Totopez

Are you saying the park is no longer targeted to families with younger kids? That is the primary target audience of the park and why I feel it is inappropriate. I agree it would serve the teenagers and I guess if there is minimal cost involved it could be moved, but I still don't think it fits. You are correct that the park are for families, but there are also a lot of teenagers going with their families. Also remember that you are not that old when you hit 140cm, and there are a lot of children who goes on thrill rides, with their older siblings, there parents and also alone, so I feel that all family parks should provide one thrill ride, so everyone can be happy. I rode Extreme for the first time when I was 12, and I would have gone 1-2 year earlier if I was not such a slow grower. Will the ride end up at Skara? I really doubt it, but I would defiantly be glad if it did, since the park has had no real thrill ride since the hot dog ride was removed, and that ride is strongly missed if you read there Facebook. As you say, Sommarland hasn't added any "mature" attractions in a long time. Water slides like Fritt Fall must have been there since mid 80-ies. Back then, they had some funny and thrilling rides, I remember the sTand up coaster that opened in 1988 (even though it wasn't as spectacular as I remembered it when I tried it in Canada a few years ago, it is now Cobra at La Ronde). I think they could use one or two rides appealing to teens and other thrill seekers, Extreme or other. But I know for sure that my 11-year old daughter will demand a trip to where ever Extreme will end up...

A friend working at Gröna Lund has confirmed the Starflyer. Extreme has been removed, and so has the fast food place that was between Extreme and Kvasten. I was wondering how they would fit in the Starflyer, but with the fast food place gone, I get the picture.

I have planned to visit Orlando next summer and do all the major parks and coasters. First visit, big investment (with wife and two kids and flying from Sweden, so it will most likely be the only visit (or st least in à very long time). But now all the new stuff being built makes me wonder if we should wait another year? On the other hand, if I wait, there will probably be an announcement from Busch Gardens/Sea World/Disney/Whatever about a new, huge, record braking attraction for 2015, so I have to wait another year. And then Universal starts talking HP part 3 for 2017, and then... Is there any chance some of the new attractions will open before summer 2013? Has anything been officially announced yet?

Really? Wow, I didn't see that one coming. Sounds like à long ride time (Blue Fire is like 400 meters shorter, and how long is that ride time? 2.30? It also sounds like the big capacity coaster the park really needs. Really looking forward to ride it.

Steel: Kingda Ka Wood: Colossos, Heide Park

Thanks Pitstains. What kind of Flash Pass do I need? Gold or Platinum?

I am going for the first time ever on Sunday. Flying over for the Bruce Springsteen-shows at MetLife and have Sunday off before flying back to Sweden on Monday. I hadn't planned on getting à Flash Pass, but with Fright Fest starting this weekend, it is perhaps necessary? We wont stay that long, we have a dinner reservation in NYC at 9.30, but we do of course want to get all major credits. Any advice?

I was there in early July, and we bought Express Passes (the super deluxe diamond platinum VIP-version), they were something like 55€ and offered front of the line on the nine biggest attractions and one front row ride on Shambala, Dragon Khan and Furious Baco. With these, it was no problem doing the whole park in one day with multiple re-rides. It was a bit more expensive than doing two days in the park, but definitely worth it.

The proper translation should be "Life is grey - Without The Green". Gröna Lund is among locals called Grönan, most closely translated to "The Green" or perhaps "Greeny". Congratulations on the boob credit!

I will be in Atlantic City for a few days in mid-September. Unfortunately, all the piers and rides seems to be closed these days and we cannot go other days (Bruce Springsteen-shows on Friday and Saturday, SfGadv on Sunday). But I would really like to visit the piers and take a few pictures of the rides. Morey's Piers is the ones I want. Does anybody know if its possible to get close to the coasters or even out on the piers even though they are not open? Would it be possible to contact someone working there in advance to get access?

I visited Gröna Lund Wednesday last week (National Day of Sweden), short lines early in the day. When I entered the line for Insane, I was really surprised and happy to meet one of the owners of the park along with his son also waiting in line "like normal guests". OK, Sweden has a long tradition of equality and social democratic justice policies, but I was really glad to see this. No VIP-stuff, no FOTL. Me like. Was there again yesterday. Pretty crowded, lots of school groups visiting Stockholm. Mainly teenagers. Jetline out of service all day (or at least from 3 pm until closing). No idea what is wrong this time, and they didn't say anything about when it could open again. Jetline with its huge capacity being down of course caused longer lines on other attractions, Twister, Insane and Vilda Musen all had 30-minutes waits. If you're in Stockholm, don't visit the park today if you wan't to ride. It's gonna be packed today. If you are into rock'n'roll on the other hand, you will have a great time. Lenny Kravitz on the main stage at 8 pm...

Hmm, first try ever. But I will go for 7 ducks.

I am going in a couple of weeks, and wonder one thing. Being a season ticket holder at Liseberg in Sweden, I get free entrance to PortAventura (great deal) for one visit. But I guess that we want to get Express Passes to avoid the long waiting times. Does anyone know if you need to buy the ticket and express pass at the same time, or can you get express passes also with other kinds of admission (such as getting in for free...)? And speaking about express passes, any updates on current prices? And can they be used on Shambala?

And you are probably doing well, I tried to get rooms for weekdays mid-September, but no rooms available Also, I can only be in Atlantic City for two days when all the coasters are closed. But I will finally be able to go to Six Flags Great Adventure, and that will make the trip worth coasterwise...

Living in Stockholm, Gröna Lund will of course be the main park with at least a dozen visits during the season. I also plan to visit other Scandinavian parks, Liseberg Linnanmäki Bakken Tivoli Gardens Spain in the summer will be Port Adventura Tibidabo, Barcelona A New York trip in September will hopefully bring me to Six Flags GAdv Morey's Piers (and perhaps a few others) Coney Island If I have the time, I will try to squeeze in a Europa Park visit, but that might have to be next year.

Happy Birthday Kristen! My son Adam (6) wants to know if you like Lego, and if you want to come play with him next time you are in Stockholm? (I told him it might be a while...)

Well, pretty cool with a concrete coaster, but as you say, it looks like other scenic railways. The cars seems to be identical with the ones running at Hullámvasút in Vidampark, Budapest, Hungary (http://www.rcdb.com/1086.htm)

You are most likely flying out of Orlando. Not a really wild guess, you do live there, right? But where are you going? My first guess, based on the Aer Lingus-sign and the GREEN hint would have been that you are going to Ireland, the GREEN Island. But then, are there any theme parks on Ireland that are operating at this time of year? I doubt so. And what would you do there? Then I took a look at the other hints, and I now think you are going from Orlando to Atlanta, Georgia. The CNN headquarter is located in Atlanta. The only Manta rays held in any US aquariums or parks are at the Georgia Aquarium.

Looking at your excellent coverage from IAAPA gives me the same feeling as the first time I was going to E3 or Tokyo Game Show. I guess I should switch from games industry to amusement. Or combine them.

Looks like the trip to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup just got a little bit more likely to take place. Let's just hope that Sweden qualifies...

Of course you should. I will most likely not attend, as the trip from Stockholm to Toronto is a bit too long and expensive, but I will be sitting at home checking out your updates here and on Facebook.

306 high, 5486 long, 80 degrees first drop, 92 mph top speed.. Video here:

The announcement site http://www.canadaswonderland.com/2012/ is now down.

When will the announcement be? As far as I understand, its 7 AM tomorrow morning. However, the countdown when I look at it is now 8 hours and 41 minutes away, and that would be 7 AM where I am, Sweden, which is six hours ahead of Toronto. Makes me confused. Or is the countdown clock set to reach zero at 7 AM anywhere in the world? Will I get my announcement in eight hours? Probably not... Wonderland Counter

^Isn't there a Schwartzkopf Looping Star AND a Shutttle Loop at Nagashima Spa Land?