cal1br3tto

Theming has grown on me between my last post and now. I still want a quality thrill ride, but theming can help make the difference between "forgettable" and "memorable" to me. On the day I visited CGA, I honestly liked Flight Deck and Vortex about the same (I know many don't and never did!), but now I like Flight Deck much more. Vortex is just track, track, track, like that's all you see. Flight Deck has a reasonably well done airplane theme and that lovely lake.

My next credit won't be at a park. I'm going to the Clark County Fair this weekend to ride Zillerator.

Best Flight Deck CGA: I love going over the water! Space Mountain DLR: That ride is so fantastical. The end feels like the ending of a dream or something. Tremors: The ride never stops being good! I always try to touch that final lone headchopper beam even though I know you can't. Worst Grizzly CGA: My dad always says "The brakes are really impressive. They made them really forceful in order to make up for how bad the ride is." Well, I could be wrong, but I'm guessing the brakes aren't like that to impress people.

I don't really have a favorite movie, but if you insisted on an answer, I would probably say School of Rock. I'm sure it's not the best out there but I really enjoyed it. I still have a fondness for some of the Disney movies I loved in my childhood, although I'm not the type who obsesses over them or makes a point of watching them as an adult. Some of my favorites are Bambi, Dumbo, 101 Dalmatians, and Lady & The Tramp. I guess I like the animal ones more than the fairy tale ones.

I haven't done anything particularly whorish yet, but this is what comes closest. I consider these whorish because they were basically quick, expensive side trips with little or no expectation of thrills. 1. The day I went to Wild Waves and Fun Forest, I also went to Remlinger Farms to ride Mine Twister (which is in my mind one of the most boring coaster styles). Cost: $11 for one ride (all-day wristband). Also, Rainbow Chaser at Fun Forest is basically a clone except by a different company, which just proves further I wasn't really going for the experience as much as the credit! 2. Less whorish, I'll admit. The day I went to SCBB I also went to Gilroy Gardens for 30 or 45 minutes maximum. I paid $30 and rode Banana Boat once, Timber Twister once, and Quicksilver Express twice. That comes out to $7.50 per ride (assuming I'm not factoring in intangibles like the beautiful setting). I have a couple more "mildly whorish" plans for the season, but I'll spare you the details.

The Mattherhorn: Tomorrowland side: I don't think I knew there were two sides. Mulholland Madness at DCA: I forgot it was a coaster ??? Klondike Gold Rusher at Wild Waves: It was closed for maintenance, and I decided to go anyway because I thought it would be closed for a while. Turns out it re-opened only 2 or 3 weeks later. I'm thinking of getting it at the end of the season. Pole Position: Technically doesn't qualify since I wasn't actually at the carnival, but I did see it from the road on the way to Gilroy Gardens/SCBB and back again. I'm hoping to get the credit at the State Fair. Also, I've missed some really small kiddie coasters because I was too lazy to see if there was a height maximum, etc. I.E. Roadrunner Express at SFDK and Taxi Jam at CGA. I absolutely do not pay any regard to those kinds of coasters because it's not worth my time worrying about them. (I understand those who are interested, though! I'm totally on the c.w. side of the fence; I just have some limits.) I got one of my skipped credits this year though! I got Boomerang Coast-to-Coaster on my second visit to SFDK.

That's exactly what I experienced in June. I was certain I felt two or three very faint spots of air during each ride. Is it because of the minor retracking? When I read about that, I was hoping it would improve the experience a little.

Best wood: Giant Dipper SCBB! (And I like it much better than Roar. I like Roar, but it doesn't have enough airtime for me.) Best steel: California Screamin'. [Edit: Medusa also.] This will come up for debate at some point as I ride it again and ride other CA coasters. Contrastingly, I wouldn't be surprised if Giant Dipper retains its position for quite some time. Worst wood: Grizzly. I don't hate it; not even close. I just think it is utterly pointless, and could've (should've, really) been infinitely better. Worst steel: Demon, Kong, and Boomerang Coast-to-Coaster. They each have something mildly fun to them, but overall I find them boring. This is out of 25 coasters at 7 parks.

Apparently Corkscrew at Knott's/Silverwood was called "Gravity Defying Corkscrew" for a while. Now that, in my mind, is just cute. It makes it sound like a circus act or something really amazing (which it was, when it was new!). Here's another cute one, from the old days: "Giant Safety Coaster". ??? I don't get it. Other than the obvious...but even then, who would ever think of putting "Safety" in a coaster's name? Perplexing.

^Especially without safety devices...I made an assumption, never thinking it could possibly be wrong! (I also kind of thought the cherry picker was there to catch him if he fell...which doesn't make the most sense, I guess.) I was inspired to read the Wikipedia entry on the Flying Wallendas and I was disturbed by the tragedies...but I admire the family's daring and bravery!

^I, for one, am almost glad I didn't, though! (Even though it would've been exciting!) Think of the tension and worry...even though I know he knows exactly what he's doing and has safety back-up. But even just the threat of failure, let alone harm, would bother me.

Good point when you summarize my posting like that. I still feel the same way about the coaster itself, but I guess I should refrain from trying to judge or interpret other people's opinions. Because clearly, if I do, I'll contradict myself!

Ice Mountain Bobsled has the most adorable trains I've ever seen! I think Millennium Flyers look creepy. The railing on the front car looks like something out of a nightmare. I'm pretty sure I'm the only person who thinks this way.

My current favorite example is Tremors. It's simple, prominent, and gets the earthquake theme across. Plus the trains are a pretty color. Overall, it's very well-designed, and it doesn't clash with the less conspicuously displayed park name. From the official site.

I see a few others have commented who have only been on one, so I'll jump on the bandwagon. I enjoyed Vortex at CGA. I understand perfectly why it's a total loser in this poll, in which we are comparing it to other stand-ups. However, I do not understand why it gets so much hate in general. It doesn't bother me, of course; I just think it's interesting. In my limited experience, I give it a 7 out of 10. I originally gave it an 8 for fun, then lowered that to 7 when I realized it's really short and forgettable. Re-rides definitely start to get boring. It's also rough, but I can live with that.

I'm trying to read a book called Amusing Ourselves to Death. It's not about amusement parks, nor is it about...well, anyway, it's about television. Or at least, it's supposed to be, but it's a philosophy book, so it gets into a lot of other stuff. It was assigned for school, and it's not the "worst" philosophy text I've ever attempted reading. However, I think they all go beyond my comprehension and/or interest to some degree, often a great degree.

During my dream the night before last, I was thinking about the coasters at CGA and SFDK and one or two of them appeared in some random mall, and not the way they are in real life. (I just knew they were from those parks.) At some point I thought I was awake and attempted to do a head-to-head comparison of the coasters at SFDK versus the ones at CGA. Then I apparently actually woke up and thought, "I'm doing this all wrong, I'm comparing the wrong pairs of coasters, and even trying to compare ones that don't even exist!" So then I tried to do it "right", but I think I fell asleep again because I got endlessly confused before I got it all sorted.

Life of Pi? I found that book...incredibly disturbing, beyond anything I'd ever read. I'm finishing a memoir called If I am Missing or Dead. It's about a woman and her sister and about how they both spend most of their lives in highly dysfunctional relationships, with dramatic and tragic results. If you are a woman, it will make you consider hating, fearing, and avoiding men for the rest of your life! (So don't read it if you're extremely impressionable.)

^Good to hear! Its cars looked really thrashed when I visited earlier this month so I was wondering if it would be out of service for a while.

I was so glad not to be disappointed by SCBB Giant Dipper! Some days I even think it's my favorite wooden coaster (then again, there's only Tremors and Timber Terror for competition). Buzz bars...no seatbelts...the most utterly forceful and conspicuous airtime I've ever experienced, on almost every hill! Especially this one hill which I grew to love. There's nothing I don't like about this coaster, and it just gets better as the day goes by.

For the rides: Silverwood: Three excellent coasters, two of which are wooden! Plus a drop tower and another coaster! Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: Features my other favorite wooden coaster (see above for the other two). Hurricane is also pretty fun. Plus, my favorite Rock-o-Plane ever, a surprisingly fun kids' coaster, and approximately my favorite KMG Afterburner/similar ever! Oh, yeah, and the best carousel I've ever been on in my life, by far! For the atmosphere: Fun Forest: No comment. Well, other than that Windstorm is really fun! I will always have a special affection for this park. Why? I'm not quite sure, other than that it's in the middle of Seattle! Enchanted Forest: Although I'm totally impressed by Ice Mountain Bobsled, it's the walk-through attractions, etc., that really "make" this park. That, and Challenge of Mondor! Who doesn't love a shooting dark ride? Gilroy Gardens: Simply beautiful. Not a thrill park except for the lovely Banana Boat. Although, Timber Twister has one surprisingly good drop, and Quicksilver Express has the most effective headchoppers I've ever seen on a smaller/non-world-class coaster. Honorable mention: I'm not "wowed" by Oaks Park, but it's a decent traditional park in a nice setting. Also, it has 3 of my favorite flats done well (Afterburner, Rock-o-Plane, Spider), and the coasters aren't as bad as most people seem to think. They're both pretty fun!

5 Duckies!

^I love merry-go-rounds! I believe many were taken out because of liability issues, but one of my favorite parks in Portland has one, and I believe there are others around here. As for the "horse/animal" ride, I appreciate that there are differences between what is technically a merry-go-round or a carousel, but I always have and always will use the terms interchangeably. I just think "merry-go-round" is too cute not to say.

My assignment is due at midnight, not noon...which means I'm not screwed! (No, I didn't read the time wrong...last week, the assignment was due at noon, and I didn't bother to check this week's assignment until just now.) ^Can't wait to find out if Klondike Gold Rusher is really open...if it is, I'll visit in September for the credit!

A minor note... At plenty of rides (including at Six Flags parks), the ops clearly and firmly warn you to stay clear of the gates. And if you're not warned, just keep it in mind! Those gates do infinitely more good than harm. Do not ask me to comment on the Flash Pass! (I get worked up.) I am in favor of the system, and see no deal-breaking problems with it--some concerns, perhaps, but I'd rather have it exist than not. Also...sitting on the ground or whatnot doesn't sound all that bad to me. There's nothing wrong (and a lot right) with resourcefulness!