Heth

I tried to do it in one day and intensely regret this. I only had that one day and have never been back sadly, so there really feels like a lot I've missed. It's a priority for me to go back at some point.

I'll divide mine in two Rides which are built around their theme and exist because of it: Revenge of the Mummy (USO) Space Mountain (DL Paris) Pirates of the Caribbean (DL Paris) Haunted Mansion (WDW) Phantom Manor (DL Paris) Droomvlucht (Efteling) Fata Morgana (Efteling) Villa Volta (Efteling) Big Thunder Mountain (DL Paris) Splash Mountain (WDW MK) Amazing Adventures of Spiderman (IOA) Chiapas (Phantasialand) Best theming on rides that could exist without it: Black Mamba (Phantasialand) Blue Fire (Europa Park) Joris en de Draak (Efteling) Nemesis (Alton Towers) Winjas (Phantasialand) Incredible Hulk Coaster (IOA)

Hands down the Efteling Dive Coaster. My favourite park getting a B&M coaster is always exciting

I know my personal wishes don't match what's economically reasonable, I am not stupid It would be financially irresponsible for Disney not to utilise Frozen, and I know that, but you can't stop a man from having an opinion that includes wishes for things that won't happen haha. I also wished they didn't remove Jaws from Universal Studios too, but also recognised how fantastic Diagon Alley turned out to be and how sensible it was for Universal to add it. I still miss Jaws though regardless, it's a fairly reasonable reaction. EDIT: I'm not trying to argue, I just feel you're perhaps thinking I'm a bit dim from what you said above. On a slightly different note, are there any ideas on what's going to happen to the space currently occupied by the film?

I have to say though Robb, that a lot of people who are displeased at Maelstrom's removal (myself included) are not 'hating'. I'm displeased, but not ranting and raving about the change...there does seem to be a reasonable portion of people who simply have a different opinion and still don't think it's the end of everything at EPCOT. If anything I'd rather have a new Frozen attraction in Magic Kingdom AND then improve existing Maelstrom, as it's flawed but not beyond repair. I'm eager to see what happens now, but needless to say I shall respectfully miss the Maelstrom ride.

Mexico next door may have something to say about that. Ha, yes, that's true....ok, one of the two rides then

I know you keep saying it's not that good a ride, but in my opinion I've always liked it, and not just because it's the only ride on the World Showcase. It's not amazing, but it's a charming and fun ride and I'm still sad to see it go.

Seriously, Rob.... that's your high-tech, park approved video mounting equipment? Duct Tape? If it looks silly, but it works, then it's not silly.

Despite the flak they get for rough coasters, now that I think about it they really do very good quality custom and family coasters actually. Big Thunder Mountain (DL Paris), Expedition Everest, Big Grizzly Mountain, Seven Dwarves Mine Train etc. are excellent. It just seems a lot of the older and off-the-shelf models suffer. Honorable mention for Vekoma Madhouses.

The general rules: -Don't overdo it - regardless of how much you want to re-ride that big coaster, don't make yourself ill from rushing around or riding too much. It is better to be wanting more later and having a reason to return rather than ending a day feeling queasy. This is especially true if doing a multi day visit. If tired a few hours before closing, take a rest break for a bit, chill in the shade or simply call it a day and return another time refreshed. -No iPads - just no. Don't view the park through a screen. If you want to take photos, take a camera, a proper one! -Take it all in - the park isn't just the rides themselves. Enjoy atmosphere, don't just spend every moment when not on a ride on your phone or reading a book. Why bother turning up otherwise. -Keep on taking in fluids - keep hydrated...pretty straightforward. My personal rules: -Don't be afraid of using single rider if going as a group. - it can reduce wait times, and (unless with people who are young kids or intimidated/nervous) it's not going to be especially different to ride in the ride vehicle before or after your's. It saves time for doing other things in the park without the stress of doing a long queue. -Zipped pocket short are a blessing - wearing clothing with many zipped up pockets can reduce the amount of bags you need (if any) and means you can keep important items on you in queues. Being able to have a wallet/glasses/phone available immediately after a big coaster can be helpful, especially if like me you require glasses. -Go to the toilet when there is one, not when you need it desperately - use toilets when it's convenient...you may regret it when you turn down that last lavatory when in a queue and the need to go hits you.

These are top ten for multiple reasons. Sometimes nostalgia is in play, as is theming, so simply being the best tracked ride doesn't make it a favourite in my very personal thought. (brackets mark first ride date and most recent ride date) 1. Space Mountain Mission 2 - Disneyland Paris - mainly a nostalgic reasoning behind this one. I adore the theme, music and atmosphere of the ride. The track is rough, but it's a personal favourite despite that. (2005, 2012) 2. Joris en de Draak (Vuur specifically, but Water is close) - Efteling - These wooden coasters and their theme are excellent. Hardly the fastest wooden coasters, but what won me over was the perfect balance of forces that made it intense yet not too intense to make it less re-ridable. (2013, 2014) 3. Revenge of the Mummy - Universal Studios Orlando - though I have qualms with the odd storyline confusions (it's a film set, then a haunted tomb, then a ride...who knows?!) this ride has such cool pacing and the mixture of scenes and coaster sections is incredible. I'd imagine that the less thematically-troubled Singapore version of this would replace this version were I to ride it. (2006, 2014) 4. Black Mamba - Phantasialand - an intense modern B&M inverted which has possibly the most complete theming on an inverted track I've ever seen. The layout isn't the best, but by burying it in trenches every turn is a shocking surprise. Incredible. Extra praise goes to the dispatch music and lighting with base-heavy jungle drums and chanting as the lights dim. (2012, 2014) 5. Nemesis - Alton Towers - Just an excellent track. Loses out, despite a superior track, to Black Mamba due to the less interesting them to that coaster. (2012, 2014) 6. Blue Fire - Europa Park - Excellent coaster with some great theming. Extra praise goes for the great air-time on inversions and the comfortable restraints. As it's not head-ache inducing it has great re-ridability. (2012 only) 7. Big Thunder Mountain - Disneyland Paris - the best version of the classic ride I've done. Fast, fun and incredibly themed throughout. Both nostalgic for me and a cracking coaster in its own right. (1995, 2012) 8. Winjas: Fear - Phantasialand - the coolest spinning coaster I've been on. Great track, excellent theming, and the surprises on the ride make it totally unique. (2012, 2014) 9. The Smiler - Alton Towers - The bizarre look of this 'spaghetti bowl' ride and the thrill of riding it outweigh the fact it's almost entirely made of just inversions. I thought it would be gimmicky, but instead it became and instant hit with me. (2014 only) 10. The Incredible Hulk - Islands of Adventure - only rode this for the first time recently, so hard to just its place in lasting memory, but this ride was incredible enough to hit a current top 10. Cannot be sure if it'll remain up here, as Kraken also seemed a tempting inclusion. (2014 only)

The Incredible Hulk at Islands of Adventure. I visited the park 4 times (2004, 2006, 2009, 2014) and it was only on that final time I brought up the courage to ride it, but the moment I saw it I was in love with how it looked. I've had other rides I enjoy more aesthetically, but this was odd and notable as it took a lot longer to ever ride it in the first place, making it more of a 'crush'.

When it comes to bathrooms my best...er....experiences have been in Efteling, with the Disney and Universal parks being close. Clean, well maintained and often themed (if only slightly). I thankfully recall no awful toilets at any park I've been to.

Best: Space Mountain Mission 2 - Disneyland Paris - I think even those roughed up by the ride would agree that the spinning red lights tunnel is a great way to draw a dark coaster to a close Worst: Rattlesnake - Chessington World of Adventures - those brakes on an downhill slope are gut destroying.

Wow, they're definitely not wasting any time!

Originally expected it would be Thorpe Park, but looks like it'll be Animal Kingdom instead in a little over a week's time.

Agreed, I thought the track hadn't come out for Efteling yet, and there was just dark orange track.

I am so excited to see this happening to my favourite park. Eagerly going to be paying attention to this construction progress.

Rita at Alton Towers....it felt like bullets to my face.

A few things come into my mind when regarding waiting. 1. Have I been to this park before? - If the park is something I've never experienced before, then it might not be worth waiting for just one ride when all rides are new to me. 2. Have I been on this ride before? - If the attraction is the only thing I've not been on in the park, then it may be worthwhile waiting. 3. How many days have I at the park? - If I've travelled a while to be at the park, and only have a short time there, then why waste it all on one long ride queue. ----- The longest I have ever queued was 2 1/2 hours for Colossus at Thorpe Park. The park was completely rammed with people, and as a result ALL rides had massive queues. It was a matter of queue a long time for just 3 rides, or simply don't go on anything.

The only ride I've 'greyed out' on was Dueling Dragons: Fire, so I guess by virtue of that it's probably the most intense I've been on.

The drops on most log flumes. I don't know why exactly, but I often enjoy that air-time feeling as you cascade down a good flume drop a lot more than many major 'top rated' coasters. Notable examples: Splash Mountain's final drop - MK WDW, Florida Dudley Do-Right's final drop and camelback - IOA, Florida Chiapas' main drop and camelback - Phantasialand, Germany.

I think sometimes even good themes can fall short if not executed well. I think what's most important is immersion. If I don't feel amazed or absorbed into what I'm seeing, then what's the point? I've ridden dark rides with themes I don't like, but their execution has kept me interested (e.g. Droomvlucht at Efteling, any of the Fantasyland dark rides in Disney parks). There are also dark rides which feel so disjointed that they just don't work (e.g. Wallace and Gromit at Blackpool Pleasure Beach). I thought that Wonder Mountain Guardian looked a good idea on paper, but in execution it was some obvious screens, and I felt really unimpressed when watching it through youtube. In terms of themes I enjoy, I've always loved a good haunted/spooky dark ride. One kind in particular I'd love to see again is a modern update on the classic 'Haunted Tomb' concept (see Terror Tomb/Forbidden Tomb ride at Chessington World of Adventures -sadly now a shooting dark ride....boooooo hisssss!). Some kind of ride through a dusty tomb filled with ghosts, zombies and treasure.

I find this very interesting. I'm hearing reports that Diagon Alley is not as crowded (other then the ride) as expected. And seeing that the ride is already down to a 90 minute wait in the middle of the day with no issue getting into the area is not what I expected either. Like I said... "interesting..." Oh, and I'm with you in not counting Gringott's as a "credit." I think it has some coaster "moments", but IMO it's a "dark ride" not a "roller coaster." Personally I would count it. There are kiddie coasters counted as credits which are shorter as coasters than the relatively minimal coaster sections of Gringotts. For me what sways it is that it the coaster portion is very much coaster like, as opposed to other equally dubious 'blurred boundary' credits. Just my opinion though.

I'd imagine it's the same way that most buildings or structures are located on site. The use of various forms of measuring equipment for levels, distance and heights.