cfc

They can be a bit unforgiving for larger riders.

My older brother actually rode the original Flying Saucers at Disneyland with my Mom way back when, but they could never get their saucer to move very well. Looks like, after five decades, they've finally licked that problem.

Mine was the old Corkscrew at Knott's back when I was a wee lad. Sigh! I miss the old Roaring 20s and Roaring 20s Airfield. Photo from rcdb.com

Thanks for the latest update, Larry. I had no idea that Pinfari made dark-ride props.

^I agree--changing the restraints on Mach Tower seems rather unlikely.

^Save your breath, Bill! Here's another one. I'll even throw in a sleeping cat on a festive rocking chair.

I disagree. Cheetah Hunt, to me, is hardly "mediocre." It's an excellent family coaster that I enjoyed very much back in October. While I agree that Italian Job is a mediocre ride, you're forgetting one point . . . Busch > Paramount/Cedar Fair. So, I'm looking forward to Verbolten.

^If they can deep fry Twinkies, Oreos, and Coca Cola, they can deep fry sushi--or maybe that's tempura.

Scandinavia has one great selection of parks--thanks for the look back at an amazing trip, Bill. Heck, that region would be worth visiting for just Tivoli Gardens, Liseberg, and Grona Lund, but all the parks had something unique to offer.

I'm planning to submit my ballot shortly after Christmas. I don't think my standings will change much, except for Phoenix jumping up a few places in the top ten and the addition of those crazy Wild Mouse rides in Australia.

Definite nightmare fuel . . . I remembering seeing TPR's updates from Lotte World after the 2007 Japan trip and regretting that I didn't have the time to do the Korea add-on. Lotte World certainly looks impressive--and a touch bizarre, which works for me.

Whenever it opens, it will be before Flying Turns at Knoebels.

My understanding is that the skyride and the monorail did serve a purpose--once. I rather like the little train ride with its cheesy "wild west" ghost-town themeing.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I think this is the most interesting project of the year (and next year). It's good to see these old rides being "reborn" by people with both the passion and the know-how.

18/26--oh, well . . .

Angus's reply to this card: "Plus 2, my furry arse! You play MY card, everyone dies, and the freakin' game is over!"

^

Silver Dollar City looks beautiful during Christmas. You've piqued my curiousity about the train ride. I'm guessing there's some sort of Christmas skit involving the outlaws who work there during the regular season. (BGW just plays Christmas carols and puts up some lighted trees for their train ride, which is a bit disappointing.)

This is a difficult question to answer unless you define "quickly." I have no idea how often tires have to be replaced on one of these systems, but I imagine that the tires run up quite a few "miles" during an operating day, week, etc.

I wouldn't read much into the "mismatched tracks" thing. I imagine the layout artist was working with artwork they had on hand without any knowledge of what the actual track looked like.

Regarding the Primeval Whirl, I think this phrase sums it up: "It is better to look marvelous than to feel marvelous." Nice to see the ride looking marvelous again, at least.

It interests me that one of the most successful events they've put on at California Adventure is based on a movie that flopped at the box office. I guess this shows the strong "cult" following of the Tron flicks.

The food at the new Japanese restaurant looks great--and really makes me miss Japan. I like the look of the "newly skinned" Test Track cars, too.

^My experience is that very little about this economy makes any sense. I've never visited Wild Waters, but it's still sad to see it removed; however, as Robb and Bob said, if it was making money, it would still be operating.

I don't think the speed is a big issue here. If the ride contains a number of special effects, which I hope Verbolten will, it would be a bit difficult to appreciate them if you whiz by at ridiculous speeds. Cheetah Hunt packs plenty of punch, and its maximum speed is 60 mph--you're actually supposed to appreciate the surroundings as you cruise by. Verbolten is meant for a "family" audience, too.