dj snow

Oh my. I didn't know he was still at it.

Trains need rehab every year.

It's still open. I think he was talking about one in Tucson. (Please Note: I have never been inside the Hard Rock Cafe in Phoenix; I merely observed it from a Metro train a couple weeks ago.)

I've rented from the WDW on-property Alamo/National office at the Car Care Center, and it was fine. You can make your reservation online in advance, then call the on-property rental office (I think they like a day or two advance notice) to tell them you need to be picked up at one of the hotels. They'll come by at the appointed time in their van and bring you to the Car Care Center, where you can rent your car and be on your way. You may want to mention this plan when you check into your hotel, because they might go ahead and give you your hotel parking pass at that time. Chances are you'll be parking your car at your hotel for at least one night. It may also be worth calling Busch Gardens. They may have some slick solution to your situation that none of us have thought of. I'm sure they get the question all the time, so it'd be worth asking them.

Sanka

They still have staff in the office, so it's possible that they're booking groups for 2009. As long as they're up-front about the situation, they might as well. Why turn anyone away?

Kentucky Kingdom. They went bankrupt and sold off all the rides, then some of the creditors still owed money by the park went and reopened it. Interestingly, the same people behind that comeback were also behind the Magic Springs one.

No. Veruca Salt.

There's one under construction in New Jersey at Meadowlands Xanadu. I believe it should be open sometime in 2009.

I'd be interested in seeing this attraction's numbers. Every time I visit (granted, it's usually in low season), they seem to be running it at a third of its potential throughput.

Thought this story might be of interest to some.

Actually, anyone buying the park outright through this process would be buying the assets only. The debts would remain with the previous operator. That's why I think this place has a shot if someone can pick it up for essentially pennies on the dollar.

If some group can pick up this park for anywhere close to that $35 million figure, then I'd have to imagine that they could make a go of it. That removes a lot of hurdles for an operator, leaving a much easier path to profitability. That licensing fee, though... wow. I'd like to see the park reopen with the theme intact, but $2.5 million a year for the Hard Rock name is a big chunk of the revenues.

Umm... okay? While you're at it, any news on the restrooms at La Ronde?

I can only answer your Chang question, and can tell you that the ride was designed for three trains (it is, after all, nearly a clone of Mantis, which opened with three), but has only ever had two trains. Perhaps it was a last-minute budget cut; I don't know for sure. Interestingly, when Chang went in, the park didn't own the ride, but rather leased it. The owner of the ride at that time was one of the individual investors in the park, and the park leased Chang from him. The park was unable to get financing to pay for the ride on their own, so they set up this arrangement instead.

You've got the wrong airline. Maybe you were thinking US Airways?

How can anyone say for sure that the Terminator theme doesn't fit with a wooden coaster? Has anyone seen the Terminator Salvation film yet, after all? For all we know, in the upcoming film, a cyborg might travel back in time and decide to ride a 1920's style wooden coaster. I for one hope that such a plot twist proves all you nay-sayers wrong!

If you want to stick with education as a major, then perhaps that could lead to a trainer position at a theme park or waterpark. You'd probably have to work some operations (as summer jobs, etc.) a few seasons so that you know what you're teaching, though. But then perhaps that position might lead to other opportunities in HR, etc., down the line. Business and marketing are good all-purpose degrees to hold; a good business degree could mean you meet basic qualifications for almost any department. If you're interested in public relations, then pursue journalism. But first make sure you understand what public relations really is (in large part it's pitching ideas/working with the news media to get included in stories and pieces they're putting together). A good piece of general advice would be to pick a park that you think represents a good opportunity for you, then start working summers there, and get to know the management, across as many departments as possible. Let them see that you're a hard worker before you're looking for full-time employment. It'll make things that much easier down the road.

Interesting that this should come up now, as this sort of behavior has been in the news around here recently: Initial article Followup with details of arrests Please, if you are going to chug and then vomit milk, keep it safe, folks!

Friday, Sept. 26 was the day for me to make my first-ever journey to Knott's Halloween Haunt. The park was dead during the day, and (as expected) got much busier for Haunt, but still lines weren't bad. All 13 mazes and haunted rides were completed by 8:15—not bad! After that, the longest wait for a house was about 10 minutes, but most of them were walk-ins throughout the night. The three "adult content" rated shows were also taken in, and they weren't bad. The Hanging seemed a bit scattered, and the big visual payoff accompanying this year's victim struck me as bizarre, but I was nonetheless entertained. Fangs was a mixed bag—reasonably good song-and-dance numbers with somewhat improvised comedy in between. The audience seemed to like the "spoken word" character segments the most. This show could be tightened up—if they could trim about 10 minutes from the show it would help keep up the pace. Dr. Cleaver's Big Election was one of the dirtiest theme park shows I've seen. In retrospect, the storyline was a paper-thin means of forcing extremely vulgar double-entendres, but it was still a good time. I thought it was funny how Dr. Cleaver would turn to the audience with this big grin on his face as he delivered some of his filthiest lines, as if to say, "yeah, I'm actually saying these words!" Favorite maze: Slaughterhouse Least favorite maze: Alien Annihilation Now on to the pics! Finally, my favorite shot of the night. Take a moment to enjoy it, and—BOO! Did I scare you? Thanks for reading! Dolls are creepy. And now, I'll wrap things up with a few more lovely atmospheric night shots. Labyrinth by night. Oooh, ahh! Outside the queue for Slaughterhouse. This was my favorite because the theme began as you entered the queue. I also have a preference for "plausible" houses, i.e., those where you could imagine yourself actually in the situation depicted. I figured Alien Annihilation could use some love, so I took a photo, even if it wasn't my favorite house. Nice lighting near the front gate. Quarantine is new for this year. A fairly short maze, the set design is good and there's a nice effect in the first room (which by its design also limits throughput somewhat). I enjoyed Killer Clown Kollege, especially the silly soundtrack within. It's the Bird Lady! Exclusive VIP scares! Around 6:30, the ghouls started to appear. This one was a very adept slider. Props to him! "Corpse wreaths make a lovely display for any season." -Martha Stewart Super-rare INSIDE-GALLOPING-GOOSE shot!! First, a few day shots. This is Labyrinth under bright, bright sunlight. I'm not sure what this area is normally, but the maze itself contains stairs. I wonder how many people fall down those stairs.

I think they have a good shot of making a go of it now. Assuming the bankruptcy judge sees value in the company as a going concern, they will be able to emerge from bankruptcy with much of their debt erased. It makes it much easier to be profitable! Unfortunately, those who put up the money to build the park will probably be left with nothing. There's also a chance that some ride manufacturers might be hurt, especially if they didn't get cash up front. (Then again, those owed money might just end up owning the park...) In any case, let's hope for limited collateral damage.

I'd be glad to stop and say hi, wherever you are! Just let me know (via PM if you wish) where I should look, and I'll drop by. I'll probably be on site starting around noon or so.

Thanks for the support, Robb, and yes, I agree with you and Colin: I am awesome, and not a stalker! Honestly it's surprising this night is not more in demand, especially in light of my planned attendance! C'mon, folks!

My haunt-companion had to cancel on me, but my plans are still firm to go this Friday. Anybody else going? I'd love to meet up with some folks, and I'm happy to provide TPR-member references vouching for me as nothing less than a fine, upstanding citizen. (Or at least as close an approximation as possible while also posting here...)

I'll be going the night of Friday Sept. 26--anybody else going then? It'll be my first time to the Haunt, so I'm looking forward to it!