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^SFA is made of nothing but cheese.

Obviously, you've never ridden . . . . . . eXodus! (OK, it is a pretty lame, pseudo-Photoshop job.)

^Or even an old prototype, for that matter. I think comparing the construction of a new woodie to something like Superman: The Escape is an apples-and-oranges comparison.

Really? Am I the only one that thinks it looks like it was made in about 5 minutes in Photoshop? Seriously, the guitar with loops is *slightly below average* at best (honestly, it's terrible), and then the font looks like a stock Windows TTF font. I'm sure I've used it on something before.... --Robb EDIT - as an example, here is the logo for our upcoming Coaster Expedition Volume 12 DVD. If *I* can have a logo and artwork put together that looks this good, a theme park should be able to do a million times better.... You guys do see my point, right? Any logo with Godzilla on it rules! Ditto for the bad-ass Viking! I'm guessing that this is how they came up with new logo: "Crap! We can't use the 'Hard Rock' name anymore! What'll we do?" [Crickets chirping, execs looking at each other uncomfortably, fiddling with their coffee cups, looking down at their Blackberries. Two hours go by.] "Eureka! 'Freestyle Music Park'! Now all we need is a new logo." "Doesn't Marge have Photoshop or Quark or something on her computer? Hey, Marge!" Fifteen minutes later, a new logo is born.

They may as well have named it "Fred" or "Frank."

^Why, so it is--thanks. I fixed it. Looks like Elmo got a spire and a castle, while Grover got a coaster and a bush.

I think they should launch each train with rockets, and after they reach near escape velocity, use GPS to guide them back to the track to finish the rest of the course. "Rockit" rockets, baby!

I'm waiting for "Wheelie vs. Megalon."

^That's probably the best approach. The "3 Point Challenge" spielers at KD and BGE are pretty good about that, too. Perhaps the best approach is to avoid the word "loser" completely--less chance for someone to misunderstand what you're saying.

^Yeah, maybe, but this is probably not the best approach to take.

Blue Fall looks like a great excuse to visit Europa again. (Well, not that anyone needs an "excuse" to visit this great park. Let's say, "another good reason.")

^I think they put Americana in a good spot--it looks nice at the end of the Grove midway (much better than the ugly concrete slab where the trampolines used to be). My brief ride on El Dorado was OK, but nothing special.

^Americana wasn't running today (they're still putting canopies on the gondolas). I did get a few turns on El Dorado, but it got stuck, they lowered us down, and dragged trash cans in front of the exit and entrance (at about 3:00 pm). Still a few bugs to be worked out, it seems.

Yes--if you're shorter than 38 inches, you can't ride Grover's Alpine Express. A parent can ride the mini flume with a small child. I saw one mother doing just that--her little boy was crying like crazy under the water jets, and it was all she could do to keep him from climbing out of the boat! ^^^As for using Castle O'Sullivan, I was surprised, too, when BG announced that as the location for the character meals. But there really wasn't any room for a dining hall in the Forest of Fun, and the old Castle O'Sullivan show had "run its course."

I finished up the Forest of Fun Media Day with lunch. BG has done a good job with the character dining--and with using the old Castle O'Sullivan theatre. (The pork loin is very good, and the Sesame Street cupcakes rule.) I took one last look at the Forest of Fun before returning to work--sigh! Thanks for reading. This photo comes with your meal. They call up tables by number to keep the stage from being mobbed, and they bring the prints to your table a few minutes later. Ernie gets down and gets funky. Guests were encouraged to dance with the characters. "We'll distract him with this snickerdoodle! Run for it!" Hmm--let's see . . . cupcake . . . apple cobbler . . . aha! "He's not bluffin', folks! He's jonesin' for cookies today!" "BGEscape! Coaster-net! I've come for your cookies!" "You got cookies"? And here they come! Another clever touch--they kept the old "splitting hearth" bit from the Castle O'Sullivan showand used it as an entrance for the characters. Here's a sampling. My favorite was the pork loin (very tasty), but it was all pretty good. But what about the food? . . . the stage. They used this space really well. They kept the various levels of the old theatre and put in tables and partitions where the bleachers used to be--this gives everybody a good view of . . . Here's where you check in. Oddly enough, none of the food pictured here is served inside--but the buffet is pretty good, nonetheless. Looks like Elmo bought Castle O'Sullivan. So much for Clancy the leprechaun. . . . the Sesame Street Film Festival--and to get pretty damp while watching it. I had a 12:30 reservation to "Dine with Elmo and Friends." This gave me just enough time to check out . . .

Let's amble around the rest of the Forest of Fun, shall we? "How're those pancakes sittin' now?" Next up--lunch! "Heh, heh, heh!" "Hope guys enjoyed a hearty breakfast this morning, 'cause I'm about to give you another look at it!" "OK, kids--if ya don't follow MY rules, you can't ride my worms!" That's one impressive spire you have there, Elmo. Bouncy, bouncy! Up I go! It's a pretty good "frog hopper." . . . ride Elmo's spire!" "Loyal subjects! You may now . . . Oscar's Yucky Woods was a little "yuckier" than they liked--the paint was still tacky in the morning, but they let kids play there in the afternoon. Good thing the sun came out in time for the "Sunny Day Celebration." Abby Cadabby will have to content herself with this gift shop. . . . and little Loch Ness Monsters! They even have their own Scottish sheep . . . Who knew? What? Bert and Ernie are Scottish lairds? See? Wetness! No--just much wetness. Allow me to demonstrate. A moat? With alligators?

Here are more kiddie-coaster photos than any sane person would tolerate. Phew! Need a cookie after that! But what else does the Forest of Fun have to offer? Now it's my turn to brave Grover's helixes of death! (Thanks for the picture, John.) . . . and approaching the station. Hang in there Grover! You're out of the helix . . . "Hang on to your prosthetic limbs, folks!" "Phew! Grover almost gray out that time! Aghh! Another helix!" "Intense . . . helix . . . must . . . not . . . black . . . out . . ." Wh-e-e-e-e-e! Smile for the onride camera! Grover's adventure begins! Hey, you guys aren't bolted to the seat! Best hang on! (On the right is John, aka "obxcoasterman." He was an Alpengeist ride-op a few years back, and he's with Coastercrew.com, as well.) Good thing he's bolted to the seat. Hmm--looks like Grover may have had a few Budweisers, or something. The themeing and landscaping are nice, too. I like how BG has gone with a winding path as opposed to a bunch of switchbacks here. But please note the rules before queuing up. Have you secured those prosthetic limbs? Good! Time to tour the mighty Alps with Grover.

Busch Gardens officially opened the new Sesame Street Forest of Fun at a ceremony on Friday, April 3--just in time for spring break and Easter. This new section, part of the park's "KIDsiderate" attractions, presents those popular Sesame Street characters, such as Elmo, Bert, and Ernie, in their first-ever "European adventure," said John Reilly, the park's general manager and executive vice president. "Sesame Street Forest of Fun is a perfect fit for our park," he said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. "We hope parents enjoy this area as much as their children do, because everything in here was designed for them to do together." John got a little help during his speech from Elmo himself, who just popped up from behind the podium. The little shaggy red guy volunteered to help out in almost any way possible, from running the Pet Shenanigans show to running the rides to impersonating a bald eagle. But he did draw the line at sweeping up the floor. "Elmo wouldn't like to do that," he said. John said that Elmo could help out best by bringing the rest of his friends to the Forest of Fun--via BGE's Alpen Express. Which he did--Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, and other members of Sesame Street trotted up the red carpet, where two local shoolkids helped them cut the ribbon. And with that, the Forest of Fun was officially open--and the kids there went nuts! Here are the attractions of the Forest of Fun: Elmo's Castle--performance stage and wet playground. Prince Elmo's Spire--shot-n-drop ride for the whole family. Grover's Alpine Express--family-friendly roller coaster. Bert and Ernie's Loch Adventure--flume ride for parents and kids. Oscar's Whirly Worms--family-friendly rock-n-tug ride. Oscar's Yucky Forest--playground. 1-2-3 Smile with Me--character and guest photography studio. Abby Cadabby's Treasure Trove--gift shop. Sunny Days Celebrations--musical performance by Sesame Street characters. Sesame Street has also taken over England's Globe Theatre (looks like Captain Lucky's luck has run out) with their own movie "brought to you by the number 4 and the letter D": Sesame Street Presents Lights, Camera, Imagination! The movie is cute and fun and immerses guests in "visual effects and sensory surprises" (in other words, be prepared for lots of water). You can also Dine with Elmo and Friends over in Ireland at Castle O'Sullivan. In addition to lots of interaction with the characters (they do a really good job working the room), you can belly up to the all-you-can-eat buffet, which has food for kids (such as hot dogs, mac-and-cheese, and chicken tenders) and adults (such as beef fajitas and marinated pork loin--very good, by the way). You can have breakfast with Elmo, too. Here's a look at the Forest of Fun's opening day. The picture quality varies a bit (the day started out rainy, but ended up sunny--just like the Sesame Street theme song). Two other points: 1. The Forest of Fun is located behind the England skyride station (where the petting zoo used to be). 2. Yes, Land of the Dragons is still there. (A few park guests were asking about this.) EDIT: "Topiary Elmo" is actually "Topiary Grover." Up next--what most of you are here to see. Forest of Fun is now open for everybody! OK, the gang's all here. Wow--Elmo grew! And Big Bird was there to greet it. OK, kids--here comes the Sesame Street Express! "I know! I can do my impression of a bald eagle! Just pretend I'm bald, and I can flap my arms . . ." Elmo gave a lot of thought to what he could do to help out at Busch Gardens. . . . Elmo! Maybe for John Reilly? Well, John's a nice guy, but I think they were really waiting for . . . But who are all these media-type people waiting for? . . . as was topiary Oscar the Grouch. Topiary Grover was waiting for me . . . After bumbling around and entering via the wrong gate, I finally made my way to the Forest of Fun.

Who bought the place--Prince?

Pity it's not Space Mountain: Mission 2.

Best get Volcano done first--even on slow days, it draws a pretty good-size line (then ride Dominator). Food at KD is expensive and not very good. There is a Chick Fil-A (all ala carte). Pizza is OK. Outer Hanks (formerly Bubba Gump's) used to be OK if you're into fish and chips. It is hard to resist those Boardwalk fries, though.

I guess, technically, you're riding a "manta." Or, at least, underneath one.

Maybe they can dress all the lifeguards to look like Tarzan and Jane.

I only scored 10/20--not sure if I should be happy or sad about it.

Nice to have you back. You'd be better off just reviewing the front page updates to catch up, rather than a bunch of random posts from random members.