Carnage

^ Well the PCW version sure looked that way. Though the queue line looked longer then I thought. From what I could see there were no queue mazes, just one really straight in queue. The entry to the line is right by the entrance to Minebuster. Though I did find out what everyone meant about Tomb Raider having a way too small queue. We started at the entrance, and it was only about a 30 minute wait. Now I understand why last year they had to keep lining people around fountains, and then leading them in when space opened up. In fact the line for Tomb Raider didn't seem much bigger then most of the parks flat rides.

Hope you don't mind waiting. It had a 2-4 hour line when I was there friday night. I'll be waiting until I can get out there on an empty day before riding it. I'm not waiting hours for it.

So I just got back a short while ago from season pass preview night at Paramounts Canada's Wonderland. The park was lot busier then I expected, especially considering how cool it was. Our first stop was to get our season pass photo's made, however the camera machines had broken down so we decided to leave that for another day. So we decided to head over to check out Italian Job:Stunt Track. Turns out the line was about 3-4 hours, and no way I was waiting that. Only 2 trains with 12 people each = brutal capacity. So instead we got in line for Mighty Canadian Minebuster which was only a station wait approx. A funny thing happened while in line for Minebuster though. I kept glancing over at IJ:ST, wondering about how I hadn't seen it run in quite awhile. Sure enough it had broken down. Seems that one of the trains was stranded at the helicopter scene, as soon after we saw all the riders being escorted back to the path after being taken off the ride. The ride did reopen, but we didn't ride it as the lines were much too long. After minebuster we went over and rode the Mondial giant frisbee. This was my first time on it. Great ride, though I think the huss versions are better. But it's pretty close. I also got my credit on Tomb Raider:The Ride(Zamperla Volair). Why on earth did PCW decide to build this thing? I mean they could have put a nice spinning mouse in the same spot for less money. The loading of TR:TR is so awkard. You have to run up while it's moving and climb up into it. Which can be kind of tricky as you try and figure out where you're supposed to fit into it. The ride itself was pretty rough, not as bad as I had heard, but still bad. Lots of head banging, and lots of vibration. The last half of the ride was just a blur. We ended the night on Skyrider(Togo standup). This crew was obviously new, as they were even more slow at loading then normal. Dispatches were ranging between 5 and 10 minutes. Overall it was a pretty good night. I'll probably be back next week when I can get some better pics, and possibly ride IT:ST. Thought that might have to wait until I can get out on a May weeknight. Not as bad as I had feared, but still pretty bad. Psyclone - One of the better rides at PCW.

Tree Top Racers at Adventure City near Knotts. That thing looked like it was going to fall apart. Also the wild mouse at Quassy. Similar idea, just looked like it was going to fall over. And then there was the kiddy coaster Little Dipper at Quassy as well. We actually had a roll back on it. It got to the top of the hill before slipping backwards down the chain lift. The ride op then looked at me confused and muttered "Uh, too much weight??". Then he proceeded to throw it back into gear. 2nd time we actually made it over the lift hill.

^ The reason they tell you to keep your arms down isn't to prevent roll backs. It's for the exact reason why you found out that you need to have your back against the seat. It's too prevent any sort of whiplash when you launch. People haveing their arms up will not really affect wether or not you clear the tower.

Lots of people, myself included wish for roll backs. It's 2 rides in one. It is quite common to have trains not clear the hill, and is perfectly safe. As the train launches brake fins pop up behind the train as it passes. So if the train doesn't clear the hill it just rolls back, and is safely stopped by the breaks. Just like what would happen if it would have cleared the hill. Then the train is pulled back to the launch position, and launched again, this time a bit faster so that it clears the hill.

^ Yeah, Mean Streak really isn't rough at all. It's just kind of slow and boring now. It doesn't go fast enough to really hurt. The ride is really a shadow of it's former self.

^ Rain of any form will shut down Dragster. Most rides will run in even a light to moderate rain. Dragster will shut down if it even starts to sprinkle. Mostly because rain drops that speed will feel like small pebbles. But also because as the track gets wet, the chance of roll back increase. In fact I've always been told the best shot at getting a roll back is right after they re-open after rain. Dragster is very much a nice weather only ride. It runs great as long as it's not windy, cold, or wet. Too bad it was built on a peninsala.

Actually the best way to get on Dragster with little wait is to stay at one of the Cedar Point resorts. That way you get into the park a half an our early. If you don't have early entry even if you sprint there, there's going to be people ahead of you. You should be alright if you just go to TTD first thing. The majority of the ride will operate unless the weather is really bad out. But TTD is very suspectable to wind, so it goes down much more often due to weather. So that's one of the reasons you should get it out of the way as soon as possible.

Friday's in May should produce fairly short lines. Although predicting lines is a crap shoot. MForce and TTD are good to get out of the way early due to lines. Especially Dragster. I'd suggest riding it as soon as possible. It can go down for mechanical problems, ore more often weather at any point. So ride it while you can. Wouldn't want a pick up in the wind make you miss your chance. Maxair is definetly worth the ride. I've ridden Delerium at PKI and it's probably one of the best flat rides I've been on. Raptor is another must ride. ONe of the best inverts out there. Mantis is kind of hit or miss. Some people like it, some hate it. I wouldn't call it a must ride, but definetly give it a try if you have time. Though getting on it early isn't a bad idea either. The line can get pretty long due to really slow loading. Though considering the time of year you might not have too much trouble with lines. Though rides like MF,TTD, and Raptor will always have the longest lines.

^ You'll have to wait till next year. Contest entries had to be post marked by last friday.

^^^ Mine will probably get there early-mid next week. Sent it out friday, and it was estimated at 4-6 days or something. It's coming from Canada so they need to schedule rest breaks for the carier pigeons.

^ You can re-use them. Using them along time isn't good, but using them a few times doesn't hurt. I should point out that the video I shot for this contest was my first time with a camcorder. So all my tapes are brand new.

Only a week until I'll get to ride it. Season pass preview night is next friday. I was hoping to get to media day, but seems I didn't get connected soon enough. Oh, well I can wait a few more days. I'll have some pictures to post next weekend, with video to follow soon after.

I dropped my entries into the mail today on a DV tape. Should be there in 6-8 days. So how many videos are going to be posted for the voting?

^^ That's cool with me. Time frame is alright. Just want to get the most out of my tapes.

If we submit on a miniDV tape will we be able to get the tape back? I was going to submit my videos on a DVD, but my burner is giving me fits. Just curious as a DVD disc is much cheaper for me then a tape.

That's just somethign you have to risk with customs. I have ready plenty of reports of people getting charged an arm and a leg by customs. Alot of eBay purchases get nailed for stuff like that. And not only that, but if customs feels that the declared value is too low, they have the full right to change the value and charge you taxes/duties depentant on that. Custsoms are the devil.

Those panaramic pictures they have on their site are pretty cool.

^^ I think I go by the whole "If it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck ... then it's probably a duck" type reasoning. I don't really have any tangible explenation for what counts and what doesn't. It's just a judgement call.

I was actually going to mention the clamshell restrains as one of the worst. There's just something about them that didn't sit well with me. I think it was the exposed feeling, and having nothing around me. No seatbelt attached to the bar, nothing to my sides at all. That and the feeling that you're summersaulting over the bar on the hills. I found it felt like I was floating up, and forward over the bar. Even though I knew that my leg would have to break for me to come out, it still didn't feel right. I felt MUCH more comfortable and secure on the Intamin hyper trains.

I don't even want to imagine how much I'd get nailed for shipping to Canada on that thing. Not too mention what duties and taxes customs would charge me. Escpecially considering that they have full right to charge you taxes and duties on the value that they feel the item is worth. I can just see the dollar signs spinning behind the custom's officer's eyes who opens up that package.

I'm more surprised that he died from such a small height. I mean 5 metres isn't that high. Definetly high enough to cause an injury, but I wouldn't consider that a fatal height by any means.

Great job on the videos. Though I did find myself wonder what was being said from time to time. And was that a french version of Hanson in the 3rd video?? :shock:

Hehe. That was one of the motos for the Rideworld East Coast Trek. We played the South Park movie early on in the trek. Actually it was pretty much around there that everyone started to get comfortable with each other, really started to get nutty after that. Actually the ironic thing is that the rising Canadian dollar actually hurts us more then it helps. Because we rely so much on exports the stronger dollar makes it more expensive for other countries to buy our products.