cfc

^That would be my best guess. They were shooting for this spring.

I beg to differ on this point. When I rode during its first season, Drachen Fire left me with a throbbing headache, an upset stomach, and a huge bruise on either shoulder. It was simply wretched. They re-profiled it, which helped some--but it was too little, too late. It looked pretty, but felt foul. Yes, Drachen Fire has its fans. As you've probably guessed, I'm not among them.

Hey, they're just sterilizing the horse.

Nice photos, John. Hard to believe that all that left of Drachen Fire is the station, barn, and a few footers.

You can't go wrong with meat on a stick--or a Monte Cristo sammich.

Here's my top 25, if anyone's curious. 1. New Texas Giant (SFOT) 2. Expedition GeForce (Holiday Park) 3. El Toro (SFGrAd) 4. Untamed (Walibi Holland) 5. Twisted Timbers (KD) 6. Maverick (CP) 7. Steel Vengeance (CP) 8. Wildfire (Kolmården) 9. Balder (Liseberg) 10. Goliath (Walibi Holland) 11. Intimidator 305 (KD) 12. Phoenix (Knoebels) 13. Kawasemi (Tobu Zoo) 14. Piraten (Djurs Sommerland) 15. Fly Over Mediterranean (Happy Valley Chengdu) 16. Mega-Lite (Happy Valley Shanghai) 17. Lech Coaster (Legendia) 18. Twisted Colossus (SFMM) 19. Cheetah Hunt (BGTampa) 20, Lightning Run (KK) 21. Schwur des Kärnan (Hansa Park) 22. Skyrush (Hersheypark) 23. Phantom's Revenge (Kennywood) 24. Olympia Looping/Munich Looping (Traveling) 25. Goliath (SFGrAm) Truth be told, the Mega Lites are run about the same to me, so you could say they're tied for 13th place. Millennium Force is number 26, by the way. You can blame Lech Coaster for knocking it out of the top 25. My highest ranked Disney coaster is Big Grizzly Runaway Mine Cars, at number 34.

Whenever I see people lined up to ride an SLC, this comes to mind.

I was curious to see how the coasters at my home park, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, did in the poll: Steel Coasters Apollo's Chariot--#63 Griffon--#83 Alpengeist--#90 Verbolten--#146 Tempesto--#226 (as "Clone--Premier Rides Sky Rocket II") Loch Ness Monster--#262 I didn't bother looking for Grover's Alpine Express. Wooden Coaster InvadR--#72 Hmm--not too shabby for BGW's only wooden coaster. It is an enjoyable, zippy little GCI. These results aren't really surprising. BGW has a solid coaster lineup, and it'll be interesting to see how Pantheon fares in future polls.

Untamed is a great ride, and I have no issue with it being number 1. I prefer it and Twisted Timbers to Steel Vengeance. They're all great rides, but Vengeance is a bit too intense for my tastes, whereas Untamed and Timbers are just right.

Symbolica was very well done--great use of trackless ride technology and animatronics.

I imagine that it will eventually be . . . Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

I kind of like Mine Blower, even though it's rough in spots, but I prefer White Lightning at the other Orlando Fun Spot.

This one (just read the sign).

I find Epcot's Grand Fiesta Tour relaxing; of course, it helps to visit the Tequila Cave first and enjoy a nice margarita.

Great photos, as usual, Andy. While there have been a lot of changes at Bobbejaaland over the years, it's good that El Paso Special still exists (and was upgraded a bit).

Looks like a great addition to what is already the strongest coaster lineup in Florida.

Looks like a great exhibit--especially those old storybooks they used in the Disney animated classics.

Same here (what a shock)--the annual passholder preview is Saturday, Mar. 14.

Yep--pretty much a construction zone during that time. I was glad to see Star Wars replace all the wasted real estate that had been the Studio Tour, though, and Runaway Railway looks like an excellent replacement for the Great Movie Ride.

Looks like lots of good stuff at this year's festival, which fires me up for the Williamsburg version. Thanks for the fresh photos of Iron Gwazi, too.

Great pictures of Disney's best Magic Kingdom. I agree with you about Monsters Inc.--excellent ride, somewhat uncomfortable vehicles.

Well, the boats were inspired by the The African Queen, a Bogart movie. Maybe they were replicating this scene.

Yep--$85 is what I paid for it.