bert425

this has been a great TR Larry. haven't really been commenting, but I've greatly enjoyed following along.

whatever happened with Excalibur? have they given up on trying to reopen it?

those exhibits are really interesting. i've never made it to the Texas State fair, but if it's anything like this one? I need to make an effort to go check it out. looks like y'all had a blast, thanks for sharing!

So.. just got back from Atlanta, for my yearly pilgrimage to Dragon*con over Labor Day weekend. to be honest, the con was SO crowded this year, I really didn't do much "official Dragon*con" related stuff - heck, it took me until Sunday to even bother with a panel. Pretty much I hung out with lots of friends, went out to eat a lot, and drink a lot, go to parties. . cosplayed (sorta kinda) twice, stayed up really, really late, hung with more friends, drank more. oh, and the day before went with friends to the Atlanta Zoo (never been before, and they have a Carousel!), and blew off the last full day of con to go (hungover and puffy) to Six Flags Over Georgia where I had a great day in the sun riding rollercoasters. figured I'd do a poll, and if there's interest, can do a full trip report - once I finally finish my St. Louis one (still have Grant's Farm to get posted). I think it's interesting, even tho I didn't take near as many "costume" pics this year, since was hanging with friends partying so much. anyways. . here's a quick example of some of my pics from this year that you'll see if I do a TR at the Atlanta Zoo, in the new African Safari section we are Pandas! (Marcella posing under protest) zoo was among the more expensive I've been in (~$30 for a day ticket, not including rides) . . . but they have a Carousel! the Digitribe group (some of my good friends), in the DigiSuite, where we partied for most of the Con with my friend Sarah, who was Spider-Gwen hey, G-d's cool with it (I was "i-WONDER-if-that's-a-WOMAN". . a cosplay I did many years ago, that came back for one night due to special request by some of my friends) BWAAA-HAAA-HAAAA my favorite costume of the whole Dragon*con 2019" "Bob Dav-Ross" a Friend I made at the Queerios meet & greet, before heading over to the Spectrum Party. (it was waaaaay too bright in this room for how early it was: ~9pm) my annual pic with a "furry". . . Front Row on Goliath on Labor Day Monday. . so puffy and hungover. . . from the train, but the line was so short, I ended up riding it a little later in the day my favorite flat in the park!

one further thing to mention, since the only talk about SWSA has been how it's not really a full day park (unless you want to do all the shows and the waterpark): due to SFFT going year round in 2019, SWSA which is just 15 minutes (or less) down the loop from it, ALSO is pretty much year round. the waterpark section is not always open, but the rest of the park seems to be open pretty much every Sat/Sun, and most Fridays for a few hours. just FYI. .but always check the park schedules to be sure you're not there on some "corporate event so park is closed to the public" day.

^ Twisted Cyclone has single rider line in the station too. . also at the front of the train

Dombot noted just above that this past Sunday was slammed. (was dead when I was there on Monday, but they were only open due to the holiday on that Monday). so if you're going, expect to need Flash Pass (and expect to pay over $100 for the platinum version. .it's worth it if the park is busy)

oh, for what it is? I love it (our Goliath at SFFT is just a Batman Clone.. a good one, but a Batman), and Titan at SFOT has been neutered to the point that it just meanders (to me). but for a hyper? it's really good. if I had a choice between Iron Rattler or Golitath at SFOG, I'd go for Iron Rattler.. but within the park? it's the 2nd best coaster (only slightly behind Twisted Cyclone, and slightly ahead of Mindbender & Batman (which SFOG runs INTENSE).

yep, I was assuming if he starts in San Antonio and ends in Dallas. so it's really not that MUCH back-tracking. but Texas IS a big state, and you're gonna do a lot of driving regardless. . if just accept it? in perfect world, I'd do a 6 day trip as follows: (skimping on Austin, tho I live here and love the city): Day 1 - fly in to San Antonio, rent car, check into Hotel, Six Flags Fiesta Texas (say in hotel on highway near Fiesta for easy access into SA, and to SeaWorld, since SFFT and SWSA are on loop 1604 that goes around the outside of the city proper) Day 2 - the Alamo, Riverwalk, Hemisfair Plaza/artists market, etc until late afternoon, Fiesta again at night if he so pleases (it's right by the hotel anyways) Day 3 - get up, Sea World San Antonio - either whole day (if you want to do waterpark AND shows), or just morning, if you only really care about the rides, and a show or two. Then hop on Loop 1604/I35 and drive to Sequin (~45 from SeaWorld, or only about ~30 from SFFT if the parks get switched up a bit). To check out ZDTs for switchback railway. Be sure to check operating times tho, to make sure it's running if you get there in the later evening. Grab a few rides on it, then back to I35 to grab Hotel in New Braunsfels for Schlitterbahn the next day. Day 4 - Schlitterbahn. (which for ME is not a full day. . .so early afternoon exit is what I'd plan on). Hell, I'd honestly only spend a couple of hours at Schlitterbahn (full disclosure, not a waterpark person), then continue up I35 to Arlington (Dallas/Ft Worth), stopping for dinner in Austin, and maybe peek in on 6th street for some music if you aren't completely wiped. End up in Arlington that evening, check into Hotel and crash. Day 5 - full day at SFOT Day 6 - fly out from Dallas/Ft Worth airport. *OR* Day 6 - hop on I-45 to Houston (~3 1/2 hours), stopping at Kemah for a ride on Boardwalk Bullet / boardwalk rides / Lunch at Landrys, then continue on another 30 minutes to Galveston for the Galveston Pleasure Pier for a few hours, Moody Gardens complex, Schlitterbahn Galveston (if you so wish), or the Strand Historic District. or heck, the beach for a little bit. Day 7 morning: If you stay one night in Galveston, you're only about 45 minutes from Hobby Airport, for a flight back home, and it would be way cheaper to get a flight out of Hobby / Houston than flying out of Dallas (just sayin). If you don't want to fly out of Hobby, Houston International is still likely gonna be cheaper than flying out of Dallas. . but you'll be adding an hour to your drive to get to the airport that day, if you add the extra day trip to Houston/Galveston. anyways. .that's my revised itinerary suggestion

agreed, too bad we missed (tho Sunday at con, no way was I blowing it off). you shoulda come back on Mon. . lines were pretty much non-existent

both Texas Six Flags parks are year round as of 2020. . Fiesta was this year too. so plan to hit those on a weekend, any time of year and you're golden. Since year round now too, expect both SFOT & SFFT to be open daily at some point during Feb (Mardi Gras celebration), March (Spring Break), Oct (Frightfest) and Nov. Holiday in the Park.. . tho standard daily ops are going to remain ~mid May - Mid Aug. if you're in Texas anyways, don't miss ZDT for Switchback Railway (sorta between San Antonio and Schlitterbahn), and I'd also do a detour day to Galveston for Pleasure Pier, stopping at Kemah Boardwalk along the way. oh, as to NON-PARK stuff? Plan ~3 days in San Antonio (if it were me, this is what I'd do): day 1: SFFT day 2: San Antonio Attractions: the Alamo, Riverwalk, Hemisfair Plaza/street market. . evening back to SFFT if you want to day 3: SWSA for morning (unless you wanna do the waterpark there), then get on road to drive to Austin. You can do Sixth Street in Austin that night (clubs/bars/music. . think Bourbon Street, but much younger/college crowd), and if so interested the next morning the State Capitol, or any of the great local museums, before driving ~45 minutes back to Schlitterbahn for the day

yeah. . I noticed that. luckily I knew I was eating with friends later that night, so didn't have to purchase any food (paid WAY too much for steak & oyster dinner at SEAR in the Marriott Marquis -- but that's also a Dragon*con tradition for us: big, expensive meal with whatever friends hang around until Tuesday). but multiple dining options - even the Ice Cream stand! - had lines out the door. I tried to get water at a couple of restaurants (after not seeing any waterfountains (anywhere!)), and luckily folks let me jump in front of them just to ask for a cup. but was told "we don't do that" so ended up buying bottles at Goliath gift shop (at 2/$10 it's a way better deal than at Fiesta Texas, where it's now 2/$14. . but I don't ever buy anymore, since the cups of water are free)

^ what is that Alien Abduction thing over by Goliath? they were building it during my prior visit to the park (with TPR), and tho it looks like a Haunt, it seemed a bit too permanent? concrete queue line. i called the # Stenciled on the door, but it didn't seem like a real # anymore . . seemed to go to some company. so just wondering if this is a usual attraction that just wasn't open? and by the way, here was the Goliath queue on Monday early afternoon. yep. . barely even on the steps! and when I went to the single rider queue upon getting to station? Immediately put into the empty front row seat left by a flash-pass group of 3 so basically a walk on for me. that number on the door didn't seem to be a working # when I called it. This thing. . looks like a pretty permanent queue/structure.

^ have a fantastic, fun, and safe trip, Bill!

yeah, got pics on Goliath, Twisted Cyclone, and Mindbender. didn't notice cameras on anything else. was a very slow day for a National Holiday - I guess fear of it being packed kept a lot of folks away, or the heat, kept the crowd in the waterpark section. the Platinum Flashpass was $100, so I decided to skip getting it, and it worked out fine for me. the only two things with sizable lines that I saw were Scorcher (the new paint really does look amazing), and the Log Flume - both of which I skipped due to the lines (and having been on them both before). one thing to point out to folks not aware: both Twisted Cyclone and Goliath have single rider lines in the station. Yes, you have to wait in the general boarding line, but the moment you get in the station, look for the single rider sign (before the front row queues). . . i got place back row & Mid train on TC, and pretty much a station wait for Goliath front row after a really short line anyways. heck, the crowd was so light, I even rode DareDevil Dive, a coaster I didn't care for when I first rode it last year. I think I waited MAYBE 12 minutes? and went for front row. Being able to see the transitions and be ready for them? I liked the coaster way more than i had in my prior visit. my main goal was hitting what I had missed on the prior visit due to them being down: the Train, Joker Funhouse Coaster (a fun rollerskater layout), and Acrophobia (x3.. . loved this. . . even if the tilt was much less than I had expected and think I prefer Falcon's Fury for this style of Drop Tower. But very good). Pandemonium had a shortish line, that would have moved faster if it hadn't gone down twice while I was in line - both times because people were pulling down on the restraints. The main Ride Op even started announcing "Do NOT pull down the restraint! you will break the ride, and we'll have to wait to get it running again!" great day at the park yesterday overall, and glad I made the decision to blow off the Monday of Dragon*con to go to SFOG

It was running two trains today. Basically a walk on too Surprised to discover on ride photos on it too

Self Identified "gay man" to Robb (and meant as an insult): "eat a dick Sir" wait. . that's an insult? BWAAA-HAAA-HAAAA, I've been insulting my Husband for years and years and didn't even know!

SFOG on Monday (Labor Day). not gonna buy Flash Pass, as going with a friend and her kiddo, so I will spend day with them, and standing in line for Blue Hawk (gahhh!) and Monster Mansion (yay!). . the kiddos favorite rides. as long as I get at least a ride on Acrophobia (which has been closed on my prior visits), i'll be thrilled, but otherwise happy to just go wander around the park with my friends.

I think the ideas and concepts created are fantastic, and it makes me happy to see dreaming like this still happening. I hope it gets built even to a 1/3rd of what the concept art is showing. . that's really a hell of a sizzle reel. ETA, and I'm highly amused by how excited everyone is by the Tilt Coaster and the tallest/fastest/longest coaster shown in the art (and those ARE really cool). . but I'm most excited to see a new "Island in the sky" in the concept art. I love those things, they remind me instantly of my Grandma - and going with her to Cypress Gardens where she loved to take us up on it. The moment i spotted it in the art, I got a big ass smile on my face.

hmm. . based on latest updates from Mr. Siebert on FaceBook, he really does seem to be implying that at least one of the two big outdoor theaters (which happen to be next to each other) likely will be going. if that's the case, it really does open up a good chunk of land, and tho everyone (including myself) was thinking coaster of some sort. . . now I'm wondering if we might get a new "area" . . say something Steampunck/Screampunk inspired. heck, even if just the Sundance Theater that is removed? that's plenty of space for a new area, that could include a few flats. guess we'll see on Thurs!

^ that's plenty of time. . especially if you don't do the haunts (as that will be where the lines are). keep in mind - not everything is going to be open (in particular, White Water Bay area is closed for season already (the prior weekend is the last, tho they are short staffed now anyways so a lot in there isn't running), and at least one coaster (Pandemonium) will shut down WAY early, as they use the queue area for a haunt . . same is true of Roadrunner Express (tho the haunt goes behind the queue area). but yes, that's more than enough time, even without flash pass. expect big lines for Iron Rattler (tho will be back to two trains by then), Wonder Woman (capacity), & Joker (new Hotness) ETA: Texas is really big on "church". . so the best ride time you have will be Sunday Morning. so if were me? I'd just go all day Sat & then back on Sunday until about 2pm. but if you're there? hit Friday night too, and if the Fright Fest shows are already running (not sure they started yet that early in Sept), make sure to catch a couple, they are good fun - tho they are almost all just "monsters" singing catchy 80's / "spooky" tunes

Coaster wise, I agree with you: American Thunder was my favorite in the park, followed closely by Screamin Eagle & Mr. Freeze. the River King Mine Train was surprisingly fun (fast & smooth) Supergirl is fantastic, make sure to get a ride or two. we also greatly enjoyed Colossus (the giant ferris wheel), the Log Flume, and Superman (used to be Dungeon Drop at Astroworld)

Those are some great pics, looks like a lovely day you were there. and bwaaa-haaa-haaa. . another convert to the cult of Cedar Downs! (when you next go back, ask at the counter in the Museum, they will give you a neat little souvenir button - even tho it will be your 2nd time) and ya GOTTA go by the petting zoo to get a pic with Samson

^ hmm. . I've got to get SeaWorld SA into my plans at some point in 2020. . . haven't been in decades at this point.

^ good for you! stick to it, the numbers go down, and soon the clothes will fit better. THEN? no fear of walk of shame, you'll just blow by the test seats without a glance. great job, stick with it.