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simon8899

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Everything posted by simon8899

  1. Part 6: Kennedy Space Center Visiting Florida I always try to visit KSC for a day - as Star Trek fan this simply is a must do. Next to that as a German one can remember the time when NASA did the hottest stuff with Wernher von Braun and Jesco van Puttkamer rolling the dice. IMO it's sad that no lessons were learned from the Space Shuttle to built a safer next generation shuttle but at least there's an effort to get to manned interplanetary missions. On the "Meet an Astronaut" panel I asked how Gs compared between an actual Shuttle launch and attractions like "Shuttle Launch Experience" at KSC or "Mission: Space - Orange" at Epcot. He replied that forces are quite realistic but the simulators only apply them for a few seconds. Welcome to the rocket garden If you are into the space program it's always worthwhile to do a Specialty Tour Defunct Shuttle launch pad and processing building Brand new launch pad for the new launch system As NASA remodels the Vehicle Assembly Building one had the rare chance to take a look inside I charged myself inside the VAB! Launch Control Center and VAB with bay door open - a Crawler was just moved in. Defunct Shuttle launch facility with the last used launch pad still in place Whatever you do while visiting KSC - don't swim. Launch facility to be remodeled for the new launch system - so far only three lightning towers were built Actual used - as in traveled to the moon and back - Apollo capsule Entry plaza with the only president to date NASA is really fond of.
  2. There're some differing opinions here on the board but I found Euro-SAT - the coaster inside the "Epcot"-globe - quite rough.
  3. Well, after having the SkyLoop for a few years China now builds their "own" skyloops...
  4. Your timetable falls into most German states easter holidays. I'd try not to visit on the 29th of march as this is the public holiday Karfreitag. If you try to catch all the coasters hit the wild mouse Matterhorn Blitz first as this ride has by design the lowest capacity. On Blue Fire an Wodan use the single rider lines if general waits exceed 15 minutes (Blue Fire) or 20 Minutes (Wodan). The water coasters are not overly wet an can be used with a light jacket even during colder weather. If possible stay at the beautiful Europa-Park resort - you also get early entry into park one hour before general opening.
  5. The final Disney part is Hollywood Studios. Except for the first day were I included the stunt shows I visited this park mostly in the morning before the crowds kicked in to ride the Rockin'Roller Coaster and Tower Of Terror - IMO the two best thrill rides at WDW. A slight disappointment for me - but that's true for most parks during the last years - that many simulation rides are upgraded to 3-D which I can't use due to an exotic eye condition. "It was a dark and foggy night at the Hollywood Tower Hotel..." Spent most time in the Sunset Blvd section of the park Indiana Jones stunt show Star Tours now in 3-D - a no-go for me *sad* Car stunt show with German Opel cars... Very nice theming all over the park Welcome to the Vekoma Indoor looper HTH from the Rockin queue View down Sunset on a beautiful Florida day A truely good Vekoma looper! Maybe due to AC the metal doesn't "work" with changing temps? HTH lobby. Liked the darkride parts that are unique to this HTH. Show under the hat. A blackboard show- and wait-times table - a unique twist!
  6. A part in the decision to visit Downtown Disney was the fact that Riverside has a direct boat shuttle. If I stayed at a Disney resort farther away I might skipped it. I'd love to see if Disney would expand their Monorail system to include at least all parks and Downtown Disney. The busses could get very crowded so I choosed Monorail or boat whenever available.
  7. Part 4: Animal Kingdom A funny mix of zoo and theme park with a good part-darkride coaster. Heading towards the entrance Funny darkride using the Test Track ride system And another Dumbo-clone - this time featuring dinos This ride made funny noises... - but skipped it as my back was a little off from the flight, and I wouldn't risk angering my back on a wild mouse... Expedition Everest is a good and well-themed coaster On the backwards darkride section one has some funny near-weightlessness lots of greenery and of course: Animals! A cat with the right attitude Find the Tree Woman! Indian Summer Always a big AHHH and OHHH in the US: Weisskopfseeadler! And finally: There's always a parade!
  8. In Germany we already have Duff Beer - a lager beer made by monastery brewery Eschwege. It's brewed according to the Bavarian beer purity law of 1516. I tasted it once and it's well drinkable - nothing special though...
  9. I found Hulk quite okay two weeks ago - even better than the Duelling Dragons - but rode always in the back as crowds were low. The last corkscrew was the worst part. The temps were on the low end for Florida at that time and maybe that was the reason it ran a little better...
  10. Gladly when I was there crowds were way lower. Coasters were mostly a walk-on all day in both parks. Forbidden Journey topped at 30 minutes - but Single Rider was always a walk-on. In the Studios I overheard some midway games attendant talking and one said: "If this [Harry Potter extension] opens we'll get very busy here!" At Epcot you can get quite happy during the whole year. They've a 2 drinks policy per stand - but there're enough stands around the lake...
  11. Part 3: Pictures from the Disney Resort plus Downtown Disney My room the Riverside. Quite nice with the only negative point that windows can't be opened - I blocked the door with a chair in the morning to get some fresh air in... Riverside at night They've a lot of gardeners everywhere On the way from Studios to Epcot Sweets!!! On the way to Downtown Disney Lots of traffic in the evening Cool! Downtown Disney has a Highflyer Balloon Forgot your credit card? I love these! Nighttime view over Downtown Disney Entertainment! High class entertainment! Seven Dwarfes in Lego Back in the Riverside lobby The first and last thing Disney you see if staying at the Disney resort
  12. Hope they'll keep it till 2015 - I might hit it then....
  13. I visited Epcot quite often for two reasons: A) good European beer and B) since the Simpsons episode Disney has added some quite good attractions with Test Track, Soarin' and Mission Space. I had 5 Disney days with Park Hopper and did them the following: Day 1: Magic Kingdom (09-21) Day 2: Hollywood Studios (09-16), Epcot World Showcase i.e. Beer+Food (17-21) Day 3: Hollywood Studios (09-11), Epcot rides (12-18) Day 4: Animal Kingdom (09-15), Magic Kingdom (16-22) Day 5: Hollywood Studios (09-12), Epcot (13-16) - cut this day short as temps were over 30C and way too moist for my tastes I added Downtown Disney on the evening of my Sea World day. Quite liked the boat from Studios to Epcot. France - but I'm not a wine person, so move on! Morocco - fun fact: One gets Heineken - a dutch beer - here. Signature shot from Japan Italy And finally back were one belongs! Fun fact: The serving girl was from Hamburg. Moving in a part of the great fireworks. Sadly my camera battery was empty... Signature shot of Spaceship Earth. Fun fact: Presented by German company Siemens! United Kingdom were you can get Fish & Chips & Stella on tap. Hidden Mickey in the UK. Fun Test Track! Which was first? Test Track or Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom? Liked Mission Space a lot. The Orange track is quite intense! Blurry shot of the inside of Mission Space. The centrifuge puts quite a punch during the simulated liftoff. Must-Do picture! Spaceship Earth with crashed Windows screens... On the Fastpass to Soarin'. Soarin' hardware. Beautiful ride with an impressive machinery.
  14. After about 30 years back in Magic Kingdom - saying I don't remember much from my first visit. Can't even say if Epcot was already there, judging from my parents pictures we only visited Magic Kingdom and Cypress Gardens. Entering the park on a bright sunny day View down Main Street from the WDRR Station Always nice to rest ones feet during the day... Lines at the Barnstormer started with 30 minutes in the morning and got worse all day - skipped it. Construction on Seven Dwarfes Mine The double Dumbo - and still a 60+ minutes wait at worst... Always good to have a teacup ride - did this before crowds kicked in. Also a very popular ride View from the People Mover Did Alpha and Omega tracks - both on Fastpass. Must-Do photo! A stroll trough New Fantasyland Good Big thunder Mountain Like two years ago Disneyland: Splash Mountain IS closed when I visit... Got a walk-on in the morning. Nice dark ride! Disney parks have a lot of "Dumbo-like" kiddie rides! Parade time Show time Sweets time!!! Nighttime fireworks Main Street at night. It felt like all people from other parks storm Magic Kingdom after dark... Has been a great day! The Castle illuminations were wonderful! Epcot coming up next...
  15. The best is Expedition GeForce - in the rear the ejector forces are totally insane. Of course for me also the near-vertical drops of Schwarzkopf portables like Olympia or Triple-Loop.
  16. Many but one from Florida two weeks ago: At Busch Gardens riding the great Intamin Looping Starship called Phoenix and we had one of those ultra-slow revolutions. After hanging upside down for over 10 seconds first riders panic asking frantically: Will this stall upside down??? Smiling wickedly I thought about having some "fun" but not knowing what the US reaction to some "fun" is I replied in earnest: "No, thats impossible!" And right then the gondola was finally picking up movement again....
  17. I can agree on the Harry Potter argument. The two days I was there the Wizarding World was always crowded while the rest of the parks had quite low crowds. As I was walking from Revenge Of The Mummy up I overheard some bored midway games guys talking with one pointing toward the Harry Potter expansion construction saying: "As soon as this will be finished we'll be very busy here...."
  18. As we mostly have Vekoma loopers by that design here in Europe it's Canyon Blaster at Adventuredome
  19. The good old times at the carnival... Triple Loop
  20. Even knowing that it's bad I'd try it at least once to make my own judgement and - of course - to have the credit!
  21. Hopefully this coaster will also get the new Vekoma trains with Rubber-OTSRs.
  22. Well, I agree that we disagree! Riding some of the older B&Ms in the Orlando area those start to give you "hot ears" from the shake combined with the OTSRs. A launched B&M would be a good addition to their portfolio but would nevertheless prefer Intamin or Mack launchers - the restraints are better, the ride smoother and more forceful.
  23. Love the trending for lapbars - the best of course from Mack, Maurer or on Timberliners. Sprecially B&M will react soon as their restraints are getting outdated... Or maybe I missed new developments here...
  24. Last spins of my trip on Rock'N'Roller Coaster, sadly as some time before in the US got myself an air-conditioning cold for the flight back...
  25. ^ coasters at both Universal and Busch were walk-ons the last days. Forbidden Journey was walk-on as single rider - tough took the 15 mins for the great queue twice.
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