Mr Stratosphere

I just renewed my season pass for 2014, that was by far one of the easiest renewals I have ever done, it was completed online, and the pass I used this year is now valid for next year. Totally love that I do not need to go to a processing line!

^ There is something really pretty about that!

Here is another bump, as of late I have to say Alan Schilke. Here is a list from Wikipedia of the attractions he as worked on. An impressive list to say the least. As an employee of Arrow Dynamics Tennessee Tornado at Dollywood X at Six Flags Magic Mountain As an employee of S&S Arrow/S&S Worldwide Timberhawk: Ride of Prey at Wild Waves Theme Park Falken at Fårup sommerland Hellcat at Timber Falls Adventure Park Hell Cat at Clementon Amusement Park Eejanaika at Fuji-Q Highland Steel Hawg at Indiana Beach As an employee of Ride Centerline New Texas Giant at Six Flags Over Texas Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City Iron Rattler at Six Flags Fiesta Texas Goliath at Six Flags Great America Medusa Steel Coaster at Six Flags Mexico Polercoaster

Drove by this morning and saw 2 more of El Loco's cars sitting outside of the park, so El Loco has at least 5 cars. Two were inside yesterday, (the IAAPA Display Car, and one in the ride area), one that was on the loading dock patio, and the 2 that were outside. Didn't have a chance to snap a photo but they are there!

My favorite video has to be Robb and Elissa's POV of Big Boom in Japan! [youtu_be] [/youtu_be]

Code Red

The crane that was building the vertical spike of Speed: The Ride in Las Vegas collapsed and fell onto Bonzai Bonzai at Wet 'n Wild next door and damaged the lift on the slide used to bring up the yellow sleds. Riders had to carry those sleds to the top of the slide the next season. The season after the slide was replaced with a bowl slide names Dragon's Den. Luckily it was the off season for Wet 'n Wild and no one was injured.

Ride_Op I just want to say thank you for responding to our questions and keeping us in the loop. I think it's totally awesome!

Starbucks

Patience is a virtue, cannot wait for the new release!

I believe this thread deserves a bump. I can totally agree with some of the posts about the Tower of Terror attractions, I absolutely love when they are in character and completely entertaining. Totally love when things like that add to the experience. What I cannot stand is when employees are joking around on the PA systems, and being totally obnoxious. Ride attendants can have a ton of fun with S&S Space Shot towers and launched coasters with fake countdowns etc. So since this thread hasn't been active in 3 1/2 years, what are your recent experiences with entertaining and/or funny ride ops?

Expedition Everest was listed in the 2011 issue of the Guinness Book of World Records as the most expensive roller coaster ever with a price tag (not just the ride but everything included) over $100 Million USD.

Freedom of the Seas rescued two sailors early this morning that were adrift at sea. Cruise Critic reports the Royal Caribbean cruise ship found the two after the sailors shot a red flare to signal for attention. Royal Caribbean Director of global corporate communications Cynthia Martinez issued this statement regarding the incident, "the rescue occurred today at approximately 5:30 a.m. as the ship sailed from San Juan to Philipsburg, St. Maarten. After sailing toward the red flare, the ship encountered a small boat with two passengers. Crew lowered a boat into the water and rescued the two men, both from the Dominican Republic." After being rescued, Cruise Critic indicated that the Royal Caribbean crew gave the sailors food, water and medical treatment until they could be transfered to the United States Coast Guard in St. Maarten. www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2013/12/19/royal-caribbeans-freedom-of-the-seas-rescues-sailors

Haha thanks for the bump, this was a fun re-read!

Once vertical construction started, everything seemed to happen quite quickly. The floor prep seemed to take the longest to me!

Yankee Cannonball - Canobie Lake Park

A couple of weeks ago at The MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Justin Timberlake 20/20 Experience Tour.

Bolts

MGM Grand celebrates its 20th Anniversary today, here are some old photos.

They are working on electrical and final tightening of all nuts and bolts. One of the cars still under wraps is near the transfer track. Work is also continuing in the station. Control panel and enable buttons are in place in the station as well.

Well when it still existed....

Ultra Twister

Wolf

Ah here is a neat fact, Sierra Sidewinder at Knott's Berry Farm has two trains, the station is actually the transfer track to the maintenance shed. The shed is under the station. The station track lifts up and a train can be parked on the track below. The track drops back down and the train goes under the station. I think it is a very clever use of space!

Any of the smaller ferris wheels that feel rickety really freak me out! I am okay with the park model ones like the wheel at DCA Moving and Non-Moving gondolas and the one at Cedar Point. But the smaller ones like at Knott's really make me uncomfortable.