live2tell75

Part 1: Arrival & Entrance As mentioned above, I attended a passholder's sneak peak of Busch's new water park in Orlando, Aquatica. I met up with my name twin, Erik Johnson and Will (WillMontu) from Gainesville. I had been looking forward to this since the park was officially announced a year ago. My only concern was, being a Floridian that we would freeze going to a water park in Feb. Luckily like the other Orlando water parks, the pools are heated. And it helped that the high was about 80 degrees. Where should we go? Once inside we were greeted by a cute kookaburra. Pretty nice entrance. Ticket area Erik is super ready. Fellow passholders ready to be one of the first to experience Aquatica. An example on how colorful this park is. A bridge leads to the entrance, complete with a lush tropical waterfall and rock formation. Aqautica would not be a Busch park without beautiful landscaping featuring the Anheuser-Busch corporate symbol. Welcoming the passholders to the sneak peek. For fellow park map freaks, the front entrance area. An overview of the entire park from Sea World's Sky Tower

^ From the Universal Site: http://www.universalorlando.com/tic_multi_park.html Starting March 1st, Aquatica is included on the Orlando Flexticket for $279.00 This includes unlimited admission to the following parks for 14 days: Universal Studios Florida Islands of Adventure Wet n' Wild Sea World Orlando Aquatica Busch Gardens Africa or $234.00 without Busch Gardens Africa

We saw Juno last week and absolutlely loved it! Congrats Diablo, you deserve it! -Eric

Today, Erik, Will and I checked out the annual passholder's sneak peak of Sea World Orlando's new water park, Aquatica. We had a fantastic day! Right now I am so tired and extremely sunburnt. This section is a general park photo overview. Scroll down to see my full review of the park.

So that completes my trip report from the awesome October-Orlando Adventure. Thanks again to Robb, Elissa, Elissa's parents for making the trip so cool and taking care of everything. Reed and Stacy you rock for being the gracious hosts at MNSHP. It was great to see many of my old TPR friends and get to meet some new ones. You guys are what makes these meets/trips worth it! Can't wait for whatever this year's Halloween plans bring us! Thanks for reading.

On Sunday we headed to Animal Kingdom for some Everest lovin'. Like the whole trip, it was a fantastic and fun time. Dinosaur rocks! Cutest baby ever! Period Larry hoping to get wet on the Kali River Rapids. Paul looking like he's having fun. I think the previous night's pool party/bbq + Everest is not a good mix for Emily. Dave and I having a good time on Everest. Matt, Justin and Dave before boarding the train to find the yeti. Emily, Paul, Chuck & Larry checkout the Yeti museum. First must conquer-Everest!

After Busch and Cypress, we all headed back to the TPR houses for a relaxing BBQ and pool party. Good food, friends and drinks what else could you ask for? The BBQ/Pool party was a great way to relax after some of the crazy go-go days at the parks. Up next, the last day at Animal Kingdom. Justin and Matt enjoying a few drinks. Paul joins Piers for some synchronized swimming. Ted, Matt, Catrina and I enjoying drinks and good friends by the pool. Relaxing with my lovley mate, Emily. Kristen wants to be part of the party! Paul, Chuck and Colin chilling in the jacuzzi. Matt and I giving Piers an audience. Piers provided our water entertainment for the evening. Paul, Ted, Catrina, Emily and Piers chillout in the jacuzzi. The 2 awesome cribs that we all called home during our Orlando adventure. The Vekoma house is on the left and the Thorpe house is on the right.

^ The second video is not recent. I agree the park looks to be very cool. The park is suppose to be doing employee/passholder previews at the end of this month. The park is scheduled to open on March 1st. Then the official big grand opening of the park will be early April. For more info check out the official website: http://www.aquaticabyseaworld.com/Main.aspx Also if you use the search feature, there are a few Aquatica topic threads already: Ex: http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=41111&highlight=aquatica http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33682&highlight=aquatica

On Saturday, we did a quick visit to Busch Gardens Africa and Cypress Gardens Adventure Park. I didn't take any pics at Busch Gardens, but did take a few at Cypress. I got the Starliner credit. It wasn't to bad. It had a few fun-unexpected bumps and the turnaround was pretty crazy! Overall our time at Cypress Gardens rocked because of the the awesomeness of our group! Colin, Larry, Chuck and Dave wonder where their lady is? Next up, the fun TPR BBQ/Pool Party. Emily's in on the action too! l-r: Emily, Justin, Ted and Paul. Catrina in a manwich! l-r: Piers, Matt, Catrina and me. The group got a little bit wet. Starliner From l-r: Colin, Larry, Justin, me, Ted, Erik and Chuck

^ 5 minute wait for Sapce Mountain was awesome! Having our own private stretch room in Haunted Mansion was great. Thanks Reed again for that! It was awesome to be able to hear how intense the upgraded sound in the stretch room was, especially without having people talking and screaming kids.

Thanks! I didn't take that many photos from HHN last year. But I did take a lot when we all went in 2006. Below is a link to my trip report of that visit if your interested in more HHN. http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30316&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Sorry double post.

It fufilled all my fantasies!

So I guess better late than never! I have been meaning to get caught up with my trip reports forever! The next part of our adventure was attending Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at The Magic Kingdom. I am so glad that members from this site got me to go 2 years ago. I used to always think it was for kids. Boy was I wrong! This event is a blast! Kevin felt the same way. You get to trick or treat around the Magic Kingdom recieving agazillion pieces of candy, have almost no waits for the attractions and there is a kick ass Halloween parade. What else could you want! Thanks to Reed and Stacy for making our visit fantastic! So after an almost 4 month delay in continuing this trip report, I present Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party: Very festive The decorations for Halloween are always cool. It's time for Mickey's Not So Scary Hallween Party Cruzin' in style in the front of the monorail. Is there any other way to go? Kevin and I relaxing by one of the former Skyride Stations. Ted and Catrina on It's A Small World We both had a great time. Next up: Busch Garderns Africa and Cypress Gardens Adventure Park The fireworks show was entertaining. Our parade group. The photo sucks, but its kinda makes the ghosts look real. A major part of the event is the parade, which is always fun. Matt, Erik, Stacy and Reed enjoying the night's festivities. Chuck and Paul battle it out to see who is the surpreme ruler of the galaxy on Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. Kevin trealing through space and time on a Disney classic, Space Mountain. Kevin was so happy to get a Clarks candy bar. Kevin, Robb and the TPR crew fly off on The Barnstormer. Cool lighting effects everywhere on Main Street U.S.A. As night falls, the Magic Kingdom's lighing sets the tone for the party.

Recent movies I have seen: Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Grade: B+ This was better than expected. It was another great combo of Depp and Burton. Really gory, but over the top, fake kind of gore. Wasn't crazy about the music. But loved the artistic direction of the film. National Treasure: Book of Secrets Grade: B Solid family adventure movie similar to the first film. Away From Her Grade: B+ We rented this last night for our Oscar fest, because Julie Cristie is nominated for best actress for her role. I had never heard of it, but it was very touching. The film deals with the heartbreaking reality of when Alzheimers effects the wife of a couple who has been married for 44 years. The Machinist: Grade: B- Christian Bale is good as a machinist that has had insomnia for over a year. The transformation of Bale's body into 120 pounds is shocking. He is basically a walking skeleton. Because of his insomnia, he has trouble distinguishing what is real and what are hallucinations.

On Friday morning a few of us skipped going to Epcot and decided to take it easy after a late night at HHN. Kevin decided to check out some of the area's nature parks. After lunch, Ted, Catrina and myself headed over to Sea World so Ted and Catrina could get the Shamu Express credit. We also got to have a practice trick ot treat run-through at Shamu's Halloween Spooktacular. This got us ready for the festivities at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party later that evening. Overall Sea World was a nice laid-back afternoon. Aquatica seems to be coming along for a March opening. We were the biggest kids trick or treating! The Ladies. Catrina is ready for the Shamu Express credit. Looks like Ted is ready for a different type of credit! Colorful characters. They even had something for big kids!

I was able to drag Kevin along to his first TPR event/mini trip. And he and I had a fantastic time. As always, Robb and Elissa went all out to make this trip absolutely awesome! Thanks again! Meeting little Kristen was a real treat. She is one of the most well behaved and cutest babies ever! It was great to meet up with old friends and to meet some new ones. After work on Thursday, Kevin and I drove up to join the group for Halloween Horror Nights. The event is always a good time. After going to these events so many times, it is really all about the people you are with. They are what make the night fun. We enjoyed Bill and Ted as always. The houses were all pretty good. I enjoyed Psychoscarapy: Home For The Holidays a lot. The Thing had some cool effects. Some of our group got to witness the scareactors scaring the crap out Kevin and I in quite a few of the houses. One example: Dead Silence had a good scare where I think I levitated off the ground and jumped 20 feet! We had a great time. And Kevin survived his first event with the wackiness that is TPR! Next up I trick or treat with Ted & Catrina during Shamu's Halloween Spooktacular at Sea World. Part of our crew. It was good to see some old TPR UK trip friends: Chuck, Ted & Paul. Elissa, her dad and the rest of the TPR crew before kicking some alien butt on Men In Black. Paul and Ted model the latest in eyewear. I actually had a few scareactors scare me in the fog. As you can tell, Kevin is super scared. I'm ready to experience my 13th Halloween Horror Nights

On Sunday, October 21st, my friends Ray, Ashley, Wayne and I decided to check out this year's Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Africa. We had a pretty awesome night. Thursdays and Sundays are the best nights to go during Howl-O-Scream. We had walk-ons for all the coasters and haunted houses. The only line we had to wait for was Shiekra, (a super long 15 minute wait!) When boarding Shiekra, met a fellow TPR member, a Shiekra operator, who I can't remember his name. Sorry, I'll look out for you the next time I ride. We all enjoyed the houses. The Taste of Blood haunted house was pretty good. The subway effect got me, but then again, anyone that knows me, knows that I'm not that hard to scare. The 3D house was better this year and had a better theme. We enjoyed the other new house Catch Your Breath. Overall had a fun night: Breezy weather, good scares, and fun friends! Sorry to anyone looking for coaster porn, this small photo report is all about the people, which was what really made the night! Thanks again to the group for making Howl-O-Scream a great night! Good times. Shiekra, like any coaster at night rocks! Catch Your Breath was a pretty good biker/Delivernce type haunted house. Ray helping me pose so I don't look like a Star Wars creature with 3 chins and gross neck. What are friends for! Ashley is like: "get this nasty naked creature the hell away from me!" Wayne, Ray and Ashley are so ready for the scariest ride in the park, Cheetah Chase! (you think I'm kidding, wild mouses scare the crap out of me!) With my friend Ashley. We're ready to get the crap scared out of us! We begin the night with this creepy picture of Ray.

Sorry for the long response. This month has been crazy busy, I am finally able to catch up on my trip reports. The park was busy. We figured it was because the weather was pretty warm. We went on a Sunday so I don't think the Fright Feast was as popular as it is on a Friday or Saturday night. The lines for the coasters were about 30 minutes, some 45 minutes. When we went to Salem it wasn't crazy crowded, but I have been told that it was busier than usual. We went on Columbus day, so during the day it was busy, than around 8pm the town became a ghost town.

Next up we spent a day in Salem, Ma. I hadn't been to Salem since I was kid. We had a great day. The town was decked out in all it's Halloween glory. There were cool little fall festivals booths located on the many different streets. Of course we did one of the main tourist draws: The Salem Witch Museum. The museum was very informative of the historic Salem Which Trials. If you are not familiar with the trials and hysteria that swept through Salem resulting in 20 executions in 1692, you should rent the movie "The Crucible". We also did the "Haunted Neighborhood" a collection of halloween events including a couple of haunted houses that were fun. We ended the night with a fantastic guided ghost tour that was quite creepy! Onto the pics! Had to take a photo of this kick-ass tree! One of the oldest cemeteries in the country. In the Haunted Neighborhood. Memorial for the 20 people that were executed during the Which Trials. Lunch with the family overlooking the harbour. One of the fall festival streets. I love fall foliage! As the photo shows, The Salem Which Musuem. The John Ward House, 1684.

A few weeks ago Kevin and I traveled north for a wedding, to visit friends and family and to check out some fall foliage. While visiting Mass. (where I am originally from) we checked out Six Flags New England. This was my first time visiting SFNE. When I lived in the Boston area as a child, I never got to visit the park when it was Riverside Park. My family and I always went to Canobie Lake. SFNE surprised me on how pretty the park was. I was sad that Superman was closed. Got all the other credits expect the Great Chase. I think I left my spine somewhere on Cyclone's tracks! Pandemonium was fun for everyone. I just wish it spun more. Flashback and Mind Eraser were rough as expected. Batman was smooth and a good ride. Catwoman was a fun family coaster. The surprise of the day was The Thunderbolt. This was fun little woodie. The park does have a great selection of flats. Tomahawk was pretty cool, especially towards the end when the ride sped up. Twister, the Top Spin had a week program, we flipped upsidedown only once! Along with Superman being closed, I was disappointed that Houdini was also closed due to Fright Fest. I became a big fan of the haunted swing attractions after riding a few of them on the TPR UK trip last year. Overall we had a fun day. The day was more about spending time with my relatives. The weather started out kind of warm and then cooled down as the day went on. Onto the photos! Everyone had a fun day. Next up, our day in Salem, MA. No Superman for me. =( My cousins, Meilssa, Greg and Ava "playing dead". The Fright Fest decorations were throughout the park. Fun coaster for the whole group. My cousins Greg and Melissa riding Rodeo. It is a beautiful looking coaster though. Before I lost my spine riding Cyclone. With my aunt Paula. Got to love Scooby and Shaggy!

Recent movies I have seen: Bug: 5/10 Performances were great, just didn't think the movie overall was great. Knocked Up: 8/10 I had quite few laughs. Transformers: 5/10 Special Effects: 10/10 Being an 80's child and playing with all the toys, I thought the movie was just ok. It's probally just me, I guess don't hold Transformers as high up as when I was a kid. Hairspray: 10/10 Got to see a sneak peak last weekend. I'm not the biggest musical fan, but Hairspray was so much fun! It has been a long time since I have been to a movie were you are on a high leaving. Had great music, performances and a great message about tolerance. And go just to see John Travolta, he did a lot better than I thought he would. So far this has been the best movie I have seen this summer.

I'm glad you were able to get the flume credit Chuck! I wish it had been open a few months earlier. Oh well, maybe sometime in the future I'll get to check it out. Glad you had a good time with the gang.

On our last day in Tennessee, we checked out Rock City. It was pretty cool. As you will see in some of the photos, some of the passageways were pretty tight. (Boy do I need to go on a diet!) The view were great. But the best part had to be the trippy 60's blacklight caves full of scenes of childhood nursery stories. Glad we checked Rock City out. So this completes our Tennessee adventure, it was a lot of fun, can't wait to visit again! Thanks for reading. I end this trip report with the kind of scary Rock City gnome! Thanks for reading! Yeah for the fair! Snow White on acid. Entrance into the trippy gnomes nursery caves. Another tight squeeze! The waterfalls were beautiful. Amy and Mike Amy Kevin loves the view! The view was gorge! You could actually see seven different states from this view. The swinging rope bridge was awesome. Adrian wasn't scared of the swinging bridge, unlike his mother, who was a bit nervous. There is a reason why thaey call these tight passages, Fat Man's Squeeze! Birdhouse full of chicks. The billboards said we had to "See Rock City!" so we did.

Yep! A very dramatic production! The cheesy soundtrack made it that much more excieting! Wish the lights stayed on for a little longer, but before we new it, the lights were out and we were pushed along, so the next group could experience the falls. Oh well.