago by TPR regulars.

It's about time Downtown Disney added another quick service option. Earl of Sandwich will be a great fit.

The San Diego Union Tribune published a nice update on Manta today. I'm surprised no one has posted it yet. This is the construction update: There's more, including a photo of the Manta front car previously seen at IAAPA. Find it here: www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jan/18/seaworld-unveils-manta-themed-coaster-car/

^That's ok, I don't feel left out. Your shame is its own reward. Bring on Legoland!

Oooo, deliciously shameful. Thanks for a year full of titillation. (Agreed, Clementon is not so hot. My worst spend for a credit by far. How does Hell Cat compare with other rough woodies?)

Same here! I'd love to see more photos from this era.

Righteous!

Silver Bullet at Knott's Berry Farm, a traffic break on the slow ride back south from Magic Mt. While I love Batman's intensity, Silver Bullet offers its own unique mix of fun elements. I particularly enjoy the inverted turn and the cobra roll that dives onto the midway.

2011 was a good one! My coaster crazy 15-year old and I made two road trips, first to collect the Texas parks (and a certain New Giant - plus the legendary Schlitterbahn - nice!). Then in August, we circled the midwest. Holiday World was as good as advertised. King's Island was average but large. Six Flags Great America was the surprise hit (such a contrast with its one-time California sister). Other than that, it was reprise city - not a bad thing: Texas Loop Six Flags Over Texas Six Flags Fiesta Texas Schlitterbahn Sea World San Antonio Midwest Worlds of Fun Schlitterbahn KC Six Flags St Louis Holiday World King's Island Cedar Pt Six Flags Great America Vegas Speed the Ride (just before it closed) Canyon Blaster Buffalo Bill's Stratosphere Day trips Belmont Park Sea World San Diego Disneyland California Adventure Knott's Berry Farm Six Flags Magic Mt Castle Park Scandia

FYI, for those who wonder if they can upgrade a Bash admission to a Six Flags AP. First, Robb's FAQ on the topic: As of yesterday, Magic Mt's in-park ads offered an upgrade of a day ticket for $39.99.

Windy at the Mt. No X2 or Scream. Still no obvious prep at the Luther site. That should change after the holidays - just a guess. On the way in we stopped by the departed Log Jammer. There's no sign of demo work. The sign still hangs above the queue entrance. At least Log Jammer has the bare abandoned monorail beam for company. Uh-oh, Riddler is in 1-train rehab mode.

I didn't believe I'd see the day! Sky Cabin returned... There goes the theory that Windseeker's relocation was related to a possible Sky Cabin demolition to make way for a new attraction.

Robb, you should see this one coming from a mile away. Do you know whether Magic Mt will offer a Bash admission upgrade to AP, and what it might cost?

This is only the second year I've submitted a ballot. Some of the finer points escape me. Like this one: If coasters that have met the wrecking ball are removed from the ballot, why would The Texas Giant remain? As a wooden coaster, it's done. Game over! I never experienced the pain or pleasure of riding it, but was lucky enough to get plenty of laps on the reincarnation. I'll be disappointed if it doesn't appear on the steel poll. It's easily in my top 10 (love that airtime!). That begs the question: has a single coaster ever appeared on both polls in the same year?

So that's where that giant wheel lives! I remember seeing it incessantly in commercials (Discover Card?) this spring. I'd thought it could be at SFOT, but didn't care enough to hunt it out once I discovered my error. Looking forward to Wildfire. Thanks for the reports - keep 'em coming.

Done! Top 10 El Toro SFGAd NJ,y,n,1 My Favorite Steel Anypark Anywhere **,y,n,2 The Voyage Holiday World IN,y,n,3 Evel Knievel Six Flags St Louis MO,y,n,4 Prowler Worlds of Fun MO,y,n,5 The Legend Holiday World IN,y,n,6 Lightning Racer - L Hersheypark PA,y,n,7 Lightning Racer - T Hersheypark PA,y,n,8 Giant Dipper Santa Cruz Bch Bdwk CA,y,n,9 Phoenix Knoebel's PA,y,n,10 Apocalypse S. F. Magic Mountain CA,y,n,11 Hall of Shame Thunderhawk Dorney Park PA,y,n,42 Hell Cat Clementon Lake NJ,y,n,43 Hurler Kings Dominion VA,y,n,44 Rattler Fiesta Texas TX,y,n,45 Mean Streak Cedar Point OH,y,n,46

I visited the AC exactly once. It probably helped that my wife and I were in a happy mood. Our evening at PI started at the comedy club (a so-so show setting a low bar). We dropped into the jazz club to run fortuitously into free booze (Stoli if you can believe it). By the time we wandered into the AC, we were buzzing. We loved it. It didn't matter that this or that kooky bit would have benefitted from some explanation. We were too far gone to care. The audience was into it too, much more so than at the weak improv show across the walkway. The drinks were excellent, and the best part - no rug rats! It was fun moving room to room to take in the different acts. We closed the place, and no, we (I mean me) are not normally big on audience participation or over the top silliness. It could be we caught (white) lightning in a bottle. If I'd have strode into the AC sober, I might have bounced right back out. I was sorry to see the AC and the other PI venues close. The AC, at the least, was unique. I think disco sucks, but I'm not raging for the closure of every disco club or the de-doucheification of the Vegas Strip (so long as I can't hear your crappy music from my room, go ahead trendoid, blow your dough on bottle service). There are plenty of alternatives for evening entertainment at WDW. Right?

Thanks for the explanation of the lack of tour info. I assure you I'm aware of the different meanings between "break" and "brake." I spend much of my professional life editing and proofing. Because even my most detail-oriented contributors make the odd error, I strive to make corrections in a positive manner, with a heaping helpful of good humor.

^You spun around on X2 and survived the pretzel loop while suffering a hangover! You must have access to a killer cure.

Question: In addition to the Roller Coaster Insider Tour which visits Montu's shop and includes a visit to the break run, there's a tour named the Roller Coaster Experience. I came across it while looking at the passholder savings webpage, but can't find it on the regular portion of the site. It sounds a lot like Williamsburg's coaster tour, which rocked. That one included a ride up to the top of Griffon, access to three coaster workshops, a few laps of ERT for the tour group, and a Quik Queue for a front seat ride on each of the coasters. Has anyone given this longer BGT version a try? What's included? Was it worth the price ($58 with passholder discount)? The tour description leaves a lot to the imagination. I called the Sea World / Busch Gardens customer service line, which likely took me to a call center somewhere in Orlando. The rep could only confirm that the tour will be offered daily during the peak weeks of spring, when we're set to visit.

^I believe Coaster Freak is thinking about a report on revenue and / or attendance growth, which naturally showed huge year over year gains for Universal Orlando while Disney showed little change. That doesn't change the fact that if those flat Disney results are still 10 or 20 times (or whatever - I'm making numbers up now) Universal's, in actual terms Disney dominates.

I was expecting sad and pathetic, and you only give us one Wacky Worm! False advertising. (How about some kart action?) Keep the trip reports coming - good stuff.

Some of us like pathetic.

I believe it also hosts the Christmas Grinch greeting and snow play area.

^This! USH is no IOA. As long as they leave the backlot alone, bring on reinvestment.