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^I noticed that 13 had more light in it than earlier in the season (and you're right about the scare actors not being as active). In fact, it was lighter in the "fear of the dark" section than it was outside. That maze had definitely slipped since opening weekend (the others were about the same).

I haven't been getting any notifications since the changeover, either.

I was at Howl-o-Scream with Larry on Sunday--fun, if chilly (especially on Apollo's Chariot and Griffon). Quick Queue sure came in handy. The park was fairly quiet until the hordes started arriving for the last night of HOS late in the afternoon. Verbolten is looking great.

You're doing very well with that camera, Scott--it was great finally meeting you and Shannon in person. Dole Whip . . . o-o-o-o-o-o . . .

I can see it from BGW.

^In the Vintages wine bar on the Promenade.

^You're just saying that because the intense terror that is Old Town is too much for you, Hanno! That is, if you find the concept of going to Walmart terrifying--some people do.

Sounds eerily similar to that Big Thunder accident at Disneyland, only without the fatal results (and they weren't going at full speed). Glad to hear that no one was seriously hurt.

He's still trying to get ahead! Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk . . . slap! . . . ow! Looks like that new lens was good investment, Hanno--the parade pictures are particularly good. But the lens is nothing unless you know how to use it, and you certainly know how.

Damn you, Grimm House! Damn you all to Hell! I keep saying I'm going to check out Nightmare Mansion in Virginia Beach, too--but no one I'm with ever wants to go.

I've really enjoyed your take on the Japanese parks, Larry--and share your enthusiasm for urry katsu curry. One thing that struck me about Japanese dark rides and walkthroughs is that they have two extremes: really goofy or really creepy (well, I guess they could be both).

I thought I'd covered all the Halloween events, but as I went through my photos, I discovered one glaring omission--Old Town! Yes, Old Town does have a "haunt," of sorts--as if the place wasn't scary enough the rest of the year. To be honest, we didn't actually attend this event. Old Town was just a credit-whoring stop after our day at Legoland Florida (more on that later), and we left before it began. Some of us (mostly just myself and Larry, actually) were planning to check out the year-round "Haunted Grimm House," based on the assumption that it would be open that day. Well, it us open during the day on Saturday; ufortunately, we were there on a Friday. D'oh! Such is life. I thought I'd share the terror of an hour at Old Town with you, anyway . . . if your heart can stand it! I'm sure that this would've been the highlight of the week. Of course, some say that every night, year-round is a haunt when you're in Old Town. We can scarce contain our excitement. The Haunted Grimm House mocks us with eerie silence--and locked doors. Oh, really? Alas, we shall never know. Well, not this year, anyway. OK, where does this rating come from? Trip Advisor? Boy's Life? Wino Quarterly? Bigguns Magazine? Looks like I won't be finding out for myself whether or not this claim is valid. "Come back at 6:00 pal. Then I'll scare the hell outta ya. That's a promise." My god! A door that swings out! The horror . . . the horror . . . Apparently nothing happens before 6:00 pm, either. "We're closed, fella. The skeleton outside shoulda told ya." "That's OK, mon! Maybe some of my quality merchandise can cheer you up!" This reminds me of someone, but who? Ah, what adoring wife wouldn't appreciate the subtle wit employed here, eh? I'm pretty sure I saw one of these figurines in Versailles--Ohio, that is. "If you walk outta that store with any of that crap, I swear to god that I will drop and swallow your head!" Perhaps an Old Town cruise is what I need. Or perhaps not. Well, I can always snag an Index picture of the "Coaster Formerly Known as Galaxy Spin" for Larry. This bench needs to get over itself. Well, at least "Life Is Great" at the Fun Spot. Right, William? Is life still great on the "Neck Snapper Kiddie Coaster"? Don't worry, gents. Your brains will realign themselves after the ride is over. "Ahoy! Be ye stayin' fer our Halloween event? No? Then get out, sez I!" That's it for Old Town. We'll get to Legoland and some random Disney stuff later.

^I thought the bees were an upcharge.

^But Verbolten will make it six--don't forget Grover's Alpine Express!

My god! It's Italian Jeff Johnson!

^This was what the park said at West Coast Bash a few years ago. It would just take too much work (and cost far too much money) to ever get the monorail working again.

I got a Samsung Fascinate back in February, and being as it's the first cell phone I've ever had, so far so good. It has froze up in camera mode once or twice, but it handles the Internet reasonably well (3G).

Hmm--I guess lifting the whole train "horizontally" didn't quite work out (except in RCT 3), based on those videos. The chainlift combined with the "tilt track" would be a bit more practical, I guess, but this thing still looks like a maintenance nightmare.

BBW had a much better finish than Ninja (at least BBW's second lifthill took you to an excellent final section and didn't just dump you into the station, like Ninja's).

^Yes, there is--there's also one about "backseat moderating." In the future, if you find some more info about this accident, please edit your original post--don't bump the thread with short posts. Thank you.

^At West Coast Bash a few years ago regarding Ninja, Magic Mountain said that they had "solved" the problem that BGW was facing with the Big Bad Wolf. We shall see.

My understanding is that the ride used to beat itself up every day and needed a lot of work after the park closed. One of my coworkers once mentioned that her son was a tech at the park (this a was a few years ago) and that he had to "weld the Big Bad Wolf together" every night.

Although I enjoyed the endless supply of food, I'm rather glad that it's over (at least until my next cruise)--I really need to shed some pounds.

I think the forest-and-village setting was what made BBW for most riders (along with that big last drop).

^BGW has a similar "funeral parlor" room in one of their mazes (13) that uses one of the same scare tactics (and does it a little better).