rubysparkles

Great report. Making me think I should try and write my own. I'm not so good with the words or the pictures though.

I just went to Vietnam and it was beautiful. Hanoi was an intense place and Halong Bay was possibly the most gorgeous place I have ever been.

My questionnaire answers feel like they're misleading now!!! I'm going to wait to see what trips are going ahead, but I might do a combination of Weird Japan and New Hotness instead of Scandi. Now I need to start budgeting and make up my mind before these trips are announced...

What are the start and end points of the Scandinavia tour possibly going to be?

It looks like it has more to do with the size of her gut compared to the size of her legs. So if her legs were more in proportion to the size of her belly, it might have not happened. Too much speculation though. I'm surprised to see the ride sign said that the lapbar must touch the thighs. I think that is going to be an important factor in deciding who is to blame.

Just recently, we had two people who I would NOT consider "large" at all, not fit into Hollywood Dream in Japan, purely because of "shape". So you could potentially have a weight restriction on a ride, and that still wouldn't matter as you could have someone top-heavy enough to fall out. I'm not sure what the answer is, in this case, but I'd have to think there must be some way to measure if a rider isn't the right "shape" to fit a restraint, right? The way we realised we wouldn't be able to get on was by using the test seat. Which is how you're supposed to see if you have the wrong dimensions to fit on a coaster. But I have seen so many test seats either in places where if you stop to use it you're in the way or it's somewhere that isn't really visible (like the Hollywood Dream: The Ride one wasn't). I don't usually use test seats though because I had never been turned away from a ride. A weight check wouldn't solve the problem and would probably discourage people from the parks causing a loss of revenue. I know people have said ride ops should look at the person before putting them in the seat but it's just not as simple as that. You can't have safety checks based on a ride ops opinion! Surely the main solution is to use a different type of lapbar restraint that makes it impossible for this to happen. Adapt something like the B&M clamshells, where you're not just pinning the front part of the body. Those have the bits at the side also pinning you in (this is probably a bad explanation).

I forgot about this one. I agree with the pretzel loops on B&M flyers, but found Manta more intense than Tatsu. Intimidator 305 is the only ride I've greyed out on, so that's my most intense. I can't wait to go on Dodonpa.

I feel like Thorpe Park could bring in some more tourists and improve on the -10% if it just offered some sort of decent public transportation to the park. Whether you are tourist or local that would be helpful. A direct link to Thorpe from central London could improve their attendance significantly.

Already been to: 1. Hong Kong Disneyland 2. Ocean Park 3. Universal Studios Singapore Later this year: 1. All the parks on the Japan Trip 2. Alton Towers 3. Drayton Manor 4. Chimelong Paradise 5. Happy Valley Shenzhen

It's whatever you want. However there's actually no Russian, Indian, Morrocan or Egyptian food. The four different stations are: Korean, Japanese, South East Asian and Indonesian Spice.

Ok, so I got to visit Mystic Point today. I have to say I was extremely impressed with the Mystic Manor, there are so many different details on the ride and in the queue. The whole area is amazingly themed. The POV has already been posted but I took a load of photos of the queue and the whole area. I have loads more on my computer so if there's a photo of something specific that you want to see, then I might have it. I went on the ride 4 times, there was hardly any queue at all. There are slight differences depending on the cars but you don't really miss out on anything, you just see it from a different perspective depending on the car. Cameras are allowed on the ride but no flash photography (not that the rules stop people from doing it). There is so much detail in each room I found new things each time. Some of the theming in the queue line. There's a miniature model of the whole land in the queue. So cute. I think they had one of these at a conference when it was announced a few years back. The cars and the loading platform. Maestro D Elfman, nice little nod to the guy behind the music on the ride. In the shop,. Just the wallpaper is awesome, with monkeys all over the place. This is in the shop still. Exterior of the shop. L@@k so arty ohmigod. There's just stuff EVERYWHERE. And all of it is immensely detailed. Ride entrance. This photo op will probably have a longer queue than the ride when the crowds come in. From the Garden of Wonders. There's only 3 different photo ops/optical illusions. The Adventurers Club, the restaurant in Mystic Point. Indian dining room. China (there was no chairs and tables in there yet). This looks like the best one to me. Russia. Where you buy the food and beverages of your choosing, fancy. The Russian dining room. Indian dining room. Sign for the Garden of Wonders.

Some more official photos from the Hong Kong Disneyland facebook page.

This must have been from a CM preview because it was posted on Saturday. I tried to get in the land, but they had special wristbands and said no GP would be allowed in that day. I will definitely post a trip report when I get over there. Lots of pictures. I cannot wait!

I'm resisting watching that preview because I know I'll be able to go on Friday. Does anyone happen to know if this was from one of the Cast member (and their families) previews or from a general public soft open?

It's a video from Hong Kong television. Unfortunately I can't speak Cantonese so I have no idea what they are saying. But it does show the load area and little bit of the ride.

WDI are going to have an event at the new land tomorrow according to the Hong Kong Disneyland website. It also gives some more details on the ride. There is a sneak peek next Friday for passholders that entered a draw (and I get to go!!!):

It appears Mystic Point will open May 17th according to this article.

Yagiyama Cyclone at Benyland.

I went there last week, no soft opening but it looked like the area was pretty much done and they were clearing up the construction stuff. On the way out I asked a cast member about Mystic Manor. They said they went to the preview and that it was amazing and that it would open mid-May. I'm probably going to go there again on Saturday to see if there's a soft opening.

Washing machines are so over. I think there's going to be a tumble dryer at the end.

That one HAS to be a joke!

If they're doing Cast Member previews, I'm going to start swinging by there whenever possible! I also found a lucky draw of Magic Access Members to go to a sneak peek of the ride. Just registered for the first date possible, I wonder if they will also do soft openings before this.

I have no idea what any of this means, sounds like gibberish. Fans of the books or films will understand this. I'm guessing you're referring to "Diagon Alley" and the "Leaky Cauldron" and "Knockturn Alley". There are many famous franchises that have language like this, for example any science fiction or fantasy book or series. If you don't know the terms and are interested in what they mean google is your friend. Unless my grammar is incorrect...

Themeparkinsider is saying the proposed opening date for the new phase of Harry Potter is July 2014. Also that there is going to be a facade of London buildings blocking you from seeing Diagon Alley. You go through Grimmwauld Place to get to the Leaky Cauldron and into Diagon Alley. Also there will be a Knockturn Alley. Lots more at the article.

Theme parks because there aren't many Amusement parks with good dark rides. Just riding coaster after coaster is fun, but they become more thrilling when you have stuff to do inbetween other than walk to the next coaster.