Jeremy T

Hey, I'm the guy from the Mitsui Greenland update who had gotten the record 42 Megaton rides for the month of June. I've been doing my own solo China/Korea/Japan coaster trip for the past month(s), and I remembered hearing that TPR would be about a week behind my travels so when they had me make the sign I figured I'd offer a friendly challenge to see if any other foreign coaster enthusiasts could break the record (it only took me about two hours to get the 42 rides so I figured someone on the trip would be up to the task). Anyway, the main reason I'm writing is to let you all in on some good news and bad news regarding your upcoming travels. First the good news... Fuji-Q Highlands might actually be enjoyable. I went in expecting the fifth or sixth circle of hell and found that everything except Dodonpa was nearly a walk-on, resulting in a very pleasant day out. I'm not sure if that's normal for this time of year, or just a fluke (I went last Tuesday, which was the first sunny day after a long string of rainy days and had also been predicted for showers), but I was able to get five rides on Fujiyama, four on Dodonpa, seven on Eejanaika, twice on the Wild Mouse and once on the other coasters, plus a few other rides and a lunch in the time frame of about seven hours. Fingers crossed you have the same luck; operations are still utter crap there, it simply doesn't matter as much when there's only twenty people in line. Now the bad news... No one will be riding Thunder Dolphin. I'm not sure if the organizers already knew this and informed everyone, but if not, there ya go. Went to Tokyo Dome City, pretty much all the attractions save the Ferris Wheel, Thunder Dolphin, log flume and a few children's rides are completely removed or in total disrepair, and when I asked about Thunder Dolphin they said it was closed "long term" and had no idea when (translation: if) it would reopen. Big steel gate over the entrance and all the maps and guides around the place have been permanently replaced with it marked as non-operable. Given the overall state of the place I wouldn't be surprised if Thunder Dolphin has taken its last riders. You can still ride the ferris wheel and log flume and at least look at what seems to be a unique Intamin megacoaster, but I wanted to give y'all a heads up in case some of the members decide they'd rather use their time in Tokyo on more entertaining cultural pursuits. Also the Schwarzkopf Looping Star at Nagashima Spaland is currently undergoing a rehab; their Jet Coaster was also closed but I couldn't tell how long term that was.