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^Most people tend to rate Dollywood ahead of Silver Dollar City, but I rate the latter a bit higher; of course, that may change when Lightning Rod opens.

I've heard good things about Silverwood, but haven't had a chance to visit it yet.

Knoebel's is a regional park that happened to become a magnet for coaster enthusiasts. The locals have known how great it was for some time, and I'm not sure I would want it to get more "national" attention (could spoil it).

GOOD! Trust me, the ride is NOT any different! In fact, it's WORSE! I did do the Jingle Cruise at Disneyland last year, and thought it was OK. A bit silly, but I had a good skipper that trip. Every dark ride wishes it was Hollywood Tour! Great trip report though Chuck but I can't help but be a little disappointed by the lack of Tangled Toilets in the Magic Kingdom update! This is the only shot that I got of Tangled Toilets, Craig. You can sort of make out the tower from Frontierland.

^LIke this one at Bon Bon Land: Viktor Vandorm. It's a lot of fun.

I think the Australian theme parks tend to be a bit underrated--at least by the locals. Warner Bros. Movie is can hold its own with any American theme park outside of Disney and Universal, Sea World (not to be confused with "SeaWorld") is very good, and Dreamland is solid, too.

San Diego's Manta is a great ride. I'd rather ride it than Orlando's Manta (and I like that one, too). As for Woodstock Express at KD, well, it's a good wooden coaster for kids and is fine for what it is.

Here's how I see CP's coasters: Maverick--a world-class, top-ten ride. Millennium Force--a world-class, maybe top-ten ride Top Thrill Dragster--best of the Intamin "one-trick pony" launched coasters Raptor--a B&M invert that still packs a punch Blue Streak--surprisingly good, old-school woodie Magnum XL-2000--clunky, but fun, with some "forceful" airtime Wicked Twister--a cut above the other Intamin impulse coasters Gatekeeper--disappointing, kind of dull Gemini--interesting, if not particularly good, steel-wood "hybrid" Iron Dragon--"draggin' iron" is an appropriate nickname Cedar Creek Mine Ride--standard-issue Arrow ride Woodstock Express--cute for what it is Corkscrew--head bangy, but better than, say, the late GASM at SF Great Adventure Mean Streak--looks great, but a lousy ride Mantis--I haven't ridden Rougarou yet, but this was really bad as a stand-up coaster

^Drachen Fire is better as a Howl-o-Scream maze. I speak from experience.

I dont think I even noticed where Captain EO was in the park so can't say I will miss it at all. Nope--me, neither.

Fujin Rajin--Mitsui Greenland

Agreed 100%!!! I feel like 98% of people who complain about Gatekeeper are either: 1.) Complaining because they have heard others complain, and even though they have never even been on the coaster they feel like it is a bad coaster because others have said it is. -or- 2.) They don't know how to recognize a good coaster when they ride one. Gatekeeper is by no means a great amazing coaster. But it is still a decent coaster, and get's way more hate than it should. I rode it and disliked it because it was, well, pretty boring. The initial drop and the keyhole elements were fun, but the rest of the ride wasn't very interesting. The restraint kept tightening up on me, as well, but I understand that CP has fixed that issue. Maverick, MF, and Raptor are still the top coasters at that park.

If only they'd built an attraction based on this classic piece of Italian cinema, they would've been OK.

Young Star Coaster--Chimelong Paradise

Morimoto didn't disappoint me, either--$78 well spent on a great meal (particularly the amazing "chocolate crunch" dessert concoction).

I thought the same thing.

It is in a good location, especially if you have a rental car. I thought it was pretty easy getting from the resort to the parks and Disney Springs (which has a very good new parking garage). I thought All-Star Sports was quite good for the price we paid; besides, we were just there to sleep and shower (and have breakfast), anyway.

And that it had this amazing scene.

One more set of photos from the Magic Kingdom, then good night. Yes, I imagine Cinderella's calling her insurance provider to see if she has snow-and-ice coverage. We ran for Tomorrowland before the ice melted and moat overflowed. No telling how diseased that moat water was! Spider-man is at Disney World! It's always the right time for a relaxing ride on the Peoplemover--right Disneyland? Time for the most insane ride on Space Mountain ever! "OK, some of us may not come back alive. But remember--this is for the advancement of science! I'm totally booking this resort the next time I visit WDW. Welcome to DCA . . . . . . but with a much nicer queue. "If you show me your whatsits, I'll show you my whosits." Wait till you get a load of my whosits, guys!" "I'll rock your whatsits tonight!" An extra moody shot of the Haunted Mansion. Starring a mime as Madame Leota. "Come on--you know you want me! So what if my wit is a bit . . . sharp? You won't have to listen to me for long." Looks like their evening was a bust. We finished the night on Pirates of the Caribbean. "Yo ho, yo ho, it's Food & Wine for me!" "Arr! This rum goes will with the Crispy Pork Belly at the Brazil booth, sez I!" "Be a mate and fetch me some Yard Bird and Pot Stickers, won't you? A little Fondue wouldn't be amiss, either." That's all from the Magic Kingdom. Good night.

After chowing down at Splitsville and hanging out for a bit at Saratoga Springs, we headed to the Magic Kingdom, where we had Fast Passes for Big Thunder Mountain, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and Space Mountain, which made for a great, relaxed evening. Well, as relaxed as the most popular theme park in the world can be. Here are a few highlights from that night: 1. A truly insane ride on Space Mountain, in which the three biggest guys (which included me) sat in the front train, thus resulting in crazy speed and truly scary airtime in a few spots. I'm surprised that we didn't rip a hole in the space time continuum. 2. The castle show, where Elsa "lets it go" and leaves a big snowy, icy mess for Cinderella's maintenance crew to clean up. 3. Amazing rides on Big Thunder (which was running great) and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. (Seriously, does anyone miss the old Snow White ride now? This is so much better.) Join us, won't you? Time for some bowling-alley tacos and sushi. Mom approves of bowling as a "healthy activity." Well, I guess I just blew the "healthy" part. Mom is so annoyed with Jake now. This is the first time I've seen this balloon in flight. Wouldn't mind trying it someday. As I said earlier, Saratoga Springs is a really nice resort. Disney Springs is coming along nicely. Hmm--bit too soon for me. I always love the warm welcome you get at the Magic Kingdom . . . . . . OK that's a bit rude. Nah, we didn't do any jingle cruising this trip. Big Thunder remains a "Christmas-free" zone for now. Choose thy fate! Actually, you end up going on the same ride, so your fate is preordained. So much for freewill. Comfy, Cameron? Joey and John will try very hard not to crush you. Big Thunder: The Rave. Good night, Big Thunder! I imagine you'll be festooned with Christmas decorations soon enough. I really like what they've done with Fantasyland . . . . . . particularly this. OK, just what did they slip into my steak tacos at Splitsville? I'm seeing bright lights and dwarfs! How will I come down from this trip? How about like this? Relax, Jacob. Elsa's not going to freeze a smile on your face. We were somewhat more comfortable. Not so sure about Elsa, though. Anna likes hanging out with big, strapping ice harvesters--like us! Speaking of Frozen . . . Cinderella has no idea what's coming. "Hey, it's hot as summer tonight! Perfect--even though it means my untimely death!" Elsa took pity on the sweating, smelly multitudes in front of her . . . . . . and decided to freeze everything. "Hello, housekeeping? This is Art in Facilities. Looks like the princess's guests from, er, Rivendell, or wherever, just conjured up a bunch of ice and snow. Yeah, it's gonna take a lot of rock salt and shoveling to handle this. And I don't even want to be around when this crap melts. Yep, moat's gonna overflow for sure." More to come.