live2tell75

So yesterday to celebrate my store/location's 17th anniversary, my boss took everyone at my work that had worked a year or more to Islands of Adventure. This has been a tradition for many years. It was a crazy day! We had so much fun! Just the 90 minute bus ride on I-4 from Tampa Bay to IOA was a blast! At IOA we all had fun. It was a thousand degrees out but we still had a bonzer day! I have been to IOA a gazillion times so I went to just hang out with everyone. I also got to ride the new The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train. I had been waiting like most since the park opened in 1999 to ride it, so I couldn't wait. We waited about 20 minutes. The ride was cute and fun, the train picks up speed and goes through a few nice animated scenes. It was a lot shorter than I expected. Probally lasted around 2 minutes. When facing the loading area we went on the right side. I believe we went through one different scene than the other side. At the end we exited on the other side of the loading station. Are there 2 different tracks? Overall I think it is a cute ride, great for those under 10, which it is meant for. I would do it again if it is a 10 minute wait or less. I have to give it up to the ride op's they had a lot of energy getting the riders ready to choo-choo! So here are my pics from my crazy day at IOA: --Eric J Did I mention how much fun the bus ride was? Heather is getting the a Brian boob credit! Let the boob credit games begin! With my friend Kristal, I'm sportin' my cool TPR UK tour shirt. These co-worker peeps are ready for our trip to IOA! Some co-worker hotties. My co-workers rock! More credits! The Golden Gouchos Awards were given out. (Gouchos=our steak knives)

Great photos so far! The London Eye did give some great views. Look forward to the rest of your TR. --Eric J

Chuck, my guilty pleasures of the UK trip would include: The Treetops Coaster and Bounce at Oakwood, The Pirates Adventure at Drayton Manor, the Virgina Reel at Joyland and the Snail's dark ride at Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach. And of course any of the many fantastic, spine tingling ghost trains on the trip! I thought these were all fun! --Eric J

Great thread idea Soren'! I know find myself with friends and family that have been to the parks a lot doing "Disney Hotel Tours" every once in awhile. Last Feb. my friends and I did some exploring of the Animal Kingdom Lodge. It is drop dead gorgeous! We had a blast doing a hidden mickey "safari" throughout the restort. I look forward to your reports on the other restorts. --Eric J.

1. Splash Mountain at The Magic Kingdom 2. Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls at Islands Of Adventure 3. Timber Mountain Log Ride at Knott's Berry Farm 4. The Flume at Alton Towers 5. Log Jammer at Six Flags Magic Mountain 6. Storm Force at Drayton Manor 7. Grand Rapids at Boardwalk And Baseball 8. The Flume at Canobie Lake Park 9. Jet Stream at Six Flags Magic Mountain 10. Stanley Falls at Busch Gardens Africa

1st: Flyer Comet at Whalom Park (1980) 25th: Alpengeist at Busch Gardens Europe (1997) 50th: Superman: The Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Over Georgia (2002) 75th: Ghostrider at Knott's Berry Farm (2005) 100th: Vampire at Chessington World Of Adventures (2006) 157th: Stealth at Thorpe Park, (last new coaster I rode) --Eric J.

A UK Trip farewell pound it! Eric J.

I totally agree! We' will definitely keep in touch! I want to go on Darkastle!

^^ Yeah, I thought I would do my good deed for the fanboys!

So that's all folks! Again, you guys are all amazing! Hopefully I will see some of you on the Midwest or Spain trip next year. If you're ever in Florida, give me a buzz, I would love to do a park meet! Till then-peace out! Holla!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And that now ends my TPR UK 2006 Tour Trip Report! --Eric (I can now go to sleep now that the TR is done!) Johnson B.O.T.B.C. forever!

And finally last but not least, the most important thank you to Robb and Elissa Alvey. A thousand thank you's would still not be enough to express how much this trip rocked! I think I speak for everyone on the trip, when I say we appreciate all the many hours and hard work you both put into making this a truly theme park dream vacation! From keeping us informed for almost a year before the trip about what to expect. The fantastic important UK guide. Working with all the parks for the gazillion ERTs, photo walkbacks, and other perks. Organizing with the hotels and parks the many meals. Booking a nice comfy bus and the best driver ever! The trivia, Family Guy episodes, DVD and other fun stuff. The awesome t-shirts. Even the surprise Coney Park stop! And most important sharing all of your theme park knowledge with us. The trip was a blast. Thanks again for creating this little awesome website called Theme Park Review! If you ever need help planning a Florida and/or Southeast trip you can count on me, the other eric johnson/madonna stalker! Thanks again! --Eric Johnson Thanks Robb and Elissa!

More Thank Yous: Thanks to the Big Blue Hotel for being a kick ass hotel! To everyone at Blackpool for hooking us up with so much fun stuff! The Pizza Hut Buffet at Blackpool for the free refills! Nigel the best bus driver a tour could dream for! Melainie and Rich for being my hotel hoppa/Heathrow Airport support! Ryan for keeping it real and by pounding it! To anyone who let me send free Emails-I am still grateful! All the UK hotties that I stalked at the parks! And anyone I shared a ride and/or a conversation with on the trip, hopefully we will do it again in the future!

^ Thanks Bill, it was nice to meet you. And maybe on the next trips we'll get to hang out more! I certianlly did like a lot of the UK culture!

More Thank You's Thanks (my fellow Pizza Hut fanboys) Ted and Catrina. You both were so much fun to hang out with. I look forward to doing future park meets! Thanks Tommy and James for helping me perfect the art of "stalkeratzzi". You guys always made me laugh! Thanks for alwayz keepin' it fo real! Ditto to you Big Mike, thanks for being the best non-add on roomate! And more importantly thanks for being our bodyguard at Thorpe Park! "red alert" Thanks Paul for being a great roomate! It was fun hanging out. Karen and Chuck, I really enjoyed hanging out with you guys throughout the trip! Karen you were a great powered car ride partner and dark ride hunter! Chuck, my fellow dark ride junkie, I had a blast on all the cheezy but great dark rides! Thanks to my dark ride fanboys: Peter, Andrew, Chuck, Karen and Bill. I can't believe we all survived those terrifying rides!

"Red Alert! Red Alert!" Thank you to the Back Of The Bus Crew (B.O.T.B.C.), I love all of you! Big Mike, Casey, Melanie & Rich, the Jim's, Dave & Jodi, Paul, Tommy & James, Ted & Catrina, Barron, Kristie, and Gary. You guys all rock! Thanks for making the long drives so entertaining! "Ole' Ole' Ole'"!!!!! B.O.T.B.C. forever!

Thank You's I know I have said thank you here and there, but i just wanted to say thanks one more time. If I forget your name, please know that I sincerley apologize and thank you from the bottom of my heart! And if I didn't get to know you on this trip, hopefully I will on a future trip! I now feel like I have new friends all over the world! I hope you all feel like you have a new friend in Florida. --Eric J First I would like to thank the entire TPR UK group, you ALL rocked! I have never been on any type of theme park group tour. It was so refreshing to be around so many people that knew and appreciated what I was talking about!

^^Thanks Hicko and Chuck. Chuck, I know what you mean about picking a top 5, it took me awhile. I feel like it could change each day everytime I think I about it! --Eric J

^ Definitely Ted, we have got to do a photo trade. I can't believe how much we did. Going through all the park maps brought back everything. Sorry again about knocking you in the head on that wierd Trauma Towers ride at Blackpool. I'm glad you survived the magic carpet at Thorpe. That was freaky, but pretty funny, I'm glad you held on tight! Hopefully I will see you and Catrina soon for a BGT and/or AI meet in Tampa. --Eric

My TPR UK Trip Top Picks: Favorite Park: 1. Blackpool Pleasure Beach 2. Alton Towers 3. Thorpe Park 4. Chessington World Of Adventures 5. Oakwood Favorite Coaster (Steel): 1. Dragon's Fury at Chessington World Of Adventures 2. Nemesis at Alton Towers 3. Nemesis Inferno at Thorpe Park 4. Velocity at Flamingo Land 5. Steeplechase at Blackpool Pleasure Beach Favorite Coaster (Wood) 1. Megafobia at Oakwood 2. Grand National at Blackpool Pleasure Beach 3. Big Dipper at Blackpool Pleasure Beach 4. Cyclone at Pleasureland Southport 5. Roller Coaster at Blackpool Pleasure Beach Favorite New Kind Of Coaster (To Me) 1. Dragon's Fury (spinning mouse) at Chessington World Of Adventures 2. Velocity (boaster bike) at Flamingo Land 3. Steeplechase (Single rail horse) at Blackpool Pleasure Beach 4. Roller Coaster (scenic railway) at Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach 5. Speed: No Limits (eurofighter) at Oakwood Favorite Water Ride 1. Valhalla at Blackpool Pleasure Beach 2. Congo River Rapids at Alton Towers 3. The Flume at Alton Towers 4. Storm Force at Drayton Manor 5. Dragon Falls at Chessington World Of Adventures Favorite Themed Dark Ride 1. Hex: The Legend Of The Towers at Alton Towers 2. Valhalla at Blackpool Pleasure Beach 3. The Brer Rabbit Ride at Oakwood 4. The Haunting at Drayton Manor 5. Bubbleworks at Chessington World Of Adventures Favorite Old School Dark Ride 1. Ghost Train at Blackpool Pleasure Beach 2. Ghost Train at Pleasureland Southport 3. The Snails at Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach 4. Gold Mine at Blackpool Pleasure Beach 5. River Caves at Blackpool Pleasure Beach Favorite Flat/Thrill Ride 1. Samurai at Thorpe Park 2. Hex: The Legend Of The Towers at Alton Towers 3. Vortex at Thorpe Park 4. Apocalpse at Drayton Manor 5. The Haunting at Drayton Manor Favorite Walk Through/Funhouse/Haunted House 1. Fun House at Pleasureland Southport 2. Trauma Towers at Blackpool Pleasure Beach 3. Noah's Arch at Blackpool Pleasure Beach 4. Haunted Inn at Pleasureland Southport 5. Abddullah's Dilemma at Pleasureland Southport Favorite Shoot Out Dark Ride 1. Duel: The Haunted House Strikes Back! at Alton Towers 2. Tomb Blaster at Chessington World Of Adventures 3. Wild West Shoot Out at Drayton Manor 4. Spooky 3D at Oakwood Favorite Themed Attraction: 1. Hex: Legend of the Towers at Alton Towers 2 Valhalla at Blackpool Pleasure Beach 3. Nemesis at Alton Towers 4. Tomb Blaster at Chessington World Of Adventures 5. Vampire at Chessington World Of Adventures Finally, Rides That Scared The Crap Out Of Me! 1. Wild Mouse at Blackpool Pleasure Beach 2. King Solomon's Mines at Pleasureland Southport 3. Megablitz at Coney Beach 4. Speed: No Limits at Oakwood

Thanks Julie! That is very kind. And yes I do plan on framing some of my London and castle pictures from Alton Towers. My next project is to put together a UK trip scrapbook. That should keep me busy for awhile! --Eric J

My UK Trip Stats The theme park attractions I experienced on The TPR UK 2006 Tour: Chessington World Of Adventures: Vampire-suspended coaster, Dragon's Fury-spining mouse coaster, Rattlesnake-wild mouse, Runaway Train-powered coaster, Bubbleworks-dark-boat ride, Dragon Falls-log flume, Peeking Heights-ferris wheel, Tomb Blaster-shoot-out dark ride, Hocus Pocus Hall-3D walk through fun house, Safari Skyway-people mover, and Toadie's Crazy Cars-powered rail car ride. Coney Beach: Megablitz-steel coaster, Ghost Train-dark ride. Oakwood Park: Speed: No Limits-eurofighter coaster, Megafobia-wooden coaster, Treetops-powered coaster, Plane Crazy-flyers, Bounce-tower drop ride, The Bobsleigh-alpine slide, Spooky 3D-dark ride, and Brer Rabbit Ride-twisted dark ride. Alton Towers: Rita: Queen Of Speed-launch coaster, Nemesis-SLC, Corkscrew-steel coaster, Air-flying coaster, Oblivion-diving coaster, Spinball Whizzer-spining mouse, The Beastie-powered coaster, Runaway Mine Train-powered coaster, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory: The Ride-dark boat ride, Hex: The Legend of the Towers-madhouse, Congo River Rapids-rapids ride, The Flume-log flume, Duel-The Haunted House Strikes Back!-shoot out dark ride, Squirrel Nutty Ride-people mover, and the UG Swinger-swings. Drayton Manor: G-Force-steel coaster, Shockwave-stand-up coaster, Excalibur: A Dragon's Tale-dark boat ride, Super Dragon Roller Coaster-powered coaster, Maelstorm-giant frisbee, Black Revolver-indoor waltzer, Apocalypse-tower drop ride, The Haunting-madhouse, Wild West Shoot Out-shoot out dark ride, Buffalo Coaster-powered coaster, The Pirate Adventure-dark boat ride and Storm Force-reverser flume. Pleasureland Southport: Cyclone-wooden coaster, King Solomon's Mines-wooden wild mouse, Fun House-best funhouse ever!, Big Apple-powered coaster, Haunted Inn-crooked house, Caterpillar, Lost Dinosaurs of the Sahara-dark boat ride, Abdullah's Dilemma-walk through interactive house, Ghost Train-dark ride, and the Sky Ride. Blackpool Pleasure Beach: Big Dipper-wooden coaster, Grand National-duel wooden coaster, Wild Mouse-wooden wild mouse, Roller Coaster-wooden coaster, Avalanche-bobsled coaster, Space Invaders 2 -indoor steel coaster, Pepsi Max-hyper steel coaster, Zipper Dipper-wooden coaster, Irn-Bru Revolution-shuttle coaster, Steeplechase-rail coaster, Chinese Puzzle Maze-hedge maze, Gold Mine-dark ride, Alice Ride-dark ride, Ghost Train-dark ride, Flying Machines-flying rockets, Noah's Ark-rocking walk through, Trauma Towers-walk through haunted house, River Caves-dark boat ride, Bling-flat ride, Magic Mountain-dark ride, and Valhalla-Indoor reverser flume. Lightwater Valley: The Ultimate: steel/wooden coaster, Sewer Rat-indoor steel coaster, The Caterpillar Coaster-powered coaster, The Grizzly Bear-steel coaster, The Ladybird-powered coaster, The Twister-spining wild mouse and Black Widow's Web-enterprise. Flamingo Land: Velocity-power bike launch coaster, Kaumali-SLC, Dragon Coaster-powered coaster, Wild Mouse, Cable Car-sky ride, Waltzers, Little Monster's Exploratorium-ineractive walk through, and Mischief Mansion, dark ride. Pleasurwood Hills: Enigma-steel coaster, Thunderstruck-flat ride, Shiver 'M Tibers-boat swing ride, Snake In The Grass-powered coaster, Sky Ride, Tales of the Coast-3D dark boat ride, and Helter Skelter Slide. Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach: Roller Coaster-scenic railway wooden coaster, Big Apple-powered coaster, Funhouse, Scrambler-flat ride, Haunted Hotel-dark ride, and The Snails-dark ride. Joyland: Spook Express-powered coaster, Snails-powered coaster, Tyrolean Tubtwist-virginia reel, Neptune's Underwater Kingdom-dark ride, and The Cars-rail car ride. Thorpe Park: Stealth-rocket launch coaster, Nemesis Inferno-SLC, Colosses-steel coaster, Zodiac-enterprise, Vortex-flat ride, Quantum-flat ride, Rush-giant swing, Samuri-flat ride, Loggers Leap-log flume, Slammer-fly swat, Chief Ranger's Carousel, Miss Hippo's Fungle Safari-railed car ride, Detonator-tower drop ride, Rumba Rapids-rapids ride, Train to Thorpe Farm, X:\ No WayOut-backwards indoor steel coaster and Mr. Monkey's Banana Boat Ride-swinging ship ride.

Thanks Lou, it was nice to meet you to! If you or anyone else is in Florida drop me a line and we can do a park meet! I'm only 30 minutes from Busch Gardens Tampa/Africa, 90 minutes from Disney, 1hr and 45 minutes from Universal and Sea World and 2 hours from Cypress Gardens Adventure Park! --Eric J

So after leaving the add-ons, the 12 non add-ons had a last supper to mark the official end of the Theme Park Review UK portion of the tour. Below, Clockwise L-R: Bob, Me, James, Tommy, Cameron, Ryan, John, Mike, Kristie, Catrina, Ted, and Greg. I will miss you London, The UK and TPRers! Hopefully I will get to see you guys again on future trips! I am so glad I got see some of the sights of London. After the tour ended I stayed one more night in London. I'm back on Belgrave Road, but this time staying at The Sidney Hotel, which was a lot nicer than my hotel at the begining of the trip. Non-add on rommate, Mike and I before parting ways at the airport. Mike you rock! Pounding it Ryan K. style!

More Thorpe Park Pics: After Thorpe Park, 12 of us had to say our good-byes to the add-ons. The whole bus crew were a lot of fun! Everyone rocked! The best goup ever! Thanks for making the last day so awesome! Tommy, James, Jodi, Dave, Mike, Ted, Barron, Jim and Kristie. Thanks to (not pictured) Catrina, other Jim, Karen and Chuck. You guys all rock! Exclusive behind the scenes of the final UK group photo shoot. Thanks Robb and Elissa for a great day and amazing trip!

More Thorpe Park Pics: These TPRer's are all for go. Karen and Chuck are ready for Stealth. Jim and I are ready to pilot Stealth. We got some cool views from the top of Stealth. Stealth was pretty sweet. Next up was ERT on Sleath, Thorpe's new rocket lanuch coaster. And so are these. Happy TPRers. James, Tommy, Chuck and Karen are my peeps! Dan and John. John was like: "My camera of doom didn't cause any problems on Stealth." But... May Pierre' rest in peace. Did cause doom for our bird friend Pierre'.