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Would "Togo Heaven" actually be Hell for other coaster types? This is an important philosophical question.

^The joke was so bad, it was good.

I dug up a few photos from that snowy day. No skiing today due to snow. Yep--Le Scoot is open. First you're hot, then you're very cold. The Big Bad Wolf doesn't care about a little snow!

Xinhua Park (China)

On the snowy day I mentioned, the only coasters operating were the Big Bad Wolf and Loch Ness Monster. People were riding the Escape from Pompeii, too.

Couldn't agree more. Christmas Town is great, but it would be nice to open another coaster or two like Nessie or Alpengeist, especially since it's already snow themed. I guess the lack of coasters being open is due to maintenance, weather and staffing so it's kinda understandable. I went to Christmas Town last year and was able to marathon Verbolten since it was raining and it was a complete walk-on. The Christmas trees at the bottom of the last drop was a nice touch as well. The ultimate irony: I was at Busch Gardens one spring day when it actually snowed. Alpengeist, the ski-area-chair-lift-themed coaster, couldn't run then, either, thanks to the weather. B&Ms, I understand, can't be operated when the temperature is under 42 degrees.

Anchor Winter Wheat--surprisingly dark and pretty tasty.

I know that you're all dying to see pictures of the ice show. Soon your wish will be granted! One of the great ironies of Christmas Town--both the Alpengeist Ski Mart and the ride itself are closed. They like their lights to be colorful in Germany. Any more colors, and they would induce seizures. "You know, this fiddle-and-banjo Christmas music in fine and all, but I really wish they'd play some Rush, eh?" France puts on a "mini-version" of "O Tannenbaum" using "The 12 Days of Christmas." OK, bundle up. It's going to be a very chilly show. First, we get "comic-relief, audience-warm-up guy." Elivs has entered the building. Where's child protective services when you need them? And now a new episode of "Elvis Stojko: Skating PI." (O, god, I hope I didn't give them any ideas.) More comic relief from the tense dramatics of the story line. Time for beautiful Christmas dreams . . . . . . or some nightmare fuel. Beware the power of "Captain Manspreader"! OK, who dreamed up what appears to be a giant hedgehog? Oh, get a room, you two! Oh no! Santa fell right through his sleigh! Not even the Ice Cream Bunny can save him now! Thank god he has hot reindeer lackeys! Seriously, the Santa-and-his-reindeer bit was the best part of the show--very nicely done. "Ho, ho, ho! Santa's got your silver medals right here, Elvis!" Aw, somebody got a puppy! All in all, a pretty good show that families and figure-skating fans will enjoy. Down the path to Ireland . . . . . . and over to Holiday Hills. "I . . . SEE . . . YOU!" They did a nice job theming up the Tempesto shop to Christmas. I really like the "old-school" vibe of Holiday Hills. "Make way! Make way for the Claus, mortal scum!" Oh that Santa . . . always getting coked up at Christmas. "Ho, ho, ho! See those angels? They all work for me now!" Time to head home . . . . . . especially since I owe Scrooge money! Be very quiet as I sneak by his office. I'll leave you with this. I don't know what's going on, but the elf on the bottom seems to be enjoying it a bit too much. Merry Christmas!

Speaking of BGW's holiday event . . . Christmas Town 2015 I missed the opening weekend of Christmas Town this year because I was celebrating Thanksgiving with friends in western North Carolina. It was unseasonably warm and dry in the Smokies most of the weekend (rain didn't roll in until Sunday), and you could walk around in shirtsleeves as temps hit the low 60s during the afternoon. I understand the same was true in Williamsburg that weekend. That was not the case last Friday night when I visited Christmas Town for the first time this year. Yes, it was definitely Christmas cold after the sun went down and the thermometer dipped to the high 30s. But that's good. It merely adds to the festive atmosphere when you can see your own breath. The park was pretty busy that night; this Sunday is the the annual Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg, so there are a lot of tourists in town, and BGW was using all its parking lots except for the overflow lots down on Rt. 60. Still, it was pretty manageable, even though I was "run over" by some poor old lady on an ECV. As usual, the park was beautifully decorated, with Holiday HIlls (Festa Italia) and the Polar Pathway (Escape from Pompeii) standing out. There were two big changes this year: 1. No live-penguin walk-through exhibit (although you can still get your photo with a guy in a penguin suit over by Apollo's Chariot); and 2. Twas that Night, a new ice show starring Olympic silver medalist Elvis Stojko, in the outdoor theatre in France (this explains what happened to the penguins--they used to be in the theatre's backstage area). I'm not a big fan of ice shows, but I checked out Twas that Night because it's new for this year. It's a version of the classic poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (aka, "Twas the Night Before Christmas"), with a some of the Nutcracker thrown in. Elvis and his family return from shopping, the kids go to bed and dream up "visions of sugar plums" (the Nutcracker bit), Elvis gets into a "dance off" with Santa, and the kids wake up and open gifts. The show is pretty well staged (Santa has a good entrance), and they even throw in a bit of pyro. All in all, a good Christmas show and a nice fit for BGW's Christmas Town audience. Still, for my money, Scrooge No More (Globe Theatre) is the best show (I'm a sucker for Christmas Carol adaptations). Gloria (Abbeystone Theatre), Miracles (San Marco Theatre), Deck the Halls (Festhaus), and O Tannenbaum (in front of the Festhaus) are running this year, too. Quick Queue is available for shows (and Santa), you can still enjoy a nice turkey dinner at Santa's Fireside Feast in Ireland, and reserved seating is available in the Festhaus for Deck the Halls. Here's a bit of O Tannenbaum. [fbvideonew]https://www.facebook.com/chuck.campbell.37/videos/1080946868590824/[/fbvideonew] The only coaster running during Christmas Town is Verbolten (temperature permitting), and I think all the flat rides were running, too (Forest of Fun is closed). I know that I'll be going back to partake of more of the park's great Christmas fare. Here's a look at Christmas Town 2015. Hard to believe that Christmas Town is seven years old this year. It really has become a tradition in Williamsburg. If these snowflakes were real, they'd cut you in half as they fell. The traditional Christmas Town tree . . . . . . with really big balls. Hmm--have to check these out sometime. Nothing says "Christmas" like a wagon full of salt, tomatoes, and squash. Cheesesteak sandwiches are, it seems, "traditional Christmas fare." This friendly fellow will be happy to serve you a nice Sam Adams Fezziwig Ale or Blue Moon Gingerbread-Spiced Beer at Cobblestone Ale & Spirits. He has some other very nice adult beverages, too. Instead of the big snowflakes hanging over Scotland as in past years, the park is using these snow globes with "holographic" snow flakes in them. They look much nicer in person. But they're still having a "Blue Christmas" in Scotland. "Sit on me! I dare you!" The Claus exhorts his followers to kneel before his majesty on the Polar Pathway. I really like these golden Christmas trees on the path to San Marco. They smell great, too. One of the prettiest sights at Christmas Town. This food stand was all themed up as the Crow's Nest Grill for Howl-o-Scream but was never open. Well, you can get a nice sausage-and-peppers sandwich there during Christmas Town. "Enjoy Me-mas Town!" "No one ever talks about me during Christmas." "Oh, Joesph sweetie, don't be so whiny. Why don't you go to the nice store next door . . . . . . and get us all some nice cookies, and maybe a little wine?" Gunther loves Christmas, and I hear that he and Gerta are offering special rates on car rentals in Germany. Of course, you may take an unexpected detour and never return, but what a bargain. Let's see what's happening over at the Festhaus. Well, there is "Deck the Halls," . . . . . . but I'm here for a roast sirloin sandwich and a glass of Fat Tire Accumulation White IPA They've gussied up the model train set in the Germany gift shop. Not for sale, of course, but it looks cool. Don't worry--there are plenty of other ways to spend your money here. For someone on your "sort of naughty" list. Nothing says "holiday cheer" more that glasses for booze. For the person who has everything--a Shamu nutcracker. Don't forget the oh-so-sexy leopard-trimmed caps. It's definitely getting colder . . . . . . and no wonder! "Die the Death of a 1,000 Antler Pokes, elf scum!" "Oh, boy, Santa's gotta use the little elves room bad!" "I will bide my time, then strike in the name of my true master, the Ice Cream Bunny! Hur, hur, hur!" (That joke was for all the Rifftrax fans out there.) More to come.

I enjoyed Iron Reef, too, and don't understand why SoCal locals rip it so often; granted, it's not exactly a "Disney-level" dark ride, but it's fun, and I'd be quite pleased if Kings Dominion got something like it. I guess people miss the old Knott's Beary Tales ride too much.

Lightning Run--Kentucky Kingdom

Knott's provides bins for storing items on most of their rides. For Merry Farm, you should check out the train ride and Santa's Christmas Cabin (for the goodies).

It's still a damn good invert, but dueling added a whole new dimension to that ride.

^^

Where's Peter Cushing when you need him? I visited the park a few years ago. I enjoyed Blue Streak, Devil's Den, and the Carousel (the organ actually works). The place was a mess, but they seemed to be making progress. I don't hold out much hope for the park now, but I wish them well (always better to be pleasantly surprised).

FULL ARTICLE That is a very nice touch. I love the old-school Disney animatronics.

^Yep--they're exactly the same ride, although Chimelong's seemed a bit smoother to me.

Starr Hill (Charlottesville, Va.) "The Love" while watching Rifftrax at the Movie Tavern last night. I'm not partial to wheat beers, but this one is quite good.

I think it's hard to beat this section of Thorpe's Colossus when it comes to lost and flying items.

The penguin-spanking scene on the Sanrio boat ride is worth the visit to Harmonyland. I like the dark rides and walk-through attractions at Mistui Greenland, too. Great photos, Hanno.

Jack Rabbit--Kennywood