cfc

I've grown rather fond of these Schwarzkopf loopers--I hope this one finds a good home. Any bets on Cypress Gardens or Wild Adventures picking it up?

I like water parks, but I've really been to so few, one of which is long defunct (Oakwood near Manteca, Calif.). Thanks for a look at these.

I know what you mean about a trip ending, Jahan. I'm both relieved to get home, yet bummed out because it's over. But reliving it through a trip report is great (as was this one).

^Repetition for the sake of emphasis?

^With a geographically redundant shirt.

^He used the car to get to Celebration, and maybe he didn't care to wait for buses and such. ^^Dave, he does say good things about "It's a Small World," which should lose him some cool points. And, hey, he didn't ride "Dinosaur."

Looks like the "singing stable" is a must-see attraction. Thanks for the sneak peek at Drievliet.

^Ha! My parents actually gave me a vest like that for my birthday before the UK trip. I remember thinking, "You know--I'm going to the UK, not on safari." It's still hanging in my hall closet. I imagine it's quite practical, though.

I rode it last year, Scott--I think you'll live. It does look sort of dodgy, though. As for that red Vekoma, at least it's not an SLC, eh?

Officer Rich, you are not alone in liking Nemesis Inferno--I think it's pretty good, too (just not as good as Nemesis). I get my shot at the Big Mike Road Show when Dominator opens at KD.

That praying mantis was the largest one I've ever seen--one pretty cool bug. I discovered last year that I'm a bit of sucker for those hyper coasters (Steel Force, Steel Dragon, even Fujiyama). And curried pork cutlet at Spaland rules (as does the air-conditioned Ferris wheel).

I'd love to see Bill Bryson spend some time at the Disney parks. He'd probably hate them, but the resulting book or article could be hilarious. (Could be great chapter for a new edition of The Lost Continent, his travel book about the U.S.)

^Well, look at it this way. Some of us are "way more knowledgable." Others are here to learn from those who are "way more knowledgable." And some of us think they're "way more knowledgable." It's up to you to figure out which is which.

^^I imagine Rick Baker's would've been pretty damn cool. I still remember the "Lost Dutchman Mine" at the long-defunct Frontier Village in San Jose--well, one part of it, at least. The big finale was a huge skeleton miner with a dynamite plunger. Boom! That would be one cool prop to have on your front lawn for Halloween. Thought that was the neatest thing ever; then again, I was eight years old at the time.

^Thanks for the clarification and extra information. It was hard to tell what sort of venue we were looking at on the video.

^One caution--I stayed with some friends at the Williamsburg KOA in the 1980s, and back then, the place was crawling with very aggressive raccoons. Really, they had no fear of anything or anybody as they rooted through garbage cans. If you shouted at them, they'd actually come after you! But that was a long time ago.

^Ha! I drive by Anvil Campground almost every day. Yeah, get used to coal trains if you stay there. The KOAs are farther from the town (and the tracks), but not too far from I-64, which will take you right to BGE.

Yawn . . . another "intellectual" takes on Disney. The opinions he expresses are hardly new, but he does make a good point here and there. I share his feelings regarding "Celebration," and the "indoctrination" into all things Disney has always been a bit much (even to a fan of the parks like me).

It might be best to make Dollywood, Carowinds, and Hard Rock part of the same weekend trip. Here's a tip when going from SFA to KD. You can pick up 301 (just turn left as you leave SFA) and avoid most of the DC Beltway mess. It's just a state highway, and there are a number of stoplights, but it can get you back to I-95--just one exit north of KD.

^Do Disney employees receive any sort of training about how to handle line jumping? It would be a big guest-service issue, I think.

My question is what can the average CM actually do about line jumping? If you report a line jumper and that person is already well on his or her way, it would be pretty hard to zero in on the jumper, seems to me (particularly on a busy day). Now if it happens right in front of a CM, that's a different story (the Jungle Cruise line jumper described above should've been easily nailed, I think). This kind of behavior, particularly crusing ahead to "meet" somebody in line, is prevalent at BGE and KD, too. KD has put security on "line-jumping" detail at their annual Haunt, and they were pretty effective. (I've never seen so many pissed-off expressions in my life as people were pulled out of line and made to start over.)

Hmm--I knew there was a good reason why I've haven't ridden a traveling-carnival ride since the 1970s. I hope no one was hurt.

To get to Griffon by the most direct route, just head for the Clydesdales' stable and bear right through Ireland to France. If the skyride's open, you can ride that to France, but the line at the station in England is usually pretty long (even in the morning). I also recommend taking the second leg of the skyride as it gives you a pretty awesome, up-close look at Griffon and Alpengeist.

^He's pointing at Larry. And, no, you didn't come off as rude.

^Gee--and I thought he was referring to T. O. Mater's wife from Pixar's Cars.