Rai Fox

Steve from Pantera just emailed me a couple pictures of the ride I requested as a Kickstarter backer. He asked me to keep it confidential, so I can't show it off here, but I just wanted to say - wow; they certainly aren't taking any kind of shortcuts at all with the backer requested rides! It looks every bit as amazing and detailed as all the rides they've released so far. With how many people backed at a high enough level to get a ride made for the game, and this kind of quality on all of them, there's going to be a ton of absolutely amazing rides in this game even on launch day! I can't wait until everyone can see this one.

I wish I didn't have to agree with you, but I do. I love Kennywood, but the last few times I've been there, over the last 2 1/2 years or so, the operations have been just terrible; I've seen everything you mentioned. Operators making no effort at all to load and run rides quickly or efficiently, staff watching while guests jump the line or bully other guests right in front of them, staff refusing to talk to or engage with patrons in any way. I know it's a tough job, especially if you're not "into" parks the way a lot of us are, and there are going to be bad days when it's hot and crowded and miserable, so I always try to cut staff some slack, but it's been really, consistently bad there, every time lately. I still enjoy the park, but it's a big black spot on an otherwise amazing park, and one that's starting to drag it down.

Python at Busch Gardens Tampa - also my first inverting ride. My first "home" coaster was the Corkscrew at Rocky Point Park, but I never was brave enough to ride it until after I'd been on Python first.

As it turns out, they have always been extremely lax on that. Previous Megaplex's we've done the and . Granted, this is the first time we were allowed on the coasters. As it turns out, they were able to skycoaster this time around too. I would attach the photos, but it's just going to add to the clutter, so I'm deciding against it. Well, it's the first time they've -had- coasters. Still, my opinion of the place is just going up more and more. Maybe I'll make it to Megaplex one of these years soon.

Oh, wow. Wish I could have been there for that. Really surprised that Funspot actually allowed that; I know others that have tried to set that kind of thing up at parks, and don't know anyone that's had any success; most are far too afraid of the liabilities (safety issues with limited vision, or getting tails caught in moving parts, etc). Funspot is either insane, or just that awesome; maybe both. As far as everyone else, how do you survive on the internet if you're that easily creeped out?

Best is definitely Boulder Dash. It's still carrying absolutely insane speed over those last few hills, and you get some really amazing ejector air. Every moment of BD is incredible, though. Worst that I've been on, probably Leviathan. That crazy long brake run just feels like such a waste.

I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express a couple years back, I forgot exactly where but it was across the road from a half-dead mall. The hotel was great; clean, quiet, very friendly. Little pricier than some of the other options in the area if I remember right though.

Lake Compounce's is about a half hour long (they say 40-45 minutes but that's accounting for some stops - it rarely takes quite that long) and goes all the way to the top of Compounce Mountain.

Any word on Phoenix? I'm going to be there Tuesday, really hope I don't miss out on that one this year...

Dorney Park, Sunday. Knoebels, next tuesday. Lakemont, next Wednesday. Kennywood, the next Monday. Lots of great rides in there!

Removing maintenance nightmares is fine, but they need to -replace- them, not just leave empty holes in the park. You just can't run a good park with nothing but coasters.

Similar to, but not as good as, a Hurricane or Downdraft like the one at Knoebels.

Great work on that, nice find!

Boulder Dash last weekend, still my #1 wooden coaster by far!

Could not possibly agree more. I'll be there in three weeks and I'm as excited about that as I am about any of the PA parks I'll be visiting on the way. I remember my first time there back in 2006, having heard all the stories of the dirty, polluted Steel City, and how my jaw dropped when the skyline first game into view...I couldn't believe I was in the right city. It's -so- beautiful...and the people are so friendly too, it's not like any other city I've been to. Now there's a very real chance I might be moving there next summer...the thought puts such a smile on my face.

Kumba's never really changed. BGT has kept it up really well, and every time I've been on it, from the year after it was built until a couple years ago, it's been the same amazing ride, sound included.

B&M's seem to be leading, and I can't argue that one bit; never going to forget my first time on Kumba (or any time after!). On the other hand, Talon is pretty awesome for its almost total lack of sound. Then, you've got Boulder Dash, which lets you hear every time the main wheels leave the tracks...every five seconds or so. As far as flat rides, I'll always love the sound of a Huss Enterprise. Kangaroo at Kennywood makes such great, clunky old mechanical music, too, I always love hearing it.

The Pay One Price bracelets are available every weekday from June 14-Aug 23. There are also days with discounted plans, but early and late season; none in June. No idea what those discounts are for, though, sorry. 20 days 'til I'm there myself!

I finally got to LC for the first time this season yesterday. Wildcat is SO much better, all the worst parts are smoothed out, it's really a fantastic little coaster now, and it'll be even better next year after they finish the work. Boulder Dash was running amazingly well; SO fast, still my favorite wooden coaster by far. Zoomerang was listed as down for the day on the sign by the gate, but opened by mid-afternoon. Still rough, of course, but better than most Boomerangs. Everything else except for the Trolley was up and running all day. Very light crowds, even the water park had nearly no lines despite the beautiful weather; I wish I'd brought my bathing suit! Food was good, staff seemed to be putting in a really good effort to keep things moving and have a little fun. Probably one of the best days I've had at LC in years.

Not getting my hopes up, but I'd love to see a Huss resurgence. They've made so many missteps lately, but so many of their rides are still among the best flat rides ever made.

Not as of today. It was down all day Sunday, at least until 5 or so when I gave up on waiting for it. Xtreme Frisbee also broke down shortly into the day, and the staff said it wouldn't be back up. Boston Tea Party was down part of the day. Pirate ship and Caterpillar still aren't ready to open. Not particularly thrilled with that... At least crowds were light, everything was a walk-on, even Yankee Cannonball.

Planning to hit Canobie this Sunday, but I just saw on the website that Equinox is "scheduled to open Mid-June 2013." I figured it would be open by now for certain, since it was testing back in October. Anyone know what's going on with it?

Their concept sounds like it would be a pretty amazing experience, if they could actually make it work. I'd certainly love to spend a day there. Don't expect to see it happening, though...

I'll take an original Freefall over a newer drop tower any day, no matter how tall the new ones are. So, Intamin, sort of!

Most kiddie rides are small enough that that's not really an issue. The vast majority of them, even if you're outside, the fence around the ride, you're still only a couple feet away. Any ride big enough to need an observation area probably isn't meant for young children.