bert425

OMG. . I can't stop laughing.. and they are reporting it so serious! http://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/travel/florida/Actor-in-Busch-Gardens-Howl-O-Scream-commercial-projectile-vomits-on-SheiKra-and-it-s-no-act_171779884 at least it wasn't the guy in the zombie make-up! (flashbacks to an episode recently that shall not be named!!!)

great TR from WCB a couple of pages back. what did Andy think of MM? I've never been either, and it's something I plan to do in the future. If WCB happens again next year, I'm gonna attend for sure!

^ ^ glad you had fun at Fun Spot! the massive Go Kart Track was almost, but not quite, ready when I was there with TPR at the end of July. surprised you didn't ride the Zip Line. .that was all kinds of WTF fun. their website notes a Carousel, but I didn't see one when we were there. . have they installed one since (or did you notice one?). I plan on going back next time I'm in Atlanta for the Karts, the Bumper Boats, and I really wanna play that mini golf. (Screaming Eagle was great too)

for what's it's worth, the Historical site I have bookmarked (from the National Carousel Association) does list this particular Carousel as: Atlantic Beach Park Westerly RI Herschell-Spillman 1915 CLA* (this classification means classic wooden carved animals)

great update! with some really good pictures. I thought y'all went by to see the Clydesdales too. . did only my group of folks do that on this visit? Somehow I missed the walk thru Bird exhibit, so thanks for the pictures of that. . LOL. . that exotic Chicken bird is so pretty - and tasty too

This is not a problem if you are a Diamond or Diamond Elite member. As a DE member I will have my parking reserved for all Fright Fest park visits. you don't mention that Diamond and Elite parking is at the FRONT of the parking lot. and at SFOT, you do *not* exit from the same entrance area you came into the Six Flags parking from (ie: Six Flags Drive). -- You exit *way* at the back of the lot, or 1/2 way back - which might as well be at the back of the lot if you're parked in the front. leaving mid-day? no problem, parking in the very front is GREAT. if you stay until anywhere near the closing hour of the park? it will be 45-an hour SITTING IN TRAFFIC to get out of the damn lot! and yes, speaking from experience here.

I've never participated in voting on one of these Golden Ticket awards, but honestly a park or ride winning one hasn't really influenced if we go to that park or not. so "winning" or "losing" has never really factored in for me when we plan trips. but I will say that if TPR does a poll, I'll absolutely participate in it. (I loved what Chase did with the Coaster Poll, and even tho I don't tend to rank, really enjoyed filling in my choices for that and look forward to continuing it). as to coaster/theme park trips? I can't imagine anyone would ever be able to compete with the level of Planning (and Back-up Planning), Professionalism, and Coordination that Elissa and Robb put into a TPR trip. Not to mention the ease of following the directions given: show up on time, and don't be a jerk. If a TPR trip were entered in a travel awards type of poll? I'd vote for them over any of the other group trips I've taken over the years. tho some of those (such as Arno's Bear Cruises) were good too. . .just TPR does the organizing, and dealing with unexpected issues way better! So not a "Golden Ticket". .but hey, a "bert award" counts about as much, right?

Great meeting you too! (I hope it's OK to post the pics? if not, lemme know and i'll pull them down -- I got permission from a couple of folks who I knew are a bit "camera shy" before sharing pics..but didn't ask everyone. . so apologies if any issue!). No, please post. I have most already from Elissa. You guys take much better pictures than me! I think I have a couple more Fascination that I didn't post (these would still be from Andy.. or maybe from Joe Schwartz, since he's in one of the prior pics from the other angle, taking a picture)

this Month? hmmm. . ok, Mr Freeze: Reverse Blast at SFOT on 9/1. (tho Titan, Shockwave, and New Texas Giant were very good too)

yeah, both of you. awww..thanks

Luckily, I've ridden the Flume on a prior visit. .but yeah, will be back at some point, for sure

Great meeting you too! (I hope it's OK to post the pics? if not, lemme know and i'll pull them down -- I got permission from a couple of folks who I knew are a bit "camera shy" before sharing pics..but didn't ask everyone. . so apologies if any issue!).

absolutely we're gonna be planning a return trip to the Tampa/Orlando parks in 2020.. this just puts icing on the cake. we would have gone back to BGT anyways (we prefer to "base camp" out of Tampa) just for the great rides/park already there.. . tho the Florida version of Tempesto would be fun, like everyone else, more excited for what will happen to Gwazi. what a GREAT announcement to wake up to today.

Thanks for the pics, and the fun read John. . yep, I LOL-ed at getting stuck on the lift hill at Mystery Lodge. I really love this picture too, and in my mind, you were thinking of me (ok. . maybe not, more likely Laura) when you posted it. just lovely:

ok, a friend posted this on FB, and it made me laugh out loud (and now I'm singing it in my head). . so wanted to share

Not quite (sad face). . didn’t get to do the mini-golf, and missed out on Skloosh, and the flume (no one wanted to get wet). . . also missed out on the motorboats. The water looked like a nasty brown (likely from the flooding), so seemed a good idea to steer away from it. Yeah...no, that's just what it looks like. In well over a decade of going every year...well, you always have the pool if you want clean water. Pool was closed still on our trip

oh.. to recommend as well: SFOT no longer has "the Pink Thing" a pink lemonade ice cream bar. but they DO have a Dippin Dots stand right by the front gate, that sells "Pink Thing Dippin Dots". . and they are so good, and come with Pop Rocks mixed in. it's like a party in one's mouth! highly recommended.

they lasted the whole night, but died in the suitcase on the way home (guess they got turned on in transit). will have to put a new battery in next time I need them for a Glowphest : ) YEP! With lots of pictures of each too. Tho I would add “skyway”, “Flyers” and “Skooters” (even if I didn’t ride the Skooters), should also be included in any Knoebels TR . . . LOL Not quite (sad face). . didn’t get to do the mini-golf, and missed out on Skloosh, and the flume (no one wanted to get wet). . . also missed out on the motorboats. The water looked like a nasty brown (likely from the flooding), so seemed a good idea to steer away from it. So plenty of reasons to go back! LOL.. . .it’s so funny that so many Knoebels reports showed up so close to each other! (and PKI Jizzman will get to that point soon too in his TR). but one can never have too much Knoebels reports. .it’s such a fantastic place. Agreed. It was a different view of glow each ride! The tunnel all lit up was so much fun. I have been asked multiple times at this point when I show folks my Glowphest pics, about the green watering can. LOL

Glowphest really is something I'll be talking about for many years to come. riding in the dark, with the flashing lights thruout the train. . it just is an incredible thing. in particular on the final 4 bunny hops for Phoenix (that last one with forceful push/pull of air. . . so, so incredible). a memory that will last!

great pics, Chuck. loving some of that Godzilla merch, but now very intrigued by the Wasabi Kit Kats. The local HMart carries the Macha Green Tea version. . I might have to go ask them if they will special order the Wasabi for me so I can try it. if not, then off to Amazon!

looks like WCB was a great time. hated that I couldn't make it, but hopefully next time, and glad y'all had fun!

even tho crowded, we got a lot of rides in on Sat. . but we were there 8 hours, and only got 1 ride on most things we wanted. yes, there were lines tho.

^ as you'll see a couple of posts above, while the park was SLAMMED on the Sat before Labor Day (the line for Flash Pass was so long, we didn't even consider it). . on Sunday, it was about 1/5th of the crowd, and got on a ton of stuff with little or no wait. helpful hint even if crowded: Superman Power Tower, La Vibora, Harley Quinn Spinsanity - all have Single Rider Lines. use them. I got on Superman in less than 10 minutes on a crowded Sat, where the standby line was over an hour, just by going in single rider line.

Agreed completely. (bumping this because Russ asked me after reading my Knoebels update, what is the difference -- since they call the Grand Carousel a Carousel, and the smaller one a "Merry Go Round")

great update, Zach. love seeing all the pics, especially of the stuff like the BBQ place, and Cookout walkup window (which I heard about, but I think I did laundry at this stop, instead of eating again)