disneygurlz2s

Last night (Friday, 5/27) it was down due to "issues" (that was the employee's word of choice). Not sure what was going on, but we walked past just so I could measure my daughter (wishful thinking, but, hey, it was worth checking) to see if she could ride this year. Shari "Personally, I don't see the 48" inch requirement" Shoufler

While standing in the queue for Italian Job on Thursday, the talkative Valley Girl in from of me was telling her friend (poor girl, we stood there 30 minutes and I don't think she got 3 words of conversation in on her friend) that the Vortex is being taken down at the end of the year....because it is built on a SWAMP and is SINKING!!!! LOL!!!!! I, personally, haven't ridden that thing for years because it is too rough for me. I would have to think that Vortex would be the logical choice, especially if they have any intentions of building something to compete with the TTDs and KKs of the world (which my husband wishes they would). He, by the way, starts back to work there tomorrow, so I will tell him to get the scoop........ Shari "Something that wouldn't hurt my head would be nice" Shoufler

OK, so PKI is open daily this week (something new, I might add) and as luck would have it, my hubby asked me to stop over at HR and pick up his forms for returning to work at the park (he works in the money room). This gave me the perfect excuse to go in and ride the Italian Job Stunt Track. The wait was about 40 minutes, and the queue line moved pretty good, although toward the front of the line it was slower, as they are only letting 1 or 2 trains worth of people up in the station at a time. An employee came along looking for single riders, so I got on probably about 5 minutes quicker thanks to that. The trains are pretty cute, although the shiny metal that they sit on is weird. I don't know if there's been a picture of that yet, but imagine three real Minis sitting on top of sheet metal boxes, and you've got the look of the trains. The doors do open (one side only) and I will tell you, a tall person is in big trouble getting in. This guy on the train before me got his left leg stuck outside the train with his lap bar down trying to get in. It was pretty funny. Once you are inside the cars, you are sitting down pretty far, and the are decently comfortable, but it could be a tight squeeze. The coaster launches slowly and it quickly builds speed, sending you up the helix, which is a different approach. As previously stated, there is one tiny bit of airtime, definitely nothing to get excited about. The ride is very short... VERY short. Much shorter than I expected. The best part about it is the tunnel, and that makes the ride. Overall, if you are looking for something fast, wild, high or really different from what you've already ridden-this is not it. If you are a parent with kids who are big enough to ride "big" coasters, but who aren't quite up to riding them yet, this would be a good first big coaster-definitely not as rough as Adventure Express or Racer. The lines are going to be long this season, I am sure, so my advice is be there when they pull the rope because, while it's a fun little ride, it's not worth a long wait. Shari

^Wasn't that a CEI episode this season???? For real, if you saw that episode you'll know what I mean! Shari "I hope they throw the book at her" Shoufler

I figured as much.... Shari "Sometimes pets ARE better than husbands" Shoufler

I was sooo sad when I read this earlier today. His voice was so distinctive and you can pick it out on many of the Disney rides' theme songs, etc. He was someone we all grew up listening to, even if we didn't realize it was him. Shari

OK, OK..... I have said it before.... I am allowed to bash PKI because it's my home park (and I used to work there) but nobody else can!! (just kidding) It does seem like there are a lot of "out of towners" who don't think too highly of the park, and that is a shame, because it does have it's good qualities. I agree, they certainly haven't kept up with their counterparts (Cedar Point/Six Flags) in the area of coasters-so if you are coming just for coasters and thrill rides, you may not find enough of what you are looking for. However, I don't agree with the comments about queue lines. We were at the park this past Sunday and there were few rides that appeared to have a substantial wait during the morning and early afternoon hours. There are always going to be longer lines at the most popular attractions, and that is true at every park I have visited. I remember Millenium Force having a 3 hour wait on a weekday afternoon.... I know a lot of you travel on the weekends, and to that I can tell you that I go nowhere near the park on Saturdays from May-August because of the enormous crowds. PKI courts a lot of company picnics from the Greater Cincy, Dayton, Columbus, West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana. Also, I sold passes to people as far away as Champaign, Illinois, so the park is very busy on weekends. But, everyone is entitled to their opinions, so that's fine. I'm going to go wait in line for the Beast with my Skyline Chili dog now..... Shari

Hang in there Nemmy... LASIK surgery, as well as other corneal surgeries like cataract surgery, take time to heal, and it is during that healing process that your vision can and likely will fluctuate. We tell our patients to expect this for several days to several weeks. I am sure your doctor has advised you of the same. Shari "I work for lots of opthalmolgists, so I hear this all the time" Shoufler

Saw this on CNN this morning, and my first thought was Elissa....... http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/05/23/transplant.deaths.ap/index.html Shari "This is really quite disturbing" Shoufler

Well, I was at the park today, but with my six year old who is just about 1 1/2 inches too short to ride , so my actual ride will have to wait. However, I did get a good look at the ride from all angles and talked to several people who had nothing but positive things to say. The one element that is very visible that I find really interesting is the helix. I assumed that this was something you went DOWN, when in fact the trains spiral UP. The other thing I noticed, which should address concerns about capacity, is that these trains appear to be a minute or less apart. It was hard to gauge from my pov how many trains were running, but it certainly seemed like there were not any long "lulls" between runs. They are still running in a "testing" phase, requiring people to get a boarding pass to ride. There was a time when they were running a few empty trains, but otherwise they seemed to be running well. they have a huge queue line.... which will probably be filled to capacity in the coming weeks. Shari "more when I get to ride" Shoufler

I am hoping I get a ride on it this weekend. If not, next week. I agree with the author about ride placement.... it could have gone somewhere else. Shari "will let you know what I think when I get my ride" Shoufler

Just be careful that it doesn't get infected. Seriously. I got cellultis last summer as a result of some cracks in my toes. My foot swelled up and itched like hell, and after walking around around all morning at PKI (I had a day where I could go over by myself and ride big people rides) in the 90 degree heat, I decided to call the doctor. She said if I hadn't come in, that within 24 hours I would have become so ill that I would have likely been rushed to the ER, and if the infection had reached my (already defective) heart...well, let's just say my ride that day on the Son of Beast would have been last. Shari "so, use some Neosporin" Shoufler

Let me clarify..... If I book a group outing of X number of people through group sales for Theme Park Review, our group gets posted on the park's marquee, etc However, if we all just decide here on the forum to meet up on a given day at the park, even if there is 1000 of us, if we haven't booked through group sales, you don't get recognized. That was always-ALWAYS-the case with "gay day" at PKI. There was no "group picnic" or any group sales involved, so no special "recognition". Everyone knew it was the day that was privately organized among the gay/lesbian community, but because no one booked a "group" event, no signs could be posted. Kennywood and any other park can have any kind of day they want if the group that is having the day asks for it to be recognized, but in the specific situation I am referencing (PKI when I worked there) the gay/lesbian community did not go through group sales. People just showed up. Despite this, the people who had a problem with the event wanted the park to post "warning signs", which was completely discriminatory. Shari

I can honestly tell you, from my four years at PKI, that the majority of patrons on the so called "gay day" were well behaved and most were just there to enjoy the park and not call attention to themselves-which may have meant not doing things that many of us "hetros" take for granted, such as hold hands, put arms around one another, etc. They did it out of respect for those who might become uncomfortable. On the flip side, there were those who would come in outrageous clothes, suggestive t-shirts, pink tulle skirts, etc... and it was kinda like the old adage of "a few bad apples spoil the bunch". I understand this is a hot button topic, but the parks who now sponsor an "organized" event are more than likely doing so as a result of the pressure from the straight community to make public the presence of the gay community at the park, thus giving them the choice whether or not they wish to "mingle". That was always the cry we heard... "YOU SHOULD HAVE A SIGN OUT"... give me a break. If you can't post a sign that says "Black people at the park today" or "Rednecks in the park today" or "Squirrels in the park today" (that was for Elissa), then you can't post a sign saying "Gay people in the park today". PKI finally got so sick of it all they started selling out the first Sunday of June to a major local corporation for their event, thus eliminating the "event". Shari "It was fun the year the park gave us all red polo shirts...the next season we all wore them on gay day and took turns walking the park with each other... I walked with my sister" Shoufler

No more difficult than explaining to Sammi why Lynn called Alex "honey" and kissed him at the end of their run on "Amazing Race"!! That was funny! Seriously, I worked at PKI for 4 seasons here in good old conservative, white bread Republican Warren County, Ohio, and let me tell you, the week before and three-four days after Gay Day were a NIGHTMARE for us (Guest Services). The local talking heads on the radio would get the controversy going about mid-week before (it was always first Sunday in June) and the complaint calls would start. Then they day after, people who were "supposedly" in the park the day before would call in to complain about what they saw (most probably weren't even in the park but found out that if you complained enough, you got free tix for another visit.....). Others called just to complain that the "event" was even held. The fact was, it wasn't a park "event", it wasn't even a scheduled "group"... it was people from the gay community getting together on their own and coming into the park. Obviously, there was nothing you could do from a corporate standpoint that would not be considered discrimination and open up another whole can of worms. I agree with Elissa in that overall, on a daily basis, you see worse (sexual) behavior out of skanky teens or trailer trash in most parks... and I told one caller exactly that. After she got done describing to me (in GREAT detail) what she had supposedly seen between several male guests in the park, I asked her if she approached any employees or security guards in park to make a complaint. Of course, she hadn't. I said "Ma'am.... I wouldn't have cared if it was a man and a man, a man and a woman or two squirrels.... if I had seen that kind of behavior going on in the park, I wouldn't have waited a day and half to report it." Shari "sorry about the squirrel comment, Elissa.... I am not squirrelophobic" Shoufler

That's ok Zaney.... I'm good. Shari "I bet your mum is so proud"Shoufler

Top Ten Reasons Why I Like Theme Park Review: 10. It helps me pass the hours at work. 9. The last time I visited a theme park other than my home park was 3 years ago, so Robb and Elissa show me what I am missing 8. I can refer to the Alveys as "my friends in California". 7. Never sure what avatar that Zaney kid's going to use next. 6. Photos of every Carrabas in the continental US. 5. I can learn new uses for chopsticks. 4. I can travel the world without having to move out of my comfy office chair. 3. I have learned a whole vocabulary of new terms like "trims" "sheds" etc. that make me feel like like a real coaster enthusiast (while riding the Beastie with my 6 year old) 2. Lots of fun pictures of fun places and people. 1. I've always liked hamsters and donkeys. Shari

You can call it a "race" and say that there are all sorts of rules, but let's get real here (the immortal words of Dr Phil, or is it Simon Cowell?)...... It's not as if all these different locations weren't aware of what was going on (the filming of a tv show) and I am sure that the airports/airlines especially were briefed in advance that they would be filming. So, I guess in that sense, it was fixed. Anyone will do anything for their 15 minutes (or 2 seconds) of fame. Shari "I know I would" Shoufler

They are awesome!! You guys did good. My tax refund check is supposedly on it's way, so when it comes I'll have a little "mad money". Shari

^ LOL Dave! I swear, I just wanted to smack those two so bad. I seriously could not believe when she said that he "got out" of being in the army!! She is very self-centered, as are most beauty queens, I suppose. As much of a fan as I am of "Romber" because of my allegience to "Survivor" (still my favorite show), I have to say I was really pulling for U&J because of their financial and baby struggles. That really hit home for me, and when they won, I was bawling so hard that my husband came in the living room to see what was wrong with me!! (I am a cryer, it's just that simple). That said, however, how did they get on that plane..... I found that kind of suspicious.......... Shari "This is now my 2nd favorite reality show" Shoufler

Two words: Bathroom Passes Wow!!!! Shari "Where were those at WDW when my daughter was potty training?" Shoufler

Have only been to WDW and have been there 9 times. Would love to visit Disneyland, although most say WDW is better. Shari "Hates the question about my favorite ride/attraction, because I love so many" Shoufler

^ The ears are the "Wedding" Mouse ears that Robb and Elissa have on in their wedding photos (check out their photo gallery). When you walk through the parks, you see lots of newlywed couples wearing them. From what I have always heard, they get you lots of congrats from everyone else in the parks and also sometimes a perk or two from cast members. I think there are plenty of "romantic" spots and things to do at WDW, without breaking the bank. Also, if you have a car and want to take some time away from the theme parks, you can drive over to the east coast beaches (we always go to Cocoa Beach, but even Daytona is only like an hour away) for a walk on the beach. (or make her get up really early and go watch the sunrise together!!). Congratulations and have fun! Shari "Wish I'd gone there on my honeymoon....." Shoufler

Well, for starters, I had a really bad experience the other night at the Verizon wireless store (long story short, they refused to offer us the kind of customer service I think people deserve), so I came home and called their toll free customer service number. One hour and one extremely cool service representative later (You ROCK, Nicole!), my hubby and are are getting two brand new camera phones, free of charge, and shipped to us free. So that's a bad thing that turned into a good thing.... Today is Mother's Day, and I am blessed with the cutest little girl any mom could ever ask for. That is a good thing. The fact that her father made no effort whatsoever to get me a gift (again), is a bad thing. "I didn't have any money". Hmmmm what was that piece of green paper with the number 20 on it that you paid the pizza guy with last night?????? And yeah for Gregg and family going to WDW... I remember reading you hadn't been there before. You will love it. Feel free to throw any questions my way. I have been their 9 times, although the most recent was twice in 2001. I am happy to share my thoughts/opinions/ideas. Shari "Going to buy my own Mother's Day gift today" Shoufler

For those of you who are a Mother, have a Mother, or have ever been called a Mother...... Happy Mother's Day! Shari "Very proud mom of little theme park fan Samantha" Shoufler