timberskara

This is great news-- how wonderful for the park and local community. Even though after my organization's failed effortin June I never wanted to hear the words "Pepsi" and "Refresh" in the same sentence again, I've been voting often throughout July and August for this cause. I'm amazed and impressed it's been able to beat out the others and stay on top for so long. Looking forward to seeing some P:TRs after this does open!

^If you don't mind me asking, which non-profit? Working for non-profits rocks! This thread is really interesting...I hope more people do the poll so we can get a more accurate depiction of the TPR crowd! As for me, I have a BA in Advertising with specialty in Public Relations from Michigan State -- go GREEN! Currently applying for the MBA program at the University of Central Florida and looking to start next summer.

Matt (aka the unofficial King of Haunt), this is an awesome list! I have to admit that I'm surprised (and relieved) to see no changes to the VF line-up as I heard some replacements were on-tap. This is just a guess, but I'm also betting VF's Blood Creek will be re-routed with the upcoming Planet Snoopy construction. One thing's for sure, my headstone won't be around for everyone to run into/hide behind anymore . I'm crossing my fingers for a weekend trip to see Carowinds' Haunt...sounds like they have some great stuff!

I don't get why people are even tagging photos where it is clearly not kosher to do so in the first place, let alone contuning to tag them after this point has been made time and time again. Go Robb for this tutorial and I applaud making the FB world a better place, but it's ridiculous he even has to do the "YES" "NO" thing-- use your head, people! This isn't just annoying to R&E; it seems like after every trip a million shots of Robb's side or back or "Where's Robb?" photos pop up in my feed and while I love seeing trip photos, these ones are pointless. I'm glad that this has been bumped and the point made yet again. Let's hope the people take the lesson to heart.

Fair enough...I guess I not only have cooties but am overly sensitive when harsh words are spoken about one of my favorite coasters . Jaw meet floor. I don't care how shallow it makes me sound...there's no way I could be in a relatonship like that. Whether I like it or not, my inner coaster nerd is a part of who I am, and repressing who you are for someone else isn't cool! Yeah, yeah, it's easier for coaster chicks to find coaster dudes than vice-versa blah, blah, blah.

What a great tradition to have with your sons. This looks like it was a really fun trip...lucky kid! I'm relieved to hear that you both still loved Hades. It was aggressive to begin with and truly hasn't been treated the best by the park's maintenance team, but it's always been one of my favorites. I haven't been able to get out there this year and ride it for myself, but I was saddened to hear that people on the Mid-America Trip were hating on it. Anyway, these are some awesome photos! I heart PTRs that mix great coaster nerd shots with fun people shots. Way to go!

This is a really good point and I, too, think that side of the park is ready for a makeover. You've nailed the fact that this is a move in the right direction for that area. I don't want to feed the rumors, but I do think a GCI could be in CP's future. I was at VF when they opened Renegade and I know how pleased Big K and his crew were with it. I was also at WOF just before the opening of Prowler and there were some good things being said. Although a different manufacturer, people just rave over Ravine Flyer II's location-- and that's not even right on the shore like CP has the potential of doing. Something about the look and feel of a "beachy" wooden coaster is just awesome.

When I first heard the rumors of CP's Starflyer-esque ride, I made sure to ride the one on I-Drive here in Orlando. I have to say that I was a bit disappointed because it wasn't at all scary like I had hoped it would be. The seats were reinforced with steel bars across the back and bottom, so there was no give in the seat position. The only kinda cool thing was the "OMG there's such little restraint" feeling which, of course, is completely ruined with the overdone restraints on this model. I can't decide if it will be a good addition to the park. My personal opinion is that most thrill seekers will be disappointed seconds into it because it's not going to live up to the terrifying ride some people are envisioning, and the crowd that would really enjoy it will be too freaked out by the height to give it a whirl.

You know, I've already been itching to get back to Dollywood for the past couple of weeks and then you just have to go and post this: That alone is worth the drive...yum! Looks like you guys had a great trip; thanks for sharing. Oh, and thumbs up for a coaster nerd relationship .

While I'm trying not to listen to the hype, the truth is I'm getting really geeked for my first HHN. After being uber involved in the Haunt at VF (myself and a co-worker were in charge of makeup and costuming for the 3 years I was there), the Halloween culture has been pretty much ingrained in me. To me, this event and Knotts' are the models that other parks try to imitate, so I'm excited to finally be able to check it out in person.

It's been great following you all as you hit up some of my most treasured parks in my old stomping grounds. Looks like it was truly a great trip! Just one question...did anyone actually try cheese curds? It's definitely a "Minnesota thing," but they really are tasty, I swear !

I don't even know what this means. Yeah, old news really. Looks like a good start to a great trip! Of all the things I miss about living in MN, it would have to be: 1)State Fair 2)MOA 3)That IKEA. Have fun...and don't forget to eat some cheese curds while you're in Minnesota!

Even if you haven't voted yet, it's not too late. If you're reading this then please take 40 seconds to vote. TPR can really make a difference, so what are you waiting for? If you've voted today, please post a comment so we can keep this up top. Come on guys, it helps kids with life-threatening illnesses!

My wonderful boyfriend came across about Evan's recent Wish Trip to Orlando and I wanted to share it with you. The whole thing is very touching and I feel shows why we do what we do. They show GKTW throughout, but specifically starting at 7:07. Each vote gets us closer to $250K...will yours be the one to put us in the elite eight today? www.refresheverything.com/givekidstheworld

Hey guys...it's me again . Unfortunately we just found out that we've been bumped to another date for The TODAY Show; boo! But the good news is we're still in the single digits with more support than ever. If you want a daily reminder or to show your support for GKTW in the Refresh campaign, I encourage you to attend our Facebook event. And don't forget to take a few seconds to read some of the comments our wonderful families and volunteers are leaving on the Refresh page-- As always, thank you.

I think 11 is now my least-favorite number! We're halfway through the month and seemingly stuck with the top ten just outside our grasp. I know you guys are doing whatever you can to promote this and I thank you for it. Votes count now more than ever, so please keep at it. Just wanted to give a heads-up that GKTW will be on The TODAY Show this Friday during the 8 a.m.(EST) hour. It was a segment that was filmed when special correspondent Jenna (Bush) Hager was visiting the Village back in May. She also did a piece on The Wizarding World of Harry Potter which will also air on Friday. Be sure to set your DVR! A Wish Family with Jenna

This is just unbelievable. His enthusiasm, compassion, sense of humor and smile will always be remembered. Our hearts are heavy for the people of Santa Claus, IN today.

Okay, I got the chance to ride it this morning with about a 40 minute wait. Here's my "non-HP Fan" quick wrap-up: Waiting in line, I am sure part of me *didn't* want to like it, but as we passed through more and more rooms in the queue I was more and more impressed. This is hands-down the best queue I've ever been in. Each room was really well done and I was genuinely excited to see what lied ahead. By the time we got to the loading platform, I was pretty much stoked. I'm sorry to say, my overall review of the ride could be summed up by the expression "meh." The screens were fuzzy and some parts went way too fast to really get a grasp on what was going on. There was one or two really good transitions from the screen sections to the "inside the building" sections, but the majority were not smooth. A lot of stuff seemed off or out of place to me, but maybe that's just because I couldn't figure out what exactly was going on. Sitting on the left edge, I could constantly see the other benches trailing behind which kind of ruined the "magic." I really don't mean to be a downer, but I'd rather ride Spiderman over this any day. The three of us that were "non-HP fans" in my group all felt the same...our one HP fan said he liked it, but thought they could've done a lot more. I honestly enjoyed the queue more than the ride itself, and will probably be avoiding riding this again for quite some time. Other random observations.. --I thought the loose article bin was the most genius I've seen...conveniently located in your seat back, the min-cubbie is on a hinge that, went closed, folds completely flat with the back of your chair. --A friend of mine had ridden the last week and they had made him rubber band his flip flops to his feet at that time, but not today. --I feel SO sorry for the employees that work in HP Land. Most were wearing dress shirts with ties and a sweater vest over top, with full length pants....in 90+ degree weather! There were also a couple that had the dress shirt, tie, sweater vest combo with a full on cloak/trenchcoat thing on top. EEK! --Frozen Butterbeer is really good!

This is such a good analogy, it definitely sums up my thoughts as well. While I was interested to see the photos and read through this TR, I found myself having no idea what you were referring to, even with your "moderate perspective." Don't get me wrong, I appreciate it all and think it's cool and exciting, but part of me feels like I won't really get the whole experience (being a non-HP fan and all). And I know it's been discussed time and time again, but I'll reiterate that I think a major flaw with this new area is that it's not a universal (no pun intended, I swear!), experience for all guests. I'm headed there earrrrllly Saturday to try and get a peak for myself--luckily it's local for me, otherwise I'd be in no hurry-- so I guess only time will tell if I'll walk away more confused than impressed.

This had me rolling, kudos! It was nice meeting the two of you in line for PP. Steve (who slept through my group's morning PP run) pointed you guys out later that night and I made the mistake of telling him you seemed like nice "normal" enthusiasts...now I'm not so sure !

Yes, please keep on voting! I spent last night with two amazing girls and their family members who are guests of the Village this week. They were having a blast at all of the parks and at GKTW! While snacking on chicken fingers and fries in the Gingerbread House the Wish Child, age four, was all smiles and told me how nice it was that no one stared at her here. Later in the night we performed a dance routine on stage for "Village Idol," a talent show that takes place once a week in the Village's fully-accessible theatre. Her proud parents were teary-eyed in the audience while watching their two daughters on stage--something I was told they would never feel comfortable doing at home. Just wanted to share that every click does make a difference; the magic happens here everyday. Thank you for your continued support!

Wow, thank you all SO much! It makes me smile to see all of this support . Haha, don't worry about this. Rob's an old (and very sarcastic) friend of mine. While he is a bit of a creepster sometimes, he was just doing this for laughs...I was at his and his wife Cindy's wedding!

Thank you for the support, guys. We're currently in 16th place so we could really use some more votes! After you vote, be sure to check out some of the comments on our Refresh page...truly awesome stuff! One of the "vintage" bathrooms that needs updating

I've been meaning to share with you all an in-depth look at the wonderful nonprofit we all know and love-- and also the magical place I work for-- for some time now. I may be guilty of holding off for the past couple of months because I knew this awesome opportunity was in the works, but now the time has come and I need your help! Starting today, GKTW is up for a $250,000 grant from the Pepsi Refresh Program. The winners are based solely on online voting. For the $250,000 range, the top two refresh ideas will each receive grant money! If you could help spread the word to vote once a day, every day in June I would really appreciate it. Click here to register before voting. Here's how to vote: 1) Visit www.refresheverything.com/givekidstheworld and click the "Vote for this idea" button. 2) A pop up window will appear where you will enter your information and sign in. 3) After signing in, you will be taken back to the Give Kids The World page. Click "Vote for this idea" to submit your vote. 4) Tell your friends, family and colleagues to "Vote 2 Refresh" GKTW. 5) Repeat once a day, every day until June 30. For those of you not familiar, Give Kids The World Village is a magical 70-acre, nonprofit resort in Central Florida. We work with over 250 Wish Granting Organizations around the world to fulfill the wishes of all children with life-threatening illnesses and their families to experience a memorable, joyful, cost-free visit to the Central Florida attractions and to enjoy the magic of GKTW Village. If you would like to read about my personal experience as an employee or donate via online giving, please visit my fundraising page. Now, on to the tour! Photos taken and sized by the lovely and talented Steve Nuss. Welcome to GKTW! The "House of Hearts" Welcome Center where families begin their stay with us by checking-in and receiving lots of cool stuff! The front desk, staffed 24 hours a day I LOVE the clouds and lighting in the HOH-- it definitely sets the tone for the magical week ahead for the families After check-in, the families are escorted to their villa. The Wish Child's last name is displayed on this sign, proclaiming it as their own personal home for the week. The Village's loveable mascot, Mayor Clayton, welcomes the families home Outside each villa is a set of rocking chairs for the families to relax and enjoy the lovely FL weather! Inside one of the "Phase 2" Villas. The living room has a fold-out couch. All meals are provided throughout their stay, but the full-sized kitchen is also stocked with goodies A gift bag awaits the families when they first arrive. Our gift-giving volunteers also sneak into the villas each day and bring even more presents to all of the family members (not just the Wish Child) At GKTW the roles are reversed and the kids' bathroom is the large one...oftentimes leaving the parents to "ask permission" to use the awesome tub! The kids' bathroom also features a roll-in shower... ...as well as a wheelchair accessible sink and vanity The kids' room has two beds, as well as a roll-out bed and crib to be used as needed The parents' room has a king size bed The "Fairytale Forest" section of the Village-- these villas were built in 2009 and feature some really colorful designs! Along with the Fairytale Forest expansion came Matthew's Boundless Playground The entire play area is wheelchair accessible so that children of all ages and abilities can enjoy it; MBP is also home to the World's Largest CANDY LAND game, which is played every Sunday evening Volunteers staff this cart which can be called to your villa for curbside continental breakfast and also functions as the "Cookie Cart" in the afternoons The Gingerbread House Restaurant serves hot breakfast in the morning and a yummy dinner at night Perkins is the supplier of most of this food-- so always drop money in the coinboxes at their restaurants The GBH is home to thousands of dolls and favorite toys left by the families. It also has child-size seating and tables made with real peppermint candies. Ol' Elmer, a large, snoring tree, adds a touch of whimsy to the Village The Park of Dreams pool and water play area was completed this past March The new pool is a favorite among parents and children The pool features a zero-depth entry so that children can transfer into the specially-designed water wheelchairs and have fun splashing around The interactive water garden is also wheelchair accessible The "Serendipity" ship not only adds fun to the area, but also functions as a stage for some of the Village's nightly entertainment The Castle of Miracles is my favorite Village Venue, featuring a wheelchair accessible carousel More of the Castle's exterior What castle would be complete without a large, squeaky wooden door and a knight in shining armor welcoming you? The castle sky is filled with stars featuring the names of each of our very special Wish Children who have stayed with us. Only the Wish Child gets to customize a star. They leave it for the Star Fairy to place up into the sky, where it will shine brightly forever. It's truly overwhelming how many stars we have! The Castle is also home to the La-Ti-Da Spa, sponsored by Hasbro The adorable "waiting area" where girls can decide to get their makeup or nails done and boys can pick out a cool airbrush tattoo The Ice Cream Palace serves ice cream & milkshakes all day long-- even for breakfast! Families can also pick up an "Express Start" breakfast sponsored by IHG/Holiday Inn hotels before heading off to the parks each morning Katie's Kitchen is sponsored by Boston Market and features delicious meals for lunch and dinner. Families can either pick up their order at the window, or have it delivered to their villa The non-denominational chapel is another personal favorite of mine Inside the chapel, home to weddings of volunteers, staff and former Wish Children! The chapel is always stocked with journals where visiting families write their thoughts and prayers-- one flip through the pages can turn any bad day around Amberville Train Station is full of fun and games Marc's Dino Putt is a 7-hole, wheelchair accessible course sponsored by Universal Each hole is interactive, with all sorts of suprises...here the dinosaurs spit water at you My favorite (and the most challenging) hole, inside the volcano! This guy was a prop used by Universal for the movie This friendly t-rex pops out of the bushes on the last hole Obligatory giraffe photo A large model train set features low-to-the-ground buttons where kids can trigger the action A close-up of the train set I can't go in Amberville without pushing the Yeti button Remote controlled boats are also a highlight. Not pictured is the kiddie train that circles the station (it's not a credit ). Looking down the "Avenue of Angels" from Amberville; this walkway is where most of the venues are and is filled with pavers featuring the names of donors, Wish Children, etc. Julie's Safari Theatre...lots of Village Entertainment takes place in this theatre with a fully accessible stage and complimentary concession stand Miss Pitty Pat's Garden of Hope is a roll/walk through garden area featuring plants that stimulate the 5 senses. Mayor Clayton's house is also here...and if you're short enough you can go inside for some air conditioned comfort More of the Avenue, this time looking from the Ice Cream Palace down towards Amberville/House of Hearts We have two of these trash cans, popular with the TPR crowd They were donated by de Efteling More villas, 142 in total There is just so much to say about GKTW, this doesn't even cover it. It truly is a vacation of a lifetime for these much-deserving families...a time where they can laugh and be together as a family for the first time in a long time and not worry about hospitals and medical bills. I know GKTW is an organization most enthusiasts have heard of, but I wanted to try and show what it is truly about. If you have any questions about the Village, volunteering, donating or the Pepsi Refresh contest, feel free to comment here or send me a PM. Thanks for reading and voting!

This is not against anyone in this thread, but I just really hope that the enthusiast community can be supportive of the park in this situation. I read a comment or two on their Facebook page that made me cringe, so I apologize about my random venting. We all want the train to be ready for HWN…but I hope everyone realizes that the park does too. Really, at this point, it is out of our control. Of course they are going to do whatever they can to get it ready as soon as possible—but there’s probably a good chance it won’t be, and we’re going to have to accept that. No one likes waiting in longer lines and many of us are coming from all over the country to attend this event. Yes—no lie—it’s a major bummer. But again, it is what it is and I think the way we react will make or break the event. For a place that always goes above and beyond for us coaster dorks, why don’t we surprise them by being polite and understanding about this issue? I'm sure they're already stressing about the present, let's not make them dread HWN. I know Steve and I will be making the trek from FL regardless of the number of trains on Voyage. It’s not just about the coasters-- it’s about the atmosphere, the friends, the food, the bonfires and a fun, out in the middle-of-nowhere family run theme park.