Coaster Cow

Big Mike, I would like to enter the contest because my favorite part of the Big Mike Road Show is all the freaking international press you get for just being a bum. And I mean that in the kindest sense of the word.

Good stuff, thanks for sharing! The park looks almost Disney quality in decor, or at least Busch quality. Too bad the operations blow, the rides look awesome.

^It's not very realistic with that track threading the helix, but either just a hill up into the downward spiral or removing the helix portion altogether would make it better. If you don't want realism, it's actually pretty darn cool. It lacks the normal RCT blockiness and has some nice form to it. Kudos on making it fit in that corner, too.

Everyone loves America!......right?

I'm very fine with this. Chances are, if anyone has a reason to complain, its probably because they were doing the exact things that Disney is trying to stop. Just sayin'.

I like how they are trying at least a little not to just throw down a carnival. Although logistically that is what they are doing, I really like how they are getting the motorbike themed to steeplechase or the spinner themed to a tickler, even if it is very low-budget stuff. Makes it nice.

Yayayayayayayayayayayay

Cool stuff! I've never been to Utah, but ski resorts are alot of fun. Always seems weird to me that people would go on vacation to snow, though.

Short answer: yes. Long, much better answer: I was just in Disneyland for the last three days and it was crowded. Really crowded. But for my family, we were fine because we had been to Disney World on Christmas and New Years, and they've had to shut the parks down. We know some basic essentials: Get in early, go hard until about 11, when it gets horrible either take a nice break at the hotel or just sit back and people-watch, then stay late. USE FASTPASS. Californians don't seem to use it as much as in Orlando. If you want to get all the rides in, you've picked the wrong day. If you have all the right options, it doesn't have to be that way. I got both parks done over Christmas Eve-Christmas Day by taking advantage of staying at the Grand Californian and using the early park hours. You will get many rides in, as long as you are okay with lines, and will even get some of the blockbusters done. DCA will be less crowded for sure, but the same principles apply as above. I say its worth it, but only if you know how to do Disney with crowds. Plan carefully and commit, and as long as you like your riding partner, lines shouldn't be a problem. Just go and have fun!

I'm in Disneyland.

I woke up for a pee right at the correct time. Too bad its friggin' cloudy here in upstate.

I can't believe how great that maneuver looks from afar, I totally see the tree-like similarities. That hill up is STEEP, too! This is gonna work great for Busch Gardens.

Well that sure doesn't help the crowds on Christmas at Disneyland for me, now, does it?

Thanks! I figured that it would be at least as bad as Orlando. I guess its a good thing I don't have the need to get on every single ride when I'm there, or I'd probably kill myself. The Blackout idea is neat, though.

^Geez, that blows. I friggin' hate the cold. Just throwing it out there.

^I agree. The coaster idea, although certainly more marketable and easier to sell without a huge catalog, is innovative but could end up rough. The double track system is actually incredibly similar to X, which is no surprise, as Arrow was modifying their classic "Haunted Mansion" track system for a roller coaster. In order to really best accentuate the novelty of near-misses and whatnot, a track with a variable speed electric charge would work better, allowing for a dark-ride experience with faster sections to highlight the awesome technology behind it. Anything faster and you risk X-style jerkiness and turbulence only laterally, which would be exponentially worse.

I frickin' hate fanboys who bash before they ride, and given the location of X-Raptor, this'll be all this thread has for the majority of its posters. Story time: I liked AIR. People don't. People look at it and say its boring, the elements aren't unique, its tiny. I got to Alton Towers all the way from Rochester, New York, and rode it. I LIKED IT. There's a difference between speculation and just humoring yourself because you never thought you'd get to ride it. Please, please, please, please, just stop bashing on coasters whenever a shiny trim pops up or it looks like "the same old B&M boringness". They are possibly the best at what they do in the world. That means they are smart. Smarter than fanboys looking at some pixels on a monitor. I know that speculation is what keeps these discussions alive, but it makes me hate the winter months when I should be getting excited. Sorry, I'm in a horrible mood, so please don't hold me too accountable for pissing anyone off. Just try to think if what you are posting will be productive at all to any discussion or not.

Ok, before I ask these questions, some disclaimers: -I have been to Disney World over Christmas to New Years, so I would like an answer a bit better than "crowded" -I have been to Disney World probably about 10 times and Disneyland once, so getting in all the rides is not super important. we enjoy the atmosphere much more. -All of those times in Florida have been during either Christmas Break or President's Day Break, so again, we are used to mobs SO: I was wondering exactly how crazy Disneyland is on Christmas Day/days surrounding Christmas compared to Disney World? I understand that Disneyland is more urban and so it can draw on a much larger local crowd, while people going to Disney World for Christmas are usually crazily committed or foreign (as we found out last year). Any real advice would be fantastic. Also, what is the weather like for a SoCalChristmas? Thanks in advance!

I don't know how they're going to survive without the chain food stands. When I went to SFMM they were literally pretty much ALL that was edible (except for the BBQ) and probably made up about 50% of the vendors. Same goes for other SF parks I've been to. An interesting thing is how this relates to the ads on rides that they've been applying lately. Does anyone know if the chains paid SF for the right to put their stores in or is it a financial reason for SF taking them out?

^Turkey runs are my fave. Did a small-town 5-miler and came in 4th! Ran a 30:45, which is meh, but what I love about the race is not only the sweet swag (hideous turkey sweatshirts ) but how everyone knew everyone. My dad has ran the race almost every year its been run, and my grandfather pretty much has, too. The community feel is fantastic, and only having to run against 150 other runners, rather than a similar Rochester turkey race which brought in over 3,000 (!!!) certainly helps.

I don't think people realize the use of trim brakes in these situations. Riding a coaster that has had trims put in after the ride has opened can definitely crush the riding experience. But here's the thing: When coasters have them built into the ride, THAT MEANS THE RIDE WAS DESIGNED TO STILL BE EXCITING WITH THEM IN. Sure, it may not have the potential that it could have had, but people don't realize that the ride would probably then be painful, as it was built with the trims in consideration. Coaster fans seem to be naturally pessimistic. Why not say that you're happy that you'll get a more powerful launch, knowing that the rest of the ride will have to be taken at a slower speed knowing that the alternative is a slower launch to reach that same speed, rather than frickin' complaining all the time? Sorry, rant over. Have a nice day.

Better to see them designed into a ride than installed later.

I'm so happy you guys found this! My family has gone to Disney way too many times in my short life and I remember doing this every time we went for about 8 years. We would always stay at the Wilderness Lodge and this was such an awesome thing for Disney to have. I'm just glad they haven't over-commercialized it since I've been there last.

The Hungry Heron at Sanibel Island. 215 menu items! Or any place on Sanibel for that matter. Just a lot of wonderful sentimentality from so many trips there.

*edited for irrelevance*