WillMontu

When I had mine out, they gave me the option of either IV or plenty of painkillers. I had the IV, and ended up eating soup for a few days. I have found, however, that it's difficult to go to the bathroom for a day or two after (no, the other one) As for riding coasters, check with your dentist first.

On the topic of Michael Jackson, I thought this was kind of funny http://www.retrojunk.com/media/211/ I used to like Michael Jackson back in the early 90's. Everyone liked "It's Black, It's White". With all that plastic surgery, however, he's gone a bit overboard. Still, it's probably better to let a guilty man go free than to lock up an innocent person.

Since Riddler's Revenge, there hasn't been much in the way of stand-ups. Maybe more record breakers. Just a few years ago, people said that we would never break the 200 foot barrier. Magnum did in 1989, and MF and TTD push the limit even further. Still, classic style rides are still popular, such as woodies and hypers. BTW: What's with the picture of the peep?

The best way would be to save it as a JPEG. Go to "Save a Copy", and select JPEG as the file format. This will generate a second (compressed) file that is web friendly. If it's still too big, adjust the quality to something a bit lower.

Most likely it's an IAAPA convention. There's a website at www.iaapa.org.

You can go a few miles further south to Naples (which used to be in the 941 area code). I used to live there, and there's a credit!! Oh, and the Naples Daily News sucks! Still, the area is home to: People who can't drive Charleyvilles (probably won't be there when the next hurricanes hit) WalMart supercenters and plenty of local opposition to building more Florida Everblades hockey Really expensive golf courses Carrabbas restaurants

I'm at UF myself, though since I don't drive, it is difficult to get to BGT, IOA, SWO, Cypress Gardens, and Wild Adventures, which are all within a day trip away. Also, there's a Carrabas across the street (did you get that credit?). I'm not sure what I'll do after college

Here's a quickie. RatTums might be moving soon, as this castle is only big enough for a mouse.

I just caught the new episode on Adult Swim. Easily one of the most laugh out loud hilarous episodes yet. American Dad is okay, though not as good as Family Guy.

If you want the "real" names of those songs, they are "Tub Thumping" by Chumbawumba (doesn't make sense to me either, but the second song on the CD, "Amnesia" would make a great theme to a park with lots of Vekoma rides) and "All the Small Things" by Blink 182, respectively.

It depends on how you use the debit card. If it has a VISA logo, you're all set, as it can be used just like a credit card. If you use it as an ATM card (using a PIN), a lot of places won't take it (other than the supermarket). If you find yourself in trouble, you can always find an ATM and get money that way (most places still take cash, I think)

Kraken - Great ride in the front seat, almost never a line. First went during the passholder preview day and we didn't need to get off half the time.

^ is twice as old as I am < Is a Kiwi coaster fan, but lives in Florida \/ Likes Vekoma rides

I think they actually refurbished Python a year or so ago. They repainted it along with Scorpion. As for Gwazi, I like to "stand" so I'm just off the seat, but still held in by the lap bar (and seat belt) when going over the drops. Obviously, don't use the "Japanese riding position"

For me, I was a little nerveous at the top when going on the wedgie slides at Adventure Island (next to BGT). It was the first ride I went on when I went to the park, but I haven't been on the slide ever since that visit. It must be how BGT came up with the idea for a water splash on Sheikra Also, that Bubba Tub slide at Wet&Wild Orlando looks tame, but once we got on, it was scary /me isn't going on the Looping Slide - It isn't safe

If you listen to the last part of the video, you will hear "That was worse than Windjammer". Windjammer was, of course, another Togo pleasure machine. Knotts scapped it and built Xcelerator (made by Intamin). Intamin also built Top Thrill Dragster, which held the record for tallest/fastest before Kingda Ka. If you look at a ride's track and trains, you can usually tell who built it Arrow and Vekoma have similar track designs. The wheels on these rides run inside the track http://www.rcdb.com/ig753.htm?picture=7 Intamin rides usually ride on the outside of the track, and the track structure is usually composed of steel tubes with triangular cross bracing. They come in several styles, with two, three, or four backbone tubes. http://www.rcdb.com/ig594.htm?picture=9 Bolliger and Mabillard (or B&M) use box beam tracks with two steel rails attached. The trains always seat four-abreast. http://www.rcdb.com/ig94.htm?picture=15 Togo usually uses a three tube design, with a larger backbone. The train rides on the outside of the rails http://www.rcdb.com/ig294.htm?picture=3 Morgan tracks are similar to Arrow/Vekoma, but are a bit more "rounded" http://www.rcdb.com/ig123.htm?picture=3 Schwarzkopf is one of the "coaster gods" with classic rides that can perform loops without the need for shoulder harnesses. Track types vary, and some are similar to Intamin. Generally, the loops have a box-beam construction http://www.rcdb.com/ig95.htm?picture=17

Took several tries to get Donkey. He repeated a question though.

If anyone else here gets the Travel Channel, you may have seen their new show, Ultimate Thrill. It's just like all the other Discovery/Travel shows, but this one showcases the Mind Eraser, built by the "Groundbreaking Design Firm of Vekoma International", and features a "Wicked double loop called a Cobra Roll". Just watching it gives me a headache. I think this should be nominated in the Theme Park Review competition for "Funniest video". Here's a compressed version of the Vekoma clip (I don't know about copyrights and stuff, but this is non-commercial, unedited, low quality, and for amusement only) [sorry, had to remove the link as it's using too much bandwidth.] I don't know when this will next be on for those of you who want to Tivo it (or do it the old fashioned way with a VCR)

I remember going to Nick Studios back in 1995. I got to see the Allegra's Window set (which apparantly used to be Clarissa's old home) and the Hidden Temple set. In 1998, my brothers went to see the Figure it Out set. Who remembers: Nick Arcade Guts (Do you have it?), they even made a SNES game based on it Clarissa explains it all Legends of the Hidden Temple Roundhouse (my brother liked it) Weinerville (a weird show) What Would You Do?, featuring the infamous Pie Coaster (was it made by Vekoma or Arrow?) Double Dare / Family Double Dare U to U (you could even connect to it on Prodigy) Solute Your Shorts Hey Dude Wild and Crazy Kids "This show was recorded in front of a live studio audience at Nickelodeon Studios at Universal Studios in Orlando Florida"

King Richards Park Basically a small local amusement park with a kiddy coaster, bumper boats (that I managed to get stuck on...twice), mini golf, arcade games, etc. The picture's a bit blurry, but my house is in the "clear" portion. To the north is a fancy Greg Norman designed golf course. Busch Gardens Tampa. Gwazi and Kumba are visible, but not Montu.

I'm a latecomer into the coaster world. My first coaster was Space Mountain at WDW at the age of around 14 (seven years ago), and then Scorpion @ BGT a few days later. My youngest brother, on the other hand, will ride whatever he's tall enough for, including Scorpion at around 4-5, and Gwazi recently. He absolutely loves them, and will scream because "I'm on a roller coaster everyone!", and gets disappointed when he can't ride a coaster due to the height limit. My first ride on Kumba in 1998 (back row, second from left): http://www.thelawsons.com/CM/albums/userpics/10001/normal_kumba.jpg

I first rode it back in 2000 during the passholder preview day. Compared to Gwazi, which I addented the passholder day for a year earlier, the queues are always short, and you can simply stay in your seat if you want to ride again. Fun ride, and very quiet compared to Hulk, Kumba, etc. ]

Screw Coaster (but at least it's more original than Corkscrew) Playstation - the Ride Batman/Superman - The Ride/The Escape, etc. - Maybe good the first time, but not the 50th

I think that spike is probably some type of theming for the ride, sort of like the fake track on Nemesis.