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^ Sounds like what Six Flags did back in the '80s---their ride rotation program. "Do people really think the park needs to add something every year? Isn't this kind of what got Six Flags in trouble to begin with?" (Robb) Just my opinion, but I think what got Six Flags into trouble was not only too many high-ticket attractions, but expanding into too many markets. Something new every year doesn't have to break the bank, though unfortunately, with SFMM being in such a highly competitive market almost makes it necessary to have an annual "new" attraction of some kind. Personally, I'm fine with a major coaster every two or three years---and I think that works out best. I've even told Jay that. My mention of a huge 2011 attraction was based on what I've heard that Six Flags plans to do for its 50th anniversary in business: a major attraction at each park. Eric

2009 brought us Terminator, which is family friendly, and 2010 will bring us Mr. Six's DanceCoaster---obviously a small, family friendly ride. Therefore, 2011 will be a good time to add something "xtreme," as the park would call it. Eric

^ Not necessarily. While the current management does plan to add more "family friendly" attractions, they also have every intention of continuing to add cutting edge thrills to the lineup. At the Disneyland website, you can go to this page, then click "See the Calendar" on the lower right part of the page, then click the date that you plan to visit. Attraction closure info is there. Diana went to Disneyland yesterday and when she got home, I told her that the Matterhorn was closed. She looked at me with a "How did you know" look. Eric

From Screamscape a few months ago: "2011 - New Coaster - Rumor - (10/16/09) I’ve heard that a fairly unique and impressive new coaster may be planned for 2011, possibly located near the top of the Mountain itself. Anyone know more?" Also recently reported on Screamscape: "B&M - (1/7/10) Early rumors are starting to drop here and there indicating that B&M is hard at work on some kind of new coaster design. I suppose it’s about time anyway since B&M haven’t really invented a new design since we saw the first Flying coasters open back in 2002. So I guess the real question is… what’s left? We’ve got Standing, Sitting, Flying, Floorless, Inverted and Diving… so perhaps they are ready to full embrace the Launched coaster concept, as Incredible Hulk was a special one-shot only creation." Could this make an appearance at the Mountain? Eric

To be honest, I like looking at pictures taken at each step along the way (maybe that's the tech writer in me). I like watching how something goes from a pile of materials (or in this case, ingredients) to the finished product. I think over on Facebook I am a fan of your cake page. Eric

^ Not likin' the new forums. < Not quite used to the new forums. V Not quite used to indoor plumbing!

"Ok, so who was at the park in a TPR shirt today?" (Robb) Actually, I had my jacket on all day, but was wearing my red X2 shirt from West Coast Bash. Eric

^ I was out there today, and Superman made no sound. Of course, it was closed, but that's beside the point... Eric

We were talking about Goliath a few posts above. I went out to SFMM today but couldn't ride it because it broke down. Because of that, I had to remain standing. Those benches in the tunnel just went to waste. Eric

Something else I noticed. Sometimes I go to a member's profile to see what their first name is so I can address them that way. The profiles no longer show the user's first name---unless I'm missing a setting or link... Eric

I was also out at SFMM today celebrating not having to watch the Super Bowl. The park was more crowded than I thought it would be. The park's website said that it would close at 7pm, but the lady at the parking tollbooth informed me that it had changed to 5pm. The first parking lot was pretty full when I arrived just past noon. X2 = 25-minute wait, two trains running. Sat in Row 7 and had a pretty decent ride. Terminator = 20-minute wait, both trains running. Sat in Row 11 and had a nice ride. The sound was turned up extra loud, so I heard it during the entire ride. Just to reference above, at least one train had the first few rows blocked off for reasons I don't know. But I agree somewhat about the pre-shows. Timing them better would improve guest flow to the loading platform and assure filled trains. Riddler's Revenge = 30-minute wait, one train running. I took Row 7 just because its wait was the shortest. I feel sorry for anyone who waited for the front row. Batman = 10-minute wait, one train running. Good ride in the last row. 16 years later, Batman still kicks---and still smooth, too. Scream! = 15-minute wait, one train running. Rode in first row, still good ol' Scream! Goliath = 45-minute wait, two trains running. Didn't ride because the ride broke down just as I reached the second part of the stairs leading up to the station. They never did get it to run, since it was just after 5, they sent us out. On my way out, I noticed two guys with Theme Park Review shirts on; turned out to be XII and 24. We chatted for a few, then headed out. A fun day, chatted with some nice random people in the various lines. One girl had never ridden a coaster before---any coaster---and took her very first one on X2 in Row 7. I waited till they got back, and it turned out that she enjoyed it quite a bit. Eric

^ Warm. < Sick. V Fuzzy!

Yeah, a lot of Californians can be sort of wussy when it comes to rain. (Take it from a native---who's NOT wussy about rain.) I do hope the park is open tomorrow, as I've planned to take a trip over there. Hopefully the season pass coupon books are in because they weren't in at the time I renewed my pass. Eric

^ Yeah, I just need to get used to the changes and do some more exploring. One forum I do post on automatically makes you check spelling before your post goes in. Eric

^ GOOD! That'll help riders remain seated! Eric

I noticed that some online users have a * next to their names. Earlier, I read somewhere that the * denotes those who are in the chat room. However, if I hadn't seen that (I think someone put it on Facebook), I wouldn't have known what it meant. Could there be a note added that says something like "* member in chat room." Not a major deal, but could be helpful. Otherwise, everything seems to be working well for me. Every time a forum changes, there are always things that get changed or moved around and it takes a little getting used to. I anticipate that will be the case here. Some forums have a built in spell check. Would something like that be possible here? Might be helpful to some members. Eric

Here in CA, the fine for the first offense is pretty small---$25, I think. Then it LEAPS to $50 for the second offense. Not exactly a deterrent. But I think it wouldn't matter what the fine is; people are going to use their phones while driving because that's what people do. See, they don't get it. I've always taught my daughter that when you're driving, that's what you're doing. And all you should be doing. The problem is that some people just can't shut up. Eric

^ Yep. Here's a picture of it before it got plates. And believe it or not, it still looks like new. Eric

Today is my car's eighth birthday. I drove it home on 2-2-2002. Eric

^^ Just looking at that picture reminds me of when you're exiting the ride, at one point when you reach the bottom of the stairs, that fan turn is right in front of you. GCII really did a nice job on that ride. Like you, my only complaint about the ride is its length. But for what it does with that length is very nice. Eric

Forget the dipping sauce for Wendy's chicken nuggets. Just dip 'em in chili. Eric

^ Hospital worker. < Hopeful soon-to-be worker. V Banana peeler!

I would also consider going tomorrow, except I just went last Sunday and have some other things to do. But if it doesn't rain on Super Bowl Sunday, I'll head over there. Eric

^^^ Tim, I will second what Elissa said. My daughter is now 19 and will ride anything, but when she was five to eight years old, I always asked if she wanted to ride. She rode Ninja at SFMM when she was almost six and liked it. She also rode Jaguar! at Knott's at around the same age and liked that, too. But she wasn't crazy about the Matterhorn. I took my then six-year-old nephew on Revolution and he loved it. With kids, you just never know. This is a good reason why parks should have coasters that young kids can ride, and why SFMM needs some more coasters with 36"-42" height limits. Eric

^ Thanks for the reminder to look for some local opportunities for work to earn that ticket. I did look a couple of weeks ago and most were Red Cross jobs in our area. I was at Vons yesterday and they announced that Disney is offering a 3-Day Park Hopper for $149 right now, and you can get tickets at Vons. For the last two summers, Disney has offered the 3-Day Park Hopper for $99---once you use the first day, you have to use the other two days within 45 days. With that deal, even if you only use your second day, it's still a great deal. With this offer from Vons, though, I don't know if it's a Southern California resident deal or not. Eric