azza29

Exactly. Amusement parks aren't museums and rollercoasters aren't exhibits. Every so often there may be a coaster or ride with the heritage/cultural value to make it worth restoring and saving, but the vast majority don't fall into this category.

"I'm not paying that much to ride Rollercoaster 1!"

^^I can't imagine a Star Wars film opening with the Disney theme rather than Fox's iconic drums & trumpets. And assuming Indy 5 is probably on the way too (2016?), I would miss the 'blend from Paramount logo into mountain/molehill' opening. In the interests of full disclosure I didn't mind Indy 4 (not as good as the other three but still better than most similar films) but I think both Indy and Star Wars will benefit from a little less Lucas. Seems like the last couple of films were more about showing off CG effects, with the story taking a backseat. Star Wars shooting dark ride, anyone?

"I'm not going on Rollercoaster 1 while it's raining"

^This is the way to go. Nickel-and-dime tactics just piss people off, visitors are more likely to return (and spend more money overall) if they don't feel like the park is trying to screw every last dollar out of them.

Great news! Does this mean you're able to share estimated timeframe/cost at this stage? I like to plan ahead (and my job requires that I arrange any vacation time well in advance!)

Favourite "of all time" would probably be Fawlty Towers, then a toss-up between Frasier, Seinfeld and Scrubs. House, Black Books and 24 polling strongly as well. But in terms of shows currently in production: 1. COMMUNITY 2. Parks and Recreation 3. Game of Thrones 4. Boardwalk Empire 5. 30 Rock 6. How I Met Your Mother 7. CSI 8. Survivor 9. South Park 10. QI

Jealous that Wreck-It Ralph and Skyfall are out or almost out already overseas. Aussies have to wait 3 more weeks for Skyfall and Wreck-It Ralph won't be out until Christmas! But it's sunny and warm outside today so I will get over it quickly. Saw both Argo and Frankenweenie on the weekend - two very different films but also two of my favourite films this year. I really hope Tim Burton gets the Best Animated Picture Oscar for Frankenweenie, it would be well deserved (and nothing else this year has come close to being Oscar-worthy). And Argo was a masterful piece of storytelling that kept me interested right until the end.

New Orleans Square at Disneyland - the mix of attractions is a little eclectic but everything goes together incredibly well, even as you look across into Frontierland and Critter Country.

California Screamin' for the smoothness of the launch and overall great ride that thing gives. And NPH voiceover. Tower of Terror 2 for backwards launch and intense feeling of speed on the way down.

Can only think of three that I've been on, but Scooby Doo's Spooky Coaster at Movie World stands out ahead of Revenge of the Mummy (Hollywood) and Space Mountain (Disneyland). Great extended dark ride portion, vertical lift, you go backwards on one spot and despite the fact that the coaster-y bit is mostly wild mouse it all goes together very well.

^Yep. Another example is the new Little Mermaid ride - the animatronics and detail are incredible but because they're largely a more advanced version of something we've have seen before, a lot of people were underwhelmed. (I'm not really a mermaid fan but I still liked it enough to ride it 3 times last time I went!)

^ I don't mind TSMM, but there's definitely no escaping the fact that it's basically a series of Xbox Live-type minigames pumped up into a dark ride. It's telling that the best part of the ride is Mr. Potato Head in the queue.

^True, but Indy is still pretty damn impressive! Even more so when you consider the technology available at the time. Unfortunately I don't think we'll see something like it again - it's cheaper and easier to make something which uses 3D projection screens for the tricky bits these days. And as good as the 3D is, there's something about practical effects which make them much more immersive.

^^^ Awesome shot, Hanno! Mind if I ask what shutter speed you used to get that one?

I love that we've now passed 4 pages of discussion on soda. Let me add to the debate by stating that while Coke > Pepsi, the Aussie Pepsi Max (different to the USA one) beats out Coke Zero every time. And does this mean they're replacing Dr Pepper with Cherry Coke? I don't know if I'm down with that... one of the reasons I visit the USA is the widely available Dr Pepper!

Could be an Intamin halfpipe similar to Surfrider at Wet n Wild Gold Coast - maybe they'll put it over the remaining Perilous Plunge lake.

Thanks - it's likely to be the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend so I imagine the place will be packed, and a gold Flash Pass is already in the budget. We will have gold season passes which supposedly feature some sort of early entry, although I haven't seen what this benefit will actually involve. But if we can be there from opening until 6 and still get on everything that should work well. Cheers - I'd already earmarked the Red Roof in Enfield for our stay the night before, glad to hear this is a good idea. If we arrive early enough the day before we might even be able to squeeze in a few hours at the park before close. Thanks - it's just me and my brother so we can definitely use single rider lines if it'll save us some time. Are these generally quicker than a flash pass (on the rides that have both available)?

Question for SFNE regulars - assuming you have a Flash pass, what's a decent amount of time to spend in the park to cover the rides, maybe a couple of rides on the big coasters? Planning my trip next year - I'm looking at a 3.5 hour drive after leaving the park so won't be able to stay until close but will be there at opening.

My 2 cents on the whole "expensive park food" annoyance: parks are within their rights to charge big $ for food however they should at least make sure it's of a decent quality. Disney parks do this well - nothing is cheap but it's usually pretty good.

^^We have loads of them down here. Convenient from a passenger point of view but on an already congested street they don't make it any better.

Slow walkers or slow thinkers? I tend to get annoyed by both.

Awesome trip report Robb - setting a high bar for the rest of us! Was it mostly families on the ship or a mix of people? I reckon I'd feel weird taking that kind of cruise without kids...

So Gold Striker is "opening Spring 2013" - does that mean it'll be ready by mid-May, or are the likely to push it into June? I'll be in SF on the 2nd weekend of May, would be awesome if that thing is open when I visit!

I've never been to one of these events but for those that do, do you go in anticipating taunts and jeers from the 'haunters', as opposed to just scares? Sounds to me like this lady didn't understand what she was attending.