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I was OK with the Hotel Santa Fe, myself (except for the long check-in process). Service at the Paris Disney parks is certainly lacking compared to other parks in the chain. But it did have the best versions of the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Studios park was better than I'd expected (but that line for Crush . . . phew). The Cafe disney group dinner was a lot of fun, too.

We have a number of old threads asking about favorite dark rides, water rides, etc. So, there seems to be little point to another. Locked.

Service is definitely a bit "off" there compared to other Disney parks.

I was there for a few hours yesterday afternoon, and it was bustling, but not outrageously busy (DarKastle was using the switchbacks later in the day). They were testing the new Forest of Fun stuff--the Elmo "frog hopper" was bouncing around, and there were actual people on Grover's Alpine Express. Still doing a bit of concrete work on one attraction (I think it was Oscar's Yucky Woods) though. The new stuffed churros are pretty good, by the way.

^Two problems: 1) No member may have two accounts! This is part of the site's terms of service. I'll delete the account with the misspelled name, but please do not do this again. 2) As for a Darien Lake discussion thread, there really isn't much to discuss about the park at this time, so I'm locking this thread. Please review out Terms of Service before posting again: http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=177#177.

Good to see that Norm was able to chug over Mt. Rose, Colin. I've driven that road a few times, and it can be pretty treacherous. I'm surprised that the road around Emerald Bay was open (that one usually shuts down until April). Did you take Hwy. 50 or I-80 to Sacramento?

An old friend of mine (a year younger than me) had a mild heart attack a few years ago and had the "balloon" treatment. He called me the day after he got out of the hospital, saying that I should have my cholesterol checked, which I did--it was high (it's OK now). I'm glad you're out of the hospital and doing better.

^April 13 is right after Easter, so the park may be fairly busy (stick to a weekday and you should be OK). Forest of Fun opens on April 3.

^Hey, social diseases are an important part of rock 'n' roll. Don't forget your official "Tonight's the Night" brand prophylactics--the kind Rod Stewart likes!

As I've said earlier, I'm not sure how much credence to give the "shareholders statement." The Universal Web site still says "Spring 2009," which could take us well into June. I prefer to take a more "zen" approach: "We shall see." And, like everybody else here, I'm looking forward to this ride--a lot. Thanks for sharing the pictures of the cars--they look pretty cool.

I finally caught Let the Right One In on DVD last night--damn good movie (best horror flick in years). Noticed on the Internet Movie database that a "Let the Right One In" is "in development" for 2010. I guess we should be bracing ourselves for the inevitable Hollywood remake.

This brings to mind the theme song from an Saturday-morning game show that used to run when I was a kid: "Shenanigans/Come on along and play/Shenanigans!"

Good stuff, Erik. I wish I could've made it to WCB this year, but that's life. I'm glad you finally got the complete California "Pooh" experience--how does it measure up to the evac experience?

^I think it's a great ride in a great setting, but it really pushes it for me when it comes to intensity.

I can believe it, after riding Tatsu last year (definitely a one-ride coaster for me, as are most flyers). That pretzel loop is a killer. I'm glad you had a great time at WCB, but please remember that the shift key is your friend--proper capitalization and punctuation will make your posts easier to read (and more likely to be read). Thank you.

That was everything I bought all together, but, it was because of the lunch that I spent that much, lol. $70.00 Park admission and Club 33 Lunch $20.00 for the 33 Ears $18.00 for the 33 Shot Glass $22.00 Tax and Tip So, it's not the lunch. It's all the stuff.

$130 for lunch? Sheesh! The food looked really good, but was it $130 good?

My Dad had lunch at Club 33 back in the 1970s. He was president of the California Apricot Advisory Board, which was looking into sponsoring a store on Main Street (turned out to be a bit too rich for CAAB). Back then, DL execs had their offices in the same building as the Primeval World. Dad said it was pretty bizarre to hear the occasional T-Rex roar as they listened to Disney's sales pitch. I remember visiting the old Disney Gallery with a disabled friend. The handicapped entrance was some tiny service elevator, and you had to walk through a kitchen to get to the gallery (maybe it's the same kitchen Robb mentioned).

Looks like the old dude has still got the moves.

^Gerd, most of the best burger and BBQ joints in the U.S. look like complete dumps. Thanks for sharing your discovery--a good burger joint is to be treasured.

And why is this a matter of great import to you, may I ask? Do you often play "Guess the Crotch" with random people, sir? "Now you can have the crotch you've chosen now plus $500, or the Mystery Crotch behind Curtain Number 3!"

It looks like Robb set himself a personal goal of getting into as many Big Mike pictures as possible. Wish I could've gone this year--stupid Monday meeting!

Move along. Nothing to see here. Most new rides experience operational problems, and those of Saw have been documented in other threads.

^I call Yankee Candle "Bizarro Shopping World." Really, I find the place a little freaky. Maybe it's the Christmas shop where it snows every fifteen minutes or the singing-rodents show. ^^Sorry I missed you, Clint. I noticed a few ACE and Coaster Zombie jackets wandering around the park that day, too. I usually visit the park on Friday nights or on Sundays when the season gets going. I'll be at the Forest of Fun Media Day, too. I missed Santa too!

Opinions are like a certain bodily orifice--everybody's got one. I've given DonkeyBreath 24 hours to contemplate his.