bert425

we fly in and don't ever rent a car. . so have never actually made use of any Vegas casino property lots. . but i think it's a terrible idea -- just based on what my friends who live locally are saying. They are going to refuse to visit any casino that charges, and it's going to cost the casinos some business. Now.. to be fair. . . most locals don't seem to GO that often to strip, or Freemont casinos anyways (which is why the Strip casinos offer deep discounted show tix/food options for locals) . . .instead preferring to go to off strip places, typically with a ton of free open lots surrounding them anyways. but I do think it's gonna cost them SOME business. my 2cents

they pulled out two rides (tho the ship hasn't been working for seasons), to put in 3. so yeah. . not very much of a gain, but it will be nice to have a few more things to do on the boardwalk. really gonna miss Frisbee tho. .I loved that ride

exactly my thoughts too. .they should have just left that area walled off, if THIS is what they are putting there. maybe they will spruce it up a bit before opening. . .

Thanks! Early won't be a issue. And no problem skipping Titan or Batman since SFMM is my home park (not a coaster count guy). I've got my sights La Vibora as well (although I'm not expecting much). um. . . no. . but sorta. La Vibora FIRST. . always first (take a left from main entrance). *ALWAYS* a line, and *ALWAYS* moves glacially. . if you want to ride La Vibora?. . ride it FIRST. Then continue in that direction to hit Titan and Giant.

Looking online for you, the Aruba Beach club is right up the coast from downtown (where the I <3 Aruba, shopping, and other stuff I mentioned is). not walking distance, but prolly a $10 cab ride along the beach to the Cruise ship terminal. . and then everything else is walk able from there have a great time!

you'll have a wonderful time. . and you'll HAVE to go get this pic (which is not too far from the Cruise Ship port. . . right where the Paddock is (and it's painted like a cow. .so it's THEMED. . LOL)). . the City Hall and lots of shopping -- as well as a few casinos are right there too. definitely worth the trip just for the giant letters pic tho

have you been before? we were there about a year ago (on a cruise with terrible food), and had a WONDERFUL lunch at "the Paddock" (the fish soup was amazing), and then we had dinner that night at Bavaria restaurant (the schnitzel was among the best i've ever had). here's a couple of pics from the Paddock (tho I'm 50lbs lighter these days)

I wouldn't stay in hotel after Kings Dominion. Williamsburg is only about an hour-20 further, so I'd exit KD, go to Williamsburg and check into a hotel THERE (I highly recommend the Courtyard Marriott that is exactly 1/2 way between BGW and Colonial Williamsburg). that way you're refreshed in the morning, and can get up and be at BGW in 5 minutes from hotel. CW is not a full day thing, so you most certainly will have time to go back to BGW (be sure to catch Celtic Fyre, the best show there) have fun!

be sure to do the 3 museums. .they are very interesting (Miner's museum/Park History are together next to Black Diamond), and the Carousel museum (near the shirt gift shop). The Bald Eagles are very interesting too!

we thought the ride vehicle looked like a cow patty. . so good call to change it.

fixed it. . I meant Black Diamond, and called it "old mill" we did enjoy the flume (and bought a picture!).. but honestly, it was a bit short.

Oh... well I guess you don't need my suggestion. Cool, I'm gonna go have a beer. Enjoy your trip to Knoebels! yep. . Knoebel's a few rides on Twister, a few rides on Phoenix, the chair lift, a spin on Impulse (the newest steel coaster there), Flying Turns, the Carousel, an hour or two playing fascination, and a spin on Black Diamond , and the Haunted house? Along the way stop for Pizza, Cheeze on a Stick (from the rocket in kiddie section), and a sundae from the old Mill. Perfect day at Knoebel's (yeah, I'm not a bumper car fan, or a flyers fan, but I've heard they are very good there. . .we skipped em )

yep. . stoned doggie was klutzy! (more klutzy than usual, and she's completely blind!)

Roxxi drugged after having a tooth pulled a couple of weeks back: Slightly stoned from the Anesthesia and.. yesterday. . in normal sleeping position - making sure NO ONE ELSE can use that section of the sofa.

Not really since, most of Astroworld's rides were scrapped and I don't know about the status of the land that the park once stood on is? I think it's a parking lot for the football stadium. Never got developed. Houston Rodeo now owns half the land that was Astroworld. They use it for storage and parking during the rodeo season. Yep. So sad. They tore down a world-class (I just like to call it that) theme park for a stupid parking lot. Does the normal one like. Overflow or something? yes. the lot ALWAYS overflows during rodeo (what with a good chunk of the Parking Lot used for the Midway, as well as all the animal trailers). But the lot also sometimes overflows for sold out Texans games at Reliant.

thanky guys!

I started a diet back in Sept. of last year -- to try and get healthy, and to drop some weight (the impetus being one of my friends at Dragon*con telling me "you're still skinny from behind!" so yeah. .as of today, I've dropped 50 lbs. me in Early Sept at Dragon*con 244.8 lbs. Me this afternoon in my living room. 194.8lbs.

I stopped drinking all soda on 9/20/15. and as of today? -50lbs but I do miss my beloved Dr. Pepper . . and that was my last soda.

hehe. . thanks! if i knew how to load a dropbox video on here, I'd post Nick failing to break the glass. . . TWICE! it popped out and went flying! TWICE (luckily 3rd time was the charm. . . mine broke on the 1st try) the look on the Rabbi's face after the 2nd time says it all :

let's see what I've got: apparently, we like taking pics in the sun. .LOL I have TONS of pics, but the only one I have in the evening is from Kennywood. everything else is out in the bright sun

we make a trip to Circus Circus every time we visit Vegas -- we go for the Steakhouse (it's our 2nd favorite place to eat in Vegas). and while there, yes, we swing by Adventure Dome to ride a circuit or two on Canyon Blaster. (haven't been back to Vegas since El Loco opened tho. . we were there just before it opened. Seems to be time to go back).

only ONE person got the "money" shot. .but at least it was with our camera!

they had MASSIVE gang problems. I grew up going every year with Season Passes (even before it was Six Flags' Astroworld -- back in the "Marvel McFey and Friends" days) we were there literally EVERY DAY they were open, dropped off in the morning, and picked up at night. in the late 90's, myself and everyone I knew from back then simply stopped going (and I moved up to Austin in 85, and still maintained a Season Pass, since Austin was a short drive to Astroworld, SFoT & Fiesta Texas). . . why did everyone of my friends, as well as I, stop going? It didn't feel "safe" to go there anymore. your mileage may vary, but yeah, it turned into a very scary place to go, just to hang out. And tho they certainly started to address the gang issues, it never really go over that reputation. So yeah, it sucks that it got sold and shut down (due to a shady development thing that never happened anyways (the area is STILL just an empty field). . and it may have had great attendance still. . . but the regulars (who spent money IN the park), stopped going. that's my take on it as a Native Houstonian, who grew up less than a 2 miles from the park (fond memories of climbing up on the roof of my house at night to watch the Astroworld fireworks when i wa younger), and practically lived there every summer growing up.

that was right at the end, after they stopped caring (a quick google shows this is from a photo report on Flicker from 9/17/05). so I guess the pink flag fell off on the right and just didn't bother fixing the sign, since the park was about to shutter anyways.

Bamboo Shoot