cfc

Whenever I visit Disney, I nose round looking for Haunted Mansion stuff. It's my favorite Disney dark ride.

I was stuck at home all day yesterday due to an ice storm. It seemed like a good day to take care of a little project I've been toying with for a while: my Haunted Mansion Tribute Shelf. Disney has been offering some pretty cool HM souvenirs. Some of this stuff comes from the Memento Mori shop--my favorite shop at the Magic Kingdom. The photo quality isn't the greatest--maybe I should set up some spooky lighting, too. Welcome, Foolish Mortals, to my scarily cluttered home office! Bwa-ha-ha-ha! The Shelf of Terror! Madame Leota is ready to tell you your future--if you have one! There was a "Bride" diorama, too. I think the carpet is nice touch. Yep--they followed me home! Damn you, Paul "Ghost Host" Frees! The Hearse is the oldest piece. I think I bought this at Disneyland, but I'm not sure. This print came from the Art of Disney store at Epcot (great shop). I picked this up at the Wonderland Gallery in Disney Springs. Marvel Comics take on the Haunted Mansion (also from Wonderland Gallery). Grim Glowing Ghosts .

Congratulations to Grona Lund for putting in the last piece of Monster track. They've come a long way since digging that big hole, and I'm looking forward to riding this coaster.

You can get a good look at Pantheon from the Verbolten bridge, and the layout looks great (especially where it drops toward the Rhine River).

The setting enhances this ride--much nicer to glide through the trees than just over a concrete slab.

The park is still saying "spring 2021" for Pantheon.

Let the Good Times Roll: Mardi Gras Celebration at Busch Gardens It's cold and gloomy outside my window today, so it's a good thing that I chose yesterday to check out Busch Gardens' version of Mardi Gras. This is the latest in a line of "reservations-required" events and, in my opinion, the best one so far--at least when the weather cooperates. The first weekend was freezing and snowy, but January 6 was sunny with temperatures in the 50s--perfect weather to hang out at the park; ride Alpengeist, InvadR, Verbolten, and some other rides; and enjoy some Cajun-type food and New Orleans-inspired entertainment. I also had the bonus of hanging with Bill and Brit that day (they drove all the way down from New York State). Great to meet you two at last! The park made a smooth transition from their "Winter Celebration" decor. Out with Frosty the Snowman in France, and in with a big court jester. All the red-and-green Christmas lights were switched to Mardi Gras purple and gold, and there was plenty of entertainment, such as a jazz band, motley-bedecked drummers, and stilt walkers. This is the liveliest that the park has been since the COVID restrictions began. They also drew a good-sized crowd, and the three open coasters had the longest lines I've seen in a while, but the crews handled them pretty well. There were some hiccups. They were a bit short staffed, especially in food service. I wanted to try the gumbo at the grill in front of the Smokehouse, but they ran out at 1:30 and had to prepare some more. I ended up having the Mardi Gras Frites (fires with Andouille sausage in a Cajun sauce), and those were pretty good. Grogan's Grill in Ireland had a long line all day (the pub was slammed early on, too). I wanted to try the grill's Cajun Hush Puppies, but they ran short. The Creamy Cajun Meatballs at the pub were a good substitute, though. The line for beignets at the funnel-cake shop in Germany was long, as well. Alpengeist had the longest wait of the day, due to one-train operations (which is unusual for this park). Not that the line deterred Bill, TPR's number-one Alpengeist fan. But toward the end of the evening, the line had thinned considerably, and we enjoyed a "mini-ERT session" on the coaster. Alpengeist was also running better than it was a month earlier (maybe that's why the other train is in the shop). All in all, a fun day at Busch Gardens. I think they could expand on their Mardi Gras Celebration after the pandemic is sorted out. Here's a look at how the good times were rollin'. Remember--plastic Halloween "costume masks" do nothing against COVID! Let the good times roll, folks. What? No Union Jacks hanging in England? The Queen shall hear of this outrage! This is what they call "Mardi Gras" in Ireland. True story. Castle O'Sullivan is decked out in traditional Killarney Gras beads. In your face, New Orleans! Bow before the party gods, peasants! You must now bite the heads off living crawfish in tribute. "I don't want to work! I just want to bang on the drum all . . . wait a minute . . . this is my work." You intrigue me, sir. They were good. "We have come for your children!" Does a band wearing masks indicate a band full of bandits? They had some unusual animals, too, "Y'all came to see me? Why I'm so flattered it just tickles me half to death." The owl thinks he's far more adorable than any ol' cat. Somehow, I survived a super nova at Busch Gardens. "Hey, Castle O'Sullivan! Top this!" They've crossed cats with llamas! You might say they're the "cat's pallamas"! (I stole this line from someone else.) Er, Festhaus juggler? Do you and the stage want to be alone? Hmm--I wonder where I'll find Bill and Brit? Aha! We snagged multiple consecutive rides at end of the evening, I begged off the last train of the night because I felt a bit ill. (Yep--getting older.) Mardi Gras clown says, "You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here." (This was an evil clown at Hall-o-Scream, but he's very versatile.) Nice lighting on the path from France to Ireland. After a few brandies, the Queen approved of England's Mardi Gras decorations. Happy Mardi Gras from Busch Gardens--and thanks for reading.

Strawberry bread pudding, eh?

Disney has made changes to the Jungle Cruise many times over the years, and I'm OK with what they have planned now. There are still a number of problematic scenes (for example, the headhunters village) that needed to be changed years ago.

Forty-two degrees is the limit for Alpengeist, but I think Verbolten and InvadR will run at lower temps. But it's a bit of a crapshoot,

I recommend Richmond as it's an easier drive to Williamsburg than from Norfolk (where you have to deal with either the Hampton Roads or Monitor-Merrimac bridge tunnels and heavier traffic). That being said, they are doing a lot of road construction in I-64 between Richmond and Williamsburg, but Rt. 60 is an option, too.

I didn't ride anything new, but I might rethink some of my rankings from last year.

^Clunk and bang your way to glory--Arrow style!

Dorney is a "generic Cedar Fair park" to me, but I do like Steel Force and their log flume (thanks to its unique layout).

I was never clear on their "year-round" status.

Looks like a nice event--glad to see more parks trying to work within the restrictions of the pandemic.

Yep. BGW's response to restrictions due to COVID has been evolving, and I'm glad they're following through with what worked for them last year. There's a slight chance of snow in Williamsburg this weekend, which would be a nice sendoff for the "Christmas Celebration."

^I was wondering that myself, but it's still a "thing."

^I wonder if the leprechaun will be back the the St. Patrick's Day Celebration? He's been a photo-op character in the past.

That's because the Williamsburg area is usually a ghost town from January to March each year. That being said, the park is hosting a bunch of weekend events this year, such as "Winter Weekends" and "Mardi Gras." https://t.co/7xoXBO8iNv?amp=1

I vote for Untamed at Walibi--that ride just never lets up and even throws in a fiendish inversion right before the final brakes. As for old-school rides, I'd say Phoenix.

I like this water park a lot, but haven't been there in years. Cross Country Creek is the best lazy river ever.

I like this much better than the "Leave a Legacy" monoliths, which looked like a field of jagged, broken teeth. The fountain fits Epcot's aesthetic perfectly and makes the entrance less cluttered.

This had crossed my mind, as well.

"Fujiyama - King of Coasters slider"--They need to sell these sliders in the snack bar.