cfc

And a little difficult to walk in--but you ladies make it look good, anyway. Amazing pictures, Hanno.

To infinity and beyond--more Kennedy Space Center. Back in the day when they used to interrupt your regularly scheduled programming for space launches. This sumulation of the control room during an Apollo launch is actually kind of cool--I bet Disney could let them have some animatronic scientists cheap. Yep--that's one big rocket. Moving right along . . . "OK, who backed their bus into the shuttle this time?" Wow! This will totally rule! Oh boy! I hope my body can take it! My god! It's full of stars! "I guarantee you folks that this will crap all over Mission Sinise." But he lied. If this is a "realistic simulation of an actual shuttle launch," then anyone in line at a Dunkin Donuts can be an astronaut. "Welcome to Space. Be sure to visit our gift shop." Eww! I shoveled something like off my lawn today! You are here. Use this knowledge wisely. For some reason, hot-plasma baths never caught on. Adam wanted to relive some sad episode from his childhood, so I joined him at Robot Scouts. Robots get to hang out with hot geek chicks--who knew? Hey, who wants to see a bunch of pictures of me with random Star Trek props? Anyone? Hello? Hmm--it says "warp core breach imminent. Jettison core immediately." Guess I have time to grab a sandwich first. "Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated . . . oh, forget it. You have nothing the Borg wants." There can be no peace as long as Kirk lives! Captain's log, stardate 3454.7: Sulu has "unfriended" me on Facebook, and I know he's posting snide comments about my weight. "Crap! Chuck is still behind me!" Adam tried to escape me in this shuttle, but the Romulans shot him down. Too bad. That really is all now. Live long and prosper--and thanks for reading. And thanks again to Robb and Elissa for arranging a great week in Florida and at sea!

Well, it's not quite over. Yes, our time at sea is at an end, but we did have time to kill before catching our respective flights home. So, who's up for ambling around the Kennedy Space Center? Oh, how nice. Here we go. Welcome to the World of Tomorrow--from yesterday. "If I didn't have to wear this helmet, I'd be snaggin' loogies on tourists left and right." The Bus of the Future--Today! Really? "Space Dots"? That's the best you could come up with? Was "Cosmic Cream" too suggestive? They used to tell new guys to stand here during launches. It was some sort of initiation. "Vjer!" They used to assemble the Space Shuttle here. I think they're still using this launch pad. The Orlando Thrill Park is going to be built here. The Space Dots guy told me. I know that rocket science is incredibly complex, but this looks like some guy built this in his garage using random pieces of duct work and old truck parts. Sigh! We got to the moon back in the 1960s. But we seem incapable of going back. More to come.

I'm really looking forward to this ride in 2012--the high-five element looks insane!

Did a quick Google, found this article: http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/coasters/history/early_1900/. It estimated 1,500 to 2,000--but I have no idea if this is accurate.

Our thanks to you and Chuck Burnham for taking this on.

^I agree--not even a contest.

^^You're entitled to your opinion, but I'm inclined to take Shane's judgment here--his credentials are pretty strong. It'll be interesting to see how it all pans out.

I didn't know that Lake winnie had rehabbed their dark ride as "Wacky Factory." I hope it's better than the old dark ride that used to be there (it was the only bummer about the park when I visited last year).

^Agreed. The topic of this thread is Movie World's new coaster--please stay on topic. Personally, I think the new Green Lantern ride will be a lot of fun with the new trains.

Verbolten is looking great, and the park did a wonderful job "Christmasing up" Escape from Pompeii (much better than last year). I'll be checking it out next Sunday, myself.

While there are a lot of new coasters being built for 2012, I think that this is most exciting theme-park-related project in a long time.

Definitely looking forward to Larry's next post in this thread.

And so the plot thickens . . .

Looking forward to seeing more of the ruins--just stay away from laughing plants with a taste for human blood!

I am now doubly .

^Or perhaps just "Snorin'."

^"Grateful Dead: The Ride" would be the scariest thing ever. My god! It's the ghost of Jerry Garcia! And he's playing an endless guitar solo! The horror! The horror! Then again, I've never been a fan of the Dead.

^What Elissa said. Here's a link to our SDC page in TPR's Park Index: http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/park.php?pageid=212. The Park Guide might come in handy.

Thanks for the comments, everyone. Well, we're coming to the sad part of this TR--our last days at sea! But, hey, at least there are some new hijinks and shenanighans to check out, inlcuding Piers in action, Chinese food being made before your eyes, and an amazing "magic trick" courtesy of Colin and Reed. Oh, and if you're wondering about the "mask" joke I made earlier, here's the flick I was referring to. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eqw6d74XayM Yes, if you've been to a TPR Bash, you've probably played "The Quest." It's a fierce scavenger hunt where all are humilated and only some come out alive! Let the degradation begin! Piers makes this work. He does not. This is the worst "Human Centipede" ever. "Stand aside, bitches, . . . . . . while I show you how it's done!" I believe this is Havana. My--that's a long way. And it's windy as hell, too. Speaking of burning things . . . . . . it's time for our Chinese cooking class. No cats were harmed during the making of this meal. Ginny is kung paoing the hell outta that chicken. Elissa is woking those onions into submission. Apply the smelly brown goop! Hmm--turned out well. What does one do after breakfast and a Chinese "second breakfast" aboard ship? Why, one chows down at the Freedom's version of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival! Anybody for some "ice CRAM" after that? I have no idea what's going on here, and I'm probably better off for it. One last chance to explore the ship after dark. Cousin Itt says, "It's still a trifle windy." Let's see, first breakfast, second Chinese breakfast, food and wine fest, second lunch, dinner . . . aw, what the hell. "I like my ketchup to be happy!" Boogie fever overtakes Johnny Rockets--about every five minutes or so. "Here in the throne room of the pharoah, we must entertain his majesty. So, I would like to demonstrate a magical new 'technique' called 'The Houdini.'" "Abracadabra! I feel the need!" "Alakazam! Now I am Reed!" The pharoah is amused, . . . . . . but Lou may never be the same. Yes, our bags are packed. But we're not quite finished yet.

Speaking of Inner Space, you can always watch this:

Wait until he becomes old enough to understand that he should fear giant rubber-headed mascots!

^Perhaps she's trying on sombreros.

^True enough. But at least you can get a prime rib sandwich or a nice turkey dinner. The park is also offering a buffet with reserved seating for the Festhaus show for $35 (the buffet offering sound pretty good). I mainly go for the overall holiday atmosphere--the park does a good job with their decorations and ambient music.

^The skyway "Flight of Lights" is nice--it's a round trip starting in the England station. The holiday food offerings, which are all over the park, are very good, too. If the line isn't too long, go ahead and see the penguins (they actually had a nice habitat for them last year). The show in the Festhaus is like one of those corny TV specials from the 1970s, but well done (if you like that kind of stuff). There is a more "churchlike" show in Ireland, but they changed it this year, I think.