cfc

^I definitely believe that one sucks (KK)--haven't been on the other.

I'm just impressed that Ryan finally got a haircut. The party and day at the Mountain looked great.

^O-o-o-o-o . . . trippy. Nights in white satin, Never reaching the end . . . Help! I'm having a Hard Rock Park flashback!

A bit of caution: Please restrict all photo postings to pictures that have been taken "legally" (that is, that do not violate park rules). We've had some problems in the past with members sneaking into cast-member areas and taking pictures. Remember that breaking park rules and posting pictures about it will get you some quality time with Bantron. Thank you, Chuck

You nighttime pictures are great. Mine tend to suck (unless I set the camera on a stone pillar, lightly press the button, and back slowly away to avoid any excess vibration of the ground). I ate the Mexican restaurant a few years ago and thought it was great--had some awesome pork-roast concoction.

^Amen. I did vote for the new "Star Trek" flick, but I think this will be the franshise's last gasp. This poll needs a "none of the above" option.

So they can use up all the two-dollar bills in change for items that cost 98 bucks. Why do we drive on a parkway and park on a driveway?

The chicks from the HBO series (later movie) Sex and the City. All they do is have sex, buy shoes, and talk about sex.

"Many people say" = rumor to me. We already have a thread devoted exclusively to rumors: http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35614. Please post any Blackpool speculations there. This thread will be locked. Thank you, Chuck

I was there with Erik Johnson and Will earlier this year and agree with Erik. The park's coasters are, for the most part, good, but the operations are what's sinking the park. This is sad because I visited the place for the first time in 2006 and had a very good time--but it has slipped since.

Huge Hummel Boy thanks you for your support--but he would prefer cash next time. Dominator is definitely a diamond in the rough at KD, a park that has lost a lot of its charm over the years. I think Drop Tower has had consistently poor operations all season, while coaster operations tend to vary. Spring is the time to visit this park--it's at its best early in the season.

I think Dave just had too much . . . . . . fudgin' fun.

^Godzilla melting Eejaniaka (or how ever it's spelled) with his radioactive breath would've been awesome. Japan-a-Mania 2 is a great pair of DVDs. The park videos are great, and the ride footage is excellent. If you haven't had the chance to experience Parque Espana's "Musical Circus," Lagunasia's "Magical Powders," or TDL's "Pooh's Hunny Hunt," here's your chance. It makes me want to hop the next flight to Tokyo.

The new Sesame Street-themed area has a name: "Sesame Street Forest of Fun at Busch Gardens." The press releasehas been posted at RCDB. In addition to the kiddie coaster and flume ride, the park is adding a "shot and drop tower" and a "rock 'n' tug", too. EDIT: There's a brief video on the park's site, too.

Nice wrap-up, Rich. I'm really sorry now that Kawasemi wasn't ready for last year's Japan trip. I've never seen pictures of Raging Spirits at night--looks pretty cool. (God, I hope it's better than Indy at Paris Disney--that's one of the worst rides ever, although it's better than the Paris Space Mountain.)

You've already had one thread locked--on the same topic with the same misspelling of "design." Please do not repost a locked thread.

Turnip bulls can be very dangerous. All other root crops live in mortal fear of turnip bulls. Even the mighty Jerusalem artichoke (a sort of "feral potato") fears the dreaded turnip bull!

I think it'll be pretty cool next year when BGE kicks off Christmas Time. CW and the park have been cooperating with each other more in recent years, and I think Christmas Town and the Grand Illumination will complement each other nicely. (The Illumination is free, by the way.) CW does some Christmas concerts and tours, too--there's a big christmas banquet connected to the Illumination, but that costs an arm and a leg.

I actually came in third on "Desperado" as Bobbejaanland, and I'm a pretty lousy shot. I guess my strategy of just blasting anything that moved paid off. Good stuff, Rich. T Express looks great. As for that tower, I think I could be persuaded to walk around on a tether, but would probably draw the line at jumping off. By the way, Disney says .

More explosions, but no horse crap. And, finally, a look at a Williamsburg Christmas to come. Happy Holidays! "Grr! I am an angry Christmas demon! Look into the darkness of my gaping maw and see your doom!" . . . and the little Christmas village. The living room, the TV, the tree . . . It was "Grand Illumination" time at Casa del Campbell, too. "JOY TO THE WORLD . . ." Ok, show's over. The forecast calls for a 20% chance of flaming hail tonight, followed by partly cloudy skies and a 30% chance of frogs and locusts. Whew! Looks like everything is OK. We now return to the Capitol's holiday orgasm, which is already in progress. It's in flames! Oh, the humanity! The sky is raining flaming tricorner hats! My god! The Capitol has taken a direct hit! My, that's a big one. Note that these are "18th-century-style" fireworks. In other words, don't look for them to form, oh, pink bowties or Mickey Mouse or something. Look! A Balrog! Or maybe it's just Hobbes from "Calvin and Hobbes." I wonder if it would prefer to be alone. Boy, I haven't seen the Capitol this excited in a long time.

Colonial Williamsburg lit it up and blew it apart on Sunday, December 7, to kick off the area's Christmas season at the annual Grand Illumination. Over 35,000 people froze to death in the Historic Area, huddling around baskets of fire, sipping hot cider, and stepping gingerly over piles of horse crap (stupid carriage rides). The Illumination is based on how the colonists used to celebrate the King's birthday back in the 18th century--setting off fireworks, placing candles in windows, catching curtains on fire, forming bucket brigades. What started out as a little local celebration, in which the Fife and Drum would march down Duke of Gloucester Street and call for people to light up their windows, eventually morphed into a major tourist event with fireworks at three locations: the Governor's Palace, the Powder Magazine (er, I wouldn't stand to close to that one), and the Colonial Capitol. There were carolers, of course, and the Williamsburg Fife and Drum Corps (celebrating it's 50th anniversary this year) performed--then CW proceeded to blow up the Historic Area 18th-century style! The Grand Illumination is always held on the first Sunday in December. Here's a look at how Williamsburg celebrates Christmas. Ooh! Ahh! That's more like it! Take that, stupid Colonial Capitol! More to come. OK, we've seen the wreaths, heard the music, and stepped over the horse crap. Something better start blowin' up! I wouldn't back up too far if I were you, pal. "I say, we hearty, 18th-century types need not stand so close to the fire." And to think I left the Hershey bars, graham crackers, and marshmellows in the car . . . Yes, the festiveness of all these festivities have hearts aflutter. How about some festive, edible Christmas decorations? Look closely--there are over 35,000 people in this photo, at least one of whom is, no doubt, named "Waldo." Nothing says "Christmas" like a bunch of guys and girls blowing fifes and pounding on skins. There's even a very festive ambulance, just in case. So, what does one see at the Grand Illumination? Hey, nothin's cooler than fire on a stick. Hmm--not looking too festive yet. So, off I go down the dark, twisty path that leads from CW's auxillary parking lot to the . . . Hmm--by the looks of that hat, I'm going to either the Grand Illumination or a Packers game. Yes, it's a local law that the Illumination must be held on the first really cold night of the year.

I think almost all new posters have done this (including me a few years ago). Is the "Ghost Blasters" ride the standard Sally model (like they have at the Mall of America)?

During its opening season, KD's Hurler was great. But as years went by, it deteriorated and became absolutely brutal. The park has been doing some work on Hurler over the last few years, and it is improved (still not great, by any means, but not as nasty).

I concur with Elissa. Larry and I actually rode it twice--once in the back and once in the front. The front seat was actually rougher than the back! I put this coaster dead last on the steel poll, too--it's just such a huge disappointment.

So far, so good, Robb. The site seems must faster now (even on my beat-up old computer).