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Jack Rabbit scared the crap out of me the first time I rode. Now that's an old ride with ejector air.

Have you been on it recently? It seems that they fixed a few things that were a bit "off" during the previews w/ timing, projection issues and even the ability to see your "driver" through the frosted glass. This was my second time riding and I enjoyed it a LOT more than my first. We were also told that there are 5 different "driver" characters and I think the one we got the first time just made the story more confusing than it probably needed to be. It isn't a mind-blowing ride, but I think it is a good addition to the park! Seeing the photos of the queue has made this ride a bit more intriguing to me.

One last look at Movie Park Germany. How about we start with a parade? Germany expresses its American patriotism. Van Helsing has the coolest car and the hottest chick in the parade. We need these cars in the U.S., as we often don’t know if we’re coming or going. “Sorry, folks, but this is as close as you’ll come to riding the Ice Age Adventure today. Maybe you should go see the latest sequel, instead.” You know, I’m pretty sure the float has a pre-show, too. This Mutant Ninja Turtle “driving school” looks pretty good--too bad it wasn’t running.Then again, it was hot as hell, and the car tires were probably fused to the pavement. Hmm--Sarah looks particularly terrified. Maybe the bug-eyed alien was hitting on her. Time for schnitzel, beer, and the Addams Family. “Party of four? Hmm--I only got room for two because I just ate. Why don’t two of you come back when I feel a bit more peckish, say around 9:00?” At Van Helsing’s, you can get Hell by the bottle. I hope they’re demonstrating a back-lot “rain storm” and not holding a spitting contest on the roof. We missed out on Alien Encounter, but we made it in time for the last Lost Temple tour of the day. So, this is where the new “Star Trek” coaster is being built. Mack launched coasters are fun, and who knows? If it's as good as Superman Escape at Warner Bros. Movie World in Australia, it'll be worth coming back. “Staff only”? Bah! Do you think Indiana Jones cares about “staff only”? I have a strange feeling that we’re going to have to rescue somebody driving one of these vehicles and then, in turn, be rescued ourselves. Call it a “hunch.” Marching is not allowed in this area. If this were a dig in Colonial Williamsburg, they’d find bits of clay pipes and the remains of old wooden posts. They never find dinosaurs or orcs or anything cool. Oh my goodness. I am terrified beyond all capacity for rational thought. Remember: Never play with your nuts at Movie Park Germany. I think they allow it at Warner Bros. Movie World in Australia, though. That’s all for now. Off to Phantasialand!

Chapter 5 The Most All-American Park in Germany--Movie Park We experienced one fairly hot day in Germany; naturally, it was at the park that had the least amount of shade--Movie Park. I had a pretty good time there back in 2008. While the coaster collection was hardly stellar (the best one was a Mack Wild Mouse themed to Spongebob Squarepants), the park had some other quirky attractions that made it worthwhile--for example, the Alien Encounter/Bermuda Triangle splash-boat boat ride, the Ice Age Adventure dark ride, and the Mystery River rapids ride. Well, they have improved their coaster collection since then with Van Helsing’s Factory. While the movie Van Helsing was something of a dud, Movie Park did turn it into a really good Gerstlauer Bobsled in a box, with cool-looking cars for vampire hunting, some good dark-ride effects, and a crazy layout that throws you around like a rag doll. We had a great lights-off-and-on ERT session on this ride. Some of us grabbed a nice meal at Van Helsing’s Club next door, where we enjoyed some good schnitzel while Addams Family reruns (in German) and strange music videos with monks singing heavy metal played on the club’s big screen. Of course, this means the same thing in all languages--that someone has just ridden Bandit, the park's notoriously rough wooden coaster. Mystery River is still fun, too. Unfortunately, we missed out on the other two attractions I mentioned. Ice Age was down with technical problems. Alien Encounter, which is right next to the park’s entrance, ran from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. only, and we got there a few minutes late. As I think back, Alien Encounter ran on a weird schedule back in 2008. Still it seems a bit odd that a major ride was open for only part of the day. Such is life. Two other attractions were new to me. Walking Dead: Breakout is an up-charge “permanent” haunt. I'd say it was on a slightly higher level than the mazes at BGW's Howl-o-Scream--some good sets and effects. The other was the Lost Temple, which is a 4D simulator. It’s a step up from your standard 4D theater in that you board a ride vehicle that rolls into a digital 3D environment, where you’re attacked by dinosaurs. The car shakes around, dinos lunge at you in 3D, some other dude in a big Jeep saves you, then you’re done. Think of it as “German Indiana Jones and the Temple of Loud and Obnoxious." I think Bobbejaanland used to have one of these rides, too. All in all, this is a pretty good park for families, and it can create good attractions (for example, Van Helsing's Factory and Mystery River). But it does need something "big." Maybe the new launched Star Trek coaster will fill the bill. Time to ride the movies. OK, movie-themed park with a round logo in a fountain. Check. Those large spotlights on the building indicate that a movie could break out at any moment! An All-American park . . . in Germany. Never travel without your Speedy Pass, baby! It’s even hotter than Telly Savalas’s Players Club card. Time for the ride that’s more fun than the movie it’s based on. We had to get past this Speedy Pass checkpoint before riding Van Helsing. Do not get caught without Speedy Pass! You will be busted! (Actually, you’ll just have to wait in line--and that could be worse than jail.) Finding Van Helsing’s uber secret Speedy Pass entrance was a bit tricky. It looked suspiciously like a broom closet. “I’ll swallow your soul!” “But you can get your soul back in the gift shop. I hope you kept your claim check.” I found Donald Trump’s official campaign vehicle. "Undead for Trump! He'll make America suck again!" Dan is feeling the love for Santa Monica. Oh no. Zombies. What ever shall we do? Buy your tickets, machete, oxygen tank, and plasma here before entering. I’m not sure what possessed us to ride Bandit, as my memory of it was still evil. Perhaps it was a desire to see if it really was as bad as we all remembered it. But I think the most likely reason is that we’re dumb. We’re talking box of rocks/bags of hammers dumb here, folks. But, hey, authentic German Mexican food makes up for everything! Caramba! No tacos to be found, but the little jalapeno cheese poppers weren’t bad. And aren’t the tiny drinks cute? It was a fiesta, indeed--a mariachi band playing "La Cucaracha" on your tongue. Welcome to Time Riders, where the pre-show has a pre-show, and John Cleese speaks fluent German. Well, it seems that someone can “stop the beat.” More to come from Movie Park.

To be honest I feel the Dive Machines all feel very similar, but that's not a bad thing because I really like this style of ride so that means Valravn gets a big thumbs up from me! Same here--I think they're B&M's best rides.

Fixed.

Jetline--Grona Lund

From what I've seen, it looks like Kong's queue might be more entertaining than the ride. It's good to see the Hulk back in action again. Sold!

Looks like a great time on the lake! How does Valravn compare to other Dive Machines?

^Le Scoot is in great shape now. They even added some new mechanical axes to the "sawmill" building.

I haven't checked out Typhoon Lagoon, although I'd like to someday. Blizzard Beach is great.

We've had a break from the 90 degrees plus temperatures over the last few days, but it's still pretty muggy.

^In that case, "unique" doesn't translate to "good."

It had a "bourbon" like taste to me, but I don't drink hard liquor very often. Sort of like those "bourbon-barrel aged" IPAs, but not quite as strong.

I think having three towers of varying sizes isn't a bad idea, as it does offer something for all age groups. Kids can work their way up from the short tower to the taller ones.

^I would like a totally new RMC.

This is why I like the flume. It's beautiful back there. I hope they never touch that area around the antique cars, Grizzly and water rides. I know it's probably good expansion space for a coaster but that area really sets Kings Dominion apart and stands in stark contrast to their terrible, shade-less, concrete hell hole competitor in Maryland. I agree with this, too. If anything, Kings Dominion needs more nice areas with shade trees.

Thanks Chuck - because this site has idiot's like me, who went to a park(Lagoon), knew I needed a picture of a ride sign (Bombora) and then deleted the photo Here are the Lost Temple photos.

I can provide some shots of Movie Park's Lost Temple sign and queue. I have House of Nightmare pics from Grona Lund, too.

Universal Orlando

Mmmm . . . carne asada and carnitas . . . o-o-o-o-o-o . . .

I'm going with Knoebels. Phoenix is in my top three, and Twister isn't too shabby, either. Next would be Kennywood, thanks to the uniqueness of its three woodies. As for Holiday World, I think Raven is great, and I enjoy Legend; however, I have little love for Voyage.